Design Idea for Condos

Sometimes, especially in high rises, it is impossible to relocate floor drains in bathrooms. I like this creative solution that solves a dilemma caused by not being able to locate the shower at the end of the bathroom.

This bathroom would look very cramped if the shower was not frameless and clear. Even the door has minimal hardware. Using the same color troweled on the wall also gives the room a continuous flow. Although this room is not for the modest, the glass shower helps to separate the toilet and bidet from the sink.

July 19, 2007

Full Height Marble Splash

With tile so popular these days I rarely get requests for full height backsplashes so I was thrilled to see a picture posted by Materialicious of a German kitchen featuring white marble running not just up the side of a tall cabinet but across the top too.

Most Americans don’t like how easily marble can stain and tend to favor granite or quartz countertops. If you want to recreate this look with either material you can substitute strips on top of the cabinet to cut the cost and weight.

CaesarStone and Corian Samples

July 16, 2007

Design Idea

I thought it would be nice to share some of the clever ideas that can be used when designing kitchens with awkward areas. This photo from House Beautiful shows serving trays nestled in a small corner.

Other options for a space like this include small shelves for a rolling pin, rolling cloth and biscuit cutters for someone who bakes often.

July 14, 2007

Feng Shui is the Child of Vasstu Shastra

Some Feng Shui practitioners believe the Chinese science of harmonious home living was adapted from India’s Vaastu Shastra, a book of architecture written in Sanskrit in the 10th century AD and practiced by the Vedic civilization.

The principles of Vaastu harness the power of the Earth in addition to other surrounding celestial bodies to bring health, wealth and good fortune. Vaastru Shastra’s tenets help define building layouts so positive and negative forces are in balance to naturally ensure general prosperity of the owners.

Vaastu Your Kitchen
Since the kitchen deals with the health and nourishment of the family, inappropriate placement or design can directly cause illness or loss of health. Techniques to Vaastu a kitchen include placing it on the southeast side of the home with the pantry in a southern location.

The stove should be placed on the southeast side allowing the cook to face east. A stove in the north or east side of the kitchen may cause possible accidents. The dishwasher and toaster are preferred on the south side due to their heat production. The refrigerator should be placed in the northwest, southeast, south or west. Faucets are most beneficial on the northeast side; placement on the south or west side is believed to increase illness in the person consuming the water.

The kitchen should be painted yellow, rose, red, orange or chocolate brown. If possible avoid painting walls white or black. Red is the preferred color for countertops.

It is much harder to find information on Vaastu than Feng Shui so you may want to hire a Vaastu consultant to analyze your space and make recommendations to correct Vaastu anomalies.

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