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Down on the Farm N + B
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September 2012
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In the farmhouse kitchen, pragmatism takes center stage. Learn to combine rustic form with modern function
Q & A WITH MONICA PEDERSEN This HGTV Designer Knows How to Get More ‘Bang for Your Buck’
Kohler
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my
CONTENTS:
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This HGTV designer knows how to get more ‘Bang for Your Buck,’ but guess what’s missing from her own humble kitchen?
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QA Monica Pedersen &
with
Helen Berkun
This HGTV designer knows how to get more ‘Bang for Your Buck,’ but guess what’s missing from her own humble kitchen?
By Dawn Klingensmith CTW Features
W
ithout setting foot in them, Monica Pedersen has been in perhaps a million American homes – maybe even yours. As a designer on HGTV’s “Designed to Sell,” Pedersen shows viewers how to add value to their homes while working within a tight budget. On “Bang for Your Buck,” she showed which remodeling investments were likeliest to pay off. And here, she offers advice on low-cost
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kitchen and bath renovations, revealing a surprise about her own kitchen in Highland Park, Ill., a Chicago suburb.
Q: What are the best low-cost updates for the kitchen and bath? A: In the kitchen, a new countertop, a new faucet and a new sink. This mini makeover is not invasive in terms of construction and can be done in a day. Adding an apron-front sink is an affordable option that totally changes the look of your kitchen. In the bathroom, switch out the hardware. The finish people are gravitating toward is polished nickel. With a product like Kohler’s HydroRail, you can also convert a normal showerhead installation to a spa-like experience with multiple water sources.
Q: What about removing the tub altogether? Some say this hurts
resale value.
your own dream kitchen.
A: I’m asked that all the time, it’s crazy. But people are afraid to do it. I’ve done that on “Bang for Your Buck,” so I’ve asked Realtors and they always say as long as there’s a tub somewhere in the house, you’re fine.
A: I’m still waiting for my fantasy kitchen! I live in a 1920s Tudor-style home, and back then, kitchens were utilitarian. It’s not a great space, but I’ve had the cabinets redone a creamy white and added some pretty molding pieces. For my fantasy kitchen, I’ll need to blow out a wall. But I’m so busy doing other people’s projects that I haven’t had time.
Q: Do you agree with the conventional wisdom that the kitchen and bath are the best rooms to remodel? A: For resale value, absolutely. Those are the rooms we spend the most time in, and as a buyer, you don’t want to plop down a bunch of money to bring them up to date – that factors into your decision. But setting resale aside, I think those are smart updates anyway. You spend so much time in those rooms, you might as well enjoy them.
Q: Describe some features in
Q: And once that wall’s blown out? A: I have island envy. Islands are so mainstream now. They’ve turned into the kitchen table, they’re great for entertaining, they’re a great place for kids to do their homework. Eventually I’ll get my island. But I do love my old home with all its charm. © CTW Features
Monica’s Must-Haves A former fashion model and selfdescribed “textile junkie,” Monica Pedersen reveals the home accessories she can’t live without. At the top of the list: draperies. “I’m a curtain girl,” she says. “I love fabric. It warms up a space.” Her other must-haves, in no particular order, are beautiful pillows, wall coverings (“They’re not like my mom’s old cabbage rose wallpaper,” she says) and sisal rugs. “I have sisal rugs in my living room and dining room,” Pedersen says. “They just make me happy.”
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Down on the
Farm(h use)
Kitchen
This pragmatic style takes the cue from the sustainable and back-to-basics trends. Learn to balance rustic style with modern function in the farmhouse kitchen
By CHRISTINE BOCKELMAN
F
CTW Features
Kohler
or most of us, today’s world is a go-go-go, stress-filled and financially unsteady place. So it’s no surprise that with all the chaos waiting outside the front door, we’d want the inside of our homes to be a little more calm and welcoming. It’s a desire that’s resonating in kitchens across America where, after years of cold stainless steel and brushed nickel, the simple warmth and comfort of the farmhouse style is coming barreling back into favor. “Farmhouse kitchens follow the sustainable movement, the green movement, the farm-to-table movement,” says Jordee Williford, a green-certified project designer for Doublee Design Group in Richmond, Va. “People are going back to simpler times, and for the kitchen, that means a place everything works hard, serves a purpose and is easily accessible.” A farmhouse kitchen isn’t all about redand-white checkered tablecloths and ceramic roosters. It must serve as a workspace where cooking takes center stage and the family has space to gather. Farmhouse kitchens have form, but their backbone is function. “If you think about a farmhouse kitchen, you think about it being used,” says Jonathan Detwiler, architectural designer and partner Farmhouse chic: Simple white or cream cabinets, open shelving and a casual dining area belie the farmhouse style in this kitchen. of Berks Homes Design and Build in The modern lines in the chandelier, marbled backsplash and detailed apron-front sink give the space a style update. Mohnton, Pa. “Everything has a rustic then stacked back in place at its end. The style farmhouse kitchen. Reach up, grab what you of a design book.” element, a patina that shows it has served a was popular in homesteading days because the need, and start cooking dinner. In the past, hutches were pulled from purpose.” shelves could easily be constructed from “A farmhouse kitchen is neat but not other parts of the house to hold lesser-used Practical Style available materials. pristine,” Williford says. “People on farms dinnerware and linens. In today’s farmhouse Open shelving, a hallmark of farmhouse Pot racks, often used as design elements took a simple approach to life and kitchens, vintage hutches and other kitchens, allows dishes and serving pieces to to showcase impressive collections of shiny decorating. They used materials they had on freestanding cabinetry add character and be showcased and easily grabbed for a meal, copper cookware, are more practical in the hand, not ones they spent hours picking out soften the aesthetic edge of modern
Page 6 – Homestyle – September 2012
shutterstock
Strike a balance: Exposed beams and vintage jars and cutting boards complement the modern detailing in the sinks and faucets in this light-filled farmhouse kitchen.
materials like tile and appliances. Other popular salvage items include dinner tables built from repurposed doors and floorboards or ceiling beams pulled from old barns. “For our current take, it’s about the honesty in the materials and appreciating their history,” Detwiler says. “It’s mixing old with new.”
and even fireplaces, so long as they are actually useful. Even if that fireplace looks pretty, if you are only going to light it once a year there might be another, better use for that space. Or, consider turning it into a pizza or brick oven, so you get the benefits of both style and having another place to cook.
Everything in the Kitchen Sink
Avoid These Pitfalls
Hands down, though, the most prominent design element in a farmhouse kitchen is the sink, which is almost always deep, single-bowl and apronfront. Again, it was all about practicality: The deep basin allowed hand-washing of big, heavy-duty pots and the apron let you splash a little water around without fear of soaking cabinet fronts below. Today’s apron sinks have a lot more style than their predecessors. While the traditional plain, white version is still popular, copper, stainless steel and textured versions can add interest and update the overall look. Other elements of the look might include wrought-iron hardware and other rustic finishes on lighting fixtures – no sleek stainless drawer pulls here –
A word of caution though: There is a fine line between a well-executed farmhouse kitchen and a kitschy farmhouse kitchen. “Only bring in items you will actually use,” Detwiler says. Old baskets, for example, not only add to the casual, homemade feeling but can actually be used as practical storage. Also, don’t mix and match the finishes or the furniture too much, and be sure to keep a focal point in the overall design. “You have to have a plan,” Williford says. “You need to have a cohesive color scheme, and you need to thoughtfully tie together hardware and lighting. This isn’t about pulling together everything you can find from a flea market and calling it a farmhouse
kitchen.”
Universal Appeal
It might not seem so at first, but elements of the farmhouse style can be easily adapted to almost any design preference. A minimalist would appreciate the clean-lines of the open shelving, for instance, even if the worn floorboard look is off-putting. The farmhouse style can be modernized with high-end stainless steel appliances, new chairs around a vintage table or mixed metals instead of traditional wrought iron. Touches of the style can be brought into any home by simply removing the doors from existing upper cabinets and painting the insides to mimic the look of open shelves. Even adding glass fronts to cabinetry can help. Display some old Mason jars or start a collection of vintage cookie cutters. “Farmhouse style is really about bringing kitchens back as the heart of the home, where people can gather and cook real food,” Williford says. “It’s about family.” © CTW Features
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High-Tech
Home Spa
New technology improves any bathroom experience, from singing in the shower to wrapping yourself in a toasty towel
I
CTW Features
f there’s one room that screams relaxation, it’s the bathroom, where anyone can go to escape household hubbub and soak the worries away. These luxuries can come at a hefty price – thousands of dollars plus installation costs. We take a look at the high-end technology that can turn a bathroom into a spa haven, plus the affordable options that can make an impact without breaking the bank.
Waterproof Radios
Televisions
One of the most dramatic technological features in a modern bathroom is the mirror television. They are more commonly seen in high-end hotel bathrooms, but are making their way into residential spaces. When a TV mirror is off, it’s indistinguishable from the rest of the mirror. When it’s powered on, it lights up a segment of the mirror so the TV image is displayed. Most models are wired into the home’s television cables and can be connected to alternative devices like DVD players or laptop computers. Green Bay, Wis.-based Séura produces the Enhanced series of TV mirrors. Such TVs “are designed to bridge the gap between technology and décor,” says Gretchen Gilbertson, co-founder and partner of Séura. “Our vanishing
Th e
television mirrors offer a discreet and elegant way to bring information and entertainment into your personal spaces without clutter or disruption.” Prices range from $2,899 for Séura’s 10-inch TV, to $3,499 for the 19-inch model. DIY installation is possible. Other companies, including Smarthome, Mirror Media and Fontaine offer mirror televisions in the same price range.
Towel Warmers
There’s nothing quite like the luxury of a warm towel after a long bath. Towel warmers range in price, from $75 to upwards of $1,000, depending on the features. The luxury leader in this category is Mr. Steam, based in Long Island City, N.Y. Martha Orellana, vice president of the company, suggests asking a few questions before deciding on a towel warmer. Do you want a floor or wall
th o Any ing Und er nD Ca Yo n
of Ro ur
M e
Getting music to play in the shower might seem like the easiest task: Take your current music-playing device and put it in the bathroom. But even this simple device has high-tech luxury options.
For instance, the Sangean H201 Waterproof Shower Radio ($149.99) can also double as a travel radio for outdoorsy types. It offers the standard pre-set radio stations, timers and a clock. But it will also float if you drop it in the lake on a fishing trip, and there’s a built-in emergency LED flashlight for camping or inclement weather. Those who aren’t as adventurous and prefer to act as DJ in the shower have lessexpensive options like the Jensen Universal Docking Shower Radio ($50), which can encase an iPod in its waterproof shell. Regardless of price, shower radios are easy to install. Most come with suction cup docks or are freestanding, so they can rest on any shower ledge or corner.
Seura
By Lindsey Romain
Disappearing act: High-tech mirrors have LCD screens that are indistinguishable from the mirrored surface until the TV is turned on.
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Page 8 – Homestyle – September 2012
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Showers and Baths
There’s no spa experience without some sort of water pressure, be it jets in the tub or adjustable spray patterns on a showerhead. New products offer an array of controls that allow users to customize their experience. Baths and showers now have computer panels where the user can program his or her spa experience. Kohler's new VibrAcoustic tub ($4,000) synchronizes its jets with the
Moen
vibrations of music that can be played through a smartphone, mp3 player or Bluetooth. Tubs with jet streams generally call for professional installation and a remodel. This can cost anywhere from $200 to $3,000, depending on the ease of access, local rates and the cost of the new fixtures. One easy way to get the essence of a spa without a total upheaval is to invest in a showerhead spa system. Some showerhead attachments can screw onto pre-existing heads, while others offer easy DIY installation directions. Check with a local retailer to ensure your shower can be adapted to fit the product. A simple showerhead with multiple pressure settings, from “wide rain” to “power massage” can sell for a modest $30. Expect to pay much more for advanced water controls. Moen offers vertical spa systems with multiple heads. The ExactTemp transfer vertical spa ($1,368.75) channels water with up to three times more spray power than regular showerheads.
Spa style: Towel warmers (left) and multi-spray shower sets (above) add an element of luxury to the bathroom.
Mr. Steam
mount? What type of finish do you prefer? Do you want contemporary or traditional styling? Do you want to turn the warmer on with a digital timer or a light switch? Depending on these features, the Mr. Steam products can cost from $75 for a single bar to $3,100 for the priciest model. Other brands offer less-expensive versions; the 10-bar system from Myson runs for about $160. Why go high-tech with your towels? “It’s all about the ‘Ahh’ feeling that you get from wrapping yourself in a nice, plush, cozy, warm towel,” Orellana says. “And you can get this feeling after every shower. It’s pampering yourself for a few seconds every day.”
© CTW Features
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Then choose another accent color for the kitchen. But with these red-hot accessories lighting up the housewares selection this year, why try anything else?
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