Trends in Luxury Bathrooms-Part 1

            It’s these cold winter days that have us all wishing and hoping for a luxurious, spa like bathroom. Warm steam, heated floors, and warm towels. Are you feeling warmer already? Let’s face it. We spend a large amount of time in our bathrooms and you want it to be nice. Over the next couple of weeks, we will take a look at some of the trends in luxury bathrooms.

 

            There is a resurgence of freestanding tubs in the master bath. Not necessarily the claw foot tubs of the past, but other materials are making a splash. Stone, glass, acrylic or even wood are taking center stage and making a statement in the form of a tub. Round, rectangular or angular shapes are not uncommon. Freestanding tubs are easier to clean, since you can easily reach all sides and make a bathroom feel more open without the large expanse of the tile surround around the tub. Whirlpool or soaking- the options are endless.

 

            If you are considering using a freestanding tub, take into consideration a couple of needs. A freestanding table or built in piece of furniture is needed within arms reach to store soaps or set a book. A towel rack nearby is a must. Is the floor underneath and around your tub slip resistant? Many times a different tile will be used around the tub to provide that extra level of safety. Pebbles, river rocks or textured tile are common surfaces and add a level of detail not normally seen.

 

            Do some research and decide if a freestanding tub is the way to go for your space. As shown in the Kohler tub pictured, they make a real statement and add architectural detail. Maybe this is the one thing that you bathroom needs to really stand out.

What now?

            It’s the middle of January. The Christmas decorations are put away. The kids are back to school, the house is clean and the refrigerator is a little emptier. The cold and rainy days of late have given you plenty of time to spend on Pinterest. You now have a board for “Kitchens.” Or you have been looking through magazines and have a stack of pictures of your “dream” bathroom. But you have no idea how much your project might cost. Is it even feasible for you? What is the next step?

 

            Step 1-Decide if you need to employ the expertise and assistance of a contractor or if you will                         try to manage the project yourself.

 

            Step 2-Call and schedule appointments to visit various showrooms of products that may    

                       be involved in your project. Tile, cabinets, countertops, flooring, plumbing

                       fixtures, light fixtures, etc…

 

            Step 3-Once you have visited showrooms and have an idea of the products you would like to                        use, you can now begin to set up appointments for those trades to visit your home

                       to put an estimate together.

 

            Step 4-At the beginning or part of the way through this process, you may find that                        you would have more confidence in someone else overseeing the many moving                        parts of your project. A licensed contractor is never a bad idea and can be an asset

                       in navigating the waters of a kitchen or bath remodel. Take the time to stop

                       and evaluate if this is the best option for you.

 

            You are now well on your way to finding out how feasible and involved your project will be. Like Benjamin Franklin once said “An ounce of prevention (or planning) is worth a pound of cure.” Take the time to plan well before jumping into your project.

Home Office: Is it for you?

According to a recent Better Homes and Gardens survey, 59 percent of prospective home buyers are looking for a home office in their next house. Maybe you aren’t a prospective home buyer, but maybe you are a prospective home seller or just want to increase the value of your home. Have you considered a designated space for a home office?

 

Maybe you have an unused living room that could be turned into a home office. Or what about designating a small space in your kitchen for an office workspace. What about that unused closet? It would fit a small desk. Or the bonus room. Get creative and consider what space in your home could be designated for a home office.

 

What items are essential to have in a home office space?

·         File drawers or storage

·         Internet connection-maybe this is where you keep your router.

·         Power-to connect phone chargers, telephone, computer, lamps.

·         Lighting-overhead lighting, lamp or specific under cabinet task lighting.

·         Storage space or shelving-pens, paper, notebooks, owner’s manuals.

·         Seating-a chair, small stool or if you have the space and overstuffed chair.

·         Trash can

 

January is always a great time to purchase organization items. All the stores will have them on sale. Organize your home office space and start your year off on the right foot!

Kitchen and Bath Trends: Part 2

Have your mind’s wheels been spinning since last week? Today we will look at some other kitchen and bath trends in 2011.

 

Espresso:

            No, not the beverage, the color. Chocolate and espresso colored cabinets is found in styles ranging from traditional to contemporary. Whether incorporated into just the island, an accent piece or the entire kitchen, all ranges of the mid to dark brown family of colors is seen. It is also picked up in the hardware, wood floors, light fixtures, faucets and countertops.

 

Walk in Pantries:

            With open floor plans comes less wall space for cabinets and storage. That is why a separate walk in pantry is so important. It can be for storage only or more of a working pantry with the bulk of mixing and food prep occurring there. Maybe that is where the toaster oven or microwave is kept allowing the counter surface in your kitchen to remain uncluttered. Sinks, a second refrigerator and dish storage can also be found in today’s walk in pantries.

 

Detailed Ceilings:

            Higher ceilings allow for more detailed ceiling treatments that provide a warmer and cozier feel. Ceiling treatments are seen in the application of traditional painted coffers, rough hewn beams, reclaimed wood flooring applied to the ceiling, pressed tin and detailed trim packages. All of these treatments provide dimension and texture to an otherwise plain space.

 

2011 has been a great year and I can’t wait to see what the trends in 2012 are!

Kitchen and Bath Trends

We all like to stay current on the latest trends and ideas. Maybe you aren’t able to implement them all in your home but if you are like me, you at least like to know about them. Over the next 2 weeks we will learn about some of the current kitchen and bath trends.

 

Commitment:

            No, not in relationships, to your diet or your exercise plan. Commitment to color! Color can be introduced to a room through backsplash tile, wall color, pillows or furniture pieces. Don’t be afraid of color. It’s easy to start with a neutral background and large pieces and then add color through accessories. Then when the trends change or you get tired of that color, it is easy to change. Hot colors right now are carrot orange, tangerine and mango.

 

Freestanding tubs:

            Large, freestanding tubs are becoming the centerpiece of the master bathroom. They are a great focal point becoming like a piece of art. Soaking, jetted or acoustic. Copper, wood, fiberglass or porcelain. Is your tub the centerpiece of your bathroom?

 

Glass:

            Incorporated into venthoods, glass backsplash tile, glass in cabinet doors, glass countertops and shower doors. It’s more than clear glass. There is seedy, antique, frosted, reeded. And have you seen the selections of glass backsplash tile???!!! Limitless!

 

Next week we will take a look at some other kitchen and bath trends in 2011. Expand your horizons, stretch the possibilities and dream!

The next big thing

We all dream of starting our mornings off quietly and calmly. Enjoying a cup of coffee or hot tea. Or perhaps we like to end our day with a glass of wine or cup of coffee. Maybe your dream can become a reality. The next big thing in home design is a breakfast/coffee/wine bar. A small space designated for coffee, tea or wine drinking.

 

These spaces are typically found in or near the master bedroom or bathroom, right outside the kitchen or in an upstairs bonus room for guests to use. It can be a built in space with custom cabinets, built in refrigeration, sink and storage, a closet turned  coffee bar with storage and a coffee maker or simply a piece of furniture that houses a coffee maker, maybe a microwave and the associated accoutrements.

 

Whatever the space you may have to work with here are a few essentials you need to include.

• Coffee maker-full size or mini
• Coffee
• Cups
• Sugar and creamer
• Tea bags
• Spoons
• Napkins

 

Want to get more elaborate? How about including a microwave, popcorn, undercounter refrigerator, sink, bottled water and soft drinks. If you are including the space in your master bedroom, consider adding some details to make it look more like a piece of furniture instead of utilitarian cabinets stuck in a corner. The ideas are limitless and maybe this was just the piece of “calm” you were looking for.

Under cabinet lights: A must do!

Whether you are getting ready to do a complete kitchen remodel, build a new house or add a tile backsplash, now is the time to think about under cabinet lights. Mounted on the bottom of wall cabinets, these small fixtures add an amazing amount of task lighting and ambiance at night.

 

Xenon, LED, halogen, florescent. Puck, strip, rope, tape. The style, sizes and light color are endless. Florescent is old school and the bulbs and ballasts are not very reliable. Halogen is popular but can get hot. Xenon is newer and does not produce as much heat. LED is the new kid on the block. While expensive, the technology is improving and the cost is coming down. Look at each of the options and decide what will work best in your kitchen and for your budget. The hard part is getting the wiring in the right spot. The fixtures can be changed down the road.

 

The best way to install them is to have one switch to control all of the under cabinet lights. That requires a wire under every wall cabinet that is controlled by one switch. When you are building a new home, remodeling your kitchen or before you add a tile backsplash, that is the time to wire for it. Once that tile is on the wall, you don’t want to tear into that to get the wires in the right location.

 

            Yes, they may be nice but how much do they cost? Depending on the type of lights you use, how many fixtures you need and if you decide to do it yourself or hire someone to install them for you, you could be looking at a couple hundred dollars or a couple thousand dollars. Didn’t budget for this? Take my word for it and spend the extra money to include this. Maybe that means saving up for a couple more months before you begin your project or going with a less expensive range. Just do it. You will not be sorry.