Tile Tales and Great Resources

Today tile and all the wacky  and wonderful things you can do with it takes center stage.   Whether your style is wild and crazy or serene and sedate there are many ways to be creative and many types of tile to consider.  Depending on the complexity of the installation it is also a great candidate for the savvy DIY expert.

Traditional Laundry Room by Minneapolis Design-Build Firms the gudhouse company

Sometimes less is more, as is the case with the tile installation above.  I love the vertical direction of this glass pencil tile suggesting water running down the wall.  The aqua, beige and white palette is also beautiful!

Recently I discovered this great resource where you can learn everything you need to know about tile.  It is Drury Design's Interior Design Tile Style Guide. It will give you the low down on style, pricing and even durability.  In addition, the  Ceramic Tile Distributor Association (CTDA) launches their new website, CeramicCentral.com featuring content (not limited to tile) from a wide variety of sources including yours truly.  You can always search the content right here at KFL.  Just scroll down the side bar on the right. Check them out!  In the meantime, for your visual enjoyment, here are a few more intriguing design ideas that have caught my eye, and why.

Mediterranean Bathroom by Minneapolis Tile, Stone & Countertops Mercury Mosaics and Tile

This one goes in the "wild and wacky" file and I love it!  Definitely not for the feint of heart and probably not for the DIYer.  It is a showstopper and is a perfect example of how you can create a statement that is totally unique.

Modern Bathroom by Wayzata General Contractors Streeter & Associates, Inc.

The basket weave texture of this wall of tile enhances the adjacent smooth wood surface and the stunning turquoise complements the warmth of the wood.

Beach Style Kitchen by Boston Interior Designers & Decorators Rachel Reider Interiors

This is one of my favorite kitchen tile applications.  I say if you're going to tile behind a hood, go big or go home.  Yes tile all the way up for a complete and dramatic look.  Incidentally I also feel the same way about floating shelves.

Contemporary Kitchen by Wellesley Kitchen & Bath Designers Divine Kitchens LLC

All these photos can be found at Houzz

A Chat with K+BB 2014 Design Award Winner

Earlier this month  trade publication Kitchen & Bath Business Magazine (K+BB) unveiled their 2014 design award winners. Kitchen of the year went to Scott Dresden of Chicago firm , Dresden Design.  I love it!  He accomplished a masterful blending of traditional with contemporary touches that let you know it's 2014. This kitchen, located in a historic building, was no small feat to accomplish.  I mean that literally, Scott's client is 6'11" tall and many of the changes were made to accommodate his height.   As a designer, it's always interesting for me to learn the thought process that goes into a design so I contacted Scott who graciously agreed to be interviewed by KFL.KFL-  I notice an interesting blend of Traditional and Contemporary design in this kitchen.  What was your initial design inspiration?Scott- I wanted to make a modern Model A.  I designed a kitchen that could have possibly been there in this 1920’s building but layered in modern nuances.  I added contemporary hardware and open shelving so it doesn’t feel like your grandma’s old kitchen.KFL-  The K+BB article mentions that you raised the ceiling height, what did you do with those very necessary AC ducts?Scott- I put ducts inside the beams.KFL- Did you have to compromise any aspect of your design to satisfy your client?Scott- No, the client gave me full creative reign- a dream client.Scott mentions there is actually nothing he would have done differently in addition, he offers us the following insights into the project and how it evolved.KFL- What exactly were your client's requirements?Scott- My client is a tall guy- 6’-11” to be exact.  Much if the project was about making the space feel more expansive.  We accomplished this by using whites, demolishing the existing ceiling and using fixtures that would allow enough clearance.  The client, a single gentleman, wanted a stereo system that could be controlled from his i[kpad.  It was also important for him to have a very smart solution for lighting.  We installed a state of the art AV system and used halogens throughout with a minimum profile to allow us more vertical space. KFL- What were some of the specific challenges and how did you overcome them? Scott- This is a very old building and there were a lot of skeletons in the closet.  Every single thing had to be redone.  The electrical was a mess and there was no existing laundry room or way to vent a dryer.  The building located in Chicago’s Gold Coast, wasn’t able to accommodate our 2000 pound Calcutta Gold kitchen island in their freight elevator so we craned it through the living room window with an inch an a half to spare.  We redid all the electrical and created cabinetry that housed a vent less washer and dryer. KFL- Sounds like you addressed all the practical aspects successfully. What are some examples of your innovative design solutions?Innovative techniques came into play with space planning.  We accommodated wine storage with a 9”deep cabinet where wine bottles can lay on their sides horizontally so not to take up too much floor space in this small city kitchen.  We demolished the ceiling and removed the existing 6” cans allowing us to gain additional ceiling height.  We created a beam system that houses small modern halogen lighting.  To avoid blocking any natural light we opted to use a Calcutta slab backsplash with floating stainless shelves as opposed to upper cabinetry.  We modified decorative light fixtures to accommodate the client’s height and integrated a vent less washer and dryer into cabinetry to create a laundry room.Congrats to Scott on his big win.  Not only did he create the ideal environment for his client, he's also sharing a tip or two along the way! 

Color Your Kitchen for a Pop of WOW!

Whether your kitchen is New York City closet sized or vast and expansive, a skillful use of color can make it pop with interest or blend into adjacent areas.  Bold colored cabinets are certainly a commitment to say the least but also remember that a little goes a long way.Just a few doors in a vibrant red or juicy green create a focal point of visual interest that might not even be as effective if you covered the whole kitchen in it.Another way to use colors is on your walls.  After all they are the backdrop for your cabinets, plus they’re much easier to change if you need a new look. Fun accessories or a dramatic backsplash can do the color trick too! You can find more kitchen love on my Pinterest Kitchens board right here.  If you have kitchen questions I'd love to hear from you.  Leave a comment, drop a line...

The Ultimate Designer Kitchen

What do a luxurious high-end handbag and a kitchen have in common?  Give up?  Fendi! One of  the most impressive exhibits I viewed earlier this year at EuroCucina in Milan was the one featuring Fendi.  As you can imagine, a show like EuroCucina (a part of the even larger Salone Internazionale del Mobile) encompasses pretty much everything you could ever think  of when it comes to kitchen design.  Not only that, I saw things I've never imagined in my wildest dreams!  The Fendi's Casa Ambiente Cucina line fits squarely in that category. Styling can be described as elegant and sophisticated with details that call to mind to a fancy buckle or luxurious lining on your favorite expensive bag.  Speaking of linings, I was impressed with the cabinet interiors too.  In this case beauty isn't only skin deep it extends to what's inside.  This includes clear (yes CLEAR) roll outs and LED illumination which activates when you open the door or drawer. Fendi Kitchens made its debut at Salone two years ago with its first line of kitchen designs known as Ambienta Cucina, produced for them by SCIC, a high-end Italian kitchen manufacturer.The Fendi exhibit was kept strictly under wraps, no peeking from outside and once you were cleared to enter photography was verboten! Big burly bouncer type guys were on hand to enforce the no pic policy.  Sadly I witnessed one enthusiastic viewer caught in the act.  She was made to show her phone and delete all photos in presence of bouncer! I thought the whole point of showing at a trade show was to garner publicity, no?Fendi Casa Ambiente Cucina can be ordered in the U.S. exclusively through the Luxury Living Group  in  Los Angeles, Miami, and New York. Their offerings are truly a marriage of quality and fine design  Check out Kitchens for Living On the Road to view all my pics and comments from Eurocucina 2014 and more!

Lenny Kravitz, Wood You?

What’s new?   I can tell you about one new thing in the design world and that would be Lenny Kravitz!  Lenny has this “American Woman” drooling over design in the form of his new line of wood flooring by BR- 111 Hardwood Flooring.Actually BR-111 is collaborating with Kravitz Design, founded by none other than Grammy winning musician Lenny Kravitz.  I quote from a press release, “Kravitz Design’s keen eye for cutting edge design and innovation provided the perfect direction for this inspiring new product line. His design aesthetic speaks to urban elegance with a masculine vibe like touches of dark woods.” I would concur with that.Think 10” thick planks of wooden loveliness complete with their durable Bona Matte Naturale finish which includes Lifetime support.Now back to Lenny because I think it’s so curious that he’s actually a designer!  To me, it looks like the firm does high profile commercial jobs and somewhere in there, whether it’s Lenny or not (perhaps not) there is the talent to put this together.  What they obviously excel at is marketing.  A big name gets attention.  Pair that with drool worthy design and as much as I hate to admit it, you’ve got a good thing.  What do you think?

Modern Tradition: The New Farmhouse Sink

I have been away a little longer that usual but I have not forgotten my dear blog reader peeps.  Let’s just say I suddenly find myself as busy as a dishwasher on Thanksgiving!  Speaking of cleaning, I thought I’d show you some kitchen sink loveliness today. If you’re remodeling your kitchen you might want to consider something different when it comes to the kitchen sink.  It used to be true that the “farmhouse sink” could only really look right in a traditional type kitchen but that’s no longer true at all.   Your sink doesn’t necessarily need to be sunk under the counter, it can actually be a focal point as you see here.Stone Forest sinks are hand-carved from solid stone!  You can get the fronts polished, rough, with a floral design or with the wavefront as seen here.  Don't ask me how much they cost but a splurge on this will definitely elevate the character of your abode. Some models come with interior dividers if you’re addicted to the double bowl and you can even get them in stainless steel for a more modern look.  This sink is by Kraus.  We've come a long way, huh? 

Transitional Kitchen by Saskatoon Interior Designers & Decorators Atmosphere Interior Design Inc.

Here are a couple things to consider if you go this route.  Depending on they type of cabinetry you have, it may be difficult or impossible to retro fit a farmhouse sink into your existing cabinet and countertop.  If you are in fact replacing your tops and you have a back behind the false drawer front under your sink you may be in luck but it’s always safer to check with a professional first. Speaking of professionals, make sure of two things.  You need to know what sink you'll be using before ordering cabinets to make sure that you have enough space on the front above the doors to accommodate the front. The second thing is to be confident that your installer is familiar with this type of installation.  It will make or break you! Secondly if you really enthusiastic at the sink ie water everywhere be careful.  That same slick smooth apron front is a perfect pathway for water to drip down on to your cabinet doors.  That said, I have had clients who love their apron front farmhouse sinks with nary a problem.  I say if you love it and you can then go for it!