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Functioning in a kitchen or bathroom is something that most people take for granted, but living in a wheelchair can pose problems in these rooms. What are some design elements that can be added to kitchens or bathrooms to make them easier accessible for handicapped persons without looking like a hospital? |
| A |
The most important things to keep in mind when remodeling to make a bathroom and/ or kitchen wheelchair accessible, is to consider maneuverability and attainability. For example, if a kitchen space is a dead-end situation, ensure that a five-foot turning radius is provided for at the end of the space to allow a wheelchair to make a 180-degree change in directions. Secondly, since the standard height for cabinets and countertops is 36 inches, work areas or areas that will need to be accessed regularly, such as the sink area, should be lowered. Base cabinets in kitchens or vanities in bathrooms may need to be replaced or removed to allow for this lower area and to create sufficient leg space. Finally, keep floor clutter to a minimum and ensure that all flooring materials used meet a coefficient of friction that will prevent slippage. All of this can be done with relative ease and attractively.
To create an aesthetically pleasing handicap-accessible room is no different than the remodeling efforts in standard kitchens and baths-focus attention on key elements that will draw the eyes' attention. Faucets in both areas, for example, can make a beautiful design statement while being wheelchair friendly. A kitchen faucet with a spout that also serves as a pull-down sprayer makes more of the sink accessible from one stationary position. Faucets with lever handles or single-handles should also be used in lieu of cross handles for ease of temperature adjustment.
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| Q |
How do I choose a wood floor color and cabinet color? Should the floor be darker, lighter or the same shade as the cabinets?
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| A |
Today, personal style dictates so much of what will work or not work in a kitchen or bathroom space. Generally speaking, I prefer a darker wood color for the floor than what appears on the cabinets. A dark floor serves as the base of the space and can also make a room appear larger. Dark colors, when addressing horizontal planes, such as the ceiling and floor, draw those planes visually downward. Therefore, a dark colored ceiling will often make a room appear smaller by drawing that surface into the room. A darker colored floor has the tendency of making that room appear larger since that surface visually depresses, creating the illusion of more verticality. A monochromatic approach, where the cabinet and floor color are the same, also works to visually expand a space by diminishing contrasting breaks between surfaces. It cannot be absolutely said, however, that a lighter floor paired with darker cabinets is a bad design idea. In the end, it really is about how all those elements begin to come
together.
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| Q |
What should you consider when choosing a countertop color? Should it coordinate with the wall color, the cabinet color, the floor color, or is it just personal preference
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| A |
When addressing countertops, I always advise to go with a color that will endure the test of time and your changing tastes and preferences. The countertop is the one area that I suggest keeping versatile and as neutral and plain in color as possible, since it is often an extremely expensive component and difficult to change. When choosing a color, think about selecting one that will look good with all the colors that you love. This will allow a change in paint on the walls or a coat of paint on the cabinets to occur down the line without having to re-invest in countertops. Absolute Black granite, for example, is a good choice for many situations since it is a relatively durable material, has almost no discernable pattern, and coordinates with virtually any color that you can think of. It will withstand a change from traditional to contemporary (something that could occur by painting walls and changing out hardware an d/ or cabinet doors) and is timeless in appearance.
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| Q |
Are stainless steel appliances here to stay or are they just a fad?
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| A |
Stainless steel appliances are definitely here to stay as a viable option for your kitchen. Unlike the mustard or pea green trends of the past, the appeal of stainless comes from the neutrality, versatility and durability it offers. Today, we see stainless appliances in the most traditional of kitchens to the most contemporary of ones. The future of appliances is about personal choices and making your unique statement in every room of the house. For some people, this will mean covering appliances with fronts that match their cabinets while for others this will mean black, white or stainless fronts.
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| Q |
Color definitely sets the tone or mood of a room. What are some colors that you would recommend to give a room a warm, cozy feel? What would you choose for a cool, breezy feel?
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| A |
Color is a powerful tool to express yourself! Warm and cozy rooms benefit from reds, oranges, golds and browns. Cooler rooms benefit from blues, purples and grays. These, however, are not absolute rules. Virtually every color has versions that will skew warm or cool, and selecting the exact right color will have to be done with your specific lighting conditions in mind. Incandescent lights, for example, generally bring out the warmth in colors by casting a yellow quality on your walls. Fluorescent lights will generally bring out the coolness in colors, drawing out the blue quality in your walls. My favorite lamping type is low voltage halogen lighting. For me, this is the closest approximation to natural daylight and allows the color to best express its true quality.
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| Q |
My bathroom is tiled 70s pink throughout and I can't afford new tile. Can I paint it? If so, what kind of paint/prep do I need?
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| A |
Yes, there is paint out there specifically designated for tile. However, I don't generally recommend painting a surface that needs to withstand a lot of wiping, cleaning or moisture. Instead, I would recommend trying to work with the pink by reinventing the parts of the room that you can paint. Pink can be paired with chocolate brown to lend the room a sophisticated edge, or pair it with deep red to make it bold and modern. Pink is also great with orange for a more fun and festive environment, or with a neutral color to tone the whole room down. The point is to work with what you have rather than resorting to painting the tile. Practicality and functionality are often times just as important as aesthetics.
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| Q |
Do you have any suggestions for décor over my cabinets in the kitchen?
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| A |
For décor over cabinets, try and keep this area as simple and clean as possible! It is very tempting to fill all the open spaces in a home, but these areas often end up being dust collectors! Dried, plastic and silk plants are not believable, in my opinion, since these areas get very little light and are arduous to access for watering purposes. If you feel that you must put something on top of the cabinets, try two or three larger items that will make a statement versus a whole collection of smaller things. Sometimes less really can be more!
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| Q |
I am moving south soon and will be building a home. Are there any style differences in faucets and fixtures popular in tropical Florida as compared to the New England area?
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| A |
Tropical Florida has its own unique flavor and culture and you may want your new home to address this! Mediterranean-style architecture and design dominate much of Florida, but there are very strong pockets of modern influences as well. The abundance of styles and faucets and fixtures can begin to address these styles in wonderful finishes such as wrought iron and brushed nickel. Have fun with the fixtures and faucets in your home and really let your personality shine through!
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| Q |
What are some recommendations on lighting a small bathroom
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| A |
A small bathroom can be a real challenge from both lighting and space vantage points. My recommendation for the most ideal lighting includes overhead lighting in the form of recessed halogen cans, on a dimmer, as a primary source of lighting, with sconce lighting as a secondary source. Sconce lighting on the sides of your mirror places light level with your face, however if space is a concern, a light above a mirror may take up less wall space, but is less at the level of your face. Regardless of the type or position of your lighting, all fixtures in your bathroom should be on dimmers to allow you to adjust the light levels to perfectly suit your specific need.
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| Q |
Is ceramic tile still a stylish surface for countertops? My husband thinks it's outdated, but I've seen it on HGTV--what is your opinion?
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| A |
Ceramic tile countertops can offer a very different look from the other popular countertop options today. The key with countertops, however, is to keep them functional by ensuring that they are easily cleanable. With ceramic countertops, you will have grout joints and these are areas where debris and food can collect, making them more difficult to keep clean over the long run. For me, the issue is less of the look being outdated and more about the practicality issue of having an easy to maintain surface in your kitchen. Remember that the countertop is the workhorse of the kitchen and will receive lots of use and abuse. It makes sense to select something that is both beautiful and practical.
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| Q |
I can't afford to replace my cabinets. How difficult is it to stain or paint them--or do you have other suggestions to give them an updated look
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| A |
Changing out the hardware on cabinets often gives them a totally new lease on life. Wrought iron, oil rubbed bronze, and brushed nickel are among many of the more current finish offerings that can update the appearance of cabinets. Today's styles vary widely, ranging from very traditional to extremely modern, yet are very affordable and accessible. Pairing new hardware with a new faucet in the same finish can also dramatically and easily update the look of the entire kitchen.
If you really want to paint your kitchen cabinets, ensure that they are first sanded and then primed with a tinted primer before a drop of paint ever hits them. Once your cabinets are ready to paint, select a paint with a finish such as satin, semi-gloss or gloss to make them cleanable and more moisture resistant. Staining your cabinets will require much more time and the results can be difficult to predict. Make sure you understand what you are working with before you begin a sanding and re-staining process. Many cabinets that look like solid wood are in fact plastic laminate or wood veneer only and will not do well with sanding and re-staining.
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| Q |
I love the look of granite countertops, but I've heard that they require quite a bit of maintenance and are very pricey. Do you have any alternative suggestions for countertops
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| A |
Many countertop materials are available today at very affordable prices. Granite used to be much more expensive but prices have dropped dramatically as manufacturers are able to sell them by the square foot instead of by the slab, which often resulted in a great amount of waste. Granite requires some maintenance, but is considered a fairly hard and durable long-term solution. Composite materials offer the durability of granite with a slightly different look that are also more affordable.
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| Q |
I am building a beach home and want to make it flow. It is so difficult to coordinate flooring, countertops, colors and hardware. Any suggestions on how to bring it all together while still having some variety to each room?
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| A |
The key to coordinating a look throughout an entire house is to create consistency with the larger elements, establishing an envelope that will allow you to be playful and differentiate with smaller items, such as accessory items, drapes, throw pillows, rugs and artwork. Selecting neutral colors in a tight palette for your walls and floors helps establish the most flexible canvas. Additionally, coordinating metal in light fixtures, hardware, faucets and fixtures throughout will also allow you to be playful in differentiating the style from room to room. Have an overall vision and feel for the home and don't be afraid to take some chances!
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