The title of this post is one of my mantras, and it applies perfectly to kitchen and bath design, as well as to life in general.

Let me give you the childhood example that helped inspire this long-held philosophy, and that will perfectly illustrate my point. My grandmother had a friend with more money than taste. (You can make much bigger mistakes on a big design budget than you can on a small one!)

This flamboyant friend carpeted the living room of her Upper East Side, New York City condo with wall-to-wall plush royal purple carpet… Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should!

Save saturated drama for paint, not carpeting! (Photo Courtesy:  Behr)

This life lesson keeps cropping up on social media, too, where (mostly) young people post about their bodies, bosses or bad habits (and sometimes get fired for it), and where civic leaders do foolish things very publicly, (and often get voted out of office or resign in disgrace afterward).

But this principle most particularly applies to residential interiors, the primary focus of this blog.  Here’s an example from my own design career. A client wanted Black Galaxy granite countertops in her kitchen. That was not the issue, as they coordinated very nicely with her Cabernet Cherry cabinet finish.

I advised the homeowner to place a trivet near her new range for moving pots and pans off a hot burner.  As I explained to her, heat shock can damage even the hardiest surfaces, like granite or engineered stone. She scoffed at me, sharing that she’d been putting hot pots on granite tops for 20 years and never had a problem.

Well, the first week her new counters were [...]

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Folks who know me well know of my distaste for cheap plastic products — and of my utter delight in lovely decorative details.

For whatever odd reason, I was thinking about toilet tank levers this morning, and how so many of the mass-produced models on the market today have cheap, ugly plastic  or very basic chrome handles.  (These will not look good in a bathroom remodel with oil rubbed bronze or brushed nickel finishes everywhere else!)

When I’m working on a reno that reuses an existing toilet — and there have been a few of these in recent years — I always replace the existing handle with one that matches  the new faucets and accessories.   (Most of the major decorative plumbing company brands sell coordinating decorative toilet tank levers.)   There are now options that personalize this humble lever to your personal interests, too, in many of the popular finishes.  I can see these being fun in a kids’ bath, game room bath, fishing cabin or vacation home bathroom, but there are also styles featuring flowers and scrolls that would nicely enhance a ma’am cave or powder room.

Here are a few that made me smile, along with a video link from HomeAdditionPlus.com on how to replace them on your own.  It should be noted that I’m not a DIY gal myself.  I’m a hire a pro type.

Fish tank

Bowl in one!

Loo wave

Rocking the Bowl!

(All Photos [...]

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Last week, I blogged about my favorite products from the 2013 Kitchen and Bath Industry Show in New Orleans – one of my favorite cities in the US. This week, I’m going to riff on my favorite KBIS trends.

Softness Trend

One of my favorite trends at the show was a delicious move toward softness. This showed up in colors, textures and even movement. It was a welcome shift from the hard, polished brights and sharp edges of recent years, though those showed up, too.

Rohl’s new Shaw sink was a scene stealer. The Waterside Apronfront had a softly-curved front that won Best of KBIS — and a lot of new fans for an old classic. Rohl also made the soft glow of copper easier to live with in their new Luxury Stainless line that looks like that sensitive metal, but won’t patina or require any work beyond regular cleaning.

One of my favorite new offerings was Rev-A-Shelf’s new soft-close tilt-out tray, which I also wrote about in my Best of KBIS nominees post a few weeks back.  I love these hidden little space builders, but have never loved their tendency to slam close. Kudos to this brand for solving that with a soft-close hinge.

I also liked Salice’s new soft bronze-finish European hinge. Even though it’s completely hidden when a cabinet door is closed, it blends far better with the most popular dark woods when open, creating a softer look overall.

Two of my favorites, as I mentioned last week, were Brizo’s Champagne and Cocoa Bronze Charlotte suite and Silestone’s Suede finish engineered stone tops. I expect to be specifying both in the coming months, and will be looking at Suede for my own kitchen.

Best of KBIS [...]

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Well, I’m back from the 2013 Kitchen and Bath Industry Show in New Orleans, and both my luggage and belly were over-stuffed.   Here were some of my favorite finds from my fourth – and sadly, smallest – KBIS.  Next week, I’ll tackle the show’s top trends.

Digital Glass Vanities from Robern

I absolutely loved the floating, digital glass vanities with LED lighting offered by Robern, always an industry leader. White and black glass have been a big smartphone/tablet-inspired trend for a few years, as I pointed out in my recent LivingKitchen post, and are part of this series.  However, the ones that knocked me out were the wood prints. Real wood is often used in bathrooms – I’ve specified it myself for years – but this is so much more moisture-friendly! My only quibble with the style is that the grain on the side panels runs vertically, rather than matching the front, horizontal grains. I hope they change that in upcoming releases.

(Photo Courtesy:  Robern)

Silestone’s Suede Finish

Regular readers know that I love engineered stone countertops for their durability and low maintenance. This new, matte Suede finish from Spanish manufacturer Cosentino’s huge Silestone brand was one of my favorite finds at the show this year. They will fit perfectly into a contemporary, family-friendly kitchen.

(Photo Courtesy:  Silestone)

FYI, Cosentino was previewing a new countertop surface that I’m very excited about called Dekton, as it blends three of my favorites: engineered stone, porcelain and glass. It will have the best properties of those three, come out toward the end of the year and go where Silestone can’t — outdoors.  Stay [...]

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I met the brilliant and beautiful Debbie Schaeffer of Mrs. G TV & Appliance in Lawrenceville, NJ  four years ago at a Bosch event in New York City. Since then, she has become a friend and one of my go-to gals on appliances.

Knowing that Debbie was going to be back in the Big Apple for its premier design event, the Architectural Digest Home Design Show last month, I asked her to report on the must-haves she spotted there. I’m grateful that she took the time to do so. Here are her fave finds:

***

When I walk customers around Mrs. G’s showroom, I talk about how the technology of today’s appliances are making life easier and more enjoyable when creating great meals, preserving our food and cleaning up. I also point out how kitchen appliances are all about design and fashion.

When anyone challenges me about combining fashion and appliances in the same sentence, I immediately reference the Architectural Digest Home Design Show in NYC. I have been going since 2001.

There were so many beautiful and innovative products at the ADHS that it was very hard to keep my focus on appliances. Here are a few of the items–not just appliances–that really stood out at the show:

Scanomat TopBrewer Coffee Faucet

I have to have it! I am calling this innovation from Danish manufacturer Scanomat a coffee faucet. [JG:  I'm calling it a Game Changer!] Plumbed to the water line, all of the equipment that houses the coffee system and refrigerated milk is conveniently hidden under the cabinet; all you see is the faucet. From an app on an iPhone or iPad, you then can choose espresso, coffee, cappuccino or latte. Go to Favorite Thing Blog by theunknowndiarist to see a video of the coffee faucet in [...]

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Every year, the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show – aka KBIS — features awards for the latest and greatest products.   This year, a number of my industry friends — who happen to be some of the top designers in the country — will be doing the judging.  Here are my three favorites, in no particular order, before they weigh in:

Augmented Reality

Also technology-inspired, I wrote about this concept in my Kitchen Planning Meets the Jetsons post and am thrilled to see that it’s in development, thanks to MR Direct.   It’s not quite “there” yet — as you can’t point your tablet or smartphone at a faucet or range hood and see it “virtually installed” in your kitchen, as I envisioned, but it’s a step in the right direction and worth noting.  (I’m looking forward to playing with this at the show this weekend.)

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This is not a purist’s design post.  It has as much to do with health as it does with your kitchen or bathroom.  So if you’re hoping for pictures of pretty spaces to tart up your Tuesday, click here instead!

I’m writing this to share an insight that I’ve found to be true in my life.  It’s probably true for yours, too.  It might even save it, as it did mine.

Looks great.. But it’s what’s inside that counts! (Photo Courtesy:  Robern)

Let me rewind the hands of time to Spring 2009.  A look inside my medicine cabinet would have revealed a prescription bottle full of Omeprazole, a drug I took daily to prevent acid reflux, and over-the-counter Famotodine, (generic Pepcid AC), when the Omeprazole didn’t work.  That happened with ferocious regularity.

I also had a box of chewable, cherry-flavored Pepto Bismol for other frequent stomach upsets and lots of Ibuprofen.  I needed those  to kill the dreaded pain of plantar fasciitis, the stabbing ache I’d get in my feet when I spent too much time on them.  When I’d attend a trade show, I’d have to change shoes almost every hour and pop Advil like candy.

NKBA Party – Spring 2009

As out of shape as I was back then, I was still healthier than some of my contemporaries, a few of whom were already on anti-cholesterol or high blood sugar drugs.  I was seriously overweight, completely sedentary and fast approaching the need for statins or early-onset diabetes medication myself.

That’s when my marriage unraveled.  I realized then that the stress of this new emotional crisis, in tandem with [...]

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This is the second of two guest posts by Landscape East & West‘s Bjorn Nordquist on outdoor kitchens.  The week leading up to Memorial Day, I’ll feature another one on gear for your outdoor kitchen by Kalamazoo Gourmet, as I’ve done in this space before.  Last week, Bjorn shared tips on landscaping your outdoor kitchen.   This week, he delves into covering it.

The inspiration for that idea came from an experience I had in Florida, where we had guests visiting and smoke blowing from the grill made our outdoor dining experience uncomfortable, unpleasant and unhealthy.  (Yes, there was a time before I was a designer, and before I gained an appreciation for cooking ventilation — both indoors and out!)  So, without further ado, I give you Bjorn’s brilliance again…

Why cover it?

Covered structures are a great way to complete an outdoor kitchen design. They shelter you from the elements, increase the amount of usable space around your home and lengthen the life of your outdoor kitchen equipment. As you plan your new landscape design, look for a covered structure that offers both form and function.  Considerations for covered structures include:

A cover provides shade for the grill master and guests

Types

The main types of covered structures for outdoor kitchens are pergolas, patio covers and gazebos. When planning an outdoor kitchen design, use a holistic approach so the space will appear seamlessly integrated. For example, if the outdoor kitchen is next to your home, consider adding a patio cover with a roof that matches the one on your home and posts that match the siding. For a detached kitchen, integrate the main material, finish or [...]

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I love living in Southern California, where you can enjoy outdoor living almost all year round.   Thus, I pay little attention to the official start of Spring, which began last week, and even less to that silly groundhog!  However, I get that for many of my friends, family and readers in chillier climes, Spring is when y’all start to think about venturing outside again.  In that spirit, I’m kicking off the season on Gold Notes with the first of three guest posts about outdoor spaces.

This first one comes from Bjorn Nordquist, senior designer at Landscape East & West in Portland, Ore.  As Bjorn shares below, an outdoor kitchen is a big investment in your home and incorporates more than just your cooking and eating areas. It’s important to take in the surrounding environment, too, for the best results. These are the elements you need to take into account, and five landscape planning tips to consider from a talented expert.

Location

Ease of access is important when it comes to any kitchen, including your outdoor version. You may want to situate it near your indoor kitchen, both for greater convenience, and for easier installation access to the home’s main utility lines. Make sure your landscaping design allows guests and the cook to navigate into and out of your home easily by locating outdoor seating and counters away from indoor-outdoor “travel lanes.”

Locating your outdoor kitchen next to the house is highly efficient for cook and guests

Layout

Think about the placement of cooking appliances, food preparation surfaces and your outdoor dining area relative to the surrounding areas of your yard or deck. Make sure your landscape design gives everyone enough space to sit [...]

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The latest American Institute of Architects‘ member survey on hot U.S. kitchen and bath trends hit my in-box this week and I asked for permission to excerpt it.   The following insights from member architects around the country were reported by Kermit Baker, the group’s chief economist:

Overall Economic Recovery

As recovery spreads from region to region, one of the first expressions of this turnaround is arriving. Homeowners are looking to add more value and function to two vital rooms: kitchens and baths.  Kitchens are regaining their role as “control center” of the home. While they haven’t significantly increased in size, they generally are utilizing more technology.

Likewise, bathrooms are getting more attention. Along with kitchens, baths tend to garner a lot of attention for new homebuyers, and are among the first spaces to be upgraded in existing homes.

Bath Remodel for Pleasure and Resale (Photo Courtesy:  Jamie Gold Kitchen and Bath Design, LLC)

Accessibility into and around the bathroom is a growing concern for homeowners, particularly those who may be planning to remain in their current home as they age in place.These are the major findings from the AIA Home Design Trends Survey for the fourth quarter of 2012, which focused on kitchen and bath design trends.

Kitchen Trends

While there are indications of a modest increase in space devoted to kitchen activities, there has been a greater change in the space devoted to new activities that are centered in the kitchen. More than half of residential architects point to an increase in space for a computer station or recharging area for cell phones, tablets, and other personal digital devices.

Likewise, more than 40 percent of respondents indicated an increase in space [...]

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