Friday, August 28, 2009

Seamless sink...

There is a new sink on the market that has been called "revolutionary." The Affluence Seamless Sink is making waves in the kitchen and bath industry. It won the prestigious Best of Competition at KBIS (Kitchen and Bath Industry Show) 2009.

People are talking about it because there is no seam around the drain. Typical sinks have an unsightly seam around the drain fitting. This spot is notorious for catching all sorts of debris and breeding germs.





The new Affluence Seamless Sink eliminates the problem area. It makes for a much more streamlined look and is much more attractive as well as sanitary. Just look at the difference.




There are also more problems the Seamless Sink addresses. The strainer basket fits in both sides of a two bowl sink. It fits in the drain and the garbage disposal. Installation of the drain and disposal is reduced by 20-60 minutes and is very easy. There is a video on the Affluence website that shows the install complete in 90 seconds.

If you are remodeling your kitchen, this is one product you definitely need to consider. It will make cleaning much easier. Once it catches on with designers and homeowners, it will be a very hot product.





Thanks,

Sunshine

HomeWerks, A Design Studio

Friday, August 21, 2009

Choosing the right paint color......

If you have ever painted a room, you know just how daunting it can be to get the color just right. You go to the paint store thinking it will be a simple task- bring home some yellow paint. But when you get there, you are overwhelmed by all the choices. Yellow isn't simply yellow. Do you want butter, honey, camel, orange or wheat yellow?

If you are lucky enough to find the right color, when you get it home and on the walls, you start rethinking your color choice- somehow it just isn't quite right. With all that in mind, here a few tips to help you get it right and not be afraid to tackle that next painting task.


First, you need to know a little about color schemes. There are many different color harmonies, but three of the like most common are monochromatic, neutral and complementary. Which one you use depends on the mood you would like to convey in the space.



Monochromatic is created by one color in different shades, as in light blue, blue and dark blue. This creates a very unified look and makes a room appear larger. Monochromatic is also the simplest color harmony, but that doesn't have to mean boring.



This room is a good example of a monochromatic color scheme. It uses varying shades of yellow.







Another popular color harmony is neutral. This one is achieved by using combinations of gray, black and white, but can also be brown, tan and beige. Sometimes accent colors are added to provide interest. These rooms are usually crisp and relaxing.


This room is a great example if a neutral color combination with an accent thrown in for some excitement.








A Complementary color scheme is one that uses two colors that are opposite each other on the color wheel. The most popular combination is red and green. But there is also blue and orange and yellow and purple. But these combinations can be altered by using varying shades of the colors. One color should be dominant and the other color can be a lighter intensity to soften the contrast.

This room uses the red/green combination, but in varying shades and intensities.






The best combinations use at least three colors and sometimes
four. One color is used and a dominate color and the accent colors draw attention to the details.
In this photo, the dominate color is red and the yellow and blue stand out and make the ottoman and pillows the focal points.













Now that you have an idea about color schemes, it's time to find just the right shades. Nowadays it is easier to match paint to your sofa rather than painting your walls and then trying to find a sofa to match the paint. There are literally 1000's of paint color choices while your accents and fabrics allow less choices. Most every paint retailer can now custom match a fabric or color that you bring into the store. That way you know your are getting the closest match possible.


It is also worth while to invest in a few cans of paint samples. They are usually $3-$5 and you can try out several colors on large patches of wall to really get the true feel of the color in the room. The little bitty paint chip may look great in the store, but once you paint half the wall at home, you may realize you made a mistake. The paint samples help prevent major headaches and regret!


You can also go online and try a paint tool. Sherwin Williams has Color Visualizer. You can pick what type of room and add colors to the furniture, trim, wall and ceilings to get a feel of what your room might look like. Benjamin Moore also has a visualizer but you can upload your own photos and apply color them.

Experts say the least expensive way to make the biggest change in a room is to change to wall color. It's the biggest area in the room and make the largest impact. Don't be afraid to be use bold colors. Hopefully this article helped out a bit. But if you have any questions, don't be afraid to ask!!

Thanks,

Sunshine

HomeWerks, A Design Studio

Friday, August 14, 2009

One must have product for your spa bath...

If you're like most of us, you're cruising the information highway and being overloaded with "how-to" and remodel ideas. There are so many beautiful makeovers that it's hard to step back into reality and face your own space.

Most of our clients have a strict budget and like to get the best quality and look for the smallest price. There is always a little compromising in this situation. But if you're planning on remodeling your bath, there is one product that will be a great remedy and will instantly transform your space.


The Jacuzzi Ristorre shower system is definitely one item worth splurging on. It is backed by the quality and famous Jacuzzi name and isn't out of reach even for a small budget. The system quickly transforms your everyday shower into a spa-like experience. There are three designs to choose from, so one of them is bound to fit your style. Installation is extremely easy- it mounts right to the wall and uses the existing plumbing.


Ristorre™ Metallo™ Showers



















Ristorre™ Onda™ Showers




















Ristorre™ Ovale™ Showers




















A new trend is starting to emerge in master baths- no bathtubs. For some, a bathtub is rarely used and a waste of space. Homeowners would rather splurge on the one area they use everyday- the shower. The Jacuzzi system is the perfect item for that.

You can see an actual system installed if you look at our last blog post. After the remodel was complete, the homeowner joked that everyone who saw the shower wanted to try it out and she should start charging admission! But you can also stop by our showroom to see one.

So if you are planning your dream bath, the Jacuzzi Ristorre is the way to go. It gives an instant high-end update and installation is quick and easy. You'll be thankful every time you step into your very own spa shower.

Thanks,

Sunshine
HomeWerks, A Design Studio





Friday, August 7, 2009

Award winning master bath remodel

We completed a master bath remodel last year that was recently recognized by the local NKBA chapter. Our client came to us and wanted to take her existing master bath and transform it into a "spa bath." After a few meeting and changes, our team came up with a solution the client loved.

This is the before....




All the old tile came out as well as the glass block and walls around the shower- which was small and cramped. 18" tile placed diagonally was used for the flooring and the same tile in different sizes were used for the new tub surround and shower. A new luxurious Jacuzzi shower system was installed in place of the old fixtures. By taking out the walls of the shower, it allowed a seat
to be added.
The tiny linen closet was also removed and replaced with gorgeous cabinetry that flowed around to the vanity. The tall cabinet provided much needed organized storage. A new efficient Toto toilet replaced the old water closet.

This is the after....



After the project was complete, the homeowner was very pleased and couldn't have been happier with her new "spa bath." The remodel also won us 3rd place in the local NKBA competition.