Decorative tiles make a striking design element in the kitchen or the bath.
If you're looking to update your kitchen or bathroom, you can draw on a number of simple ideas to powerful effect. Whatever your aesthetics or decorating style, keep in mind the room's primary functions to ensure that your designs are as practical as they are decorative. As in any room, balance your use of soft and hard materials. In bathrooms and kitchens, where there are many hard surfaces, this may require a measure more ingenuity.
A Balanced Bathroom
Designer bathroom fixtures can take up a surprisingly large portion of your remodeling budget. To keep your costs manageable, coordinate items from a range of shops; low-cost vendors may offer you similar styles on simple elements like mirrored cabinets or sink bases. By skimping where possible, you'll be able to splurge on more noticeable details, like your bathroom sink faucet, a floating sink basin or a deluxe shower head. Opt for simple tiling on the floor, saving yourself a few bucks per square foot, and then dress things up with a handsome rug in just the right color. If you'd like to jazz things up with glass tile, consider installing pricier tiles in a decorative border around the bath and shower area and using simpler materials for the rest of the space.
Sleek Cabinetry
If you're dealing with a or bathroom, you can streamline the cabinetry by opting for drawers with simple cut-outs or bevels instead of knobs or pulls. While it may only save a matter of inches, if you have a galley or a cramped bathroom, you'll appreciate the airier visual effect of completely flat-faced cabinetry. In kitchens and bathrooms, high-mess areas exposed to a good deal of moisture, avoiding handles and knobs has the added benefit of making housekeeping that much easier.
Creative Countertops
If you're designing your kitchen from the ground up, you have a great deal of artistic leeway for the counter-top layout. Maximize your work areas by creating creative counter-top units, such as islands with butcher blocks or breakfast bars for casual dining. Top off the most practical design with a material that's well-suited to your needs. If your budget will allow, granite, marble and hardwoods are popular materials. If you're looking for an economical material, you can treat Formica to give it a textured appearance, imitating natural stone at a fraction of the price.
Bright Touches
Another common concern for kitchens or bathrooms is adequate lighting and fixtures that work with the room's look. For either space, natural light will give you an ideal glimpse of whatever you need to see, whether you're tossing a salad or shaving for the day. Whenever possible, install large windows that will let in plenty of natural light. If you're concerned about privacy, you might design a high window in the bathroom or use translucent glass. For an understated window treatment for a small bathroom window, simply drape an embroidered tea towel or a cotton scarf over a curtain rod.
Tags: kitchen bathroom, kitchens bathrooms, natural light, small kitchen, , your kitchen