How'sHouse » Renovate

Modern Yet Personal

Adrian How — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 00:15:45 +0000

With kitchen trends changing all the time, It is not easy to choose. You will need all the advice you can get.

First, you need to know whether you want a fitted kitchen or a pick-and-choose. Most people go for the former (also known as the built-in kitchen) as it maximises the available space you have, even weird or difficult corners by turning them into storage areas.

Don’t be fooled into trying to get the most minimalist kitchen because every practical household will end up having loads more items to store. The kitchens you see at showhouses don’t exactly exist — perfect for photos, never ideal for real living. A pick-and-choose, or freestanding, kitchen has a unique look and feel from each individual piece that makes up the area. When not done well, it ends up looking more of a mess than an appealing assortment of items sitting in harmony.

That’s why I’d recommend the fitted kitchen even though it would cost more than the pick-and-choose.
Furnishing options There are many options for kitchen cabinets and doors. Yet laminate is still popular today, simply because of the cost and myriad choices of texture and colour.

Acrylic is becoming more popular because they provide a contemporary look and feel. The bold can go for a bright Chili Red acrylic finish while the less adventurous can opt for Burgundy.

The evergreen finish is wood, which is still my choice of finish. My kitchen doors are all made from solid wood. Selecting the right colour is tricky, and here’s a tip for those who just can’t decide from a one-by-one-inch colour sample: I made my contractor paint my shortlisted colours on separate one-by-one-inch wood squares so I could visualise the finished product better.

Choosing the right counter-top is important because this is where food is prepared and hygiene is priority. I’d recommend a solid surface because it is durable, non-porous and flexible to fit any design. Many kitchens today use solid surfaces, but concrete counter-tops are fast catching on. Made from a mixture of water, cement, sand, stone and some pigment, a concrete surface is sealed to prevent water damage and stains. No longer just used for floors, a concrete counter-top creates a rugged ambience. Many people like the way a concrete top ages, like a well-used butcher’s block. While functionally and aesthetically ideal, these two options aren’t cheap. For those on a budget, go for formica or tiles. I prefer tiles for durability.

In fact, while I have a solid surface for my dry kitchen, tiles line my semi-outdoor wet kitchen. What’s important is to ensure that your contractor does a good job of filling the gaps between the tiles to prevent bacteria growth.

For kitchen backsplashes, tempered glass is the popular option today. If you’re using a glass backsplash, choose a solid background colour for the glass backing to contrast with your counter-top to add vibrancy to your kitchen. Glass mosaics are popular, too, as they provide a blend of colours into the fold. For my home, I used Spanish ceramic tiles with a glazed finish that has varied shades of orange. It has a similar effect to glass mosaic tiles, but at a third of the cost.

For tiling options, I’d recommend Apex tiles in Jalan Ipoh due to their stock variety and competitive prices.
Here are some simple tips to help you plan your kitchen better:

- First, decide where your sink and kitchen hob will go. The rule of thumb is to have them close to each other for convenience. And don’t do any re-plumbing unless necessary.

- Always think about ventilation points, especially if you’re into Asian cooking. Look for a powerful hood — select an Asian brand over designer European ones as the former is designed for Asian-style cooking and features higher suction power. Never block out windows with cabinets — ventilation trumps the need for storage any time.

- Don’t choose a side-by-side door refrigerator because it’s cool. Think about the type of cooking you’ll be doing, the number of people in your household and the amount of electricity you’ll be consuming.

- Store heavy items in the cabinets under the counter-top, not on hanging or elevated cabinets. Items rarely used should go to the highest shelves. Use a drawer organiser for your cutlery.

- If you have cabinets over your counter-top, think about installing lights under the cabinet to shine onto the counter-top.

- For flooring, select tiles that are durable and easy to clean. Laminated flooring is not advisable for wet kitchens, but is fine for dry kitchens.

- Decorate the walls with art, a clock or some photographs. You want your kitchen to look lived-in. I got creative and turned some coasters with modern-art bull motifs into wall art for my wet kitchen.

- Make sure you plan for enough electrical sockets.

- As with any unconventional idea you might have picked up visually from somewhere, remember to take a picture or screenshot and show it to your contractor. Words can be easily misinterpreted, but images should get your contractor on the same page.

originally written for the News Straits Times, 6 Mar 2010 edition

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Looking for a Discount on Bathroom Vanities?

todd harmon — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 01:41:04 +0000

Modern furniture can be staggeringly expensive, especially if you purchase it from retailers such as Lowes or Home Depot. It’s not their fault: those stores need to charge an arm and a leg just to make a little profit after they’ve incurred their own overhead costs. The problem is, these overhead costs trickle down to us, the consumers. That is why bathroom appliances and features like bathroom vanities are so costly, and that is why I am here to tell you that you don’t need to shop for your bathroom products in stores.

Online shopping has really come into its own in recent years, and the web has sprouted a multitude of bathroom vanity specialists and retailers who offer beautiful vanities at very affordable prices. Since these sites do not have to actually stock their products in their own warehouses, their products are far cheaper than similar items in stores and are often shipped directly from the manufacturer. The difference comes out in the final price: bathroom vanities online are cheaper and often of higher quality than bathroom vanities found in stores (largely due to the fact that online stores showcase more models and therefore give you a larger selection of mid-to-very-high quality vanities).

: This vanity looks great in this picture… but will it actually look like this when it arrives?

The only problems with online shopping are issues with expectations and construction. It’s hard to tell just what a vanity is going to look like in your home if you are scanning through pictures in a web catalog. Many online retailers will send you real pictures of their products (as opposed to the “showroom” pictures in catalogs) if you ask them to, and they will often be very quick to respond to any questions you may have regarding their products. Another problem with online shopping is that you will have to wait for your bathroom vanity to arrive, sometimes as much as two weeks, and when it finally comes you will very likely need to perform some assembly (though this usually only consists of screwing pieces together and perhaps adhering them with epoxy).

Ultimately, for the largest selection of exquisite bathroom vanity styles at affordable prices, you can’t go wrong with shopping online and saving some extra cash!Similar Posts:

How to Get a Fireplace in Your Apartment or Small Home

todd harmon — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 02:23:14 +0000

Fireplaces are wonderful features in any home. The warmth and cozy family comfort long associated with roaring fireplaces has become the stuff of many a greeting card or ad campaign, and to this day, it represents the winter ideal. Because really, what could be better than a warm fireplace with an elegant fireplace mantel?
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Of course, not everyone has a fireplace in their home. These traditional space heaters are far too big for apartments or small homes, and frankly, they are rarely economical. Gas and fuel costs for these fireplaces are outrageous, to say nothing of a fireplace’s toll on the environment (can you imagine how many carbon emissions a live fireplace will give off in just a few hours of steady burning?). It’s unfortunate that so much needs to be sacrificed, just to have a nice fireplace in one’s home… or is it?

Electric fireplaces are perhaps the best way to introduce all the warmth of a fire into your home, without really sacrificing any aesthetic appeal. Modern portable fireplace technology has yielded electric fireplaces with incredibly realistic “flames.” Most often, these “flames” are actually dynamic adaptive plasma pockets that float around in an LCD screen. In other words, they run on an algorithm that makes them move in relatively unpredictable ways, just like real flame. Forget about the old “VHS fireplaces” of the 80s. These modern electric fireplaces are not on “video loop,” but they are lively and active and will interact in unique ways.

Electric fireplaces are very lightweight and clean-burning, so they are perfect for apartments and small homes. As an added bonus, they heat individual rooms more effectively than “genuine” fireplaces because they blow warm air outwards into a room, rather than upwards through a chimney flue.

For a little decorative embellishment, there are many fireplace mantels available for your electric fireplace. These will make a beautiful statement in any home.

Really, if you like the warmth and comfort of a fireplace but don’t want to deal with old-fashioned, environmentally unfriendly, and bulky units, consider an electric fireplace. They are convenient, efficient, and wonderfully effective portable fireplaces for any apartment or home.Similar Posts:

Great Oriental Furniture: Living Rooms, T.V. Stands, and Bookshelves, Oh My!

todd harmon — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 16:31:11 +0000

If your living room could use a beautiful exotic touch, consider investing in some high-quality Oriental furniture.

An example of a modern oriental-style T.V. console

First, an explanation: “Oriental furniture” is an umbrella term that encompasses a variety of furniture styles, generally imported from the Asian continent. Chinese furniture, Korean furniture, Japanese furniture, and even Indian furniture is generally considered to be Oriental furniture. So, as you can imagine, there is a lot of diversity and cultural flair to be found within this broad terminology.

This same diversity means you can decorate your home in a nearly limitless number of styles. Mixing and matching different kinds of Oriental furniture can yield endless exquisite results. An Asian T.V. stand or console, for example, is a very effective way to instantly give your home a modern appeal. If you purchase a Burmese bookshelf – an example as well – and install it in the same room, you can show off both the modern and efficient, yet beautiful sensibility of your interior design.

Middle Eastern furniture is also considered "Oriental." This is a Moroccan example.

You may be asking: “But why Asian furniture?” And of course, it’s a stylistic choice. But consider this: Western furniture has a tendency to be large and loud. In other words, a Western bedframe will be bulky and tall, with intricate engravings carved into the headboards and footboards. It’s pretty, sure, but it’s also highly impractical. And sometimes, its ostentation is just a little bit too much. An Asian platform bed, on the other hand, is highly space-efficient, small, and subtle. However, Asian furniture is absolutely beautiful to behold, not because it is “ornately carved” but because it is made from rich natural wood and engineered in interesting curves and minimalist angles. Oriental furniture is generally beautiful in and of itself; it doesn’t need to be engraved to be eye-catching.

Why not reinvigorate your living room with a brand new oriental entertainment center and some Asian furniture? Or give your bedroom new life with a great oriental platform bed? Pick from a number of unique and culturally distinctive styles, and find that perfect fusion of oriental furniture that will truly make your modern home shine!Similar Posts:

Analyzing the Pros and Cons of Small Vanities

todd harmon — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 16:29:33 +0000

New bathroom vanities are all the rage in modern home renovation projects. This is not news to anyone. In fact, I’ve been saying it for months. A large double bath vanity in a master bathroom is a great way to facilitate daily hygienic tasks for you and a partner; an antique vanity will give your bathroom plenty of rustic, old-timey charm; and so on.
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For people who live in smaller apartments or homes, large vanities are not very feasible bathroom appliances. Small vanities are perfect for these kinds of spaces. But before you go out and buy one, take a moment and consider these pros and cons:

A small bath vanity is, obviously, smaller than the average bath vanity. This is beneficial for several reasons. First of all, such vanities are very space efficient. They do not needlessly crowd bathrooms, and their smaller stature can even make your bathroom appear more spacious than it truly is. Additionally, small vanities are a breeze to install. Many of them are podium shaped and fairly lightweight, so if you are a fairly capable handyperson, you should have no trouble moving, installing, and adjusting a small bath vanity on your own.

Another major benefit of small bathroom vanities is the amount of visual value you get from them. At a very affordable price, you should be able to find a wonderfully beautiful bath vanity that rivals even majestic double vanities in terms of aesthetic appeal. They are available in myriad shapes, styles, and designs, and everything – from the under-trim to the elegant marble or stone countertops – is generally meticulously handcrafted by skilled designers.

However, small bathroom vanities also have their downsides. Their main issue is a noticeable lack of internal storage space. Since they are designed to take up as little space as possible, they rarely afford you more internal room than you can fit a few towels and other products into. Additionally, the countertops are generally just slightly wider than the vessel sink, so you don’t have a lot of surface area upon which to rest your toiletries. Really, though, this is the main issue with small vanities. It’s a big issue, but if you have a small bathroom, it really isn’t a concern anyway; and it may be worth your while to check out small vanities today!Similar Posts:

Antique Bathroom Cabinets: Tried and True Classics

todd harmon — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 03:31:25 +0000

If you are shopping for bathroom vanities in the United States, you are generally faced with this common conundrum: “do I pick the boring and ugly box with the boring and ugly cabinet doors made from oak, or do I pick the boring and ugly box with the boring and ugly cabinet doors made from birch?”
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The unfortunate truth is that, while modern vanities seem to be rife with innovation, they are also desperately lacking in inspiration. Antique bathroom cabinets were always gorgeous, ornate, and very visible pieces of furniture in the home; today, bathroom vanities are built for efficiency and organization, not artistry. When did we forget that vanities can be beautiful as well as functional? At what point did our creativity go out the window, in favor of cold calculation and precise engineering? It seems that the American ideal of “faster, better, more functional, right now” has trumped the European design ideals of “elegance and beauty, even at the cost of some efficiency.”

Luckily, if you are like me and you yearn for truly magnificent antique-style bathroom cabinets, you can find one very easily online.

There are many modern manufacturers of “antique” bathroom cabinets and double vanities, expert craftsmen and artists who pride their work for its beauty as well as for its utility. They are true artisans, who offer precision-craftsmanship and sturdy construction as well as fine design, and they create antique double vanities that feature finesse and refinement in their decoration.

Double vanities and antique bathroom cabinets may be the perfect way to lend your bathroom a character and charm that can truly be considered “classic.” They will enliven any room with their highly decorative flourishes, and what’s more, if you shop for antique vanities online, you will find that they are available in a staggeringly diverse array of styles. It seems that, despite the increasing popularity of sleek and efficient modern bathroom vanities, antique cabinets and double vanities are just as desirable and accessible as ever. If you think your master bathroom could benefit from a little old-fashioned appeal, then antique vanities may be perfect for you!Similar Posts:

Get Rid of Bathroom Mess with Bathroom Vanity Cabinets!

todd harmon — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 02:05:44 +0000

Organization and cleanliness are crucial components of any home’s utility and appearance. The problem is, organizing your home – and keeping it that way – can be such a pain in the neck. It’s no secret that cleaning up your home and making sure everything is in its proper place is lots of work. Frankly, it’s easier and sometimes more immediately gratifying to just throw your clothes on the floor or leave your paperwork all over your desk. But the more you put it off, the more things pile up, and before you know it, the place you once called home becomes a total pit. You’ll need effective storage space like bathroom vanity cabinets to keep your house clean.

This trend is well represented within the microcosm of your home’s bathroom, the room in your home that tends to get messy the fastest. Things like toothpaste, shaving creams, gels, combs, and other toiletries tend to clutter a countertop quickly, and before you know it, your bathroom’s a sty. Needless to say, you want to avoid this kind of disaster. So buckle down, and get ready to do some cleaning!

First off: throw things away! The more you can get rid of now, the easier the cleaning will be down the line. Then, categorize and organize all of your toiletries by grouping them into similar units. You will need to store these somehow, and truly, there is no better way than to invest in space-efficient, functional (and great-looking) bathroom vanity cabinets.

Modern bathroom vanity cabinets provide ample storage space for all your organizational needs, and they offer plenty of counter space as well. Store your towels, toothbrushes, moisturizers; anything you need. If you just make a simple effort to put things back in your beautiful bathroom vanity cabinets when you’re done with them, you can keep your bathroom beautiful for years to come!Similar Posts:

Wall Fountains for Medical Purposes

todd harmon — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 02:21:33 +0000

I’ve been noticing an interesting trend in interior design for businesses and professional centers. This growing trend has been particularly apparent in hospitals, urgent care centers, dentistry offices, and psychiatric facilities, though it is also prevalent in places like law firms and travel agencies. I even saw one in an airport. What am I talking about? I am talking about the increasing prevalence of wall fountains as decorations.

When you think about it, it makes sense. Wall fountains are pleasant to look at, and they are dynamic enough to keep your attention for at least a little while. This is due to the way water flows down the face of these fountains. Water is very dynamic, and it will fall down the fountain face in a manner that is relatively unpredictable, depending on the style of fountain façade and the imperfections on its surface. The beauty of these fountains can distract people and help the time pass, especially in crowded waiting rooms.

But wall fountains serve an even more important purpose. Waiting rooms – especially in hospitals – can be pretty anxious places. Patients get very nervous, and let’s face it, no one really looks forward to going in for a checkup or worse, a surgery. The soothing sound of water gently cascading down a stone wall fountain face will help calm even the shakiest nerves, and allow people to relax. The ambience and tranquility that wall fountains instill in offices and waiting rooms is a truly invaluable means of keeping people happy and, ideally, serene.

This trend doesn’t look like it’s going to fade anytime soon. Not only are wall fountains beautiful decorations, but they also help people relax. Doctors recognize the value of water fountains to ease stress and relieve anxiety. So why not consider installing one in your own home or office?Similar Posts:

Keeping Your Bathroom Cabinets Squeaky Clean

todd harmon — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 01:27:26 +0000

Bathroom cabinets are designed to help us better organize our bathrooms, providing sufficient storage space for all of our toiletries, towels, and assorted hygienic paraphernalia. The unfortunate truth is, even when we do invest in a great vanity, sometimes it’s just more gratifying (and so much easier) to just toss things into the cabinets without concern for order and finesse. Over time, these habits catch up with us, and before you know it it’s time to clean out your bathroom cabinets again.

The first thing you’ll want to do is throw excess items away. Did you find that bottle of moisturizer that’s been sitting in the back of your cabinet for the last two years? Toss it out. Throw away anything you don’t regularly use. If you don’t know what it is, or don’t remember buying it, you don’t need it. Throw it away!

Next, it’s time for a little chemical warfare, you versus cabinet stains. Get out your best scrubbing brush and any common house cleaner, like 409 or some generic brand. If it’s been a particularly long time since you’ve cleaned out your bathroom vanity cabinets, you may need a stronger specialty cleaner (available at most hardware stores). The most important thing to remember here is: let no mold make it out unharmed! If you leave even a small patch of mold or mildew uncleaned, it will grow into a mold colony very quickly, negating all of your hard work. When it comes to cleaning, the more meticulously you work, the more rewarding the endeavor will be.

Now that your bathroom cabinets are clean, it’s time to re-organize. Group the things you didn’t throw away into similar units, and then place them in the bathroom cabinets in an orderly fashion. It may be a good idea to buy additional small plastic containers that fit in the cabinets.

Congratulations, your bathroom cabinets are clean! Hopefully this time, they can stay that way.Similar Posts:

The Changing Face of Outdoor Patio Furniture

todd harmon — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 03:08:15 +0000

The design of the home has changed drastically over the years, not just in terms of decoration but in terms of form, function, architecture, and dimensions. But through all this domestic dynamicism, outdoor patio furniture has remained largely static. Since the traditional rocking chair days of the early 1800’s, porch and patio outdoor furniture has been an outdoor staple, and to this day nothing brings indoor comfort and relaxation outside quite like a great patio furniture set.

In the early twentieth century, many homes in the South brought about a revival of Victorian-style wicker outdoor patio furniture. Wicker is a very sturdy yet pliable material that has a casual appearance and a very comfortable feel. It was also far more weather-resistant than cotton upholstery. And in the South, when it gets wet and humid out, the last thing you want is soggy cotton furniture. Wicker furniture was the perfect alternative.

Years later, the outdoor patio furniture market came to be dominated by casual wrought iron and aluminum chairs and tables. These were not very flashy, but they were incredibly sturdy and practical, quite representative of the national consciousness in the years following the Depression and the Second World War. But the popularity of outdoor patio furniture really blossomed with the rise of the suburbs in the mid 50’s, when family and neighbor barbecues, parties, and entertainments became regular events. The tendency to host large outdoor gatherings of friends and neighbors in the suburbs is a trend that continues to this day.

Today, many people are drawn to vintage outdoor patio furniture, especially wicker furniture. It seems that in the world of outdoor furnishings, there is truth to the statement “what is old is new again.” And with daily advances in technology and production methods, we can look forward to many more years of affordable and delightful outdoor patio furniture.

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How'sHouse » Renovate

Modern Yet Personal

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Antique Bathroom Cabinets: Tried and True Classics

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Get Rid of Bathroom Mess with Bathroom Vanity Cabinets!

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Wall Fountains for Medical Purposes

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Keeping Your Bathroom Cabinets Squeaky Clean

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