Some people think that you have to have a contrast between the Kitchen Cabinets and the flooring, but I beg to differ. Here we have Cherry cabinets and Cherry floors. With plenty of storage, the things that pop in this kitchen are the appliances and backsplash. This kitchen is 15 years old in Mill Valley, Ca. and the house is in a Victorian Style, so the beamed ceilings and high ceilings give it character. But you could do the same thing with modern materials.
Kitchen Remodel
View of kitchen when you first walk in- the space is opened up to the dining room
The test of a good kitchen remodel is happy clients! This kitchen turned out better then the owners thought it would. They got way more counter space then they had before, new appliances, a great work triangle that keeps visitors out of the path of travel for the kitchen users. The counters are quartzite, the back-splash is limestone tiles 3" x 6", the recessed niche has ceramic tiles, the cabinets are "Home Depot" and the maple floors are refinished.
The cooking area becomes the heart of the kitchen with the new recessed tiled niche.
Bathroom Idea Book
Master Bathroom Addition
A punch of color is always nice in a Master Bathroom. Here the blue brick ceramic tiles are used as a back-splash, then continue in a vertical brick-laid pattern into the wall of the shower that is separated by a low pony wall. A neutral checkerboard pattern of two tones of limestone is on the back wall of the shower, while a black line of tile bisects the wall and continues along the floor to create visual interest in the room.
Inside the shower there are two shower heads
Happiness is no clutter — Nina Le Baron, AIA
White Carrera Modern Marble Dining Table designed by Charles Eames floats with clear Ghost Chairs designed by Phillip Stark
It is easy to start to "ADD" things to one's interior that start to clutter it up. Try deleting everything once in a while to see how it looks. Sometimes, keeping just the basics in a dining room can give it a serene calmness between meals.
Lighting Ideas
IKEA Bookshelves flank a narrow space
Chrome fireplace screen and fireplace tools from "Z" Gallery in San Francisco.
Part of the battle with "Clutter" is finding places to put things in an organized way. If you are on a budget, these IKEA white lacquer bookshelves have a simple classic shape.
Clutter is Weeding — Nina Le Baron, AIA
Never use "White" carpeting if you have pets- this color is a medium dark Wheat looks natural.
Deleting and weeding your clutter is extremely hard and needs attention everyday. Weeding your garden (if you have one) is the same idea. Weeding your interior environment of "Extra Stuff" that clutters your space is a daily ritual in editing what you need and what you don't. What is broken or what needs to be put away. Finding places to put your stuff is extremely challenging the smaller the environment.
Keep it Simple — Nina Le Baron, AIA
An over-hanging sink helps save space in a small bathroom to make it seem bigger. Better then a pedestal sink with no storage below. Limestone counters and wall tile make a continuous envelope of warmthn a basement bathroom.
The battle with clutter is constant, if you want to achieve a soothing environment. By making yourself move things around to clean yourself (no maid can do this), you wind up re-thinking why it was there in the first place. Then sometimes, a new relationship is forged. With a wall to wall mirror, it expands the space. Pull-out Make-up mirror is hard-wired for lighting option. By mounting it on the wall, the clutter factor is eliminated. Plus, it makes putting on some make-up or shaving, better for close-up inspections.
Favorite Colors
Do you keep track of your favorite colors? Take a que from your favorite painting and see if you can use those colors?
Vital Environment Question
Fresh Flowers always add to the energy of a room and lift your spirits!
In the practice of anti-clutter, it is important to daily look at your environment and access what is vital. Pick a theme of colors that you like and keep editing and re-arrainging. This IKEA sectional sofa is covered with an IKEA quilted blanket in matching slate grey to keep dog hair at bay.