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How to Pick Out a Vanity

by | Jul 16, 2017 | Contractors, Homeowners, Interior Designers

Houzz is an excellent source of information and ideas. We wanted to share some recent articles with you. “It’s not always the most glamorous part of a bathroom remodel, but choosing the right vanity can make or break your bathroom’s design. If it’s placed awkwardly in a traffic route, uses poor or mismatched materials, or doesn’t have enough storage, the rest of your bathroom will suffer. We spoke with six bathroom and vanity designers to get the professional scoop. Here are their suggestions for this bathroom cornerstone.” Click here to read the full article from Houzz.  ...

Five Things to Consider Before Replacing Your Vanity

by | Jul 5, 2017 | Homeowners, Interior Designers

Five things to consider BEFORE replacing your vanity. When it comes to vanities, it’s easy to focus on sinks and faucets. While the cabinet may not be the most glamorous part, choosing the right style can make or break the entire bathroom design. It’s why you need to consider these five characteristics before you make a change. Placement Where your vanity goes is just as important as how it looks. Things to consider are… Is there room for traffic to flow, even if drawers or doors are open? Do the drawers or doors block the shower door or other doors? Is there adequate space for a mirror and/or medicine chest on the wall above? Plumbing Moving the vanity to a different location requires plumbing changes that add to the overall re-model costs. Even changing from a floor-mounted vanity to a wall-mounted version may require rerouting pipes and drains; therefore it’s important to budget accordingly. Materials Since bath rooms are humid and vanities can be wet and busy; you need materials that can stand up to these conditions. Thermafoil and laminates hold up well. Wood can be used but must be sealed properly to prevent water stains and warping. Size Vanities need to be scaled to the size of the room they’re in. Some designers recommend adding 20% more storage space than you think you’ll need. The problem is – cram in a vanity that’s too big and it throws off the overall balance. We’ll talk about how to increase storage efficiency in the next section. The other consideration is height. The traditional standard for vanities is 32” high, but...

Laundry Room Trends

by | Jun 28, 2017 | Homeowners, Interior Designers

Whether your laundry room is large or small, you want to make the best use of what space you have. Once simply a nook for a washer and dryer; it’s become multi-functional. In many homes, the laundry room often forms a transition from garage or backyard to the rest of the house… and it’s more active than ever! Here are some ideas of how to use creative cabinetry to maximize every inch. Arizona’s Version of the Mud Room Mud rooms, traditionally the room with benches, hooks, and cubby holes, were set up for anyone entering wearing dirty, wet clothing. And they’re great for desert climates, this time for swimsuits! It’s the room to leave clothing on the way in or the way out. Hooks work well for wet towels and bathing suits. Kids can have their own cubby holes to keep clothing organized. Get the Dog Out of the Bathroom Large sinks to shampoo your pet(s) eliminate chaos in the bathroom and keep bathtubs in the domain of humans. Farmhouse sinks with their deep bowls and upfront placement ease the process. Use open shelves nearby to store all items needed to keep your furry friends clean. Creative Additions Ease Laundry Tasks Recessed upper cabinets open countertop space for sorting and folding laundry. Additional items like fold-out drying racks (mounted on walls or cabinet sides), clothes rods and built-in ironing boards keep everything you need within reach. Liven Up the Atmosphere With Color There’s no reason why the laundry room can’t look as good as the rest of the interior. Get cabinets in complementary hues to lighten and brighten the...

Cabinet door styles that buck the trend

by | Jun 21, 2017 | Contractors, Homeowners

In “Cabinet Doors – Today’s best look and Fit” we discussed three types of cabinet doors. The current trend is towards Full Overlay, or Euro-style doors, for their simple, clean appearance and storage efficiency. Check any home design web site and you’ll find lots of rooms remodeled with Shaker cabinets – a popular design this year. But suppose you don’t like the style? Of don’t follow the crowd? That’s easy. Consider the following options to create your signature design. Four ways to add texture. Louvered doors - wood slats typically used on windows, furniture pieces, and interior doors, create a distinct architectural looks that differentiates kitchens, baths, garages, and laundry rooms. Spacing the slats allows ventilation that works well for cabinets hiding clothes dryer, cable boxes, and other electronics.  Drawbacks include a heavy price tag and uneven surfaces. These contours require more care to keep clean and aren’t the best fit for homeowners wanting less maintenance. If you dream about an antique style kitchen, Distressed doors, like those with the corners rubbed off, provide that comfortable, lived–in feeling. There are other distressing techniques you can choose any door style for your personal look. Just remember- this extra work gets costly. Generally, there’s a 15 to 20 percent up-charge for a tradesperson to create what you want. For those who love the cottage style, Beadboard’s center panel is proven to be timeless… Traditionally, beadboard was used as a decorative wall treatment before plaster, drywall and paint became popular. Currently not considered a trend, the style’s lasted for ages.  Usually painted in a shade of white…just beware… all those little cracks...