Product Spotlight: Robern AiO Cabinet

How does technology into the bathroom? There are lots of ways to incorporate technology into the modern bathroom, and one of my favorite ways as with the Roeburn AiO cabinet. Both the medicine cabinet and light source in one, this dual function product is sure to wow.

Lighting
The Robert AiO cabinet features two LED light strips down either side of the cabinet. These light strips are the perfect task light for the bathroom. They equally light up either side of the users face for use when shaving and applying make up. Think of back stage lighting. Those light bulbs lined up along either side of a mirror. This is the LED solution from Robern. The AiO cabinet features an easy to use touch pad under the right light strip which can adjust brightness and turn the light on and off. There is also a small light bar on the interior of the cabinet that lights up when the door is open. Making it easy to find the SleepQuil when your insomnia is keeping you up.

Power
The Rober AiO cabinet also features a few outlets on the interior of the cabinet. Two USB and a 110 outlet means you can charge what you need to. If you a lucky enough to have a Kohler Moxie, you can charge it and your phone right from your medicine cabinet. It also features the one standard outlet, which is perfect for an electric toothbrush, razor, or anything else you want plugged in.

Options
The AiO cabinet has a ton of options. First, you can select from a single door cabinet or a double door cabinet. Here are also several width and height options. The AiO cabinet only comes in four inch depth, but it can be recessed into the wall or surface mounted, with an additional kit.

The AiO also features a handy magnetic doc which is perfect for those smaller items, such as tweezers and nail clippers. When paired with adjustable glass shelves, and interior mirrors and a magnifying mirror, this is definitely a go-to for any medicine cabinet. These cabinets can be banked together for smaller bathrooms, maximizing space and functionality.

Color Picks for Spring 2016

Here are my picks for Spring 2016.  Soft and muted hues are sure to brighten your space.  They can be used in any combination, and come from the Sherwin Williams "Vintage Chic" collection paint colors.  This collection includes: 

• Sea Salt, SW6204, a soft green 
• Alabaster, SW7008, an off white
• Ponder, SW7079, from the purple family
• Ancient Marble, another green

The rest of the collection is an great spring inspired pallet that coordinates well together in part or in full.

SW6204 Sea Salt

SW7008 Alabaster

SW7079 Ponder

SW6162 Ancient Marble

Trends 2015 : Kitchen

I woke up this morning thinking of the new trends in kitchens today.  There are so many beautiful and amazing products out there, and a mesh of styles that is harmony in design.  I decided to write this post.  Putting forward this mesh of Industrial Design with a Luxe Transitional feel.

So lets start talking about these products.  The new kitchen trends are leaning more toward these grey/beige/green tones, which is exactly what Benjamin Moore's Antique Jade is.  Want less green?  Then look no further than Halo, a perfect mix of grey and beige.  These soft colors are a great way to add warmth, and also brighten up a space.

For this kitchen mood board, I decided to take the Crystal Cabinetry Downing Way Raised Panel cabinet door, painted with Benjamin Moore's Halo. This is a great "Transitional" styled door, featuring clean lines, a slab drawer front, and a simple raised center panel.  Current cabinet trends include off white cabinets that ditch the glaze.  A crisp and clean look that isn't so stark and institutional.    The flat slab drawer head allows for an easier to clean design, which many home owners are looking for.  It also lends itself to a more decorative cabinet pull, which will add interest to the space.

For cabinet hardware, I am loving the Charlie Collection by Alno Inc.  The coloring I have chosen is Polished Nickel.  This color add's that little bit of Luxe to the space.  Chrome is too cold.  Polished Nickel is rich, luxurious, and warmer than chrome.  A major player in plumbing fixtures and hardware these days.  This specific cup pull is absolutely gorgeous.  It's simple design with just a little frill at the edges.

The knob is not too shabby either.  They have back plates for these knobs as well, for the more traditional installation.  These knobs, again, super simple, with just a little bit of detail on the edge.

This collection is available in many finishes, so even if you don't love Polished Nickel as much as me, you will still be able to find a color that you do love.  Some of the finishes include Brushed Nickel and Rubbed Bronze, which are two of the most common kitchen hardware finishes today.

For the faucet and sink, I have chosen a more Industrial looking faucet, with the beauty and traditional styling of a bridge faucet.  The Artesso faucet by Brizo. This faucet, also available in Polished Nickel and other popular fixture finishes, is an industrial take on a traditional style.  It features a side pull out spray, and a beautiful bridge design.  The Artesso family also features a standard Pull Down faucet with or without SmartTouch Technology, a prep/bar size faucet, and a matching soap dispenser.  Brizo has also launched a brand new style of faucet in this family.  Their Articulating Artesso Faucet, which is a unique and fully adjustable faucet.  I am still waiting to see what consumers think about this faucet.  I like the idea and the design, but not sure how it will work out in the real world.

When this faucet is paired with the Rohl Fireclay Apron Sink, you have the link between classic designs and modern industrial styles.  It is blended perfectly and looks absolutely stunning.

Tiling this design element is the best part.  Since everything is so simple, I wanted to bring in that intricate design through the hard surfaces, like a tile splash and the tile flooring.    The Walker Zanger Sterling Row Chesterfield in Linen Mosaic Tile is a heavy use tile suitable for flooring installation including heavy traffic and exterior surfaces, so it is a perfect material for the back splash in this kitchen, but can double as a splash and flooring tile.

I love the laser cut design, which creates that luxurious look bringing in textures and patterns.  The darker tiles in this design feature a wood look which brings in more warmth and supplements the missing texture from the painted cabinets.

Finally, this industrial styled light by Moda Lighting adds a second metal finish.  The Edison style bulb also adds to that industrial style, tying back to the faucet.  Many designers don't like mixing metal finishes, but like jewelry, mixing metal finishes in a room has become a new trend, and I hope this trend never goes away.

The many styles in this room, luxe, transitional, industrial, traditional, contemporary.  There is not specific style, but it all blends together seamlessly creating the kitchen that is today.  It is a mix on a classic, and hopefully will be around a long time.  Luxurious and timeless elements mixed with industrial elements.  I love it, and love creating it in people's homes.

5 Ways to Update your Kitchen on a Budget

So your looking for ways to update your kitchen, but you don't have the cash to spend.  I am always looking for a bargain, so I have a few tricks up my sleeve that will help you out.  First of all, budget is important.  Seems to be more so now than ever, people are trying to get the biggest bang for their buck, mostly because they don't have a lot of extra bucks to spend in the first place.  So when it comes to updating your kitchen, a full remodel isn't the best way to go.  

First, we all know a full blown kitchen remodel is on average 10% the value of your home.  If your house is worth $300,000, your talking $30,000 just for a kitchen remodel.  Who has that kind of cash laying around?  And it's certainly not "Budget". 

So what about Refacing?  After my years with Home Depot in their Kitchen and Bath Department, I will honestly tell you that Refacing is never a budget choice.  Going back to that $30,000 remodel, $10,000 of that is for cabinets, your probably going to spend that much, if not more, for refacing.  I can't tell you how many times I had customers choose to do a full blown remodel over refacing because it was actually cheaper, and they could change the layout issues they were having.  

So what's a budget fix then?  Obviously Replacing and refacing isn't a good budget option, so now what do you do?  I have several tricks up my sleeve that can spruce up your kitchen, all for less than $1000!  That's right, five different options to update a kitchen for less than a grand.  Even if you put it on a credit card, it's easy enough to pay off in a year.  

1. Refinishing:  Now obviously, for less than $1000, your not going to be able to have an artisan come in and paint your cabinets.  But you can do it yourself.  I painted all of my cabinets myself, with some help from the Mother in Law, for less than $200!  It took some time, patience, and reading a lot of instructions, but my kitchen looks amazing.  I have referred the products to more customers than I can even count, and have never had a negative bit of feedback.  The product I used, and highly recommend, is the Rust-Oleum Cabinet Transformation's Kit, available and most major home improvement stores for about $80/box, or 10 linear feet.  I used two boxes in my kitchen, and still have enough to do my bathrooms.
2.  New Hardware: New hinges, handles and pulls are a great way to update a kitchen with minimal out of pocket expense.  Getting rid of old brass colored hinges will instantly update your kitchen.  Even if you don't know how to route out your cabinets for concealed hinges, you can always go with a chrome or brushed nickel version of what you already have.  I replaced all the hinges in my kitchen for less than $25.  I only have 6 drawers, so I splurged on my drawer pulls, at about $6 each, but got less expensive door knobs, at about $2 each.  So for all new hinges, knobs and pulls, I spent about $100.  Check out Liberty Hardware, manufacturer of knobs, pulls, and hinges.
3.  New Flooring: Flooring isn't nearly as expensive as most people think, especially if you do the labor yourself.  Allure Ultra is a water proof flooring material that cost about $3/square foot, and is super easy to install yourself.  It's a click-lock material designed for the DIYer.  Available through Home Depot, there are some great wood look materials and some nice tile looks.  You can also get nice quality porcelain tile for around the same cost.  Rent a tile saw to keep your prices down.  Personally, I put laminate in my kitchen.  Not nearly as water resistant, but I wanted the same flooring throughout my house.  My flooring was actually only $2/foot at Home Depot, plus the underlayment required for slab foundations.  Total, was still less than $3/foot.
4.  Fresh Paint: The quickest way to update any space in your home is always going to be paint.  A quick and easy coat of paint can be an easy weekend job.  Just be sure to do the prep work.  Painting over a poorly prepped space is just asking for trouble.  Prime if needed, and texture over any areas that need it. We actually had someone come in and re texture the splash area to remove the floral wall paper.  It was the fastest way to get my kitchen out of the 1980's.  Including new spray texture, we spent about $1000 on this project.
5. Ditch the Fluorescent Lights: When trying to update your kitchen, another great way to update is to remove that ugly fluorescent light box so many of us have.  Swap it out for recessed cans.  We have a friend who is an electrician, and did the work for us fairly inexpensively.  We got five can's and with his labor probably spent about $700.  This project did have to be done with the texture and painting, so keep that in mind.  

A Style Defined: Moroccan

Home Office by Laura U, Inc

I love Moroccan Design.  I love the vibrant colors, the attention to detail, and the comfortable looking spaces.  My husband on the other hand, not so much. Morocco is on the North West edges of Africa, bordered by the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean.

Morocco has a diverse history, including many different inhabitants including Islamic, Berbers, French, Spanish, and Arabic.  This contrast in strong cultures has fused together to create this diverse and beautiful design style.  

Some of the things you will generally see in Moroccan inspired spaces include tiled floors layered with rugs, luxurious fabrics, metallic finishes, carved painted woods, and a lot of geometric patterns.  This style often includes bold colors, like purple, teal, yellow, and fuchsia along side more muted colors like white.  

The Moroccan also comes with a collection of great accessories.  Often, you will find great lanterns in metallic finishes, including Mercury Glass, which is ever so popular these days.  From beautifully sculpted vases, to ornate lighting fixtures, such as these great pendant lights by Viva Terra.  They are punched through, which creates a lovely mosaic of light on the walls while they create a soft glow in the room.  These particular lights come in a variety of sizes and shapes, and start at around $150.

Another popular item often found in a Moroccan style space are poufs.  This great seating option is sometimes considered a staple.  I personally have seen these also in some great metallic finishes, but also bold colors and prints, like the ones pictured here, by Graham and Green.  The fabrics and materials also have a wide variety of textures, creating both visual interest, as well as tactile.

Another staple of the Moroccan design stile is of course, the patterns. The patterns can be on anything.  From the fabrics adorning windows, (or Poufs!) to the tile on the floors or walls, pattern is essential.  The patterns can be simple in colors, or can be just as vibrant as the walls, it doesn't really matter either way.

This Mediterranean tile by SomerTile is a prime display of some of the great patterns you can find in this design style.  This mosaic would be greatly suited for a kitchen backsplash, bathroom walls, or any great Moroccan styled space.

There are a lot of resources out there today to find great products and inspirational images to get started on making over a room with Mediterranean flair.  Of course there is always Houzz.com, where most of these pictures came from, as well as Pinterest.com and a good old fashioned Google search.

Moroccan is not only a style, it is a culture, rich with diversity.  I would love to do a room in this style one day, but until then, I guess it's just finding great products and blogging about them.  

Powder Rooms

Often times, the smallest room in the house can pack the biggest design punch. These tiny spaces are often hard to design and showcase due to their limited space.  However, when done right, can make the biggest impact. Why just stop with a simple pedestal sink and toilet? Why just paint the walls the same color as every other room in the house? The powder room is a great way to give your home some personality, and here are some tips, tricks, and inspiring ideas!


This traditional powder room shows
a Bombay style console with an
above counter vessel sink.
Designed by: Garrison Hullinger Interior Design Inc

The Vanity

When it comes to the sink in a powder room, why settle with a simple pedestal sink from the hardware store?  Instead, you can add pop and storage with a great furniture inspired console vanity? The newest trend, recycling an old Bombay chest or other old furniture piece into a beautiful vanity complete with storage and design flair. The decorative elements including legs, hardware, and curves of these pieces are not to be forgotten.  The storage ads functionality to any bathroom leaving space to store spare rolls of paper, soap, cleaning supplies, and more.

The Sink
While I do love the simplicity of the Kohler Caxton Undermount Lavatory sink, there are thousands of other options that can be used in its place.  When the sink is going to be used solely to wash hands, why not think outside the box.  There are quite a few other materials for the bathroom sink outside the traditional vitreous China. Glass sinks, copper sinks, and even stone sinks are on the rise.


This modern powder room features
a wall mount pedestal sink and a
mosaic tiled wall.  Designed by:
Rachael Reider Interiors





The Walls

When looking at a small space like a powder room, you don't want to go too crazy with the walls, but going boring doesn't always work either.  Adding a pop of color, or even a fun print is often the best prescription for this tiny space.  Adding texture with tile, or pattern with wall paper keeps the room from being boring, and can add some personality to the space. 

The Faucet
There are thousands of faucets available on the market today.  With a wide variety of shapes, sizes, and finishes, the possibilities are endless. I typically recommend using a single handle faucet, or something easy to use by all users.  Stay away from anything with knobs, or difficult to turn on and off.  Faucets are a quick way to update your existing powder bathroom, if a full remodel isn't an option. 



Traditinal Outdoor Lighting
A great Alternative to the traditional vanity light
Available at Lamps Plus



When designing a powder bathroom, accessories are also an important factor.  Don't go with a generic mirror.  Have fun, find interesting mirror shapes, sizes, frames, and mounting methods.  Also, have fun with hardware.  Don't forget to add out of the box lighting, towel rings, paper holders, and decorations.  Just because the powder room is shoved into a corner of the house, doesn't mean it can't have some of those great and functional accessories.  A towel ring is much better than having a towel folded on the countertop.  Pull in other matching accessories like a trip actuator for the toilet, and a paper holder.  Most faucet lines have matching accessories, so get the set.  If not, mix and match styles to suit your own tastes.  Look at antique stores or consignment shops for mirrors that you wouldn't traditionally see in a bathroom.  Look at all lighting, not just vanity lighting.  Some outdoor fixtures are beautiful, and shouldn't just be banned to the back yard.

Eclectic Modern Elegance

Copyright © 2012 Sarah George

I was browsing through my Sherwin Williams fan deck, and came across a great color, SW 6214 Underseas. This bold color is my inspiration for this mood board.  I have been in love with the Modern Elegant style, and thought this color would be perfect, and this mood board proves to be inspiration for a great space.  The purple and orange floral arrangements by Distinctive Designs International add accent colors that can also be included through artwork, accessories, and more.  Two colors in the Sherwin Williams line would include: SW 6564 Red Clover (A Purple/Red) and SW 6648 Kumquat (A Dark Orange).  

This wallpaper, which greatly shows the color of the pallet, is available by
Graham and Brown, in their Superfresco Delight Collection, $55

The Tess Cocktail Table in Nickel Plate with a Mirrored Top is a great accent piece to the room.
Available by Worlds Away, this table starts at $298.00

This mosaic accent tile can be used in a variety of installations, from walls, to fireplaces, floor accents, and more.
Available by Hakatai, this Mosaic is available on a mesh-backed sheet 

The Brentwood Chandelier by Crystorama Lighting, Starting at $906.00
is a great and elegant way to add lighting to any formal, elegant, or eclectic space. 

These fun chairs, by Paul Tuttle at $6,750.00 for the Pair, are
a great way to add a little bit of Mid Century Modern Flair. 

Great Outdoor Spaces and Must Have Products

With summer in full swing, let's celebrate with great outdoor spaces, and some of the products that are must-haves for entertaining outside.  while of course a bar-b-q is a necessity for any backyard oasis, there are other products that you should know about before planning that big party. From materials to entertainment, cooking to dining, these spaces are exceptional and these products make it happen.

Correct poor growth areas, no more weeds, mud, and no mowing.
A play space, a show place, a quality artificial lawn.
HeavenlyGreens.com

Maintenance is key, some people love getting their hands dirty and love spending time working in their yard. Then there are the people like me, those who want a pristine yard but don't want to spend a minute working to get it that way. One thing that is important to me in my dream back yard, is maintenance free grass.  When I think of my lawn, I want no watering (not only green in color, but environmentally green as well), no mowing, and best of all, no weeds!  Now, while researching for this particular article, I was sceptical to recommend artificial turf because of my dog, and where she goes potty.  Well, I did find Heavenly Greens Artificial Turf, which has built in drainage and a sand infill which provides a playable and functional space for dogs.

Additional Maintenance relieving products include drip systems, and sprinkler systems that relieve watering tasks.  While yes, plants flowers and trees will need to be maintained, including trimming, cutting, and pruning, but at least it isn't a multiple times a week job.

TrueBright TV Outdoor Television 

Entertainment is always a must have. So what does the entertaining include?  Ever families idea of outdoor entertainment is different.  So what does your family want?  A giant TV to enjoy the game while Bar-B-Qing some burgers?  A pool table, or perhaps table tennis and air hockey?  How about a pool in general?  All of this can be done outdoors.  With a growing trend in outdoor entertaining, technology is leading the way.  For example, the television pictured here is 100% waterproof and designed to be outdoors, in the elements of the sun, rain, and so much more.  Now you can watch the game while soaking up the rays in the pool, or cook up some killer steaks during the Super Bowl, without missing a play (or commercial!)  There are also quick and easy ways of making your own big screen to be used with a projector.  Simply a white wall, or a large white sheet can be used for a movie night among the stars.

Other entertaining products for outdoors include a variety of gaming tables, including billiards tables, Foosball tables, table tennis, and air hockey.  You can also get items like dart boards and more.  Each family has their own idea of what is fun and entertaining.  Chances are, what ever you want is made for the outdoors.  Be sure to invest in products that will stand the test of time.

This infinity edge pool and spacious pool side living area's are
what so many of us dream about in our outdoor space.
Design by Austin Architect Cornerstone Architects

This outdoor kitchen is a culinary masterpiece featuring
many outdoor entertaining appliances fit for any party or chef.
Design by Sacramento Architect, Debbie R. Gualco

Appliances are key for any outdoor chef.  A Bar-B-Que isn't the only appliance that can fill your outdoor kitchen.  Refrigerators, pizza ovens, beverage centers, ice makers, warming drawers, and ventilation are only a few of the outdoor appliances that can fill your outdoor kitchen.  While there are many appliance manufacturers, be sure you get appliances specified for outdoor use, even if the appliance will be under an overhang and protected by the elements.  High heat and low freezing temperatures can damage any appliance not intended for outdoor use. Some manufacturers of outdoor appliances include KitchenAid, Viking, DCS Appliances, and many more.


Ambient enhancements also create an enjoyable outdoor living space.  Things like misters, ceiling fans, heaters, and creative lighting. It is suggested to work with a landscape architect or designer to create the best outdoor space for not only your family, but also your climate and even the soil you have in your yard.  Landscape Architects and Designers are great resources when planning outdoor living spaces.

Design by Atlanta Architect Kemp Hall Studio

This contemporary exterior space designed by
Denver Lighting Designer, 186 Lighting Design Group

This Modern Patio features creative lighting and a great entertaining space.
Design by Dallas Landscape Architect, Harold Leidner Landscape Architects

This pool and outdoor living space is great for pool parties and more.
Design by Orange County Landscape Designer, AMS Landscape Design Studios, Inc. 

  

The Man's Cave

Who will deny that typically, the wife is the boss in most households, especially when it comes to the decor and interior design of the spaces throughout the home.  Well, where women are typically the boss in the majority of the home, men are now getting their own space.  A space where sports take the center stage of decor, and the TV's are large.  These spaces are called the Man Caves.  Most men want these spaces in their home, and space permitting, more and more of these spaces are popping up, including basement renovations.  So where would you go for inspiration on these spaces, surely not a dive bar?  No, these spaces are rich with design and features, well beyond that of a bar in a scuzzy neighborhood.  Here is just a collection of some of these great rooms.

This basement design features lovely cabinetry, lighting features
a billiards table, and an entertaining bar space.
Design by Chicago Architect dSPACE Studio Ltd. 

This Swim Through Grotto is a swimming pool version of the man cave.  This
space features waterfalls, a swim up bar, kitchen, patio, and large television
complete with sound system as well as a custom light show.
This amazing design by Oklahoma City Contractors, CAVINESS LANDSCAPE DESIGN, INC. 

This is a Media Room Inspired design
By Detroit Kitchen and Bath Designer, designtechonline.com

This basement design features a large media area, bar, and billiards table.
Design by Washington DC area Contractor, A&A Design Build Remodeling, Inc. 

This Garage-Turned-Diner is a fun take on the man cave

No Man Cave is complete without the Man Bathroom.
This half bath is complete with two sinks, and two urinals.
Design by San Francisco Architect, Winder Gibson Architects

This Trophy Room is a great Man Cave for the hunter in your family.
Design by Interior Designer Heather DeMoras  

Dynamic Yellow and Black Interiors

Hello, I’m Joanna. I write for Arcadian Lighting, an online source for brilliant pendant lights and a range of lighting fixtures in all styles and finishes. Today, I bring you dynamic yellow and black spaces from around the web. I love the high contrast between the two and find the combination looks just as lovely in a traditional space as it does in an eclectic one. Thank you, Steel Lily Design, for letting me guest post today. Hope you enjoy!

This yellow and black living room is a vibrant mix of color, pattern and texture. The black chandelier adds a formal touch while the chain link tables give a funky vibe.

A gallery wall adds interest just around the corner from a yellow and black kitchen. The white canvas of the walls and floor make the yellow elements pop.

Sleek black velvet chairs play nicely off the brilliant yellow of the wall. Turquoise accents add a fun vibe to the space.

Elegant black furnishings look quite at home within yellow walls. I love the ornate gold and black chair and the metal light fixture.

The black mirror against yellow walls and light stained floors creates an ornate focal point in this eclectic living room off of the office pictured above.

A contemporary bedroom with sitting area boasts touches of yellow in pillows, accessories and bench at the foot of the bed. The silhouette wallpaper brings a touch of nature indoors.

An eclectic children’s bathroom mixes dynamic black and yellow elements. The clawfoot tub with yellow feet is especially cute.

A modern eat-in kitchen gets its own version of yellow and black. The yellow is carried through the space from cabinets to pendant lights above the table. Images 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 What do you think of these Yellow and Black Interiors? Leave us some comments below! Be sure to stop by our website for more ceiling lights, wall sconces, lighting fixtures, and lighting inspirations!