Ray’s Favorite Things for the Bathroom

Our designer Ray loves exploring the technical aspects needed to design a space that is functional for homeowners. Below, learn a few of Ray’s favorite things that will make life a little more enjoyable in the bathroom.

American Standard H2Option Toilet

Conserve water and save money with every flush. The American Standard H2Option Toilet is a wonderful investment to help the environment and cut back on your bills. Ray just installed the model in his own bathroom and loves it. You’ll also enjoy the two button actuator on top of the tank. With it, you have the ability to save water with the flexibility to choose between a 1.0 gallon flush or the standard 1.6 gallon flush.

Warmstone Radiant Floor Heating Mats

There is nothing better than stepping out of the shower onto nice warm tile. By installing radiant heat mats underneath your floors, you also eliminate radiators from taking up too much space.

Kohler Inset Medicine Cabinet

With elegant bronze detailing around its frame, this wall-mounted medicine cabinet features a reversible door that can be installed with a left or right hand hinge. You’ll enjoy the storage it provides and how at first glance it looks like a mirror hanging on the wall. Inside there are glass shelves and mirrors on the back of the door and cabinet which come in handy.

Heated Towel Bars

If you should spoil yourself with anything in the bathroom, it is a heated towel bar. It is definitely a worthwhile investment and keeps your towels nice and warm for when you’re ready to dry off.

Tile

As a durable material, tile is an attractive investment in any bathroom. The material looks more high end than painted walls. You can even use tile for the floor, such as marble, which Ray chose to pair with tumbled marble subway tiles for the walls. Another wonderful thing about tile, is that you can use the electric radiant floor heat under it.

-Laura

Luke’s Favorite Things for the Kitchen

As the newest member of CCW, Luke has been an excellent addition to the team. And no, I’m not just saying that because he’s my son. Luke has been extremely eager to assist the team with their design needs and was very excited to share his favorite things for the kitchen!

Liven up your kitchen as you cook and entertain with the Bose Wave Stereo with SoundLink. This wonderful device allows you to listen to music wirelessly from your computer or Bluetooth. What Luke loves most about the system is its proprietary waveguide speaker technology that enables full-bodied sound, especially in lower registers, for more natural sounding bass and percussion instruments.

DuPont Corian Solid Surface Countertops

Solid surface, best known in DuPont Corian countertops, is a great solution for your kitchen or bath counters. Unlike granite or quartz, solid surface is workable with regular woodworking tools. It needs no sealer coat which means stains, blemishes, and scratches can be easily wiped or sanded away. To add to it, Corian is non-porous and can have an entirely seamless look when properly installed.

Wolf R486G 48″ Pro-Style Gas Range

Wolf has perfected the form, function and sheer durability of our gas ranges. The stainless steel exterior finish of the Wolf R486G 48″ gas range offers 6 dual brass open burners and 4.4 cubic feet of convection main oven. It’s definitely a great option for large families and those that like to entertain. Don’t forget, Wolf gas ranges are available in natural or LP gas.

Open Space Kitchens

Blend the look of your kitchen and living room into one open floor plan. Today, the kitchen is no longer just a place to cook, but also to entertain, work and unwind. For smaller kitchens, consider adding a small sofa in a nook for watching TV, reading or homework.

Double Glass Sliding Doors

Connect the kitchen to the outdoors with double glass sliding doors. These smooth sliding and functional doors make it easier to transport dishes and food to your outside deck or patio. They also help bring natural light into the kitchen which can help you save on your electric bill.

Don’t miss our final article tomorrow with Ray sharing his favorite things for the bathroom!

-Laura

Amy’s Favorite Things for the Bathroom

With a passion for combining colors, textures and objects together, Amy brings a creative edge to her designs. For the bathroom, see what Amy recommends to turn your space into a home away from home!

Kohler Spa Tubs

Create a tranquil environment and install a spa tub into your bathroom layout. These spa tubs from Kohler combine lights and aromatherapy to relieve stress. Remember, the bathroom is more than a place to shower and brush your teeth. It’s a space to relax and replenish your mind and body.

Curbless Trench Drain Shower

Keep your bathroom minimal and modern with a curbless trench drain shower. This shower design allows the floor tile to continue into the shower and still slope to the drain without interrupting the tile pattern.

Kohler Steam Shower

Did you know that steam helps with the wellness of your mind and body? Enjoy its many positive effects every time you step into Kohler’s Steam Shower: enhance your immune system, relieve sinus congestion and soothe stiff joints and muscles. The strong, linear architectural influences of the pivot shower door coordinates with classic and contemporary bathroom decor. Also, its semi-frameless design gives a clean, streamlined appearance to your shower.

Towel Warmer

A warm towel is probably one of the most popular luxuries for a bathroom. There’s nothing like grabbing a nice, warm towel after a shower!

Water Closet

In a luxurious bathroom the toilet is always an eye soar. So, why not put it behind closed doors? Many homeowners with large master bathrooms opt to install their toilet in a water closet which is a side room containing the toilet. This also provides people the opportunity to utilize the bathroom when the toilet may be in use.

Be sure to come back tomorrow to see what Luke, our newest member to the CCW team, recommends for the kitchen!

-Laura

Anna’s Favorite Things for the Kitchen

You may not know it, but our designer Anna has a background in historic preservation. With each of her designs, she mixes that background with her passion of the fine arts. Together, she designs a space that is truly spectacular. Below, see what a few of Anna’s favorite things are in the kitchen.

La Cornue French Cooker Range

If you ever want to perfect Boeuf Bourguignon, this is the one range you will want. La Cornue is an unrivaled French range that is still only produced to order, and is individually hand-made with patience and pride. With only a few hundred produced a year, you’ll appreciate the quality use of cast iron, steel, solid brass, nickel and enamel used to build longevity into the range. You’ll also love the charm and the power of these gorgeous and luxurious French ranges.

Light and Dark Cabinetry

Many of today’s kitchens have homeowners selecting a mix of both white and dark colors within the space. For Anna, she recommends to incorporate dark islands, furniture pieces and accents into your white cabinet design. The white cabinets create an elegant and clean feel while the dark woods are rich and traditional.

Large Kitchen Windows

The use of sunlight in the kitchen is as essential as the refrigerator. Incorporate huge windows that will flood the room with light. Also, a huge window will allow the space to open up and not feel confined.

Chippendale Mullion Glass Inserts

The use of glass door cabinets in kitchens makes a space feel more open and spacious. They also reflect the light within the room while adding a bit of luxury and style. If using glass doors in your kitchen design, incorporate Chippendale style mullions. These mullion glass inserts provide a sense of 19th century furniture and a classic timeless feel. For a slightly less formal version, keep the windows divided with a basic “X” mullion.

Statuario Marble Backsplash

There’s nothing more decadent that having a solid marble backsplash behind oven ranges. Keep the look luxurious and frame within a large mantel hood. What Anna loves about Statuario marble is the gorgeous striking vein pattern that becomes an instant focal point.

Don’t miss tomorrow’s article to see what Amy recommends for the bathroom!

-Laura

Laura’s Favorite Things for the Bathroom

This spring, I thought it would be a really cool idea for the team here at CCW to share with you some of our favorite things for the home. Currently, I’m in the process of redesigning my own bathroom, and have already started selecting products for the project. Checkout a few of my favorite things for the bathroom!

Moen 90 degree Chrome 8″ Widespread Faucet

I absolutely love a modern style sink faucet. You’ll enjoy its low arc design and 1.5 GPTM (gallon per minute) flow rate capabilities. The attractive and sleek look compliments a matching Moen 90 degree Chrome Handheld Shower Unit.

Kohler Tresham Rectangular Drop-in Bathroom Sink

Of course my Moen 90 degree faucet needs a sink with style! I have fallen in love with Kohler’s Tresham Rectangular Drop-in Sink. Its elegant design with 8″ widespread faucet holes is simple and blends a classic American look with a modern eclectic sensibility. The basin’s raised rim helps keep water from splashing over the side and also adds a distinctive design element.

 

Barroca Soapstone Countertop

 

Mined from Brazil, I find the Barroca Soapstone to be a classic tone for any interior space. This gray soapstone is a representation of the classic soapstone look: very traditional dark charcoal color with occasional white veining.

Crate and Barrel Colby Mirror

Available from Crate and Barrel, this architectural mirror hangs on the wall with modern attitude. Its sleek frame is a brushed stainless steel that is attractive and safe for use in any bathroom. What I enjoy most about this product is that it comes in a variety of sizes and shapes, including rectangular and square.

Panasonic Quiet Fan

Ventilation is important for any bathroom because it removes odors from the space. Fans also remove moisture, which decreases the level of humidity inside. High humidity can damage building materials and can cause mold growth. The Panasonic Quiet Fan provides exactly what I’m looking for to improve indoor air quality. What I also enjoy about this fan is that the noise level is minimal. Perfect for those moments you need to escape from it all.

Don’t miss tomorrow’s article as Anna shares her favorite things for the kitchen!

-Laura

Shades of Gray

In kitchen design, gray continues to be a wonderful color choice that adds an attractive dimensional layer to any kitchen. Many kitchens we have designed for homeowners have a layering effect of different color stains for the wall cabinets and island. Today, gray is growing in popularity as the overall color scheme in the kitchen.

Nothing spells dignified like the color gray. Known as the ultimate neutral tone, midway between white and black, gray makes an excellent choice for a kitchen color that is sleek and refined. Traditional gray cabinets show a high level of sophistication, and are often found in high-end kitchens and expensive homes.

If you’re looking to design a modern kitchen, gray makes an excellent choice. However, the use of gray in a traditional style kitchen will make it appear more transitional and updated in appearance. Overall, I find the look to be timeless because a classy gray kitchen never looks dated. And unlike white or black cabinets, they’re easier to clean and care for.

-Laura

Earth Day 2012…How Will You Help?

Earth Day is Sunday, April 22nd and we are reminded that each of us has the power to reduce our impact on the environment.  We encourage you to participate and make others aware of the environmental issues seen throughout the world.  Make a difference by taking part in these simple actions throughout the home:

• Turn off the water when you brush your teeth
• Wash your clothes in cold water and use the short cycle
• Turn down your water heater
• Recycle and reuse plastic grocery bags…better yet, bring your own cloth bag to the market!
• Convert your household light bulbs to LED
• Purchase a filter for the kitchen faucet and cut back on water bottle usage
• Use your laptop over your desktop computer
• Take shorter showers
• Turn the lights off when you leave a room

Let your friends and family know that the small changes they do will have a huge impact on this wonderful planet we all call home.

-Laura

Glass Kitchen Backsplashes

As the focal point in the kitchen, backsplashes can be designed with a variety of materials, including porcelain tiles, natural stone or even granite. Although these materials continue to be popular, many homeowners have been opting to use glass as their kitchen backsplash.

The National Kitchen & Bath Association reported earlier this year that glass is growing in popularity as a backsplash material. Homeowners enjoy the vibrancy and depth of color that is combined with the reflective quality of glass. Although the material itself isn’t often used for countertops, homeowners are thrilled to learn that glass is non-porous and hygienic. I personally love that the material is relatively stain-proof and extremely heat resistant.

Glass kitchen backsplashes seem to work well in modern kitchens due to their sleek and dramatic effect. You can even incorporate an effective task lighting scheme to create a stunning look that will illuminate the space.

-Laura