4 Simple Bathroom Updates

As homeowners begin to look into a renovation, they may decide a complete makeover isn’t necessary. Or maybe they would like to update just particular feature to enhance a room’s look. For the bathroom, if a renovation isn’t on the table, consider these 4 simple updates to recreate your space.

Update Your Floors

Add value and style to your bathroom floors. Porcelain, ceramic and natural stone continue to be super popular with homeowners and designers. Also you’ll get the most added value with an almost dollar for dollar investment.

Exchange Your Shower Head

Should you sell your home, even the simplest detail plays a role. Therefore, minor updates shouldn’t be avoided. By switching out your shower head, you can turn your shower into an oasis. Consider a rain head for its dollar for dollar return on investment.

Install New Lighting

Lighting makes a huge impact in a room creating the ambience you desire. Instead of glaring, blinding lightbulbs above the sink, install task lighting. These lights can be recessed into the ceiling, or even select a pendant or sconce fixture to help illuminate the mirror. Track lighting also continues to be a wonderful option, providing lights to sit along a track on the ceiling or wall. You can adjust their position to shine wherever you want.

Switch Out Your Sink

With so many tasks taking place around the sink, why not update it for a look that appeals to the eye? Not only can sinks be fun, but also they can introduce luxury into your bathroom. Simple details like a new shiny chrome faucet and porcelain handles can add a lot of value to your home. Integrated sinks, in which there are no edges or hangovers from the countertop to the sink, continue to be a homeowner’s favorite. Also, vessel sinks are a creative way to bring life and uniqueness into the space.

Color of 2013: Emerald

 

As most of you may recall, Pantone chooses a color that will represent each year. Last year Tangerine Tango, a spirited reddish orange, provided the energy boost we needed to recharge and move forward. In 2013, enhance your sense of well-being by inspiring insight as well as promoting balance and harmony. Emerald, a vivid verdant green, is the official color for the new year.

Often associated with brilliant, precious gemstones, Emerald is sophisticated and luxurious. This magnificent hue has been the color of beauty and new life in many cultures and religions. Also the color of growth, renewal and prosperity, no other color conveys regeneration more than green. For centuries, many countries have chosen green to represent healing and unity.

Emerald brings a sense of clarity, renewal and rejuvenation, which is so important in today’s complex world. This powerful tone translates easily within home interiors. Add this vibrant hue throughout your home as a soothing pop of color. Pillows, wallpaper prints, dishes in the kitchen and decorative boxes are just a few design ideas for the home. The color also pairs well with browns, darker greys, neutrals and jewel tones, including cobalt blue and magenta.

5 Bathroom Trends for 2013

Last year, the bathroom was one of the most frequently renovated rooms for homeowners. As 2013 begins, it’s time to take a look at how the bathroom is making changes in the new year.

Spa Like Experiences

The bathroom is no longer a space only meant for washing up. It’s becoming more like a spa where one can relax and unwind. Soaking tubs offer the homeowner a beautiful style tub that is deeper than standard models. These tubs are designed to be the focal point of your bathroom while providing an “up to your neck” water experience. As for showers, they’re becoming more and more over-the-top. Pamper yourself with 10”, 12”, even 18” rain heads combined with 4 to 8 body sprays, or even throw in a steam unit to help ease and soothe tired muscles after a long day or workout.

Tile Is King

Whether used on the floors, backsplashes or in shower enclosures, eye-catching tiles are a must in today’s bathroom design. Tile manufacturers are pushing the limits in design and technology to create tile that is art. Large format tiles have been a huge hit recently. People love tiles made from wood to stone to concrete. Tiles with large graphic prints are also popular and are often used to create a stunning look for a bathroom wall. For luxury bathrooms, porcelain continues to be the go-to choice.

Space-Saving Cabinetry and Vanities

As designers work to create the perfect bathroom for homeowners, they’re cleverly designing cabinetry that has additional storage space. These vanities are a super efficient use of space, often eliminating the need to increase the footprint of the room. Floating vanities and cabinetry are by far the most popular choices in modern bathroom design. Their sleek and elegant look can help make a room feel larger and allow for under cabinet lighting.

Bathroom Art

Most people wouldn’t consider placing art in the bathroom because of its hot, wet and steamy conditions. Today, people are looking for ways to add a bit of excitement and individuality. This can be achieved by including beautifully printed tiles or glass screens that are waterproof and withstand harsh bathroom conditions.

Colors That Pop

Last year whites, beiges, browns and greys were popular with homeowners. For 2013, we see a continued emphasis of these colors as neutral tones and patterns, but with a twist. This year, you’ll want to mix in pops of bright, vibrant colors. We’re loving green, blue, orange and pink. Just remember not to overdue it. These colors should be used to accent and accentuate.

4 Winter Paint Colors

In the home, colors play an important role by adding personality, depth and beauty. This winter, forget about drab colors and freshen up your favorite rooms with these energetic colors.

Lavender

When you paint a room lavender, you introduce an added layer of depth. The rich hue reflects light well and provides a cheerful note to your space that you are sure to enjoy.

Turquoise

For a chic look in your home, turquoise adds an intensity you’ll love. It’s a color that is ultra saturated giving any room a modern architectural feel.

Soothing Green

By painting the walls a soft green, you mimic the wonderful feel of nature. A fascinating color, green is both warm and cool at the same time. Unlike many other colors, this shade isn’t grayed down, so it feels more yellow during the day. At night when the sun goes down, it becomes more blue.

White

Cheer up any home with a basic, clean shade of white. The color has the ability to lift a dark room and revitalize its energy by reflecting light all around, much like a prism.

Designing a French Country Farmhouse Style Kitchen

As most of you may already know, we have been thrilled to be a part of the Saratoga Showcase of Homes this year. We have enjoyed working with Witt Construction on the award winning bathrooms, but also in the kitchen. Yes, we were thrilled to also design the kitchen in the home at 61 Granite Street! Set in Saratoga Springs, NY, the kitchen was planned with a French Country farmhouse theme. Anna designed the kitchen with a balance of masculine and feminine styles to match the area known for its beautiful Victorian architecture. Although the home is a completely new construction, it looks like it could have been built a century ago in the historic city. Anna made it her mission to ensure that the design would fit the architecture of the home, the rich history of Saratoga Springs and the needs and wants of the client. Since the kitchen has gorgeous high ceilings reaching 115”, Anna planned to use stacked cabinetry with small windows in the upper layer of cabinets for display. The client fell in love with Wood-Mode cabinetry’s copper chicken wire inserts, so the material was used in the windows instead of glass to create a homey farmhouse feel. To play up the farmhouse details, we also used a 3” wide beadboard in the backs of the open display cabinet over the refrigerator, the bookcase cabinet to the right of the refrigerator, and the back of the island. Anna was smart to incorporate a gorgeous black soapstone countertop (a product that was used quite a bit in the Northeast a hundred years ago) which elevated the Victorian feel. We also chose to use a medium stained glazed maple finish on the main kitchen cabinets, complemented by a large distressed black island that gives the space an unfitted look and also helps ground the tall space with the dark color. The worn through corners and edges on the island perfectly match the color of the rest of the maple cabinets in the kitchen. To continue with the rustic elements in the kitchen, Witt Construction planned and built a gorgeous stucco hood as the centerpiece of the kitchen. To add some elegance to the space, we planned an oversized crown moulding around the tops of the wall cabinets and the custom stucco hood. We also added hand carved onlays on the repeated columns on either side of the range and also on all four corners of the island. Anna’s favorite details were these columns because they actually opened to reveal custom tray, cookie sheet and cutting board storage. I also loved the mail center on the right of the refrigerator. The bottom base drawers are file cabinets and the upper section is perfect for showing off the client’s large collection of cookbooks.

We also used some repeated elements from the architecture of the home. The arch over the refrigerator was custom designed to match Witt Construction’s arch for the pass-through into the dining room. To help tie in the chicken wire from the upper cabinets, the birdcage handles and knobs were installed. The beadboard detail was carried into the beaded frame of the inset cabinets, the bead around the opening of the arched display cabinet over the refrigerator, and the bottom of the crown moulding detail. Lastly, Anna chose traditional mouldings in various sizes to create some interest and allow the eye to move up to the large crown moulding at the ceiling. You should also note the rustic farmhouse pendants that hang over the island. Our client found them at Barnyard Lighting, and I don’t think she could have chosen better! Again, we have enjoyed working on this stunning project. Anna, the work you accomplished in this home has been superb! Remember there’s still time to tour the home as the showcase runs this Saturday and Sunday from 11am-5pm each day. Hope to see you there! -Laura

A Kitchen Renovation With WOW Factor!

Cynthia and Nestor Cubides embarked on an ambitious home renovation, having recently purchased a house in peaceful Sands Point, NY. As is often the case, the kitchen quickly became the focal point. Wanting the beauty and durability of Wood-Mode cabinetry, the Cubides turned to CCW. Amy relished the project from day one and began designing a space that would awe family and friends.

An early decision was that kitchen cabinets should be painted Nordic White Maple with accents of Cherry. The countertop along the perimeter of the kitchen is a polished black granite. For the island, Amy introduced the idea of having a 2″ thick piece of countertop instead of the standard 1.25″. This would anchor the space with a substantial, chunky look. We then topped off the island with a piece of Carrera marble around the stainless steel farm sink. Talk about WOW factor!

The Peninsula and the bar area serve as a transition into the living room, pulling both rooms together to create a wide open floor plan. Within the peninsula, there is the double oven and a preparation sink. This serves as another zone in the kitchen without being in the way of the cook top and primary sink. To make sure the kitchen would function as it should, the sub-zero refrigerator was placed between the sink, cook top and the double oven.

Lastly, Amy detailed the bar with mullion glass doors. An appliance garage elevation was then installed to compliment the doors and windows leading out to the terrace. Explore more of the design process below:

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Amy, you did a wonderful job with this renovation for the Cubides. It was great to watch you coordinate with everyone to complete such a complex home renovation! The kitchen not only has many of my favorite features, but expresses the level of design experience you possess.

-Laura

Kitchen Countertop trends in 2012

From wood to natural stone to stainless steel, countertop materials are more diverse than ever before. Homeowners have moved beyond the original Formica and laminates, and enjoy the unique selection of today’s surface materials. With so many choices, it’s important for homeowners to choose the countertop that will be best suited for their needs and kitchen’s aesthetic. As a growing trend in the kitchen, marble is booming in popularity. Marble has been popular in Europe for years and has finally made its way to America. Homeowners love the veined look it provides over the spotted, granular look of granite. Also, people are interested in materials that aren’t too shiny and have a satin finish. Originally, people wouldn’t have considered marble for their kitchen because of its tendency to stain. Fortunately, homeowners are warming up to the material and love the beauty it provides within a space. What we enjoy about marble, is how beautiful it looks in contemporary kitchens, especially when the rest of the house is a traditional style. Marble helps to tone down a contemporary feel and introduces a bit of classic elegance into the kitchen. Marble isn’t the only surface material popular in kitchens. Carrera continues to be a quintessential choice for homeowners. Also, various types of soapstone are desirable due to their dramatic veined look. When you oil it properly with a plain mineral oil, it becomes very durable. Available in numerous shades, soapstone may be the perfect fit for your home. Remember, choose the countertop material that is best for you and your family. It’s a decision that should be thought through carefully, because more likely it will be the countertop you live with for decades. Learn more about countertop materials by downloading our guide on “The Down and Dirty on Countertops” today! -Laura

Pull-out Faucets in the Kitchen

From Danze to Kohler, the pull-out kitchen faucet has been all the rage in the design world. Both homeowners and designers have moved away from the standard faucet with a detached side spray in favor of pull-out models that integrate the two functions into a single unit.

According to the National Kitchen and Bath Association, 14 of out every 15 designers who designed a kitchen over the final three months of 2011 incorporated a pull-out faucet. The look is a modern and sleek faucet that works well with any style. Today, you can find a contemporary pull-out kitchen faucet in a variety of finishes, including chrome, brushed nickel, satin nickel, brass, colors and more.

Homeowners also enjoy its functional purposes for cleaning and cooking. It has never been easier to fill pots. Simply pull the faucet head out, hook it on the side of the pot, and go! Then when full, just slide it over, no lifting it out of the sink. And unlike similar pull-down models, there is less splashing.

If you’re renovating a smaller kitchen, pull-out faucets are an excellent choice where a high arc would overwhelm. They are also great when you have limited height to work with due to above-the-counter cabinetry.

-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

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