Five green kitchens show ways to use various shades of the color green to create a lasting impression. Mr. Shops walked behind me as I was starting to write this post. "Oh, I'm not sure I could take that kitchen for very long," he said looking at the green and white checks. My thoughts exactly. While chic, the pea-green gingham canvas ceiling treatment is too energetic for … [Read more...]
Wood Plank Master Bath
A tropical wood plank master bath goes for sustainable modernity in a beach house. In a beach house, it makes sense to create a tropical wood plank master bath -- one that stands up well to water. In this Mr.-and-Mrs. bath, the planks take on the added role of a motif worked in several ways. Wood slats, installed on aluminum supports like fencing, help screen off to a … [Read more...]
Bold Kelly-Green Bathroom
The vivid kelly green bathroom vanity color creates a very special children's spa. Bright colors in small doses can make a big impact as demonstrated in this kelly green bathroom. But take note - only the front of this modern Shaker bathroom vanity is painted the carefree green, then repeated on the medicine cabinet frame. For a more modern treatment, the vanity sides are … [Read more...]
Powder Room Think
Today, the traditional powder room focuses on a trio of key decorative elements. Traditional powder room design is becoming as easy as one, two, three: 1. Convert a piece of furniture — preferably vintage or antique into a vanity. 2. Add a decorative mirror and a pair of sconces over it. 3. Plan a tile or wall treatment to add surface interest. Even top pros like … [Read more...]
Unusual Bathroom Sinks
Unusual spa-style bathroom sinks center on the unexpected. As bathroom sinks go, two styles are most unusual. In this ultra-modern “wet room” master bath, the Kohler Purist overflow vessel sink is flat! Essentially it has no basin – water flowing from the Danze Parma wall-mounted faucet hits the “wet surface” and runs off into the channel-drain around it. Expect … [Read more...]
Rustic Master Bath Retreat
In a rustic master bath, the custom tub surround is reminiscent of a French wall fountain. Wood salvaged from a North Carolina barn is used to create a rustic master bath retreat that is also romantic. The setting helps. The bath was created in a room with large windows and a high, pitched roof clad in wooden planks. A Waterworks Cambridge tub nestles underneath the expanse of … [Read more...]
Timeless Modern Master Bath
The modern egg-shaped tub in a master bath creates a perfect sanctuary for a long soak. In this luxurious master bath, washed horizontal wooden planks wrap the tub alcove and continue beyond. Set against that background is a freestanding Waterworks .25 tub, with sensuous curves said by the homeowner to be remarkably comfortable -- a tub everyone should experience at least … [Read more...]
Cool Bathrooms
These cool bathrooms are worlds apart yet connected through common materials. Two very cool bathrooms, built 80 years and almost 7,000 miles apart, share an austerity which I find very hip. Some might call them cold — in one case that might be viewed as a blessing (you’ll see why) — but, for me, that’s not the point. What drew my attention is the way each architect/designer … [Read more...]
Warm White Kitchens
In warm white kitchens, opposites are mixed for a custom look and feel. Everyone has heard the phrase "opposites attract," but can that be applied to warm white kitchens? It can, indeed. Mixing the old with the new, the sleek with the chic, the hard with the soft, the dark with the light... well, you get the idea. In this kitchen, a chic custom island was crafted from an … [Read more...]
Unfitted Bathrooms
Styles of four unfitted bathrooms benefit from not having conventional vanity cabinets. One aspect of doing more with less involves editing down to necessities. This is especially true for unfitted bathrooms – those which have no built-in or “fitted” cabinetry. What’s interesting is how cabinet-free baths cut across the style spectrum – from minimalist to country. Instead of … [Read more...]
Mid-Century Ranch Bath
A mid century bath in a ranch-style house gets an update with modern vanities and easy to reach storage. A house built with windows tucked just under the roof line offers uninterrupted walls. That's useful for updating a mid century bath. The western U.S., and especially Arizona, has an abundance of ranch style houses many with authentic 1950s elements like clerestory windows. … [Read more...]
Concrete Powder Room Sink
In an architect's house, expect a powder room with a concrete sink, right? In a powder room, a concrete sink is a statement of sorts. It weighs in as modern or contemporary in an uncompromising way. In the home of prominent Massachusetts architect Mark Hutker, the sea-green powder room is consistent with the minimalist aesthetic of the house. The cast concrete sink with one … [Read more...]
Atomic Ranch Bathroom
A mid-century atomic ranch style bathroom maximizes color and minimizes fixtures. Cantilevered on a loft partition wall, a double glass sink nearly disappears against the colorful 1950s atomic ranch style mosaic tile. Atomic Ranch is a term that was used as the title for a home design book, by Michelle Gringeri-Brown, which details the look of ranch style, mid-century modern … [Read more...]
Pantry Farm Sink
A small farm sink works well in a pantry, as a prep sink or even in a bathroom. In a way, a small farm sink -- 18 to 24 inches wide -- may be more versatile than its larger cousin. And it still can be effectively paired with a full-size faucet. In the pantry of this traditional kitchen by the British firm of Robinson and Cornish, a 24-inch apron front sink is set at one end of … [Read more...]
