Remember all of those mosaics in the entries of McMansions? Initially those were made in the US with laser jet cutting techniques. Then they started to come in from China and the local market diminished. With the recession behind us the technology is being used for the most beautiful mosaics! You may not want to clean or maintain them in high use or water areas, but if that is not an issue then their beauty is significant for a great focal point wall or backsplash.
While looking for client tile choices recently, I saw this indoor/outdoor porcelain tile. So European and inviting! It would make a perfect outdoor table top for the patio table with glass that is such a maintenance issue! My regular tile contractor had the new top completed in no time with indestructible support and silicone grout. It is now a focal point instead of an eye sore!
Ceilings should be in proportion to the total space of the room! Many years ago, John Romack from Romack Builders and I were analyzing his newly built home and discussing this. We have worked on many homes from many architects and architectural designers since 1982. We came to the conclusion that the space doesn’t feel cozy if the ceiling height is higher than the width or length of the room. Yes, rules are made to be broken but generally this is a guide.
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!
Extend your color blends to your own home by photoshopping your exterior front or any room! The Sherwin Williams Color Tools enable you to experiment with changing your colors before you pick up a brush. You can take a photo of any view with your smartphone camera, upload to the app then recolor to a combination you are considering without much effort.
With a light box and an enlarged photo, the exact room or exterior can be redrawn with only architectural details then let the fun begin! My cantera stone rep, George, used this on one of our projects to add stone details around the windows. I have used it to show improvements to fireplaces. It is representative of the exact space. Do you want blue window frames? Color them in! Or change the fireplace to a low, horizontal line of fire and get a truer visual on the space!
Dots Legend
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Energy
Universal Design
Student Version
Residential Design Elements
