Kohler Numi

I always enjoy seeing the latest and greatest for faucets, shower heads, tubs and even toilets. 

Wow, have they come a long way!

Kohler has an AMAZING toilet that I had to tell you about! 

The NUMI is the most advanced toilet ever. It offers the following……..

• Motion Activated Cover and Seat
• Bidet Functionality
• Integrated Air Dryer
• Deodorizer
• Heated Seat
• Foot Warmer
• Illuminated Panels
• Music
• Touchscreen Controls
• User Presets

All of this is designed into the most sleek looking toilet ever designed. Way to go Kohler!

Click here to see a video of this awesome toilet.  

 To learn more or to find where to purchase, click here to be linked to Kohler's site. 

Moen Motionsense

I attended a design event last week and had to chance to try the new Moen Motionsense!

Brilliant!

I can't tell you how often I am cooking, my hands are filthy and I'm attempting to turn on the kitchen faucet with either my wrist or elbow. I just hate the idea of getting germs constantly all over the faucet, not to mention food and grime!

The Motionsense hands free faucet actually has two sensors; one on the top and another down near the base. It also has a standard lever in case you want to control it yourself. 

They've used these in public restrooms for years, I'm so glad they finally decided to do this for your kitchen!

Concrete Countertops

If you’re looking for a special countertop material, you’ve found the perfect blog posting! Look no further! 

Concrete countertops were initially seen only in commercial settings such as restaurants and offices. Now they’re everywhere and popping up in homes every day! Some assume it’s only for the ultra modern, contemporary home, however, with all the decorative elements that can enhance the countertop, its perfect for any style home.  

Concrete countertops are either pre-cast or can be produced on site. They are produced of cement, lightweight aggregates and a mixture of additives such as fiber reinforcement, acrylic and others. And finally, the end product is sealed.

If you’re looking to make your concrete countertops extra special, opt for one of the following options:

• Colored or Stained Top
• Decorative Edges
• Irregular Shaped Countertops or Islands
• Embeded Items (shells, glass, coins)
• Drainboards
• Trivets
• Backsplashes

What do these cool countertops cost? You can expect to spend anywhere from $65 to $135 per square foot for a 1 ½” thick top.  The actual installation is additional of course and can vary depending on the complexity of your project. 

There are so many things you can do with these countertops! Have a great idea? I'd love to hear it! 

Houzz

Traditional Kitchen by Toronto Interior Designer Cheryl Scrymgeour Designs

Who else loves Houzz??? If you have not yet ventured onto the Houzz website, set aside a couple hours because you'll need it. Once you start, it's hard to stop! 

Houzz is a great website for both homeowners and professionals. Professional builders, architects, designers and more post photos of their recent work. Homeowners can then create Ideaboards to post these projects to. I encourage my clients to create their own idea books for projects. It encourages them to see all the options out there and let me know what they really love or really don't care for. 

Houzz is also a great way to locate professionals in your area. If you love a particular design, you can contact that professional directly to learn more. 

Over 14 million people use Houzz every month!

I recently attended a Houzz seminar at the Ohio Design Center. It is always fun to get together and meet other designers and the information they provided was great. Houzz shared the results of their 2012-2013 Houzz and Home Survey for the Cleveland market.  Below are a couple interesting facts from the survey.

85% of people in the Cleveland area have plans to re-decorate or remodel

The top three projects

Bathrooms

Kitchens

Patio/Landscaping

81% said improving the look/feel/flow/functionality was an important motivation behind their projects

51% will be improving their home for resale

44% are looking for storage and organization

Contemporary Bathroom by Denver Interior Designer Ashley Campbell Interior Design

Go to Houzz.com 

and create your own ideabook with your favorite looks!

 

Kitchen Feng Shui

I'm a big fan of incorporating Feng Shui elements in the home.

Here is a video on Kitchen Feng Shui discussing the basics and the fire/water relationship in the kitchen.

Interested in learning more? 

Here are a couple books that I've read that have been helpful:

The Complete Illustrated Guide to Feng Shui by Lillian Too

The Western Guide to Feng Shui: Room by Room by Terah Kathryn Collins

Feng Shui for Dummies by David Daniel Kennedy & Grandmaster Lin Yun

Kitchen and Bath Trends

Hopefully everyone is enjoying this gorgeous Saturday! 

I wanted to share this article on Yahoo about the NKBA's predicted Kitchen and Bath Trends for 2011.

Here's the link.

Enjoy!