Design Basics: 4 Bathroom Design Don’ts Plus 3 Do’s

Last week we went through my list of kitchen don’ts. This week I’m tackling the bathroom! This is important stuff to think about if you are embarking on a renovation or remodel in the near future. You don’t want to put in all that work to end up with a bathroom that looks dated! So here are my tips to help you stay classic and cool:

1 – No Colored Fixtures

Well I haven’t seen anyone picking out pink toilets lately but there are still a lot of coloured fixtures out there. What I usually see is people picking beige-y coloured tiles and then picking cream-colored fixtures to go with them. The problem is that your fixtures will be around for a long time and it is extremely difficult to match cream or off-white colors from brand-to-brand (this becomes a problem when you need to replace something). It also really limits your color options for the rest of the space. The solution is simple: pick white. This one is classic, timeless, impervious to trends and although it may seem boring or uninspired it’s absolutely 100% okay! It doesn’t mean you have to have an all white bathroom. On the contrary! You can still add in colour with everything else (paint, tile, accesssories, shower curtains etc).

2 – No pork-chop countertops or integral backsplashes

You know that little extension over the toilet that lots of mid-90s-to early-2000s bathrooms had? Well. Don’t do it! To me it screams builder basic – especially when combined with an integral backsplash (that little lip at the back). *shudder* Really – this is the height of 90s chic. Not what you are trying to achieve! Try putting in no backsplash at all or just a small tile backsplash. It doesn’t have to be fancy! No backsplash is the cheapest of all and you will probably find you didn’t really need the backsplash anyways (unless you have a crew of unruly toddlers to deal with – and even then will that extra four inches of height make that much of a difference?)

3 – No oversized mirrors

Again, builders, I’m looking at you. Slapping on a sheet of mirror and calling it a day is just not good enough anymore. I think the idea here was to use the mirror to expand a tiny space. Which is a great idea in theory, but it just doesn’t work. I really love to have a framed mirror in a bath. If you have two basins, get two mirrors. If you can’t get afford framed ones, at least get mirrors with a nice thick bevel (and I’m talking at least a 1″ bevel here – non of this flimsy 1/2″ bevel business). If you need some extra storage, try a recessed medicine cabinet that looks like a framed mirror. This one from Restoration Hardware is a great example.

4 – No Vessel Sinks

These were BIG about five years ago, which means in another five they will be – basically – toast. So unless you have an infinite renovation budget stay far far away from these! Undermounts or even a plain ceramic drop-in style are the way to go. Actually, I am thinking of the bowl-shaped styles here when I say this. I am still okay with this on-the-counter style if it is square or some other unusual shape – all the better if it is huge piece which forms the countertop as well as the bowl (like these ones at Ikea).

Okay, enough about that! Onwards!

The Dos:

1 – Add Some Art

For some reason people seem reluctant to hang art in the bathroom. People will paint and re-tile and get all shiny new bath accessories and then look around wondering why the finished product doesn’t look “done”. It’s missing the art! Every room needs a focal point and your bathroom is no exception. It doesn’t have to be “fine art” by any means. Why not blow up and crop some of your vacation photos? Or frame your kids art? Ikea has those nice frames with plastic now instead of glass (it sounds bad I know but you really can’t tell the difference at a glance). If you are worried about things getting bumped or falling down (especially in a kids bathroom) this is the perfect solution!

2 – Get Some Storage

Being organized in your bathroom is all about having the proper places to put things. So make it easy on yourself. Get pretty little jars for your jewelry and make-up. Corral your towels in a basket. Use a tray to organize your lotions and perfumes. Most importantly: give
everything a home. This way you will prevent clutter build-up – the number one way to make your bathroom look messy. On this note (and I’ve said this before) please don’t buy any matching sets! This will just look catalogue-y and plastic. These things don’t have to be expensive either. Go to the thrift store or dollar store and I’m sure you’ll find some nice glasses, some lidded canisters and little baskets that will do the job nicely.

3 – Try Some Lux Add-Ons

Okay this one isn’t really a must. I know that not everyone has the budget for this stuff but it’s really worth considering before you start your renovation. You don’t want to get to the end and wish you had added in something else! My biggest lux add-on is underfloor heating. This is so nice on your feet in the middle of winter or even just the middle of the night. (Plus your cats will love it.) There are lots of DIY kits out there now so installation is often much less expensive than you think! Other options worth thinking about are heated towel warmers, recessed niches in the shower, wall mount toilets, custom glass shower enclosures, high-end super-quiet fans or, for some real decadence, a steam shower!

If you are looking to give your space a dose of fabulosity – whether you are splashing out or on a budget – drop mea line at jennifer (dot) e (dot) stevens (at) gmail (dot) com. Check out my Hire Me! page for more details.

Design Basics: 3 Kitchen Design Don’ts & 5 Do’s

When you are renovating your home, you are hoping to create a space that you will love for the next few years. Five years at least! While it’s pretty close to impossible to predict what will come into fashion down the road, there are ways to avoid becoming dated quickly. Certain things that might look wonderful right now will be out before you know it. So what are these things to avoid?

1 – Dark granite countertops

I love the look of real stone – I really really do – but black or close-to-black granite countertops has become so overdone. Paired with medium-to-dark wood cabinetry and black appliances, this look is basically way too dark. If you are installing it now, you will probably regret it sooner rather than later. However, as with every “rule” there are exceptions: black granite countertops with white cabinetry is very classic and will probably stand the test of time. (I am thinking specifically of Ina Garten’s lovely kitchen).

2 – One horizontal band of “accent tile” on a backsplash

There will always be great ways to incorporate a splashy accent tile into your space. This one isn’t it! What makes it even worse is when the band is interrupted by the outlets and light switches, like in this photo. Is this just a West Coast thing? I almost never see this in blogs or magazines so why so many people are insistent on incoporating this is beyond me. Why not try something a little different? How about doing a plain tile everywhere with just mosaic behind the stove or sink area? You don’t have to eschew fancy tile entirely but thinking of new way to use it will keep your kitchen from looking dated. Or, on the flip side, really commit to the look and use only “accent” tile. After all a backsplash usually requires a pretty low overall quantity of tile, and it’s a very visible element in the kitchen. It’s definitely worth splashing out on!

3 – Coloured Appliances

These are the big thing right now but I think they are to be avoided for the most part. If you really love red and are doing an all red kitchen anyway, I think using coloured appliances would be ok. Maybe. Proceed with extreme caution! After all didn’t we already learn this lesson in the seventies? I think sticking to stainless (still my preference oh yes), white or black appliances (depending on the rest of the kitchen) is much safer. You might think cream will blend in with your cabinets more but the cream colour is difficult to match or work with in the future. Stay away!

*whew* And now that I’ve gotten all of that off of my chest, here are some kitchen elements that I love:

1 – Waterfall Countertops

It’s sleek, modern and durable. What a great way to finish the edges of your island. I especially like this look when the cabinetry is dark and the countertop is white.

2 – Slide-in Range

Slide-in ranges have controls on the front. They don’t visually interrupt the lines of your backsplash, which allows you to show off your great new tiles. Similar models are available in electric (ceramic top) or gas.

3 – Herringbone Patterns

4 – Wood Floors

Traditionally, wood floors were thought too delicate for a hardworking environment like a kitchen. But personally, I find them much more comfortable and warmer than tile. Water isn’t really an issue as long as you attend to spills quickly. I also like using the same materials throughout a space, especially when that space is on the small side. So if are an condo dweller who is installing hardwood, why not run it through your kitchen as well?

5 – Two-tone cabinetry

Not as crazy as it sounds I swear! I am thinking specifically of an island being finished different colour than the rest of the cabinetry. The idea here is to make it look more like a piece of furniture. This works really well in traditional style kitchens and is a great way to add contrast and interest. If you really want love this, try doing different countertop styles as well.

If you are looking to give your space a dose of fabulosity – whether you are splashing out or on a budget – drop me a line at jennifer (dot) e (dot) stevens (at) gmail (dot) com. Check out my Hire Me! page for more details.

Design 101: A Rhythm Nation

We usually think of rhythm as belonging solely to the world of sound. But rhythm is one of 7 essential princples of design that every designer learns in school. This can be applied equally to graphic, fashion or interior design as well as to fine art. (If you are curious the others are: harmony, unity, dominance, contrast, gradation and balance. Look for upcoming segments to expand on these ones.)

Why is rhythm important to design? Fundamentally, it keeps your eye moving around a space. It provides something for your eye to pick up on, follow and stop. It allows for both unity and variety in a design. It is so simple that you are probably doing it already, without even knowing it.

So the question is how can we make a room become rhythmic? There are actually five ways to achieve this in our homes: repetition, radiation, gradiation, transition and opposition/contrast.

1- Repetition

The most common way to achieve rhythm is simple: repeat or alternate colours, textures and patterns. Et voila! An obvious example of this is in the grouping of art on a wall. Never mind what is inside! The frames themselves create pattern and play on the walls. You can create a very symmetrical arrangement or create a bit more interest by using slightly different frames.

This grouping of many frames together still creates a cohesive – and rhthymic – whole.

We also see a lot of rhythm used in architecture. Multiple windows or doors, decorative panelling and even doorways can all be excellent examples of rhythm.

2 – Radiation

Think repetition, only circular in nature. Spokes of a chandelier or radiating patterns on an area rug all create radial rhythm.

3 – Gradiation

Gradiation occurs when repeating elements change in size. Good examples are nesting side tables or a set of canisters in a kitchen.

4 – Transition

Another way to use rhthym is by transition. This can be achieved with curved lines. Arched doorways, or curvy sofabacks are great examples of this.

5 – Opposition/Contrast

One of my favorite design tricks! I love old against new, light against dark, simple against
ornate. Continuing this theme is another way to give your room rhthym.

If you are looking to give your space a dose of the fabulous- whether you are splashing out or on a budget – let’s talk! Drop me a line at jennifer (dot) e (dot) stevens (at) gmail (dot) com. Check out my Hire Me! page for more details.

Design Basics: The Klismos Chair

Here is a rare Egyptian era photo...or rather a picture of an actress on one circa 1900

Chairs are (obviously) one of the most functional pieces in a home. They are so common that it seems that there are a million designs out there to choose from. No joke! Chairs are one of my design passions and I am hoping to shed some light on the history of them in my Design Basics series.

Today I will start off by highlighting the ever-so-classic Klismos Chair. The what? I hear you say. Well, don’t worry. Even if you have never paid much attention to historical furniture, I’m pretty sure you will have come across a type of Klismos chair at some point. The Klismos is one of the most enduring styles of chair, dating from about 430 B.C. If you are looking for classic and timeless, the Klismos is definitely it.

Klismos is a type of chair – not named after a famous designer – and as such the design has been interpreted and reinterpreted over the centuries. They are still recognizable for their legs which sweep out in the front, as well as the curved cradle-style back. This chair was originally designed for women to sit in, which probably accounts for its graceful curvy lines (And on a side note, can you imagine having assigned male and female chairs?).

Though there are clear images of the Klismos hair in Greek art, there are no known originals today. Instead, the chair became reborn in the 1700s Neoclassical era in ever-so-trendy France. In their heady craze for everything Grecian, the Klismos chair was reborn. And reborn (in England in the 1800s). And reborn again (by Duncan Phyfe)! Many interiors in those classy design magazines today contain versions of the Klismos chair.

For further reading on the Klismos try Wikipedia or AT.

5 Ways to Make You & Your Home Guest Ready

I’ve had a lot of guests this summer. We have had quite a few parties and I have recently played host to my out-of-town relatives. This is where I add that I live in a two-bedroom apartment with one bathroom! So I need a few things to make sure that my guests are comfortable – I mean besides the obvious (clean sheets/towels, a place to their things etc.) These are the things I wish I had thought of before they arrived:

1 – Maps!
I didn’t have any old-fashioned paper maps ready and I wish I did! Even in this day of Google maps and smart phones, to have a map printed up that I could circle a few key places on would have been so great. Handy for me since it’s easier to explain directions around one and handier for the guests so they could take it with them. Lesson learned.

2 – Bus tickets!
Another item I wish I’d stocked up on. Bus tickets – in this city at least – are a tiny bit cheaper than paying cash. Plus it saves you the trouble of fumbling about for change every time you want to go somewhere. If your guests have an all-day itinerary, look into getting them an all-day pass (or telling them how to get one at least – they are not available directly from bus drivers here).

3 – Keys!
An extra set of keys would be absolutely essential. We managed to get by sharing one set with our guests but it would have been great if I had an extra set cut just for them ( I know this isn’t always possible, especially if you are in an apartment building like me.)

4 – Laundry!
My guests wanted to do laundry and, again, I live in an apartment building. So I live four floors away from the communal laundry. I wish I had set aside an empty laundry basket and soap so they could do it at will. Next time!

5 – Snacks!
I stocked up on a few things – bananas, chips, beer – but I should have thought farther ahead and picked up cereal, eggs, bread, granola bars etc etc. You mom-types and type-As are probably better at this type of thing! I think that having a well-stocked kitchen with lots of portable snacks goes a long way with your guests, and it saves you running out to the store everytime you need something.

In the end, our guests and I had a fabulous time. It was fun playing tourist in my own town. Sometimes it’s easy to forget what a great place you live in!