Bathroom Myth's

Myth: Don't use dark colors in a small bathroom

 

Fact: Using dark colors in a small bathroom, especially a powder room, can lend an elegant, sophisticated look to the space. It is important to still maintain good lighting, but don't be afraid to experiment with dark colors.

 

 

Myth: A pedestal sink is the best choice for a small bathroom.

 

Fact: Current design fads notwithstanding, a sink in a well-designed vanity cabinet will not only provide far more usable countertop area, but also a good bit of storage below--a feature that's even more important in a small bathroom than in a large one.

 

 

Myth: The best time to figure out where toilet-paper holders and towel bars go is when you're almost done, and you can see what you've got to work with.

 

Fact: This is why the pencil was invented --to figure out such things ahead of time. You should know exactly where every towel bar, toilet paper holder and robe hook is going to be installed long before you ever pick up a hammer. Fail to do so, and you may end up with your toilet-paper holder screwed to the side of your bathtub.

 

 

 

Myth: The best place for a bathroom lighting fixture is directly over the sink.

 

Fact: This is a silly architectural custom that won't die, though it sure deserves to. Having the light source over the sink guarantees that no matter how you turn your head, some part of your face will always be exasperatingly in shadow. Take a tip from what Hollywood makeup pros have done since the 1920s: Place the lighting on either side of the sink, roughly level with your face, and not above it. It's the only way to get even, shadow-free lighting. But when you don’t have room for sconces either side, a light above is better than no light at all.

 

 

Thanks for joining me on this myth dispelling journey. I hope it has been helpful for you. If you have any you would like added to the list or questions regarding some we have already discussed, don't hesitate to contact me at jessica@webbercoleman.com

No slip and slide here!

Recently, I attended a seminar on tile and the speaker was from the Tile Council of North America. While listening to his introduction, I thought, “Oh, no! This could be boring.” But it wasn’t! In fact it was quite enlightening and interesting. Let me share with you what I learned about the “slipperiness” of tile. No floor tile is "slip proof", but it is important to know what tile is the best to use in wet situations. Slippery conditions can be minimized by limiting foot traffic in wet conditions, prompt removal of contaminants (hair conditioners are the worst!), effective drainage, and proper maintenance.

 

What does "COF" mean? The Tile Council of North America defines coefficient of friction (“COF) as the relative slip resistance of tile. The COF test is a laboratory or field test established by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) to provide its customers comparable slip resistance values for each of its floor tiles. The measurements disclosed are designed to be one important factor to consider in evaluating slip resistance. Other factors can affect slip resistance, such as the degree of wear on the shoe and flooring material; presence of foreign material, such as water, oil and dirt; the length of the human stride at the time of slip; type of floor finish; and the physical and mental condition of humans.

 

Outdoor tile typically features non-skid finishes designed for safety when wet, sometimes installed on patios, walkways, or around pools. Unglazed ceramic tiles are very hard and dense. They come in various surface treatments and textures. Unglazed tiles do have good slip resistance, however please note that they do require sealing to help prevent staining. High gloss finishes can be more slippery and scratches can become more visible, while matte or textured finishes help with traction and scratches, and dirt is less visible.

 

It's important when choosing tile for a floor that you have good information on the COF. It's best to work with a knowledgeable professional such as Traditions in Tile to help you select the best tile for your space.

 

If you have any questions regarding issues we discuss, please don't hesitate to contact me at jessica@webbercoleman.com.

Wood on the Walls

This summer our family had the opportunity to spend some time in the Florida Keys. It was a fabulous trip and one place I would highly recommend visiting. While we were there, we took a day trip into Key West. It was HOT but we enjoyed seeing the sites. You are probably thinking, “This is great and all and I am glad you took a fun vacation, but what does this have to do with kitchens and bathrooms?”

 

While in Key West, we enjoyed lunch at the Latitudes Restaurant. This restaurant is part of the Westin resort on Sunset Key. Sunset Key is a small 27 acre private island off of Key West with 40 private cottages. This island is accessible only by private boat and no cars are permitted. We dined alfresco at the edge of the water and enjoyed a delicious meal and excellent service. Check it out at www.westinsunsetkeycottages.com

 

The architecture and design of buildings was beautiful and they spared no attention to detail. One detail I loved seeing was plank wood on the restroom walls. The whitewashed finish gave real warmth and character to what can sometimes be a very cold space. Have you considered adding wood to the walls of your bathrooms? Maybe it is in the form of painted beadboard or tongue and groove teak or whitewashed pine. Consider wood wainscoting around a tub, on the ceiling or on the wall behind a toilet. This small addition of wood doesn’t always add a great expense but can really change the look of your space.

 

I hope this has been helpful and informative and helps you with your future projects. If you have the chance to visit Key West, make sure you at least enjoy lunch on Sunset Key. You won’t be disappointed! Don't hesitate to contact me at jessica@webbercoleman.com with any questions. Know that I am always learning, reading, TRAVELING!!! and asking questions to help you with your projects.

Universal Shower Valve Design

Did your eyes glaze over when you read the title above? Me too, when I first heard about this. This was the title of a recent National Kitchen and Bath Association Continuing education course. As uninteresting as that seemed, I thought I should learn more about it as universal design becomes more prevalent and mainstream, especially in bathrooms. So, I braved the Atlanta traffic and subjected myself to an hour on this subject and surprisingly it turned out to be quite interesting and important.

 

A universal shower valve is the unseen valve in the wall behind the tile in your shower or bathtub that the handle affixes to. In years past, you had to select your entire shower or tub fixture before they could rough in the valve and pipes as the valve varied with the design that you chose. With the invention of the universal shower valve, the plumber can rough in with this valve and you can select the decorative trim later in the project. In using this valve, you also have flexibility in changing the faucet out in years to come without tearing up the wall behind it.

I always believe that it is best to finalize your entire plan and selections, and in some cases purchase items, before you begin the rough in stage of the project. This insures that all items will still be available when you need them and helps prevent mistakes on the job site. In selecting your shower valve before hand, you can plan your tile design and plumbing layout to work with each other.

 

Using the universal shower valve may cost a few more dollars up front but will surely be worth the extra investment in the future. Talk with your plumber about this and don't assume they are going to use it. A good plumbing distributor, such as Ferguson's or DeVore and Johnson can also be helpful in answering any questions you or your plumber may have.

 

I hope this has been helpful and informative and helps you with your future projects. Don't hesitate to contact me at jessica@webbercoleman.com with any questions. Know that I am always learning, reading and asking questions to help you with your projects.

Cooking it up!

We have talked so much about how the kitchen should be designed but this week I will share with you my favorite food blogs for great techniques and recipes. A great kitchen space also calls for great food!

 

1.    How Sweet It Is http://www.howsweeteats.com/   The writer, Jessica, is comical and has some fabulous recipes. Believe me, I've tried them! Bacon is always in her refrigerator, chocolate is her fav and she is always finding great things at Trader Joes.

2.    Closet Cooking http://www.closetcooking.com/  The writer, Kevin, serves up some great recipes, especially for meats out of his closet sized kitchen.

3.    Spoon Fork Bacon http://spoonforkbacon.com/ Jenny's recipes and Teri's mad photography skills would make you want to cook cardboard!

4.    A Cozy Kitchen http://acozykitchen.com/ Adrianna shares great breakfast recipes.

5.    Apples & Onions http://applesandonions.com/ A friend duo who share great party ideas and recipes.

6.    Love and Olive Oil http://www.loveandoliveoil.com/ Lindsay and Taylor share recipes for seasonal produce and twists on the old classics.

7.    You Are My Fave http://www.youaremyfave.com/ Melanie shares great party ideas and recipes for fun occasions.

8.    The Sweetest Occasion http://www.thesweetestoccasion.com/ Cyd loves throwing parties and events and occasionally shares recipes.

9.    Top with Cinnamon http://www.topwithcinnamon.com/ Izy, a 17 year old from London, shares wonderful pictures and recipes.

 

These are some of my favorite food blogs. Do you have any favorites? If so, please share!

Sub-Zero & Wolf Factory Tour: Part 3

Last month I was privileged to be invited to visit the Sub-Zero and Wolf headquarters in Madison, Wisconsin to tour their factories and get a sneak peek at new products they are rolling out. Let me tell you-it was quite the experience and not one I will soon forget! Here is a peek at the new products they are rolling out.

Sub-Zero is rolling out many new options for refrigeration, wine storage and freezer space. The variety of widths of all refrigeration units in 18”, 24”, 30” and 36”. Refrigerator and freezer combination drawers in the same widths for undercounter use. All of these units now have LED lighting to cut down on the heat inside a refrigerator and provide more of a pure color light. Wine storage units now available in tall units from 18”, 24” and 30” wide with options for a humidor, more precise temperature and humidity control.

 

Wolf’s new products include redesigned wall ovens with a new Verticross convection system, preset menus and touch screen controls. They also offer  a contemporary style that doesn’t have a handle but rather a touch latch opening device that allows for a clean, seamless look. Redesigned gas, electric and induction cooktops with finer controls and easier to clean components. Their newest and possibly most exciting reveal is a built in coffee system. Easy to clean with customized settings make this an item to seriously consider in your next project.

 

It truly was an incredible trip full of learning opportunities, new people and delicious food. If you are in Atlanta, make sure to stop by the fabulous Sub-Zero & Wolf showroom in Buckhead. They have all the products on the floor that you can touch and see and feel and often do cooking demonstrations. It would be well worth your time. If you see me out and about, feel free to stop me and ask me any questions about this trip or other things we have discussed or email me at Jessica@webbercoleman.com

Sub-Zero and Wolf Factory Tour: Part 2

Last month I was privileged to be invited to visit the Sub-Zero and Wolf headquarters in Madison, Wisconsin to tour their factories and get a sneak peek at new products they are rolling out. Let me tell you-it was quite the experience and not one I will soon forget! Here is a recap of the last day of my trip and a look at some of the amazing new products they are rolling out. If you missed the last article where I shared about the first 2 days, check out the previous post.

 

Day 3 we were bussed back to the Westye Bakke Center, Sub-Zero & Wolf’s corporate headquarters, training center and spectacular showroom. Their chefs prepared another amazing breakfast for us which we enjoyed again in their beautiful dining room. Next we moved back into their auditorium and spent some time learning from the Customer Service and Marketing departments. It was a great time to ask questions and learn more about their internal processes. Interesting fact: their customer service line is answered by real people 24/7 in Madison, Wisconsin.  Next we headed to the Sub-Zero factory right across the parking lot. This 2 story facility really was incredible. The amount of automation that allows each piece to be made the same way every time really helps with quality control and precision. We walked through the factory learning about each step that goes into making a Sub-Zero refrigeration or freezer unit. And again, we saw that EVERY unit was tested before it was packaged to leave the factory. After returning to the Westye Center we were greeted with delicious boxed lunches for our trip to the airport.

 

It truly was an incredible trip full of learning opportunities, new people and delicious food. If you are in Atlanta, make sure to stop by the fabulous Sub-Zero & Wolf showroom in Buckhead. They have all the products on the floor that you can touch and see and feel and often do cooking demonstrations. It would be well worth your time. If you see me out and about, feel free to stop me and ask me any questions about this trip or other things we have discussed. That's all we have time for today. Next time I will share with you about some of the new products they are rolling out. Stay tuned!