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Making the Most Of Lighting In Your Bathroom

May 31, 2012 by ·

When you think of sprucing up a drab bathroom your last thought it likely lighting. As something that is a main stay in every room of your house, it’s easy to forget its importance. However, in the bathroom, lighting may be one of the most important factors to consider.

Proper bathroom lighting will facilitate a number of aspects of the room as a whole. Interiordec.about.com suggests, “Proper bathroom lighting is important for safety reasons but it can also dramatically improve the look of the room, adding sparkle and shine to fixtures, fittings, and countertops.” Consider your three options: candles, lighting fixtures and natural light.

Candles

Candles are a cheap way to add a little extra light to your bathroom. For as little as five bucks a pop, you can introduce new colors, a new style and change the feeling of the room all together. Candles are also a great way to improve the ambiance, give a fresh scent and bring warmth to the room. There are a number of places you can place your candles – but keep proper safety measures in mind.

  • Next to the tub: For a relaxing bath, candles may be all the light you need. Place a few near the tub, or store them away for bath time.
  • On vanity: The vanity is a smart place to put candles. Out of reach of children and easily controlled, this allows you to keep candles in the bathroom with minimal danger.
  • In shelving unit: Candles add an element of depth to the shelves making it more than just a place to put toiletries.

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Bathroom Designs from a Modern Day Castle

May 29, 2012 by ·

Here's something to make you smile: a 16,000-square-foot European looking castle $12.5 million in McLean, Va.  This is not something that would be in the budget of the average homeowner looking for a bathroom remodel, but definitely piques the curiosity of most.

What I find amazing about this four-level modern day castle is that it was just completed in 2008. The owner had a vision of building this European inspired castle on a 1.2 acre parcel of land overlooking the Potomac River.

This modern day castle has seven bedrooms and nine bathrooms. As if that was not magnificent enough, all of the bathroooms have Jacuzzi-style tubs included.  This feature happens to be a real treat to someone looking to offer luxury accomodations to every guest in the home.

Photo Credit: Home Visit

The details and the finishings of the bathrooms are not overly done, as they could be in a home of this stature. You can see from the photo above that the two vanity sinks on either side of the window helps convey the open feel to the room.

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Architecture and Design at it’s Finest

May 14, 2012 by ·

Juan Matiz of Matiz Architecture & Design

 

There is nothing better than great craftsmanship and synergy with great architecture and design.  Case in point is the brilliant Architect: Juan Matiz of Matiz Architecture & Design that is featured on Remodelista Daily's Blog.   I was captivated by the magnificent photos taken by Ty Cole of the masterpiece work created by Juan Matiz for a Tribeca apartment. Once again, Remodelista Daily and their masterful team gave us a captivating article in the featured section: Architect Visits & House Calls with Christine. I had to write a blog post on this inspiring article.

What captivated me the most in the photos is how Juan Matiz integrated the outdoors in his design but gave it a warm and cozy feeling.  This was done nicely with the metal staircase, with hidden storage underneath.  It was a touch of genius to use metal cables for the cantilevered stair, since they also serve as rails simultaneously.  It takes the traditional stairwell and transforms it into the homeowner's personal bridge to the outside.  How very clever!

One thing that is quite apparent in all of the photos is that the craftsmanship and details of all the work was done by true artisans. Take a look at the Zinc shingles that encase the stair enclosure and small openings of alabaster. This must be quite a sight to see at night while enjoying the moonlight on the breathtaking terrace.

I can't stress enough how important it is to hire professionals when doing a kitchen design or other home improvement remodel project.  From the architect, to the Interior Designer, to the Contractor, to the building permits are all essential in getting a brilliant masterpiece that you will enjoy for years to come.

Although we all can't have Tribeca apartments with outside terraces with views that are priceless, we can bring out unique qualities of our home and add personal style and flair with the assistance of a professionals that can masterfully transform architecture into a masterpiece.

Thanks to Juan Matiz of Matiz Architecture & Design and his fabulous team for inspiring us all not to accept mediocrity when it comes to Architecture and Design.  Take a look at some of their other projects on their website, they are truly a unique team. Design has many forms shapes and sizes. It is refreshing to see the integration so masterfully done.

Image Credit: Remodelista Daily – Photographer:Ty Cole

Click on the following to read more: The Architect is In: Juan Matiz of Matiz Architecture & Design – by Christine – Remodelista Daily -

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Homeowners Prefer Remodeling Over Moving

May 3, 2012 by ·

National Home Improvement Month

Did you know that May is National Home Improvement Month?

What home improvement project will you do to celebrate? There are so many that come to mind, such as

Did you know that most homeowners are choosing to personalize their homes with a remodel? According to a recent survey by the National Home  Association of Remodeling Industry (NARI),  26 percent of respondents indicated that they are planning to stay in their homes much longer,  due to decreased home values. 

The recession is no secret to anyone in this economy. In 2010, existing and new single-family home sales decreased 5 percent largely in part due to the recession. However, things seem to be getting brighter. I see more cars in the home improvent retailer parking lots and lots of activity in specialty stores. You can't help but notice all of the increased advertsing by stores like Lowes Home Improvement, Home Depot, Sherwin Williams, Ace Hardware and others on the airwaves. I am impressed with all of the sponsorships and contests these companies are doing to stay front and center in the minds of customers.

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Kitchen Cabinets: SieMatic BeauxArts.02

May 2, 2012 by ·

Pompano Beach Kitchen Remodel - SieMatic BeauxArts.02
The SieMatic BeauxArts.02 lets you combine a range of seemingly opposites to create one happy Kitchen Design that works seemlessly together. Feature rich options such as the matte stainless steel fronts with faceted metal borders, glossy finish on the   doors – takes accents to "another level".

The stylish and updated BeauxArts.02 from SieMatic offers new elements, materials, colors, surfaces, and proportions for the kitchen. The BeauxArts 0.2 was designed by the mutli-talented talented Kitchen Designer Mick De Giulio. He is also an author of the well known book: Kitchen Centric, which is a hardcover 258 page book of brilliant kitchen designs. The book has everything you need to know for designing a dream kitchen, regardless of space. If you are into kitchen design or considering a new kitchen remodel, I suggest you grab a copy of Kitchen Centric.  Kitchen Design enthusiasts will definitely enjoy this book.

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