Our latest project takes us to Bethesda, Maryland for a whole house remodel in a private residence. The house is unusual because it is a single story on slab. This 40 year old home has been remodeled several times with last being in the mid 1990s. We will be designing a master bath suite and a contemporary gourmet kitchen.
Kitchen Remodeling 101: Countertops
One hottest trend source says “white” is the new neutral in minimalist kitchens with oil rubbed bronze fixtures outranking stainless steel. Another expert proclaims black as being the statement color for this year’s kitchen cabinetry. Really? We installed a shiny black kitchen in the 80s once, but I can assure you, little cooking was done in it! Quartz for countertops is bypassing natural stone. Since “everyone” can afford granite, it’s not so special anymore. The point is there are many excellent options that suit different tastes and lifestyles.
In my last post, I promised that we would began exploring the different elements in kitchen design that not only make design work, also express who you are.
Let’s start with what people feel pretty passionate about. Countertops. Yes, countertops. Countertops are the workhorse of the kitchen, but they also contribute a lot of style and color. Gone are the days of butcher block (and imitation butcher block laminate aka Formica). No sad remorse here!
The well-known rule of design is form follows function-or does it? Only you can decide. How does your kitchen function in your home, and how do you function in your kitchen? This is where a well-experienced designer can be an invaluable asset. He or she will know what questions to ask and will also be able to answer many of your questions. First, a disclaimer: ALL materials require upkeep and maintenance. There is anecdotal evidence for everything! Do your homework-or retain a designer who already has.
STONE
Natural, earthy, can be cut and shaped, stain resistant, durable, heat resistant, elegant, long lasting. Stone pricing ranges are based on rarity and location of mining. Fossilized stone can be pricey. Stone should be sealed to increase durability.
- Granite – wide range of colors. The darker the stone, the less porous thus more stain resistant
- Soapstone – greenish to black color
- Travertine – Sand colored
- Marble – white, green, black pink veined, preferred for patina and baking prep surfaces, porous
- Quartz – Referred to as engineered stone. Simulates stone, more stain resistant and color consistent. Does not require sealing. Costs a little more than granite.
- Acrylic polymer – man-made stone. Non- porous, lower maintenance, seamless, wide variety of colors. E.g. Corian, Wilsonart, Avonite, etc.
Acrylic polymers, stones and quartz can be comparable in price because they are regional products.
METALS
- Stainless steel – hygienic non porous, preference in commercial kitchens
- Zinc – works for outdoor kitchens and bar areas
- Copper – interesting patinas as the copper ages
OTHER
- Concrete – can be shaped and colored and have additives such as glass for interest. Needs to be sealed. Regional and local companies mix their own styles.
- Glass – shapeable, durable, contemporary, beautiful, can be joined but not seamless. Thickness Over ¾” for countertops. Expensive
- Tile – ceramic or porcelain, economical to materials, but labor intensive
- Wood – natural, beautiful, wide variety of exotic woods and ingraining, can be repaired easily, require sealants, higher maintenance
- Laminate – still a very popular choice for its wide variety of colors and patterns and very affordable pricing
- Compressed paper
- Leather
This was just an overview of some of the most common materials (well, a few are less common) used for countertops. This should give you something to google! Or wait until next time and I’ll go into more detail. And did I mention, I’ll have pictures?
Kitchen Remodeling: Happy Place Kitchens
It’s time for a kitchen remodeling project. In fact, it’s past time. So what pushed you over the edge? What was the last proverbial straw that caused you to pull your hair in frustration and declare “I cannot live with this kitchen any longer?” A kitchen is not merely a utilitarian room; it can be very emotionally charged. Pots and pans and dishes are usually only thrown in kitchens! It can be your “happy place” or your place from you-know-where. Good design is the saving grace of any space, but the elements of the design truly define it. Lighting, flooring, cabinetry, countertops, appliances and window treatments are all components that make up the whole, and believe me, the choices can be overwhelming. Stay tuned over the next few weeks as we explore some of these elements in an effort to help create your happy place.
Master Bath Makeover
Recently, Capitol Design was retained to provide design and specifications for a master bath remodel in the North West Hills of Austin. This initial rendering shows the proposed design.
This bath presented quite a challenge in that the vaulted ceiling soared to a height of 11′ in a room only 12′ wide. The scale of the room was way off. Soffits were added in an attempt to control the scale but only added to the chaos.
The proposed plan moves the toilet room to the outside wall, enlarging the shower, surrounding it completely by glass, and providing separate his and her vanities.
The ceiling was tamed by a combination of a tray ceiling at 9′ and reworking the tunnel of the existing skylight to direct the light downward to the freestanding tub.
Finally, a cool palette of whites and grays were chosen to calm the room and horizontally expand the space.
Capitol Design of Austin, TX Receives Best Of Houzz 2015 Award
Over 25 Million Monthly Unique Users Rated Top-Rated Home Building, Remodeling and Design Professionals in the United States and Around the World
Austin, TX, January 29, 2015 – Capitol Design of Austin, TX has been awarded “Best Of Houzz” for Customer Satisfaction by Houzz, the leading platform for home remodeling and design. The award winning kitchen and bath design company was chosen by the more than 25 million monthly unique users that comprise the Houzz community from among more than 500,000 active home building, remodeling and design industry professionals.
The Best Of Houzz award is given in two categories: Design and Customer Satisfaction. Design award winners’ work was the most popular among the more than 25 million monthly users on Houzz, known as “Houzzers.” Customer Satisfaction honors are determined by a variety of factors, including the number and quality of client reviews a professional received in 2014. Winners will receive a “Best Of Houzz 2015” badge on their profiles, helping Houzz users around the world who discover and love a professional’s work to learn even more about that business’ popularity and satisfaction rating among their peers in the Houzz community.
“Thoughtful and creative design for the most important client in the world: you.”
“Houzz provides homeowners with a 360 degree view of home building, remodeling and design industry professionals, empowering them to engage the right people and products for their project,” said Liza Hausman, vice president of industry marketing for Houzz. “We’re delighted to recognize J. Monroe Currie among our “Best Of” professionals as judged by our community of homeowners and design enthusiasts who are actively remodeling and decorating their homes.”
Follow Capitol Design on Houzz
About Joe Currie
Joe Currie, of Capitol Design, is an award winning kitchen and bath designer since 1981 and his projects have been featured in local and national magazines, well known buildings such as the Watergate in Washington, DC and the Harbor Terrace in Baltimore, Maryland. Along with luxury kitchens and baths, he has been building a broad design repertoire by designing furniture, home additions, restaurants and bars, and even a media room resembling an 11th century castle for a client in Ludlow, Massachusetts. He has worked on both coasts, and designed homes from New England to sunny Florida. Joe has designed projects for media celebrities, Fortune 500 CEOs, a well known St. Louis chef and many busy families. His projects can be found in historical neighborhoods such as Compton Heights in St. Louis, Missouri, Georgetown in Washington DC, and Castle Hill in downtown Austin, Texas. New construction projects include Castlebridge in Ellicott City, Maryland and Valderrama in Gainesville, Virginia.
Most recently, his designs have won 1st and 2nd place in the Washington, DC Metro NARI (National Association of the Remodeling Industry) 2010 CoTY awards. The 1st place home was located in Darnestown, MD and the 2nd place home was located in Baltimore, MD. He also won the Washington, DC based, Home and Design magazine’s “Kitchen of Distinction” for the second straight year.
Joe divides his time between the Washington, DC metro area and Austin, Texas, where he designs stunning, functional, kitchens; fabulous baths; and comfortable, beautiful spaces for clients in southern Maryland, northern Virginia, Washington, DC and Austin, Texas. He is also available for consultation and commission locally and nationally.
About Houzz
Houzz is the leading platform for home remodeling and design, providing people with everything they need to improve their homes from start to finish – online or from a mobile device. From decorating a room to building a custom home, Houzz connects millions of homeowners, home design enthusiasts and home improvement professionals across the country and around the world. With the largest residential design database in the world and a vibrant community powered by social tools, Houzz is the easiest way for people to find inspiration, get advice, buy products and hire the professionals they need to help turn their ideas into reality. Headquartered in Palo Alto, CA, Houzz also has international offices in London, Berlin and Sydney. For more information, visit www.houzz.com.