Questions about Timeless Design?
Emily H
3 years ago
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (44)
cawaps
3 years agoArchitectural Notice
3 years agolast modified: 3 years agoRelated Discussions
Your Opinion? Timeless Elements In Kitchen Design
Comments (118)Timeless is such a hard word for me. I think that white cabinets, marble, real butcher block, natural stone, some openness and natural light are timeless to me. Granted the MOST timeless thing to me is functionality. When I started looking for my first house my dad said something that stuck with me, "Look past ugly, you can change ugly --you can't change location, size and layout (easily)- - it is a lot easier take down some wallpaper, lighting fixtures and sea foam green carpet then it is to add an extension or re-arranging walls and be in a different neighborhood." Now when I first started my kitchen reno FUCTION was the most important thing to me, I opened a wall, closed another, moved all my appliances around, added appliances, added an eating bar into my living room and huge amounts of counter space. That to me is timeless, my finishes however are not. If I were to sell my house 6 months from now, I am POSITIVE people would balk at my two tone cabinets, one white with a glaze, my big farm sink, my ORB handles and fixtures and busy granite, the fact I choice new white appliances over stainless steel,, my beveled arabesque, my choice to use multiple big mouldings and other things that I can't think of right now. But to be honest I don't care. I started this project looking for validation from friends/family on what to do and was so unhappy with the results. My mom had a 1940's farm house that she recently re-did the sprawling kitchen with ivory shaker cabinets and black movement filed granite and super top end stainless appliances, restoration hardware lights, simple and beautiful, Many times, by many people called timeless and classic--but I would never want it in my house. I finally decided to treat my kitchen like a reflection of myself, I am 28, I am a housewife with no kids who loves to entertain and does so at least weekly. I am Italian as is my husband with HUGE families that are very close. I love makeup and wear a lot of it, I do not usually leave the house ( or my dressing room for that matter) with out the longest fake eyelashes I can find. I have hip length long blonde hair. It is not uncommon to find me in the kitchen with a pair of 6 inch stilettos on and if I think I put on enough jewelry for the day-- I will go put on just one more piece ;-) So why can't my kitchen reflect me?... It may be over the top, it may be easily dated, it may even be deemed tacky, busy or gaudy... but I can tell you I look just right standing in the middle of it, cause honestly I am a little bit of all of those things. BUT my layout is perfect and functional, it is opened enough to entertain, but closed enough to give me peace when I want it. My cabinets are solid, my moldings are classic (albeit there are a lot of them) my appliances are quality as are finishes-- to me THAT is timeless.... I feel finishes are personal preference in all aspects of life... My ultra crystal filled ostrich feathered giant......See MoreQuestion about language in interior designers contract for new home
Comments (15)Thanks, all for the insight. Based on past experience I don't have a problem with the markup - with past designers the items I've gotten have been below retail even with the markup, and when they weren't I purchased them independent from the designer. I'm not fond of paying the markup AND and hourly rate - I would expect one or the other to be lower when working on items for which the designers gets a markup (v. specing items for the builder to order). That said, we strongly prefer this design firm and are going ahead with them, as they bring tremendous value that others with whom we've chatted just can't provide (prime among them being excellent communication and follow through, and use of CAD in the design process both to help us visualize options and to ensure the desired end result is clear to installers). Mostly, the contract terms just make it such that we're unlikely to buy furniture or window coverings through the designer, but, honestly, we don't really want new furniture, and I can handle window coverings....See MoreSpecific questions about our architect's preliminary designs
Comments (46)Am I seeing correctly that the half bath opens directly onto the living/dining area? Agree. This is a complete no-no. I also don't understand why you'd have two half-baths. The master shower looks tiny. 3x3? You are not going to enjoy it. Agree. 3x3 is do-able, but it's a bit summer-campy. I'd give up quite a few other things in order to have a more comfortable shower. The kitchen does look "off". The kitchen is "off" because it's broken up into fragments, meaning you'd have to walk from section to section to cook a meal. The space is here ... but the kitchen needs a complete re-do. Nice pantry though. You want the southern exposure for your bedroom, right? I'd rather have the prized southern exposure for my great room -- the room where I spend most of my waking hours. In the laundry room, well, just put the machines along the outside wall and the sink on the inside wall. No, don't vent into the garage, you will have encrusted lint and moisture all over the cars, and everything else. Trust me. Experience. You could easily run a long dryer vent along the length of the garage ... but why bother /why make it more difficult to clean your dryer vent, when you could easily move the washer/dryer to the other side? General thoughts on the plan: - I like this style of house very much, but I do agree with the poster who says that proportion is key. - Imagine yourself bringing large furniture into the master bedroom. How are you going to make the turn from that small hallway? - The master bath could be so much better. It's a large room, but everything's kind of "strung out" with a bunch of empty space in the middle of the room. - If the great room were JUST a living room -- not a living plus dining room -- it'd be a nice size. But it isn't nearly big enough to house both. - I love that you have a broom closet. One of the things I anticipate with the most joy for our new house is a cleaning closet ... where I can keep all my cleaning goods in one place. Don't neglect to include an outlet in this room ... you're likely to want to keep a hand-held vac and/or a stick vac plugged in here. - You've included three eating areas ... all within a few feet of one another. Does this fit with your lifestyle? How often will you use the big dining room table? Where would your family of four eat dinner most evenings? - The whole mudroom /half-bath area seems over-done /overly complicated. So many doors inside -- more than are needed for a mudroom, and they're going to be in the way ... I also don't care for two entrance doors on the front of the house. - I do not care for the idea of a full bath near the mudroom (note that I grew up on a farm and own a working farm today -- I have never once wanted to come in and take a shower by the back door). Think it through: it's more trouble than it's worth: It's another shower to keep stocked with towels and toiletries ... and after you've showered, you're across the whole house from your closet /clean clothes. Two better options: 1) Put a foot bath outside the entry so you can take off your muddy shoes /come in with clean feet and walk to the bathroom in your bedroom. 2) Place the master bedroom near an entryway so you can go straight into your own bathroom, where you have all your stuff at the ready. Design the master suite so that you don't have to walk through the bedroom and the closet area to reach the shower....See MoreDesigning IKEA kitchen island....question about countertop support
Comments (19)mikebone: This island was installed per engineered stone manufacturer's installation instructions, but not by me. Although you can't see it here, it has a slight dip in the middle of the cantilever: Manufacturers don't always know what's best for their products, however, the guys who make money from installing their products and will lose money if they get a callback, do. Sink manufacturers say you need a 36" cabinet to install a 33" sink. You don't; I do it all the time, no callbacks. They provide clips for the installation of their sinks; clips are junk and leak. We'd still be making joints in Corian with silicone were it up to the engineers and specifiers at DuPont. Thermoforming was invented by the guys who bought the sheets; they wrote the specs after we worked the bugs out. You had better know what the hell you're doing if you go against the manufacturer's specifications, however, they should be considered minimums. The estone manufacturer in the above photo didn't wait around long enough to see the sag. I didn't have to, but there it was. Our customers are much more fussy than theirs....See MoreAnna Devane
3 years agoSabrina Alfin Interiors
3 years agolast modified: 3 years agohollybar
3 years agobllandreth
3 years agoarcy_gw
3 years agolast modified: 3 years agotartanmeup
3 years agoJilly
3 years agoAstrid Hale
3 years agotartanmeup
3 years agocawaps
3 years agoAstrid Hale
3 years agoAstrid Hale
3 years agoCarolyn Sanders
3 years agoCarolyn Sanders
3 years agoAstrid Hale
3 years agoNancy
3 years agojmm1837
3 years agolast modified: 3 years agoAstrid Hale
3 years agoTenna Ball
3 years agoPatricia Colwell Consulting
3 years agoJazz Easy
3 years agoshivece
3 years agoCarol jean Mudgett
3 years agolauriegp18
3 years agoJAN MOYER
3 years agolast modified: 3 years agoZalco/bring back Sophie!
3 years agoSabrina Alfin Interiors
3 years agojmm1837
3 years agohollybar
3 years agoJudyG Designs
3 years agolast modified: 3 years agoDiana Bier Interiors, LLC
3 years agocawaps
3 years agoJAN MOYER
3 years agolast modified: 3 years agoZalco/bring back Sophie!
3 years agolara1812
3 years agobtydrvn
3 years agobllandreth
3 years agoAstrid Hale
3 years agoJAN MOYER
3 years agolast modified: 3 years agotartanmeup
3 years agoZalco/bring back Sophie!
3 years agolast modified: 3 years ago
Related Stories
DESIGNING A BUSINESS2 More Questions Designers Should Ask About Gaining New Skills
A design coach proposes two ways designers can consider the value of education, credentialing and trade membership
Full StoryDESIGNING A BUSINESS2 Key Questions Designers Should Ask About Building Their Skills
A design coach provides a framework for thinking about which education and credentialing options make the most sense
Full StoryDesign Dilemmas: 5 Questions for Design Stars
Share Your Design Know-How on the Houzz Questions Board
Full StoryMOST POPULAR8 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Meeting With Your Designer
Thinking in advance about how you use your space will get your first design consultation off to its best start
Full StoryLANDSCAPE DESIGNPros Field Your Questions About Outdoor Lighting
Find out what to consider when illuminating your landscape for safety and ambiance
Full Story5 Questions for Design Stars
Houzz Members Need Your Help With This Week's Design Dilemmas!
Full StoryFURNITURETimeless Design: Thonet's Bistro Chair
See How the Classic Bentwood 'Chair of Chairs' Still Shapes Seating Design
Full Story
cawaps