Over the Top Childrens Rooms

As many of you know, I am about to enter the world of mommy-hood, and as a designer and new mom, that nursery needs to be suitable for my little one, and my portfolio!  Of course I have surfed the net for great theme's and inspiration, and I have found a lot of crazy over the top children's rooms, that are a great inspiration for any parent.

Children's rooms aren't just for sleeping, they are for playing, and inspiring creativity.  A place to call their own, and a place to flourish.  From sleeping, to playing, to inspiring creativity, the child's room is a great place to start.  Below are some fun spaces, that accomplish fun and play and creativity.  

This room from MOCO Designs, inspires the play with a slide and rock climbing wall.  While the wall isn't the safest thing for the kids, it's still a fun idea.  The slide would be a fun way to escape a bunk bed, or even as an alternative route into a finished basement.  

This amazing bed, by Amy Wolf Interiors, LLC shows one of my favorite ideas for kids rooms.  A raised bed with a place to play and be a kid under.  This bunk bed shows the idea of a slide as a way to vacate the bed, inspiring fun and play.  When the child grows older, the bed can even be raised, and a desk area can be placed under.  This idea maximizes floor space, which is good in smaller rooms. 

This room, inspired by Cinderella, is a beautiful and inspiring room for any little princess.  

And now for the truly over the top!  How about a pirate ship for your little pirate?  This is an amazing design by Steve Kuhl, that any kid would love to call their own.  [I think most parents would love to call it their own also!] 

Another well done and over the top design fit for any princess.  

Or how about this indoor tree house?  

Now that you have a little inspiration for a great kids room, it's time to go create that amazing inspiring space.  

Shower Doors 101

When looking to get rid of that gross old shower curtain, or perhaps that outdated existing door, you may be overwhelmed by the choices of shower doors.  Do you want a panel and pivot door or a bi-pass door.  Framed, frameless, or semi frameless?  What thickness of glass do you want?  What style of glass will work best?  Then the next question, do you want it installed professionally, or do you want to install it yourself? 
The Shower Door Types:
There are several different styles of tub and shower enclosures, and the type of door that is best for your installation will depend on the opening itself. 

There is the standard bi-pass door where there are two doors that pass each other on a track. Typically the outer door has a towel bar, where the inner door has a simple knob. These doors are generally recommended for openings wider than 60" however do come available as small as 48", as with this style of door, the clear opening is less than half.  These doors are typically easier for the home owner to install themselves, however they can be very tricky, so keep that in mind.  

There are also several pivot options for shower doors, which is a single panel of glass that opens much like any other door in your house, which is typically up to 36" wide.  Pivot doors can also be paired with panels for openings wider than 36"  Also, when the shower is placed in a corner, the panel and door can be placed at an angel to cover both open sides.  Pivot and panel doors are often used in combination when the shower is next to a tub, and the panel needs to be shorter than the door itself. 

This is an example of a custom pivot door with an in line panel as well as a panel placed at a ninety degree angle, which is over the tub.  This shower door is also installed floor to ceiling, which can be used as a steam shower enclosure.  More on that later. 

Frame Styles and Finishes:

When selecting the frame style, budget is a very large thing to consider.  Many home owners think that a frameless door should be less expensive since they aren't paying for a frame.  In fact, it is typically the opposite.  Since there is no frame to support the glass, typically a thicker glass is used for stability, increasing the price.  Below you will see some of the different styles of shower doors and framing options.

This shower door, from Specialized Shower Door and Mirror out of Sacramento shows a frameless style.  Typically, there are two to three hinges on the pivot side of the door, and a small track that the stationary panel rests in.  As you can see, this frameless door is much different than the framed doors you would have seen in the 1980's.  The through glass handle adds a contemporary look, and is easier to clean around.  When remodeling, frameless styles are more favorable because they are easier to keep clean, and are more updated vs. their framed counterparts.  

This Holcam Semi-Frameless door features a frame around the opening, however the shower door doesn't have the overhead header, which is often bulky and difficult to clean.    Depending on the manufacturer, some don't have a frame around the glass panel at all, just the two sides and bottom of the opening itself. The enclosure pictured above is a standard shower pivot, typically under 36" wide, and can typically be installed by the home owner, however they can be difficult so keep that in mind.  

This last framing style, also by Holcam, shows a fully framed bi-pass shower door.  This shower door will typically have a much thinner glass, which is completely surrounded by a frame, as well as the opening completely surrounded.  While these doors are typically the less expensive option in shower doors, they are often the most difficult to keep clean. 

The finishes of shower doors are similar to the finishes of cabinetry hardware, faucets, etc.  You have the standards of Chrome, Brushed Nickel, Oil Rubbed Bronze, etc.  Check with your provider to see what options they offer.  Companies like Holcam offer quite a selection of additional finishes like white, black, red, ivory, and so much more.  It is best to coordinate with the decor of the room when selecting the hardware.  If you have brushed nickel faucets, cabinet pulls, and lighting fixtures, then it would probably be best to use the same finish in your shower door hardware. 

Glass Styles:
Glass styles in shower doors are again dependant on the specific manufacturer. There are smooth glass types, and textured glass types, there are etched glass types, and other custom designs.  Typically, the design is placed on the outside of the glass, leaving a smooth and easy to clean surface on the interior of the shower for easy squeegeeing and cleaning if you so choose. 

Clear Glass, the most common of glass types.

Obscure Glass

Reeded Glass

Rain Glass

Flemish Glass

Other Decorative Features:
Other custom features are available like chipped top shower doors, that feature a rough cut top that resembles broken glass.  There are also companies that will create custom sand blasted designs into the shower door.  These options are generally only available through professional installation.  Another custom style of door, that is recommended to have professional installation is for steam showers.  This enclosure is a floor to ceiling enclosure, which features a small transom, or horizontally pivoting panel, that is designed to completely enclose the shower to keep the steam contained.

Case Study: Little Kitchen with Big Style

I recently had a disabled client come in and she had a match box sized kitchen, but wanted every feature I could manage to shoehorn in there.  I stared doing some research and realized, there are some great products out there for a small kitchen that make the space usable.

First off, this particular client only had room for three wall cabinets, and with the possibility of being in a wheel chair in the next year, it worried her about how to access the wall cabinets once she was in a seated position.  I suggested, and she went with the Rev-A-Shelf Cabinet Pull Down Shelving System.  At approximately $300, this unit makes any wall cabinet accessible, and is easy to install.

The next hurdle for this customer.  She wanted double ovens, but barely had enough wall space for a refrigerator, much less two wall ovens at an easy to reach height.  I went a little off in the realm of "accessible" by going with a double oven range.  Since the range had to be placed in a peninsula, I went with the GE Cafe Double Oven Range with five burners, and best of all, no pesky back splash.  For this client, all she will typically use is the upper oven, which is at just the right height, and the smaller size makes it great for her meals for two.  A smaller oven means quicker preheating times, and less energy waste.  The lower oven is great for when her kids are home visiting during the holidays, when she will have help with the cooking.  The five burners, including the griddle, is more than sufficient for her typical cooking routine.  The customer originally wanted a downdraft range, but wasn't willing to part with her second oven, so I found a great glass island mounted hood to go above.  With the glass canopy, her view of the adjacent living room wouldn't be obstructed while sitting and cooking.

The next amazing product for this customer, was a Tall Pantry Pull-Out, available through Kraftmaid Cabinetry.  Since the small pantry was squeezed between a wall and the refrigerator, I decided this was a great accessory to easily organize her pantry storage, as well as bump the fridge away from the wall so she can open the door more than ninety degrees.  There wasn't much room for a pantry, but due to the small size of the kitchen, and lack of storage, it was a necessity for this client.

The door style we went with was a wide rail shaker from Kraftmaid.  This door style is simple, and easy to keep clean, and we went with a lightly stained maple, to keep the color pallet light and open.  Since the kitchen is so small, the client was very worried about using too dark of finishes, and closing in the space.  Since resale was a large factor also, she wanted to go with neutral finishes to appeal to the majority of buyers.

For the countertops, the customer had her heart set on marble, but knew that many future buyers, and guest cooks, might damage it.  I suggested a new color from Silestone called Lyra, which is very similar to Carara Marble, yet requires no sealing, maintenance, and is about the same price.  The backsplash is a white subway tile with a glass mosaic liner for added color and interest.

This kitchen is in the process of being installed, and pictures will be uploaded as soon as I have them available.  When doing a small kitchen, it is very important to know what the customer wants, what they need, and what products are available to make their dream kitchen a reality.  It's also good to have a good Kitchen Designer on your side that knows what you are looking for and understands what your needs are.  The customer told me in our first meeting that I was the third designer she had talked to, that everyone told her that her wants and needs list was impossible in the space she had.  She didn't want to take no for an answer, and when I started showing her multiple appliance options and interior cabinet options, she was able to get nearly everything she wanted, and have everything she needed.  

How to pick your countertop

Many people don't know which countertops surface will match their kitchen best. A question I get often is "Do you match your cabinets?" "How much contrast cos right?" Well, here are some quick tips to get you started.

Contrasting the Cabinets: While the right amount of contrast is personal choice, you don't want to try to match. Now I will admit a white marble top on a white painted cabinet is one of my favorite combinations, it is a rare exception. Think of it this way, light tops darker cabinets, light cabinets darker tops. Of you have a mid range finish cabinets, then you can go either lighter or darker.

Next, everyone I talk to wants this super invincible top that will withstand the Apocalypse with no maintenance. I am sorry to tell you all, I haven't found that surface yet. Yes there are scratch resistant tops and heat resistant and highly durable, but they can still get damaged. Here are some of the more popular tops an their features.

Granite 

Granite: a nature made surface and very durable. Many people shy away from this surface due to maintenance and sealing requirements, however it is exceptional easy. Also, many suppliers are now selling granite that has been treated with a permanent sealer that is typically warranties for ten to fifteen years. Granite is heat resistant and scratch resistant, however keep in mind resistant, not proof! Granite can be scratched with harder or equally hard stones like other pieces of granite or diamonds. It is recommended that you DO NOT cut directly on granite, as you probably won't scratch it, but you can destroy your knives and cutting tools. As for heat resistance, it can withstand heats up to 400 degrees, however it is advised that you again, DO NOT put hot things directly on it. If you are needing to put something hot on it as an emergency, by all means. However it is good practice to consistently use hot pads and trivets, as granite had small hairline cracks that with exposure to heat, can cause them to "pop" and break, similar to the earth and earthquakes.

Quartz

Quartz: surfaces are very similar to granite, however since they are typically man made they are much more consistent. These tops do not require sealing but as far as heat and scratch resistance, they are very similar to granite. There are quite a few manufacturers of quartz surfaces so it is best to check the specs of the specific surface you choose.  Most quartz surfaces by companies like Silestone, Cambria, and Caesarstone are a man made material, but some stone companies will sell solid quartz slabs that are nature made.  They look similar, and are priced similar, so

European Style Kitchen with Corian 

Acrylic: also known commonly as Corian, is a softer surface that is repairable and maintenance free. Since it is softer, it can scratch much easier, but the lighter the surface the less visible. Also, since they are repairable, you can easily repair them yourself or have the fabricator fix it for you. These surfaces are available in glossy and matte, however the matte finish is much more forgiving under heavy use. I had Corian in my house for several years and it looked as good the day we moved out as it did the day it was installed. It is best to use cutting boards and hot pads with this surface, just like granite and quartz.

Formica 180FX 

Laminate: also commonly known as Formica, is One of the least expensive surfaces available. We have all had a laminate top, remember back to that first apartment you rented. They are not as scratch resistant as a granite or quartz, and they aren't repairable like acrylic, but they are still a great contender in the countertop market. They are typically maintenance free, and come in hundreds of colors, including granite, quartz, and other natural stone inspired finishes. Laminate tops also have several different sheen's and textures, including new upgraded finishes such as High Def by Wilsonart and FX by Formica.

I will tell you, not every family will chose the same surface type. If they did, then there wouldn't be so many choices. It is best to review the information given above as well as the information provided my manufacturers, fabricators, etc. and make sure you are getting the best surface to suit your families needs (and budget)!

Green Products for Baby (and the rest of the house!)

Every new mom has a lot on her plate.  It is very overwhelming, and there are a lot of products out there to make an absolutely lovely nursery, but how do you know what is safe for your baby?  Aside from the ever useful tip of paint early, and get that bedding out of the packaging for off-gassing as early as possible.  I also have some other great and environmentally friendly products to help you out.  Now of course, the ever "Green" option is to obviously reuse products that not only have had the chance to off gas, and your not wasting resources to generate new products.  I am posting this for those of you who don't want to take hand me downs from complete strangers, like myself, who doesn't have friends or family with small children to get those hand me downs from.  

The Sherwin Williams ProMar 200 Zero VOC Interior Paint is a great way to paint up that nursery and not have to worry about the paint harming your little ones lungs. Especially if you are facing moving right before or after the birth of your families new addition.  What else is great, this paint can be whipped up into any Sherwin Williams color or sheen, or matched to the color in that bedding set you just picked up.  Another added bonus, this paint has excellent touch-up abilities, which will be great in a kids room.

The Absolutely Organic Crib Mattress is a healthy mattress that is waterproof (for those nigh time accidents) non-toxic, and stain resistant.  At about $260, this mattress is a great hypoallergenic solution for the crib.  (That's right, no Latex and no Wool!)  This mattress also includes a built in fire protection system.  Absolutely Organic Baby also makes changing pads and covers, and bedding sets.   

The Naturally Organic Crib Bedding available at The Clean Bedroom offers multiple bedding options that are free from chemical treatments.  This bedding is made from organic cotton and come in nursery inspired colors.  The Clean Bedroom also offers organic plush toys for baby, as well as ventilation systems where needed or desired.

When looking for carpet for my new home, as well as the future addition to my family, I kept getting recommendations for Martha Stewart Living's line of carpets available from The Home Depot.  While this carpeting isn't completely zero VOC, it is an environmentally and Eco safe option that is not only recyclable, it is durable, resilient, and comes with a lifetime stain protection, which we all can agree is great for any child's room.