It is important to be aware of the style and durability of the different types of counter surfaces when making a selection for your kitchen or bath. New materials are constantly being introduced into the market place and there are now more choices to select from than ever before. What surface might have the best look for your home might not be the best solution for your lifestyle. Below we list some options that homeowners often times overlook. Don’t forget: you can mix your materials, apply one material on the main counter tops and an alternative material on your island or pantry bar.
Zinc
Like most design trends- Europe had this one first. Zinc has been used in Europe for counter surfaces for a while and just started becoming known in the states within the last few years. The zinc is actually sold in sheets in various thickness (usually ranging somewhere between .02″ to .03″) and welded together at the seems. Being a natural material, each piece will vary from the other providing differences in the color ranges. For the most part zinc is a durable counter surface- it is subject to minor scratches, anything large can be sanded out. It is naturally antimicrobial, will naturally patina, and should not be directly cut on. The price to get a Zinc counter top will run you in the ballpark of $100-125 per square foot.
Stainless Steel
Stainless countertops are a great way to give a kitchen an industrial feel. Commonly used in commercial applications, stainless counters are know for their ease of cleaning, and heat, stain, and bacteria resistant qualities. This great looking counter surface is vulnerable to scratches and dents and will show fingerprints. A non-directional finish will help minimize the appearance of scratches. Its price tag ranges from $100-200 per square foot.
Glass
Glass counters give a very contemporary look to a kitchen or bath. Because of its translucent / transparent quality glass can be back-lit, giving it a fun modern feel. Glass counters are available in wide variety of colors, textures and thicknesses. It is a non-porous material and it is not recommended to set hot cookware directly on it. Scratches can be polished out, and standard glass cleaner is the most maintenance it will require. Glass counters are expensive- ranging from $150-300 per square foot- as for why it is commonly used in small amounts.
Wood
Wood can be used in a butcher block format for kitchens or baths and give a warm natural feel to a space. Many people are surprised to find that wood counter tops are antimicrobial. Commonly domestic species such as walnut, oak, and maple are used but exotic harder woods are becoming more popular. The strips of wood are glued and laminated together. Wood counters will show scratches, will require a regular wipe down with mineral oil and will show stains. The price range for wood counters vary from $30-150 per square foot.
Choosing a countertop for your project? Give Nest a call to help guide you though the process. 882.NEST (6378)
Turn this traditional living space into a contemporary media lounge.
-Need enough seating for up to 17 people
-Incorporate both the 8′ movie screen and the fireplace as focal points of the seating area.
-Open up living space to kitchen
-Space plan so there is a comfortable, intimate seating arrangement while maximizing the floor space.
- Create a modern space with warmth.
-Keep two large windows at the end of the living room.
-Had to keep the step up around the fireplace because of piping that runs beneath.
-Do something with the side door and basement stairs.
the space
preliminary sketches
Extend the existing half wall to a full wall and lengthen it to create a hallway that can access the side door and basement stairs, while hiding them from the interior view of the room. The opposite side of the wall houses the movie screen, television, and media accessories. During phase 2 and phase 3, the media wall will be further developed to create an organized mudroom/closet area, back-lit columns, open shelving to accommodate the clients media accessories, etc. The three sided fireplace is custom designed to divide the living/media room from the kitchen while keeping the spaces open to each other for socializing. Varying ceiling heights, soffits, lighting, and wall bump outs will be utilized in the space to add visual interest.
preliminary 3d rendering/material choices
Slate, onyx, wood, and glass are some of the materials that will be used in the space.
Check back often to see phase 2 and phase 3 of our contemporary design project.
I absolutely adore decorating for the holiday season however, I do not appreciate the price tag that accompanies holiday design. Here is an easy and economical way to get festive with your artwork.
step 1. Purchase your supplies.
You can pick up inexpensive wood frames from your local dollar store, as well as some gift bags.
Step 2. Cut the gift bags.
Have fun with your design, cut out individual pieces to make your wall art look more like a collage or cut the entire picture. Just be sure to cut the side of the bag that doesn’t have the crease in it from the bottom folding up.
Step 3. Assemble your artwork.
Place the cut out images into the frame and viola! instant holiday artwork.
I add to my handmade artwork collection each year. I particularly like the look of these two pieces.
Five additional suggestions to add to this post from October:
6. As a guest, having to ask your host for toiletry supplies, specifically toilet paper, can feel awkward. One easy way to avoid leaving your guests guessing where you keep the spare rolls is by preparing a guest toiletry basket. You can collect all of those miscellaneous toiletries that we so often forget to pack when traveling and place them together in a basket or a decorated box. Things to include would be a small tube of toothpaste, bottle of mouthwash, toothbrush, a small bottle of lotion, deodorant, tissue, and of course you can stash some rolls of toilet paper in your basket or nearby. Tie a “welcome” note card to the basket with a bow and leave it for your guests to use, and always make sure your bathrooms are stocked with fresh towels and washcloths each day.
7. Create a menu for your guests. Take the worry out of wondering when and what they will be eating for each meal. Email or call your guests ahead of time and find out about any food allergies, meal and snack preferences, and special beverages that your guests enjoy. Then compile that information into a simple menu. Having a planned menu will allow you to shop early, stock up on special items, and prepare and freeze meals ahead of time, reducing your stress and saving your company the hassle of spending more money eating out.
8. Place a clock, puzzle books and magazines, and a dirty clothes bag in your guest’s bedroom; these are simple gestures to show your guests that you have thought about their comfort.
9. Supply them with an activity planner. This is a clever idea for guests that might be staying an extended time. Research some tourists locations in your area and assemble the information and brochures into a binder or an envelope of “things to do” while in town. Provide them with a map of your city, a bus schedule, and a house key so that they have the freedom to explore their surroundings by themselves. This will allow you to refresh yourself and your home while they are out and about.
10. Give your visitors ample room to store their coats and shoes. Clear out some space in a closet or entryway and designate a place for guests to place their bags, shoes, purses, and coats. Also, provide a surface or suitcase rack where guests can open their luggage so they don’t have to spread out their belongings all over the floor.
Remember, this is a time to enjoy your guests company. If things don’t go exactly as planned, roll with it, laugh it off, and be merry…that is all that really matters anyway.
Artificial Christmas trees have been around since the early 1800s in other countries, and became popular in the United States in the early 1900s. In the beginning, artificial trees were made to resemble natural trees, however, over time, artificial trees have evolved and delved into an exploration of a more modern and personalized way to represent the holiday season.
Did you know that traditionally, Christmas trees were not brought in and decorated until Christmas Eve and then removed the day after the twelfth night, January 6th. In fact, it was considered bad luck to have your Christmas tree up before or after these dates.
The Feather Tree is considered one of the first artificial Christmas trees. It began in German around 1845 as the alternative to a live tree, mostly because Germany had concerns of deforestation due to harvesting live trees for Christmas. The tree was made from metal wire or sticks that were covered with goose, turkey, ostrich or swan feathers, that were died green to look like pine needles. In the United States, the tree became popular during the 1920s, however its popularity decreased by the 1930s. Feather trees remain popular today, especially with people who have period homes.
In the late 1800s, there was a growing interest in “white” Christmas trees. People made their Christmas trees white by wrapping leafless branches with white strips of cotton batting. This gave the appearance of snow on the trees and these trees didn’t drop any needles. After Christmas the cotton was stored with the other ornaments to use the following year and the branches were burned. This practice evolved into what is known as a flocked tree. Flocking is the process of depositing many small fiber particles (called flock) onto a surface. A Christmas tree can be flocked with a white, fluffy spray to resemble snow. Both real and artificially flocked trees were popular with the wealthy during the 1930s and remain available today.
The metallic trend in Christmas trees began in the 1950s. This was an era of new technology and a re-birthing from world war II. The metallic tradition seemed to rule this decade and almost every family had a metallic tree in their home. The metallic tree craze became unpopular for several years until recently. The metallic tree trend is back and it is bold, being seen in some very unnatural colors like, pink, black and aquas.
The aluminum Christmas tree is an artificial tree that gained popularity during the late 1950s, reaching its highest point of popularity during the early 60s. The tree is made of aluminum that had foil needles that attached to a wooden or aluminum pole. It was lit by a floor based color wheel that rotated and illuminated the tree from below. The aluminum tree has often been referred to as a futuristic or a space age design.
In the holiday special, A Charlie Brown Christmas, the aluminum Christmas tree was used to represent the over-commercialization of Christmas. The peanuts character, Lucy, begs Charlie Brown to get a shiny aluminum tree painted pink, but Charlie Brown opts for a more natural, small, and leggy tree instead. This tree is known as the Charlie Brown Christmas tree. These types of trees are sought out among the most full Christmas trees on the lot. They are often open and leggy and seem to represent love, togetherness and the absence of commercialism, which are the main characteristics expressed in Charlie Brown’s classic Christmas theme.
Among the fiber optic trees, there is one model, a very unconventional tree, that seems to be making a big. It is referred to as an upside down Christmas tree. These trees can be suspended from the ceiling or affixed to a wall. Many come with weighted stands to provide extra stability. These trees are just the thing for smaller homes or apartments.
In more recent years, there has been a trend toward a slimmer tree, known as the pencil tree. Some speculate that this trend is due to our desire to downsize in a weakened economy. A sort of “less is more” spin to the holiday season. This style is reminiscent of the tall conical trees that were seen during the Victorian era.
All of these trends are only a small part of an even larger array of styles and designs that are available today. Regardless of style, or your preference for real or artificial, it is our love of the holiday tradition of Christmas tree decorating that endures through the generations.
As children we are taught to only write on paper or in a coloring book, and most times, only in designated place, like at a desk. As adults, we tend to hold onto these desciplines, but why?
I love to write and draw everywhere! Especially when I’m writing on something I’m not supposed to!
Let your guests know that they are welcome in your home. For your overnight guests, leave notes for them on the guest bathroom/bedroom mirrors.
Leave a note for a loved one on a bathroom mirror. It is usually the first thing they see in the morning.
Tell your family what’s for dinner.
Quote your favorite poet.
Or just tell a story…
Have fun, be a little unexpected, and most important of all…be sure to use a dry erase marker. (wink)
A little over a year ago I got the chance to visit the business and home to Oswalds Mill Audio in Eastern, PA. I spent the day with my boyfriend and our instant friend Jonathan Weiss, whose stories of travel intrigued me, whose knowledge of culture and art made for great conversation, and for whose design sense- well, impressed upon me.
Jonathan’s company Oswalds Mill Audio is the only in the world of it’s kind- and let me tell you in a short understated version: it’s impressive. OMA makes the world’s best audio equipment, and is the only company to makes what they do. So you ask what does this have to do with interior design? So glad you asked- the second I saw one of OMA’s loud Speakers I was amazed, not only for it’s striking beauty, but for it’s uniqueness- it’s scale, it’s material, it’s form, and above all- it’s potential to steel all the attention in a room.
Seeing these loud Speakers made my imagination start creating spaces around them. I thought to myself that these are something high-end designers are going to go wild over, I’m going to be seeing these in Architectural Digest or Elle Decor. No, not for everyone’s living rooms….but in those very unique places- wow, they speak for themselves.
Turns out I was right! Oh, how I love saying that! Recently Elle Decor Russia called OMA to get a pair of the loud Speakers into a photo shoot, along with other well known interior design magazines. Take a look and you will see why:
I was fortunate enough to spend this past weekend again with Jonathan Weiss, but this time in Buffalo, and with his wife. Again- I was in awe, actually I was in awe before I even got to meet her. Cynthia Van Elk is a professional photographer, and has photographed many images that we have all seen. Before knowing this, I was already so impressed with the photography from the OMA website- it was clean, honest, and so: still. So already impressed with her work, meeting Cynthia was such a pleasure- such a fun Dutch woman who is outstandingly talented and exudes that cool European talent that we all strive for. Below are some of her images that she photographed for OMA that grasped my attention:
My visit to the mill is really will always be a memorable day to me. Spending the day exploring and learning about what captured me so much. Doing what I love the most, I spent the day observing the architecture, the interior, the exterior, being with my boyfriend, eating amazing food, having great conversation and doing one of my favorite hobbies- shooting pictures. Below I share with you some of the photographs that I took of the mill when I was there… a little from my perspective:
Take a look at the sites listed below for yourself. I am sure you will be rightfully impressed!
