I love this powder room in that it is elegant, yet a little modern.  The subtle, metallic wallpaper enhances the simple lines of the vanity. The monochramatic feel of glass, brushed nickel, and creams really elevate this powder room to a luxurious feel.

A modern take on a powder room, with a beautiful mosaic wall behind the vanity.  Tiling a full wall is a great way to make a statement, especially with the square footage of the wall being minimal, you do not have to break the bank to make a dramatic look.

What an elegant powder room.  The furniture inspired vanity blends beautifully with the trim, and neutral wallpaper & tile.  What makes a statement in this room is the fabulous ceiling, and chandelier.

Dark wall paper is very elegant.  Couple that with a classic marble vanity and crystal chandeliers… and you have yourself a powder room that is sure to never go out of style.

A simple approach to a dramatic powder room can be as simple as a paint color.  In this application both the walls and trim are painted a dark gray color adding a bit of drama, and making the plumbing and decorative fixtures stand out.

Lastly, bold wall paper prints are great for a powder room.  As you are not looking to spend much time in the room, the boldness is just enough to grab attention from your guests and family members.

Kitchens can be rich and warm by using an array of features.  You can have chocolate walls, cabinetry, countertops, tile, & fixtures that can all bring in that chocolate feel.  One thing to note is that your kitchen doesn’t have to have dark cabinets, in order for the room to feel this way.   Even a contrasting chocolate island, or wall color will give you the design and feel you want.

 Happy Easter!

]]> http://www.essencedesignstudio.com/2012/03/the-sunroom-a-room-for-all-seasons/feed/ 0 http://www.essencedesignstudio.com/2012/03/my-love-of-pinterest/ http://www.essencedesignstudio.com/2012/03/my-love-of-pinterest/#comments Tue, 06 Mar 2012 20:26:54 +0000 Rebekah http://www.essencedesignstudio.com/?p=464 Continue reading →]]> For those of you out there who have no idea what Pinterest is…oh my, you are going to die!  It is one of those masterful ideas that is so simply but fabulous – and WHY DIDN’T I THINK OF IT?!

It is basically a ‘virtual pin board’ – if you have ever printed or saved pictures/articles/recipes you’ve found online for future use, this site is for you (I believe that would include 99.9% of the population – well maybe 49.99% since I don’t know many men that use it).  The big exception to Pinterest is that when you save the picture/article/recipe it keeps the link intact so you can go back to it at any time – plus you can access it from any device that receives internet.

Here are a few of my kitchens that I’ve pinned:

See a pattern here?!  I’m a fan of white kitchens with some contrast (especially a wood top or dark island).

Here is some bathroom love!

Oh and a few throughout the rest of the home!

I was able to pull all those pictures in just a matter of moments!  It can also help the person who is not sure what you like and don’t like – bc once you start ‘pinning’ and then look back you can usually start to see a pattern, for example, my 40something white kitchens that I’ve pinned or the upholstered headboards in almost every bedroom pictures that I’ve saved.

Finally, I’ve been able to ‘pin’ almost 300 recipes and in the last month and I’ve been trying a couple new ones a week – my husband is in heaven!

CLICK HERE TO FOLLOW ME ON PINTEREST!!!

Happy Pinning!

BEHIND THE TUB:

 Tiling behind the tub is not only the perfect feature wall, but also a great frame for any free standing or built-in tub.

IN THE SHOWER:

This may be the most popular place to have a feature wall.  Although it may be obvious, you cannot go wrong.

BEHIND THE VANITY:

My favorite location of a feature wall!  Tiling behind the vanities is unique, and creates a custom design.

As far as changes go…Jessica and I are pleased to announce that in addition to Dura Supreme Cabinetry we are now authorized dealers for both Breathe Easy and Kessick Wine Cellars Cabinetry lines!  This is HUGE for us because we have been looking into other lines for quite some time and the fact that we feel that both of these add value and product selections for our clients, is just fabulous!

Breathe Easy Cabinetry is a GREEN product line where the cabinetry is “constructed of non-toxic, environmentally friendly products, including sustainably harvested wood, formaldehyde-free plywood boxes and non-toxic glues and finishes”.  We feel that adding them to our arsenal  helps set us apart from other designer and dealers in the area.

Kessick Wine Cellars Cabinetry “has set a new standard by offering only fully assembled and finished Mahogany wine cellar racks.Careful consideration has been taken in the design and construction; weight distribution, bottle size and air circulation work in correlation with function and aesthetics to create the ideal wine cellar rack. Mahogany wood, with its deep rich color, strength, durability along with its natural mold and mildew resistance make it the perfect choice for a wine cellar environment”.

We are looking forward to working with both of these lines in addition to Dura Supreme.  Please contact us for any inquiries or to set up you FREE IN-HOME CONSULTATION!

The most popular debate on flooring choices is between hardwoods and tile floors.   I will be listing a question from one of our clients and then a few solutions for those concerns.

CLIENT QUESTION: “Any ideas what to do when someone wants tile and someone else want hardwood? My husband wants tile and I would prefer hardwood…I don’t like tile because it’s cold and I don’t want to worry about cleaning grout ….and he doesn’t like hardwood because he’s afraid our bulldog and our future kids might destroy it one day.  Should we go with something completely different as a compromise?….Are there any other options that would add value to our home aside from tile and hardwood?” – Meg, Cincinnati

What a great question, as this has been asked all the time of us.  It usually depends on the reason for not wanting one or the other.  Therefore, I will address each of these issues and hopefully find a solution!

Cold tile:  The fix for this is to install a radiant heated floor system under the tile.  It usually costs less than most people expect, and makes a huge difference when walking around barefoot.  From an energy stand point installing a heated floor system will save on energy bills in the future.  The radiant floor will ensure improved insulation and heating properties while reducing heat loss from the subfloor.

 Hard to clean grout:  There are a few ways you can handle the grout issue.  The first thing we recommend is going with a larger tile to cut down on amount of grout lines, while also making the grout lines themselves smaller.  A typical grout line is anywhere from 1/16 “  to ¼” grout on normal tiles.  You can go larger depending on the style and type of stone, but usually it is not recommended.  In this case, sticking with a 1/16” or 1/8” grout line would be recommended.

Choose a grout color that is a neutral tone, and similar to the type of tile chosen.  For example, if you chose a natural travertine in a tan family, choose a grout that is similar to the colors chosen.  Avoid a grout that is too dark such as a chocolate, or too light such as white. Picking a neutral color will minimize the look of dirt overtime, and make it less noticeable overall.

Lastly, if you are using normal sanded or unsanded grout… you will need to seal it.  This is very important as it will lock in the color of the grout, while making it non-porous and easier to clean.  The grout would be less likely to absorb dirt and stains once sealed.  Another grout option is the use of urethane grouts.  Urethane grouts (brand name StarQuartz) come pre-made, are easy to install and do not need sealed.  They are manufactured with all of the benefits and all you need to do is install it accordingly.

 Scratched Hardwoods:  This is usually unavoidable, but there are definite ways that you can cut down on scratches.  Some woods such as Brazilian cherry, Brazilian walnut and bamboo lend themselves to be harder woods than oak, heart pine and maple flooring.   Bamboo is growing in popularity due to the economical price points, beautiful finishes available, and sustainable features.

 You can opt for a distressed floor, and a lower sheen on the finish.  The distressing with scrapes and dents will make any scratches from the dog less visible.  While the lower sheen on the finishing coats will also cut down on the scratch visibility.  Keep in mind that ¾” hardwoods can be sanded and refinished many times over their lifetime.  Wood is also more likely to hold its value over time, due to its natural beauty and characteristics.

 COMPROMISE:  A good compromise for you both may be a hardwood look tile, with small grouts and the radiant heated floor.  You get the look of wood, with the durability of tile.  Hardwood looking tile is relatively new, and gaining popularity.  I  have seen many applications where people don’t even know the tile is not hardwood.  What do you think?

Finally, some other options are cork flooring, or laminate flooring.  Laminate flooring can be a good alternative, because it is less likely to scratch, is priced lower than hardwood, and is easy to install.  If laminate is the way you want to go I would recommend a high end laminate as real hardwoods are still more likely to add value to a home.  Laminate can also be difficult for animals as they slip and slide more so than tile or wood.

Cork flooring has its own unique look, while adding comfort and durability.  This is a good alternative to tile and wood, as cork will stand up to scratching better than hardwoods. Like bamboo, cork is also gaining popularity due to its environmentally friendly properties.

As you can see, the flooring options can be both subjective and objective.  When it comes to selecting the right flooring for your next kitchen or bathroom remodel  it is important to also keep in mind your overall style, look and feel you want in the newly designed room.  Which flooring is right for your kitchen design?

Feel free to ask additional questions… as there is so much information when it comes to flooring options!!

Quartz countertops are an engineered stone alternative to a natural stone such as granite, marble, soapstone, etc.  Known for it’s aesthetic properties like consistent pattern, and unique colors, quartz is also very durable because it is non-porous, scratch and heat resistant.  Although one will argue that quartz cannot compare to the beauty of a natural stone, Caesarstone is one of the companies that are thinking out of the box in order to do so!

Take a look at these Caesarstone quartz beauties!!!:

Although the following pictures are not true engineered quartz countertop (93% quartz crystals, 7% resin)… Concetto by Caesarstone is a quartz surface made with natural, semi-precious stones.  Yes, I said semi-precious stones.  This has been around for a few years, and it still amazes me every time I see this product.  What makes this fascinating, is that it is also made by hand.  During the manufacturing process, the semi-precious stones are embedded into the quartz surfacing, by hand, much like a jeweled inlay.   The finished product… a high end surface that is sure to catch anyone’s attention.

The Albero collection by Concetto is, again, unique in its own in that it is made from petrified wood.  Although the picture above shows this being used on the floor… I would love to see this on a bar in a lounge, or as the top to an executives desk.  There are so many creative uses that would really enhance the beauty of any of these products.

After a long, stressful day… sometimes you need an escape.  Why not escape to your home spa, or …. a.k.a. master bath?!   There are some key elements to keep in mind if you want a spa like master bath.  Use natural stones such as travertine, marble and pebbles… neutral colors such as soft tans, blues or greens… and medium wood tones to enhance your feeling of relaxation.  (What also works is  the addition of music, candles and a beverage…whether it be hot tea, or a glass of wine!)

The first main objective is to try to bring the feel of outdoors in to get that ‘zen’ feel.  Mother nature in the form of trees and water is so relaxing in itself, so why not use it.

Bring the outdoors in, with large windows & rich wood tones.

Use a light stained wood for a vanity, gray tile, and a pebble shower floor to create a spa feel.

While visually stunning and relaxing, this bathroom has many various organic elements lending to its zen qualities.  Take note of the stone basin for a sink, dark metallic and ‘bark’ inspired tile, and open shower space.

Again, a pebbled floor and neutral wood tones.  How unique is this sink?

This bathroom is amazing.  The design features are simple, and lend itself to be the perfect frame and relaxation point for the beautiful view.

Horizontal lines, floating vanities and natural travertine lend itself to be more of a modern look.

However you want to achieve your spa look, the ideas are endless!  The space just needs to be comfortable, and suited to your tastes and needs.