Help! 5 Questions for Design Stars
Do You Have an Answer for This Week's Design Dilemmas?
In some parts of the world it feels like spring is just around the corner. In other areas, winter is the only season in sight. No matter where you live, home remodeling and renovations everywhere are charging ahead. Houzz user ladytamara is already thinking about redesigning her concrete patio. Member leabeau is refinishing her fireplace, and msutherby is designing a mudroom. Decisions about kitchen countertop materials and floor plans affect homeowners everywhere. And they are sparking questions! How many of these can you answer?
2. How to decorate a mudroom:
"Can you recommend a cabinet/hutch (or idea) for the end of a hallway in a new mudroom? It is what you will see when you enter through the mudroom door. (The kitchen is to the right of there.) There will be off-white beadboard on the walls, and my kitchen will be white/black honed granite. This entrance is easier access than the front door, so we think a lot of visitors will use it. I'd like it to be more of an 'entry' feel. I also want to incorporate some sort of light/lighting. The ceiling height is only 7'3" - it was the former attached garage space." Ideas? Post them here.
"Can you recommend a cabinet/hutch (or idea) for the end of a hallway in a new mudroom? It is what you will see when you enter through the mudroom door. (The kitchen is to the right of there.) There will be off-white beadboard on the walls, and my kitchen will be white/black honed granite. This entrance is easier access than the front door, so we think a lot of visitors will use it. I'd like it to be more of an 'entry' feel. I also want to incorporate some sort of light/lighting. The ceiling height is only 7'3" - it was the former attached garage space." Ideas? Post them here.
3. What to use for kitchen countertops:
"We are looking for help with our sad, dated kitchen. The appliances have been replaced and are all white, but the countertops and cabinets are the same dark color. We're planning on painting the cabinets white and replacing the hardware. Any feedback for the countertops/backsplash? Has anyone had success with painting countertops or a different economical solution? Looking forward to your input :) Click here to help.
"We are looking for help with our sad, dated kitchen. The appliances have been replaced and are all white, but the countertops and cabinets are the same dark color. We're planning on painting the cabinets white and replacing the hardware. Any feedback for the countertops/backsplash? Has anyone had success with painting countertops or a different economical solution? Looking forward to your input :) Click here to help.
4. How to finish a fireplace surround:
"We are installing a cultured stone surround with a TV inset above and would like advice on if we should stone the inset or just paint it? We will have very light/white walls, dark hardwood floors, and custom cabinets on each side halfway up the wall. Our TV will not fill the whole space, and will sit on a wall mount so the inset will be viewable until we get a larger TV (no time soon)." What do you suggest? Answer here.
Want to see more design dilemmas? Click here.
"We are installing a cultured stone surround with a TV inset above and would like advice on if we should stone the inset or just paint it? We will have very light/white walls, dark hardwood floors, and custom cabinets on each side halfway up the wall. Our TV will not fill the whole space, and will sit on a wall mount so the inset will be viewable until we get a larger TV (no time soon)." What do you suggest? Answer here.
Want to see more design dilemmas? Click here.
5. Help with the kitchen layout:
"We are remodeling our house and the new kitchen will be U-shaped, with 12'6" on the bottom of the U and 9'4.5" on one side, 15'6.5" on the other. Our architect thinks we will have room for a long narrow island, 2'4" wide. That only leaves just barely 36" on either side (not counting counter overhang, if any) if we have 2' cabinets on both sides of the U. Is that crazy? What if we pull the island out, away from the more heavily used refrigerator/sink/stove triangle? The attached photo shows the idea.... Any alternative ideas? Thank you!!" Share your ideas.
"We are remodeling our house and the new kitchen will be U-shaped, with 12'6" on the bottom of the U and 9'4.5" on one side, 15'6.5" on the other. Our architect thinks we will have room for a long narrow island, 2'4" wide. That only leaves just barely 36" on either side (not counting counter overhang, if any) if we have 2' cabinets on both sides of the U. Is that crazy? What if we pull the island out, away from the more heavily used refrigerator/sink/stove triangle? The attached photo shows the idea.... Any alternative ideas? Thank you!!" Share your ideas.
"Help! Our house has these 3 patios connected by sidewalk. The largest is broken into 4 pieces. We had a hot tub on it (but that didnt break it). Now the hot tub is coming out this spring, and I am going to be back on the patio looking like this. I live in Michigan. What can I do to make this look decent without spending a fortune?" Click here to answer and to see more photos of the space.