Distinctive design for the way you live

2020 - What's In, What's Out

mbwilsonid@aol.com (MaryBeth Wilson) — Wed, 25 Dec 2019 17:57:00 +0000

I read an article today that talked about the design trends that will be going “out” in the near future. In order to protect the innocent, or ignorant, or insightful, I will not be naming the source. However, I would like to discuss a few of the trends they talked about. Please excuse my somewhat snarky comments.

Going out of style: Nautical themes. Honestly, overdoing any theme is too much of a good thing, or of a not-so-good thing. A touch of your sea side love is fine, but a lot of nautical anywhere, except by the sea, is, and has always been a design no-no.

Apparently matching furniture sets will be going out. Let me just state for the record that designers have been telling clients for generations not to be too “matchy matchy”. This is not new. Maybe it is a sign that the general population is listening, time will tell.

Accent walls were stated as going out of style. I do not generally do accent walls, so I feel neutral about this statement. Barn doors and the industrial style are apparently on their way “out”. I would like to state that in some places a barn door type system is what happens to be the best solution for a space. Also, some people really like the rustic elements provided by the industrial look. If this is something you love, I would not be swayed by popular, or unpopular opinion.

Light wood is apparently going out. I beg to disagree. I think all shades of wood will continue to be popular. While I generally steer clients towards the medium tones, a light wood floor is very contemporary and fresh.

Apparently light wood is out. Really?

Finally, open shelving is trending out! People are figuring out what the older generation (me) have known for a dozen or more years. Things on open shelves get dusty, greasy and need to look pretty. Who needs that kind of upkeep for every day dishes?

Open shelves require upkeep

Hollywood lighting is apparently going out. News flash, this went out 30+ years ago. It was never pretty, and should have been illegal to start with.

Hollywood lighting's time is overdue

Apparently, brass is also falling out of favor, and distressed silver finishes and nickel are “in”. While I agree that a polished nickel finish on plumbing fixtures is about as high end as you can go, I think this wave of brass still has a lot of life left in in.

Oh, by the way, fake plants are out. If you want plants you have to go with the old-fashioned kind, that you have to water and everything. They are much better for your indoor air quality, so you are getting benefits besides just the beauty.

While I eagerly read all the design trends, it rarely impacts the design decisions I make, or the ones I recommend to clients. I believe people should live with what they love. I believe it is OK to mix finishes within a room, I believe that furniture should reflect the homeowner, and look collected. I also believe that design is moving more and more towards having almost everything be “in”, except the Hollywood lights. Good design is good design, and bad design does not improve with age!

Kitchen and Dining Tables

mbwilsonid@aol.com (MaryBeth Wilson) — Mon, 19 Mar 2018 22:58:00 +0000

I am frequently asked about dining tables. Sometimes the table will be going in the kitchen, serving for everyday as well as special event dining. This is because many of us are eliminating formal dining rooms. I, for one, still have a formal dining room. I am not sure if I will still want one in my next home, however, I do know that my kitchen tends to be messy when I cook, and I am not in favor of having my dinner guests look at my mess while they dine.

My kitchen table

Made of distressed wormy maple.

I do have certain benchmarks of quality that I suggest to clients who ask what to look for in a dining table. I will admit that I am a wood snob. Real, solid hardwood. Not a cheap wood veneer. (Note: some wood veneer is high quality, inlaid, and will cost more than a solid top. Veneer is not always equated with low quality). Many of the popular furniture stores and online sites sell attractive dining tables at low prices. Be careful. Always check to see what it says in the specifications. I always suggest a solid wood top. Not veneer over MDF. Anyone who has lived through raising children knows that all it takes is a 3-year-old stabbing the table a couple times with a fork to penetrate the top surface of the wood, or veneer. With wood, you could leave it, and call it character, but with veneer, it can cause peeling to begin. Yes, veneer can be glued down, but that is too much work for me.

Besides looking for solid wood, be sure that the finish is something that you can live with. Not that many dining tables have finishes that can withstand daily dining without at least placemats. Water condensation on glasses will leave rings, silverware will scratch, and hot things are a definite no-no.

Check the manufacturer’s warranty, and suggested care. If the table cannot be wiped with a damp sponge, then you may want to rethink using it for daily dining.

Reclaimed wood should have a finish on it as well, so that oils, water and other things do not absorb into the wood and stain it. The other thing to watch out for with reclaimed wood is splinters. Be sure it is sanded enough that you will not be stabbed by your table. If the wood is so distressed and aged, it may have deep cracks that can be difficult to keep clean.

Also keep in mind that a shiny finish will reflect all imperfections as well as dust, crumbs, etc. much more than a flat or satin finish. More casual tables tend to have flat finishes. Some formal tables still have a higher gloss finish.

My dining table is cherry, from Harden

One thing I will sometimes suggest to clients who are looking for a formal dining table, check Craig’s List and Estate Sales. I recently picked up 6 solid cherry Queen Anne dining chairs (2 with arms) by Harden, a high-end manufacturer, and a table for $25. It was a crazy deal. It was in the family and no one wanted it. I knew that Harden only used solid cherry. Knew that the seats could easily be reupholstered, and knew that the table could be refinished because it is solid cherry. I will likely have the chairs painted with chalk paint to create a non-matching set with my kitchen table.

There are other materials for table tops, but for this blog, my focus was just on wood, which is still the most common of all the materials. Happy hunting!

Time For A Change

mbwilsonid@aol.com (MaryBeth Wilson) — Wed, 12 Apr 2017 23:52:00 +0000

Recently I was helping some clients select new wallpaper for their dining room. They had the same green paint color below the chair rail in their living and dining room since they moved into their house over 20 years ago and it was time to refresh. They liked the green, but since it had been there the whole time, they did not even have a paint can to tell them what color it was, and there was not a great chance that I would be able to find wallpaper to go with it.

I found some nice wallpaper for the dining room to go above the chair rail. It had similar colors in it, greens, blue, yellows, coral, and it was a happy, soft wallpaper. However, the current green was going to need to be tweaked in order to work with the green in the wallpaper. The existing green had too much blue in it. A new fresh green would be a much better combination with the new wallpaper.

Color change over the years. It may not seem like they change a lot, but they do. Finding something to go with a color that was “in” 5, 10, or 20 years ago is almost impossible. Manufacturers rework their fabric and wallpaper lines to fit in with the new trends in colors. The newer greens are a bit more “springy”, with a tad of yellow to them. There are many greens with the blue in them, but they lean a bit towards the teal. I have had it happen over and over again that a client wants to find a fabric to go with drapes that are 15 or 20 years old in colors that are no longer in style. While I do not like to follow trends, trying to match old trends is almost impossible.

When I presented my ideas to my clients they told me they met with some resistance from their family at the idea of changing out the green. This is something I have heard before. Many people are hesitant to change things that they like. However, sometimes it is necessary, and the hope is always that you will like the new color even more.

We get sentimental about things in our parent’s homes. My son once complained when we were replacing the dishwasher, saying that the old one had “memories”. I remember vividly the blue and white toile in the dining room in the house I grew up in. Perhaps that is why I still love blue and white.

In spite of the sentimentality it is good to remember that our parents have the right to modernize their homes. They can listen to our desires and sentimental ideas, but having a fresh room can be uplifting to live in. It can give you a new outlook on life and give an old tired room a much needed make over. I am not one to tell anyone to discard beloved items, I think rooms should be all about living with things you love. However, if that beloved item is a worn sofa, or out of date color or carpet, it is time to update.

Try the new updated colors, they are sophisticated and beautiful versions of our old beloved favorites.

Flooring & Counters -- an update on a prior blog post

mbwilsonid@aol.com (MaryBeth Wilson) — Mon, 10 Apr 2017 23:22:00 +0000

Flooring and counters are a huge design and functional element in a kitchen. Here are a few of the things I have been seeing lately:

Floors:

· Wood flooring is still extremely popular, though the darker stains seem to be giving way to more medium wood tones, prefinished is great, IF you can find the right finish and wood species. For people with dogs and kids, a distressed or hand-scraped wood floor will help hide scratches and dents, as long as it is a matte finish. There are many different wood species available, and many of the prefinished floors have 25 year warranties.
· Bamboo and cork still remain somewhat unknown or untested.
· Tile, either stone tile or porcelain are popular choices, but remember, things do not bounce on tile floors!
· Laminates or vinyls have come a long way, people are using them in cottages, kitchens, mudrooms, and they look great.

Counters:

· Granite still seems to be popular, but people are looking at flamed, honed and leather finished stone rather than the traditional polished granite. The granite choices are leaning towards softer looking more exotic materials, things that are unique.
· Marble seems to be decreasing in popularity, so many of the quartz surfaces can imitate the look of marble now, and they have much greater durability. Of course, for a true marble lover, there is nothing that is quite like it. It is higher maintenance for sure. One of my clients who spent a great deal on a beautiful Calcutta marble island counter six years ago is now extremely unhappy with how much maintenance it requires. It etches and shows where the finish has been damaged by contact with acidic foods, in a bathroom marble can be damaged by lotions and make up.
· Quartz is growing in popularity. That seems to be the first thing my clients are asking for. Until they find out the price. Most of the nicer looking quartz slabs are about as much as a higher end granite slab. Ouch. However, the upside is the look of marble, without the maintenance. Just be careful of where you place the material, so that it still looks like marble. If you put it inside the dog bath it is a sure giveaway that it is not real.
· Metals are sometimes done in part of a kitchen. Copper, stainless, even zinc can add something unique to a space. Though this is much more unique. I am currently working on a stainless island counter for some clients.
· Concrete seems to be less common than a few years ago, maybe because some of the quartz materials can imitate the look, and last longer.
· Wood counters, either butcher block, stained cherry or maple, or an exotic wood will add a wonderful warmth to any kitchen, and some can be low in cost, so for an island or a non-wet area, that is still an option.

Great Use of Technology

mbwilsonid@aol.com (MaryBeth Wilson) — Mon, 06 Jul 2015 11:36:00 +0000

We are nearing completion on a family room makeover for a client. We changed the fireplace, flooring, furniture, lighting, added window treatments, etc.

I was thinking about artwork the other day and it felt like the space needed a quiet photo of the outdoors. Something with some green, and soft colors, as the room feels very calm and cohesive. I had been looking on the website for Monte Nagler art to see what he had to offer. The very next day I actually got a call from Monte's wife, Mickey, just to check in and see if they could help me with anything. It was perfect timing!

I told her exactly what I was looking for, the colors, the size and feel I wanted for the space, and even told her I would send her a photo of the space as it was currently so she could get a sense of it.

Within a day or two they sent me a dozen or so images to consider as well as several "mock ups" where they took the photo I sent them and imposed the a copy of the actual photograph into the space. Extremely cool.   What a great visualization tool for clients! I was able to send the files to my client and she selected 2 of the images for over her fireplace. One for summer and one for winter.

  If you are not familiar with Monte Nagler's photography please check it out, at montenagler.com. It is fabulous, and I have one of his photos in my own home.

  A thank you to Fireclass in Wixom who came and inspected and cleaned the fireplace insert for this client (when the service tech from the company that actually made the unit was not helpful). It is great to know the insert is properly installed and running efficiently.

Fireplaces and Master Bathrooms

mbwilsonid@aol.com (MaryBeth Wilson) — Sun, 17 May 2015 14:59:00 +0000

Fireplaces and master bathrooms. They seem to be everywhere I turn lately. I am currently working on three fireplace updates. One project involves adding stack stone up to the ceiling. Another project involves getting rid of 1970’s brick in favor of black marble and a wood mantle. The final project is putting back a fireplace where it had been ripped out of the home and drywalled over.

There is nothing quite like a fireplace to bring a cozy feel to a space. It is important to follow all code restrictions when adding a wood surround or mantle. I remember watching Trading Spaces on TV and yelling at the TV that they were not following code. You cannot put combustible materials right next to wood burning fireboxes. Even gas fireplaces have some restrictions that need to be followed.

I find that flush hearths are still more convenient that the old raised hearth. If someone wants to be able to sit in front of the fireplace, a nice ottoman on casters can be moved over. A flush hearth gives you more space in the room, or at least the feeling of more space.

Master bathroom renovations are also popular right now. White marble still is extremely sought after.

This photo was during a recent remodel. A favorite pattern of mine, 18x18 diagonal Carrara marble tiles with rows if mosaic around every 4 tiles. Also seen is the shower threshold and porcelain shower floor.

If real marble is too much work for you, try one of the tiles that is porcelain, but looks like marble. My assistant, Karen, and I made the rounds of tile shops a few months ago and collected all the samples of Carrara-look porcelain tile. One of our favorites was from Florida Tile. It is inexpensive, and really nice looking. The Tile Shop also has a very nice Carrara-look tile, with an even whiter background than the Florida tile.

The 3 large tiles are Carrara-look tile in both polished and unpolished, the small tile is real Carrara

You can mix real Carrara mosaics or accent tile with the porcelain to get a really wonderful, custom look. Using a combination of white ceramic and real Carrara is also a classic look.

An assortment of Carrara-look tiles with a mossaic of real Carrara tiles and glass.

Sometimes people will ask me if I think these looks will go out of style. I tell them that if this is a look they liked five years ago, then they will probably still like it in another five years. The old classic black and white bathrooms from the early 1900’s are still in style, and I think the white marble, or white marble-look, will also be in style for years to come. For those that prefer warmer colors, a crema marfil marble-look will warm things up.

Happy Remodeling!

The Middle of Winter in Michigan

mbwilsonid@aol.com (MaryBeth Wilson) — Sun, 02 Mar 2014 16:43:00 +0000

   I know I have not blogged in a while. A really long while. So here I am in the middle of winter, with some serious cabin fever. I do not think I am the only one, as my phone is ringing constantly with old clients and new clients.

   In my own house I have been painting some walls. Winter seems to be a good time to do this, because in the summer I spend a lot of time outdoors. Since I do not have any big projects planned at home for the next few months, I am catching up on some things that I have been meaning to do for a while. I painted the upstairs hall, in Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter, which is one of their no-fail colors. Now I need to do some reframing of pictures and rearrange my wall art in that hall. I finally got around to framing a picture that I have had for about three years for my dining room, but I have not yet figured out what is going beside it.

   I know that I am craving sunlight, just like most of my clients. I crave color also, but prefer to get that in accessories. I love white walls, especially white walls that have moldings, and all the various shades of white for walls! I have a board on Pinterest called “white is my favorite color.” That is true. It is clean and crisp, you can soften it with gray or taupe, you can warm it up with creamy yellow. The undertones of color are very important in how it will look in large scale in your home.

A few months ago I was helping a builder with some clients who needed to make color selections for the outside of their house. I only had a few of the color samples from the siding company, so I talked asked someone who worked for the builder to get me the other color samples. He said, “You know, they all look the same.” Well, I will remember to never let him make color selections for me!

Pinterest is a great place to look for design inspiration for your home. It can help you get through this long, cold winter.

Kitchen Trends I Am Seeing - Part 1: Cabinets

mbwilsonid@aol.com (MaryBeth Wilson) — Tue, 21 May 2013 22:53:00 +0000

Kitchen design should be timeless, that is what I always strive for when designing a kitchen for a client. I do not want a kitchen that I design to be an avocado green waiting to happen! Many kitchen colors, materials and ideas do run in trend cycles. Here are a few of the things I have been seeing in cabinetry;

Painted maple cabinets, especially grey are making the rounds.
Grey stained cabinets are also fabulous.
Glazing is still in, though not as popular as a few years ago. Still, glazing adds depth, and can help disguise fingerprints, a great benefit for families with small children.
Custom, custom, custom. Details that elevate a kitchen to a designer look, furniture base, legs and posts, stacked crown molding.
Mixing colors and materials, dark stained cabinets with a stainless decorative hood, or a different colored island.
White cabinets are always in style.
Clean lines on cabinets, not a lot of carving or ornamentation.
Stained cherry or alder.
Flat panel doors, rather than raised panel.

I always tell my clients to pick something that is timeless for them, something that they liked five years ago, they will probably still like in another five years. Kitchen cabinets tend to be the largest chunk of a kitchen budget, (sometimes they are second to appliances) so choose well. Buy high quality, well-constructed cabinets with a great finish (I prefer the catalyzed conversion varnish finish) and you can expect to get many years of use out of them.

Next time I will talk about other kitchen trends.

MaryBeth

Doing It Right

mbwilsonid@aol.com (MaryBeth Wilson) — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 11:58:00 +0000

I have been working with a client who started out wanting to do a “quick fix” kitchen update. Just paint the cabinets, and get new counters. She loves Calcutta marble, so she was thinking of that for the counters. She was also going to take this opportunity to update some of the appliances. After exploring a few things she decided that it would be best to get new cabinets, in order to accommodate the new appliances, and a better layout. I totally agreed with this, as it breaks my heart when someone puts beautiful marble or stone on cheap cabinets that will need to be replaced before too long. Her cabinets were low end, but attractive. (they will make a great donation to Habitat).

I designed the new layout to accommodate her appliance selections. We agreed on the layout, the doorstyle, the finish of the cabinets. We even got multiple prices. Then I got a call from her to say that she had this wild idea to actually add on to her home, to make the kitchen longer and integrate it more with the rest of the house. My only thought was that I wish I had thought of it first! Adding more space would take her kitchen from what looks like a small afterthought, to something that could be a main living area. So the project is taking a pause. She has contacted architects and needs to find someone who she can work with to come up with a drawing for the new space. Then she will need approval from her homeowners association.

This new plan is going to create quite a delay in her project, but it will absolutely be worth it. Kitchen remodeling is generally not a fast process. The decision making part can take months. It is not unusual for projects to take over a year, when you include all the planning and design time. It is far better to do the project right, than to do it fast. My old boss used to say “Done is better”, then she confessed to me that she did not actually believe that! Done right is the best of all.

Kitchen Remodel, part 12 - Postscript

mbwilsonid@aol.com (MaryBeth Wilson) — Sun, 30 Dec 2012 15:19:00 +0000

It has been a few months since the completion of the kitchen. I am extremely pleased with everything. If I were to do it all over again the only thing I would change would be to have Graber put dividers in some of the drawers, rather than using after-market dividers. My new dining chairs should arrive in the next week, and that is the last piece I am waiting for.

Following are some general photos, before, during and after.

Our kitchen before the renovation. The cabinets were the bottom-of-the-line thermofoil over particle board. A self-rimming drop in sink, and micro-hood that did not work, as well as laminate counters, and soffits completed the 1980’s look.

The kitchen was gutted down to the studs. The floor remained, but was refinished. New electrical was put in for recessed cans, undercabinet lights, and the new appliances.

The completed kitchen. Custom inset cabinets, by Cabinets By Graber, marble tile backsplash, super-white counters, new LED undercabinet lights, as well as a new vent-hood hidden behind a decorative façade add not only beauty, but much needed functionality. The cooktop was upgraded to gas, and additional counter space was added on the left wall.

This is a clever way to provide the outlet required by code in the island, without it being an eyesore. The drawer panel tilts down to provide access to the outlet.

Kitchen Remodel, part 11 - The Final Chapter

mbwilsonid@aol.com (MaryBeth Wilson) — Sun, 30 Sep 2012 19:49:00 +0000

My kitchen is finished. Well, almost. There seem to be a couple little things I need the carpenter to adjust, or touch up, or install.

Once the counters got installed things moved very quickly. The next day the plumber and tile setter came. By the end of that day I had plumbing, as well as a backsplash. The following day the tile setter came back, grouted the backsplash, and informed me that I was not allowed to get it wet for 12 hours. That was sad news to me as it meant not being able to use the plumbing that I just got back!

The electrician came by a couple days later to finalize electrical things. Put all the trims on the recessed light fixtures, and install the decorative pendants over the island. By the time he left everything was functioning.

The island countertop, zinc, got installed about a week later. The jury is still out on that. My husband is not in love with the material. It is soft, and does scratch. My goal for the counter is to eventually have a nice patina, and look like aged pewter. We are not there yet.

The kitchen project snowballed a bit, to include adding molding to our two story foyer. We figured if we were going to pay the painter to paint the foyer (which we included with the kitchen paint bid) then we might as well have him paint the panels in the foyer, rather than adding them later. So we spent a weekend adding panels to the foyer. By the time the painters left, I had a beautiful foyer with architectural detailing that it previously lacked.

The pain was totally worth the new kitchen I gained. I had never cooked with gas before and I love it. Things get very hot, and cook evenly. The double ovens are great, wider than my previous ovens. The whole convection oven thing is taking me a bit of time to get used to. I am not finding it to be intuitive, and need to spend some time understanding how to convert from regular cooking to convection.

The touch faucet is one of my favorite features. I use the touch feature all the time. You can also turn the faucet off and on manually, but I prefer the touch system. I am also enjoying my large single bowl sink. Every pan I own will fit (one at a time) in that sink! I did order a grid for half the sink so I can leave things to dry in the sink on the grid.

I have more storage than I had previously, as I added both a hutch and a pantry. I also have more counter space, which creates an additional work area, which helps the entire kitchen to function more efficiently.

It is amazing how quickly the discomforts of the remodel are forgotten. I think it is a bit like childbirth, you forget the pain quickly! I am extremely pleased with the cabinets I selected. They are the foundation of the remodel, and beautiful. The whole kitchen now functions extremely well, and the transformation is a thrill to me every time I walk in to the kitchen.

Kitchen Remodel, part 10 - Cabinet Installation

mbwilsonid@aol.com (MaryBeth Wilson) — Thu, 26 Jul 2012 14:49:00 +0000

The kitchen remodel has been going along nicely. The first few weeks were demolition, rough plumbing, and electrical. I passed the inspections easily (which I was nervous about). I had to schedule the plumbing, electrical and rough building inspections, and the inspectors are not available every day. I would say pulling a permit caused about a 4 day delay in the project. The floors were also refinished with two topcoats prior to the cabinet delivery.

As soon as the inspections were done I had drywall installed. By the second day the drywall finisher was busy mudding and taping. Unfortunately we had to do drywall repair in the basement ceiling, and even in the stairway to the basement because of needing access to joist spaces, and pipes.

The cabinets were delivered last Thursday. It was better than Christmas! I will say it added considerably to the mess and chaos in the house. For cabinet installation all doors and usually all drawers need to come out of the cabinet box. So our living room, family room, and my office were filled to the brim with doors, drawers, and a few cabinet boxes.

As soon as the drywall was up and they were getting ready to start installing the cabinets, my husband pointed out that the ducting for the exterior venting hood was not in place. It would have been really good if I had remembered to tell them about that a day earlier, but I did not. So last week Friday, they had to cut out some of the new drywall, and configure a duct to squeeze into the joist space and out through the back of the house. I am installing a new gas cooktop, so not only did I have to have a gas line put in, but it was important to me to vent outside. I previously had a very poorly working recirculating micro hood and I have never been happy with it.

We were out of town over the weekend, and when I came home I was a bit disappointed that more progress had not been made (I was secretly hoping everything would be done). There were about four cabinets installed. I do know that Tim Horton, the extremely talented installer, spends a lot of time being sure that everything that is installed is level, plumb, and square. Prep is everything, hours of leveling, and measuring and marking lines on the wall have to take place before a cabinet is installed. I am extremely picky about details. Miter cuts have to be flawless, everything has to be lined up just right, and I know that the time spent before installation is key to that. The reality is that I want instant gratification and a good installation takes time.

My house was scheduled to be templated for countertops on Tuesday. When I first ordered the counters I was told that the lead time between templates and installation was two weeks. By the time we were close to templating that time had changed to three weeks. That was extremely discouraging for me. Every additional day in the chaos zone is a challenge. Happily, we were ready for the templating on Tuesday, and when I called to schedule the installation I was able to get a date just over two weeks away. Thanks very much to Tom and Granite Creations in Novi for that. When they come to template you must have everything they need to cut out your counters. They take your sink with them to attach it to the granite, they need the measurements for the cooktop, and need to know exactly how many holes they will drill for a faucet, or any other accessories. I did not do a soap dispenser, but I did do an air switch for the garbage disposal. (An air switch is a button in the counter that turns on the disposal)

At this point all the cabinets are in. Almost all the doors are on. The ovens, refrigerator and microwave will hopefully go in today. Tim is working on the base moldings that go around the cabinets. I have started to put things back into the kitchen. I carefully mapped out a plan of what goes where in the new cabinets. I wanted to carefully plan things out before I started to unpack the kitchen, knowing that once something goes into a cabinet, it will likely stay in that home long term.

Kitchen Remodel, part 9 - Ready for Drywall

mbwilsonid@aol.com (MaryBeth Wilson) — Mon, 16 Jul 2012 23:32:00 +0000

It has been 16 days since we started our demo. The kitchen is torn apart. The plumbing is almost ready for cabinets, and the electrician spent a couple days putting in all new wiring for: recessed cans, a couple pendants, and a combination of LED and Xenon under cabinet lighting. He moved some outlets and added a few where needed. The floor refinisher was here Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday of this past week and our formerly awful looking wood floors look amazing. I should have taken before photos of the floor, so that the after photos would be even more impressive. There are a couple spots on the floor where the finish seemed to react to something and peel a bit. The spots are all smaller than a dime, and I am ever so hopeful that they will be able to fix those when they come to do the final finish coat.

The plumbing, electrical and rough building inspections have been passed. Pulling a permit definitely added some cost and delay to the job. There is no doubt that I would have had everything done to code regardless of the permits, but it was an interesting experience. I found all the Inspectors to be fair and easy to deal with. They will all have to come back once again when the project is finished to sign off on everything. As an added bonus to the delay and additional cost, now they may raise our taxes following an assessment. :(

Our garage is loaded with drywall ready for a crew on Monday morning. The builder who is working with me had me tell him how many pieces and of what size drywall I needed. So I am hoping that it all turns our OK on Monday!

The cabinets get delivered Thursday morning. I am extremely excited. I have printed the design elevations of the walls and cabinets and written exactly what I plan to put in each cabinet and drawer.

I know that I need to plan it correctly in the first place, because once I put things into a cabinet, they will likely remain in that cabinet forever. I am adding storage, so I am hoping that I have more than enough room for everything. Still, there are many odd items that need a home, and I am reluctant to give up prime space for things like batteries, and the 800 chargers and cords that we have accumulated. I did decide that there will be a junk drawer. But it will be a bottom drawer, and it will have organizing bins inside. The two items that I have not found wonderful solutions for are the spice storage, and the kitchen towel location. I currently ordered an over the door towel hook that I will try on the end of the island. The hook is backed with foam so that it should not mar the cabinet. Spices are another challenge. I will have some storage on the end of the island, and I can easily put them in the upper cabinet to the left of the cooktop. I even have a drawer that I can use for spices. However, I do like to arrange my spices alphabetically, and I have spice jars of many different sizes and shapes. I may have to put the spices in a few locations and organize them based on how frequently I use them.

I will let you know how that turns out.

Kitchen Remodel, part 8 - Plumbing & Electrical

mbwilsonid@aol.com (MaryBeth Wilson) — Sun, 08 Jul 2012 10:00:00 +0000

The kitchen is down to the studs. I wish I could say that the messiest part was over, but unfortunately, that is not the case. The plumber has spent two days here, moving plumbing surprises that we found, such as copper pipes in the side wall of the pantry. The electrician spent the day here yesterday and will finish up the rough today. We had to get all new recessed cans, and he rewired everything. I am so happy to know that now our wiring will be done correctly. The wiring in this house has always been somewhat questionable.

The kitchen is closed off from the rest of the house with plastic draped in the doorways. The refrigerator is in the front hall, the microwave is in the dining room, along with all of our food and supplies, and the water source is in the mudroom. Not exactly your ideal work triangle.

The budget has taken some hits already. The plumbing issues have essentially doubled my planned plumbing budget. I had only allowed for running the new gas line for the cooktop, and hooking up the new sink, not for moving drain lines that were in the wrong place, or for moving copper pipes. The undercabinet lights were over budget also. I ended up getting a combination of xenon and LED undercabinet lights. Xenon is what I have specified for clients for years, and I know it will have good light output. So I am putting that under the hutch cabinet. For the rest of the kitchen I am using GM LED tape light. You have to purchase that by the spool, and one spool was just enough to do the rest of the kitchen. I did not want to have to purchase an entire additional spool and another transformer to do the hutch area, so I added the xenon there. The color of the light output should be about the same for both types of light, and since they are not next to each other it should work. The reason I was sold on the LED tape light really has a lot to do with the low profile of the material. It is literally a piece of tape with tiny lights on it, so I do not have to add light molding to the bottom of my cabinets, and I can get it into the appliance garage that I have in the corner of my new kitchen.

I did select most of the hardware. I am going with bin pulls for all the drawers, and ice box style latches for the pantry. The knobs are proving to be a bit more elusive, and I have not made a final selection yet.

Ice Box style latches, by Cliffside Industries. (I am getting satin nickel)

Bin Pulls, also by Cliffside Industries.

This coming week I will be having building, plumbing and electrical inspections. My new plumbing fixtures, garbage disposal air switch, and pendant lights will be delivered Monday. Then I will have the drywall put up, taped and sanded. The floor refinisher will be here Thursday to sand the floor and maybe put on a coat of stain and finish. I may take the dogs to the kennel for the night that night, depending on how much he thinks he can do in a day. Unfortunately, this will be a dusty week. Sigh.

Kitchen Remodel, part 7 - Demolition

mbwilsonid@aol.com (MaryBeth Wilson) — Sat, 07 Jul 2012 11:36:00 +0000

The kitchen remodel has begun. We boxed up everything, moved a temporary kitchen into our dining room, pulled the construction permit and on Friday night, demolition began. By Saturday afternoon the kitchen was barren except for the refrigerator. We will be moving that into the dining room when it is necessary. Some of the old cabinets will find a new home in our garage, and the rest will be donated to Habitat for Humanity, along with the old appliances.

I have always been a proponent of preparing a temporary kitchen to ensure survival during the upheaval of a remodeling project. We did that, but I fear the disarray will still put me perilously close to the edge of sanity. We have our kitchen table, a hot plate, microwave and toaster oven set up in the dining room. Our nearest sink is the mudroom. I stocked up on paper plates to avoid hand washing too many dishes. So I figured we were all set. We found out that our preparations were still inadequate last night when my son and daughter-in-law came for dinner. We grilled steaks and potatoes, and I had corn on the cob that I planned to cook on the hot plate. It seemed like a great plan. First, I found that preparing anything on 18” of counter space is annoying and frustrating. The hot plate did not work, and the grill was already full of steak and potatoes, so I had to microwave the corn on the cob, which tripped a circuit. I had packed away trays and baking pans, so it was difficult to transport the steaks from the grill to the table. My husband did a great job of grilling, so the food tasted wonderful, but the dishes were a pain. I could not bring myself to serve steaks on paper plates, so we used regular dishes, and clean-up for five people in an 18” diameter sink with almost no counter space was not easy. The moral of this story is that take-out would have been a better option. Live and learn.

We also took some time to protect other areas of the house from excess dust, dirt and other possible damage. I removed pictures and artwork from walls in the hall, and adjacent rooms. We are refinishing our existing wood floor which runs from the front door, to the mudroom and through the kitchen, so all those areas will be impacted by sanding. We put plastic sticky runners at the carpet edges near the wood floor. Today the plastic walls go up.

Kitchen Remodel, part 6 - Cabinet Lighting

mbwilsonid@aol.com (MaryBeth Wilson) — Fri, 08 Jun 2012 11:06:00 +0000

My under-cabinet lighting decision is still a bit up in the air. For many years I have recommended xenon undercabinet lights. They provide good light, are not as hot as halogen, and are flattering to granite counters.

LED lights are now a good option for use as under-cabinet lights. They do require transformers, which means you have to be able to find an out-of-the-way place for the transformer. There are also restrictions in terms of connectors, distance, etc. The main problem with the LED lights is the price. They are still fairly expensive to buy but inexpensive to run. ( I should mention that I am already a tad over budget.)

My electrician has not put in the LED lights yet,but it should not be a problem for him to figure out. I know what I want in my under-cabinet lights -- good light, simple switching, low profile, nice white light, and not heat producing. The heat factor is not always an issue. If I were just putting dishes in the upper cabinets, heat would not be a factor. However, I will be using some of my upper cabinets to store food and spices, so heat could be an issue.
I also do not want the lights to be visible. Often this can be dealt with by adding molding to the bottom of cabinets, but I would like to avoid that in my kitchen. The LED lighting can come in the form of a stick on tape with a very low profile.
Usually I let the electrician just pick up the fixtures, but I will be selecting my own. So with the help of the lighting supply house I will determine exactly what I need. I think I will end up with the LED lights, they are just too interesting to not use.

Kitchen Remodel, part 5 - Central Lighting

mbwilsonid@aol.com (MaryBeth Wilson) — Mon, 28 May 2012 18:24:00 +0000

Lighting is extremely critical in any remodeling project. In my own kitchen remodel project I have the lighting planned out. I will have a new chandelier over the dining table, it has 5 bulbs and will kick out a lot of light. Over my island I will have 2 pendants. I always tell my clients that odd numbers are better in design, but my island is just not large enough for 3 pendants. The rest of the ceiling lights are recessed. Over the sink is also recessed. To do another hanging fixture there would be too much, as my kitchen is not huge. In general, I try not to have too many hanging fixtures, especially if they are close to one another.

I will have undercabinet lights throughout the kitchen. For many years I have recommended xenon lights. They produce a nice white light, and do not get hot the way halogen lights do. Lately I have seen that LED lights have reached the point where they produce plenty of light for an undercabinet installation. One of my clients put them in and they come on a flat tape and are attached to the underside of the cabinet. That idea is attractive to me as I hope to not need light molding at the bottom of the cabinets. (light molding is put on the bottom of cabinets to help shield the undercabinet lights)

I am going to make a trip to my lighting showroom to learn about my LED options and hopefully purchase the lights. Usually I have the electrician buy the lights, but I am going to be purchasing my own. Hopefully they will be willing to educate me at the showroom and assist me in specifying the correct products. I will be the first to admit that I am NOT a lighting expert!

This is the chandelier I selected, only in an antique silver finish.

Kitchen Remodel, part 4 - Counter Selection

mbwilsonid@aol.com (MaryBeth Wilson) — Thu, 24 May 2012 20:02:00 +0000

One of the important decisions for my remodel project is countertop selection.

Color and durability are important issues in my counter selection. A black granite countertop would look great against the white cabinets, but black granite shows everything - literally. Every speck of dust and drop of soap would show up, and I would need to constantly wipe it down. I prefer something that helps hide the dust and crumbs. Granite, in general, needs to be sealed once or twice a year, which is an easy process. Marble and limestone, while absolutely beautiful, are a bit more porous and I would consider those to be less ideal in my home. Certain things, such as blueberries and red wine, could damage the finish, and while some people could call that patina and be happy with it, I know it would bother me.
Here is what I will have in my kitchen that is known: white inset cabinets with wonderful details, wood floors (to be refinished and distressed), an undermount sink. Being a designer, I also am concerned with the relationship between the kitchen, and the adjacent rooms. My kitchen and family room are very open to one another, so the materials and finishes need to all work together.

I love the look of white marble, but after my previous blog post and experiment, I do not think I would be happy with the signs of wear and tear that would show if I used white marble for my countertops.

None of the man-made stone materials make me swoon enough to be willing to pay the high cost in order to put that on my counters. I am also, I admit, a bit of a stone snob. I prefer real stone, to imitation. For my island I have decided on a zinc counter. Zinc is a metal that is warmer looking than stainless. I think it will look a bit like pewter as it ages. My perimeter cabinets are going to have stone countertops. I had previously narrowed my choices down to Bianco Romano granite -- IF I could find a pretty slab. Super White is between granite and marble in hardness, and lately, the slabs have been very, very gray. I also considered soapstone, which I have always loved. So far I have not found a Bianco Romano slab that I like. And I decided that the soapstone would just be darker than I want. I did see a picture online of the incoming slabs of Super White, and they are less gray than the current lot.

So I have a couple of those slabs ordered right now. Hopefully they will be as nice looking in real life as they are in the pictures.

I have to say that I have looked at a LOT of tile options for the backsplash. I want something simple and timeless, so I am leaning toward a subway tile, perhaps in marble. The final decision on the backsplash has to wait until I see the new slabs of Super White, because I have to coordinate the backsplash with the counters.

So, as it stands right now the perimeter counters will be Super White, and the island zinc.

Kitchen Remodel, part 3 - Counter Selection

mbwilsonid@aol.com (MaryBeth Wilson) — Mon, 21 May 2012 10:00:00 +0000

This is the second blog about my impending kitchen renovation.

I have been thinking about counter material selection for a while. Nothing beats the beauty of natural stone, but I have to say not all granites thrill me. Once granite became common, and something you could buy at Home Depot, it lost a bit of its high end appeal. There are many varieties of granite to select from, and there are even some with very interesting finishes, such as flamed or leather. Those finishes add a wonderful texture. I have occasionally, however, seen an expensive granite with an expensive finish end up looking cheap. I do not want that to happen.

Be sure, when selecting a natural stone, that you select your specific slab. You should not purchase stone counters based on a 12”x12” sample. Look at the current lot and tag the slab you like. If you are putting a special finish on your stone slab, you may not be able to see what it looks like until it is finished, and by then it may be too late to change your mind.

There are some beautiful quartz materials now. Some of those are under consideration. But I am not sure that I can overcome my mindset that a natural stone is better than faux stone.

I also have this desire to be different from everybody else. I do not want my kitchen to be typical. I want people to walk in and be drawn to touch the finishes and materials. I do this for a living, so I need to have creative touches in my kitchen.

I mentioned a zinc counter to a client a couple of years ago and she told me that zinc counters are very European. Well, I have been hankering for them ever since. But I do not want all zinc. It seems it would be a tad industrial and cold, so the island will be zinc. I like the soft look of the material, and the way it starts to look it's pewter look. I prefer that in my house to copper and steel, both of which are also interesting ideas for counters.

Soapstone is a material I have always liked. It is softer to the touch than granite, and ages wonderfully with mineral oil. I would be very happy with soapstone counters, but my husband is not such a fan. So I am looking for a material that we both like. Since I have more cool colors than warm in my house the counters need to fit with that theme. I do like Super White granite, though I understand it is more of a quartzite than a true granite. I think the durability and ease of care would be fine. It is a gray and white material that looks like the reverse of Carrera marble, mostly gray with white veins. However, the slabs are getting more and more gray. The photo below shows an older slab, with more white.

Another possible option is Bianco Romano. A white granite with speckles and veins in gray, yellow and even a touch of cranberry. But it all depends on finding the right slab, as not all slabs are beautiful to my eye. Sigh. Needless to say my final counter selection has not been finalized.

When I make my final decision I will post a photo of the winning slab.

To be continued…

Kitchen Remodel, part 2 - Stone Selection

mbwilsonid@aol.com (MaryBeth Wilson) — Mon, 14 May 2012 10:57:00 +0000

I have been working with several clients lately on countertop selection for kitchen renovations. This is a very important decision in any renovation. You will be looking at, and using, your counters daily. The material needs to work for you in your home, and withstand whatever you put it through.

There are many options for counter materials including; stone, engineered stones (quartz and quartzite plus resin), wood (butcher block and so much more), laminate (the old stand-by has many attractive finishes now), concrete, and even metals. The most common material my clients select is granite. It is extremely hard, low maintenance, durable, and beautiful. However, not everyone likes the look of granite.

White marble is commonly used in many high-end kitchens. This is a classic look and has timeless appeal. In trying to select my own kitchen counters I considered using this material. Marble is not as hard as granite, is more porous and acidic foods can etch the surface. Many people are willing to live with this characteristic of such a beautiful material. I was unsure how I would react to it, so I did an experiment. I took a piece of polished Calcutta marble, honed (non polished) Calcutta marble, granite, and quartzite, which is a natural stone and falls between granite and marble on the hardness scale. I sealed each piece of stone, and then put a square of freshly cut pineapple on each of the different surfaces. I left the pineapple for about ten minutes, then removed it, washed the surface and inspected the finish.

The pineapple left significant etching on both pieces of marble. There was a slight etching on the quartzite, and none on the granite. What you have to think about is how willing you may be to care for the marble counters, and live with the natural “patina” they will develop through use. For some of my clients the etching and possible staining is a non-issue. They are perfectly happy to care for the marble, and put up with the flaws. Others want a counter that will not stain, or etch, knowing that the defects in the material will bother them. Whatever your selection, you should know the pros and cons of the material you choose, and decide what is the best choice for your kitchen.

Kitchen Remodel, part 1 - The Plan

mbwilsonid@aol.com (MaryBeth Wilson) — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 11:08:00 +0000

This summer I will be renovating my kitchen. I have always told my husband that I figured I would be good for one major kitchen renovation in my life and this will be it. As a designer, I know it is important for my new kitchen to be well integrated with the rest of my home. Everything I have done in my home to this point has been with the new kitchen in mind, I have known what this kitchen will look like for many years. I know what works and does not work in my current kitchen. Having lived in my current kitchen for years also means I know what works, and does not work, and where the crowding occurs daily and when we entertain.

The kitchen will remain the same size that it is now, though I would love an additional 2 feet in the width of my kitchen. So the footprint will remain the same, but the use of space will change. In a kitchen every inch counts. Literally. I am going to take advantage of every inch I have.

The existing soffits will be eliminated. We have already checked to be sure that it is feasible. The counter will extend, the pathetic drywall pantry will go away. Instead I will use cabinets with roll out shelves as my pantry.

The thing I have had the most difficulty deciding upon is the incorporation of furniture pieces in my kitchen. I have known exactly what pieces will look like, but have had to work on balancing the use of color and different finishes throughout the room. Some of this decision has been based on staying within budget. Just like everyone else, I have a budget to work with. So prioritizing has been important. I want to spend limited funds where it counts.

My new cabinets will be white. I know my husband would prefer a stained wood, but he is graciously giving in to me on this issue. I find that many women are carrying a kitchen around with them in their hearts, and the kitchen in my heart is white. I am sure it reflects the wonderful old house I grew up in that had a white kitchen. Let me mention that the kitchen in that house was extremely poorly designed for functionality, but it was cheerful and bright.

I have to explain that my current cabinets are white. Some people do not understand why I would replace white with white. The design, the quality of the construction, and finish all contribute to making one cabinet better than another. It is the difference between a $200 wedding dress and a $10,000 wedding dress, they are both white, but the design, quality of the construction and fabric are what sets one apart. The new cabinets will be painted maple, with a paint that has a catalyzed conversion varnish finish. My white thermofoil cabinets are actually melting over my oven.

One of the most important considerations in a kitchen remodel is the appliances. I have been purchasing appliances for the remodel for a while. I ordered the last appliance last week. It was the vent hood liner and blower. Not an exciting appliance, but very important, and very technical. It needs to vent outside, fit within the height of the ceiling, and function appropriately for the cooking surface. It was also important to me that it be quiet. I called Marie Barnesdale of Heydlauffs Appliances in Chelsea Michigan to get a recommendation for this appliance, a knowledgeable appliance salesperson is vital, and Marie has been so helpful to myself and clients over the years.

The next item is counter selection.

To be continued…

The Stress of Renovation

mbwilsonid@aol.com (MaryBeth Wilson) — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 11:43:00 +0000

When a remodeling project goes wrong it can be a source of great stress. Both financial and emotional. As an interior designer I have seen many remodeling projects from start to finish. Some jobs flow easily and without a hitch, and some jobs don't. There can be many reasons for delays and added costs. Sometimes the client makes changes, or there are backordered materials, or contractor delays, but sometimes things come up that were unexpected and not the fault of anyone.

I am working with a client in Ann Arbor, and her job seems to be such a job. We were installing a new cork floor in the bathroom of her 50 year old ranch. When the homeowner pulled the toilet for the new floor the shut off valve broke. Water gushed out. The shut off in the basement was also damaged. They eventually had to call the city to come and shut off the water at the street. Of course, this shut off the water to the whole house.

Since the new floor was going to be higher than the existing thresholds we decided to pull the thresholds. When that happened the old cement under the old tile which was under the newer vinyl floor began to crumble. So the installer had to remove the old tile. Once the tile was gone it was clear that the old subfloor was damaged beyond repair, so that had to come out. The installer did not have the tools to install a new subfloor so I had to call a builder I work with and he found someone who could come over on short notice to put in a subfloor. Needless to say the installation of the flooring took longer than anticipated.

I find that having work done in my home feels rather invasive. It creates a mess, because things have to be moved, covered up, sanded, etc. This really does disrupt your life. I, personally, do not do well with this. I like things where they belong, and am not a big fan of having to move the contents of one room into another room. I actually have a couple projects coming up that will necessitate moving all the contents from two rooms. I know it will be worth it when it is finished. But it will be ugly along the way.

Knowing What Cabinet Finish is Right for You

mbwilsonid@aol.com (MaryBeth Wilson) — Sat, 27 Aug 2011 19:28:00 +0000

I have worked with many clients over the years who have really struggled in selecting the finish for their kitchen cabinets. This can often be a great source of stress for the homeowners. Should the cabinets be stained wood? Or painted? Or a combination?

In my experience many homeowners know right away that they want a cherry kitchen, or a white kitchen. Then there are others who are really fighting with themselves to make the right choice. Men frequently prefer stained wood on the cabinets, and yet many women prefer a painted cabinet, white or cream, with or without a glaze.

I often find that homeowners have a "dream kitchen" that they have had in mind for many years, and if you ask them what their initial gut response is to finish selection, they know instantly. Homeowners can get into trouble if they over-think their initial concept. Trying to select something that is more current, or different is not a great idea on cabinets. When you remodel your kitchen you want it to last for many years. So going with a trend is not a great plan, unless that trend is what you would have selected in the first place! My rule of thumb is that if you have liked a particular look for the past five to ten years, you will probably still like it for another ten years.

I once had a client select a taupe color paint for her kitchen. The cabinets were actually being painted when she changed her mind and experienced some panic over making the wrong choice. I called the Amish cabinet makers and had them pull her kitchen cabinets out of production and let them sit while she evaluated her selection. In this case she changed the cabinets to white, which is what she had intended to select in the first place. She is now very happy with the kitchen.

It is very common to mix finishes within a kitchen. Often the perimeter will be painted with a wood stained island. This can often meet the needs of both the stained wood lovers and the painted cabinet lovers. It can also be done in reverse with stained perimeter and painted island. I think the practice of mixing finishes in a kitchen will be here for many years. When it is done tastefully, it can be a timeless look. I also think that furniture like pieces in a kitchen are here to stay.

In making finish selection I try to help my clients make selections they can live with long term. Classic finishes that will look just as good in fifteen years as they look today.

Selecting Paint Colors

mbwilsonid@aol.com (MaryBeth Wilson) — Sat, 27 Aug 2011 19:07:00 +0000

Lately I have been selecting a LOT of paint colors for a lot of clients. It seems to be painting season for one reason or another. I do have a few tips about selecting paint.

For exterior paint: Sample, sample, sample. Paints are always more pale outside than they are inside. The daylight diffuses the color significantly.

Years ago, when I was preparing to have our house painted, I had a paint color in my head that I wanted to find for the exterior. It took about seven samples on the garage door before I found the one I wanted. Buying those samples of paint saved us from making a big mistake in selecting the wrong color. They were definitely worth the $35.

I also find that whites and creams tend to blend together outside. So if you are not able to match the existing white windows perfectly, don't worry about it. In the big picture the cream trim around your white windows will blend together and look fine.

For interior paint: You really have to see the paint color in the space that is being painted. Do not expect the taupe that is in your neighbors foyer to look the same in your powder room. The light within a space impacts how the color will look. The number of windows, the direction the windows face, the ceiling height, and the trim around windows always impact how the paint will look in a room. So again, sample, sample, sample.

I am a big fan of creamy or white trim around windows. The reason is that the window trim is the first thing the daylight hits when it enters a room. The color of that trim is then diffused through the room. I once painted my bedroom trim blue, and it cast a blue light throughout the room, which I did not appreciate. The same is also true of dark trim around windows, it absorbs much of the light thus making the room seem darker. If you prefer a cozy, cave like space, then this is an advantage rather than a disadvantage. For those who prefer a space to be light and bright, then the white (or creamy) trim will do the trick.

For wall color, you really should get a sample and paint it on the walls. Several walls. The color will seem different on each wall, due to how the light will hit it. For some reason, yellow seems to multiply itself more than other colors. So for a yellow room, I always suggest to make it one shade lighter than you want, because by the time you paint all the walls, it intensifies the color significantly. If you plan on using a dark color , such as red, expect to paint multiple coats. Many paints claim to have one coat coverage, but the application process is imperfect, so I always expect to need two coats, and with dark colors, three.

For ceilings I often suggest a creamy white. I am not a fan of the old ceiling white colors that have a gray undertone, I find that it makes the ceiling look dirty. I prefer a creamy white that keeps the ceiling looking warmer. I also love adding color to a ceiling. Light blue ceilings can give the impression of sky, but you have to be careful about the color on the walls working with the ceiling color.

I know this has barely scratched the surface of paint selection. There are many nuances to coordinating colors, selecting the proper sheen, and much more. However, if anyone buys a sample of paint because they read this, then this blog is a success!

Hoods - The Kind Found In Kitchens.

mbwilsonid@aol.com (MaryBeth Wilson) — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 10:00:00 +0000

I often tell my clients that the vent hood is the most technical piece of equipment that goes into their kitchen. It is rarely the appliance that customers are excited to upgrade, and it does not give you the joy found in buying a new refrigerator or cooktop. Nonetheless, it is a vital piece of equipment.

The hood needs to be the appropriate size and power based on the cooktop you have selected.

Please find a knowledgible sales person to help you make this selection. My favorite appliance person is Marie Barnesdale from Heydlauff's in Chelsea, Michigan. Marie knows what she knows and knows how to find out what she doesn't.

There are two major ways to deal with a vent hood. Hide it or flaunt it. Buying a more decorative hood means you will leave it exposed. These are most commonly stainless, and there are many styles to select from.

This is an example of a stainless, exposed hood.

The other way to deal with the hood is to buy a liner and blower and put it into an attractive wood surround. There are an unlimited number of styles and designs for these hoods. They can be arched, straight, have corbels, slant back at an angle, the list goes on and on. It is a personal preference.

Both the exposed hood and the wood hood surround can be attractive. It is important to get the proportions correct, and not to squeeze certain types of hoods too much. Sometimes you need to leave a few inches on either side of a hood. When you select the wood surround, you are making that into the focal point of your kitchen. It should be attractive and well proportioned.

One word of caution; the hoods need to be between 30-36" above the counter. They also tend to need a depth of 19" or more. They are supposed to be that way in order to draw the fumes up from the cooktop. However, that does mean they are sticking out a fair amount, and right at head level.

There are also times when a downdraft vent is called for. Particularly when the cooktop is an island. Some of these pop up when needed, then retract down. I think they are pretty slick, the down side is that they tend to eat up a fair amount of cabinet space below the cooktop. They also need to have the proper ducting to run through the floor joists to get outside.

There is a downdraft in this decorative stone arch.

I will also add a word about vent hoods that recirculate the air. They do not work. (OK, that was four words.) They may be fine for some kitchens, but certainly not for gas cooktops, or people who do a lot of cooking. They simply filter the exhaust and recirculate it into the kitchen. These are commonly found in the micro hoods. Although micro hoods CAN come with the exterior venting option.

Whichever style you select, be sure that the mechanics are appropriate to your cooktop, and that you know how the venting will be done. The best thing is to vent it directly outside, and sometimes remote blowers are required to make that a possibility. Then there are issues of where will the blower go, what size duct is required and how many angles will it need to turn along the way. See, there really are many important details to consider.

The aesthetics are, obviously, important, but the function cannot be overlooked in this underappreciated appliance.

MaryBeth