Ask your Chicago or New York friends about pool baths and you might get a puzzled stare. We Florida homeowners couldn’t live without them, though. Imagine your children’s friends running across your wood floors or your party guests dripping all over your upholstered furniture to get to the powder room, and you quickly appreciate the pool bath’s practicality.

Just because it’s practical, doesn’t mean your pool bath shouldn’t be pretty, too. Our Florida design pros share their insights on creating pool baths for your home this season.

Make your pool bath as stylish as a master with custom Wood-Mode cabinetry and handsome details worthy of your best parties

 Location rules

Yes, your pool bath should be accessible from your pool area. It should also have a lockable door. (Nobody wants to be walked in on during a pool party!).  Many  clients have their pool baths in a cabana or pool house.

If it’s not located within a separate building, your pool bath should be in an easy-to-reach spot in your home. “With so many kitchens and great rooms opening onto the lanai, it’s not uncommon to see the pool bath serving as a rest room for these areas even when no one is swimming,” according to Wood-Mode Florida Representative Susan Goldblatt.

This Kohler bath reflects coastal style shared by many Florida homes

 Style rules

Because your pool bath is part of your home’s social flow, it should reflect the style of the surrounding rooms. “They normally are not big bathrooms,” notes Cesar Verdugo with Ft. Lauderdale-based Living Color, but, he notes, they should be as attractive as powder rooms. Both, after all, are part of your entertaining space.

Verdugo ties his pool room designs to the surrounding rooms by carrying through the same cabinet and hardware finishes, even the same flooring, if it’s water and moisture-friendly.

Courtesy:  AIA Warren Architecture, LLC
Your pool bath can be as elegant as your powder room or master with Wood-Mode

Functionality rules

These are going to be heavily-used bathrooms. Their surfaces will be subjected to chlorine, as well as water. “It’s really important to select durable finishes for a pool bath,” cautions Goldblatt.  Verdugo agrees, and often specifies quartz counters and tile floor and walls.

This Wintergreen quartz countertop by Zodiaq recalls the look of beach glass – perfect and practical for a pool bath!

 Your pool bath doesn’t need a tub, but a shower is a necessity. It’s where your guests will wash the pool water off of their swimsuits and skin. “Building in a niche for soap and shampoo is a nice feature to include. So are a bench and hand shower for older guests’ seated use – especially here in Florida,” notes Goldblatt.

“I like to include multiple shower heads in pool baths,” Verdugo notes. “It’s perfect after a pool day.”

Multiple showerheads, like this Siderna collection from Brizo, add luxury to your pool bath

 Your pool bath should also have ample room for towels, potentially even a hamper if you regularly supply the towels for your pool parties. Robe hooks just outside of the shower or tub area and a bench within are also great guest conveniences.

Safety rules

Your flooring neesd to be highly slip-resistant as most visitors will be running in from the pool with wet feet. Installing decorative grab bars in showering/bathing areas for both children and seniors is an accessory not to overlook.   If you don’t think of grab bars as decorative, you haven’t seen the latest styles, often with the same detail and finishes as the faucets and accessories.  They also work well for active homeowners or guests who may be recovering from surgery or injuries.

Grab bars, like Moen‘s Kingsley can add to your pool bath’s safety and style!

Final thoughts

If you’re looking to add a pool bath to your Florida home, or upgrade the one you currently have, our local designers are the ideal professionals to help you make that happen. The outcome will be enhanced resale value in future years and enhanced comfort and convenience now. Contact one of these bath pros today to discuss your wishes and concerns.

This is the time of year when the delicious aromas of holiday desserts waft through your kitchen and your aprons are coated with flour. (A small price to pay for such heavenly treats!) For those of you who positively love to bake, a custom baking center might be a wonderful gift to yourself and your home. Our Florida-based kitchen design pros can help you create one! Here, two of them share some ideas and tips for making this happen.

Planning a baking center

“We have designed dozens of bake centers for clients,” shares Amber Knapstein with Vero Beach-based William Charles, Inc. “We like to drop the standard 36 inch high counter top to between 30 (table height) and 33 inches high to provide an area to mix, knead, and roll out dough.”

Knapstein adds, “Baking centers are easily placed in an island or perimeter location. An island-based baking center does have several perks that a perimeter-based baking center does not. This includes the ability to entertain and converse with guests from the baking center face to face instead of over the shoulder, and the freedom to move around the kitchen while keeping the perimeter free for other uses.”

Ann Marie Hoeksema, CKD with Sarasota’s Paradise Homes/Extreme Remodelers notes that a baking center should offer “Ample landing space, prep area and proximity to ovens.” She, too, most frequently designs them into an island. If your kitchen lacks an island, but has space for one, this could be an ideal focus for it! “The prep area for baking centers is often island-based with the appliances being on an adjacent perimeter wall,” the Certified Kitchen Designer adds.

The island in this elegant Paradise Homes/Extreme Remodelers kitchen could be an ideal baking center site

There isn’t a specific configuration or dimension requirement for a baking center, since each one is customized to how you’ll use it. “It should be entirely based on the client’s desires, balanced with the time spent baking and the amount the client bakes,” Knapstein notes.

 Outfitting your baking center

“One ideal cabinet accessory is a utensil organizer kit,” Knapstein suggests. “It will keep all of your baking tools organized and at the ready to whip up your favorite treats.”

“Mixer lifts are often requested for that frequently-used heavy stand mixer. Additionally, double wall ovens are always requested,” Hoeksema notes. “Rollout drawers for accessing mixing bowls also help the baker,” she adds.

Mixer lift mechanisms, like this  Rev-A-Shelf  model featured in a Wood-Mode cabinet, are ideal for keeping your baking center countertops clear when your stand mixer isn’t being used

Equipping your baking center

“A cooktop, oven and stand mixer are the basic appliances a baker needs – in addition to the obvious need for refrigeration,” Hoeksema shares. “Double wall ovens are always requested,” rather than singles, the designer notes.

A second sink isn’t generally needed, Knapstein notes. “There really is little importance for an extra sink in a bake center. However, if the client requests one, we will use all of our abilities to design a stress-free working environment for them.”

If, however, you’re adding an island to a kitchen that doesn’t already have one, you may want to add a sink for the overall kitchen’s convenience. “A prep sink is vital at this location to serve a central prep area,” Hoeksema says. The main sink located in the kitchen’s perimeter will largely serve as a clean-up sink. Having both will better allow two cooks, or one cook and one baker, to work together in the kitchen.

The double ovens and refrigerator in this Paradise Homes/Extreme Remodelers kitchen are convenient to an island-based baking center

Topping your baking center

Marble has long been a popular choice for home bakers because its smooth, cool surface is perfect for kneading dough. It has drawbacks, though, including its tendency to stain and chip. Granite has became an accepted alternative for its cool hardness, but its porous surface also invites staining and cross-food contamination.

“Engineered quartz surfacing offers the same benefits as marble or granite, but without the maintenance requirements,” Knapstein observes. Because they’re non-porous, engineered stone tops – marketed as Silestone, Caesarstone, Cambria and Zodiaq, to name a few – also reduce your contamination risk.

“Polished hard surfaces such as stone or quartz are ideal,” Hoeksema adds. “They are durable and easy to clean and maintain.” Granite and marble will need sealing. Quartz, also known as engineered stone, won’t.

Engineered stone, like this Ocean Blue version from Zodiaq, is an ideal baking center countertop surface, according to our kitchen pros!

 Final thoughts

If you’re envisioning yourself creating sweet treats in a new baking center, please consult with one of our Florida-based kitchen design pros. And have a happy, healthy holiday season!

The 2011 holiday season is officially upon us. And your kitchen is about to get very, very busy. Is it up to the continual entertaining that comes with this busiest time of year? If the answer is yes, congratulations, you probably had it designed by a pro. If, on the other hand, it’s barely passable, our Florida-based kitchen design experts suggest keeping track of those areas where it falls really short this season. That way, they can help address these shortcomings with you for a more perfect Easter and Passover 2012.

In the meantime, here are a couple of these design professionals sharing their insights for a kitchen that entertains well all-year-round.

A well-lit kitchen entertains well

“The most aesthetically enjoyable interior spaces are those that are well lit,” shares Ann Marie Hoeksema, CKD, with Sarasota-based Paradise Homes/Extreme Remodelers. “A space that is well lit entails layering combinations of lighting, including under-cabinet, decorative fixtures, ambient lighting – and sparkle,” the Certified Kitchen Designer adds. Sparkle can be achieved with the use of candle light or with in-cabinet lighting reflecting on crystal accessories. Lighting done well can impact emotion and mood.

A well-lit Wood-Mode kitchen by Paradise Homes/Extreme Remodelers entertains beautifully.

 A well-organized kitchen entertains well

“The right mix of space and flow,” also enhances everyone’s mood. These ingredients make for an entertaining-friendly kitchen, shares Amber Knapstein with William Charles, Inc. in Vero Beach. “The storage space in cabinets and the usable counter space on countertops, along with the ability of a kitchen to provide natural flow all make it inviting and convenient,” she notes.

Our design pros share the advantages of kitchen organizers to your holiday entertaining chores. Knapstein suggests pull-out spice racks. “Being able to find all of your spices quickly makes cooking faster by putting the holiday flavors your family loves in your hands without digging through a packed cabinet or overstuffed drawer.”

Homeowners have several options for spice storage including drawer and cabinet installations.

Hoeksema has a tip of her own to offer: “One of the most important cabinetry organizer types in the kitchen for holiday entertaining are tray dividers. This is the time of year when we make use of those oversized serving trays that are stowed away in often less than accessible cabinets. Having an organized divider system for them is ideal.”

This Brookhaven kitchen features a base cabinet divider for trays, cookie sheets and baking pans.

“Nothing makes entertaining easier than ample countertop space and easily accessible cooks’ tools,” the certified designer adds. “For the extreme chef, a pot rack within close proximity to the cooking station is an invaluable feature. The increasing popularity of the pot filler above the range top is also a bonus time saving amenity to any kitchen.”

This Paradise Homes/Extreme Remodelers kitchen features a step-saving pot filler

A well-equipped kitchen entertains well

Our designers are united in their enthusiasm for warming drawers at this busy time of year. “They give the host or hostess time to entertain and circulate with his or her guests, while allowing the meal to stay warm and ready to serve,” Knapstein notes.

Hoeksema adds, “Double ovens and warming drawers are a must for entertaining large groups.” All of a range top’s burners get used at this time of year, too, rather than the typical one or two for a family dinner. Holidays are when your 48 or 60 inch pro cooker and specialty burners really pay for themselves, our designers agree.

At the other end of the entertaining spectrum is an ice maker. These are paramount for making holiday entertaining easier, shares Knapstein. “Ice makers make it easy for guests to keep their drinks cold and hosts to fill glasses, pitchers, and keep cold appetizers at the right temperature for guest enjoyment.”

An ice maker, like this Echelon Series model from U-Line, is indispensable for home entertaining

A well-floored kitchen entertains well

What’s underfoot is almost as important as who’s underfoot. “Very few flooring surfaces are more welcoming than wood,” Hoeksema suggests. “Current trends reflect heavily distressing. These engineered wood floors are forgiving and low maintenance, even in the kitchen.” If you’re not familiar with this term, it refers to a factory-produced pre-finished floor that can install over most surfaces, including the concrete slab found under so many Florida kitchens. The distressing Hoeksema notes makes the flooring relatively worry-free when you have big crowds. A new ding or dent will just add to its character!

Knapstein likes rectified porcelain tile as an entertainer’s kitchen flooring. “It is easier to achieve thinner grout lines with rectified porcelain tile,” she shares. “With frequent foot traffic and the inevitable spills due to entertaining, the thinner the grout lines, the less grout to clean.” That, she notes, should make any host (and her housekeeper) happier. Porcelain is also far more durable than its ceramic tile cousin. When through-body porcelain tile is smartly specified, any dings from falling skillets will be much harder to spot as the surface finish goes all the way into the tile.

As tile of all kinds can be hard on one’s feet, back, hips and legs – especially when so many hours are spent in the kitchen at this time of year, a cushioned mat can be a welcome gift to yourself (or your favorite caterer) during the holidays.

Cushioning underfoot from a Wellness Mat preserves the home entertainer’s feet, back and legs during the hectic holiday season

 Final thoughts on entertaining kitchens

A kitchen that entertains well, at this time of year and any other, doesn’t happen by accident. In fact, it can help you avoid the many accidents that are routinely caused by poor ventilation, poor traffic flow and other haste-makes-waste occurrences common at this hectic time of year. Our kitchen design experts across the great state of Florida wish you happy, healthy, joyous holidays, and stand ready to help you enhance your space for 2012.

You don’t have to have a butler to enjoy having a butler’s pantry. With the holiday entertaining season almost upon us, you’ll find that the extra preparing and serving capabilities created by these helpful spaces are invaluable.

Our local kitchen and bath designers have designed hundreds of butlers’ pantries for homeowners just like yourself and can help you create one, too. Find a design pro in your area by clicking here.

What is a butler’s pantry

Typically, it’s a space near the kitchen and primary dining area designed to hold your serveware and food items, and allow a host, caterer (or butler!) greater convenience in serving and cleaning up. “All of the higher-end homes we design include them,” shares Cammi Werling with Stuart-based Kitchen Showcase . “But they’re incredibly practical for everyone who entertains at home on a regular basis, not just the privileged,” Werling adds.

“A butler’s pantry expands your counter space and storage for items that don’t need to take up room in your primary kitchen work zones.” As most homeowners don’t entertain on a daily or even weekly basis, having auxiliary space for entertaining gear is a real boon.

This elegant butler’s pantry features Wood-Mode Fine Custom Cabinetry, made in the USA and available in your area

 Planning your butler’s pantry

“The key to creating a successful butler’s pantry is customization,” notes Wood-Mode Florida Representative Susan Goldblatt. “While they all have counter space and serveware storage in common, there are differences from one to another depending on the client’s entertaining style,” she adds.

If you’re building a custom home or planning a whole house remodel, you can factor in the space and functionality you need with great ease. Building a butler’s pantry into a kitchen remodel, or adding one on its own, is more challenging – but still doable.

“A good starting point if you’re building or completely remodeling your home is to determine the roles you want your butler’s pantry to play,” suggests Goldblatt. “If you want it to function as a meal preparation space, you’re going to have to plan more extensively than if you just want to use it as a staging and serving point,” she adds.

For a full-service prep space, you’ll need to factor in room for appliances, at the very least, and plumbing, electrical and, possibly, even ventilation, depending on its scope. These are just a few of the reasons why you want an experienced professional involved in the planning process for your butler’s pantry.

Add exceptional cooking capability to your butler’s pantry with KitchenAid‘s warming drawer and combination convection, speedcook, microwave and steam-assist ovens

 If you’re adding a butler’s pantry to an existing kitchen and dining space, you’re likelier to be more limited in available space. You’ll be prioritizing the functionality you want to create in the room you have available. You’ll also be coordinating with existing styles and materials. “You can still achieve your goals very successfully,” notes Werling. “You just need to be very strategic in how you approach the space.”

In many cases, a butler’s pantry area is arranged on opposite walls, galley style, between a kitchen and a dining room, or along a single wall in or near the dining room if there’s less space available, shares Werling.

The tall or wall cabinets will be put to use for dishes, glasses and even packaged food items. The bases are used for fixtures and appliances, as well as drawer space for additional serveware. “If it’s possible to back up a butler’s pantry installation to your kitchen’s sink wall, that would be ideal for taking advantage of existing plumbing,” Goldblatt notes.

This clever Ronis sink by Blanco will enhance any full-service butler’s pantry

There’s no specific size requirement for a butler’s pantry, but you’ll want to consider your ideal components to determine how many square feet you’ll need to meet your goals. If you’re including appliances in your plans, you’ll likely need two-foot deep cabinets to accommodate them. You’ll also need three and a half feet in front for working space.

An experienced kitchen designer will help ensure that your appliance doors don’t conflict with each other, that your project meets local codes, and that the storage is appropriate for your space and goals.

Equipping your butler’s pantry

“If you host dinner parties pretty regularly, your butler’s pantry will be geared toward the serving pieces you need, a warming oven, a wine or beverage refrigerator, possibly an ice-maker and potentially a clean-up station with sink, disposal and dishwasher,” shares Joe Goldblatt of RoomScapes of Brevard in Rockledge. In larger homes and new construction, they’re sometimes located behind the kitchen and dually function as caterer’s kitchens.

“If your butler’s pantry is part of the dining room, or open to it, you don’t necessarily want it to look like a kitchen,” he cautions. “Paneled appliances are really the norm for spaces like this,” he adds.

In these cases, form is as important to your butler’s pantry success as function. “You absolutely want the cabinetry in your butler’s pantry to coordinate with your kitchen cabinetry and dining room set,” Werling states. “That doesn’t mean they have to match,” she adds. “They just have to look great in connected, open visual spaces.”

An integrated 18 inch dishwasher, like this Monogram model, is ideal for a butler’s pantry that will be seen from the dining area

To achieve this level of success, professional designers need to coordinate styles and finishes for the butler’s pantry that not only mesh with existing cabinetry and major dining room pieces, but also with existing flooring and countertops.

There is a growing number of multi-tasking appliances that can be tremendously helpful if you’re packing a multi-function butler’s pantry into a tight space. For example, there are microwaves with convection baking and warming oven capacity, freezer drawers that convert to fridge drawers, and combination wine captains/mini-refrigerators to double the capability of your butler’s pantry without doubling your investment.

Fisher & Paykel‘s versatile CoolDrawer can serve as a butler pantry’s freezer, wine captain or refrigerator, depending on your entertaining needs that day

 Final thoughts

You may not ever have or want a butler for your household, but the right kitchen design professional will ensure that your butler’s pantry will serve you and your home exceedingly well.

October is Kitchen & Bath Month, making it the perfect time to plan your home improvement projects. Whether you want to achieve a full scale remodel or just freshen up your home with some simple updates, consider retaining a professional designer to guide your planning, product selection and project management.

Kitchens and master baths represent some of the most valuable real estate in your Florida home. These are the areas where your style investment demands the best outcome for enjoyment and future resale. You want the best, most durable materials for your dollar. You want easy maintenance options that let you enjoy your space without working hard at it! You want great new looks that are both today and timeless.

Here are some insights from our local design professionals to help you achieve the kitchen or bath of your dreams this season.

Appliance Upgrades

Kristi Wyndham, CKD of Jacksonville-based Kitchen Studio 1562 says “less is more” right now. In her practice, that means specifying fewer appliances with each doing more. “Select appliances that multi task,” the Certified Kitchen Designer advises.

With the holiday season fast approaching, this is a perfect time to replace a microwave oven with a model that doubles as a second convection oven, or a standard beverage fridge with one that also freezes or makes ice. In both instances, the older models can move to a secondary location in your home, (like a game room), or be donated to a charity that will use them.

Monogram‘s powerful new Advantium microwave now multi-tasks above your range

Backsplash Bling

Another great upgrade for your kitchen or bathroom this season is an enhanced backsplash. That could mean swapping out paint for decorative tile or a beadboard that compliments your cabinets. (Consider pulling the interior color from your custom cabinets onto the splash for a beautiful tie in.

Ann Sacks’  stunning new Clodagh Core tile adds impact to your bathroom’s backsplash

It could also mean adding functionality and storage to your splash with backsplash organizers. That’s a great deal of real estate to go untapped, our designers agree!

Heavenly Hardware

Our designers agree that cabinet knobs and pulls are the jewelry of your kitchen! If you’re looking for an easy update this season, swap out your current hardware for new models or add some jewelry to cabinets that don’t currently have it. Wood-Mode Custom Cabinetry can supply you with quality hardware to update your long-lasting Wood-Mode doors and drawer fronts. If you’re swapping out pulls, measure the distance between screws and select new ones with the same spread.

 A contemporary selection from the Elite category of Wood-Mode’s Decorative Hardware catalog.

The “fish scale” detail on this Wood-Mode Prestige level hardware selection adds interesting detail for a coastal home.

Green Scene

If you’re looking to make some energy and water-saving improvements to your home this season, there are numerous ways to do it, our designers point out. One that will give you added cooking performance is swapping out your dated electric cooktop for an induction model. Not only do they lower your electric bill, they also give you professional caliber cooking performance. (Most of Europe’s top chefs have switched to induction.)

Gaggenau‘s innovative induction cooktop coming in 2012 offers full surface cooking and memory settings

On the water front, you can swap out your standard kitchen or bath faucets with tap-on or sensor models and replace a water-hogging toilet with a dual flush version that saves gallons a year. As news reports across the state share, this is a crucial need for Florida.

Kohler‘s sleek Persuade dual-flush stints on water, not style!

Bathroom Bonus

If you’ve been dreaming of updating your master bathroom, there are some terrific new medicine cabinets to consider. No longer just a place to park your toothpaste, today’s medicine cabinets offer charging stations for your electric toothbrush, shaver or cell phone. Some offer cold storage for medicines or television screens for catching up with your favorite shows while you get ready for work or bed. And the soft close doors you’ve come to love on your Wood-Mode Custom Cabinetry are now available on medicine cabinets!

With TV, cold storage and chargers, Robern‘s M Series are so much more than medicine cabinets!

Final Thoughts

Whatever upgrades you’re planning this season, consult with a professional. This is especially crucial when large investments or major mechanical systems are involved.

A well-designed morning kitchen can make your entire day! Imagine sipping a fresh-brewed cappuccino in your master suite before launching into work, charity or family activities.

What was first inspired by old-time in-law suites is now a bona fide luxury for your master suite or guest rooms … And the high season for guests in Florida is fast approaching! Here are tips from our local design pros for creating one for your own residence.

A morning kitchen tucked quietly into Wood-Mode Custom Cabinetry can add luxury to your master suite

A growing trend

“Morning kitchens are a given for most high-end custom homes,” notes Erich Brown with Epoch Solutions in Bradenton, citing their popularity both for master and guest suites. “They serve the homeowner by giving them privacy in quiet moments, either by having their own little kitchen, or by giving their guests a space they can go to without bothering the homeowner,” he adds. Visitors often welcome the opportunity to enjoy a juice, snack or cup of coffee without navigating dark hallways or flights of steps. Having their own kitchen lets them keep their own schedule, too.

“Morning kitchens are very popular,” agrees Paul Shulick with Rockledge-based RoomScapes of Brevard. One of the reasons for this, he believes, is, “It’s an easy way to boost the ‘luxury’ factor in both the master suite and guest rooms.”

Todd Grooms with Tradewind Designs in Naples notes that almost every home he works on gets a morning kitchen.

This contemporary morning kitchen by Tradewind Designs enhances a modern master suite

Planning your morning kitchen

For large residences, or those with upstairs bedrooms, these mini-kitchens are a step-saving luxury. Today’s homes often have guest suites, rather than guest rooms. This can provide the space and easy plumbing connections for a morning kitchen.

Sometimes, though, a home has multiple guest rooms – often for visiting families or friend reunions – with shared baths. In this case, morning kitchens are sometimes planned for a shared gathering space adjacent to guest sleeping quarters. “Our clients want that area to gather and enjoy the interaction of conversation,” shares Margaret Cook of Cooks Custom Cabinetry in Sarasota.

A sitting room, like the one featured in Wood-Mode Custom Cabinetry’s Southern Plantation design theme, located near guest rooms is an ideal space to incorporate a morning kitchen

Shulick sites morning kitchens mostly in transition spaces in or around the master suite, clarifying, “Not in the actual bedroom, if possible.” He wants the components to be used, but not seen all the time. “Build the morning kitchen behind retractable doors that could be either open or closed.”

The space between this handsome Wood-Mode Custom Cabinetry walk-in wardrobe and the adjacent master bedroom would be ideal for a morning kitchen

Glenn Midnet of Naples-based Interiors by Design West also likes hidden morning kitchens. His design approach is: “Fully enclosed to look like a free-standing furniture piece.” Midnet likes to include refrigerated beverage drawers which, when paneled, can also reinforce the furniture look of a tall piece.

With televisions moving onto walls and open shelving areas, custom armoires like this Wood-Mode model become ideal areas to retrofit for small morning kitchens.

The designers’ hidden approach to morning kitchens enhances the quiet charm of the master or guest suite, while adding to its functionality. At the same time, the doors that enclose the components will coordinate with the room’s other finishes.

Equipping your morning kitchen

“These spaces usually provide a sink, microwave, under counter refrigeration with an icemaker and storage for cups, glasses and beverages,” Brown shares. In some cases, he adds, you’ll find a dishwasher. This is when you want one of the quietest models on the market.

Bosch‘s ultra-quiet dishwasher, available panel-ready to match your cabinetry or stainless, won’t keep you awake

Coffee makers and refrigeration are Shulick’s top morning kitchen must-haves. “No refrigerator defeats the purpose of it at all,” he notes, adding, “It makes for a long trip to the kitchen for a cold juice in the middle of the night.”

A coffee system, like this plumbed Miele model, is a morning kitchen must-have

One inspiring element that Shulick likes to include in each project is open shelving for photos. Imagine images of your lovely grandchildren adding a smile to your morning tea.

If you’re planning a morning kitchen for your guests, you might want to include photos of local sites they can visit, or past get-togethers that recall fond memories.

You’ll also want to equip your guests’ morning kitchen with kitchen wares, hot and cold beverages, coffee gear and fresh, healthy snacks. Give them a tray for used serviceware and handy waste receptacles for wrappers and tea bags.

Final thoughts

Given the wide range of options and unique planning challenges involved with morning kitchens, you’re going to want to work with a skilled professional to add one to your home. Our kitchen pros can help. Select one of the experts quoted here, or refer to our designers’ list to find someone close to your Florida home.

What are the latest trends in kitchen and bath design this season – the ones with lasting benefits for your life and home?

Our design experts share insights from their Florida showrooms and projects. They’re looking at not just what’s new and pretty, but what makes sense for homeowners in the long run. Call on any of our local pros for help with your remodeling or new construction plans. Their job is to keep up with the industry’s best offerings. Here’s what they’re seeing this season.

Cleaner design lines

Margaret Cook of Cook’s Custom Cabinetry in Sarasota is seeing light and airy finishes overall, including brown wood stains on cabinetry paired with light stone counters. “Simple and uncluttered is hot,” she shares. “Beachy and cottage” are still strong, she notes, but pared back for a cleaner look.

Crisp lines and contrasts in Wood-Mode’s new “Woodland Meadows” design theme  kitchen show off Fall 2011 design trends.

“Limestone and white Carrara are really fantastic with the new trends,” Cook adds. “We are also using a lot of subway tiles to enhance both kitchens and baths.” Many of the newest subway tiles are larger format than ever, enhancing the clean lines Cook and her colleagues strive for.

Multi-tasking kitchen appliances

It’s no longer enough for an appliance to do one task well. The best of class models pack a range of functions into one unit, giving you space-saving performance. “Our clients lead super-charged lives,” shares Joe Goldblatt of Rockledge-based RoomScapes of Brevard. “They look to us to super-charge their kitchens, too.”

Major manufacturers are taking note, adds Kaye Kingsland of Kaye Kingsland Desings in Lake Worth.  She keeps track of the latest offerings from manufacturers for her clients. These include a pro range by Thermador with a built-in steam oven – an industry first for a range.

Steam offers numerous health benefits for home cooks. The challenge, Kingland notes, has always been fitting one in. Having steam-cooking capability included in a range solves that space problem and delivers extra functionality to the homeowner.

Thermador‘s new Pro Grand Steam Range exemplifies Fall 2011′s multi-tasking appliance trend.

Kingland likes the convertible drawer on GE Monogram’s new 30-inch Fully-Integrated Customizable Refrigerator. “Not only does it give clients the option of storing fresh or frozen food, it can even become a wine or beverage center,” she notes. She also likes its panel-ready design for upscale projects.

Monogram‘s versatile lower refrigerator drawer gives you freezer, fresh food, beverage or wine storage.

As even savvy, high-end clients are looking at price-value equations in their remodeling choices, the multi-tasking appliance trend is expected to be a lasting one with definite homeowner benefits, our designers agree.

Personalized Bathroom Features

This year’s Kitchen & Bath Industry Show was chock-full of fixtures designed to personalize the bathroom experience for each user. These are now hitting the market. Julie Collier of Signature Kitchens in Lake Mary likes being able to suggest such customization to her clientele. “It lets us bring them high-end benefits, sometimes at a more affordable price point than you’d expect.” Kohler’s DTV Prompt Digital Showering System is one of those offerings. “Digital shower pre-sets for each user and toilets with lighting, hygiene and music controls add a little excitement to an otherwise ho-hum category,” Collier adds.

Kohler‘s new DTV Prompt Digital Showering System offers personalized pre-sets for each user.

Cook notes that these toilets – digital or basic — are likelier than ever to be comfort-height for the ease of some clients.  The showers, while equipped with customized electronics, she adds, are also likely to be equipped with a hand-held showerhead for client convenience. Personalization becomes practical, as well as powerful.

“Clients are very tuned into their iPhones and iPads, and are getting more and more accustomed to personalization at every level,” Collier notes. Kitchen and bath manufacturers and designers are happy to oblige.

Deluxe dishwashers

Dishwashers continue to evolve into high-performance appliances, rather than just an expected homeowner convenience. “Our clients expect their dishwashers to save them time and look great, save water and electricity, and adapt to their entertaining style,” notes Goldblatt. “They need to scrub pots and caress crystal, all the while managing larger loads, hard water and re-formulated, eco-friendly detergents.”

This category has come a long way in the past decade on all of those fronts. Goldblatt especially appreciates the flexible racking systems that accommodate a seven-course dinner party or a wine tasting. “Clients love that flexibility,” he adds.

Miele‘s new Futura Series dishwasher is the home entertainer’s dream appliance.

“There is now, at last, an outdoor-rated dishwasher,” Goldblatt notes. “Given the growing popularity of outdoor kitchens here in Florida,” he observes, “it was something we’ve needed for years, and I’m glad it’s arrived.” Kalamazoo Outdoor Gourmet debuted this game-changer at the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show this year.

The industry’s first outdoor-rated dishwasher from Kalamazoo Outdoor Gourmet is perfect for Florida homes.

Porcelain power

Porcelain tile use is on the rise in both kitchens and bath applications.  It offers durability, especially the through-body versions that won’t show chips from dropped pots or hair dryers like standard tile.  A versatile look is the faux-wood porcelain that can go in showers and other areas where wood won’t work.

This Italian Murano by Fondovalle tile looks like wood, but can go where wood never can.

Clients also like larger-than-ever porcelain tile on floors and walls, especially with rectified edges. These allow for tighter installation that minimizes grout lines. This works for both a cleaner look and easier cleaning. Both are the type of benefit design pros seek for kitchen and bath projects.

Warmth of wood

However, tile isn’t right for every project. “Quality engineered wood flooring is very popular now,” Cook shares. “Clients love the fact that it is much easier on the legs than the hardness of tile,” she adds. Engineered wood offers tremendous durability, easy installation and it can go in rooms that solid woods can’t.

Both trendy and timeless, Wood-Mode’s “Classic Simplicity” design theme features clean-lined  cabinets and warm wood floors.

For the others, porcelain, marble or granite works well, Cook notes.

Last words

“Today’s client has done their homework,” Cook adds. The fact that you’re reading this post online is proof that you’re one of these savvy client types. You’re interested in staying up-to-date on the latest trends and advances in kitchen and bath design. Kudos to you.

The next step is finding a local designer who will combine your discoveries with long-held experience and industry knowledge. Successful kitchen and bath projects are always a collaboration between you, the client, and the professional you select to partner with you. Here’s a list of such design pros in your area, for your convenience.

The summer seems to fly by faster every year, doesn’t it? Another school year has begun and, with it, the clutter of text books, permission slips, binders and book bags. Along with the daily challenge of making the morning bell is the equally-daunting challenge of where to put all the gear that comes home!

An attractive, efficient homework center could be your ideal solution… And one of our highly-skilled design professionals can help you create one in your home.

A homework center positioned in close proximity to a well-organized entry area helps contain the school-gear sprawl.  Both areas are adjacent to the kitchen in this “Seaside Cottage” lifestyle design theme in Wood-Mode’s Brookhaven line.

Defining a homework center

A homework center does more than just give your children a place to do their assignments. It also assists with organization, hosts the electronics that are now a part of school life, and tame the clutter that the classroom generates. Chances are, the mini desk that came with your original kitchen isn’t quite up to doing all these jobs.

Planning a homework center

The first decision to make is where to locate your project. While some parents like to send children to their rooms to do homework, others prefer to have a child close to where they’re preparing dinner. This is especially true when Internet research is involved in assignments.

“Off of a kitchen or playroom” is where designer Robert Stoddard of The Kitchen Scene in Vero Beach most frequently sites them. One of the benefits of this location is multi-tasking. When the homework center is not being used for school, it can double as a buffet counter for entertaining. (It’s best to stash electronics out of the food and drink zone on those occasions.)

The open back of this Wood-Mode kitchen’s peninsula could extend a homework center’s functionality with its drawers and bin space

You’ll need five to five-and-a-half feet in width, according to Stoddard. Depths are typically 18 to 24 inches, depending on the computer equipment you’re placing on the surface. Must-haves, Stoddard shares are a “location for printer and keyboard drawer, [if you’re not using a laptop or tablet], bookshelves and a file drawer, as well as storage for supplies.” Another must-have is a minimum of three feet of space behind the station for the chair to pull back and others to walk by.

The homework center itself will benefit from cubbies for organizing paperwork, either by child for a multiple-user station, by class or by due date, and a simple, easy-to-wipe clean door style with super-durable finish. (Inevitably, ink or correction fluid will spill and scissors drop; this comes with the territory.) Of course, whatever style and finish you select should coordinate with the room in which it’s located.

This simple, Colony Recessed door style by Brookhaven Cabinets with its durable, no-maintenance finish would work very well for a transitional-styled homework center

You may want to plan in cabinet space to stash book bags so they don’t end up on the floor as a trip hazard, an Internet connection if the home isn’t wireless-equipped, and multiple electrical outlets for plugging in chargers.

Equipping a homework center

In addition to the cabinetry that will hold electronics, books and assignments, Stoddard notes that you’re also going to want to ensure good lighting for the space. Often, a room’s general lighting won’t meet the task needs of a homework center.

This Industrial Task Table Lamp from West Elm could work for contemporary or traditional homework centers

You’re also going to want a comfortable chair for your children to use. If it’s in your kitchen/great room area, find one that coordinates with your counter stools and table seating.  If upholstered, consider a color or pattern than will hide marks — outdoor-rated fabrics are ideal for easy-to-clean durable cushion covers.

This Covington desk chair with Marina Blue Easy Care fabric by  Ballard Designs will look great in many traditionally Florida interiors!

Last words

A well-planned homework center can benefit your family and your home’s resale value. As a premium built-in feature, it’s important for it to mesh seamlessly with your existing home design, as well as anticipating future needs as much as possible. A design professional can be invaluable in meeting all of these challenges – and helping you earn an “A” on your homework center.

You’re building your forever house, or finally creating your dream bathroom. Your 80-year-old father-in-law is moving in with your family. Your knee is still recuperating from last year’s ski trip. Any of these could inspire the creation of an aging-in-place bathroom in your home.

The good news is, this doesn’t have to mean turning one of your baths into an institutional setting. Our experienced design professionals can create a fabulous, fantasy-worthy bath that will also meet the realities of your life and household, today and into the future.

Updated aging-in-place friendly bathroom by The KitchenScene in Vero Beach

The Trend

According to AARP, 90 percent of homeowners want to remain in their own homes after retiring. Unfortunately, only a fraction of American housing stock adequately accommodates this desire to age-in-place.

A bathroom remodel can help overcome many homes’ shortcomings. Since moving to Florida, Paul Shulick with RoomScapes of Brevard in Rockledge has really seen this trend increase. “If the house is new construction, many architects will offer this to their clients,” the designer notes.

This means planning enough space that would allow for a walk-in shower and plenty of passage for a wheelchair, (just in case one is ever needed – sports mishap or otherwise), the designer explains. In high-end new construction, Shulick notes, “master suites are often on the upstairs floor, but rarely without an elevator. Others would rather keep all the living space on the first floor,” he adds.

A spacious bath, like this one featuring Axor Citterio fixtures by Hansgrohe, can be both stylish and aging-in-place friendly

Bathing beauties

Barrier-free walk-in showers have become increasingly popular, both for their spa style and aging-in-place accessibility benefits. Some homeowners are opting for larger stalls in place of infrequently-used tubs. These showers will typically have one or more benches for seated showering.

Benches, like this one tiled in New Ravenna mosaics, are ideal for spa-style aging-in-place showers

They will also have a hand-held showerhead for the same reason, possibly supplemented by body sprays and a rain shower head for a luxurious showering combination.

For safety reasons, showers and bathrooms should have non-slip flooring. Though you may love the look of polished marble, it can be painfully slippery beneath wet feet. Robert Stoddard of The KitchenScene in Vero Beach recommends a textured tile with matte finish instead. This can look tremendously stylish – especially with new offerings in porcelain – as well as offering safety benefits to bathers.

This aging-in-place bath features slip-resistant textured Daltile porcelain flooring

Tile-in linear drains have become increasingly popular, as well. They also reduce a trip hazard and eliminate the unsightliness of traditional drains.

Barely-seen and felt drains, like this Tile-Insert linear model from ShowerGrateShop.com, are ideal for aging-in-place and spa showers

Stoddard also notes that grab bars are essential. The good news, he shares, is that there are many more designer styles available. You no longer have to rely on white plastic for safety gear. The new styles by popular, upscale brands like Kohler, Jaclo and Rohl will blend with your accessories and faucets for an upscale look. There are looks that work with both contemporary and traditional décor, giving your designer an increasingly wide range of choices that will fit your project.

This brilliant Palladian handshower by Rohl is mounted on a designer grab bar

For those homeowners who really want a traditional bathing experience, even those needing walk-in tubs, Stoddard shares, “I create more of a stylish setting by fitting the tub into a deck-mounted situation. Using the deck to surround the tub and using deck-mounted fixtures gives easier access for the bather. It also creates “a more elegant feel and the clients love the look,” he adds.

“I have not found many walk-in tubs that are ‘designer friendly’,” Shulick notes, “but that does not mean they are not in the works. It is a definite trend.”

This accessible Elevance Rising Wall Bath by Kohler caught quite a few designer eyes at the last Kitchen & Bath Industry Show

Shedding light on the subject

Lighting is crucial for the bathroom, especially for one used by older homeowners. Consider the tasks performed in this space – shaving, applying make-up, taking medicines – and the need for ample illumination becomes clear. “Proper lighting within reach is important, and often overlooked,” Shulick shares. “It can be the safest, most convenient bathroom on the block during the day, but what about in the middle of the night?”

A layered approach to lighting will work best, with wall sconces flanking the mirror for task lighting, overhead lights in the shower, ceiling lights for general illumination, natural light wherever possible and toekick lighting for nighttime safety.

Wall sconces, like these Kichler Tulare models, flanking each mirror are ideal for vanity task lighting

Details, details!

Dozens of well-planned details contribute to a safe and stylish bathroom. Here are some designer tips that will greatly benefit the creation of your own aging-in-place bath.

· Rather than those with knobs or cross-handles, select faucets that have motion sensors or lever handles. These are much easier for anyone with arthritis or other painful hand issues to operate.

Lever faucets, like this satin nickel Catalina widespread by California Faucets, can be stylish, as well as easy to use

· Be sure to include an effective and quiet vent fan to prevent the growth of mold or mildew in the room. Noisy models interfere with hearing, an increasing issue for many older homeowners, and sometimes get left off because of their annoyance factor.

· Consider a lowered sink or vanity area for seated use. This can offset the fatigue and balance issues that plague some older homeowners.

Seating space in this Kitchen Scene-designed bathroom vanity is ideal for personal pampering

· Opt for a comfort-height toilet, which is easier to use for anyone with mobility or flexibility issues. There are many choices available now in designer styles and colors.

· Also consider including a towel warmer for luxury and comfort.

Panel-ready towel warming drawers, like this model from spa leader Jacuzzi, are the latest towel warming trend

Final thoughts

An aging-in-place bath designed with both style and safety in mind will improve the value of your home. It will also increase the chance of your staying in it longer. Consider using a professional bathroom designer when you decide to build a new house or update the one you currently own. Here’s a list of pros in your area.

Powder rooms are the jewel boxes of your home. They offer you the opportunity to show off tremendous style… and splurge lavishly. Our Florida-based design pros share their tips for giving yours a fabulous update.

“Size is not the priority… Detail is,” notes Eric Brown of Bradenton-based Epoch Solutions. “Inch for inch, more money and thought go into this room than most others in an upscale home.” So how do you achieve drama and elegance in your powder room?

A classic powder room design by Epoch Solutions

Classic cabinetry

“Function and storage go out the door,” notes Todd Grooms of Naples-based Tradewind Designs. “It’s just pretty, pretty, pretty.”  Brown looks for pieces that evoke the high end resorts where his clients vacation.

“We still have a relatively traditional market,” Julie Collier of Lake Mary-based Signature Kitchens observes, “so very elaborate furniture-looking pieces are popular. Both designers take advantage of Wood-Mode’s freestanding “furniture-style” cabinets, which makes a statement and leaves open wall space.

Wood-Mode‘s Barcelona Raised door style is ideal for traditional powder room cabinetry

Details help create the furniture look.  Grooms opts for bow fronts, toekick valances, bun feet, Queen Anne legs and decorative end panels. “Most of our work uses traditional styling,” he adds. “We get a tiny bit of contemporary,” he notes, “but they’re few and far between.”

Fabulous fixtures

Powder rooms are often designed to be distinct from the rest of the home. One way to achieve powder room uniqueness is to look for bath fixtures that make a statement, Brown suggests. There are many to choose from in both traditional and contemporary styles.

The Virage by Brizo works in both traditional and contemporary  settings

“That room is special,” agrees Collier. Special plumbing fixtures make her powder room must-do list, as well, noting that top-mount glass sinks with wall-mount faucets are popular. “It’s the one room in the home when you can step out of the box,” she adds.

“We’re seeing a lot of custom sinks, like hammered copper and Murano glass,” shares Grooms. “Metal and glass are the more popular choices,” he notes.  His clients like wall-mounted faucets, as well, appreciating a clutter-free countertop.

Counter intuitive

Those striking sinks are sitting pretty on statement countertops, as well. Wood and glass make Collier’s list, especially with six-inch thick edges. Grooms adds, “We see a lot of onyx, especially lit from underneath, so the countertop appears to glow.”

Coyote Glass Designs customizes both sinks and countertops for powder rooms across the country

People are more apt to use a product in a powder room that’s a little wilder, that have more life in them, he shares. “It’s such a small area, you can take a risk.”

Luxe lighting

As Grooms mentioned, lighting plays a strong role in creating powder room style. Accent lighting illuminating translucent countertops is one way to achieve it. Collier suggests creating a soft effect by using lights hidden behind crown molding as an additional accent lighting feature.

While accent lighting adds drama to the space, task and general lighting make it possible for guests to touch up their makeup and hair while visiting your home. “We almost always see sconces and some chandeliers,” notes Grooms.

Powder rooms are ideal settings for unique chandeliers like this Kenzia model from Dragonflys & Co

Where necessary, Grooms will also add recessed lighting in the ceiling for improved light.

Last words

Putting all of the pieces together in a stylish space – especially one that begs for custom touches like a powder room – is a job for the pros. Those quoted here can help you achieve the look you desire if your home is in their area. If it’s not, here are more Florida bath professionals across the state.