Most people have much different habits in the kitchen on the weekend, cooking far more than during the week. During the week we tend to pull something from the fridge and heat it up in the microwave.
When planning your kitchen, make sure that this phenomenon is accounted for- with the weekday triangle and the week-end triangle. Ideally, they take up different space, so that when the functions overlap, as will happen on a weekend, or at a party, you aren’t stepping over each other.
White is refreshing after all that color on all those walls for the last several years… of course it’s about you spending money to repaint and buy new stuff- isn’t that what all fashion is about?
White is so much easier to work with, especially in city homes. Richer floor colors suck all the light out of the room without white walls. White allows the furnishings and art to have a lot more color and power. Art gallery walls- white, right?
Whatever the reason… white is the new red.
Stainless steel has the same problems as the stone that I talked about in my last post. It’s everywhere, and not that expensive/exclusive any more. My clients are adding cover panels to match their cabinetry- but of course you can’t do that on the oven. What if anything will replace stainless to those who want or need a little snob appeal in their kitchen?
I love oil-rubbed bronze- Jennair is the only line I know of- but their website isn’t very helpful- sorry. www.jennair.com I haven’t seen it in a real kitchen- not sure if it will reflect as much light as stainless. Way warmer tone, though, and I think it makes so much more sense in arts and crafts homes- or A&C styled kitchens
No need to buy special products for your stainless, BTW- use Pledge. The oil finishes the steel perfectly well and you have one less can of stuff in your cleaning cabinet.
For many years, stone surfaces were the thing that set more expensive kitchens and baths (and entries, etc) apart. Now, the natural surfaces are ubiquitous- really everywhere.
I’m going to age myself here, but I am reminded of those little man-suits women working in offices were wearing in the 80’s- those who wanted to look more upwardly mobile than secretarial. Time came that the look was everywhere. And of course it didn’t set anyone apart then- so it died.
It’s 2008, and stone surfaces are everywhere. You can get Blue or Emerald Pearl at Tile Outlet here in Chicago. Stone of many varieties are available at Home Depot, etc. Of course, there are types of stone that aren’t available without a stone yard and custom fabricator- but still the look is no where near as unique, as exclusive as it was. So What Now?
The details, the details are what will stand out. An exceptional combination of varied finishes and materials- you can’t get a strainer board routed into your tops from Home Depot. Combining hand-made tile backsplash in just the right color and configuration with that very uncommon stone?
Or, is GREEN the new exclusive/expensive “finish”? It’s mostly out of reach for most consumers, due to the cost. Can’t wait to see what will come.
I reviewed the HGTV KBIS recap and here are some things they saw…
Miele’s oven hood with lots of lighting options- DA5000 D- expands out when the unit is on. Also, the Independance Series- emails you if the door is left open, for example. www.mieleusa.com
Kenmore’s shaved-ice-in-the-door- so the kids can have snow-cones at home www.kenmore.com
GE Profile’s single/double oven, with smaller doors for areas where clearance is an issue- smaller oven for everyday- less heat required for your pizza; also more energy efficient to not have to open the big door and let all heat out www.GEProfile.com
Counter-Seal- allows undermounting sinks at laminate countertops www.counter-seal.com
Thermique plug-in towel bars- no remodeling required www.thermiquetechnologies.com/products/towelwarmer.htm
Oceana’s glass sinks- no 2 are alike. Love the luminosity of this stuff. www.oceanaglassdesigns.com
Native Trails sinks made from recycled copper- look like art www.nativetrails.net/sitemap.htm
Porcelain sinks with unique glazes and materials and finishes- even bamboo sinks
Designer Rods- hollow glass towel bars, which you can customize with your own kitsch- they thought this was the best new product- it’s like those glass lamps you can fill up w/ your own stuff. www.designerrods.com
Stone City’s floor medallions
photos superimposed on ceramic tiles- or custom tile murals @ $140/sq.ft.
Vetrazzo- 85% recycled glass in quartz-style counter tops www.vetrazzo.com
Illuma backsplash and lighted shelves- in acrylic, glass, or colors
The New York Times (www.nytimes.com- registration required for reprint) article “Building Rage”, Thursday, May 15, is getting a lot of attention in the contractor world.
We’ve all heard about contractors that need a 2×4 upside the head, but the article talks about the other side of the coin: “the homeowner from hell, the unreasonable, irrational and selfish demands that make contractors crazy”.
The extensive article lists12 ways “How to drive a contractor crazy”, which starts with ”avoid making decisions”. Decisions are oil to the well-run construction project. Decisions make that little world go round.
Decisions are what remodeling consulting (or renovation coaching) is all about. Hire and use your consultant or coach, and go a long way to avoiding “homeowner from hell” status. Make life easier for your contractor, and you make life easier for you.
The Robern booth was great- they keep making their products better, with more features inside and new looks for the exterior.
If you like a brewski (or bottled water) in the bath, -or medication that keeps better when cooled- you can keep them chilled in your Robern refrigerated compartment- “cold storage” right inside the medicine cabinet- no need to go to the kitchen.
If you have a few items of value- or meds- or whatever you don’t want the kids or housekeeper to get ahold of- you can keep them safe in your Robern safe compartment- right inside the medicine cabinet.
The exterior finishes are far beyond the original mirror concept. You can have a brushed-stainless appearance, for more contemporary rooms, or a coppery finish, or others.
Size, too, is no longer just the original above-the-sink- these cabinets come long, positioned in a wall to allow easy access- or consider ganging 4, as it was shown at the show- 2 over 2, for a very contemporary, very capacious storage bank.
See www.robern.com for more goodies.
(btw, Ann Sachs and Robern are both Kohler-owned- I’ll talk about Robern next time)
Fountainhead bath pillow- 1033-NA- is made of a cool polymer that squishes but has memory. Great for the long soak.
Echelon Shower Seat and Echelon Shower Locker- with 4 shelves.
Tandem cast-iron utility (laundry) sink- K6554-2L-FF- with a fab inset tub for handwashing
Those Kohler sound tiles, that I talked about in an earlier post- of course they are MP3 compatible.
go to www.kohler.com for more info
