Updating Kitchen Is a Challenge
QUESTION: We own a Craftsman bungalow and want to remodel the kitchen, incorporating current technology, but appropriate for this style. A remodel was done in the ‘6Os, and we are concerned that another update will look equally dated in 20 years. Any suggestions?
ANSWER: Craftsman housing stock has suffered in the age of mass production. The very strength of the Craftsman style, the quality of the interior detailing and the abiding air of serenity present with most examples cast the remodeler a job of seemingly titanic proportions. Lumberyard cabinets scream out their age, date and hour of production when placed into the Craftsman setting.
If you use a professional, find one with experience with this type of design. Be sure to evaluate how literal his/her style will be and whether it is too literal or too interpretive for your taste.
If you are working on your own, gather as much information as possible about the Craftsman movement before you proceed. An understanding of the philosophy will help you sort through the large pile of inappropriate products and come up with a small pile of appropriate ones. The Gamble House bookstore has a wonderful collection of materials on this era of design.
Work with your floor plan carefully, and select woods that will match existing woodwork and finishes. Custom cabinetry seems to be more compatible with the Craftsman style and has a more authentic feel. I often use fir for cabinetry and trims, as that was frequently the wood of choice in California bungalows. In your lighting plan, vary your type of light sources, but keep them unobtrusive and discrete. Dimmers work well.
If you have any original cabinetry in the house you may want to use the same panel design for the kitchen cabinets. If not, pick a simple recessed flat panel. Simple pulls are best, and bin pulls are a good choice for the drawers. I prefer hardwood floors in these kitchens.
Pick your appliances carefully. Don’t buy more than you will use and keep the number of machines to a discreet few. Look for a restored stove as your crown jewel. If not, pick the cooktop with the best flame spreaders and the oven stack that seems best suited for your needs.
I tend to like tile for the countertops. I’d suggest that you take a few samples home to try the look before you order. Color is another important consideration. The grayed-out hues (muted) currently in vogue can be quite effective.
While Craftsman is not the easiest style to work with, but surely it’s one of the most satisfying to succeed at.
JOAN MOSELEY, ASID
Pasadena
How to Update Baths on a Limited Budget
Q: Our house has two baths. We would like to update without replacing the fixtures. What are the most effective ways to use our limited budget?
A: For a limited budget, an attractive, moderately priced wall covering probably would produce the most decorating impact. You can cover all the walls or just one or two, depending on the size and shape of the bathrooms. A border can be added, or used alone around the ceiling and possibly around the door and window. There are so many attractive borders available today and various ways to use them.
If you have tile on the walls and surrounding the tub and you would like to change the color, an epoxy paint can be used. Make sure, however, to determine the right color in advance, for it cannot be altered once it has been mixed. If your budget allows, you might add a new counter, selecting from a variety of laminates or tile.
The floor could receive a new loose-laid carpet or new vinyl. The cabinets can either be stripped of old paint for a light natural finish or wiped on finish or receive a fresh coat of paint to complement your wall covering.
The options for a window treatment could be a mini-blind for privacy and light control, a pleated shade, a sheer curtain or a printed fabric to match your wall covering. You might want to add a stationary outer shower curtain of a companion fabric hung from the ceiling and fastened with a tie-back.
The accessories should be the final touch to accent the whole scheme. These might be appropriate pictures, a soap dish, tissue box, lotion dispenser, etc.
MAXINE M. McNUTT, ISID
Santa Barbara
What the Client Expects of Designer
Q: How can an interior designer manage client expectations?
A: The best time to clarify expectations is at the beginning of a relationship. It is always better to have a contract meeting before the project gets under way so that everyone is in complete understanding.
Many expectations will be covered in a written contract. These are services, budgets, schedules and fees.
Other expectations not covered in a contract are how we will work together with the client, and our respectives roles as professional and client. These constitute a psychological contract and even though they are usually unstated, they are nonetheless real.
Another point to discuss at the initial meeting is the order that things will be done and the complexities of the job. Never assume that just because someone signs a contract that they understand it.
BETTY NOLL WOOD, ASID
Rancho Cucamonga
How to Separate Dining, Living Rooms
Q: Our home has a typical ‘50s floor plan, with a living room and dining room area all in one space. I would like to create a more separate and formal dining area. How can I do that without adding walls?
A: There are many exciting solutions to this problem. You can use prefabricated fiberglass columns in pairs or single units. They can be faux marbelized or glazed and painted with colors used in the house. A pair of glass panels, etched and carved with a motif suitable for the design and coordinating with fabric patterns. These panels can be framed in wood and secured to side walls and ceiling.
RON SANCHEZ, ISID
Fullerton