Category: News & Projects

What makes a house a home? Of course, the short answer is that “people make a house a home.” But what else? What other things should a house provide to promote that feeling that nothing in the world is better than “home sweet home.”

A PLACE TO GATHER

A home should provide and promote the coming together of family and friends. So, an open-concept plan, where kitchen, living and dining space are connected, without walls of separation, truly facilitates this idea. Since the kitchen is the heart of the home, the cook needs to be connected to friends, family, and activities while preparing a meal for all to enjoy. This could include a three-sided kitchen island where it is easy to gather around while not being underfoot as meals are prepped.

A PLACE FOR REST AND REJUVENATION

A home also needs to promote rest and rejuvenation. Of course, this means well-designed bedrooms for sleeping. But it also could include a spa-like bath with a refreshing shower to start the day or a soaking tub to unwind at the end of the day.

OUTDOOR LIVING

We certainly learned during the pandemic lockdown the importance of outdoor spaces. We no longer take for granted to importance of fresh air, sunshine, and all nature has to offer. Outdoor living is multi-functional—it’s both a source of rejuvenation and provides a delightful gathering space.

PRIVACY AND INTIMACY

We all need privacy at various times of the day. Houses should include both public and private zones. We need privacy oftentimes when we work from home. Privacy is necessary when we bathe and when we use the toilet (I’ll spell it out – the toilet room needs a door). Naturally, that privacy also includes a place for intimacy which should have both visual and acoustical privacy (I won’t spell this one out).

SELF-EXPRESSION

Personal elements can be transformative. It might be family pictures or memorabilia. It could be the pop of color on an accent wall. Or the furnishings that convert a room into a man-cave or sports bar. Nothing makes a house a home like putting your personal touches throughout it.

PET FRIENDLY

In so many households today, pets are a part of the family. Creating space for our furry friends could include the space under the stairs for the dog’s bed or room in the laundry room for a cat’s litter box, or simply a designated place for the pet’s water and food bowls so we don’t trip on them and make a mess.

Big and small details are what help make a house a home. And everyone has a different vision for their home. But no matter what, I do believe most of us agree with Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz: “There’s no place like home!”

Adapted from Housing Design Matters Blog

What is more important in a kitchen – how it looks or if it is functional? The correct answer is that both are important. But in today’s world, the look is becoming more important than pure functionality.

It starts with the appliances and cabinets. I say this somewhat in jest, but a custom range hood can cost the same as an inexpensive new car. This kind of investment sets the tone for the entire kitchen. It’s not enough to have top-of-the-line appliances, they must have cabinet fronts across them for a sleek and seamless finish.

Today’s high-end homes don’t only have a kitchen, but include a Messy Kitchen, otherwise known as a Scullery. Here, you will likely find a second refrigerator, sink, dishwasher – maybe even a built-in coffee maker that is pre-plumbed, and of course, ample cabinetry.

Don’t forget the pantry. They are no longer the size of a linen closet but are now spacious walk-in pantries with both open shelves, baskets, and extra cabinets.

Other items include the giant eight burner gas cook tops or ranges. Those that want it all require – a pizza oven, double wall ovens with features like an air fryer and steaming feature. An inconspicuous drawer microwave is a given! Take it to the next level with a lit wine cabinet that can host hundreds of bottles.

Cabinets are double stacked with glass fronts on the top layer. Add LED or puck lights to the upper cabinets and LED strip lights below for task lighting. And speaking of lighting – the pendant lights hanging over the island are truly the jewelry of the kitchen. Combine these with a kitchen island fully clad in cabinets and a quartz waterfall countertop and this becomes the centerpiece of the kitchen. Comfortable barstools, with a minimum of four, but preferably six, makes this space the heart of your home.

Quartz or quartzite is a must – and not just for the countertops. Running these products up from countertop to ceiling is beautiful and practical – but it’s also expensive. A less expensive alternative is to run a tile backsplash to the ceiling.

As far as sinks go, the farmhouse style is still trending and is available in a variety of finishes including concrete.

WHAT’S OUT?
Remember pot fillers? These seem to be losing favor among the high-end kitchen designers. Warming drawers seem to be out – at least in the south. Maybe because it’s too warm here already.

Not everyone has the space or means to have a totally high-end kitchen. But as you design a kitchen for your new home or plan a remodel, consider the look you are trying to achieve and incorporate the features that are most important to you. Flair and functionality in a kitchen do not have to compete, they can occur simultaneously, which will truly make the kitchen the favorite room in your home.

Adapted from Housing Design Matters Blog

It is no secret that I love wine. Red, white, and of course sparkling! Many of my favorites come out of Napa. But instead of talking about the fabulous wines that come out of Napa California (don’t get me started, I might not stop), I want to talk about wine as a design feature.

Wine has become a powerful icon in our society. It used to be thought of only as a luxury for the well-to-do class. But that is no longer the case. Whether it’s a crisp Italian white on a balmy afternoon on your porch or a juicy California red on a cool evening around the fire, there is a certain elegance to sipping wine, particularly out of a beautiful, stemmed wine glass.

I’m sure you’ve all seen the traditional wine storage with wines stored side by side in cherry wood with the bottle end facing out. Very efficient for wine storage. Stainless steel wine coolers and beverage fridges seem to be in most kitchens nowadays, keeping wine the right temp for sure. Again, this is great for storing wine but falls short when it comes to displaying wine.

Undoubtedly, you’ve seen the cabinets with a lattice pattern in place of upper cabinets with wine glasses hanging below. You immediately recognize it is wine storage. Very decorative, but you still must remove each bottle of wine to see what it is.

That’s where a label forward method of wine storage excels. After all, the labels on many bottles of wine are art gallery worthy. It is also easier to recognize and locate the wine you may be looking for. From a design perspective, label forward display has transformed wine storage to an interior design feature in the home.

Wine displays can vary greatly. A basic wine fridge certainly works. As does a simple display over a set of cabinets in or just off the kitchen. Wine displays can also capture the unused space under the stairs, suggesting the wine is stored in a “cellar”. Some are elaborate glass enclosed alcoves, while others are entire rooms that are climate-controlled, perhaps even featuring a bar area or table to sit and enjoy a glass or two of your favorite wine with friends and family.

No matter how you store or display wine in your home, I just want to say, “CHEERS” and enjoy some vino!

Adapted from Housing Design Matters Blog

There are basically three categories of bedrooms, and each serves a different purpose in the home.

• The Primary Bedroom is generally larger than the other bedrooms in the home and is intended to provide refuge, or serve as a relaxing getway from the daily grind of life, for the owner(s) of the home.
• The Kid’s Bedroom is used for not only sleeping, but also for playing and studying.
• The Guest Bedroom is where we hope to make our guests feel comfortable and welcome.

Regardless of the category, I was always taught the bed and its headboard should be the focus of a bedroom. It is, after all, the most dominant piece of furniture based upon its size. And since sleep is essential to our well-being, the bed plays a vital role in our lives.

PROPER PLACEMENT
As a focal point, the bed should either be on the wall directly across from the door or at 90 degrees off to the side. You should never enter directly to the side of the bed. Thus, the bed and headboard are visually dominant. Furthermore, the bed looks best when centered on the wall.

HOW BIG IS THE BED?
Whether you are designing a home or simply buying new bedroom furniture, it is critical to have the furniture fit the room properly. Here are some guidelines/measurements to help you select and place bedroom furniture:

A king-size mattress: 76” wide and 80” long. But a mattress is only part of the story. You need also to consider bedding, headboards, and footboards in some cases. A typical headboard is about 3” thick and 7′ long. Bedding adds another 2”. If a footboard is included, it adds another 3” to 4”.

A queen-sized mattress: 60” wide by 80″ long – the same length as a king-sized bed. Double or full-size mattress: 54” wide by 75” long. Full size and queen size beds typically use the same length of headboard. A twin mattress: 39” wide by 75” long. And don’t forget to account for the 30” to 36” for each nightstand when deciding the optimal wall for the bed.

WINDOWS
Natural light is a must in a bedroom, yet sometimes windows can pose an impediment to furniture placement.

Typically, bedrooms are rectangular with the bed on the long wall and windows at the end of the room on the short wall. If the room is big enough, there may be windows on the wall hosting the bed. Hopefully, the windows here are the right size to accommodate the size of your nightstands.

The bedroom, particularly the primary, should be our sanctuary, where our daily stresses melt away and we can hit the reset button to feel rejuvenated to take on the next day. A poorly thought-out bedroom that forces you to strategically navigate around furniture with the hope of not stubbing your toe in the middle of the night is simply a nightmare. Let’s make every bedroom a dream room—a retreat to look forward to. With some forethought and planning this will certainly be the case!

Adapted from Housing Design Matters Blog