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Showing posts with label Ann Sacks. Show all posts

SENSIBLE STYLE - Color Charged

"Courageous. Confident. Vital... It's a color for every day, with nothing 'everyday' about it." -- Pantone LLC on its 2011 Color of the Year

Maybe Pantone 18-2120 Honeysuckle is your color of the year, too. You love its vibrant pink energy and want it in your kitchen. But how do you incorporate a hot, trendy shade without dating your kitchen or anchoring yourself into a strong color you may not love down the line?

Trust me on this one: Don't buy honeysuckle-painted cabinets, large appliances or honeysuckle stone countertops unless you've loved pink your whole life and are absolutely certain you'll never, ever, ever sell your house.

You can still use this rich hue in your kitchen, but a little bit of a strong color goes a long way. Here are some Sensible Style approaches to integrating a strong color like this.

Go soft

Integrate your preferred color into your kitchen fabrics:

Select pot holders in your chosen color
Use it in a festive apron
Find chandelier shades in your color of choice
Add dish towels in solids or patterns that tie in that shade
Find place mats and napkins that bring in your color du jour
Look for floor mats in the color you love
Tie it on with seat cushion fabric

Houdan Pink Fabric from Pierre Deux

Verano Pink Dish Towel from Crate & Barrel

Serve it up

Add the color in serving platters and bowls
Choose canisters in your selected shade
Incorporate it in your bakeware collection
Add drinking glasses in that color to your place settings
Find cooking utensils or serving utensils with handles in that shade
Look for trivets and spoon rests that incorporate it

Emile Henry pie dish at Bed, Bath & Beyond

Ikea's Yngaren bowl

Bigger splash

OK, so these strike you as wimpy and you want to make a stronger impression with your selected accent color. I'm still going to try to talk you out of big, expensive, permanent elements like cabinetry, countertops and flooring. But you can bring in your accent color with a bigger impact this way:

Perhaps there are countertop appliances available in your color choice
You can find cabinet hardware in pretty much any color
Use the color you love in easy-to-change wall paint
Select window treatments that include that color
Look for a kitchen-friendly art piece with that shade in it
If you've loved it forever, find an accent tile to integrate into your backsplash

Four-slice toaster from Dualit

Perennial Poppy Mosaic accent tile from Ann Sacks

Le Fleur knobs by Atlas Homewares

Final thoughts

Remember, always, that your space should reflect your personal likes and loves, not a website, TV show or magazine. I'm not a pink person myself and have no insecurities about missing out on Pantone's 2011 color of the year. I may miss next year's, too, without any regrets. But I have friends and clients who love the "now" color, style, look. This post is dedicated to the trendies among us. You know who you are.

Read all of the Sensible Style posts, linked from the right column!

Designer's Wish List - Kitchen

Ever wonder what designers choose for their own homes? Here's a sneak preview of what I plan to incorporate into my next place -- and why.

I plan on buying a small house or condo in sore need of updating, so that I can put my own stamp on it. After all, why pay for a prior homeowner's choices?

You'll notice that my selections are very Sensible Style-oriented. That's because I'm all about no-fuss, easy living. I'll also share with you right now that I'm not a serious cook, (so no six-burner pro range). I was told on a long-ago date, "That's not cooking, it's reheating." I found out later that the line came from Sex and the City, but it applies just as aptly to me as it did to Carrie Bradshaw!

Now you're cooking

I would love to have an induction range. They're energy-efficient and easy maintenance. Plus, their non-flame, non-heat magnetic cooking source makes it tougher to set your place on fire! Right now, the choices are extremely limited and quite pricey. If money were no object, this is probably the model I'd choose.

I like the fact that this Viking range is a slide-in style, so that the controls are up-front and there's no bulky panel blocking my planned decorative backsplash. I also like that it has a convection oven. For someone who doesn't love to cook, getting food out of the oven faster is a nice plus.

I'll probably look for a clean-lined, very simple stainless hood to pull all the cooking aromas out of the kitchen.

I'll also seek a built-in microwave oven, rather than an over-the-range style, if space allows. I think I'd probably starve without one!

Storage style

For the past six years, we've had a large but basic kitchen that I'm looking forward to leaving behind. We added drawer organizers to corral silverware, utility knives and assorted utensils, and tray dividers in a uselessly narrow unit, but the center stiles in most of the base builder cabinets made roll-out trays impractical.

My next kitchen will have every storage accessory imaginable. Every top drawer, save one for potholders, will have organizers. Every pan drawer will have at least one divider for lid storage. Any base cabinet that isn't all drawers will have double roll-outs, pull-out shelves, tray dividers or a lazy susan. There will be roll-out trays in a pantry conveniently located next to the refrigerator. (My current kitchen has the pantry and fridge at opposite ends of the room.) I will probably do all glass-front uppers, too, to make a small kitchen look larger. I'll paint the insides to match the planned soft blue walls and show off new white dishes!

I anticipate that my next kitchen will be much smaller than my current one. That's perfectly OK with me. I'll likely use the backsplash for a stylish and convenient spice and utensil storage system. Here's one I like from the uber-affordable Ikea:

You may remember this Grundtal system from my second Sensible Style posting.

My current kitchen is cherry with a spice stain. While I still like it, my next place will have painted white maple cabinets. It's a timeless look that I've long loved. Like my current kitchen, I'll probably go for simply-styled recessed panels again.

Here's a door style and finish I particularly like, from the incredible CWP Cabinetry line. Their standard construction includes soft-close doors as well as full-extension soft-close drawers, and mitered corners for a true furniture look.

Counter intelligence

You probably know what I'm going to write next, right? You've seen me enthuse over the past year about quartz countertops. Nothing short of bankruptcy will keep me from putting solid black quartz tops in my next kitchen -- most likely with a matte finish. (Maintaining polished black stone is like maintaining a polished black car!)

Nothing combines durability and ease of maintenance the way quartz does. And nothing looks better (and more timeless) on white cabinets, in my opinion, than black tops.

Here's an example of the combo, featuring Silestone's Black Anubis. I dare you to distinguish it from Absolute Black granite! (Except when you don't have to polish or seal it!) I'd opt for a simpler eased or demi-bullnose edge to coordinate with my simpler cabinet style. Currently, this color isn't available in a matte finish... Maybe by the time I'm ready???

Shedding light

Chances are, I'll be pulling some ugly flourescent box out of the middle of a dropped ceiling. If there's a peninsula in my next kitchen, I'll add a couple of decorative pendants above it.

I like this Schoolhouse Pendant from Restoration Hardware quite a bit. If there's room for a fixture above my kitchen sink, I'd opt for the semi-flushmount version of this same light.

I'll also put in some recessed ceiling cans in place of that flourescent box, and LED lights below my wall cabinets for targeted task lighting.

Other appliances

I haven't chosen a refrigerator yet, but I don't need anything very large. The configuration will be influenced by clearances in front of the refrigerator. I've gotten accustomed to a side-by-side with ice and water through the door and may repeat that in the next place. It's so simple to grab a glass of iced water without reaching into a freezer! I do know that I definitely want a countertop-depth model, maybe even a paneled built-in.

I've been coveting the Bosch Integra 800 Plus dishwasher, shown here, since I saw it in New York last June. It's got a built-in water softener for spot-free glasses and a top rack that can hold silverware overflow. It's also one of the quietest and most water-efficient on the market. All of Bosch's dishwashers (and clothes washers) feature AquaStop, their anti-leak system. This will be potentially beneficial to my planned wood floors!

If space allows, I'd also like to have a wine captain. They come as narrow as 15 inches, perfect for a small kitchen. U-Line's Echelon, shown above, even offers three temperature zones in that small size!

Backsplash style

I love decorative tile backsplashes and plan to incorporate one into my next kitchen. It will come right down to the counter, rather than stopping four inches above at a stone splash. (That's too choppy looking for my taste.)

Being somewhat eclectic, I'm open to a traditional or contemporary splash. Here are a couple of traditional styles I like from Walker Zanger.

I like how this Ceramica Alhambra series updates the traditional subway tile look. I'd choose colors that coordinate with my planned blue walls and a darker grout that won't show evidence of last night's pasta primavera.

I also like the traditional diamonds in this Cote d'Or splash.

Here's a contemporary splash that I really like from Ann Sacks. This Heath tile showcases the three-dimensional trend that I'm enjoying lately. Its pattern comes from shape, rather than color, which adds an interesting element to a room, without being distracting.

This 12-inch by 12-inch mesh-mounted glass tile is available in stock at Lowe's for only $2.98 a tile. It's so affordable, I could update a fireplace surround with it, if I'm lucky enough to have one in the next room. Plus, I could return any overage I don't need, since it's a stock, rather than special order, item. I think it could make a very pretty companion to white cabinets and black tops and add some brightness to the space.

Things are looking down

I love wood floors in kitchens, especially dark, distressed, wide plank versions.

This client I worked with on her new construction home shared that preference, as you can see here. Like her, I'd carry the same flooring through the adjacent rooms to create a warm flow to the space. Unifying the flooring in all your public areas makes the space feel larger, crucial for smaller homes.

Fixture fancy

I've been living with a low-grade, stainless builder sink these past six years, waiting to replace it when I upgraded my countertops, a change that never happened as the Florida housing market tumbled. Boy, do I look forward to having a better one next time around! I've got a few different ideas of what I want. Here's a sampling:

A classic apron front Shaw Sink by Rohl wouldn't look out of place in my planned transitional kitchen. They're a durable option, but keeping the white super bright might be a bit more work than I'd enjoy.

This Verity model from Kohler delivers apron front style with an updated twist. I like the fact that it's 18-gauge stainless, which is better quality and easier maintenance than most builders offer. If I went this route, I'd opt to panel the adjacent dishwasher... A little bit of stainless goes a long way!

An undermount sink is a practical choice, especially in Blanco's super-durable, easy-maintenance Silgranit material. You can practically throw carving knives at it without damaging the finish. I like its array of convenience accessories, too, and its matte look.

What would a kitchen sink be without a great faucet? I've long admired the traditional styling of Kohler's Vinnata and I like the convenience of a pull-down spray. I've yet to find a new model I like as much, though I keep looking!

Final thoughts

So this is what I have in mind for my next kitchen. It's not necessarily what I'd specify for my clients, as each has his or her own personal style. I'm not one of those designers who has a "trademark" element that shows up in every project. If a JG kitchen or bath has a signature, it's styling and functionality tailored to that client. That's my definition of Sensible Style.

Sensible Style: Small Kitchens, Big Splurges

Sensible Style launched in July to answer your questions about how to get the most out of your kitchen. …But what if your kitchen is totally teeny-tiny? Consider yourself lucky. Kitchens like these give you the opportunity to splurge on higher-end products, even on a smaller budget. While it’s more challenging to squeeze the storage and work space you need into tighter kitchens, it’s much, much easier to add style without breaking the bank.

Let’s take a look at making your small kitchen live large, stylistically-speaking.

Custom Cabinetry

In a medium or large kitchen, custom cabinetry can be a tremendous expense. In a small kitchen, this expense is far less, since there are fewer cabinets to order and install. So the benefits start to outweigh the costs. These benefits typically include:

Soft-close, full-extension drawers and roll-out trays to maximize storage usability
Soft-close doors for quieter operation
Custom widths that increase storage capacity and reduce unsightly fillers
Exposed furniture-style ends
Deluxe joinery
Superior, multi-step, hand-applied finishes
Lifetime warranties on construction and finish

This small kitchen features Wood-Mode Fine Custom Cabinetry’s Brookhaven series

Performance Countertops

Regular readers of this blog know that I’m a big proponent of engineered stone countertops. They offer the heat and scratch-resistance of granite, but with a non-porous, stain-resistant finish that never needs sealing. Sensible Style is all about easy maintenance and these tops, often called quartz, offer that feature. They also offer a manufacturer’s warranty, which I consider an added benefit. The only drawback to these engineered tops has been their cost. Typically higher than granite, they are a large expense in a large space. For those clients with smaller kitchens – and less counter space – they move into the affordable range.

Engineered stone countertops like this one from Zodiaq offer easy maintenance, stain resistance, durability and a manufacturer’s warranty

Backsplash Bling

Backsplashes offer a phenomenal, high-visibility way of adding style to your kitchen. And with less square footage to work with, you can splurge on designer tile without breaking the bank. To create a Sensible Style-oriented focal point, be sure that the look and colors of your new backsplash integrate well with the overall feel of your kitchen.

Backsplashes add a style note to your kitchen. Shown here is Cappricio in Tasmania Green by Ann Sacks

Heavenly Hardware

Fewer cabinets also means fewer knobs and pulls. That means you can splurge on great-looking hardware without burning through your budget. Use knobs or standard-spread (3 to 4 inch) pulls to introduce some creativity into your kitchen. If you tire of them later, (or want to take them with you when you move), it will be easier to replace them with something else down the line.

Make a design statement with your cabinet hardware. This installation showcases styles by Soko

Finer Faucets and Fixtures

Sinks and faucets are often selected later in the design process and so they may be subject to harsher budget cutting. Smaller kitchens with their smaller budgets give you the chance to get higher-end items in this category.

If you’re going to undermount a stainless steel sink in stone tops, you’re going to want a better quality fixture as they’re very difficult to replace later on. Look for an 18-gauge or 16-gauge model. (The builder-grade stainless sink you once had and detested was likely a 20 or 21; the lower the number, the better the quality.) Other great sink options include durable, easy-maintenance granite and fireclay.

Faucets can be stylish as well as functional, and a terrific splurge opportunity. Look for added-value features like integral filtration, sensors, coordinating soap dispensers, hot water dispensers and high-arc pull-outs for easier pot cleaning.

Silgranit Performa Sink by Blanco offers durability, easy maintenance and optional clean-up accessories

Upgraded Appliances

The larger kitchens I design often have two dishwashers, 48" or 60"-built-in refrigerators, double ovens, warming drawers, along with specialty cookers like steam ovens and convection microwaves, wine captains and ice makers. Simply stated: Small kitchens don't! A typical condo or cottage kitchen will have a range or cooktop with single oven below it, 30" to 36" fridge, single dishwasher and, maybe, a built-in or overe-the-range microwave. The bad news is, your wine and ice need to fend for themselves. The good news is, with the shorter appliance list and smaller appliance sizes, you can afford higher-end selections.

Here are some ideas to consider:

Select a microwave oven that also includes convection cooking and warming capability, to combine three appliances into one efficient unit.
If you're not a serious, volume chef, consider a 24" range, rather than the standard 30" model. This will give you more storage and counter space. If you occasionally like to delve into cooking, you can shop for a portable induction cooktop burner that can be stored when you're not using it.
If your household is very small, consider an 18", rather than standard 24" dishwasher for the same space and countertop enhancing purpose.
Consider a French door refrigerator, rather than a side-by-side or single door model. The French door will maximize your fresh food storage capacity, (and handle catering trays, which a 36" side-by-side won't do). Its narrower door swing also works better in tighter spaces.

French Door refrigerators, like this countertop-depth freestanding model from GE Monogram, can be ideal for small kitchens

Luxe Lighting

Your smaller kitchen needn't feel like a cave. Enhanced lighting will give it the illusion of greater size, while improving your ability to work in the space. You can opt for a luxurious ceiling fixture, as you'll likely need just one, rather than two to four to top large double islands. You can also go for high-quality LED lights below your wall cabinets to illuminate your counter tops. They are pricier, but you'll need fewer of them, and they may outlast your stay in the home. You can also look for the types of LED lights that install just below countertops to illuminate drawers, and those that go into deep, dark base cabinets to make it easier to find your stored items.

Small kitchens typically call for just one dramatic ceiling light, rather than multiples. This one from Rejuvenation

Elegant Embellishments

Another advantage of small kitchens with fewer cabinets is that you can opt for some of the luxuries that would be far pricier in a large kitchen. These include stacked moldings to the ceiling, glazes, distressed finishes, decorative glass inserts and corbel-style bar supports for traditional kitchens. Small contemporary kitchens can take advantage of exotic woods, stainless accent pieces, and premium lacquer finishes.

The stacked molding, fluting, and furnished cabinetry ends would have been much pricier in a larger kitchen. I designed this one for a client's island getaway home

Final Thoughts

I expect that my next kitchen will be much smaller than my current one, as I anticipate downsizing in the next year. With some clever planning, I know I can overcome the storage shortcomings. And I'm actually looking forward to the design opportunities described here! (Look for a future series on the remaking of a designer's own kitchen!)

Visit the Sensible Style box on the right column for links to all the posts in this ongoing series.

Color Notes: The White Album

Welcome to the second Color Notes posting. The purpose of this series is to share inspiring products and helpful ideas for the many hues you might want to incorporate into your home's design scheme.

Given America's 233rd birthday this coming Saturday, I thought I'd kick off this new feature with Red, White and Blue. Yesterday brought you Red. Tomorrow will bring you Blue. Today, we focus on White.

There are hundreds -- maybe even thousands -- of shades of white you can design into your home. There are whites lightly tinged with yellow, gray, green, brown, blue, pink or orange. I'm probably leaving out a few, but it's important to identify the right tone when selecting paint. Shown above right is Benjamin Moore's basic 01 White.

Why white?

White is often associated with purity, cleanliness and innocence in American culture. It's a wonderful hue for a kitchen or bath, lending a crisp brightness to those spaces. It's also a perfect color - and commonly used - for moldings, window trim, shutters and fireplace mantels. White enhances whatever color is put next to it, as sparkling teeth enhance a gloss-lipped smile.

Where not to go white

I try to avoid white in kitchen tile grout, as it can be a maintenance headache. I also like to see ceilings painted something other than white, as they so commonly are, so that the room looks more finished, and the crown molding stands out against it better. There are many, many wonderful all-white bedrooms and living rooms. What makes those succeed as welcoming havens, rather than feeling institutional or sterile, is a warm blending of textures and tints.

I love white with...

Green shutters on Cape Code homes or, as shown here, in summery prints
This one is Pierre Deux's Aventine - Herb for Kravet

Metallics, especially in tile designs, fabric or wallpaper
Shown here is Robert Kuo Cloisonne tile for Ann Sacks

Soft blues, shown here on
Pottery Barn's luscious Lucca Single Sink Console

Crisp borders in black or red contrasting with the creamy background

The White Album - Side One:
Icons and Updates

There are so many iconic white design objects that we've all grown up with, and I'm delighted to share them here. I'm also sharing some interesting updates that those of you who enjoy a more contemporary style may enjoy.

Iconic