Posts Tagged Bathroom

Choosing The Best Granite Colors

Posted on November 17, 2011 | Interior Design.

Granite is a very sturdy, durable rock, yet it is also lovely and can be quite elegant looking. Formed from magma and igneous rock from deep in the earth, granite must be made up of a minimum of twenty percent quartz in order to be considered true granite. The amount of quartz in the rock will determine granite colors. These can be anything from pink to grey, though colors may also change depending on the other types of materials integrated. This beautiful rock is often used for counter tops and can also be used for back splashes in the kitchen or bathroom. With so many options to choose from, this is the ideal rock for household use in counter tops.

Light Granite Colors

In any room with darker walls and floors a light colored granite counter is a good option to help lighten things up and give the room a more open feel. It can also make a smaller room appear larger and make it feel more spacious. Light granite comes in many designs, from speckled and swirled blown sand to solid granite in one color.

Dark Granite Colors

To make a stronger statement in a room, darker granite is the best option. It can really pull the eye and makes a space look more elegant and modern, particularly since granite is such a strong, heavy element that adds a touch of nature to the room. There are quite a few different types of dark granite available for counter tops. Solid black granite makes a very elegant back splash or counter, while streaked or speckled versions can add more interest. Either way, the counter top will rapidly become a conversation piece in your kitchen. Dark colors tend to make larger spaces contract, as well and do very nicely in large, airy rooms with plenty of natural light, giving them a lovely elegance that cannot be replicated in synthetic materials. Granite is truly one of a kind.

Color Combinations for Granite

Granite comes in a range of different color combinations, not just solids. You can use a solid color for the counter top and then something different for the back splash. Using light and dark colors will help add interest to a room and can look very elegant if you enjoy it. Consider a dark counter with a light back splash or vice versa.

When looking for just the right granite colors for your home, choose carefully. Look at how the colors will enhance the natural look of the room and boost the beauty quotient. You can also look at doing a more customized look by combining assorted colors for a specific style. Granite is so durable and beautiful that when cared for, it can last far longer than any other surface in your home.

Home Design Trends

Posted on May 25, 2011 | Home Design.

With the housing market slowly recovering as the months creep by, people are paying more attention to what’s inside those walls. For those of us who are still saving every penny, it’s nice to dream about what is happening inside luxury, designer homes. What new technologies have been put into use? What color schemes are popular? What kind of furniture are the economic elite purchasing? Let’s take a look at some of the hottest home design trends for this year.

One of the hottest trends in home design right now is turning the bathroom into an at-home spa. Life today is so fast-paced and stressful, who wouldn’t want a relaxing retreat right inside their home? High end designers are offering customizable tub designs where you can choose size, shape, color and even the number of jets. Some of these designers even offer an option to install an MP3 player with a waterproof wireless headset for ultimate relaxation. White is a popular color for these spa-like bathrooms. Serene, calming and lush. Thick, luxurious towels, multiple showerheads, jacuzzi tubs – the whole nine yards to create the perfect retreat.

Another popular trend is to transform garage space into another functional living space for the family. Instead of just a space to store the cars, people living in luxury homes want this to become a family living space. Add racks to the walls to get rid of the clutter that always accumulates in the garage. Put down a fun floor using polypropelene tiles and turn the entire space into a game room. Have radiant heat installed underneath the floor, add a plush comfy couch and a big flat panel TV and the garage will quickly become the family’s favorite place to hang out.

Recycling is even making its way into luxury design. It has become a hot trend to use reclaimed wood, such as old wine barrels for new purposes inside your home. This wood can be repurposed to create a fabulous new floor, wainscotting or countertop. Imagine creating a bar-top counter out of old wine barrels. With a thick coat of polyurethane it will instantly become a conversation piece. The coolest part of this trend is that portions of the reclaimed wood have the wine company’s stamp on it. No one will have anything like it and you can feel good about using recycled materials.

As for new technology in luxury homes there are two very cool new trends. The first is a high-speed wall oven. This is a great investment for busy families who still want to enjoy a home cooked meal. These ovens have the capability of cooking a pizza in under ten minutes. If that’s not cool, I don’t know what is. Another technological advancement popping up in luxury homes are hybrid water heaters. These heaters basically combine the best of traditional hot water heaters with the “green” qualities of the tankless heaters. These heaters are 35% more efficient than traditional hot water heaters and can lower your bills considerably.