Interesting details from a recent seminar presented by Century Furniture.
- Sunbrella is the most reliable outdoor fabric company.
- Of all the colors, blue is less stable.
- The chlorine from your pool can affect nearby fabrics.
Rehab Addict With Nicole
Finally, a more interesting person to watch on HGTV!
While in a doctor’s office, I caught “Rehab Addict with Nicole” and found a realistic, enthusiastic, hard working designer with green in her soul! Having grown up in the Midwest where the new garage never looked like it belonged with the old house, it is so great to see that she tries to integrate the old with the new. The current local house flippers need to integrate in the same way. You can’t just throw in the newest, trendy materials and call it a day with little regard to the original home and neighborhood.
Must Haves for the Luxury Kitchen
Wow! is the word of the year. The kitchen in the luxury home ($1 million+) needs:
- a Sub-Zero refrigerator
- a Wolf range
- two dishwashers with wood panel fronts
- two sinks. Sinks are composite, most often, in colors that blend with the light colored countertops.
- Marble, limestone or light granite are the leading materials for countertops. (See examples on the LuxeSpecs.com Pinterest board.)
- refrigerator drawers for the entertainment area
- wine storage
Depending on your kitchen layout a Wolf range can create a focal point with the hood and tile between the two. (I also happen to be intrigued by the multi-function Thermador.)
Outdoor Furniture Do’s and Don’ts
Do buy woven resin. Untreated wicker is ruined by sun.- Do buy cast aluminum. Untreated iron will develop oxidization marks.
- Do try teak or reclaimed or treated wood. More variety can be used in covered areas but depending on outside conditions may have varied results and lifespans. Regular maintenance will extend their life cycles.
- Sunbrella fabrics are the only good outside option!
Shower Luxury
ioDIGITAL allows homeowners to set and maintain water temperature in the shower!
Wood Flooring Is a Great Option
Wood floors are so popular! And all of the tiles that look like wood give you some great design options. Solid hardwood can not be installed directly over a concrete slab floor, a sub floor is needed and abutments to other flooring must be considered. However, a job finished floor (stain and sealer completed on site) has a beautiful finish. That being said, the most important consideration for an engineered floor (product is complete when installed) is the quality look of the finish and the thickness of the top layer (Should be at least ⅛” thick).
Popular TV Upgrades
Add a sound bar with speakers that give your area more of a home theater sound.
Proper viewing distances for your large screen TV: 5’ – 7.5’ for a 50” and 6’ – 9’ for a 60”. Putting the screen where it is at eye level when seated is the most comfortable for viewing.
Updated components no longer need to be in direct contact with the remote so there are many options for hiding them. This allows more flexibility.
Lighting Basics
For general illumination, use 2” or 4” recessed halogen lighting overhead then layer additional lighting with lamps. Popular bulbs:
● Edison style- silver tipped bulbs for a softer glow
● Frosted bulbs and pink bulbs- three way or with dimmers
