Design Tip

Kitchen Renovations

February 3, 2025 by LuxeSpecs

What happens when a contractor/owner, award winning interior designer and an experienced showroom owner of European cabinetry walk into a bar-less kitchen? Investigation ensues! We are looking for supporting walls to see how much can be removed! In the kitchen pictured, the supporting wall was on the right in the photo and now anchors the island. State-of-the-art Miele appliances allow the typical old kitchen look to disappear and the new integrated kitchen to emerge. What was a separate dining room and living room are now combined into one open space. Visual space with freedom for homeowners and guests to interact is the new norm. An original door to the exterior (There were already sliding doors.) was eliminated and a flat screen TV that can be viewed from the island and dining area was added.

If you can’t find the appliances, we have achieved our goal! The seamless cooktop in black surrounded by black granite with the granite, marble, mirror and metal combination mosaic as the new focal point of the wall. The hood is directly above the cooktop – another new option! The island has a quartz seamless top. Suspended lighting in modules completes the look with added cans above. This is the third kitchen this team has created and even with visuals to assist homeowners with the “new” look a trust factor between team members allows for more creativity. Let the tear out begin!

My Very Own Age-In-Place Bathroom

October 31, 2024 by LuxeSpecs

After many years of design-new builds and remodels, it was time to create an updated bath for our own home! I kept two parts: the tub (rarely used) and the glass door! Originally there was an angled wall facing the entrance for privacy in the shower but baths are more open now. The restriction was exterior walls on two sides. There was not enough drop for a side drain but we could move the shower to the one outside wall and the door allows for full access to the shower area if needed. The new quartzite Taj Mahal tub surround is deep enough to sit on two sides. Great for sitting while facing the shower or applying lotion after. It’s also a safety feature as you can sit on the surround, pivot and lift your legs into the tub. The limestone floor and shower walls combine with the spa rock, natural stone deco band and Porcelanosa tub facing. The Toto Washlet has been an excellent experience. Shower shelves, hand held spray and grab bar complete the new look. The bath looks much more spacious and inviting plus the new materials are easier to clean.

Filling In A Dropped Floor

September 6, 2023 by LuxeSpecs

After decades of walking through homes and casually advising that lowered floor levels (aka sunken living rooms, dropped floors, conversation pits) can be filled in with concrete or a wooden subfloor, I finally filled in an area in our home! You may recommend having a space filled but if you are lucky you mention it to your favorite general contractor and voila! On the next site visit, it is finished!

We moved the furniture out. The general contractor and concrete sub coordinated the work. We ordered a new door. When it arrived, the sub installed a rebar grid for support. Then the concrete truck arrived (at 5 am!) and the pour began. Several people smoothed and leveled for a couple of hours. (The timing depends on moisture and other variables.). The surface dried untouched for a few days. After a week, tile was installed under the beverage chillers. We rolled out the old carpet as we had just rolled it and slid it to the patio. The footprint of the old carpet was the same so we put the padding strips back and rolled it back in. This makes it convenient to wait a while so the concrete can thoroughly cure prior to wood installation. That installation can be done at our convenience.

The tripping hazard was eliminated and aging-in-place ensues!

Porcelanosa Tile

August 30, 2023 by LuxeSpecs

And the remodeling continues! Gray remains the dominant color. For a recent shower remodel, after an extensive search, it was back to natural materials: cream limestone and Taj Majal quartzite for the tub surround with Porcelanosa tiles on the tub skirt. Maybe the Sherwin Williams forecast of sand tones will soon filter to tile for more options!

Walking the streets of Paris a week later, we saw a Porcelanosa showroom! They have a veneer with a photo finish of real marble that is an improvement over quartz. Great company with great products! Check their website for ideas and products. Porcelanosa is available locally at Facings of America in Phoenix and Scottsdale.

Pillow Impact

April 18, 2022 by LuxeSpecs

Recently a client of many years wanted to revamp her home to possibly accommodate live-in help. She thought she wanted to open the kitchen to the living room and bar seating for television viewing. However, we decided that expanding the kitchen would have taken too much of the living room space and the existing fireplace would have been less attractive with a television incorporated. Instead we put the television on the wall common with the kitchen. Then added a new sofa, two lounge chairs as well as a table and four chairs for bridge. We changed the draperies from dark to light and used a rug she already owned. The updated look is a refreshing change but the biggest impact was from the pillows! The client had an old, worn rug with perfect colors. The upholsterer based the pillow sizes on the pattern so they are varied. They are the most interesting accent and pull together the room colors. Instead of pairs or common sizes we used varying sizes. What was the media area is now the office and the former office an en suite for a live-in!