What’s good for kitchen is good for bathroom
Q: We are remodeling our l950s ranch to a more contemporary look. We’ve gutted the kitchen and put in mostly stainless steel replacements. Now we’re eyeing the master bathroom and need some inspiration.
If we take out the linen closet we could have a long counter with his ’n’ hers lavatories. Our question is about materials: we want a modern look in here, too.
A: Seek out and visit a really in-tune kitchen/bath design store. Things have moved light years ahead in the 60 or so years since your ranch was built, and you’re about to discover a mother lode of new ideas. You’ll find sinks, tubs, toilets, and faucet hardware so innovative and sculptural that they look more like museum exhibits than bathroom fixtures. No less a talent than Philippe Starck recently introduced a collection for Duravit, the German-based manufacturer of bath fixtures, that can easily rival the most minimal of modern art works (see www.duravit.com ).
You’ll also see some surprising materials turning up in the bath. Stainless steel, for one shining example: the kitchen has no monopoly on this highly popular (if also high-maintenance) contemporary cladding.
In the streamlined bath we show here, designer John Buscarello, ASID, orchestrates space in crystal-cool colors and sleek stainless on the Wood-Mode cabinets (www.wood-mode.com ) that gleam between the wall-hung lavatories. His double-helping of sinks and mirrors is a smart concession to the modern lifestyle, when He and She often vie for face-time in the morning rush. Buscarello’s design also includes a sit-down dressing table in tempered glass, tinted acrylic block walls, and porcelain stone floor tiles — exciting modern materials, all.
Q: We are trying to decide whether or not to strip all the painted woodwork in our Arts-and-Crafts-style bungalow down to the natural color. It’s a lot of work. Is it worth it?
A: If you are committed to the authentic Arts-and-Crafts look, it is. Natural wood was the medium of choice for expressing a return to honest and natural interiors after all the excess of the Victorian era. But you are quite right: stripping and refinishing an entire house is a lot of work. There are products to help — www.minwax.com should prove useful — and plenty of expert information: have a look at any of several how-to books by Bruce Johnson, organizer of the annual Arts and Crafts conference and antique show at the historic old Grove Park Inn in Asheville, N.C. (coming up Feb. l8-20; www.arts-craftsconference.com). Among Johnson’s books are “Knock on Wood” and “Tips for Refinishers.”
On the other hand, there’s expert advice against stripping off miles of paint yourself. Old paint almost always contains lead, something you don’t want to sand into dust that you can breathe. Unless you have the know-how to do big jobs, like stripping and sanding hardwood floors, we say turn the stripping over to hired pros.
Q: My 3½-year-old daughter has allergies to things like dust, cat dander and molds. Our pediatrician gave me a list of remedies, like adopt out the cat — we gave him to our neighbors — and take up the carpets — which I am slowly adjusting to the idea of. There’s nothing but cement on the family room floor. Should we put down a laminate that looks like wood? Or is there something new and more interesting to consider?
A: Any slick, mop-able surface is kinder to people with allergies than carpet pile, which grabs and harbors dust and dander. Laminates fall into this category, and some of the newer versions do a good job of copying stone, metals and tiles, as well as wood.
Another answer involves something old, but still newsworthy: Marmoleum, aka linoleum, a floor-covering material that’s been around for pushing two centuries. It’s an all-natural product, conjured from linseed oil (from flax), wood flour, limestone and other naturals adhered to a jute backing. The manufacturer says Marmoleum is allergen-free and anti-static, which means dirt barely sticks so it’s easy to keep clean.
More good news: Marmoleum comes in some 150 marbleized colors, enabling you to compose your own floor designs. Have a closer look at www.themarmoleumstore.com.
Rose Bennett Gilbert is the co-author of “Hampton Style” and associate editor of Country Decorating Ideas. Please send your questions to her at Copley News Service, P.O. Box 120190, San Diego, CA 92112-0190, or online at copleysd@copleynews.com.
