Flos Lighting

A great kitchen design needs quality lighting. No matter how stylish your home looks, you won’t want to use your new kitchen if it is dark – especially at night.

I first wrote about Flos Lighting in 2007 (have I really been blogging that long?) in a post featuring the Arco Floor lamp positioned over a kitchen island. I think I like the idea a whole lot more now than I did then. The light comes in both incandescent and LED options.

If you prefer pendant lights for lighting your kitchen island, the Fucsia pendant is a great choice. It is not only stunning to look at, it will light your work surface beautifully.

These lights have a blown glass diffuser with a sandblasted edge and a silicone ring at the bottom to prevent movement. They come in single purchase size or in groupings of 3, 8 or 12.

January 28, 2013

Hot and Cold

In April 2013 you will be able to get the New GE Café™ French Door refrigerator that will be able to dispense both chilled and hot water.

A refrigerator that heats water is an industry first. GE offers a unique solution for homeowners who don’t have much cabinet space under the sink for a hot water dispenser.

The dispense is not an Instant Hot. You will have to wait a few minutes according to GE. Four pre-programmed options will be available from the door panel or you can select a custom temperature.

Since the dispenser opening is large enough to set a mug and walk away, I can see how this might appeal to a busy mom who wants to steep her tea while she’s getting her children off to school in the morning.

January 23, 2013

Color Trends

Are you thinking about remodeling your bathroom?

Have you torn out a collection of magazine pages showing beautiful baths clad in white marble and white fixtures?

While white fixtures will remain timeless, the color choices for your walls are shifting towards darker grays. (Gray = American while Grey = UK)

I prefer warm grays over cool grays. Although sometimes a cooler gray will look great with Carrara Marble.

Gray works in many different styles of homes. It’s perfect for a rustic modern or loft-style home, a traditional home with a modern feel or a contemporary home.

You might also enjoy: Benjamin Moore Color of the Year 2015

If decorating around a theme, gray is perfect for creating a Zen bathroom.

Consider if giving your bath a new look with a simple coat of gray paint. Light or dark, it will be anything but boring. Adding accents of color with towels, flowers and soaps is an inexpensive way to quickly keep a room looking fresh.

January 16, 2013

New Design Trend: Oak

Some of my great Blogging Friends are over in Germany attending the International Furniture Fair at IMM Cologne this week. (Jealous) One of the trends coming from the show is “naturalness.”

Light oaks in particular, as well as oak variants with an attractive grain in natural wood tones on clean door styles will be one of the strongest trends coming from the show. It doesn’t matter if the door is an actual wood veneer or a plastic door that mimics wood’s appearance.

Expect to see this look paired with white and matte stainless – except on the walls, they will be gray. More daring individuals may be inspired by the show to pair the wood with bright colors such as cobalt blue or saffron yellow.

Gnarled Oak Kitchen by Leicht

Brushed grains, staggered joints, cracks and knots also enhance the appeal of this trend. Some manufacturers are even applying oak shingles to cabinet fronts for visual interest.