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Selecting Great Hardware

Selecting hardware is like deciding which jewelry to wear to compliment your little black dress. Hardware isn't cheap, so making the burden of making the best choice can be stressful as you become overloaded with images of pulls, knobs, and finish options.  You may be dizzy because the choices seem endless... and they are!  A designer will help narrow the selection.

First, start with the cabinetry finish and style.  Do you want the hardware to blend or make a statement?  Do you need a contemporary or traditional style?  What other metal finishes are being used in the room (appliances, lighting fixtures, doorknobs, windows)?  Now consider size and scale.  If you have 54" high wall cabinets, don't use a tiny knob in the bottom corner of the door.  Large drawers need either one wide pull centered or two smaller ones.  Don't be afraid to mix styles and finishes - this makes the cabinetry look more custom and interesting.

Here are some great vendors to check out:

      Liberty Hardware  |  Hardware Resources  |  Top Knobs  |  House of Antique Hardware                                                        Amercok  |  Richelieu  |  Eclectic Ware

Round Top Antiques Festival

If you know me, you know I love beautiful things, the thrill of the negotiation, and the hunt for treasure.  All these come together in a perfect trifecta twice a year in Round Top, Texas.  My sweet husband graciously takes over packing lunches and reading good-night stories to our children so I can drive 90 miles to the best antiques festival in the state!  This year I joined some girls from Dallas and stayed at the sweet Ant Street Inn.  This adorable Inn is located in downtown Brenham and sounds like a sorority house once all the ladies return to kick up their feet, sip wine, chatter about their purchases and strategize about the next day's itinerary.  Relishing cheese, wine and a dinner of twice-baked potatoes from Lisa's Aunt Nancy was my favorite time of the day.  I loved catching up and laughing with these ladies!

We kicked off the day at Blue Hills where I met Michael Lawlis and purchased a great looking side table for the beach house.  I can always use more surface area to rest a wine glass or two!

My favorite stop is Arbor Antiques where I always find gorgeous goodies.  I was sad to learn that the Mexican Shirt lady is going out of business.  She had all her inventory 20% off!   I fell in love with a sold item from Susan Horne Antiques, but am crossing fingers that she can source another.   My friend bought a stunning pair of French needlepoint arm chairs from Maison Pernoud that will look amazing in her new home's foyer.  

On my final morning, we hit one more road-side tent and Nancy found a lovely pair of vintage sconces from Galveston!!  My heart sank as I did not see them first...  That sweet woman let me purchase them for Bowen (thank you, Nancy!)!!  I also found two wooden tennis racquets for less than half the price where I saw them at Arbors, so I picked those up as well!  I plan to send them on to House of Lamps so Nancy can work her magic! 

Tapestry Beige

"Tapestry Beige?  Yes or No?!  Should it take three days to respond to this question?" ranted a friend, completely frustrated with the responsiveness of the designer she hired to help with her soon-to-be-stunning Tanglewood renovation.    

I have two girlfriends suffering from designer issues.  Julia's large Memorial renovation began over a year ago and I'm not certain it's actually completed to her satisfaction.  [Sigh.] Elizabeth has a more manageable scope of work, but a tight deadline to get moved in.

Both girls hired professional interior designers and both girls called me with the same flustered conversation and asking for confirmation that terminating services was the right move.  My heart sinks as I empathize with their frustration and disappointment over color choices, material pricing, and general lack of professionalism.  After listening, I have to agree it's time to move on.

I have a very short soap box to shout from because I am not a full-service designer.  I specialize in floor plans, cabinetry and kitchens because those are what I'm really good at!   I do not accept jobs that I do not have time for or that I do not have the capability to execute with excellence. Ladies and Gents, please be mindful and realistic when you hire any professional to assist with your home projects.  Ask for references.  Ask for pictures of their work.  Ask what you get as a client.  Make sure your expectations clear so everyone is on the same page!  

I hope these tips help you in deciding on which designer to hire!  In the end, listen to your instincts, they're usually right.

Back-To-School Blues?

If you're like me, you're anxious about getting the kids (and yourself) back into the school swing.  Every mom is chattering about demanding homework schedules, after-school activities, and school expenses.  What can you do to make this year better?  Think about some organization and space planning for your kids rooms, play areas, and homework / craft centers.  Send me a photo of the space you want to transform and I will give you some design suggestions.  I may even feature the before/after here!!

Here are some great examples of kid-friendly spaces to inspire learning and productivity!  Setting aside a special place for studies or reading.  This lets your child know that schoolwork is a priority!  Clearing  a corner of the cluttered breakfast bar probably isn't going to encourage concentration.  Give your child his own table with colorful containers full of pencils and bins for materials needed to get his work done.  

Being organized and ready to tackle the task at hand will alleviate everyone's stress and get you closer to baths, bedtime, and that well-deserved glass of wine.

 

11" of Rain in Houston

Houston is under water and the rain continues to fall, locking our soaked city in fear of more damage.  My heart breaks as friends post images of their homes, wrecked from water damage.

 

I would like to extend my help to friends and clients in need of quick quotes for insurance claims. Please do not hesitate to contact me with questions or requests for advice.  kim@anderndesign.com | 832.528.3909

Ciao, Italia!

Put down your coffee... I just returned from a gorgeous nine days in Tuscany.  Doesn't that sound glamorous?  My best friend from childhood and her little sis arranged a vacation for twelve friends in an outstanding villa outside Cortona, Italy.  

I was most intrigued by the villa we stayed in - the owners are from Houston and purchased the 1760 era property in 1999.  It had not been lived in since 1970 and the renovation took seven years to complete!  I'm pretty industrious, but a seven year endeavor seemed exhausting to even think about.  Here are a few highlights...

If you are interested, I would say the pricing is rather reasonable.  Check it out here.

Easter is More Yummy with Carrot Cake.

I'm a sucker for carrot cake... throw in some cheesecake and I call it perfection!  This recipe for Bakery Style Carrot Cake Cheesecake Cake from Wicked Good Kitchen looks AH-mazing.  

Of course, this recipe is going to be much more fun to create if you have a Kitchen Aid Mixer that pops up out of your cabinetry for easy use and storage!

Happy Easter, Pretty Tables

We're all using our kitchens to entertain family and friends this weekend.  Go the extra mile and spruce up your dining table with some fun tableware like these from various local retailers... some are even kid-friendly melamine!

Using Color in a Classic Bath

Given the opportunity, my daughter would paint the world PINK.  She may feel this way the rest of her sweet life, but I draw the line at tile installation.  Since I've been discussing bath renovations lately, I wanted to address the issue of kids and their opinions on their space.

Again, I lean toward going with neutral and classic on the bigger, more permanent design choices and let the color fun be shown through art and accessories.

Here are some great examples of HOW TO DO IT RIGHT: 

Bathroom Design

Are you still stressing about that bathroom renovation?  There's no shame in asking for help.  A specialty designer can help you simplify the process and communicate with your subcontractors and installers to be sure you get exactly what you want.  Nobody likes an "uh-oh moment" after the grout has set.

Classic Bath Design

If your bathroom is on its last leg and you're dreading the remodel, you're not alone!  Nobody loves the idea of tearing into walls, smashing tile, and yanking out those leaky pipes.  First the mess, then the stress.  There are so many choices out there - it can be mind boggling.  You can simplify the process by creating mood boards and browsing the tile shops.  I tend to stay away from anything too specific, and stick with classic finishes and colors.  There are a lot of elements in a bathroom that are costly and not easily replaced: tile, plumbing fixtures, cabinetry, & countertops.

Remember, you can always add a fun paint color to the walls, buy fresh towels, change hardware, and accessorize with art and fabrics to change up the look. 

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 If your guest bath plays double duty as the kids bath, this is a smart choice!  My daughter would die to have a super girly pink bathroom, but I prefer to buy loads of pink towels than install pink tile that nobody over the age of 5 will enjoy.

Hello, Pennville!

I am so excited to offer a line of beautiful, fully custom, luxury cabinetry to the Houston area!  Say Hello to Pennville Cabinets. I can't wait to help make some dreams come true!

Eating at the bar.

If you have a family on the run, you probably grab a lot of quick meals at kitchen bar.  

A counter bar is at the same height as the countertop (36 inches high).  "The Rules" recommend giving each person 24 inches width and 15 inches depth minimum to eat comfortably.  I'm not big on minimums, so I prefer to add 3 inches to both those because there’s often other stuff happening like surfing the web on your laptop or doing a bit of homework.  

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The Return of Brass.

Brass, like men, gets better looking with age.  I love the strong comeback brass has made in the past few years.  It pops out in the sea of chrome and brushed nickel washing over most interiors.  

Brass can be found on most anything, from hardware to furnishings.  You can easily add brassy accessories like picture frames or candle holders to bookshelves and mantles.  

Be daring. 

Happy Spring Break!

Hope everyone is enjoying a great week with their family and friends.  Use this time to relax or catch up on home projects! 

How to Organize the Linen Closet

I mentioned last week that I'm ready to pack away the heavy blankets and slide into summer. When you open the linen closet to swap those flannel sheets for crisp cotton, are you threatened by a mound of linens ready to topple out? Is it a struggle to find a matching set of sheets?  If so, then it’s time to reorganize your linen closet!

PURGE: Take inventory of what's in there and toss incomplete or mismatched sets, worn-out or stained linens and anything you no longer use. I like to have two sets of sheets per bed – one for the bed, one for the laundry.  After purchasing this amazing flannel set for our bed, I'd love to splurge on a extra set for every bed!   Three sets of bath sheets (towels, hand towels and washcloths) for each person in your house and a couple extra sets for guests is adequate. As for blankets or duvets, one for summer and a couple for winter is plenty. 

SORT: Next, divide linens you regularly use by room: sheets for bedrooms and towels for bathrooms. Set aside extra pillows, out-of-season bedding and any bulkier, less frequently used items for separate storage. You won’t be reaching for these on a regular basis.

DESIGNATE STORAGE SPACE: Where you keep your everyday linens really depends on the closet space in your home. If you don’t have a central linen closet, then you may store linens right where you use them in each room. For bedrooms, consider storing linens in a closet or a storage bench (I do this in the beach bedrooms, so it's easy for guests to strip and remake beds before leaving). An open shelf vanity or an attractive woven basket can provide towel storage in bathrooms.

ORGANIZE: Plan to store your everyday linens front and center. How you fold and organize them is equally important for convenient putting away and taking out.  If you have anyone in your house that claims they can't fold sheets:

Using Color in Cabinetry

Using two different cabinetry colors is a trend that became popular and isn't going away.  First, that alternate color was seen most on kitchen islands, but the two color cabinetry look is expanding. Now the two tone look is seen above and below. Choosing lighter cabinets above gives the illusion of less weight while the darker color on the base cabinets feels grounded. This is a modern and stylish way to mix tones, and a great way to give an older, single-color kitchen a fresh look.

Hiring a Kitchen Designer

You're not a 1960's housewife and your kitchen was probably designed for one by a builder trying to get the best looking kitchen for the least amount of money.  Typically, there was little or no thought given to ergonomics, workflow, lighting or storage. If for no other reason than this, you should consider hiring a kitchen designer to help you plan the best possible new kitchen.

A new kitchen is more than installing cabinets and modern appliances.  Although the core functions of a kitchen have not changed that much, the things inside the kitchen have changed a lot.  In fact, improvements in materials and technology change substantially every couple decades. Without the help of an expert, you're likely to omit some key elements from your plan, without even knowing it.

A kitchen designer's focus is making a kitchen beautiful and work efficiently. Kitchen designers know about what works and what doesn't.  Designers learn from new and past clients what they do and don't like about their old kitchens. We can help you to choose and incorporate features that are right for your particular needs and how to avoid pitfalls in kitchen design. A kitchen designer will draw plans that help you to better visualize the space and provide necessary documents to obtain a permit and plans for your contractor to work from.

How Much Does a Kitchen Designer Cost?  There are many different ways to hire a kitchen designer, and fees will range from "no charge" to $150 per hour. The expense depends mostly upon whether they are selling you their design service or if the service is bundled with something else, for instance your kitchen cabinet purchase.  Personally, I like to separate my design fees from my product cost so all numbers are transparent for my client.

An architect may seem like the obvious choice, but may not be your best option for kitchen work.  Architects have excellent technical abilities, but not all have the specific knowledge to help you achieve kitchen nirvana.  Most architects do not keep up on kitchen products and trends, nor do most have the critical insights offered by a specialist in kitchen design.

Whatever the cost of your kitchen designer, they may very well end up saving you money by helping you get the very best prices on the cabinets, appliances and contractor services.