S. Lewis

Kitchen islands are among the most desirable features in kitchen design today.  You practically can’t open a magazine or flip on HGTV without a designer or homeowner gushing about their new custom island. But if you happen to have a smaller kitchen, you’re probably feeling a little out of the loop. After all, islands aren’t for small kitchens, right? Well, it turns out, that might not be the case. Small kitchen islands can be a wonderful improvement to a storage-limited kitchen, you just need to be careful to choose the right size, shape, and placement. Clear The Aisles First and foremost, any island should be a natural part of the kitchen it’s in. That means you shouldn’t expect to cram a huge luxury island into your tiny kitchen, and just because an island can fit doesn’t mean it should. For a kitchen island that you can use comfortably, you should have at least a 36″ walkway on all sides of the island, more if multiple people use the kitchen at the same time. As well, even if you technically have the space, you should always opt for a smaller island rather than a larger one that will block an important thoroughfare. Be Aware Of Appliances Not only should you account for your need to move around in your kitchen, but (just as important but much easier to forget) you should make sure you’ll be able to fully open the doors of your refrigerator, dishwasher, oven, trash compactor without bumping into your new kitchen island. And being just able to open them to the inch isn’t good enough either -  you want to be able to actually get into your appliances without being crammed against or dodging an oversized island. Don’t Block The Triangle The most compelling reason NOT to have a kitchen island in any size kitchen, but especially in a smaller one, is that they can be a little obtrusive if you find yourself continually having to walk around them. But this is a problem that’s easily avoided with a little care and attention. Every kitchen has what’s known as the work triangle, the three points being your refrigerator, your stove, and your sink. Figure out how you move between these three spots, and make sure whatever island you install doesn’t interfere with it. A long, thin island might technically fit in your kitchen, but if it’s right between your sink and your stove, you definitely aren’t going to be happy having it there. A round island would allow you to move more freely while still offering you a secondary prep space.. Don’t Just Think Size Of course the main consideration in choosing a kitchen island for a smaller kitchen is its size and shape. Too big or poorly oriented and it might not even fit inside your kitchen at all. But size really shouldn’t be the only consideration – you also need to think about what kind of storage you want it to have. Open islands are nice for basket storage, shelves are great for cookbooks or wine bottles, and closed cabinets can extend your pantry storage or even offer room for more small appliances. Whatever you choose, it’s important to use the space to fill the need of whatever your kitchen happens to be lacking. Focus On The Prep When home design shows talk about kitchen islands, they’re really talking about entertaining hubs – islands with a sink and range and seating for four or more, Benihana style. But if you have a relatively small kitchen, that probably isn’t right for you. Focus on the most important thing: adding prep space. Small square or circular islands with built in butcher blocks are perfect for this, essentially adding a floating cutting board to the middle of your kitchen and allowing you more room to set down and chop up ingredients, preferably in the center of your work triangle. What About Seating? Now, in a small kitchen you probably won’t have enough room for a full breakfast style kitchen island with seating for your whole family. But with a little creative designing, it’s entirely possible to incorporate one or even two seats without taking up much space. For a custom kitchen island, consider incorporating a counter top that extends a few extra inches off the side of the island on one or two sides. Or, look for a pre-made vanity with an open base where you can store a small bar stool or two when they aren’t in use. Either way, makes a pleasant place for breakfast for one, a place to take phone calls, jot down notes, or just sit and read while waiting to rotate baking sheets. How big (or small) is your kitchen? Do you mostly want a kitchen island for style, or are you craving more counter or cabinet space?

Read full version: How To Make Kitchen Islands Work In A Small Kitchen
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S. Lewis

For a primary or master bathroom, type and amount of storage is often a main concern in terms of choosing a new bathroom vanity. Even (or especially) in small bathrooms, efficiency and functionality are extremely important. But the priorities and considerations for half bathrooms and guest bathrooms is a little different. There’s less that needs to be stored, and space is often at a premium. For a guest bathroom or powder room in particular, you want a vanity that’s attractive and versatile enough for company, but that takes up as little space as possible. In a half bath, powder room, or guest bathroom, chances are you aren’t going to need to store a hair drier and electric razor or bottle of shampoo the way you would in a full bath. In fact, you probably won’t need to store anything beyond a bar of soap, spare towels, and a few extra rolls of TP. I actually really like minimalist vanities like the one above – bare bones but well designed, with enticing colors and patterns. Between the towel bar and spare shelf, it’s simple to artistically arrange the necessities in a whole lot less space than a traditional bathroom vanity. One summer I sublet the second floor of a house that had been converted into flats. It was a lovely space, with one exception – the only bathroom was a half bath with a bathtub and shower head crammed under the gabled roof. You could easily touch all four walls with your arms extended, and nearly all the floor space was taken up by a big, unsightly cabinet style bathroom vanity. You Cannot. Imagine. what I would have done to get my hands on something like this Marina vanity. At less than 16 inches wide and a mere 10 inches deep, it’s pure efficiency, offering all the utility a just-that-small bathroom needs while leaving space to add much needed shelves on the side. In fact, in some bathrooms having a vanity that’s shallow is even more important than having one that’s narrow. This Enjoy vanity is on the wider side for a half bathroom, but about half as deep as an average cabinet style vanity. That means it physically takes up much less space while also offering storage that’s more easily accessible. Granted, there isn’t counter space for much more than a bar or bottle of soap, but the two drawers and small cabinet more than make up for it. I particularly like the Abba vanity from the Wyndham Collection because it’s ideally suited for a guest bathroom. With a clear spa/hotel inspiration, it offers four separate smaller drawers to allow guests to easily store small personal items, and two shelves that are the perfect size for rolled up towels. Some guests (myself included) can be a bit squeamish about digging through a larger bathroom cabinet, and having the essentials – towels and bath tissue – where they’re easily visible is a great way to make them feel more comfortable in your home. This Catalina vanity from RonBow is an even more extreme example of the same idea: shirking a large cabinet and drawers entirely, it offers only a single open shelf beneath the sink. For a guest bathroom, this says there’s nothing off limits. In a powder room, it offers just enough storage space for the basics while freeing up quite a bit of floor space, which can make a very small half bath feel a little less crowded. If open shelves leave something wanting in terms of private storage for your guests, bathroom vanities made with a single large drawer offer a nice alternative. Most traditional cabinet style bathroom vanities waste the space immediately below the sink because it’s occupied by both the sink and the plumbing for the faucet. Vanities that have above-counter sinks and faucets with streamlined plumbing offer a large, U-shaped drawer that’s sectioned off on the inside and ideal for storing small items, like spare toothbrushes or bars of soap. You’ll likely need a separate towel storage and a toilet paper stand, but your guests’ intimate items can be kept private. What’s the most important feature for you in the new bathroom vanity for your guest bathroom, half bath, or powder room? Are you most interested in size, style, or storage? Let me know in the comments!

Read full version: Alternative Bathroom Vanities For A Half Bath Or Guest Bathroom
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S. Lewis

Much of interior design is modernizing – streamlining shapes and simplifying design to reflect the more casual contemporary lifestyle. But if there’s one space where opulence reigns – and rightly so – it’s the bedroom. A good bedroom set should have comfort and style in spades, and nothing does that quite like an antique design. Antique beds in particular make a bold, elegant statement piece that can help recreate a little old world style and luxury. Anything But Basic Bed frames run the gamut from almost invisible in their simplicity to hugely ornate and decorative. They all serve the same purpose: to elevate a mattress to a comfortable level and give it a sturdy, supportive base. But antique bed frames go a step and beyond and then some, including not only a headboard and baseboard, but also often elegant features like deep, sleigh style sideboards, elaborately carved platforms, or decorative posts that enhance the luxury style of the bed. Emphasis On Woodwork What primarily distinguishes antique beds from any other sort of decorative bed frame is the degree of ornamentation in the design. There are plenty of beautiful headboards out there, from simple conventional wood designs on the contemporary end to faux snake leather and Swarovski crystals on the highly modern end. But antique beds are easily distinguished by their elaborate, intricate floral carvings and highly detailed designs. This four poster bed is covered with wood carvings from head to toe, with a special emphasis on the posts, and has the regal air of the furniture used by the European aristocracy. Highlighting Natural Wood In addition to the carved detailing, antique beds are often made to showcase exotic, expensive woods. Mahogany and cherry are both traditional choices, and create a rich, lustrous appearance. Admittedly, contemporary versions are more often made to look like they’re made of expensive wood than they are actually made of expensive wood, (since mahogany is harder to come by for most of us than it would have been for upper class Victorian designers!), but often include beautiful wood veneers that ultimately give the same sophisticated look. Color Options? That said, for all the emphasis placed on wood and woodwork in antique design, you do have options beyond a simple choice of wood tone in what your antique bed frame will look like. PolRey in particular offers a wide selection of bench-made, hand-finished antique replica furniture that’s available not only in the traditional oak, mahogany, and walnut finishes, but also pearl, ivory, and gold enamels with delicate hand painted detailing. This makes for a softer, more feminine antique bed that’s a better match for bright, well-lit spaces and lighter decors. Using Antique Beds To Enhance A Modern Decor While platform and sleigh style antique beds aren’t entirely all that different from more contemporary designs (though obviously with a whole lot more detailing), four post antique beds very clearly have their roots in an older time. Originally popularized in the medieval Europe, four post beds once supported either a wooden or cloth platform (or canopy) and could be enclosed with curtains on all open sides. Now canopy and four poster beds are merely decorative, as they aren’t particularly needed for warmth or privacy. Still, a four post bed can be used quite effectively to accentuate the height of a tall room and lend a regal air to an old world design. Complete Antique Bedroom Sets It probably comes as no surprise that many of these ornate, ornamental antique beds come as part of larger bedroom sets. After all, carved detailing is difficult to match under the best of circumstances, and a luxury antique bed would look a little out of place with an otherwise modern decor. To that end, most antique beds come paired at least with a night stand, dresser, and mirror, and sometimes an antique armoire or second dresser, making it simple to get a complete antique bedroom design. What do you think of antique beds and bedroom sets?

Read full version: Ornate Antique Beds And Bedroom Sets For An Opulent Old World Style
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S. Lewis

For a long time now, crystal has been the go-to material when it comes to chandeliers. From a few teardrops to chandeliers made more of crystal than anything, crystal chandeliers are so ubiquitous that the “crystal” is practically implied just in the word “chandelier.” And there’s every reason for it – the beautiful optic quality of crystals makes them perfect for ornamentation, and brings out the best qualities of electric and natural light. But even the simplest machine made crystals – to say nothing of ones that are entirely made by hand – can be extremely expensive. Glass chandeliers offer a more modern alternative that’s much, much more affordable, without sacrificing much of this sophisticated traditional style. The Difference Between Glass And Crystal In truth, the crystals on a crystal chandelier are actually made of glass – but it’s glass that’s fortified with lead oxide or other compounds.  The elements mixed into the glass have a whole lot of scientific effects, but in essence they make the glass sparklier and easier to shape, so it can be cut into the familiar reflective prisms. Regular glass chandeliers are typically made of loops or globes of glass rather than crystals, but while they do reflect light, they don’t refract it as well – meaning, essentially, they aren’t quite as sparkly. Shop Lighting Pendants by Zuo Modern: The Cost Of “Hand Made” It isn’t only the additional material that goes into leaded glass that makes it more expensive – it’s also an issue of labor. Most heirloom quality crystal chandeliers are made with individually hand cut crystals produced by master artisans at a handful of companies from around the world. It’s part of their signature stamp of elegance and value, especially in an era of machine-made products. But even glass chandeliers with each piece made by hand, like this gorgeous Solexa chandelier, are much, much less expensive than their crystal equivalents because they don’t require a proprietary “recipe” for the glass mixture or chemical coatings commonly applied to lead crystals. Shop Lighting Pendants by Elk Lighting: More Shimmer Per Square Inch With the exception of very large chandeliers, most heirloom quality crystal chandeliers are decorated with a few teardrop crystals hung from a metal frame rather than primarily with crystals. This is because the sheer complexity and material cost of building a tall chandelier with many large, long crystals make them prohibitively expensive. Of course they exist, but the difference between crystal and glass can be thousands or even tens of thousands of dollars. Glass chandeliers offer a more transparent design at a much lower cost, without all the cast brass ornamentation of very traditional chandeliers. Live For The Loop Another advantage of glass chandeliers is that while leaded crystals have a strict prism structure, pure glass can be formed in a variety of shapes without diminishing its appearance. One of the most common shapes used is a simple loop, linking or even knotting drop-shaped strands of glass to one another. Again, this allows for a chandelier that showcases the glass pieces rather than ornamental brass arms. This also creates a seamless sheath of glass around the bulbs, meaning that each piece catches more light than a traditional crystal, making up somewhat for the difference in clarity, refraction, and dispersion that characterize lead crystals. Shop Lighting Pendants by Nuevo: Unique Designs Not all glass chandeliers are made to resemble their crystal brethren – and in fact this is part of their appeal. Draped crystals are lovely, but they are somewhat limited in terms of shape. Beyond limiting how they can be hung, this even limits the possibilities of the overall style of the lighting fixture. Modern glass chandeliers and pendants can have wildly unique designs, from a thin, feathery fringe of tiny wisps of glass to a cascade of glass baubles or even a totally unique molded glass shape designed specifically to catch the light. More Modern Appeal Finally, while crystal chandeliers can definitely work in a modern decor, it’s a very bold choice that has to be pulled off with a skillful hand, and creates a look that’s much more chic and upscale than the average homeowner might want. Some glass chandeliers offer a playful twist on the classing design, toning it down, streamlining it, and making it new to better match a contemporary home. Others  shirk tradition entirely, creating a new, sophisticated artistic design with both feet in a modern style. If you’re looking for a new twist on a classic design, or just a way to save while building a sophisticated look, glass chandeliers offer a stiff competition to more traditional crystal. What do you think of glass chandeliers? Are you looking for a very modern chandelier, or a way to incorporate a classic style into a contemporary space?

Read full version: Ditch The Crystal – Beautiful, Budget-Friendly Glass Chandeliers
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S. Lewis

To me, the biggest difference between traditional and modern lighting fixtures is innovation. Lovely as they may be, and often grand and stunning as they are, there isn’t a whole lot of variety in traditional lighting fixtures in shape, style, form, or material.  But with modern lighting, the sky is really the limit – modern designers embrace any and every type of light, no matter how unusual or even wild the design, and use them to turn a utilitarian light socket into a stunning, artistic focal point. Spiral pendants are one great example of this. With sinuous lines and a totally unique shape, they’re definitely eye catching, and anything but ordinary. Uniformly Irregular Traditional lighting fixtures are overwhelmingly uniform, if not outright symmetrical. Classic crystal chandeliers are designed with tiered, radial arms, while even most pendant lights are pointedly made to match, with lights hung at the same height an equal distance apart from one another. Spiral pendants chuck all this convention to the wind, varying the height of each light and the spacing between them to form a descending spiral of lights. Shop Lighting Pendants by Zuo Modern: How Many Lights? What I particularly like about spiral pendants is that even the style itself is quite versatile. I’ve seen ones with as many as a dozen lights down to as few as three – it all depends on how grand the style and how large the space. Ones with dozens of glass globes catch the light and are reminiscent of more traditional spiral chandeliers, while simple three-light spiral pendants like the one above simply offer a fresh, slightly asymmetrical twist on the conventional three-light pendant. Shop Lighting Pendants by Landmark Lighting: How Tall? Of course, how tall a spiral pendant is depends a little on how many lights it has – a 3-light spiral pendant is going to be a lot smaller than one with 6 or 8. Even so, the height varies between fixtures with the same number of lights as well; while 3-light fixtures tend to hover around a foot tall, larger fixtures can range anywhere from four to eight feet, depending on the distance between each light and the distance from the highest light to the ceiling. Shop Lighting Pendants by Eglo: Small Spaces, High Ceilings Of course, there are more reasons for these changes than pure style. Modern design is more prevalent in urban spaces than rural ones, and urban spaces tend to be on the smaller side. By extension, a grand, five tier entryway chandelier might look lovely in the foyer of an old Victorian home, but might very well not even fit in an upscale urban loft. If you have decently high ceilings but not an unlimited amount of floor space, spiral pendants are an excellent alternative to a more traditional chandelier, as they’re very tall, but also typically compact in width. Making A Table Ornament Even without high ceilings, spiral pendants can still make a lovely statement piece – you’ll just need to be sure not to put one where you might walk into it or bump your head on it. With a lower ceiling, consider placing a spiral pendant over a table – either a dining table or a coffee table or game table. This allows the lowest light to hang just above the center of the table, so the lights seem to cascade down onto it, but well out of the way of anyone sitting or walking past. Sassy Spokes Shop Lighting Pendants by Nuevo: While most spiral pendants are strung up on thin, transparent threads, a small subset of them are built with much smaller lights fixed to much larger, thicker spokes. Rather than the sinuous, gravity-free appearance of other spiral pendants, these have a heftier, more masculine appearance, reminiscent of a basket weave or wheel. Like pulley lights, these are better for a slightly industrial style rather than a posh and polished urban chic. What do you think of spiral pendants?

Read full version: Spiral Pendants – An Elegant Modern Style For Your Home
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S. Lewis

In a time where manufacturers are capable of resurrecting any furniture design from almost any point in history, it isn’t much surprise that some older styles are making a comeback. At the forefront in bathroom and kitchen cabinetry is a revival of the Shaker style. Shaker bathroom vanities in particular are finding a new home in warm, casual contemporary bathrooms, with their elegant combination of sturdy construction, simple lines, and warm wood tones. What Are Shaker Bathroom Vanities? The Shakers were am ascetic religious group that immigrated to America in the 1770s. Among other things, they were brilliant craftsmen and furniture makers. Their furniture reflected their way of life: it was simple, functional, and made to last. Though many more ornate and decadent furniture styles have come and gone since then, Shaker style furniture – including Shaker bathroom vanities – have made a major comeback in recent years. Their simple lines and high functionality matches nicely with a modern design and an overall more casual mentality. Shop Kaco Bathroom Vanities: Simple Lines Perhaps the defining characteristic of Shaker bathroom vanities is their simplicity. Made with simple lines, clear angles, and sturdy planks of wood, Shaker design is not complicated, but it’s immediately identifiable. Typically, cabinet doors are framed with a raised rectangle of wood ornamented with very simple circular door pulls. Shaker bathroom vanities are primarily wood bathroom vanities, where the wood itself is really allowed to shine without any other ornamentation. Shop RonBow Bathroom Vanities: Locally Sourced Materials Like furniture made during the American Craftsman movement, Shaker furniture was made locally and by hand, with an emphasis on natural, locally-sourced materials. Contemporary Shaker bathroom vanities aren’t often made by hand (very little furniture is these days, unfortunately), and can be made from material from a variety of sources depending on the manufacturer. But even with the changes of the last 250 or so years, Shaker furniture still emphasizes the woodwork, showing off the grain and warm honey colors that stand in sharp contrast to modern espresso brown MDF. Shop Hardware Resources Bathroom Vanities: Comfortable Country Design In fact, because Shaker bathroom vanities put such a strong emphasis on natural materials and vibrant, golden wood tones, they make a very nice contrast to similarly minimalist vanities in a more modern style. While modern design is often a bit cool and even sterile, Shaker bathroom vanities add warmth and rustic country style comfort to a contemporary space, while still maintaining the sleek, polished finish and smooth straight lines of a more modern aesthetic. Shop Sunnywood Bathroom Vanities: Durable Shaker Design One of the hallmarks of Shaker furniture is quality construction. Now, if I’m being honest, Shaker design was so good and had such a powerful influence on the way furniture is made today that you’d be a little hard pressed to find furniture that isn’t made with similar solid jointing. But even still, Shaker furniture in general and Shaker bathroom vanities in particular are really designed to last. If you don’t know much about furniture making, be sure to look for cabinets that feature dovetail jointing at least in the drawers if not in the entirety of the vanity, as this method ensures added strength and durability. Shop Legion Furniture Bathroom Vanities: Old World Style For A Contemporary Bathroom In modern design, there are really two camps: those that are going for a sleek, chic, urban decor, and ones that hearken back to a simpler, more natural time.  The latter shows up in many ways, from Asian inspired bathrooms to luxurious spa designs and even outdoor bathrooms. Shaker bathroom vanities fit well in this camp, since after all the design is from a simpler time and based on furniture used by people that lived simpler lives. I especially like this look paired with other natural wood or stone accents, and lots of open white space to create a clean, slightly rustic look. Shop Avanity Bathroom Vanities: What do you think of Shaker bathroom vanities, or Shaker furniture in general? And when it comes to a modern design, do you prefer yours with a hint of city or a little old world country twist? Shop All Bathroom Vanities:

Read full version: Shaker Bathroom Vanities For A Contemporary Bathroom
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S. Lewis

Yesterday I talked a bit about how well the color white works in modern design, especially win modern lighting fixtures. But it’s a topic near and dear to my heart, and one that I think is worth revisiting. So, if Part 1 was about light, shadow, and texture, today I’d like to talk about shape and motion. White lighting fixtures are daring, able to cram a whole lot of detail into a small space almost purely by virtue of the simplicity of the color, and the sculpture-like quality of white makes for some amazingly statuesque designs. Makeshift Motion This Millennia white lighting fixture is actually very simple: it’s made of stacked, slightly offset triangles of white metal with a bulb inside. But the design creates a spectacular sense of motion – almost like a mobile, despite the fact that the shade itself is stationary. The way the light shines through the cracks between each layer enhances this sensation of motion and depth, while the juxtaposition of the lines creates the illusion of curves. The result? A modern pendant light that’s both incredibly simple and extremely eye-catching. Shop Lighting Pendants by Zuo Modern: Repeating Parts Similarly, this Twirl pendant is made of dozens of repeating half circles stacked and wound around a central pole to create a gorgeous spiral reminiscent of a seashell. Each individual piece of this white lighting fixture is spaced close enough together to create the illusion of a solid object, but also left just far enough apart to allow a little light to slip through. The result is a beautiful contrast of light and shadow, the impression of movement (it reminds me abstractly of a pinwheel or wind sock), and above all, incredibly unique – perfect for a creating a modern space, especially if you want to try a white-on-white design. Shop Lighting Pendants by Nuevo: Make A Statement With Shape One of the greatest things about white lighting fixtures is that white shows every shape and every curve, highlighting edges and folds dramatically in a sharp contrast of light and shadow. Some of my favorite designs use simple repeating textures like this spectacular Meringue pendant, which glows from within when turned on and catches shadows when left off in natural light. More than most types of lamps, and certainly more than any other color, white lighting fixtures offer an extremely tactile experience, with every detail shown as the light filters through different parts of the light differently. Lights On And Lights Off This Cerebro pendant is a close cousin of the Meringue, with tighter looped folds that look almost like ruffles. Here, the light is pictured off, but in full view of natural light from a pair of french doors. The effect makes this white lighting fixture extremely bright, while the “dark side” shows off the rippling, ruffly, (brain like?) texture as it gradually falls into shadow. White lighting fixtures in general and modern pendants like this one in particular become a central statement piece in any room you put them in, drawing the eye whether they’re turned on or not. Manipulate The Shape Observative readers may have noticed that where white lighting fixtures bend inwards, they appear brighter, while outer edges are darkened. Well, smart designers take full advantage of this fact and play up the edges and indentations to full effect. This Intergalactic pendant goes even a step farther, spacing each of the round slices of the lamp just far enough apart that they actually cast shadows on themselves. That way, not only does the “eye” of the light seem to glow, but the carefully arranged shape has a double appearance of depth. Go Bold White lighting fixtures have the freedom to be a whole lot more bold than most other designs. Because ostensibly a white fixture can blend back into a white background more than, say, a lamp done in neon orange and butterfly polka dots, they can get away with a lot more without actually looking busy. This Jacques pendant is nothing if not wild, with dozens of stacked acrylic disks, but because it’s done in white, it manages to work. Rather than looking busy, it looks almost statuesque, but also extremely modern – a statement piece that manages to be both subtle and bold. What do you think of white lighting fixtures? Is this very modern design something you’d like to see in your own home? Shop Lighting Pendants:

Read full version: White Lighting Fixtures (Part 2) – Having Fun With Shapes
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S. Lewis

I once had an sculpture instructor who insisted that all the projects we turned in were painted flat white. Why? Because flat white is the great equalizer: it shows every detail and every dent, every mark and every mar – it’s the true test of ability, and done right, one of the most spectacular displays of skill and artistry. It’s a philosophy that’s stuck with me ever since. Flat white catches shadow and light equally well, showing beautiful shapes even with an ostensibly simple design, and there’s no better display for it than a modern white lighting fixture. Ditch The Traditional White Lamp Shade The typical yawn-fest lamp shade is usually white or off white. But while you can get some creative designs in the traditional shade-shape (and some very pretty textures), where white lighting fixtures really shine is where they break the mold. This Yoshimi pendant, for example, takes the idea of a conventional cylindrical lamp shade and explodes it with 18 tiny lamp shades on a starburst of asymmetrical arms. Not only does this create a totally unique look while it’s turned off, when it’s turned on, it makes for a spectacular play of light. Shop Lighting Pendants by Nuevo: Double Down Similarly, this Caresse pendant puts tradition on its head by utilizing dozens of miniature conical shades in a variety of shapes and unique designs. Like traditional lamp shades, they cover individual bulbs, but the similarity stops there. Each tiny shade is individually shaped and crafted, some with tiers or swirls, some with scallops, pin-sized holes, or flared or narrowed bases. Essentially a mobile, this fixture is playful, a little tongue in cheek, and artistically gorgeous, with each individual “shade” catching and flinging out light and playing up the shadows cast by its comrades. Deconstructed Lamp Shade It’s my personal belief that modern design is best when it takes something traditional and iconic and makes it new.  That can mean anything from a modern riff on an antique to something like this brilliant Orba pendant. Though it’s actually made of metal, the semi-concentric loops of material look very much like a very large lamp shade was cut to ribbons and reassembled. The look is utterly cutting edge, but with just that hint of familiarity that means you won’t need a wild design to make it work. Let Shadows Rule… Traditionally lamp shades are intended to, well, shade lamps – that is, to help normalize and soften the harsh glare of a bare bulb while still allowing it to light up a room. But this functionality is easily achieved without such a utilitarian design, and white lighting fixtures can be daringly modern while doing it. Not only does white glow beautifully when lit from the inside, but areas that aren’t lit directly do an excellent job of picking up shadows. This very white Asparagus pendant, placed on a white background, maintains its eye-catching figure by contrast of light and shadow, creating its own shape by where the light hits it, whether the bulbs inside are on or not. …And Light Play If you’re having trouble picturing what such a light might look like turned on, this Photon pendant from Zuo Modern is another lovely example. Here again, the light and shadow give shape to each curved piece of this white lighting fixture, creating beautiful shades of light and darkness simply by using a color that would otherwise be described as plain. Better still, even when the bulbs are turned off, the artistry of this contemporary chandelier will still show through as ambient natural light plays on the individual pieces. Shop Lighting Pendants by Zuo Modern: Have Fun With Texture Of course, one of the most fun ways to enjoy white lighting fixtures is to play not just with shape but with texture. In the same way that a rough textile lamp shade can be more visually arresting than a simple satin pleated one, choosing a rough white material is a great way to dress up the simple color. This Opulence string lamp and its ilk are a common but stylish example, creating a web of depth and texture that functionally shades the bulb while allowing small, gossamer peek-throughs that are sure to captivate. What do you think of these stylish white lighting fixtures? Do you like the play of shadow and light on white, or do you prefer your lights a little more substantial, dressier, or just plain more colorful? Shop All Lighting Pendants:

Read full version: White Lighting Fixtures – A Simple Way To Get A Modern Look
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S. Lewis

LED shower heads are starting to pop up all over in modern bathroom design. These sleek fixtures light up when you turn on the water, casting a vibrant glow in an array of colors that can transform the inside of your shower into a modern statement piece or a relaxing spa getaway. But while LED shower heads are certainly a novelty, they aren’t only for show. How Do LED Shower Heads Work? LED shower heads contain small LED lights dotted in between the spray nozzles. But while LED faucets for kitchen and bathroom taps often rely on batteries to power the lights, LED shower heads are almost always hydropowered. That means the water moving through the shower head itself is what illuminates the lights. One cool side effect is that the brightness of the lights depends on the intensity of the water, meaning you can get the ambiance you want simply by altering the flow. Shop LED Shower Heads: Visual Temperature Gauge Some LED shower heads have only one color setting, but the vast majority have at least two if not four or more. In many cases, these colors are triggered by a change in the temperature of the water flowing through them. This gives you a visual indicator of the temperature of the water, and, like a more traditional thermostatic valve, can alert you if the water reaches scalding temperatures. Unlike a true anti-scald valve, an LED shower head won’t turn off if the water rises above a certain temperature (usually in the neighborhood of 120 degrees F), but the light will begin flashing red, alerting you to the danger. Multitude Of Colors LED shower heads that have more than two color settings (though the most common are red and blue for cool and hot) can give you an even more precise indicator of the temperature levels of the water you’re about to step into. Those from Sumerain come in green, blue, purple, red, and flashing red, in order of increasing heat. If you like your shower a specific temperature, LED shower heads offer a great visual guide to get it exactly the way you want it without any danger of freezing or burning yourself. Shop LED Hand Shower: Chromotherapy In addition to offering a pretty cool style and unique safety options, color-changing LED shower heads can actually be good for your health. Various colors and especially various colored light have been shown to have a positive impact on mood, and by choosing a shower head that can produce many multiple colored lights, you can help set your mood for the day right from your morning shower. Of course, this is a little more difficult with a shower head where the colors are linked to temperature, but models where the color can easily be changed offer a simple way to introduce color therapy into your morning routine. DIY Installation What’s especially nice about LED shower heads is that while they offer a whole lot more technological punch than your average shower head, they aren’t any more difficult to install. Without any external power source or any other odd parts, installing an LED shower head is as simple as unscrewing the old shower head, cleaning the shower arm, and screwing on the new one. The water flowing through the shower head will provide the light, and long-lived LED bulbs should last for the life of the shower head. Part Of A Larger Shower System While LED shower heads are easily installed on their own, they also make a nice addition to a larger shower system, and work well as part of a custom shower. Because many LED shower heads are rainfall shower heads, they can easily be added as a secondary or even tertiary shower head, in addition to a standard and hand-held shower. If you’re planning on building a custom steam bath, LED shower heads also blend quite well with built-in chromotherapy devices that install directly into your shower wall. LED shower heads offer a great combination of style, comfort, and safety, a sleek and beautiful option for a modern spa bath, while staying in the same general price bracket as other luxury shower heads. What interests you most about LED shower heads – the style, the safety, or just the novelty? Let me know in the comments!

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S. Lewis

In American culture, the bathroom is a fairly utilitarian space: take a quick shower in the morning, brush your teeth, do your business, rinse, repeat. This is starting to change somewhat with the growing popularity of luxury bathrooms, but even so-called spa bathrooms are mostly seen as a place to unwind and get a little R&R. But luxury bathroom design offers a wealth of opportunities to create a space that’s not just good for encouraging peace of mind, but actually promotes good health. To get the most of a major bathroom remodel, here are a few features and fixtures to consider. Hydrotherapy (Bath) Whirlpool bathtubs are a mainstay of luxury bathroom design, but in addition to being a go-to marker of style, they’re also good for your health. These high-capacity water and air-jetted tubs are similar to ones used by professional athletes and physical therapists to help ease tense and sore muscles, improve blood flow, and enhance physical mobility. For someone with back or joint problems, spending time in a hydrotherapy whirlpool tub can genuinely improve your day to day comfort levels and even your mobility. Shop Whirlpool Tubs: Hydrotherapy (Shower) Of course, not everyone has time to fill a hundred gallon tub full of water and soak in it. But while soaking can help take some of the pressure off sore joints, a hydrotherapy shower built with multiple shower heads and body sprays can help relieve muscle pain by creating a deep, all-over massage. Hydrotherapy showers also have the added benefit of steam (even if they aren’t true steam showers) which can help relieve sinus pressure. Hydrotherapy showers can be anything from a fully designed 360 degree custom shower to a simple shower panel, so long as the water sprays reach a majority of your body. Shop Shower Panels: Chromotherapy Science has shown that various colors have an effect on mood – blue is calming, yellow is energizing, and so on. Chromotherapy uses this effect to enhance the relaxing and revitalizing aspects of your bath or shower. Now, chromotherapy is rarely used on its own – that is, there aren’t a whole lot of luxury bathrooms soley lit by color-changing LED lights. But they are frequently included in other luxury bathroom fixtures, like whirlpool tubs, steam showers, and even designer shower heads. Because of the way light interacts with water, when the LEDs are on, all the water is illuminated, producing a relaxing glow in the color of your choice. Shop LED Shower Heads: Aromatherapy Of all the health beneficial luxury bathroom features mentioned here, aromatherapy is probably the most familiar. If you’ve ever used a bath bomb or scented bath salts to help unwind, the basic principle is there: like color, various scents can have a powerful effect on mood. Lavender is relaxing and citrus energizing, while other scents have physical effects, like eucalyptus, which can help open the sinuses, peppermint, which can enhance memory and alertness, and jasmine, which can reduce stress and anxiety. Both steam baths and many towel warmers incorporate essential oil aromatherapy into their design, allowing you to fill your shower or bathroom with mood, mind, and body-enhancing scents. Shop Towel Warmers: Steam Or Heat Therapy Both steam and heat therapy have been used around the world for thousands of years, from the Roman baths to Nordic saunas to Native American sweat lodges. Each uses a combination of heat and steam to promote circulation, clear the sinuses, and remove toxins from the body. Standalone saunas and shower-integrated steam baths both offer myriad health benefits, and are rapidly gaining popularity in North American home design. Combined with chromotherapy and aromatherapy (and even hydrotherapy, in a steam shower), a steam bath or sauna can give you the intense relaxation of a spa right in your own home. Shop Sauna Rooms: Bidets This might seem a strange addition to this list, especially to American readers, but bidets are starting to gain acceptance in high end luxury bathrooms in the States. In other parts of the world, they’re much more commonplace, and there are more than a few arguments to be made in their favor. Bidets (or high tech toilet seats attached to regular toilet) provide a more thorough and gentler cleaning without the irritation associated with rough toilet paper. For anyone with bowel problems, bidets can provide immediate relief; for those with limited mobility, they can provide a degree of independence in terms of personal hygiene that regular toilets simply can’t offer. And because bidets are completely hands-free in operation, they can even help prevent the spread of bacteria. Plus, you’ll never have to buy toilet paper again. Shop Bidets: What luxury bathroom features are you looking for? And how do you like to pamper yourself?

Read full version: Six Luxury Bathroom Upgrades That Are Good For Your Health
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S. Lewis

With newer kitchens trending more and more toward professional grade cooking appliances – especially large gas ranges – it’s more important than ever to have proper ventilation. Ducted range hoods improve indoor air quality, keep kitchens cleaner, and even help lower heating and cooling costs. Of course, not all models are created equal, and there are a few features to look for specifically, but XtremeAir range hoods definitely come out at the front of the pack. Ventilation Type First and foremost, the best range hoods are ducted range hoods that vent outside – XtremeAir’s specialty. A good kitchen ventilation system will pull heat, smoke, steam, and grease away from the cooktop and keep it from ever escaping into the kitchen in the first place. Ideally, the ductwork should be as close to the exterior of the home as possible, and make as few 90 degree turns as possible to aid the flow of grease and moisture-laden air. In some cases, of course, installing new duct work isn’t possible (or at least prohibitively expensive). Ductless or recirculating range hoods aren’t as powerful as ducted ones, but high quality ductless range hoods with multiple layers of filtration are the next best thing, and can remove a majority of odors, toxins, and grease, but won’t do much to reduce moisture or heat levels. Shop XtremeAir Range Hoods: Filter Type The great bane of range hoods is that because they suck up grease, they inevitably get filled with grease that can be very difficult to clean. Each manufacturer has their own way of trying to combat this, from centrifugal blowers to the simple mesh aluminum filter. But aluminum filters get clogged very easily and are notoriously difficult to clean. XtremeAir offers stainless steel baffle filters – a feature that’s standard in industrial kitchens and is becoming quite popular in home design – which are much, much easier to clean (they’re even dishwasher safe), and collect grease more efficiently.  Because of the way they’re designed, hot air that moves up through the ducts causes the grease to melt down into the baffles, reducing buildup inside the ducts themselves, while offering a more finished appearance on the kitchen side. Power For maximum efficiency, the power of a range hood should be matched to the surface area of the range it’s covering at a rate of about 50 CFM per square foot of cooktop, or about 300 CFM for a 36″ range. Of course, for higher heat and smoky, smelly, steamy cooking, more power means better ventilation. XtremeAir offers 900-1200 CFM range hoods suited for a restaurant quality kitchen, an ideal pair for an professional style range. Typically the range hood should be about the same size as the range, but a slightly wider range hood gives better coverage and a more professional culinary look. Intuitive Controls Good controls should be both easy to use and intuitive to understand. Historically, range hoods have had analog controls – a simple on/off or hi-low-off switch or a power level dial. But these days controls are more often LED panels, either with push buttons or an integrated touch screen. XtremeAir’s controls, both touch and button press, allow greater control over the performance of the range hood, offering a wider range of power levels. XtremeAir’s range hoods also come with an auto-on feature that will activate when it detects smoke, as well as a timed auto-off, filter clean reminder, and a basic timer and clock. If possible, test out the controls before purchasing – all the features in the world aren’t worth much if it isn’t obvious how to activate them. Construction (Including Noise Levels) Even the best range hoods on the market don’t do any good if they’re never turned on, and the noisier the fan, the less likely it is to get turned on. Many range hood fans operate at just slightly higher than the normal level of human speech, meaning it’s impossible to hold a conversation at a normal level while it’s on. Many manufacturers have their pet solutions for this problem (some of which work better than others), but XtremeAir’s solution is simple: reduce the sound by improving the quality of the range hood overall. They use only commercial grade 19 gauge stainless steel in the bodies of their range hoods, with a seamless construction that, combined with their quiet blowers, helps reduce noise levels. Lighting/Design Range hoods are an important source of task lighting in the kitchen, casting bright light directly on the cooking surface. But newer designs are also aesthetically pleasing, providing light that’s attractive as well as functional. Especially in an island installation, decorative range hoods can function as island lights or even chandeliers, with a beautiful decorative appearance rather than the stereotypical big metal box. If lighting is an especially important consideration, look to see what type of bulbs are used (XtremeAir uses bright LED lights) and whether or not the range hood has a night light feature or multiple light settings. What are you looking for in a range hood? Shop All Range Hoods:

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S. Lewis

Far and away the vast majority of bathroom faucets look pretty similar – one or two handles, a standard spigot, and nothing really remarkable. Sure, some faucets are more beautiful and unique than others, but if you want to get something that will really stand out, you need to step a little ways out of the ordinary. Many modern bathroom faucets and vessel sink faucets are specifically designed to look unique and unusual to make your faucet a design focal point of your bathroom. One of the best ways to do that is to incorporate LED lights. What Are LED Faucets? LED technology has been creeping into faucet design over the last few years, both in kitchen and bathroom taps as well as in shower heads.  The latter has proved incredibly popular as a component of a chromatherapy shower, while the faucets are becoming more common in modern design. But what are they exactly? Simply put, they’re faucets with very small LED lights are built into the tap which turn on when you turn the water on. The light then bounces around inside the water, turning the whole stream whatever color the lights happen to be, creating a colorful glow every time you turn on your faucet (though the effect works best in low or no light). Shop LED Bathroom Faucets: Why LED Faucets? I’ll be honest – I first saw these more than a decade ago, built into a novelty drinking fountain at Disneyland. You pushed the button to start the flow of water, and a glowing, color-changing rainbow of liquid came out. It was both surprising and fun. But you might be wondering how that translates to a modern bathroom. Well, probably you aren’t going to be dazzled by a seemingly magical fount of rainbow water,  but the novelty factor remains. LED faucets – especially luxury waterfall faucets like the one above – look incredibly unique, with parts designed to light up from within as well as illuminating the water. These lights are still rare enough to be surprising, which means that in a guest bathroom, an LED faucet is a great way to thrill your guests without a large scale remodel. Heat-Sensing LED Faucets That said, LED faucets are good for more than just the novelty. This might sound silly to say, but one of their more important functions is actually safety. LED taps and shower heads alike are often triggered by temperature in much the same way an anti-scald valve works. That is, when the water is at or above or below a certain temperature, the lights change color, changing the color of the water, usually blue for cool water, purple for warm water, and red for hot water. Very hot water will cause the LED lights to flash red, letting you know the water is too hot without you having to burn your hand to check. A Rainbow Of Colors The most basic LED faucets come in a simple red/blue to indicate temperature. But newer models offer a wider range of colors, both used to reflect various temperatures and for simple display. Of course, LED faucets are limited to the colors that LED lights can produce, but as technology improves there’s been a noticeably better variety in color. Sumerain’s LED faucets have at not only the traditional red, blue, and purple, but also green, while LEDs in general atr more rarely able to produce orange, yellow, pink, and white as well as a few shades of blue/green. No matter what the color, it penetrates the water as it flows, illuminating it from within; if you fill up a sink, the light will even stay in the water there, giving it a colorful glow. Chromatherapy Faucets As I mentioned earlier, another major use for LED faucets is chromatherapy. Science has proven again and again that exposure to various colors has a noticeable impact on your mood, and multi-color LED faucets take full advantage of this fact. The effect is more noticeable in LED shower heads, perhaps, but running your hands under a beautiful font of crystal blue or shimmery yellow water is a great way to enhance your mood and brighten up your day. When LED faucets come with more than one color light (and the colors aren’t linked to temperature), you can usually change between them with the touch of a button, allowing you to choose the sort of mood you want to set. Hydro-Powered LED Faucets It’s important to note that there are two types of LED faucets: ones that are battery or electrically powered and ones that are water powered. The former need to be hooked up either to an outlet or to a battery pack in order for the lights to work, and the back up batteries need to be replaced usually once or twice a year. Hydro-powered LED faucets are ever so slightly much more environmentally friendly, using the force of water passing through the tap to power the light so they don’t need any kind of back-up power. Either way, be aware that while LED lights do last a long time, they don’t last forever, so make sure you have at least a few spares on hand. What do you think of these decorative LED faucets? Do you like the modern look, or do they speak to your inner child?

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S. Lewis

The image of the classic English garden is probably pretty familiar to you: well kept hedges, colorful flowers, and whimsical stone paths, dotted with elegant wrought iron Victorian garden tables and chairs. It’s a scene that’s idyllic, pastoral, and (for better or worse) one that’s shaped the American garden. Now, of course some Americans tend more toward decks, grills, and outdoor kitchens with bench seating. But if you love the look of that English garden with pretty lace-like tables for an afternoon tea, it’s easier than ever to get it without sacrificing modern convenience. Wrought Iron Vs. Cast Aluminum Shop Outdoor Dining Sets by Caluco: Speaking historically, Victorian garden tables were made with wrought iron – that is, all of those intricate loops swoops and curls were all made by hand and hammer. The result was beautiful, ornate, and very durable, but also extremely heavy and not exactly immune to rusting. While wrought iron garden tables won’t turn rust red (after all, the same material is used extensively in exterior architecture), if exposed to water over time they can stain your concrete. But modern tables are most often machine made from extruded or cast aluminum, which offers similarly beautiful designs, but is extremely lightweight, rust proof, and often powder coated to resemble wrought iron. Better For Bad Weather One of the biggest trends in outdoor furniture in general is a move towards more weather resistant materials. The aforementioned powder coated aluminum, resin wicker, and woods like teak that are naturally more water and weather resistant are quickly becoming the norm. But for a Victorian garden table that’s meant to be left out in your back yard year round, you really can’t beat aluminum. It requires almost no care and doesn’t need to be covered in the off season. In fact, unless you live in an area with very polluted air or a salty seaward breeze, it should only need a simple wipe down with soapy water or diluted vinegar at the end of each season to keep it looking like brand new. Shop Outdoor Sitting Sets by Caluco: All-Weather Cushions Shop Outdoor Chairs by Caluco: Okay, I’ll admit: putting cushions on your fancy garden chair definitely isn’t a traditional move. But, if you plan on spending any amount of time actually sitting in them, adding cushions can definitely make the experience more enjoyable. Real Victorian garden tables and chairs were often left uncovered and uncushioned because they were left outside in cold, rainy weather year round. But if you’re looking for the perfect patio furniture, competition is stiff when it comes to comfort. Many manufacturers of all styles of outdoor furniture, including Victorian garden tables, are starting to use Sunbrella fabric for upholstery and cushions. This miracle fabric repels water, resists stains, mold, and fading, and is all around pretty tough and easy to care for. While traditional Victorian garden tables aren’t terribly comfortable, with Sunbrella cushions they’re definitely moreso, and add a nice pop of color and a bright pattern to your garden set. Tea For Two If you don’t particularly need a lot of seating (or don’t have a lot of space), you might want some more compact patio furniture. Small, bar style Victorian garden tables are great for this, especially if you want to integrate seating into the landscape of your garden. The sturdy cast or extruded aluminum construction means they can be placed comfortably just about anywhere and left there year round, offering seating without taking much space. Plus, the pretty loops and whorls of the design will add that touch of old world elegance to a blooming, vining garden. Put the table in a spot of sunshine and you’ve got a lovely place to enjoy a cup of tea with a friend. Go For A Garden Party The most traditional Victorian garden tables are designed to seat four. Easily placed on a deck, brick or stone patio, right in your garden, or even in a  sun room, these tables are an elegant way to seat a small group. Adding cushions to the chairs makes the setup a little more colorful and comfortable. Models with a glass top covering the intricate tabletop can be better for regular dining, offering a smooth, stable surface for cups, plates, and flatware that’s also a little easier to clean. Fun For The Whole Family Most outdoor dining sets that are designed to seat six or more are, in my experience, usually made of wood, either in the style of indoor dining tables or more like park benches. But simple plank style tables simply don’t have the flair and pizazz of Victorian garden tables. If you want to feed a crowd, but still want to keep the wrought-iron style, something like this Florence 7 piece dining set can give you the best of both worlds. It isn’t quite as petite and dainty as the traditional round tables, but it will give you style in spades and likely weather better than a wood table. What do you think of these cast aluminum Victorian garden tables? Is the added modern convenience enough to get you to try out an old world style?

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S. Lewis

Home offices are something of a sacred space. For people who work from home like I do, it’s a buffer between your business and your family, a place without screaming kids or loud TVs. And it’s a place you can go that’s both more comfortable and professional feeling than your dining table. Working from home is tough, and having a place to go to work can make a big difference, but it’s important that you design that space well. If you’re only just starting to consider converting a room or basement into a home office or are just trying to find a better way to work, the very first thing you want to consider, and the first piece you’ll need to buy is an office desk. Not Much Room To Spare Personally, I have the great gleaming luxury of having a separate room for my home office. Granted, I do 100% of my work at home, and the space doesn’t come without sacrifices elsewhere, but all things considered, I’m pretty lucky. Plenty of people who work from home have to make due with a whole lot less. But if you’re able to claim your home office for tax purposes, it’s important that your “office” space be obvious, distinct, and used exclusively for your work. So if you don’t have much room to spare but do a significant portion of your work from home, start with a smaller office desk like this Soprano writing desk and put it in a less traveled part of your house. The amount of space you claim might not be huge,  but using a real desk that only you use rather than a dining table is a great first step to making your space feel more professional (and meet the IRS’s qualifications). Shop Office Desks: Simple Setup Personally, I don’t have a lot of gadgets. My computer is the lifeblood of my office, and so much of my work is done electronically that I don’t have much need for filing cabinets or printer stands or other add-ons you’d expect to find in an office building. Chances are, this is true for you, too, if you do only some of your work from home. If this is the case, you might not need a particularly elaborate office desk, especially if you’re working with a smaller space. Heck, a good friend of mine turned a walk-in closet into an office (or “cloffice”) by sticking with a smaller piece of furniture. The Corner Office If you do tend to work with a lot of paperwork, have multiple laptops running at once, or have to use a typewriter (yes, this still happens in some industries!) as well as your computer, you probably need an office desk with a little more surface space. One of the best ways to maximize surface space while minimizing the footprint of your desk is to opt for a corner desk. These L-shaped desks extend out in either direction along two walls, butting right up against the corner so you can sit in the middle without taking up your whole room. Plus, many models, including this Z Deluxe office desk set, can be purchased in pieces and shoved together, allowing you to get a desk as long or short on either side as you want, as well as choose the position of the keyboard tray, monitor stand, and any other add-ons you want. Gadgets Galore If you’re more of a multi-device type, with a printer/scanner/fax machine, three line telephone, desktop, laptop, two monitors, and an iPad, you probably want an office desk that’s large, flexible, and filled with storage. Look for a wide desk with drawers, adjustable shelves, or other storage. A shelf at your feet is a good place to keep a subwoofer if your job involves video or audio editing, while raised shelf on the back or one corner of the desk is a plus (though not a must) for raising your monitor (or second monitor) up to a more comfortable viewing level. Modern office desks with modular add-on features are a great choice, as they can easily be added to or altered based on the changing needs of your home office, while something like this foldaway desk is great for keeping your office supplies organized and hidden away when not in use. Divide And Conquer Okay, so this desk isn’t technically a desk, per se – if we’re getting real specific, it’s meant for a home bar. But I’m listing it here again for those of us that don’t have a full sized office. I’ve seen these used in kitchens as breakfast bars and entryways as mail holders, with some models where the desk folds entirely away into a flat wooden panel on the wall. Either way, these act as a room divider, allowing you the desk space (if not always the privacy) you need in a much, much smaller space. And because the storage is conveniently on the wall, you won’t have to worry about your stuff being disturbed in passing. The Stop Gap If you really really need a place to work at home, but there really really isn’t any space to make it happen, you can always opt for the least worst alternative: a laptop tray rather than a full sized office desk. Now, these  don’t need to be any more sophisticated than your average TV tray, though there are compact desks designed specifically for this purpose. Special laptop trays typically have wheels and can, on occasion, be raised and lowered. Either way, this type of desk offers a sturdy replacement for an office desk in a petite size that will hold your laptop at a comfortable working height while you’re sitting – in a chair, on the sofa, or wherever. If you typically work on the couch, a laptop tray will keep your laptop from overheating (and probably improve your posture!), and is much more comfortable to use than your average coffee table. TV tray styles can be easily [...]

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S. Lewis

One of my personal favorite design trends, and one that I’m pleased to be seeing more of, is the use of reclaimed materials and spaces. From furniture made of salvaged wood or metal parts to whole lofts made in converted warehouse spaces, I love a look that’s aesthetically old, textured, and rugged. I love old wood, iron, brick, and stone, and the sense of industrial modernism. But even if you don’t have the luxury of living in a beautifully redone waterfront warehouse, this is definitely a look you can get – and pulley lights are one of my favorite ways to do it. What Is A Pulley Light? Pulley lights are pendant lights based on antique industrial and farming fixtures. They’re made with one or more pulleys, usually one counterweight, and a very long, winding cord. Now, while all these gears and oiled metal parts have all the industrial vibe you could want, they’re also quite functional. The pulleys allow the light to be moved up and down and even side to side, while the weight keeps it in place wherever you position it. That means even a simple pulley light can be used both for full-room lighting and close up illumination, like a reading lamp. Shop Pendant Lighting by ZUO Superior Task Lighting Shop Pendant Lighting by Landmark Lighting The mobility of pulley lights makes them an ideal choice for a variety of different areas. They work well as pendants over a table where you both eat and work, in a living room near a reading chair or game table, or – my personal favorite – as a kitchen island light or island pendant. I particularly like these simple farmhouse style pulley lights from Landmark Lighting, because they have a handle built into the milk-can style shades, making them easy to pull up and down, either lighting your whole kitchen or zooming in on a prep area. Add two or three and you can not only light a whole island, but get some incredibly flexible lighting. Quirky Designs Pulley lights usually come in ones and twos for the simple reason that weights and counterweights are easier to manage in singles and pairs. But even so, there are a multitude of designs out there, ranging from simple sleek pullies to more unique and quirky designs, like this expandable, squishable line of spring-rings or the scissor style extension pendant below. If you like the industrial look (or, let’s be honest, if you tend a little towards the steampunk) pulley lights are a great option, as it’s easy to find inventive, whimsical designs to fit your personal taste. Have Fun With Your Lighting This variety and playfulness of design is maybe what I like most about pulley lights. This Emerald lamp from Zuo looks like something straight out of an ACME box, with a scissor-style extender that would be paired with a giant boxing glove in a cartoon, but manages to be strangely elegant. With a variety of bits and bobs, twirls and loops, and surprising balances and counterbalances, pulley lights not only come in a great range of styles, but are consistently unique from any other type of light, even among the most unique modern pendants. Pulley lights offer a playful statement piece with some of the gritty, reclaimed, industrial style that works so well in a modern loft. Decorate Your Workspace While large pendant lights are usually placed over large, built-in pieces of furniture in fixed, central locations in your home, pulley lights work exceptionally well in work spaces, like drafting tables, work benches, or the like, especially if you do live in a high-ceilinged loft. This Agate pendant is one of the pulley lights that moves both up and down and side to side, meaning that just a light touch of the handle can help direct the light across your workspace without taking up any space on your desk or hanging too low above your head. Sick of the light? Just push it up and out of the way. Need a better look at something? Pull it right back down and toward you. Plus, the lean, simple lines are equal parts art and architecture, meaning they’ll blend aesthetically as well as functionally with an artistic workspace. Not Just Pendants If I’m being honest, though, I have to say that my favorite pulley lights might not be the traditional pendant-style ones at all, but something more like this pulley style floor lamp. Designed to swivel, raise, and lower, this is both aesthetically delightful (equal parts gritty industrial and pure playful fun) and more flexible than most any other floor lamp you’ll find. Like a hybrid of old fashioned swing-arm lamps and modern arc lamps, the light can shine a decent distance away from the base, offering you greater, more flexible illumination farther away from your outlets. What do you think of these pulley lights?

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S. Lewis

You might think of white as being sort of a blah color – the neutral, the default, the blank slate. But when it comes to bathroom design in general and bathroom vanities in particular, white is one of the best and most flexible colors out there. It helps keep a bathroom looking clean, bright, open, and large, and unlike some wood tones, it isn’t limited to a single design style. In fact, with just a little looking, you can easily find white bathroom vanities that work well with just about any decor. Simple White (For A Country Cottage Style) In a long list of whites, I’ll start with the obvious one: white, by whatever name you choose to call it. It’s the color you use to paint over old cabinets to breathe new life into them, and it’s the color of crisp, clean cottage bathroom design. These white bathroom vanities are pure white, with simple country or transitional styles that are perfect for a casual, cozy contemporary space. With one big window, even a relatively small white bathroom vanity can help brighten your space, while the sleek, simple lines of the vanity itself create a comfortable, uncluttered style. Shop Ronbow bathroom Vanities: Antique or Parchment White (For Old World Authenticity) That said, not all white bathroom vanities are, strictly speaking, white. Many antique styles tend more towards off white, cream, parchment, and even a little darker. A well-applied antique finish in this color will highlight the antique woodwork, either with darker tones that mimic the age of passing years, or with strategic wear-through of the paint. Either way, these techniques enhance the wood detailing by simultaneously drawing the eye to the vanity’s best features and imitating age that would otherwise only come with years of use. As a bonus, this color works equally well in bathrooms with and without windows. While incandescent light can sort of minimize the glowing white effect of a pure white, with a parchment white you won’t have to worry because the paint already has a yellow tint. Shop SunnyWood Bathroom Vanities: Weathered White (For A Homey Aged Look) Not to be mistaken as the same thing as an antique finish, weathered white bathroom vanities are designed to look, well, like they’ve been around the block. Rather than simple wear-through on the corners or prominent edges, weathered vanities look like they were whitewashed (maybe unevenly) then left out in the sun to crack, peel, and wear down. Now, of course this look isn’t for everyone, and if it isn’t done well it just looks messy. But with a careful hand, white bathroom vanities can be made to look positively charming, with a hand-me-down, gramma’s house sort of appeal or even a sense of decadent decay that works beautifully in older or reclaimed spaces. Shop Empire Bathroom Vanities: Wedding Cake White (To Make A Dazzling Impression) Now, while many antique-styled white bathroom vanities start somewhere in the off-white range and get darker and more beaten up from there, if you really want to ramp up the wow factor, a heavily carved, ornamental antique bathroom vanity done in the purest, whitest white is about as dazzling as it comes. More than any other color, white shows off every detail and feature, catching both light and shadows, making the woodwork come alive. Accented with silver, gold, or creamy peaches and pinks, this type of vanity is pretty as a cupcake, and can even emulate an antique dressing table. Shop Legion Furniture Vanities: Glossy White (For A Sleek Modern Look) Lest you think that all white bathroom vanities skew toward the antique, though, I’d like to point out that it’s a color that’s been nicely appropriated by modern design as well, but with a twist. Cranking up the glossiness on white paint instantly creates an ultra modern vibe, with slightly reflective surfaces that create the hands-off urban chic that’s so desirable in modern design. As with other white bathroom vanities, these can make your bathroom look and feel bigger than it is, while smaller or wall mounted versions can actually give you more space to work with. For an even more intense modern style, consider pairing it with a black vanity top or black accent wall, for a high contrast vanity style. Shop Iotti Vanities: Porcelain White (To Keep With Tradition) Okay, so pedestal sinks and console vanities aren’t technically bathroom vanities, but they are white, and they’re definitely traditional. In fact, if you want to trace the history of the prevalence of white in the bathroom, you only have to look as far as porcelain: from tubs and toilets to these time-transcending sinks and the pristine white wall and floor tile that often accompanies them. Pedestal sinks, subway tile, hex tile, and clawfoot tubs give a prim sense of turn of the century style, but also create a crisp, clean, and easy to clean decor. Especially with lots of natural light, all these elements combine to create a very bright, open space, even without any “traditional” white bathroom vanities. Shop Pedestal Sinks: What type of white bathroom vanity appeals to you the most? Do you like a crisp clean white, or something a little rougher around the edges?

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S. Lewis

A few days ago, my kitchen faucet started to drip. For most people, this would probably be a minor annoyance at worst. But it was dripping pretty steadily, and, in my stainless steel sink, none too quietly. Being the environmentally minded adult that I am, I put a big dutch oven under the faucet to catch the water to use for… something (I didn’t really think that far). The result was an even louder, more maddening drip, and the realization that a steadily dripping faucet wastes about a gallon of water a day. Sure, in the grand scheme of things that isn’t a ton, but it adds up a whole lot faster than you’d think. I’ve since gotten the broken washer that was causing the problem replaced, but the whole ordeal has me thinking about all the seemingly innocuous ways we end up wasting water. Fix Leaky Faucets I wish I could say there was no excuse to live with a leaky faucet. But the fact is, there are plenty of excuses, and often pretty good ones – it’s why so many of us put off or ignore them. After all, each drip seems terribly inconsequential, and while fixing a leaky faucet is quick, easy, and inexpensive if you know what you’re doing, if you don’t know what you’re doing, it’s anything BUT easy. Calling a plumber sucks, waiting around for the plumber sucks, and paying the plumber really sucks. But a freely dripping sink – to say nothing of homes with more than one – can have a noticeable impact on your water consumption. Ultimately, it’s a huge waste that can usually be eliminated entirely simply by replacing a rubber washer. Shop Elkay Kitchen Faucets: Nix Inefficient Faucets If eliminating leaky faucets is the obvious one, getting rid of inefficient faucets is probably one that never crossed your mind. Increasingly modern designers are making low flow faucets that use special aerators (those little mesh things that screw onto the tap) to reduce water use without feeling like they use less water. This is a tricky business, but one that manufacturers have put a lot of effort into in recent years. In the case of kitchen and bathroom faucets, it means forcing water through small filters to mix air into the water (or “aerate” it), creating small bubbles that make water feel, well, like more, higher pressure water than it is. Of all the water saving upgrades you can make, replacing your faucet is probably the most innocuous, and the place where you’re least likely to even notice the swap – except in terms of your water bill. Not sure where to start? Look for faucets with a “WaterSense” logo on the label. Shop Virtu Bathroom Faucets Faucets: Replace Old Toilets One of the more heated points of contention in terms of water saving technology is the low-flow toilet. In the early 90′s the US government passed stricter laws about how much water toilets are allowed per flush, and the hasty change-over resulted in some really poorly functioning toilets that left “low flow” as a whole with something of a bad rap. But in the two decades since, low flow toilet technology has come a long way. Now, low flow, dual-flush toilets can use less than half or even a quarter of the water they used to without losing power or functionality. If you’ve been holding off because you think a low flow toilet just means you’ll have to flush twice, know that the time of truly terrible low flow toilets has passed, while innovative new designs offer a marked improvement both in performance and water use. Shop Inax Toilets: Upgrade Your Shower Heads Just like older toilets, a shower head you’ve had for more than a decade or so is probably using a lot more water than it should, or that it really needs to. Now, as huffy as people get about upgrading to a low-flow toilet, it doesn’t hold a candle to people’s reluctance to replace a high powered shower head. It’s a sentiment I definitely share: there’s nothing worse than a shower that just sort of spits on you. But newer shower heads have special aerators that replicate high pressure shower heads while using significantly less water. Plus, they’re relatively inexpensive and easy to replace on your own, so there’s no reason not to at least see what kind of difference they can make. Shop Showerheads: Stop Waiting For Hot Water Yeah, I know – I do it, you do it, we all do it. You want your water hot and there’s no hot water to be found, so you let water run down the drain until you get it. Unfortunately, this adds up a whole lot faster than a leaky faucet. The good news, though, is that there is a remedy: point of use tankless water heaters. These come in different sizes and forms, from compact versions intended for hot water dispensers in your kitchen to larger models designed to heat a shower or even your own home. Even the largest models are on the small side, designed to be installed inside cabinets, and are powered by electricity. Point of use water heaters heat water directly in the pipes a few inches or feet (rather than a whole house) away from the tap, so water is hot as soon as you turn it on. They also have the added bonus of being much more energy efficient than a standard water heater, and will never run out of hot water. Don’t Leave It Running This is a sin I’d venture to say most of us are guilty of. Whether it’s leaving the kitchen faucet running while you load the dishwasher or turning on the bathroom tap while you brush your teeth, one of the biggest water wasters is simple negligence: letting water run in your sink or shower or from your garden hose or wherever when you aren’t using it. This stems from living in a water-rich country where [...]

Read full version: Fix A Leaky Faucet! (And Other Ways To Lower Your Water Bill)
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S. Lewis

Usually when you talk about upgrading your kitchen, you’re talking about big ticket items: a new refrigerator, range, cabinets, or floors. But sometimes it’s the little changes that add up to a big difference in the way you use your kitchen. Especially in a smaller kitchen, simple functionality-adding features are the best upgrades you can make. Better still, many of the most useful kitchen gadgets are inexpensive to add. Here are a few of my favorites that are affordable and easy to install, but that  can really streamline the way you use your kitchen. In Sink Colander In sink colanders are large, commercial-kitchen style colanders designed to be paired with specific kitchen sinks, especially stainless steel sinks. I call them kitchen gadgets because they aren’t especially well-known, but they are incredibly useful. These colanders are usually deep and rectangular, and can be set directly onto two edges of the kitchen sink so that they’re suspended across and inside the sink without touching the bottom. In-sink colanders won’t tip over when you pour out a big pot of pasta, so you won’t need a second pair of hands to use it safely. They’re self stabilizing and drain directly into the sink, no muss, no fuss. Better still, you can still use the sink, even with your food sitting in the colander, so you don’t need to rush to put food back in the pan to make space. Cutting Board In-sink cutting boards are in the same class of kitchen gadgets: they’re cutting boards designed to rest solidly on the lip of your kitchen sink, turning it into a decent-sized solid work space. I particularly like these because not only does it create a prep area from nothing, but it makes it supremely easy to dump scraps directly into your sink. Any liquid on your cutting board will drip into the sink, not onto your counter, and because it’s positioned right next to your kitchen faucet, it’s easy to clean, too. As with colanders, these typically come bundled with new sinks, but if yours is from a popular manufacturer, there’s a good chance you can find a matching design. Soap Dispenser This might seem like a silly addition, and I’ll grant that it’s a very simple kitchen gadget. But if you have an extra hole in your sink (say if you opt for a kitchen faucet with a built in sprayer rather than a separate side spray), installing a simple soap dispenser is a great way to clean up your counter tops. These have nice metal hardware on top and connect to a large, refillable plastic bottle of soap underneath your kitchen sink, and can be used either for hand soap or dish soap. For dish soap especially, it means you won’t have an awkward plastic bottle sitting on the edge of your sink all the time, and that you can add more soap to your sink or your sponge with a simple pump. Hot Drinking Water Dispenser Hot water dispensers are a little more complicated to install than soap dispensers, but the idea is generally the same. In a single spare hole in your kitchen sink, you can install a second, smaller faucet. Under your sink, these petite spigots are linked to compact water heaters, water filters, or both. Water heaters allow you to get piping hot water up to 180 degrees F, perfect for making a cup of tea or cocoa,  thawing frozen vegetables, or even just giving your pasta water a head start. Installing a water filter is a great way to get clean, filtered water without a pitcher or a bulky attachment on your main faucet. Really, these are more complex fixtures that looks and works a whole lot better than many of the throw away water-filtering kitchen gadgets, and produce hot water on demand to boot. A Better Faucet Finally, one of my favorite kitchen gadgets is maybe the most important one. If your kitchen faucet is just so-so, upgrading to a new, culinary style faucet can add a significant amount of functionality to your kitchen sink. From simple models with pull-down faucets to high powered sprayers or sophisticated touch faucets, there are more innovative faucet options than ever. With a better faucet, you can easily direct water where you need it in a variety of spray types, or even start and stop the flow of water with a bump of your wrist. I’m strongly of the opinion that if your kitchen faucet isn’t doing more than one thing, it isn’t doing enough. There’s really no reason not to take advantage of at least some of the cool features that come standard on newer faucets. Plus, it’s a simple, relatively inexpensive upgrade to one of the most-used fixtures in your kitchen. What are some of your favorite tips to streamline your kitchen? Any favorite kitchen gadgets or kitchen sink accessories that will make a big difference on a budget? Let me know in the comments!

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S. Lewis

I grew up in the Southwest, where rain, wind, snow, and cold were practically nonexistent, and where indoor and outdoor spaces merged pretty freely. Patios, porches, and decks were practically standard-issue living spaces, and even outdoor bathrooms and outdoor kitchens weren’t unheard of. So it wasn’t until I moved to the upper Midwest that I even heard of sun rooms. Until my first winter, the concept was sort of lost on me – wasn’t a room with lots of windows just a room? But in the cooler months (and the really hot, humid ones), these add-on rooms really began to shine, offering a relaxing, sun-soaked sitting space that’s as close as you can get to sitting outside while still being protected from the elements. So What Is A Sun Room? Sun rooms are called by several different names in different regions. I was introduced to them as Florida rooms, but they’re also called patio rooms, solariums, conservatories, or sun parlors, porches, or lounges. Essentially, they’re an uninsulated addition to the side of your home designed with large wall-to-wall windows or French doors and often skylights that overlook your landscaping. These additions typically aren’t linked to your home’s heating and cooling system, but are intended to be more like a very closed porch. Unlike classic conservatories, they aren’t typically used as greenhouses for growing plants (though they can be), but are really mostly concerned with maximizing sunlight year round. Shop Patio Chairs and Stools Comfortable Furniture Ever since the original conservatories of Great Britan, sun rooms have favored a decor that’s one part tropical and one part garden party. Styles ranging from tropical cabanas to bright, open, cottage-style spaces. In either case, white is far and away the most dominant color, followed by warm, light browns and greens and cheery, colorful patterns. Look for natural materials, like rattan and wicker, but pair them with puffy, oversized cushions and whitewashed walls and ceilings. Of course, you can use more traditional indoor furniture – many sun rooms look great paired with antiques – but if there’s a set of patio furniture you love that might not hold up in your climate (or that you don’t have a place to store in the off season), a sun room is a great way to get the best of both worlds. Shop Patio Dining Sets Indoor/Outdoor Flooring While sun rooms are more or less a finished part of your home, they’re also at least partly an outdoor space. With big windows or glass doors open to your garden on three sides, sun rooms are more like a very well covered patio. You can further enhance this blend of indoor/outdoor space by choosing flooring that mirrors what you’d use outside. Brick, tile, wood, and flagstones or other natural stone flooring all create an outdoorsey vibe, while casual rugs or bamboo mats can soften a hard floor and enhance a cottage or island inspired ambiance. Choosing a rugged, easy to clean flooring material will even allow your sun room to double as a mudroom – great for gardeners or dog owners that don’t want to track mud into a carpeted house. Shop Wood look tile: A Touch Of Green Sun rooms evolved from British conservatories – indoor greenhouse rooms designed to let occupants enjoy tropical plants (and weather) in an often dreary and damp climate. While these have largely been replaced by a little thing called central heating, adding a plant or two to your sun room is a great way to merge your indoor space with your outdoor landscaping. Tropical plants like rubber trees and palms contribute to an island theme, while more traditional British botanicals can extend your garden, creating a sort of indoor garden party that’s great for entertaining in areas where the weather isn’t always amenable. Shop Patio Sofas and Sectionals: Ceiling Fans Because sun rooms are covered in windows and are typically both uninsulated and unairconditioned, they can get a little toasty in the summer months, and a little cool in the winter months. Installing a ceiling fan or two is a good way to counter this. In the summer, they help draw cool air up through the room and create a little breeze, and by reversing the blades in winter, they can force warm air that gathers near the ceiling down into the rest of the room. Any fan will do, but this is a nice opportunity to have a little fun with your decor: fans with wide, paddle-shaped bamboo or rattan blades are a great way to add a tropical, island-inspired flair to your sun room. Shop Ceiling Fans: Fireplaces And Stoves Sun rooms are inherently designed for passive solar heating. With so  many windows, solar heat enters the room and stays inside. But in northern climates with harsh winters, it can be wise to supplement your design with a small fireplace or potbellied stove. Wood burning, gas, electric, or biofuel fireplaces or stoves can easily heat a small sun room, enabling you to enjoy a crisp clear winter morning as though it were a spring afternoon. Plus, cast iron stoves and stone fireplaces add a certain cozy charm that will make your sitting room feel inviting even when they aren’t in use. Shop Fireplaces: Are you considering building a new sun room or looking to redecorate an existing one? Do you prefer a cottage style, classic conservatory, island paradise, or something a little more modern?

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S. Lewis

I don’t know about you, but I’m a big time bather. I prefer long soaks in the tub to a quick shower ten to one, and love to take piping hot bubble baths to unwind. That’s why, from where I stand, choosing a bathtub for your big bathroom remodel is one of the most important (if not necessarily biggest or most expensive) decisions you have to make. There are a whole heck of a lot of different types of bathtubs out there, and even if you aren’t the type to prune your toes in a hot bath, it’s important to choose the right one for your needs. The Tub Wall Tub walls, or shower/tub combos, are the workhorses of the bathroom world. Ideal for saving space and keeping to a strict budget, tub walls give you the most utility for the lowest price. Typically made of acrylic or solid surface, they include both a bathtub and a wall (or sometimes just the wall to be paired with a standalone tub of your choice) that continues up to shower height, sometimes with built in shelves or alcoves for storage. These aren’t always the prettiest option, but for a small bathroom or a strict budget, this is easily the most efficient one. Shop Tub and Shower Walls: Standalone Bathtubs Standalone bathtubs, aka just a bathtub, is a slightly more versatile option. Ranging from standard sized to extra small to over-large, standalone bathtubs come in a variety of heights, depths, lengths, and widths. Because they’re installed all on their own, that means if you’re especially tall, small, wide, or if you just want a really deep tub, it’s fairly simple to get a bathtub to fit your needs. Moreover, standard sized tubs fit in standard sized holes, making it easy to replace an aging model. And because they don’t come with built in shower walls, you have a little more freedom either to tile the wall yourself for a more sophisticated, finished look, or even install the bathtub underneath a window for a garden style bath. Shop Soaking Tubs: Whirlpool Tubs Whirlpool bathtubs are so popular they’re practically a buzz word, especially in dream bathroom design. They’re typically bigger and deeper than almost any other type of bathtub, and in addition to various massage settings, they often come with other luxury features, like in-line heating, chromatherapy, and even built in sound systems. There are several different types of whirlpool tubs, with high powered water jets, fizzy air bubbles, and everything in between – including various combo-tubs. Whirlpool tubs are a signature luxury touch and a great way to add spa-style hydrotherapy to your home. That said, they can be quite expensive and take a very long time to fill (sometimes requiring a larger water heater), so you should honestly consider how often you’ll use it before you buy. Shop Whirlpool Tubs: Soaking or Roman Style Bathtub There are two main drawbacks to whirlpool tubs:  the amount of hot water it takes to fill them, and how difficult it can be to keep them clean, specifically the plumbing that feeds water through the jets. Soaking tubs address both of these problems, at least to a certain extent. Roman tubs are very deep tubs designed especially for submerged-up-to-your-neck soaking, but don’t have the jets that whirlpools do and are both much lighter weight and easier to clean because of it. Now, I won’t say that soaking tubs are smaller – after all, it’s sort of the point that they’re big. But often they’re narrower, designed so you can rest your arms on the edge, and can comfortably accommodate two people in a little less space. You may still need a new water heater, but if this is  a major concern, it’s worth comparing the maximum fill capacity of various tubs. Freestanding Bathtubs For those with larger bathrooms, you might want to consider something a little more out of the box. Now, I use the term “freestanding” pretty liberally here – I mean any bathtub that isn’t designed to fit against a wall or in a corner or niche. From there, there’s a whole world of design possibilities, from big beautiful tub mounts in the center of your bathroom to uniquely shaped designer tubs to tubs mounted directly into your floor. Again, these come in all sizes and shapes, from your standard rectangle to stunning infinity tubs, whirlpools, and everything in between. If you’re looking to make your bathtub a major design feature of your bathroom, this is definitely the way to go. Shop Freestanding Tubs: Iconic Traditional Designs Shop Clawfoot Tubs: Finally, this list wouldn’t be complete if I didn’t mention a few of the oldies but goodies: clawfoot tubs and pedestal tubs. These shapely turn of the century style tubs work equally well in traditional and contemporary designs, and offer both a comfortable bathing experience and a truly iconic style. There are a few different types of clawfoot tubs (from traditional roll-tops to shapely double slipper tubs), but if you have the space to let one stand on its own, any and all of them are a great way to add eye-grabbing flair to even a relatively small bathroom. What style do you like best? Are you a big time bather?

Read full version: Choosing A New Bathtub For Your Next Bathroom Remodel
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S. Lewis

It’s starting to get warm out, even in parts of the country where spring comes fashionably late.  It’s not quite springy enough for grilling here in the frozen north, but the orange construction cones are in bloom and I’ve got outdoor design on my mind. If you’re planning a big back yard project, now is the time to get started: the weather is decent to work in, and if you play your cards right, you’ll be done in time to enjoy the finished project this season. Not sure where to start? One of my favorite new trends is the addition of outdoor kitchens. What Is An Outdoor Kitchen? Plenty of people have a grill or fire pit in their backyards – even really nice ones, often accompanied by some pretty nice patio furniture. Outdoor kitchens are the next step beyond that: with built in grills, plumbing, electricity, appliances, and even old fashioned brick ovens. For a big-time entertainer, this is a dream come true: there’s no running in and out, passing of plates or piling up of dishes. All the work, from refrigerator to grill to plate to belly, can be done outside. Outdoor kitchens make a great extension for your home and work especially well to enhance a pool area, deck, or patio, and in warmer climates they can be used year-round to keep your kitchen cool or just give you a greater variety of cooking options. The Grills The grill is the heart and soul of all outdoor cooking, whether you use charcoal or gas or even wood. But in outdoor kitchens, grills come built in, with cabinetry and counter tops like those you’d find indoors. Built more like a cooktop than a kettle grill, outdoor kitchens frequently come equipped with a range hood as well, designed to suck away smoke and minimize eye-burning odors and heat from cooking. Wood burning ovens make a great, functional alternative to fire pits (and can even be used to make pizzas!), but you’ll need to build them from scratch. Both built-in outdoor grills and outdoor ovens are more arduous and expensive to install than simply rolling in a grill you got at your local mega mart, but the payout is truly impressive. Refrigeration If you do any amount of grilling at all, you know what a pain it can be to try to keep all your ingredients cold in warm weather. This is especially important for meat, which attracts bacteria if let for too long at outdoor temperatures. But avoiding leaving food sitting out means a lot of shuffling in and out of doors for burgers, dogs, steaks, veggies, and whatever else you plan to throw on the grill. Installing an outdoor refrigerator into the counter top where you install your grill is a near perfect solution. Even small, under-counter refrigerators allow you to keep everything you’re planning on cooking cold until you’re ready to cook or serve, from marinating chicken to crisp lettuce to a spare set of condiments. Shop Built-in Refrogerators: Prep Sink Now, even with a fully functioning outdoor kitchen, you probably aren’t going to start doing your dishes outside. But installing even a small prep sink with just a cold water hookup (to save on expense, some can even be connected to a hose instead of your main water line) allows you to wash hands and rinse utensils without having to tromp back inside and to your main kitchen.  Not only does this make managing small messes easier, but washing your hands and grill tools can also help prevent cross contamination. Larger, trough style sinks can even be used as an alternative to a traditional cooler: just fill with ice and canned or bottled drinks, and the melt off will drain all by itself. Shop Prep Sinks: Drink Dispensing For an extra impressive outdoor kitchen, big-time entertainers will want to consider adding a few more appliances. While really the grill alone will do, if you’re the type to host poolside parties every weekend, or eat outdoors with your family most nights during the summer months, it can be wise to keep the drinks on hand. From built in kegerators that serve a pony keg of your favorite beer on tap to wine coolers that keep your best (or cheapest!) vintages at perfect serving temperature, oft-used outdoor kitchens are a great place for novelty appliances, including most of the equipment you’d want for a home bar. Mini fridges do well to replace a traditional cooler, holding several cans at a time, but there’s not much that can beat the style factor of pulling the perfect pour from your very own tap. Shop Kegerators: Ice Is Nice Perhaps one of the most underrated appliances indoors, ice makers are fantastic for outdoor kitchens. These look like narrow mini-fridges and can be built into your outdoor cabinetry. This one can hold up to 10 pounds of ice, though other models can make upwards of 44 pounds a day – plenty to fill a cooler or two with ice to spare for a round or two of margaritas. Because they don’t take up much space, ice makers can be installed even in smaller outdoor kitchens. Refrigeration might be more important, but if you know you go through a lot of ice in your back yard parties, it might be worth sticking with an ice maker and using it to fill a cooler, rather than shelling out for big bags of ice every time you entertain. My favorite thing about outdoor kitchens is that they’re a type of project that can easily be scaled to your entertaining habits. Whether it’s adding a little work space to a small patio or building a fully equipped second kitchen, the scope of the project is up to you. What sort of outdoor kitchen are you interested in building?

Read full version: Outdoor Kitchens: Everything You Need To Entertain Like A Pro This Summer
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S. Lewis

I’ve written about very small bathroom vanities before, but I feel like it’s a topic worth revisiting. For most bathroom vanities “small” means either 36″ or 30″ wide, but anyone with a genuinely small bathroom knows that isn’t really all that small. Personally? I have a very, very small bathroom myself, and I know that every inch counts.  So, in the spirit of helping you find the very best for your small bathroom, I present seven bathroom vanities 24″ or smaller (though in a few cases I might be using the word “vanity” a little liberally). Simple Set Pieces 24″ wide bathroom vanities are the next most common thing to 36″ and 30″ ones, but are mainly available as part of larger bathroom vanity collections. Essentially, that means that most bathroom vanities in this size range are scaled down models of more standard-sized designs. Even so, these are at the upper end of the “very small” category, and typically offer relatively roomy interior cabinets and, if you’re lucky, hidden shelves and drawers. If you want to get a traditional or antique style for a very small bathroom, this is the best way to do it. Shop bathroom vanities by Sagehill Designs The MacGyver When you’re looking at bathroom vanities in the 18″-24″ range, you should be thinking about features as much as size and style. Sure, you want your vanity to look great, but the more utility you can cram in that small space, the better. Bathroom vanities with towel bars are an excellent place to start, but be sure to check for other features, like hidden pull-out shelves, interior drawers, or even adjustable (or removable) feet. Shop bathroom vanities by Legion Furniture The Workhorse …Aka old faithful, these are utilitarian bathroom vanities that put smart storage at the top of the priority list. With a shallow sink that allows for drawers almost up to the level of the vanity top and a nice neat organizing shelf inside the cabinet, this puppy crams just about as much storage into a lean, mean 24″ as you can. Better still, it’s paired with a storage mirror that gives you two more shelves worth of storage without noticeably obscuring the view of your reflection while you’re brushing your teeth. Shop bathroom vanities by Design Element The Wall Mount Regular readers won’t have any trouble pegging this as my personal favorite type of small bathroom vanity. I could go on for ages about why, but I’ll settle for saying: wall mounted bathroom vanities are small, often dramatically smaller than almost any other type of vanity. But they do it while still offering a little storage, either in the form of a shelf, a cabinet, or (my personal fave) a small U-shaped drawer. They might not offer the same quantity of storage as a larger cabinet, but it’s frequently a better quality storage, with everything you need at waist height and easily visible. Shop bathroom vanities by Ronbow Bathroom Vanities To Go? For very, very small spaces, look for bathroom vanities like the one above that are both narrow and shallow. This supremely compact bathroom vanity, scaled down even from most wall mounts, is inspired by ones you’d find on a boat or in an RV, designed for maximum utility in the minimum amount of space. The small cabinet lets you keep your most oft-used items close at hand, while the offset faucet means the vanity protrudes less than 11 inches from the wall, hugely freeing up your floor space. Shop bathroom vanities by Iotti The Pedestal Sink In my original top ten small bathroom vanities list, I stuck with vanities that were, strictly speaking, vanities. But ultimately I think it’s unwise to exclude other options. Pedestal sinks are especially popular in a small bathroom, as they take up very little space (the sink above is a mere 16 inches wide) but also help create an open, airy feel in your bathroom. Pedestal sinks are best paired with supplemental storage cabinets, but on their own they make a great way to get compact utility and a traditional style. Shop Pedestal Sinks Wall Mounted Sinks Shop Wall Mount Sinks Wall mounted sinks are really what they sound like: sinks that are mounted to your wall. Now, I know that this, too, plays fast and loose with the strict definition of bathroom vanities, but if it really bugs you, just think of them as a pared down wall mounted bathroom vanity. These are pure utility, offering you a sink, faucet, and drain in as little space as possible, opening up the rest of your bathroom to add on alternative storage that’s often more efficient than a large, unorganized cabinet. Bonus points if you get one with a built in towel bar! Just how small is your bathroom? What type of vanity is there now, and what type appeals to you the most? Shop bathroom vanities Under 30″ wide:

Read full version: Tiny Bathroom Vanities Take Two:More Solutions For Your Small Bathroom
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S. Lewis

I’ve spent most of my life living in places with bathrooms so small they’re practically an afterthought. Now, I love a good long soak in a big, deep whirlpool as much as the next gal, but I know from personal experience that sometimes the most pressing matters in bathroom design don’t have anything to do with bubbles. Even with a very well designed, storage smart bathroom vanity, storage space is at a premium in a small bathroom. Every little bit of added storage helps, but every new piece of storage you add takes up a little space, too – sometimes space you don’t really have to spare. So, if you’re having trouble streamlining your small bathroom, here are a few storage options to help you maximize your space. Wall Mounted Storage Cabinets If you’re looking for a way to add storage to your bathroom, I’m willing to bet that a medicine cabinet was the first thing that came to mind, if you don’t already have one. But medicine cabinets are restricted in size, shape, and placement. While they should be the bread and butter of a small bathroom design, you should consider adding wall mounted storage cabinets as well. These are much more flexible, available in versions tall and short, wide and narrow, deep and shallow, even some recessed right into your wall. Because they’re usually mounted between waist and head level, and hardly ever protrude more than a foot from the wall, you can easily install several without noticeably reducing your floor space, and they can be easily combined and coordinated get you exactly the type of storage you want right where you need it. Shop Bathroom Storage Cabinets: Linen Cabinets Standalone linen cabinets are a great way to add a lot of storage in a very small amount of floor space. Unlike wall mounted storage cabinets, you will need to have at least a 20″ or so square of space to sacrifice, but in exchange you’ll get a nice combination of cabinets, shelves, and drawers, either open or behind closed wood or glass doors. If your vanity and medicine cabinet simply aren’t cutting it, and especially if you don’t have a separate linen closet, these tall storage cabinets can offer both a high storage capacity and a nice variety of types of storage in a relatively small space. Shop Linen Cabinets by Design Element: Storage Cabinets And Carts In some cases, though, a waist-high storage cabinet is actually preferable to a full height linen cabinet, despite the fact that on the surface they offer less storage in the same amount of floor space. A shorter cabinet may not offer the same internal storage, but they do offer a flat counter top surface that can be used to extend your bathroom vanity. These are especially useful in traditional bathrooms where a pedestal sink is used to save space, as they can offer both cabinet storage and a convenient counter for things like curling irons or hair driers. Some models even come with wheels, making them a little more versatile in a cramped space. Shop Linen Cabinets by Sagehill Designs: Over The Toilet Storage Over the toilet cabinets are among my favorite types of bathroom storage. They go in a space that’s underutilized, and if they come with a built in towel bar, they do double duty, not only acting as a second medicine cabinet and shelf, but do it without taking away space for storing hand or bath towels. Most models need to be mounted directly to your wall, like other wall mounted storage cabinets, but many also come as part of tall stands that straddle the tank of your toilet. This is the best (and sometimes only) option available to renters that can’t put heavy duty screws in their walls, as they’re totally freestanding and need no other installation. But be aware that stand models can be a little rickety and can occasionally be a bit of an awkward fit if you don’t measure carefully. Shop Bathroom Cabinets by Carolina Accents: Shelves This is, perhaps, the least original or innovative item on this list, but even so I think it bears mentioning. From clear glass shelves (whose transparency makes them seem to take up less space than they do) to simple wooden ones, shelves are basically the perfect way to add storage to your bathroom. Why? Because you can buy them in any size, install them anywhere, in any number, and in any orientation to one another. Need one small shelf under your mirror for your toothpaste? Easy. Larger shelves for folded towels? Done. Above the toilet, beside your mirror, with a built in towel bar, or otherwise, bathroom shelves are almost infinitely versatile, inexpensive, and easy to install. Shop Bathroom Cabinets by Avanity: Cubbies I’m starting to see these more often in modern design, and I have to say, I couldn’t be more pleased. These small wood squares – some with backs and some without – are not only a great way to add a little extra storage to your bathroom while taking up almost no extra space, but they also make a really great decoration. Because they install individually, you can hang as many or as few as you want, creating dots, grids, or even asymmetrical patterns and showing off some of your favorite oft-used items, from perfume bottles to a pretty jar of cotton swabs. Shop Bathroom Cabinets by Xylem: What are your favorite storage solutions for a small bathroom? Any types of storage cabinets I haven’t mentioned here that are worth looking into? Let me know in the comments!

Read full version: Six Smart Ways To Add Extra Storage To Your Small Bathroom
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S. Lewis

More than ever, the kitchen has become the heart of the home, not just for preparing food, but for eating and entertaining as well. Kitchens are larger and more open than ever before, with everything from more storage to more seating. But while many dream kitchens focus on features like sprawling kitchen islands, professional grade cooking appliances, and custom cabinetry, one of my favorite new kitchen upgrades is actually probably one of the simplest: bar stools. Adding bar stools is a simple, easy way to add functionality to your kitchen and get a streamlined, stylish design. Simple Bar With Stools In the past, kitchens have been closed in, walled shut and blocked off from the rest of your home. But in recent years food preparation has become everything from a family affair to a date night. The most obvious sign of this shift is that kitchen trends are starting to favor a layout with at least one wall knocked out from the waist up, giving you an open view of the next room. This open design visually expands your kitchen, and adding a few simple bar stools on the other side is a great way to bring your family and guests into the culinary action. Shop Bar Stools: Kitchen Island Bar In a slightly larger kitchen, kitchen islands are becoming all the rage – from small ones hardly more than a cart to full islands with built in prep sinks, butcher blocks, or even cooktops. By adding bar stools to your new kitchen island, especially if you have a built-in cooktop, you can give your family and friends a Benihana style cooking experience right in your own home. For a smaller family, adding bar stools to a kitchen island can even eliminate the need for a full sized dining table, creating a more intimate atmosphere. Big Solutions For A Small Kitchen I’ve been reading a lot lately about compact living – from the wildfire trend of tiny homes to ultra-efficient modular spaces and even just better kitchen cabinet design. I find it striking that the most elegant solutions are often the most simple and obvious ones. Take the kitchen above for example: there may not be enough room for a full sized kitchen island, but a supremely simple narrow shelf extending from the wall adds a not-insignificant amount of storage space. Better still, with an attentive eye for design you can get a height that’s not only perfect to work at, but that’s just tall enough that you can stow your bar stools entirely underneath – meaning they’re out of the way when not in use, and won’t take up a single inch of your floor space. Love The Ledge Of course, adding a little ledge to hide your bar stools under is a trick that works in much larger spaces, too. From kitchen islands of any size to plain old, straightforward home bars, extending the counter top not only makes for more available dining space (very important if you’re thinking of nixing the dining table), but also helps create a uniform, even look that keeps your bar stools from looking stranded. Where this is done best is in spaces like the kitchen above, where the protruding counter is dressed up as an architectural feature. In this case, with beautiful decorative braces that portion off the space for each seat and echo the cabinet paneling below. Built In Beauty Of course, not all bars have to be grand affairs. In fact, if you’re looking to maximize your ability to entertain in a small space, they probably shouldn’t be. For drinks, tapas, or other small plates, there’s no need for a full spread. I really love the little add-on in the room above, a small, simple shelf extending just about a foot from a curved column, offering a slinky, cocktail lounge style seating to extend your kitchen. The bar stools don’t have the best view, of course, but they have the distinct advantage that you can stow them away when you aren’t entertaining, and leave a whole lot more room in your kitchen for your bar equipment. Nook It I have to say, though, one of my favorite uses for a bar stools is to create a compact breakfast nook. I love breakfast nooks in all their forms, but they can be big, bulky additions that aren’t right for every kitchen. Instead of adding booth-style restaurant seating, either by a window or in a recessed space, simply add a tall, slender bistro table and one or two bar stools in a sunny spot. It takes up almost no space, but gives you a separate place to dine in the morning, especially if you just want to sit back and enjoy a nice cup of tea and a good book without having to set a table. What’s your favorite use for bar stools? Would you ever replace your dining table with bar-style seating, or do you prefer it as an add-on?

Read full version: Bar Stools: Adding Utility And Style To A Contemporary Kitchen
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S. Lewis

Building an antique inspired bathroom isn’t easy. After all, you certainly don’t want to expose real antiques to the harsh, humid, and ever changing environment of the bathroom, and replicas designed specifically for the bathroom aren’t always easy to come by. Traditional bathroom vanities easier to find, but truly ornate antique styles – with elaborate wood carvings and exotic wood veneers - are rarer. More difficult still is building a total bathroom design based on an eclectic selection of mixed and matched styles from all different regions and all different time periods. With a period style, the best way to get a cohesive decor is to opt for antique bathroom vanity sets, collections of furnishings and accents that help coordinate an old world style. Antique Veneers Making sure the frame of your bathroom mirror matches your bathroom vanity is important in any type of decor. But it’s a heck of a lot easier to do when the color of both is a generic “espresso.” With antique bathroom vanities, which are often made of much rarer and more exotic woods, getting a perfect color match is almost impossible unless you buy an antique bathroom vanity set. This Lorraine bombe chest style vanity is a perfect example. Made with cherry wood veneers and finished with an aged chestnut stain, the wood is luminous and unique…and the mirror matches perfectly because it’s part of the same collection. Shop Bathroom Vanities by Cole and Co: Antique Woodwork Antique bathroom vanities are largely characterized by the degree of detail in the woodwork. Elaborate floral carvings and intricate, hand-wrought flourishes, and sometimes hand painted details are part and parcel of an antique design. That’s why if you buy a vanity by itself, without a vanity top, sink, faucet, mirror, or linen cabinet (which is how most vanities of all types are sold), it can be almost impossible to match these intricate details across separate pieces of furniture. This is really the most important reason for antique bathroom vanity sets, as they package together all the wood pieces your bathroom needs not only in exactly the same finish, but with all the same finishing work, too. Shop Bathroom Vanities by Silkroad Exclusive: Better For A Bigger Bathroom The famous furniture designs that have survived until today as “antiques” were originally used in huge, sprawling spaces. Even now, antique bathroom design is often reserved for larger bathrooms. While there are compact antique vanities designed for a small bathroom, vanities 72″ or wider are typically antique in style. Antique bathroom vanity sets – especially ones with a three-piece modular design – are incredibly valuable for this type of bathroom. Not only do they include less expensive stone vanity tops (more on this in a moment), but because the vanity comes in three pieces, you can easily install them yourself. They also often come with a vanity top and sink pre-assembled, making it supremely easy to fill out a larger bathroom. Complete Stone Counter Tops Building a period style bathroom is equal parts luxury and authenticity, and striking a solid balance between the two. Not all details are historically accurate (nor should they be!), but they should stay true to the spirit of the times as well as the vibe you want for your design. One of the easiest details to get right is simple: install marble or granite counter tops for a double whammy of history and luxury. Antique bathroom vanity sets do this especially well, as the included vanity tops are chosen to match the design, and are much less expensive because vanity manufacturers buy and cut them in bulk. Shop Bathroom Vanities by Sagehill Designs: Seamless Sinks One of the less obvious advantages of antique bathroom vanity sets (and of having your vanity manufacturer make your vanity top) is that the holes for your sink are always perfectly cut for that company’s sinks. That makes installing undermount sinks easy – so easy, in fact, that many sets come with the the sink already attached to the counter so they can install as a single piece. This is great not just for a seamless, finished antique style, but having your sink mounted underneath your counter rather than sitting on top of it makes it much easier to clean – just wipe any water or debris right into the bowl. No-fuss spill cleanup also means your stone vanity tops, which can be a bit fussy to care for, are a lot likely to discolor or stain. Shop Bathroom Vanities by Legion Furniture: All Together Excellence Shop Xylem Bathroom Vanities: Perhaps more than with any other type of decor, antique bathroom vanity sets take a lot of the headache out of upgrading your bathroom. The more complete the set the better: mirrors, sinks, vanity tops, faucets, and storage cabinets all coordianted and even partially assembled each mean a little less struggle to build a matching design. And when you’re buying high end antique replicas, purchasing as much as you can in a single package is maybe the most reliable way to lower the total cost of your project. How extensive an antique bathroom remodel are you looking to do? Do you just need a bathroom vanity, or are you looking for supplemental furnishings as well? Shop All Bathroom Vanities:

Read full version: Antique Bathroom Vanity Sets – Old World Style With A Modern Convenience
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S. Lewis

Large scale bathroom renovations are the hottest thing in home design these days. But it can be hard to dream big when your bathroom is small. Much of the conventional advice that goes into building a dream bathroom simply doesn’t translate well when your space is limited. Even so, you don’t have to be doomed to a generic space just because you have a small bathroom. In fact, even though your selection is a little limited (whirlpool tubs and walk in showers are probably out!), small bathrooms are actually easier to remodel, because the smaller space can be done faster and for less money – you just have to know how to spend it! Paint The first piece of remodeling advice anyone will give you is to repaint. Changing the color of your walls is the fastest, easiest, and least expensive way to make a dramatic change in your decor, and this is especially true whet the space you’re painting is on the small side to start with. Small bathrooms can be especially challenging, though – many current color trends lean towards bright, bold, or dark colors, which can overwhelm a small bathroom. Rusty reds work for a low-lit ambiance and old world style, which can be striking in a guest bathroom. But for one that’s used frequently, opt for a neutral or pastel to keep the space from feeling oppressive. Exterior windows help lighten any color (meaning you can go a little darker if you dare), but lighter tones can really open up the space. Tile Walls White is probably the best color for making a small space seem light, bright, clean, and larger than it really is. But white painted walls are as boring as boring gets, and probably exactly the look you’re trying to get rid of. To get the same bright effect without the boring style, opt to tile one or more of your walls with white porcelain or ceramic tile. Subway tile on the walls and hex tile on the floors is very traditional, and gives you a slightly glossy finish that will reflect even more light, especially if your small bathroom has a window. To add a simple accent, glass tile mosaic backsplashes are hugely popular, simple to install, and can add a little splash of color (instead of or in addition to white wall tile) that can easily dress up your space. Shop Mosaic Tile: Tile Floors One of the best things to improve the value of your bathroom, no matter how big or small, is to upgrade from linoleum flooring to ceramic or, better yet, stone tile. Small bathrooms have the huge advantage of not having all that much floor to install, meaning that you have room to splurge for some truly nice tile because you won’t have to pay for more than a few square feet. Likely the tile will be more trouble to cut to size since you’ll have a few tight spaces to work around, but overall this is probably the one luxury upgrade that’s actually easier to pull off in a small bathroom. Shop Ceramic and Porcelain Tile: New Toilet In terms of the Big Stuff in your bathroom, chances are you’re stuck with a pretty generic shower/tub combo and a small or smaller bathroom vanity. But you might be surprised to find that you can get a decorative toilet. Wall mounted toilets are a little more difficult to install, but take up significantly less space (making your bathroom functionally just that much bigger) and have a sleek, streamlined appearance that’s great for a modern decor. Or, if you prefer, decorative modern toilets, with smooth sheath exteriors and interestingly shaped tanks and bases add a little visual flair to your space. For a real splurge, opt for a high tech toilet or high tech toilet seat, which is one of the best ways to add luxury to your bathroom without taking up any extra space. Shop Toilets: Bathroom Vanity I’ll admit, when you have a small bathroom, there isn’t always a whole lot of choice when it comes to picking a bathroom vanity. Your taste is probably going to be constrained by your need for storage (or vice versa) and depending on just how small your bathroom is, you’ll probably be limited in size to 36″, 30″, or even smaller. That said, there are a whole lot of storage smart bathroom vanities out there for a bathroom that’s used often. For a small guest bathroom or powder room where you don’t need a lot of extra storage, opting for a pedestal sink or wall mounted sink is a great way to squeeze a little more space out of your bathroom, and get a lovely traditional design, especially paired with subway and hex tiles. Shop Bathroom Vanities: Shower Door In a small bathroom, you almost definitely won’t have space for a separate bathtub and shower, which are more or less the holy grails of the dream bathroom. But just because you probably won’t end up with a decorative tub doesn’t mean you can’t dress up what you’ve got. Changing your shower curtain rod, shower rings, and shower curtain is a fast and easy way to alter the look of your bathroom, and swapping from a shower curtain to a glass shower door is an even better way to freshen up your decor. Either way, it breathes new life into an otherwise fairly generic fixture, which is exactly what you want when space is limited. Shop Shower Doors and Enclosures: What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever gotten about remodeling a small bathroom?

Read full version: Six Ways To Spruce Up A Small Bathroom – Easy Remodels You’ll Love
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S. Lewis

Despite the recent surge in popularity of modern design, traditional style bathrooms are still easily the most popular. From rich wood finishes to beautiful hand carved detailing, there’s something about traditional design that people find familiar, luxurious, and beautiful. But actually building a traditional bathroom can be challenging, from choosing a stone vanity top to finding a matching mirror. Traditional bathroom vanity sets take a lot of the effort (and expense) out of the process, assembling the parts you need to get a look you’ll love. One of the greatest benefits of traditional bathroom vanity sets is that they always come paired with stone vanity tops sized, styled, and shaped to the right specifications. Choosing a stone vanity top on your own can be overwhelming and quite expensive, and trying to have it cut to size and installed can be more than a little frustrating. But bathroom vanity sets take the worry out of the process entirely, with stone that’s matched to the finish and style of your vanity, pre-cut to accommodate a sink and faucet, and often includes a built in backsplash. Shop Bathroom Vanity Sets by Avanity: That said, one of the biggest drawbacks of traditional bathroom vanity sets is a lack of variety, specifically in terms of those same vanity tops. In general, bathroom vanity sets are a great way to get a stone vanity top on a limited budget, but because the savings comes from manufacturers buying and cutting stone in bulk, it results in a fairly limited selection of colors and styles. For a modern style, that might not be a big deal, but chances are with a traditional vanity you want a little more customizability. If that’s the case, look for manufacturers like Empire that have more (and often many more) options for the color and type of stone available. Shop Bathroom Vanities by Empire: Many traditional bathroom vanity sets only include the vanity and vanity top. But to get the greatest value out of your purchase, you want to look for sets that include a mirror, too. Why? Because when it comes to traditional design, mirrors are notoriously difficult to match well. Both in terms of color and especially in terms of woodwork, finding a mirror that matches perfectly from a separate manufacturer is almost impossible. By purchasing traditional bathroom vanity sets like the one above, not only do you get everything you need to complete your vanity space, but you can get it perfectly coordinated and for less than you’d spend otherwise. Shop Bathroom Vanity Sets by Legion Furniture: Occasionally, traditional bathroom vanity sets are part of larger bathroom collections, and include not only all the parts and pieces of your vanity, but also matching storage cabinets. In traditional design, these tend to be narrow, free-standing curio-style linen cabinets, or occasionally wall mounted versions. Made with the same wood and finished in the same color and with matching woodwork, these are a perfect way to get a seamlessly connected style, plus the extra storage and furnishings you need for a larger bathroom. Shop Bathroom Vanities by Sagehill Designs: Another feature you want to look for in a traditional bathroom vanity set is an included sink. Now, this is less an issue of expense (sinks are in the same price ballpark no matter where you buy them) or even style, but one of convenience. While vessel sinks are popular in modern design, undermount sinks are still highly desirable in traditional design for their smooth, uninterrupted surface. But it’s a look that’s a lot more difficult and arduous to get, and requires a more difficult installation than any other kind of sink. When vanity tops come with the sink preassembled, setting up your vanity becomes much more straightforward. More than that, you know that the hole for the sink will be perfectly cut and exactly the right shape, without having to pay a contractor to do it for you. Shop Bathroom Vanities by Hardware Resources: Now, having a vanity top pre-drilled with holes for a sink and faucet is really a no-brainer when it comes to bathroom vanity sets. The idea is for everything to be ready to install right out of the box. But many traditional bathroom vanity sets come with holes drilled for an 8-inch spread faucet rather than the standard 4-inch spread. This is a subtle difference, but one you should definitely pay attention to. The wider spaced holes allow you to install a more deluxe faucet – a feature you definitely want with a dressier, more formal traditional vanity – no extra expense or effort needed. Shop Bathroom Vanities by Virtu USA: What are you most concerned about in the process of building a traditional bathroom?

Read full version: Traditional Bathroom Vanity Sets – An Easy Way To Get A Sophisticated Style
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S. Lewis

Unfinished basements are great for all-purpose storage; they’re sort of the out-of-sight out-of-mind section of most houses, especially if you don’t also have an attic. But while the boxes of holiday decorations and poorly-lit washer and drier are fairly ubiquitous, they’re definitely becoming less so. More and more often these days, homeowners are taking on major basement remodels.  Not only will a finished basement offer you more livable space in your home, but it can actually help boost the square footage – and value – of your home. So if you have an unfinished basement and can stand to lose a little storage, here are a few basement remodeling projects to turn that damp, dank space into a room you’ll love to live in. Home Office Anyone who does a lot of work at home knows that people who don’t tend to think of “working from home” as “not working.” Especially if you work in a semi-public space, like at your dining table or in the living room, it can be a little difficult to focus on what you’re trying to get done. Turning an unfinished basement (or even just part of one) into a home office is a great way to dodge the family and get the privacy you need. Better still, if you do a significant portion of your work at home, you may be able to deduct a proportionate amount of your home’s expenses (possibly including a portion of the cost of the basement remodel) as a home office expense on your taxes. Home Gym Exercise equipment takes up a lot of space. Even compact or stowable workout gear requires more than a little floor space, to say nothing of gym-quality machines. If you’re serious about fitness (or are just sick of paying for a gym membership you never use), a big basement remodel is a great opportunity to build a gym of your own. Because they’re underground, basements are typically cooler than the rest of your house, and the concrete floor can support very heavy equipment. Better still, because home gyms are so simple, you can get away with simply installing foam floor pads or inexpensive carpeting to cushion your feet. Home Theater If you’ve been toying with the idea of upgrading your TV to a full home theater, your basement might be just the right place to do it. All home theater systems benefit from darkness, and rather than blocking off your windows upstairs, a basement theater is sufficiently dark day and night, so you’ll never have to worry about glare. Basements are also easier to soundproof than the rest of your home, with acoustic tiling on the walls and ceiling. That means you can install a surround sound system without having to worry so much about bothering your housemates and neighbors. And because basements are often a single, open space, a full basement remodel can easily accommodate a projection screen and even movie theater style recliners for an authentic movie-going experience. Laundry Land Chances are, your current laundry set up is in your basement, whether it’s a finished basement or not. But if it isn’t, your laundry room probably isn’t the most pleasant place to be – cold concrete floors, cinder block walls, and poor lighting do not exactly make a great place to hang out. If you have a big family, though, chances are you spend a lot of time there anyway. Finishing that space is a great way to make the task a little less arduous. Installing permanent shelving, plenty of storage cabinets, a hefty sink, lots of counter space for sorting and folding, along with a decent dose of lighting and more comfortable flooring will not only make your basement more attractive, but will make a necessary chore a little less miserable. Game Room Maybe one of the most popular basement remodels, many basements make surprisingly good game rooms. Basements have wide, open spaces that the upper levels of your home may not, meaning that they can more comfortably accommodate pool tables, ping pong tables, and the like. In combination with a home theater, you can even set up multiple videogame consoles on a big screen and in surround sound. For the more discerning collector, it’s even possible these days to purchase full sized arcade cabinets and play your favorite retro games, arcade style, right in your own home. Man Cave Thinking “yes, all of the above!”? You might want to consider a larger-scale basement remodel, lovingly referred to as a man cave. Complete with everything from big screen TVs to full bars and pinball machines, man caves are an escape dedicated to all things guy. Great for fellas who want a space to themselves, and for their women who might not enjoy having the big game cranked up to 11, turning your unfinished basement into a full fledged man cave can actually ease marital tension and help get guys to take a vested interest in the care and keeping of the home. To maximize the value added to your home, focus your basement remodel on generic fixtures (like high quality floors, walls, and lighting, or a wet bar or bathroom) that are permanent, and personalized features (like a big screen, air hockey table, or hub cap collection) that can go with you when you move. Basement Apartment? This one might seem a little out there, but turning that unfinished basement into an apartment for rent is becoming increasingly common in these tough financial times. Now, this is no small project: you’ll need not only to upgrade the floor and walls, but install all the necessities from a bathroom full kitchen with refrigerator to separate telephone, cable, and even electrical wiring. But it’s a big budget basement remodel that can really pay off – a consistent renter can pay the lion’s share of your mortgage (or even pay it in its entirety), paying for the work and becoming a significant source of income over time. Of course, you’ll have something akin to a housemate (even if the [...]

Read full version: Back To Basements – Seven Basement Remodels To Update Your Home
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S. Lewis

Modern design is becoming more and more popular, especially in bathroom design. Sleek, simple lines create an open, inviting space perfectly suited for a contemporary lifestyle, while the dark wood tones and industrial grays make for a clean, sophisticated vibe. And building a modern bathroom is easier than ever. These days, many manufacturers sell not just the vanity alone (as they do with many traditional designs) but complete bathroom vanity sets that allow you to transform your entire vanity space in a single purchase. Because all the parts you need are included, modern bathroom vanity sets offer simple coordination, a straightforward shopping experience, and often lower prices to boot. Now, admittedly it’s easier to match furnishings across brands with a modern design than just about any other style. Because espresso brown, solid black, and bamboo wood are so ubiquitous, and because modern design itself depends on straight, simple, unembellished lines, it’s not exactly rocket science to coordinate across brands. But the reverse is just as true: because modern bathroom furnishings tend to have more than a passing similarity, even across different brands, there’s a whole lot less reason to shop around for styles in the first place. Modern bathroom vanity sets offer all the variety you could want, meaning there’s even less reason to spend more money buying from different sources. Shop Bathroom Vanity Collections by Virtu: Because many vanities and bathroom mirrors are available in a relatively limited number of colors, they’re incredibly easy to mix and match. Many traditional bathroom vanities come paired with a specific mirror, but modern bathroom vanity sets offer a whole lot more wiggle room. A huge selection of mirrors in a single color from the same brand can easily match with any number of bathroom vanities. Especially if you buy your vanity, vanity top, and mirror as a bathroom vanity set, many manufacturers are fairly willing to let you piece together the parts you want, granting you a more customized style, as well as greater flexibility in terms of the size, shape, and type of mirror you can get. Shop Bathroom Vanity Collections by Empire: Maybe even more importantly, many modern bathroom vanity sets come with mirrors with unique designs you definitely won’t find in a more traditional style. While conventional mirrors typically are either frameless or have a simple wood frame designed to match the vanity, modern bathroom mirrors are often designed with a slightly more utilitarian eye. Storage mirrors with built in shelves, cupboards, cabinets, towel bars, and even shaped cubby holes are quite common. That means that not only will you be able to choose the size and shape mirror you want, you’ll also be able to choose from a variety of add-on storage options, from mirrors that add a relatively simple shelf to ones with ornate decorations that add a significant amount of storage. Shop Bathroom Vanity Collections by Legion Furniture: Many modern bathroom vanity sets also come equipped with high tech features and innovative contemporary designs that are often more difficult or more expensive to find or add to a traditional vanity. Things like vanity tops pre-cut for vessel sinks and vessel sink faucets, built in towel warmers, cold storage, or even backlit mirrors are beginning to become common in modern bathroom vanity sets. If you’re looking to add unique features and functionality, once again it’s almost always easier and less expensive if you can find them integrated into a larger set. Even something seemingly as simple as upgrading to a vessel sink or installing lights into your mirror can be a lot of trouble and expense to do from scratch. But when you start with materials that are intentionally mated, it’s a simple matter of assembling pieces. Shop Bathroom Vanity Collections by Vigo Industries: Another reason to opt for a modern bathroom vanity set is that stylistically oddly shaped vanities can be very difficult and very expensive to match with a vanity top. Traditional bathroom vanities (and even many of the simpler modern ones) sport simple, easy to cut rectangular vanity tops. But if you want a more innovative look, like a glass vanity top with integrated sinks, well, it’s almost impossible to do without purchasing it as part of a set. Some of the most daring styles are unique to individual vanity designs, and it only makes sense to purchase them as part of a single package. Shop Bathroom Vanity Collections by Design Element: In general, prepackaged vanity sets include a vanity, vanity top, and mirror, sometimes with a sink and faucet thrown in for good measure. This is true of modern bathroom vanity sets as well, but they often include even more matching features, like shelves and storage cabinets of varying sizes, styles, and designs. Wall mounted bathroom vanities in particular often feature a minimalist, modular design that makes them especially well suited to be paired with coordinating wall mounted storage, either small cubbies or larger linen cabinets. If you’re looking to decorate a smaller bathroom, or if you know you’re going to need a little extra storage, look for modern bathroom vanity sets that are a little more expansive than average. Even a few extra matching pieces will open up a whole host of design options, and help you get a great, matching look at a lower price than if you purchased them separately. Shop Bathroom Vanity Collections by Iotti: What are you looking for in a modern bathroom vanity set? Are you looking for a simple one stop shop, or are you planning on buying a bundle to get more unique features?

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S. Lewis

Vessel sinks are one of the hottest new trends in bathroom design – a simple change that makes a show stopping difference in the appearance of your bathroom. But not all vessel sinks are created equal, and not all of them look the same. In fact, choosing a unique-to-you vessel sink is a great way to show off your sense of style add your own personal flair to your bathroom. With so many materials, colors, and styles to choose from, a well-chosen vessel sink can be the signature piece in your bathroom, and can dress up even the most minimalist bathroom vanities. Simple Sophistication Traditionally bathroom sinks are a relatively small part of your bathroom decor. After all, they’re typically partially or wholly hidden beneath your vanity top. But vessel sinks are up front and center, shapely and often colorful, which makes them a great way to showcase your own personal style. One of the most popular types of vessel sinks (and my own personal favorite, for what that tells you about my taste!) echo the overall bathroom design trend towards classic simplicity. These vessel sinks riff on the traditional ceramic, but with the bowl sitting on top of the vanity rather than underneath it. Modern European designers offer ceramic vessel sinks in all shapes, curvy and square, tall, flat, oblong, and asymmetrical, allowing you to choose a unique, arresting, and often highly modern shape in a simple traditional material and neutral color. Shop Vessel Sinks by Scarabeo: Say It Loud Colors That said, maybe the majority of vessel sinks are eye-catching in a very different way: they’re bright, bold, and very very colorful. Colorful vessel sinks are typically made of glass, sometimes in a single color, sometimes several swirled together, and sometimes with flecks of metallic material to give them a little shine. These are great for adding an unexpected pop of color to your bathroom, and because they often come in a standard size and shape (again, like a serving bowl), they can be simply and easily interchanged if you want to dress up your look. Whether your opt for clear glass, tortoise shell, flaming red, or even a solid midnight blue, colorful vessel sinks make a great statement piece and can noticeably dress up your space. Shop Vessel Sinks by Vigo Industries: Rugged Rock Looking for a really wild style? Unfinished stone vessel sinks are totally unique, with a one of a kind natural shape and style, like a geode on the outside with a smooth, cleanly polished interior. The unfinished exterior adds great, rugged character while the polished inside keeps the sink looking sophisticated. Together, it makes for something that’s sure to catch some glances. If you don’t like the look of unfinished stone, you can also find polished stone vessel sinks, which are designed to bring out the natural veining and banding in the rock they’re made of, and again have a totally unique natural character. Shop Vessel Sinks by Xylem: Painted On Personality Some vessel sinks are more personalized than others, and I think painted sinks are among the most.  With unique images that range from lily pads to penguins, bamboo leaves to butterflies, and everything in between, it’s simple to find a sink that rather directly relates to your personality and sense of style. Some are painted with abstract designs, but many tend to have a loose nature theme, like lotus flowers or water droplets on leaves, which add a bright point of color while meshing well with an (increasingly popular) natural or nature-inspired bathroom decor. Shop Vessel Sinks by Legion Furniture: Masterful Metalwork You might not associate metal sinks with the bathroom – after all, stainless steel and copper are often reserved for the kitchen. But hand hammered copper and decorative brass, bronze, and steel sinks are gaining in popularity. These, too, make nice centerpieces for your bathroom vanity, adding a rustic, artisan flair you won’t get from many other materials. Metal is often more durable than china or glass, and copper especially comes with a whole host of benefits, from a natural patina that develops with age to natural antibacterial properties, that make it both a beautiful and a practical choice for your bathroom. Shop Vessel Sinks by Sierra Copper: Old Fashioned Finery Ceramic vessel sinks might be a hot new trend in modern design. But porcelain and vitreous china are about as traditional as you get when it comes to most bathroom fixtures. Which is why it isn’t entirely surprising that you’re starting to see vessel sinks designed after (really) old fashioned fixtures – all the way back to traditional washbasins. If you have a historical home or just an antique-based design, these sinks are a great way to add authentic antique charm. Herbeau in particular specializes in sinks hand painted with designs popular in France in the 1700s, making this type of sink a great contemporary twist on an impressively historically accurate French country bathroom design. Shop Vessel Sinks by Herbeau: No matter what style you choose, vessel sinks are a great way to showcase your personality, and easily and inexpensively add character and flair to your bathroom – just don’t forget, you’ll need a vessel sink faucet to go with it! Which type of vessel sink best suits your style?

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