GOLD NOTES

2012 Trends Post: Tiles (Guest Post by Paul Anater of Kitchen and Residential Design)

2012-01-24T04:00:00.000-05:00

When I decided that no 2012 trends series would be complete without a tile post, my go-to guy was Paul Anater, editor and publisher of the incomparable Kitchen and Residential Design blog, also a friend and Blogger 19 "godfather."

I knew that Paul had his finger on the pulse of this dynamic specialty, and that he was working with the top trade show for that industry, Coverings, to keep us designers and design writers informed.

I attended Coverings a few years ago and found it to be well worth the time. If I can squeeze it into my schedule this April, you'll see me there again. (The fact that my stepdaughter attends college in Orlando makes it even more appealing!)

There are so many incredible new innovations in tile, beyond just the great-looking designs. It's truly an ancient medium that is ideal for our new era, too. But please let Paul inform you in his own words and share some great images with you, too!

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The last few years have brought with them something close to a revolution when it comes to what’s available in the world of tile. The ability of tile manufacturers to print more and more different patterns has led to a great variety of products. These can lend any room a distinctive and long-lasting feel that will be in style for years to come.

Stone looks

The first big trend to come out of Europe and be picked up by manufacturers in North America is tile that looks like stone.

Whether it’s the look of slate, granite, onyx or the grey-green marble shown here from Aparici, the same look can be had in tile. In tile however, you’ll get the maintenance-free characteristics of ceramic tile without the hassles of natural stone.

Wood looks

One of the other big trends is the idea of tile standing in for wood planks. Stand ins for true planks still abound, but tile designers are starting to theme the wood they’re imitating.

This series from Peronda invokes repurposed shipping crates and pallets. The result is an interesting and edgy take on green design.

Format changes

Recent years have seen a move to tiles that are larger, thinner and less likely to be square. Using these large formats brings with it a completely different appearance as this room from Grespania shows. It would be a different room all together if there were 12-inch squares on the walls and floors.

In keeping with that different format approach, some manufacturers are introducing wall tile that dispenses with right angles like this series from Apavisa.

The same manufacturer, Apavisa, has been experimenting with the idea of dispensing with wall tiles that are flat. The effect is spectacular and is about the last thing anybody would expect a tile wall to look like.

Artisinal tile

And through all this modernity, at the same time there’s been an explosion in artisanal tile, such as these hand-cut mosaics from New Ravenna.

And how about these Art Nouveau beauties from DuQuella Tile?

Still more

The world of tile is exploding. Tile’s showing up not just on floors but on building facades, interior walls and structural elements.

Though North America tends to lag behind the rest of the world when it comes to innovations in ceramics, that’s beginning to change as more international brands come into the markets on this side of the Atlantic. North American manufacturers, too, are climbing onboard when it comes to the innovations we’re seeing coming out of Europe.

Get there!

One of the best places to see what’s new in the world of North American tile is the trade show Coverings [JG: Industry professionals only; free admission] Coverings is an international showcase of North American tile and stone and this year it’s being held in the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, FL. The show runs from April 17th through the 21st.

2012 Trends Post: Faucets and Fixtures (Guest Post by The Home Depot)

2012-01-17T04:00:00.004-05:00

What new faucets and fixtures might your kitchen and bath be wearing this year? I asked my former colleagues at The Home Depot, one of the country's largest decorative plumbing retailers, for their insights.

Given their size and market share, what THD buys is a pretty good indicator of mass market trends. No, they're not trendsetters the way a luxury showroom could be -- the way their high-end Expo Design Center once was... sigh.

What they are about is what's here, what's now and what's likeliest to show up in a home near you. Sarah Fishburne, the company's Director of Trend & Design, shared these forecasts for 2012.

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STYLE TRENDS

Rustic and Country

The rustic look is anything but, and it doesn’t have to be limited to country houses. This farmhouse feel gives that nice “down home” look and warms up a kitchen or bathroom. Oil rubbed bronze, chrome and brushed nickel will continue to be popular in the new year.

Larger, bridge style faucets add an interesting, yet professional look to the room, and also look very proportional when put in kitchens with many appliances.

Clean-lined Bridgeford faucet by Grohe is on trend for 2012

Transitional Lines

While this style never really went away, it is finding its way into many more design trends lately. This look, like the rustic country, is all about subtlety. Streamlined and clean lines are the forefront of this trend, and unique shapes such as modified squares help add a soft touch to the room.

Pfister's Pasadena in new Midnight Chrome finish exemplifies affordable transitional style
(FYI, they dropped the Price from their name)

In addition to adding new looks to your house, consider function. A few simple changes can go a long way toward making your life easier.

FUNCTIONALITY TRENDS

Spot Resist Technology

Nothing worse than fingerprints all over your new faucets! Moen’s new Spot Resist technology makes it so that your faucets stay looking new by resisting water spots or fingerprints, and wipes down easy for simple maintenance.

Moen's pull-down Solidad faucet sports contemporary style and a new Spot Resist finish

One Touch Technology

For those with sanitation in mind, this trend is for you. The last thing you want your fixture to become is a breeding ground for bacteria and germs. Delta's Touch 2O technology only requires a quick tap of the wrist or forearm to activate.

Turn on Delta's sleek Pilar pull-down faucet with just a tap

WaterSense

WaterSense technology helps you save up to 32 percent water use without taking any hits to performance. All bathroom sink faucets carried at The Home Depot are now WaterSense certified.

Kohler's high performance Cimmaron now comes in a WaterSense-rated 1.28 GPF model

[JG Note: WaterSense is a government program much like EnergyStar. When a major retailer like THD embraces it, you know a trend has taken hold! WaterSense is also available in select showerheads and 1.28 gallons per flush (GPF) toilets that go even further than the current 1.6 GPF standard.]

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You might also enjoy the 2012 Trends Color guest post by Sherwin-Williams.

2012 Trends Post: Appliances (Guest Post by Ferguson)

2012-01-10T04:00:00.002-05:00

An appliance should last 10 to 20 years, so why do trends matter in this category? For one, you want to avoid getting "bisqued," i.e., buying a color on its way out that will make replacements a nightmare. You also want to get the best water- and energy-savings available on the market, wherever applicable. Finally, it makes sense to take advantage of the latest offerings as they're typically improvements on performance, speed and/or convenience in this durable goods category.

I went to one of the leading retailers of high-end appliances, Ferguson, for their 2012 trend forecast. Fred Minnigerode, Corporate Senior Product Manager of Residential Finished Goods, was happy to oblige. I hope you find his predictions as insightful as I did.

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Technology, technology, technology! Think about it. The hottest selling Christmas items this year were iPods, tablets, e-readers and smart phones. Surveys show that two-thirds of consumers are planning to make a technology purchase in the next six months.

Appliance manufacturers are capitalizing on this trend and incorporating technology into their new products. They recognize that consumers are using touch technology, memory presets, etc. in their everyday lives and will soon be looking for this functionality in the kitchen and bathroom. In the past, these types of features were only available in high-end, premium appliances. However, now they are being offered at the mid-range level and more commonly available. This is a dynamic shift in the world of appliances.

With technology as the focus, here is our list of top kitchen appliance trends for 2012.

Induction Cooking

Induction cooking has been popular in Europe for a while, but Americans are taking notice and demand is steadily increasing. An induction cooker is faster and more energy-efficient than a traditional electric stove. It also provides the user with instant control of temperature level. Even die hard gas fans are slowly converting. Until recently, induction technology was mainly limited to cooktops. However, slide-in and free-standing models are now more readily available, so no matter what the design of your kitchen, you can enjoy the benefits of induction cooking.

This Gaggenau induction cooktop, introduced at Germany's 2011 LivingKitchen show, is planned for 2012 U.S. release

Intuitive Touch Screen Interfaces

Smart phones were among the first to introduce touch screen technology to the masses. There are millions of smart phone users that are now very accustomed to the functionality. And now you can have that same functionality in the kitchen with touch screen interfaces on dishwashers, refrigerators, ranges, ovens and microwaves. Tap the screen one-time to activate and then use the on-screen menu to select the function. The new Jenn-Air Pro-Style Range even allows cooks to program the cooking method, time and temperature of successful recipes and recall them when repeating the recipe.

Smart stove? Jenn-Air's Pro-Style Range delivers a touch screen interface and digital memory

High Tech Design

Not only are appliance manufacturers replicating the functionality of high-tech gadgets, but they are also replicating the style and design. Consumers will eventually be drawn to more streamlined looks in kitchen design and this will influence their purchasing behaviors. Whirlpool will soon be launching their White Ice and Black Ice finishes. The appliances will closely resemble the look of an iPhone or iPad. The finish will feature white or black floating glass accented by stainless steel trim.

I blogged about this Zephyr Arc ventilation hood, designed by a former Apple designer, as another example of technology-inspired design

Steam Ovens

Cooking with steam is a fast, easy way to seal in nutrients and flavors. Since the food only absorbs the amount of moisture needed to cook, there is less chance of overcooking or drying out. Steam ovens are not brand new to the market, but like induction cooking, it is quickly becoming a viable option and alternative to the standard oven. Especially now that the steam oven is available at the mid-range level and is being marketed to health-conscious consumers.

Steam cooking, as in this oven by Thermador, combines health and technology.

[JG Note: Often, space is a limitation in adding steam cooking to your kitchen. If you don't have room for a stand-alone oven, consider a combo steamer with microwave or range.]

Last words

Today’s appliances are smarter, faster and more efficient than ever before. And they have to function that way in order to keep up with consumer’s ever-changing demands. From a cooktop that boils water in a couple of minutes to new multifunctional toilets, today’s modern technology is influencing kitchen and bath trends. 2012 is sure to be an exciting time as we experience a shift from the traditional appliance to a more technologically advanced product, not just at the high-end- but at the average- consumer level.

2012 Trends Post: Colors (Guest Post by Sherwin-Williams)

2012-01-03T04:00:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year, everyone! What are you looking forward to in 2012? I enjoy musing about the year ahead vis-a-vis home design trends at this time of year. So, in that spirit, this month's Gold Notes posts will all focus on 2012 forecasts, and feature industry guests in their areas of specialization.

I called on paint maker Sherwin-Williams for color trends to kick us off, since they have such a large market footprint. Jackie Jordan, S-W's director of color marketing shared these insights on colors you might want to paint your interiors this year, and I've added my own pairing notes to the S-W color swatches from their 2012 Color Forecast...

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The Sherwin-Williams color forecast proves a color palette doesn’t need to stray far from its roots to make a big design impact. In 2012, pairing colors within the same color family will be a dominant trend. Whether it’s different shades of red or varying hues of blue, kitchens and baths will display an array of combinations within color families to give a room a fresh look this year.

Forget the expected tone-on-tone pairings. At Sherwin-Williams, we drew inspiration from fashion-forward color-washing and ombré dyeing techniques to experiment with color values and hues within color families to create four vibrant palettes. The colors also embrace the sustainable landscape ― which has become an enduring influence on all aspects of décor and design.

We suggest honing in on one color you love and the ideal, natural complement will be nearby. For example, Sherwin-Williams Upward (SW 6239) is a perfect shade for a bathroom to create a calm, tranquil environment. To add a punch of color with your bathroom linens, Naval (SW 6244) is still within the same color family but is a bolder color to create some contrast and
interest to the room.

Upward and Naval combine beautifully

The 40 hues highlighted in Sherwin-Williams Colormix 2012 stay close to home with earth-inspired, color family groupings: Reds, Blues, Greens and Neutrals.

Brightly Burning Reds

Red will have a renewed dominance in 2012, and the old rules about not being allowed to mix reds with purples or oranges no longer apply.

Red is the color of love, fire and the earth’s molten core, and it stirs raw emotions ranging from the deepest passion to the softest femininity. The broad spectrum included of reds in our 2012 color forecast range from deep gradations of fuchsias to red-oranges, violets to delicate pinks. These colors work together to create a harmonious flow of passionate boldness, and allow you to make a statement with your kitchen or bath color choice.

Forecast Color Red Bay for your kitchen, dining room or office?
Pairs beautifully with blond woods and black furniture
(SW 6321)

Blues Not Washed Out

This soothing palette celebrates a pair of functional and treasured blues: denim and water. It explores the darkest indigo to faded-jeans hues, some with violet undertones, as well as the calm, shimmery shades that reflect rivers, lakes and seas.

As we seek economic blue skies, we’re rediscovering denim, the rugged fabric of the American worker. Clean water is another essential commodity, from oceans to tap. Our serene blue palette pays homage to both of these treasured resources.

Forecast Color Lupine for your living areas?
Pairs beautifully with crisp white and warm, ash-toned woods
(SW6810)

Greens Firmly Planted

Casting aside the more innocent yellow-tinged greens of the past, this eclectic palette focuses on greens that are lush, moody and complex. It showcases the depths of the sea and forest; leafy motifs; rustic natural textures; and organic elements such as algae, moss and seaweed.

We’re serious about going green, and our green palette honors our sustainable lifestyle. This trend is observed everywhere, even in dense urban areas, where rooftop and kitchen gardens flourish.

Forecast Color Kendal Green for your powder room or master suite?
Pairs beautifully with walnut and peppercorn finishes

Neutrals Provide Balance

Raw materials continue to influence color trends, especially the more subtle hues. Picture a field of grain, pile of pebbles, weathered wood and earthen clay. Gold tones embody the sun and soft metallics — and warm up this understated yet refined palette. Textural elements, such as linen, unfired porcelain and mixed woods, provide subtle tonal variations.

Steely grays have given way to our neutral palette of warmer gray and natural tones that create a balanced look.

Forecast Color Bosc Pair for hallways and stair cases?
Pairs well with crisp white paint and black accents
(SW6390)

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For more information about the Sherwin-Williams 2012 Color Forecast and to see how these 40 colors coexist, please visit the S-W Color Explorations Page.

You can also visit Houzz, starting at the end of this week, to see the 2012 Color Trends Ideabooks I put together from Sherwin-Williams, Pantone, Behr, Benjamin-Moore and Yolo forecasts for tips on incorporating Reds, Blues, Oranges, Purple and Greens in your kitchen and bath.

It's holiday time in the Houzz!

2011-12-27T04:00:00.000-05:00

No, that headline isn't a typo! I recently became a Featured Ideabooks contributor to Houzz.com, one of the most popular design sites on the Internet. Houzz is a tremendous, searchable database of projects, products, pictures, professionals and design possibilities.

I was honored to be asked and excited to be contributing. So what is an Ideabook, you wonder? It's really a single concept mini-post illustrated with eight or more pictures.

Since this is the last work day before Christmas when I'm actually writing this, I thought I'd share a few of my holiday-themed Ideabooks with you this week.

Sensible Style for your Holiday Guest Room

Shares tips for making your space more comfortable for holiday visitors. I'm looking forward to my sister's first Chez J visit next week. I hope she likes my guest suite!

8 Elements of the Perfect Party Island

If you love to entertain at home, you might consider creating an "entertainment island." Here are eight ideas to consider.

Sensible Style Guide to Baking Centers

Do you love to bake and use your time off from work to create holiday goodies? Here are some tips on creating a baking center in your kitchen.

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MOLTEN GOLD - Rock Stylish!

2011-12-20T04:00:00.001-05:00

I've been a fan of upscale sink manufacturer Stone Forest for a number of years. I've written about their stunning onyx sinks in the past and am now gushing over their basalt beauties.

I readily admit to not knowing a ton about this material. Here's what the experts say about it:

Basalt Basics

As the most plentiful rock on earth, basalt has designers reveling in its abundance. Grey to black in color, its fine crystal grains offer a unique composition as a result of rapid cooling lava. Whether used in its organically-weathered surface or polished to create streamlined contours, the duality in its texture creates a stunning aesthetic contrast.

Origin: Oceanic crust is composed predominantly of basalt, produced from upwelling mantle below ocean ridges or at the surfaces of volcanoes.

Uses: Due to its durability and utilitarian nature, basalt is often used in railroad construction, highway engineering and as an aggregate in roads and asphalt. Basalt also lends itself as a main structural component in floor tiles.

Healing: Stone therapy -- if you're a metaphysical enthusiast! -- is the combined use of hot and cold stones in re-establishing energy balance. Therapeutic basalt massage stones are renowned for their healing energy and are based in Oriental disciplines, where the duality of temperatures is believed to improve blood circulation and the elimination of toxins.

So... with all of this going for it, it's no wonder we're seeing a terrific basalt collection at this juncture. Who couldn't use some durability or healing energy these days?

The Collection

Wave Pedestal Mimicking the movement of water, the Wave Pedestal by Stone Forest in honed basalt captures a graceful current frozen in time. I love how its old world material meets new world design. Wouldn't this be a smashing powder room fixture?

Slab Vanity in Basalt The Honed Basalt Slab Vanity on Stainless Stand is a stylish contemporary fixture. It can be drilled to accept any faucet hole configuration and its lower shelf can hold towels, as shown, or storage boxes or baskets.

SYNC Drop-in Vessel Sink SYNC by Stone Forest is an award-winning modular concept offering multiple combinations of sinks, countertops and shelving made from natural stone and stainless steel. The first ones I spotted several years ago were made of elegant onyx. The newest Sync addition is part of this basalt collection. All of the components slide into wall-mounted, stainless steel brackets that also double as towel bars at each end of the floating vanity. The honed basalt and stainless steel components look earthy and rich together, better even than the onyx or bamboo pairings, in my opinion. The system also features stainless steel drain covers.

The Stone Forest Brand

Stone Forest has been creating contemporary elements for the kitchen, bath and landscape using natural materials since 1989. Based in Santa Fe, New Mexico, the boutique manufacturer has a unique understanding of the tolerances of different stones and precious materials. All of their architectural designs are sculpted from organic sources, such as limestone, marble, bamboo, copper and onyx.

Stone Forest’s collections include vessel and pedestal sinks, bath tubs, furniture, fountains and outdoor sculptures. The company has won numerous awards, including the Good Design Award and Interior Design magazine’s "Best of Year" Award.

The Facts

Warranty: Five years

Pricing/MSRPs:

Wave Pedestal $2,200
Slab Vanity $1,150
SYNC Drop-in Vessel Sink $990

Website: http://www.stoneforest.com/kitchen-bath/

BOOK LOOK - Patina Style

2011-12-13T04:00:00.002-05:00

I love design books. They inspire or inform, sometimes both. Patina Style by Steve and Brooke Giannetti falls heavenly into the inspiration column. It’s Brooke’s gorgeous Velvet & Linen design blog sashaying off the screen and onto your coffee table.

Patina Style is divided into five chapters covering just about every design topic you'd want to consider when looking around your own home. There's also a Los Angeles-focused resource guide, if you want to shop at the same places as Brooke and Steve.

Patina Style

Patina Style’s soft pages are as sensuous to the touch as they are to the eye. Its elegant images of cozy coastal spaces seduce you with their subtle shadings. This is a book for the design gourmand. You don’t want to read it so much as devour its delicious style.

If you did want to read it, you might find the small, elegant type hard to read with older eyes. The pretty page numbers and scripted headlines are also a bit tough to decipher, but these are mere trifles. They just mean you won’t be calling your best friend, shrieking, ‘Did you see the gorgeous vanity mirror on page 96 of the Warm Bathrooms chapter. It’s exactly what I want for the summer cottage.’ Er, page what???

If this book didn’t come to me as a review copy, I’d be sorely tempted to buy it at my local Barnes & Noble. And I’d be thumbing through it every time I stopped in!

Here are some of the beautiful photographs in the book. These were all shot by co-author/architect Steve Giannetti.

You can buy yourself a copy by clicking here.

YOU MIGHT ALSO ENJOY THESE RECENT BOOK LOOKS:

Design*Sponge at Home
Kelly's Kitchen Sync

SENSIBLE STYLE - 2011 Kitchen & Bath Gift Guide

2011-12-06T07:00:00.002-05:00

You’ve got relatives you rarely see and clients from the ‘80s and ‘90s on your gift list… So why not your kitchen and bath, which you use every day!

Here’s my Sensible Style take on gift-giving you’ll enjoy for years to come. In the interest of saving you time and mileage, (and possibly making some gift money of my own from my Amazon Associates account!), I’ve created this gift guide so that you can click on each picture to buy the item conveniently from Amazon.com.

Incidentally, Amazon has a fabulous iPhone app that you can download from the iTunes store! I absolutely love its one-click on-the-go buying option.

KITCHEN GIFTS FOR WINE LOVERS

I enjoy a great glass of wine with dinner. If you do, too, consider these gift ideas for your own kitchen – or for a wine lover on your gift list.

Wine Enthusiast 12-Bottle Wine Refrigerator

Let’s presume that you don’t have room for an installed wine captain or wine room. Can you accommodate a countertop model?

Ennospace Wine Shelves

I think these are great-looking and want a set just like them. I’d opt for two glass shelves to hang red and white wine glasses. That will free up a cabinet and take advantage of unused wall shelves!

Metrokane Rabbit Wine Opener with Foil Cutter

The furnished studio I rented last year had a standard corkscrew that barely worked. Don’t subject your wine enjoyment to anything less than a good wine opener! This is the one I own.

Vinturi Aerators

I still use a decanter for my red wine, but this is a nice alternative if you’re a bit rushed. This set includes aerators for both red and white wines.

Riedel Champagne Glasses

Why not toast the New Year with your favorite champagne in classic Riedel champagne glasses? Doesn’t the Dom Perignon of bubbly deserve the DP of champagne glasses?

KITCHEN GIFTS FOR FOODIES

OK, I’m not an avid cook. If you are, well, that’s terrific… Invite me to dinner some time! These are my gift suggestions for lazy cooks, unmotivated cooks, reheaters and others of my ilk!

Crock Pot

This is my favorite appliance. I can turn it on in the morning, go to work, and have dinner warm and ready when I’m done. The keep warm setting is a lifesaver for days that run late.

Everyday Low-Carb Slow Cooker Cookbook

I’ve got about six slow cooker cook books, but this is my regular go-to resource. All the dishes are low-carb, quick and simple to make. Just my speed!

Axis Natural Wood Drawer Organizer (Ideal for Spices!)

This is the most practical solution to spice organizing that I’ve found. After trying wall cabinet step organizers and in-drawer tiered models, I’ve found drawer dividers to be the most practical, user-friendly system for having my spices readily available and organized. (I alphabetize mine so I can find them faster; again, spending more-than-necessary time preparing meals is just not my thing!) The one shown was designed for dresser drawers and will be too tall for drawers shallower than four inches high. Measure carefully before ordering! Similar styles are available in shorter configurations!

Henckels In-Drawer Knife Block

I love in-drawer knife blocks. They keep your countertops clear and put your knives away from young eyes and hands.

Knape & Vogt Tray Dividers

I got hooked on tray dividers a while back when my Florida builder kitchen came with a semi-useless 15 inch wide base cabinet. That’s too narrow for a roll-out tray, so we installed a pair of tray dividers. Voila, the perfect solution for storing baking sheets, cutting boards, platters and pizza stones. This deluxe model rolls out for greater convenience!

KITCHEN GIFTS FOR EVERYONE

Everyone’s got a kitchen, right? Here are some gift ideas – whether you own or rent – that will enhance your time in that space!

Wellness Mat

A cushioned, anti-fatigue mat, like the one that Wellness Mats kindly sent me at the beginning of this year, is a wonderful gift to your feet, legs, hips and back! You’ll especially enjoy it at this time of year when you’re probably spending extra time in the kitchen preparing holiday meals and entertaining more guests.

Phillips Docking System

I listen to music during most of my waking hours, including when I’m working in the kitchen. I also have my iPhone on hand all the time. A docking station in the kitchen lets me enjoy my tunes and stay charged at the same time. This model also works for iPods and iPads. This is the model I’ve picked out for Chez J.

GIFTS FOR YOUR POWDER ROOM

Maybe your bathroom needs some love, too? A gift to your powder room or master bath is a gift you’ll enjoy year-round, long after the last holiday decoration has come down.

Your powder room is your home’s “public” bathroom, the one your party guests will use. Since powder rooms tend to be small on size and storage, you might not have a handy cabinet for overflow storage. Don’t make the twelfth party guest lose out on toilet paper. Stash it next to the toilet in an attractive cannister that matches your toilet brush holder.

Kohler Wall-Mounted Soap Dispenser

If you have a pedestal sink in your powder room, as I do, you might be short on space for a soap dispenser. Consider a wall-mounted model in a design and finish that work for your bath. This is one I’m considering for Chez J!

InterDesign Bath Tissue Holder

Don’t make your party guests wonder where you hide the extra toilet paper rolls! Hide them in an attractive storage bin that matches your powder room décor.

Contemporary and Traditional Decorative Hooks

I recently blogged about purse-adverse powder rooms. If you want your powder room to be purse-friendly, consider a decorative hook for guests to hang theirs on. Here’s one I like from Kohler for a traditional or transitional bath.

And here’s one by Motiv for a contemporary bath.

Guest Towel Holders

I think every powder room should have a fully-stocked guest towel holder. Here’s one by Caspari for a traditional or transitional space.

And here’s one from Sitlax for a contemporary bath.

Inglow Flameless Candle

I like candles in a powder room, but being a worrier, I’m always fearful about a guest setting my house on fire. That’s why I’m bullish on flameless candles. This one has a timer and fragrance, too! How perfect is that???

Contemporary and Traditional Faucets

One of the first things I changed at Chez J was the powder room faucet. It’s a pretty easy swap-out that delivers big returns on your style investment, as long as you stay with the same set up – e..g, four-inch centers for four-inch hole spread. The nice thing about changing your powder room faucet is that you only have to replace one. Master bath updates usually call for two, as well as tub and shower faucets. The latter two require more professional work, too! Consider a lever-handle style for use by guests of all ages and abilities, and one with water-saving features!

Here’s a Toto powder room faucet for a contemporary bath.

And a classic Delta widespread for a traditional bath.

MASTER BATH

Your master bath should be your retreat from the world. It greets you every morning and ends every night. Here are some gifts to help you enjoy it more.

Kohler Multi-function Handshower

A multi-function handshower can give you a massage, reach places it’s otherwise difficult to reach and make bath clean up a little easier. They’re ideal for bathers who need to sit while showering and a necessary luxury for everyone else. This is the model I very happily own.

Delta Soap Dispenser

If you’re investing in new vanity tops, consider an installed soap dispenser to match your new faucets. They’re generally not sold with lav faucets, but often manufacturers have similar kitchen styles that will work with your powder room choice.

This Delta Victorian matches the traditional lav faucets mentioned in the powder room section.

Broan Sensor Vent Fan

You know you need to run your vent fan when you bathe or shower but, chances are, its noise interrupts the lovely spa environment you crave. Give yourself the gift of silence and moisture removal with an ultra-quiet sensor fan. It knows when to run and you’ll barely hear it when it does.

Axis Vanity Drawer Organizer

I love organizers! They speed up your bathroom routines, which is great for rushed mornings. Here’s one to consider for your cosmetics.

Taymor Hair Tools Holder

Free up drawer space in your vanity by installing this flat iron and hair blower holder on the back of a cabinet door.

Happy shopping, Sensible Style readers! I hope I made the task a little easier and more fun for you. Enjoy!

PS: You can find all of the other Sensible Style posts along the right column of this blog.

BOOK LOOK - Design*Sponge at Home

2011-11-29T07:00:00.006-05:00

Last June, I posted my first book review – a write-up on my kitchen designer/Blogger 19 buddy, Kelly Morisseau’s top-notch Kelly's Kitchen Sync book. Today, I’m covering another blogger’s book, Design Sponge at Home by Grace Bonney, based on her incredibly popular Design*Sponge blog.

Design*Sponge at Home

This fun, fat, hardcover volume is both useful and attractive. Design*Sponge readers will be very familiar with its casual tone and funky flair. Non-readers, especially boomers like me, may find it a bit random compared to the typical design book – that’s the online influence, I’m sure.

Despite my old-school orgnizational quibbles, I really like this book and expect that I'll pick it up often. I especially like Bonney’s everything-goes, you-can-do-it approach to home design. There’s something for pretty much everyone in its 371 colorful, photo-packed pages. Here are some of those delicious images.

In addition to the super-fun photos and helpful captions, there’s a very good resource guide with flea markets, DIY suppliers, furniture and other suppliers that are worth checking out. I like the fact that the very thorough Index imposes searchability on the book that the table of contents doesn’t. It’s a bit like having Google custom search in print!

This book is a wonderful buffet of design ideas, resources and inspirations, rather than a fast food primer or formal seven-course soup to nuts reference guide. I recommend it for someone looking to personalize their interiors or give a stylish gift to a favorite design maven. Click here if that’s you!

If you’d like to win a copy of Design*Sponge at Home, subscribe to Gold Notes today, using the subscribe box below! All of my subscribers – both new and old – who are based in the U.S. will be entered into a New Year’s Eve drawing of this book. The winner will be notified the first week of January and asked for his or her snail mail address by email. The publisher's representative will send the book your way early in the new year. (If you want to give this book as a gift for someone, you'll have to break down and buy a copy or it won't make it under the tree or menorah in time!)

Design*Sponge at Home Room Photo Credits/Top to Bottom: Neryl Walker & Tony Owczarek, Graham Atkins-Hughes, Johnny Miller, Patrick Cline, Jean Randazzo.

A Chez J Thanksgiving

2011-11-22T07:00:00.002-05:00

Last year, in these days just before Thanksgiving, I closed on my three-story town house, which I now affectionately call Chez J. It was a long road, given its short sale status. Don’t let the “short” in its name fool you.

Chez J elevation!

I had much to be thankful for then, and I still do. So I’d like to use this Thanksgiving week post to express my appreciation to the many professionals who have contributed to Chez J’s acquisition and improvements to date. Without their help, my home probably wouldn’t be mine, and it definitely wouldn’t be as homey as it is today.

I've included web sites for those folks who have them. I'm happy to pass along contact info for those who don't.

From the start

First and foremost, I need to thank my wonderful realtor, Terri Davids with Century 21 Award in Chula Vista. This deal would not have come together without her patience and expertise. Short sales are challenging in general; having a second lender involved makes it all the more so. And having a lazy seller’s agent who epitomized the sleazy salesman stereotype made her job that much tougher. Thanks for hanging with it, Terri! You gave me a home for my Talo...

Yes, I had a fabulous kitchen faucet even before I had a kitchen! When I attended Fashion Week in February 2010 at the invitation of Brizo and its agency, MSL Group, we were wined, dined, feted and sent off with wonderful gifts. Our newly-minted Blogger 19 group was treated to their premium Talo faucets with SmartTouch and MagneDock technologies in the finish of our choice. All I needed was a sink to pair it with! Thanks, Brizo, Jai, Charlie, Christiana and MSL for the wonderful housewarming gift -- it now has a cozy home of its own and is serving me very, very well. And thanks to my friend, Paul Anater of the brilliant Kitchen and Residential Design blog for suggesting that I be included in that inaugural B19 event!

My go-to-gal for lighting and more

My designer pal and favorite lighting pro, Vicky Lodge of VML Design and Lighting, was immensely helpful with terrific insights and local referrals who have proved to be phenomenal. Thanks for your friendship and for helping me settle into my new hometown.

Vicky suggested a three-light sconce when I decided to paint the powder room ceiling the same dark shade as the walls. I chose a fixture at Home Depot inspired by Restoration Hardware's Dillon (for about $100 less).

Friend and fix-it guy

Close friend for 20 years and super-skilled carpenter, Norman Alatorre is also a top-notch handyman who has spent more time here than anyone besides me! He’s done so much great work at Chez J since I moved in that I couldn’t list it all here.

The stand-out contribution, though, is my home office/design studio. He turned it from the bland, cluttered, carpeted box it had been to the inspiring, organized work space it is now. I smile every time I walk by or into the room.

Norman doesn’t have a web site, as his real job for the past two decades has been building TV and movie sets, but I’d be happy to pass along his contact information if you have projects, especially carpentry-related work, that needs a skilled hand. (You've already seen his talents in the Princess Diaries, Entourage, CSI Miami and other popular entertainment.)

Thank you for your friendship and dedication, mi amigo!

Logan Desk from Pottery Barn, part of the home office makeover designed by me, wonderfully executed by carpenter-friend Norman Alatorre

Finely wired

Bill Martin of Martin Electric was one of Vicky’s referrals and a phenomenal electrician. I’ve had him here for several projects already, and I look forward to doing more work together – both here and for my clients. I was very happy to hear that Bill also does AV work. When I get ready to set up my living room TV/components, I now have a great go-to resource!

To the trade

I’ve been a member of ProSource since I became an independent designer, first in Tampa, more recently in San Diego. I have found the prices and service to be notable in both locations. My rep here, Kathy Anderson, was terrifically helpful in getting me my laminate flooring at a fabulous price, getting me all the samples I needed quickly, and ensuring that everything was processed smoothly. Thanks, Kathy!

They absolutely floored me

Flooring Creations did a terrific job with my friend’s wood floors, and so I had them quote me on installing most of my laminate. (The material from ProSource was already here and the office already completed when I called them.)

First, company owner Gus showed up on time to quote my install. Then he came through with a terrific quote. Technically speaking, he didn’t have to take on this job at all, since there was no big material profit margin in it for him; it was just a chance to show me what his firm could do. And, boy, did he ever! What an incredible service experience from start to finish. It didn't feel like they were doing anything different for me than they'd do for a non-industry client either. I could see their approach to service and quality was stellar; that doesn't happen on demand. It's intrinsic.

Gus and Sinda, his able helper, coordinated everything smoothly, including the fixtures replacement that had to be worked in with the new powder room flooring. Their team was fantastic. Not only were they super-skilled, but they were also punctual, polite, respectful and incredibly hard-working. They’ll be my first call when I’m ready to replace the ugly old carpeting still left on the two staircases and third floor. Thanks, guys!

Palisades Honey Oak Laminate from ProSource,
expertly installed by Flooring Creations

Fixture folks, et al

I’d also like to thank Chris Patti and David Contreras at Ferguson for their help in ordering and delivering my beautiful Kohler Archer powder room fixtures at a terrific designer rate, and Dennis Hargraves at Fixtures Living for his help in selecting, discounting, coordinating and delivering my sleek powder room faucet! Dennis' able team includes Kellie and Rosa.

Kohler's Archer Pedestal Sink and Toilet look wonderful in my remodeled powder room!

I’d also like to thank the folks at my local Home Depot and Pottery Barn for their terrific help. My painter, Drew Leach, also gets thanks for working with my hectic schedule, for being a total pro, and for his beautiful handiwork. We, too, shall do more projects in 2012!

Behr Premium Plus Paint in Root Beer looks delicious on my powder room walls and ceiling -- especially against white fixtures and moldings

Finally, I’d like to thank my wonderful family and friends – both here in California and across the country – for your fabulous support, this year and forever. I love you guys!

Big hugs from San Diego,
Jamie

PS: Look for posts in 2012 with all of the office, powder room, flooring and other Chez J improvements!

FOOD FOR THOUGHT #4 - Why aren’t more powder rooms (and public restrooms) purse-friendly?

2011-11-15T07:00:00.000-05:00

It happens all the time… I’m at a Barnes & Noble, Outback Steakhouse or Best Buy and there’s nowhere clean or dry to rest my purse while I wash my hands. You have a strap on that bag, so why not just hang it on your arm, you ask…

Well, that doesn’t work terribly well if I want to find whatever has inevitably migrated to said bag's least accessible corner. Usually, it’s my lip gloss or nail polish for touch ups. Murphy’s Law of Purses dictates that whatever one needs is always going to be buried at the bottom. I have found this to be cruelly and consistently true!

This anti-purse problem isn’t unique to public restrooms either. Many powder rooms, (and, sometimes, guest baths), I visit have the same shortcoming. The main difference is that I’m less squeamish about setting my purse down on a friend’s or relative’s bathroom floor or toilet tank than a public space's.

Still, there are numerous solutions to this problem that before now you didn’t even realize you had. (Aren’t you glad you stopped by!) I offer the following suggestions as a public service to all of your purse-wielding visitors and house guests.

Solution #1: If you have some floor space available, consider a small, rectangular side table or bath cart that coordinates with your décor. You can find them at your favorite furniture store, home center or even discount chain stores like Target.

Affordable, contemporary bath solution - 3 Tier Jumbo Cart from Bed, Bath & Beyond

Transitional choice adds a storage shelf below - Marin Side Table at Crate & Barrel

Luxe traditional bath choice adds great storage - Mirage Side Tables from Horchow

Solution #2: If you don’t have floor space, consider a wall shelf. Install it in a spot that won’t get easily bumped or interfere with outlets or towel hooks. This could be on a wall near the sink or above your toilet tank. (This second location calls for a shelf that isn’t deeper than the tank itself so you don’t bang into it when standing up.)

Sleek shelves for modern baths - West End's Paxton Wall Shelf

Rustic elegance for traditional baths - Glass Shelf by Restoration Hardware

Transitional bath shelves - Cafe Shelving from Ballard Designs

Solution #3: If neither is possible, consider adding a double robe hook to the back of a non-pocket door or a nearby wall. This works for hanging purses and coats, (another item that sometimes needs a hygienic resting spot!), or small purses without straps that can rest on the double hook instead of sitting on a wet counter.

Modern Bath Solution - JVJ Hardware Prism Pewter Double Robe Hook on Bellacor.com

Rustic hooks for transitional baths - Pottery Barn's Wire and Wood Double Hook

Double hook for a classic traditional bath - Bancroft Double Robe Hook by Kohler

There are so many choices in each of these categories that can match your décor, space availability and budget that you have virtually no excuse not to invest in at least one of them! That’s all I’m saying.

Preview Post: Jason Wu for Brizo

2011-11-08T07:00:00.001-05:00

I pushed back the post I was going to run today in favor of this one. This post lets me show off one of my very few ties to the high fashion world. (OK, I have just two ties, which doesn’t technically add up to a few, unless you count my Project Runway TV habit.)

Anyway… At the very beginning of 2010, I was invited to attend a Fashion Week design blogger event hosted by Brizo. If you’re not familiar with that brand, they are Lexus to Delta Faucet’s Toyota. Their focus isn’t just well-engineered kitchen and bath taps and accessories, it’s well-engineered, high fashion taps and accessories. Hence, their invitation to Fashion Week, where the rag biz celebrates its superstars and rising stars*.

Jason Wu Runway Show at Fall 2011 Fashion Week

Brizo is a corporate sponsor of Jason Wu, one of the most successful young fashion designers in the world right now. Even if you don’t follow high fashion – and I admittedly don’t, for the most part – you might recall that he designed Michelle Obama’s 2008 Inaugural Gown. Our group of bloggers-in-attendance attended Wu’s Fashion Week show and met him at a cocktail party organized for our benefit afterward.

Jason Wu

We were allowed to take a group photo with Wu and pepper him gently with questions. I asked if he would consider designing a faucet line for Brizo, seeing that as an inevitable outcome of their synergistic tie. He demurred. The Brizo and PR agency guys demurred. Having been trained in one of the best J schools in the country, I followed up with a related question on the same topic. They demurred again. I knew the Blogger 19 wasn’t going to get an exclusive that night. No biggie. I wasn’t there as Lois Lane, but as blogger junket Jamie.

The announcement I anticipated in February 2010 came more than a year later. In April of this year, a new Jason Wu Collection for Brizo was announced. (Duh.) This morning,Brizo’s PR firm led a collection preview webinar for us B19ers. I wasn’t able to attend it “live,” but have it on my PC now.

The collection is just what I would have expected from these folks. It’s functional and fun, pretty and practical, whimsical and worldly, crisp and candied at the same time. OK, I’ll stop with the alliterative adjectives now. I like it!

Odin Faucet with hands-free technology and WaterSense

Making your towels look better!

Tux-worthy soap dish

One of my favorite pieces - a wastebasket evocative of a Wu skirt design

Pumping up the style

Shelving the ordinary

Makes even TP look good!

You’ll notice that there are no tub or shower faucets in this collection, which I've excerpted here. This is being billed as a Powder Room suite. If my prescience allows me yet another prediction, I anticipate that success with this line will usher in a Wu for Brizo Master Bath suite in Fall 2012 or Spring 2013!

Wu for Brizo collection pre-orders are available between now and February for the first one thousand faucet fashionistas. I’m tapped out – bad pun intended – when it comes to bathrooms at Chez J, or I’d probably sign up myself if just to get the cool Wu original signed and numbered lithograph and key chain!

*My second tie to the high fashion world is 2011 Rising Star award winner, Loris Diran, a close friend from our NYU days. I attended his Fashion Week show the week I was in New York for Brizo. I don’t know if Loris will ever design faucets, but he makes hot-hot-hot clothes for men and women!

PS: Today's post was going to be my fourth Food for Thought musing. It'll publish next Tuesday. Hope you'll stop back!

Sensible Style - Multi-tasking Appliances and Other Holiday Helpers

2011-11-01T07:00:00.000-04:00

The holidays are just around the corner – I know, amazing, isn’t it! – and your kitchen has been slacking off for months now. Especially during those lazy summer days when you lived outside by the grill. Break time’s over…

You’ve got company coming and it’s time for your kitchen to earn its keep again. Is it up to Thanksgiving, Chanukah, Kwanzaa, Christmas, Boxing Day and whatever else you celebrate with family and friends at this hectic time of year?

Here are some resources that could save you time, space and even tootsies!

Multi-tasking cookers

Why have just one appliance when two in the same space can do twice the work? Many of my clients who have lacked the space for double ovens have benefitted greatly from a convection microwave in place of a standard microwave. The convection feature turns the microwave into a supplementary oven, giving you two in the space of one. No, it won’t handle your holiday roast, but it’ll nail those pies and sides.

Here’s one to consider for a relatively simple swap-out. This new, over-the-range GE Monogram Advantium model should fit where your current builder-grade micro lives, but it also offers speedcook, convection cooking and warming. That gives you four appliances in the space of one. Nifty, huh?

GE Monogram’s new Advantium puts four ovens where one plain microwave used to live!

This is the combo I’d like for my own kitchen… with a really special bonus feature!

This KitchenAid combination oven offers convection, microwave and steam cooking, which I fell in love with a couple of years ago and have wanted ever since.

Multi-tasking chillers

The holidays really stress out your fridge and freezer capacity, don’t they? All those extra ingredients, left-overs and drinks taking up space you just don’t have. There’s help at hand!
Add a drawer that works as a freezer or a fridge, depending on your needs. You select the setting you need and Fisher & Paykel’s innovative CoolDrawer becomes the cooling machine you need – even for wine! If you’ve room for a three-foot cabinet and a licensed electrician to wire it for you, you’ve got an extra 3.1 cubic feet of well-organized coolness.

Fisher & Paykel’s CoolDrawer handles frozen food, fresh food and wine with the flexibility of an Olympic gymnast.

You’d really like to have extra space for an ice maker this season, but you also want a beverage fridge. The latter will serve you well all year-round, whereas you mainly need extra ice capability when you entertain. Consider this dynamic duo by U-Line that gives you both in the space of a standard beverage fridge.

U-Line’s Combo Refrigerator/Ice Machine can be an entertainer’s best friend!

Countertop multi-taskers

A slow cooker can also be your best friend during the holidays. I wrote a loving ode to this category recently, stressing its ability to deliver delicious, healthy dishes to time-stressed individuals like myself. The best models work overtime as food warmers and servers, too.

You’ve got a full day of holiday shopping ahead and company coming for dinner later. Put the ingredients you prepped last night into the slow cooker, set it on low for the desired hours and get your errands done. If you run late, no problem… Dinner won’t burn. Your Crock Pot will turn it from low to warm automatically and it’ll be fine whenever you get home. By the way, Crock Pot is a brand name, (like Coke and Kleenex), and is one of the few that offers the auto-warm feature I cherish so highly. That makes it the ultimate convenience appliance!

Incidentally, there are numerous desserts you can make in your slow cooker, too, freeing up one of your ovens, along with your schedule.

A slow cooker, like this eponymous model by Crock Pot, can be a busy bee’s best friend.

I’ve been eying this Cuisinart PowerBlend Duet Blender/Food Processor for a year now. It fits two appliances that are potentially worth having into one convenient package, saving both space and money… And who has more than enough of those, I ask??? I like its versatility for the part-time home chef. If you’re a cooking enthusiast, and I’m not, its food processor capacity is probably too limited for your needs.

If, however, you’re more of an occasional cook, this might be a good tool for you. Ditto if you’re spending the holidays at your vacation home, where you’d rather mix margaritas than make muffins from scratch... This could be the perfect item for your appliance stocking!

It’s a food processor… It’s a blender… It’s Cuisinart’s space-saving PowerBlend Duet!

I love my GE indoor electric grill-griddle-panini maker and you might, too. When I was renting a furnished studio last year, it came with a George Foreman model. I liked how it worked, but it was a nuisance to clean. My GE has removable, dishwasher-safe, non-stick grill and griddle plates and a drip cup to minimize countertop mess. It can be used open or closed, depending on how much I need to cook. The plates are super-easy to pop in and out, and the machine has multiple settings for just about every need. (It’s almost identical to Cuisinart’s Griddler, but about half the price at WalMart!)

Holiday time and the pancakes are easy with GE’s 4 in 1 Grill/Griddle, available at WalMart

Holiday helpers

Holidays stress out more than your appliances and budget, don’t they! Your countertop and storage space jam up with seasonal gear. Organizers can help with this any day of the year, but especially now. Consider easy-to-install back-of-door organizers for cleaning supplies; roll-out trays for pots and pans; drawer organizers for knives, silverware and utensils; backsplash organizers for paper towels and spices and a drop-down cookbook rack to keep your favorite holiday recipe book away from countertop spills.

Keep your classic cookbooks convenient but clear of spills with this CS Household Under-Cabinet Cookbook Holder from Amazon.com

Holidays are also hellish on your body. After standing in front of the stove all day your feet, back, hips and legs positively ache.

Since I’ve written so very often about the benefits of GelPro cushioned mats, I got an offer from Wellness Mats to sample one of their products. I gratefully accepted and have loved it ever since. They now have a wider range of styles and sizes to fit your kitchen and I’m happy to recommend them without hesitation.

Wellness Mats -- Heaven underfoot… Any day of the year!

Guest Post - The joys of radiant floor heat

2011-10-25T07:00:00.000-04:00

In many parts of the U.S. and Canada, cold temperatures are already settling in. This is delightful when you're relaxing in front of your fireplace with a cup of hot cocoa, but not so much when you step onto cold bathroom tile first thing in the morning.

Thus was born the inspiration for this guest post! When David Tiefenthaler. who writes for the very informative Radiant Heat Reviewer blog, approached me a few months ago with this topic, I replied with a resounding yes. I had experienced the joys of radiant floor heat in a German hotel last January on my LivingKitchen trip and absolutely loved it! If I'm ever forced to live in a cold climate again, I would absolutely demand radiant floor heat. As most of my design projects have been in warmer climes, I haven't had the opportunity to specify it. That's why sharing David's expertise on this topic for my cold climate readers was such a welcome opportunity. Here are his insights into the why, what, how and how much of this technology for your home.

***

What is radiant floor heat? Exactly as it sounds, a floor is heated to radiate warmth from below for the comfort of any people and pets in the room. Radiant systems use either electric cables or heated water embedded beneath the finished flooring to do their job.

Radiant heating duplicates the feeling you would get if you were to walk barefoot on a floor that’s been warmed by direct sunlight for several hours. People who have it in their homes often walk around barefoot – even in the middle of winter! It’s a great option for cold climate residents or winter home owners.

The most common application of radiant floor heat is to install it under tile floors during a bathroom or kitchen remodel. The system is linked to its own thermostat, separate from the home’s forced air unit. For smaller rooms like a bathroom, adding an electric radiant floor heat system only costs about $500 to $1000 total for labor and for the materials. You would also have to choose a thermostat to go with it; always choose the programmable option, even though it is more expensive. With this system, I strongly recommend hiring a licensed electrician to connect the thermostat to your home’s electrical system.

Tile floor with electric radiant heat by ThermoSoft embedded in thinset

Some consumers worry that an electric-powered system will increase their utility bill astronomically. This simply isn’t the case. Thermostats that are linked to radiant floor heat can be programmed to heat up only when needed. For instance, if you get up for work at 6 a.m., the thermostat can be programmed to heat up the floor at this time of the day. Instead of waking up to ice-cold tile under your toes in the kitchen or bathroom, you’ll be greeted to the toasty touch of warm tiles. With a programmable thermostat, you will enjoy this luxury for about $10 to $20 per month extra on your electric bill.

You can use radiant floor heat to heat your entire house, but this is much more complex to install in a pre-existing home. For larger areas, like whole home remodels or new home construction, hydronic radiant heat is primarily used. This is because water can be heated with natural gas or oil-fired boilers, and these energy sources are less expensive to use than electricity.

For new home construction, long loops of radiant tubing are typically embedded in the concrete slab. A boiler heats up the water, which heats up the slab, which heats the finished flooring above it. In the most efficient applications, the tubes are included in the subfloor, rather than the slab below.

Homes and buildings with hydronic radiant heat on floors above grade level use aluminum plates strapped to the subfloor. The aluminum acts as a great conductor of heat, which in turn heats up the whole floor. Some products, like Warmboard, actually have aluminum built into the top layer of the subflooring. This puts the heat closer to your feet and requires even less energy to heat the floor.

A cross section of Warmboard subflooring with PEX-AL-PEX tubing in the aluminum channel.

No matter what choice you go with, the one constant is the luxurious comfort created by radiant floor heat. To paraphrase an '80s song, “It’s like walking on sunshine.”

***

David Tiefenthaler writes for Radiant Heat Reviewer to help consumers understand their options when considering different forms of radiant heat. He is a Do It Yourselfer and is always investigating the most economical and innovative ways to incorporate radiant heat in a home or building.

What do an Arc and an iPhone have in common?

2011-10-18T07:00:00.002-04:00

I wasn’t thinking terribly much about Apple Computer – other than hoping my antiquated iPhone 3G wouldn’t expire on the trip – when I headed to San Francisco last week for a Zephyr Ventilation design blogger event.

That changed shortly after I arrived at the Bay Area-based ventilation company’s gorgeous SoMa showroom.

Among the treats arranged for our event was a terrific presentation by Robert Brunner, founder of Apple’s internal design group, Apple IDg, and a Zephyr design partner.

You can see the same sleek thought processes that inspired his former boss, Steve Jobs -- a legendary design perfectionist -- at work in Brunner’s Arc series for the lesser-known Zephyr. Especially the Horizon.

While it’s unlikely that Arc will become as ubiquitous as the iPhone 4, the similarities are striking – and quite sexy! Both are as streamlined as a Jazz Age ocean liner, as glossy as a new Tesla.

This is art for your kitchen. They’ve even one-upped the style mavens at Apple by offering Horizon finishes I would love to see on my next iPhone, especially Red Glass. (I’m not holding out hope, though, that my 3G will last until the 5 debuts next year. My techie says it should rightfully be in digital hospice by now.)

Zephyr has long been known for stylish hoods. Brunner just upped the ante. Are you listening, Apple? Is there a red iPhone or leaf-patterned iPad in our future?

By the way, I suggested to Brunner and our Zephyr hosts that they find a way to incorporate an operational, touch-screen driven TV screen on the face of the Horizon! Wouldn't it be killer to watch your favorite shows on this sexy beast while making dinner? Wouldn't it???

This was my clear favorite of the Arc series, but there are other sleek styles by the one-time PowerBook designer. Here are a few more Brunner styles. From top to bottom, Layers, Plane and Tilt.

PS: Among my fellow attendees at Zephyr's event last week were some top-notch colleagues, including three Blogger 19 buddies, Kelly Morisseau of Kitchen Sync, Sarah Lloyd of Kitchen Clarity and Paul Anater of Kitchen and Residential Design!

Undoubtedly, they'll be offering more serious, in-depth coverage of the line than my book-sogged brain is capable of right now. I've linked to their blogs to ensure you'll be able to find their insights when they post them.

Guest Post - How to update your kitchen with paint

2011-10-11T07:00:00.000-04:00

When someone who knows their stuff approaches me with a solid guest post idea, I see it as a win-win. We all get the benefits of their expertise, and I get a free pass for a week. Thanks, Debbie Zimmer, Paint and Color Expert at the Paint Quality Institute, for your offer, your follow through and your very valuable information:

***

Kitchen remodeling can be among the most expensive upgrades to a home, often running into tens of thousands of dollars. But a less costly – yet very effective – way to enhance your culinary center is to break out the paintbrushes and rollers to put a fresh face on the space.

It’s actually possible to redo nearly every kitchen surface with paint, from the walls and woodwork to cabinets, and even the floors. However, most homeowners concentrate on the walls, woodwork, and cabinets. Whatever the scope of your project, here are some tips on how to proceed:

1. Start by “visualizing” your project. You’ve probably seen your spanking new kitchen in your mind’s eye, but it’s wise to go one step further: Visit the websites of some of the major paint companies and check out their “visualizing” tools. Typically, you’ll be able to upload photos and quickly try out various paint colors to see just how your kitchen would look in different color schemes.

2. Lean toward lighter paint colors. There are certainly no hard-and-fast rules on this, but light paint colors make a kitchen seem to sparkle. If the airy feeling of a light tint isn’t appealing to you, consider this: Light-colored walls, woodwork, and ceilings will give the illusion that your kitchen is larger than its actual physical dimensions. And who doesn’t want a bigger kitchen?

3. Use paint with a high level of sheen. Paints with higher levels of sheen -- particularly high gloss and semi-gloss paints -- are more stain-resistant. They are also easier to clean if they should meet with up fingerprints or food splatters. What’s more, since they are the most reflective paints, they’ll make your kitchen look lighter and brighter. One more reason to use a glossier paint: They provide better mildew resistance than ordinary flat paint, no small consideration in a room that where water and steam are often present.

4. Use top quality paint. Don’t be penny-wise and pound-foolish when purchasing your coatings. You’re already saving thousands of dollars by painting, rather than committing to full-bore remodeling. Spring for the highest quality paint and you’ll get a paint job that will be tougher, more durable, and longer-lasting.

5. Follow the right painting sequence. If you’re doing a top-to-bottom makeover of walls and woodwork, simplify things by working logically. Paint the ceiling, walls, trim (including windows and doors), and baseboards, in that order. This will help prevent you from spattering paint on just-painted surfaces.

6. Doing the cabinets, too? If so, remove the doors before doing any painting in your kitchen. Scrub the cabinets and doors with degreasing solution to clean them. Then sand them to remove any loose paint and provide more tack for your new paint. Wipe off dust from the sanding with a wet cloth. When the doors and cabinets dry, apply a coat of high quality latex primer. Then apply a coat of top quality 100% acrylic latex paint in the color and sheen of your choice – high gloss or semi-gloss for easier cleaning, or more of a matte-type finish, like a satin or even an eggshell, if you don’t want the cabinets to be too shiny. For enhanced durability, finish with a coat of clear polyurethane. (Each coat should be completely dry before applying the next finish.) Re-install the cabinet doors. In this case, paint the baseboards last.

That’s how simple it is to remodel your kitchen with paint. Total cost is no more than a couple hundred dollars, including brushes and accessories – even less if you already have some of these items.

When your project is finished, stand back and admire your handiwork. Then treat yourself to a nice dinner. With all the money you saved on your remodeling, you could afford a nice night out on the town. On the other hand, you just might be tempted to cook at home in your brand new kitchen!

***

Debbie Zimmer is a blogger, speaker, and nationally recognized expert on color, use of paints in interior and exterior design, and decorative painting techniques. She can be found on Twitter as @PaintQualityIns and the Paint Quality Institute blog.

Photo Credit: All of the kitchens shown are from the Behr Paint website. I used Behr for my recent office update and was quite happy with it!

NIFTY NUGGETS – SlipcoverShop.com

2011-10-04T07:00:00.000-04:00

This is the second in an occasional series of small, helpful finds I come across on projects. As I mentioned in my first Nifty Nuggets post, some will come from clients’ kitchen or bath redos, some from my own adventures in remodeling and decoration. This Nugget, like the one before, comes from a Chez J dining room discovery.

A few months back, after the moving company finally paid my damaged furniture claim, I bought six new upholstered Henriksdal dining chairs from Ikea. I found them to be extremely comfortable and, at $60 apiece, extremely well-priced, too.

The only challenge they presented was that the full-length covers I wanted only came in white and I couldn’t find any ready-made covers from other sources that would fit the Henriksdal's over-sized dimensions. Off-the-rack SureFit and Pottery Barn covers that covered chairs I've owned in the past were inches too small for the Henriksdals. Darn, darn, darn!

The cost of having custom covers made started at $150 apiece, obliterating the affordability of the Ikea chairs. So I turned to the Internet. (How did we all get along before it???)

A website called Slipcovershop.com came up in my search. The Woodside, NY-based firm offered the natural cotton duck I was seeking, and would make four dining chair covers to whatever dimensions I sent them for $159. This struck me as a pretty good deal.

The company was prompt in sending fabric samples at no charge, and in responding to several measurement questions I asked by email. They also had knowledgeable phone reps, which added to my feeling of confidence in ordering from them.

So I took all the measurements they requested, plugged them into their user-friendly online form, sent photos of the chair, per their request, and entered my credit card information.

The covers arrived when the confirmation said they would, fit perfectly and saved me about $600 on this small project. (That will more than pay for the two large pendants going over the dining table and their installation, too.)

I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this online provider to friends or clients.

In praise of slow cookers

2011-09-27T07:00:00.001-04:00

I have a confession to make: I don’t like cooking all that much. I strongly believe that I fall into a large, silent majority or take-out and frozen dinners wouldn’t be as popular as they are. But, as I make my income designing stylish and sensible kitchens for my clients, you might find this revelation surprising. It’s actually not, though… Hear me out on this.

Every client I’ve ever partnered with for their kitchen project has a different approach to meal creation and delivery. Some, like me, cook as little as possible to sustain themselves. Some revel in the culinary arts. Some cook the basics to maintain the health of their families. Some love baking.

My strategy is always to pair the best components and layout with that client’s cooking preferences, food storage needs, home style and budget. Not everyone is a Top Chef, and not everyone wants or needs the same kitchen gear.

My favorite appliance is the slow cooker. (Like Kleenex or Coke, slow cookers are often called Crock-Pots, a brand name for one popular manufacturer of these countertop appliances.) I’ve made delicious, healthy stews and meals for decades in a series of slow cookers I’ve owned from different companies. Over the years, they’ve gotten bigger and more feature-rich. I have a few in my sights for future purchases!

My current model has a terrific “keep warm” setting that turns on automatically when my selected cooking time has run out. This means I can turn it on in the morning, run around all day, and if I’m not home by the end of a six-hour entrée, it’ll keep my food warm when I’m ready to enjoy it, without over-cooking it. This is flexibility at its best!

Friends have questioned why someone who won’t run the dryer or dishwasher when she leaves the house would feel comfortable letting a cooking appliance run on the countertop all day. Here's why: I don’t have pets to chew on the cord and cause an electrical fire. I don’t have kids at home to burn their fingers on a hot appliance. My countertops are stone and aren’t going to melt from the ultra low heat generated by the slow cooker. I don’t overfill it and run all of my recipes on a low setting, so there’s no danger of the contents boiling over. Finally, while there’s no flame involved, I still keep the area around it clear of paper or fabric. I’m pretty confident that unless I get a defective machine, I’m pretty safe.

Here’s a very similar model to my current Crock-Pot brand slow cooker, which I bought at Target when I moved to San Diego last year. It was my post-marital hedge against the evils of fast food, frozen food and starvation -- as my ex did almost all of the cooking. This low-cost lifesaver has superbly addressed my desire for low-carb, low-fat and easy-to-prepare dishes. Its insert is dishwasher-safe, but it takes up so much room that I'd have to run (and empty) the dishwasher that much more often to accommodate it. I did use slow cooker liners with it until the box ran out, but that seemed like a ridiculous, eco-killer indulgence.

I spotted this Cuisinart slow cooker at Crate & Barrel last year. I like that it includes a bakeware rack, (to address my rare baking urge), and is also programmable, though four quarts is a bit small for those of us who like to freeze extra servings for future use.

This Breville is the Lexus of slow cookers, which I admire every time I walk into a Williams-Sonoma. Its nonstick insert can go in the oven for roasting or on a burner for browning, and is easy to clean afterward. (Chances are, I'm not going to use it for browning or roasting, but it's nice to know I can if I ever turn into someone who loves to cook.)

This large, seven-quart baby also has a dual setting that lets you start high for faster cooking, then switch to low for the classic slow-cook approach. One feature this luxury model appears to be missing, though, is the auto-warm setting. Maybe when I’m ready to upgrade, it will have been added in.

Here, by the way, is my favorite recipe for Slow Cookers Italian Herbed Chicken.

It’s healthy, delicious and super-fast to prepare. It was created by the McCormick spice company, but I’ve never found their preferred packaged seasoning mix in any of my local stores, so I shake-shake-shake my bottle of Italian Seasoning very liberally into the pot, add rosemary and a few bay leaves and it tastes great. I'm considering some variations with beef and sweet Italian sausage to keep things interesting.

Here are a few of the slow cooker cookbooks I own, though I often find recipes I like online, as I did with the one above. You can click on any of the book covers to read more about (or buy it) online.

PS: My second favorite cooking appliance is the microwave oven I use to reheat my slow cooker creations.

Choosing a Stainless Steel Sink: Guest Post by Blanco

2011-09-20T07:00:00.000-04:00

As many of my readers know, I’m a big fan of Blanco’s Silgranit II composite sinks and a member of the Blanco Design Council. Last January, the company brought me and four of my design writer colleagues to Germany to tour their factories and visit the Living Kitchen show. Watching their high-quality composite and stainless steel sinks being made was fascinating. So I asked them to share some insights on choosing a stainless steel sink.

This is the happy outcome from that request -- expert insights from Tim Maicher, Blanco’s US-based Director of Marketing, on selecting a new stainless steel sink and taking care of it.

***

Not all steel is Surgical Grade Quality: Blanco sinks are made from steel that is considered surgical grade: non-porous, hygienic and rust-free. If you’ve paid thousands of dollars for a countertop, it makes no sense to put a $50 sink in. If the sink rusts, dents or fails structurally, you will need not only a new sink, but a new countertop, too.

Many kitchen designers tell us that the sink is not a place to cut quality because it needs to last as long as the counter. Something to consider when remodeling or planning a kitchen renovation.

Understanding chrome-nickel content: Chrome is the component in stainless steel that gives it luster and durability, while nickel provides hardness and strength. The chrome-nickel content is reflective of the percentages of each element present in stainless steel. The chrome-nickel formulation 18/10 is typically the highest quality and means that such a sink is composed of 18% chrome and 10% nickel.

Cleaning and care of stainless steel: When cleaning and caring for stainless steel sinks, the most valuable tips come from learning what not to do. It is important to keep cleaners such as bleach, scrub pads and steel wool away from your sink. Such abrasive products will dull and tarnish the finish. Your sink should be rinsed thoroughly after every use and wiped dry with a soft and clean cloth to preserve the finish and reduce water spotting and mineral deposits in severe water conditions.

Check under the hood: It’s important to determine if the sink you are buying has a sound-deadening feature. This enhances your enjoyment with the sink, since it reduces unwanted sounds like the garbage disposal growl.

All of the sinks shown are by Blanco and available everywhere the company's sinks are sold.

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For more information on buying a new Blanco sink or faucet, please visit the company's web site.

NIFTY NUGGETS – Lutron’s Maestro IR Fan/Light Control

2011-09-13T07:00:00.001-04:00

I’ve decided to start an occasional Gold Notes series of small, helpful finds I come across on my design projects. Some will come from clients’ kitchen or bath redos. This Nifty Nugget launch post comes from my own Chez J townhouse updates.

When I bought my place in late 2010, I knew I would replace the hideous light fixture in the second bedroom with a ceiling fan. While I’m not generally in favor of fans with light kits, it was the simplest, most affordable solution to get both light and coolness for that space.

The challenge was to find a switch that would handle both fan and light kit independently. (Yes, I know I could have gotten a remote control to do the job, but I didn’t want one.) Lutron had the perfect solution.

The Maestro IR Fan/Light Control (MIR-LFQTHW) not only lets me turn on the overhead light and fan, (or just one of them), in the same amount of space as one switch, it also lets me dim the lights and adjust the fan speed on the same control… So, no more inconvenient pull-chain operation! Thank you, Lutron, thank you, wireless IR transmitter technology!

(Real version doesn't have a black bar on it)

This clever control came to the rescue again recently when I wanted to add a ceiling fan to my office, which only had four recessed can lights up to that point. A licensed electrician recommended by my go-to gal for all things lighting, Vicky Lodge of VML Designs, tied in the lighting wires to a Maestro control I bought for the office. He then made it work with the fan he braced and installed. The Maestro replaced the original light-only switch in the exact same spot to minimize work and expense.

This Lutron innovation proved to be a simple, affordable, elegant solution for two of my own projects, and one I wouldn’t hesitate to spec for a client job either.

MOLTEN GOLD - Steamy Subject

2011-09-06T11:38:00.000-04:00

A few years ago, I attended a designer training program that introduced me to steam cooking. I was super-impressed with the quality of the food that emerged from that small oven, and the versatility of the appliance. It does everything a microwave does, except for making popcorn, and it can multi-task pie with poultry or cod with quiche.

The biggest challenge of steam ovens is finding a spot for one in a normal-sized kitchen. The new Thermador Pro Grand Steam Range solves that quandary. It builds the steam oven into the body of a classic six-burner range, and its reservoir-based functionality means you don’t have to sweat a plumbing connection. Wow and double wow.

The Pro Grand also builds convection cooking and a warming drawer into its oven space. Both are great conveniences for busy families and happy bakers.

The range’s cooktop offers a griddle or grill option, simmer capability and a 22,000 BTU burner suitable for home wok cooking. Other than making microwave popcorn, (and who really cares!), I can’t think of a single thing this cooking machine won’t master.

The Thermador Brand

Thermador began making appliances in 1932, after operating for 16 years as an electrical products manufacturer, and has been innovating ever since. Julia Child created many of her famous PBS show dishes in a Thermador wall oven.

The company’s online Heritage page offers a fabulous timeline of introductions to the home appliance market: wall ovens and cooktops (1947), “pro ranges” (1948), warming drawers (1952), self-cleaning ovens (1963), speed cook ovens (1976), pop-up retractable downdraft systems (1978) and sealed gas burners (1987), among others.

Thermadors are sold through the same high-end appliance showrooms as their high-end competitors.

The Facts

Warranty: One year

Pricing: MSRP $13,995

Website: http://www.thermador.com/

All photos courtesy of Thermador.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT #3: Why kitchen remodeling is like pregnancy

2011-08-30T07:00:00.001-04:00

Most people will only remodel a kitchen once in their life. It's a completely foreign process to many, and one I've "midwifed" for years as a full-time kitchen and bath designer.

I’ve always likened kitchen remodeling to being pregnant, because many of my clients know all about what that experience is like. In my opinion, there are some striking similarities:

You know roughly how long the process will take, but rarely the exact date it will be over;
You're best off not planning major events around either one, or Mr. Murphy and his infernal law will kick you in the butt;
You’ll be doing lots of planning, preparation and sheer fantasy about both;
You will be inviting exotic professionals and technicians into your life for both;
You have no idea of what complications (and unforeseen expenses) will arise during the process;
You know you’ll be uncomfortable and inconvenienced along the way, but not to what extent, or exactly what forms it will take;
You can – and should – prepare in advance, but can, and probably will, still experience surprises along the way;
You may experience strange cravings – pickles and ice cream vs. pickled finishes;
You’ll be buying a lot of surprising new gear for baby or kitchen;
You'll be coming across names you never expected to cross your lips -- be they Madison Marie or Madison Maple, Cambria countertops or Cambria Johnson;
Both invite ideas and horror stories from friends, family and complete strangers spotting baby bump or curbside dumpster;

Best of all...

At the end of a long, laborious process, you’ll have a beautiful new addition to your household.

By the way, please feel free to add your own comparisons in my comment section below!

These musings were inspired by the work I’m having done this week at Chez J, the three-story town home I bought late last year. I’m not working on the kitchen just yet – except for a flooring replacement – but the room where I spend the greatest amount of time here is my office and it’s getting new laminate flooring*, baseboards, desk, crown molding and paint this week. It already got new drapes, drapery hardware, area rug and ceiling fan since I moved in. I look forward to saying goodbye, ugly carpet. Good riddance, clutter of books on floor and computer on folding bridge table!

*Incidentally, I had planned on purchasing engineered wood, which I had and loved in my Florida home. When I came across a laminate at half the cost that looked exactly the same, I went for it!

Yes, I will post “after” pictures once it’s all done. Here are some before shots:

Wine Wanderings and Wonderings

2011-08-23T07:00:00.002-04:00

The weekend before last was all about the grape… And great friends.

We went wine tasting, enjoyed an all-farm dinner at beautiful Buttonwood Farm Winery where one friend works part-time, and savored wonderful wines on the patio of our vacation rental in California’s Central Coast wine region.

An image from last year’s Buttonwood dinner – captured on My Los Olivos blog by a fellow diner

Calories aside, all weekends should be like that. But, eventually, you come home, sometimes with cases of wine to store and enjoy. This post is all about the storing and enjoying. I’m not a wine snob and I don’t have a wine cellar in my townhome. I don’t even have room for a wine fridge. If I did, I’d want a built-in, dual-zone model like this one from Sub-Zero... That'll be for the next house!

What I do have is a handsome Vicenza Console from Ballard Designs that holds whatever wine bottles I happen to have on hand, along with wine accessories.

The wine accessories include a decanter that lets my reds breathe while I’m preparing (or reheating) dinner and a very easy-to-use Rabbit that makes opening wine bottles a snap.

While I own a very delicate set of wine glasses from my parents’ 1955 wedding, the ones I use on a regular basis are bargain busters from IKEA. I don’t worry much if one gets broken.

I’m considering moving them out of the wall cabinet where they currently live onto shelves like this Holman from Pottery Barn with built-in stem glass holders -- one reds, one for whites.

My builder's decision not to put a cabinet over the dishwasher works very well for this purpose. It’ll be one of the first things I see when I come upstairs into my living area – and an invitation to relax over a lovely glass of wine when I finish my workday.

Here are some wines from around that area that I’ve enjoyed enormously. Maybe you will, too? Click on any of the wine images and you'll be taken to its winery.

And this is the breathtakingly beautiful country in which they go from vine to wine. This shot from santaynezwinecountry.com was also taken at Buttonwood.

SENSIBLE STYLE - Vacation Home Kitchens

2011-08-16T07:00:00.001-04:00

It’s summertime – and the living is easy! Foods are simple and unfussy. Days are long and spent as much outdoors as possible. Sand and mud get tracked into the house from flip flops and hiking boots.

This Sensible Style is dedicated to vacations… and vacation home kitchens.

Simplicity counts

Vacation homes are all about relaxing and leisure, not about detail and dusting. Choose a cabinet style that reflects this casual spirit. Fussy moldings and ornate carvings would be as out-of-place in your beach house or mountain cabin as a ball gown at a barbecue.

Simple cabinets, like these American Woodmark Del Ray models, work great for a vacation home kitchen's pared-down lifestyle

They’re not about slaving over a hot stove either. You don’t need a pro style range. Chances are, you’ll be cooking a lot of your meals on the outside grill. Nor do you need an oversized refrigerator. You’ll be cooking fresh food from farm stands and the fresh catch of the day.

If you don’t like paper plates, have the space in your kitchen, and welcome frequent guests, you might want to consider planning in a second dishwasher. This is a luxury that will definitely pay off.

Low maintenance counts

I’m betting you don’t want to spend your vacation polishing granite or sealing wood tops. Choose a counter surface that lets you choose to spend time outdoors instead of in the kitchen. Repairable Corian or engineered stone can work in this setting. So could stainless steel if you don’t mind seeing scratches.

Low maintenance quartz tops, like this one by Cambria, are ideal for vacation homes

Ditto for your floors. An attractive porcelain tile that stands up to the thundering of wet, muddy active feet or a wood that’s already distressed could be your best vacation friend.

Porcelain tile, like this one from Daltile, is vacation home friendly

Another option is flood-friendly stained concrete, especially if your home is built on a concrete slab already. It will take just about anything you can throw at it.

Avoid elaborate backsplashes. They won’t fit in any better than the heavily-decorated cabinets would. Beadboard, tin ceiling tiles, or just a simple painted surface can work at your summer home. Keep it simple.

Seating matters

Have plenty of it, at a height comfortable for the majority of your guests. They’re going to hang out in the kitchen anyway. Make it easy to do so with counter-height stools instead of bar stools and, if there’s space, chairs, benches or banquette with washable cushions at a standard height table.

A bench, like this Benchwright model from Pottery Barn, welcomes kids and friends to your table

Planning matters

Guests young and old will be traipsing in and out of your house all day. That’s the nature of summer homes. If outdoor entertaining is a big part of your vacation life, plan for a large deck next to your kitchen, if possible. Ideally, the doors from the kitchen open completely onto this deck for easy transit. A zero threshhold will be kindest to bare feet.

Vacations are about indoor-outdoor living; so is this glass wall-door combo by NanaWall

A pass-through from kitchen window to deck would also be great for serving and cleaning up.

I would also suggest planning an extra large, deep, sturdy sink for grilling tools and stock pots from crab boils and the like. A tall, pull-out faucet will be the most convenient for filling them.

A large, durable sink, like this Blanco Silgranit II sink, is ideal for vacation home kitchen clean-up

Decorating points

The whole point of vacation homes is to enjoy a relaxing time away from your daily life. Chances are, it’s got a great view of nearby woods, lake, mountain, gulf, bay or ocean. Let Mother Nature do the decorating for you. The view should be the focal point, so keep window coverings and distractions to a minimum.

Choose outdoor-rated fabrics for cushions and area rugs.

Outdoor rugs, like these Striped Braided versions from Ballard Designs, work great in vacation home kitchens (and on their decks)

Barbie's Dream House: Part II -- The Winning Design

2011-08-09T07:00:00.001-04:00

Last week, in Part I of Barbie’s Dream House, I shared my thoughts on where the style icon could live while her new Malibu manse was being designed and built. This week, I’ll profile the winning design of the Mattel/American Institute of Architects competition.

First of all, the location on three acres of beach with ocean and mountain views on all sides can’t be beat.

The winning architects, Ting Li, Assoc. AIA, LEED AP and Maja Paklar, Assoc. AIA, planned a tall home with lots of glass, terrace and roof garden to maximize those views. Though both work in New York and neither grew up anywhere near Southern California, (Li is from China; Paklar from Croatia), they both totally got the feel of the place. They both also loved Barbie as young girls.

I like the sustainability emphasis of the project: solar panels, landscaped rooftop and irrigation system, operable shading devices, bamboo flooring, low flow toilet and sink fixtures, and locally sourced and manufactured materials and furnishings.

Here's a link to the plans for the home.

I dislike the lack of aging-in-place features, including an elevator to transport the now AARP-eligible Barbie between floors in her new home. I’m also curious about the powder room on Level 1 with no apparent entrance. Hmmmm. It also would have been nice to have a bathroom, (maybe with steam or sauna?) on the exercise level and a half bath on the office/meeting room level… But that’s just my own AARP-eligible bladder talking. Guess I’ll have to sneak into Barbie’s master suite or sledgehammer myself into the Level 1 powder room!

Feel free to share your comments below. I'm eager to hear from Barbie fans, fellow designers and architects alike.