2 Spring Home Improvement | April 2020
A special supplement to The Frederick News-Post
A special supplement to The Frederick News-Post
April 2020 | Spring Home Improvement 3
O U T D O O RS
Hot Enough for You? Consider hot tubs and saunas for a luxurious way to warm up. By Christie Wisniewski
Hot tubs and saunas are a common luxury for spa-goers, but they can also be a relaxing addition to a backyard or home for enjoyment in any season. Even better, they can actually provide health benefits to those who use them. Hot tubs help relax tight muscles, relieve joint pain and help with recovery after exercise. Saunas help lower blood pressure, let the user work up a healthy sweat and can improve sleep. Modern hot tubs have evolved past the stone-heated calderas of ancient times, but still offer the same therapeutic benefits that only a long, hot soak can. There are two types of hot tubs: in-ground (custom-built) and portable. Portable hot tubs range from large solid-material tubs to small inflatable units that can be stored when not in use. While portable hot tubs offer easy installation and are more cost-friendly, custom-built hot tubs can be tailored to any taste and can become the centerpiece of a beautiful backyard landscape. Catoctin Mt. Spa and Tub in Thurmont services any make or model of hot tub and can assist with spa removal or relocation. This local company also provides weekly and biweekly water maintenance services, winterizing and spring openings and custom replacement covers. It also carries parts and filters for those who prefer to do the work themselves. Due its proximity to Washington, D.C., Capital Hot Tubs has completed projects in multiple embassies and boasts a commercial sauna and steam room portfolio as well. This company, with locations in Clarksburg, Rockville, and Fairfax, Virginia, carries a wide range of saunas and hot tubs. These tubs include everything from $3,000 “plug-and-play” models to saltwater tubs that range from $8,500 to more than $20,000. Capital Hot Tubs also sells Endless Pools swim spas, complete with a swim machine
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and optional treadmill, ranging from $13,000 to over $70,000. Regular hot tubs require less maintenance than most people think, according to experts at Capital Hot Tubs. A quick weekly cartridge change and a drain-and-refill every 3 to 6 months should keep tubs in their best shape. Hot Tub Installation Capital Hot Tubs installs tubs on decks, rooftops, in the ground and pretty much everywhere in between. Sales manager Alex Kohler cautions that hot tub installation should only be done by a highly trained delivery crew to ensure safety and proper procedure. Hot tubs are commonly installed on a reinforced deck or level concrete pad, both of which can be handled inhouse by Capital Hot Tubs. Concrete
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Portable hot tubs range from large solid-material tubs to small inflatable units that can be stored. pads range from $1,000 to $1,500 and deck support begins at $499. Electrical Requirements Entry-level tubs are generally “plugand-play,” using a common 110-volt connection with a 20-amp dedicated circuit, while most other larger hot tubs require a 220-volt connection with a 50-amp circuit.
Saunas Enjoyed since ancient times, saunas are another popular way to relax in the heat—but not by soaking in water. In a traditional sauna, humidity levels range from as low as 10% to upward of about 60%, while temperatures typically range from 150 to 195 degrees. From two-person infrared saunas starting at $3,500, to high-end, custom-cut saunas from $9,000 to above $20,000, Capital Hot Tubs offers an extensive variety of indoor and outdoor saunas. Fortunately, sauna maintenance is quite easy; they can be cleaned by wiping with a damp towel or soft brush after use. In general, there are four common types of saunas: See HOT TUB 20
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O U T D O O RS
5 Outdoor Projects Exterior renovations can enhance the appearance of a property and make it more enjoyable for homeowners. Certain renovations have the potential to add value to a home, while others may do the opposite. Learning which have the largest return on investment can help homeowners select features that will have the most positive impact. According to the National Association of Realtors, first impressions of a property have a strong influence on buyers. Landscaping and external features can do much to influence such impressions. • Lawn care program: Investing in a lawn care program that consists of fertilizer and weed control application that can be transferred over to a subsequent homeowner is valuable. NAR says such a care program can recover $1,000 in value of the $330 average cost, a 303% return on investment. • Low-maintenance lifestyle:
Choose low-maintenance materials for project like patios, composite decking, vinyl fencing and inorganic mulched beds. • Firepit: A firepit can be used for much of the year. In spring and summer, it’s a great place to congregate to roast
Why Add Exterior Lights? Exterior illumination can cast a glow on various features, but there are many other reasons to increase lighting around the exterior of a home. • Safety: Trips and falls can occur at night when trying to traverse walkways and landscapes in the dark, as it can be difficult to see rocks, stairs and uneven pavement. Outdoor lighting can illuminate pathways, entryways and other areas for safer access.
marshmallows or sip wine and gaze into the fire. In fall, it can make for a cozy retreat. A firepit that has a gas burner is low-maintenance, and the National Association of Landscape Professionals says that most can recoup about $4,000 of their $6,000 average price. • Softscaping: Hardscaping refers to structures like outdoor kitchens or decks. Softscaping involves the living elements of the landscape. Hiring a landscape designer to install trees, shrubs, natural edging and rock elements can
do wonders for improving the look and value of a home. • Pool or water feature: In certain markets, particularly hot climates, a pool or another water feature is a must-have. However, in other areas where outdoor time is limited, a pool or water feature can actually lower the value of a home. Speaking with a real estate professional can give homeowners an idea of how a pool will fare in resale value in a given neighborhood. –Metro
Power Washing Like a Professional Power washing, also known as pressure-washing, utilizes a high-velocity water spray to remove dirt and residue from the exterior surfaces of a home. It is frequently used on vinyl siding, concrete and sometimes wood decks to treat mildew and other growth that accumulates over time. According to home improvement website ImproveNet, until recently, pressure washers were almost exclusively commercial machines sold to professionals or rented to do-it-yourselfers. However, those who see power washing as a routine venture might consider buying a unit Exercise caution when operating a power washing machine. The high-velocity spray can tear through skin. It is key to get a feel for the washer, and try
less pressure first to get a handle on the magnitude of the tool. Wear safety gear. Gloves, eye protection and ear protection can be handy. Most units will connect to a standard garden hose. Choose old clothing and expect to get wet. Never point a power washer hose at anyone and do not attempt to rinse feet or hands in the spray. The renovation resource The Family Handyman suggests starting with a wide-degree nozzle to test out the spray on the surface that needs to be cleaned. A 15- or 25-degree nozzle is usually the wand to use for general cleaning and paint stripping without damaging the surface of the home. Experiment to find the optimal distance of the washer wand to get the desired cleaning effects
A special supplement to The Frederick News-Post
without causing any damage. Work using a horizontal and slightly downward angle to avoid driving water up under the siding of a home. Avoid spraying any electric wires or components. Also, try not to spray upward, and angle the spray away from doors, windows and vents. Some washers have reservoirs that will hold a detergent solution. Choose the right detergent for the job. Keep in mind that cleansers containing bleach can damage surrounding plants, so they may need to be covered. Avoid the using a ladder when operating a power washer. The push-back from the wand can cause falls. Instead, opt for an extension wand to address the upper reaches of a home. –Metro
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• Extend outdoor entertaining: Ample lighting can increase the amount of time one can use outdoor spaces and make them the perfect gathering spot. With extra lighting, patios, porches and other outdoor area can be enjoyed well into fall. • Safeguard security: Burglars may be less likely to target a well-lit home than one swathed in darkness and shadows. Lights can remain on all evening or be motion-triggered. Setting lights on timers also ensures that the home is illuminated whether residents are home or not. • Create drama: Landscape lighting designers can establish focal points around the landscape and highlight the best features of a property. Consider uplighting in trees, silhouetting techniques to showcase plants and spotlights to show off architectural features. • Add value: The experts at Parker Homescape, a landscape design service, say that exterior lighting can add roughly 30% to the value of a home, and that 50% of home buyers say that outdoor lighting is important to them. –Metro
April 2020 | Spring Home Improvement 5
GAR D ENING
Gardening Therapy Grubbing, digging & simply sitting can help you unwind in these trying times. by Adrian Higgins
If someone were to say I must self-isolate in the garden for the next few weeks, I’d shake that person’s hand. If I could. So here’s a thumbs up from a distance of six feet or more. The neighborhood sidewalks and nature trails are thronged with the cabin-fevered, so what better place to be outdoors and away from others than in your backyard and garden? The mark of a true gardener is not seeing a finished landscape, but a series of tasks that need to be tackled. This isn’t as onerous as it sounds because it gets to the essential elements of gardening: creativity, honest toil and the satisfaction of a job well done. Aches and pains come along for the ride, but that’s why we have bathtubs. Just as many of us have been able to compartmentalize ourselves from the coronavirus, we should divide our gardening into a series of discrete tasks or projects. Without that focus, it can become overwhelming. A little every day will accrue to a garden transformation by May. Apart from attending to the prac-
tical aspect of spring gardening, you are also cultivating your mental health. Weeding can have a Zen quality about it, something to do with clearing the soil while emptying the mind. This is the perfect time to get lettuce and other greens started by direct sowing in the garden. But first I must deal with lingering winter weeds, which are in the way of my sowing beds. In preparing seedbeds that are weedy, I turn the soil and remove dislodged weeds as I go. I prefer to use a garden fork instead of a spade or shovel, and I work backward so that I’m not stepping on newly turned soil. Some people sow seeds in blocks; I like the order of rows. After the bed is raked smooth, I mark each line with string staked at each end and pulled taut. I follow the line of the string with a knife, scoring a thin, deep furrow for the little
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seedlings to send down their roots. For most spring veggies, I separate the rows by the width of my hand span. You can sow many cool-season vegetables now, including leaf lettuce, mesclun mixes, arugula, carrots, chard, beets, radishes and mustard greens. The leafy stuff will sit around in April and then grow rapidly in May. If you just have a small balcony, you can sow the same things in pots; make sure they drain and have a sunny location, and water them daily. You can also grow sprouts; they grow so quickly that it’s hard to go wrong. You’ll need supplies for gardening—
soil amendments, tools, seeds, plants— but if you are uncomfortable venturing out and garden centers are closed, there’s always online ordering and delivery.
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Other projects? Where the lawn meets a growing bed, get a spade and redefine the edge; a string line will keep things straight. Those sunken patio flagstones can be lifted and reset on a replenished bed of sand or stone dust. This is also a good time to attack
overgrown thickets of shrubbery that have outlived their purpose. I don’t minimize the toil of such a job, but if you go to the trouble of grubbing out the roots and preparing the bed, you will have fresh real estate to plant with ground covers, perennials and shrubs. Be careful when you work and have sturdy clothing, footwear and gloves. Don’t step on a protruding nail, or put a wire through your ear; the last thing emergency room workers need at the moment is to deal with a perforated gardener.
The key to these projects is pacing.
If you are weary, stop, and if you are worried about missing the spring planting window because a project is taking too long, just attend to the planting later. Tender plants don’t go outside until May, and the best season for cool-season veggies is late summer into autumn. Do set aside a cozy place to sit; all you need is a flat area, a couple of garden chairs and a table, and perhaps an umbrella for shade. I have been known to brew up some tea on a camp stove after working a few hours in the garden. I got the idea from my brother, who would spend much of the day working in his large community garden and finish up by building a campfire of foraged sticks around his outdoor hearth of bricks. –The Washington Post
A special supplement to The Frederick News-Post
A special supplement to The Frederick News-Post
April 2020 | Spring Home Improvement 7
INTERI O RS
Finishing Touches Yes, you can mix metal finishes in the kitchen—but there are some rules. by Elizabeth Mayhew
When Toby Young bought her one-bedroom apartment in New York’s Gramercy Park neighborhood, she knew she would have very little money to renovate the kitchen. Thus, she planned to simply paint the dark brown cabinets white, replace the ceiling light and update the cabinet hardware to chrome to match the existing faucet. It was this last item on her to-do list that confused her; her small kitchen opened directly onto her living/dining room, in which all the hardware— doorknobs, hinges and lighting—was brass. “I had always been taught that, like the color of my shoes, belt and handbag, the metal hardware in a room should match.” Lucky for Young, times have changed. Restrictive rules about matching fashion accessories are no more and, to a degree (a few guidelines do apply), the same can be said about mixing metal hardware finishes in homes. Mixing metal finishes is a conscious design choice for New York designer Thomas O’Brien, founder of Aero Studios, and one he even made for his own residence. When he renovated the kitchen in his Bellport, N.Y., home, he painted his cabinets a glossy white and installed satin brass handles, but he opted to use chrome for all the plumbing fixtures. He says that when mixing metals in a room, there should be logic behind each choice. “For example, I chose the brass handles because I wanted a softer and warmer feeling than chrome.” He considers kitchen cabinets to be like furniture, so in his mind, they can be treated differently. Washington, D.C., interior designer Zoe Feldman is also in favor of mixing metal hardware finishes. “I feel it keeps a space from feeling too one-note, and it gives a more collected and layered look,” Feldman says. In general, she avoids using any kind of matching sets in her work, such as a dining or bedroom set, because she
Stacy Zarin Goldberg
This Silver Spring kitchen by Zoe Feldman Design uses polished nickel plumbing fixtures, satin brass cabinetry hardware and lacquered brass lighting. The matching tile and cabinet paint create a canvas that highlights the different finish selections.
One can’t just go mixing any and all metal hardware finishes together. says sets are too predictable. She sees matching metal hardware the same way, and says it has a boring, uninspired effect on rooms. But one can’t just go mixing any and all metal hardware finishes together. Both O’Brien and Feldman agree that there are some guidelines one should
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follow. O’Brien suggests mixing brass and dark bronze, brass and chrome, or brass and nickel, but never mixing nickel and chrome. Also, he cautions that there is a limit to how many metal finishes you can mix together in one room. “There should be a main finish choice and maybe one accent,” he says. More than that can be too much. And for those who worry about how their stainless-steel appliances fit in with other metals, O’Brien says: “Chrome and stainless steel are really the same and can be used together.” Feldman says she usually sticks to a maximum of three metals in a
room. She also pays attention to the placement of each finish. “You want to make sure there is a certain cadence when mixing metal finishes,” she says. By cadence, Feldman means that you should consistently disperse the metal types throughout the room; all pulls and knobs should be one type, and all fixtures (such as sink and bathroom faucets) should be one type. Feldman says lighting is a good place to introduce another metal type, as are accessories like pot racks in kitchens or door hooks in bathrooms. See FINISHES 20
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INTERI O RS
‘Extreme Makeover’ Carrie Locklyn on rejuvenating your space By Jura Koncius
Carrie Locklyn, a designer and organizer who will appear on the HGTV relaunch of “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition,” joined staff writer recently for The Washington Post’s Home Front online chat. Here is an edited excerpt. Q: What’s the next trend in cabinetry? I’m sick of gray. What other kitchen trends are you seeing? A: We will start to see the gray cabinet trend fade out in 2020, and we’ll see more colorful cabinets in kitchens paired with metal elements. I see mushroom-colored cabinets, or “greige,” taking a big lead in color trends. The color is warm and neutral, yet remains light and airy. I see wood-grain cabinets having a big comeback in 2020. As far as kitchen decor trends: marble kitchen countertops, wood cabinetry, different colored appliances, kitchen wallpaper, mix-and-match metals and appliance technology. The big trend in kitchens is incorporating technology. Q: Are you still a fan of all stainless appliances? Seems like that is all you see today. A: I think stainless appliances will always be with us; they have been around for almost 30 years, and they are classic. However, you can now find so many different options and finishes. Black stainless steel is one of my favorites, as is the new bronze finish. Even newer white finishes to contrast darker kitchens are having a resurgence. I also love the option to customize hardware such as pulls/handles. Q: What’s the trend for bedroom flooring? I am planning on replacing my aging carpet in the living areas with laminate, but what about bedrooms? If carpet is still big, what colors are trending?
HGTV
To create seamless transitions from room to room, keep your flooring consistent. If using laminate, designer and organizer Carrie Locklyn of “Extreme Makesover: Home Edition” suggests using area rugs in living spaces to establish a grounding effect.
A: I would run the flooring from your main living spaces right into your bedroom. The seamlessness of the flooring will create an overall flow in your home. If you are going with laminate, I suggest putting area rugs in the bedroom and living spaces to create a grounding effect and to keep feet warm. Q: What’s the best way to replace a large ’90s-era jetted tub? The tub sits in a windowed alcove with a fake marble surround. I never use the jets. A: Removing jetted tubs can be especially difficult because they tend to be very bulky; however, if you are not using the tub, it would definitely be a task worth committing to. It is a significant project. It will involve not only removing the tub, but also the
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framing, drywall, tile work, electrical and plumbing. I would recommend bringing in a professional to get an opinion and a quote. Q: I have a 1950s ranch with a breezeway paneled in knotty pine. It’s the original—not the cheap imitation stuff—but it’s dark, and I’m thinking of painting it. I have successfully painted some that was in my unfinished basement stairway, which was quite banged up, and it looks great. I’m not afraid of doing it to get good results. But, in the entranceway, will it hurt the resale value if I paint over it? I have been told by some that it would be “a crime” to paint it. A: Oh, the battle over whether to paint wood paneling. I have done it many times, and every time my clients
rejoice. As a homeowner, I say go with what makes you happy and brings you joy when you walk into your home. Who doesn’t love a bright and cheerful textured wall? As a professional certified home stager, I am here to tell you that the entrance is the most important part of the home. It gives the first impression to future home buyers, and nothing says “welcome home” more than a bright and vibrant space. Q: Our dining room is open to the foyer of our house across almost the whole width of both and open to the kitchen by a normal door-size space (no door). The dining room is carpeted (which I hate), the foyer has an engineered wood (dark, wide planks and See MAKEOVER 20 April 2020 | Spring Home Improvement 9
THE B ATH
Smart Stuff for the Bath by Lindsey M. Roberts
One of the last places you might expect to talk to Alexa is the bathroom. And yet this most private of rooms is becoming smarter, with everything from voice-activated mirrors to aromatherapy showerheads. A popular toilet in Japan, the Toto Neorest, has a “heated seat, automated controls, bidet and memory sensors to provide a customized experience,” says Steve Kadlec, founder and principal of Kadlec Architecture + Design in Chicago. Because smart tech in the bathroom can quickly get pricey—smart toilets run up to around $17,000—Kadlec recommends keeping costs down elsewhere. Update the throne room by cleaning the tile and grout, replacing shower curtains with glass panels and finding a large-format porcelain or ceramic tile for big impact on the floor. Also consider installing affordable heated floor mats under the tiles, he says. Greg Coccaro, cofounder of the home goods store Beam in Brooklyn, also recommends paint and artwork, specifically warm hues to bring out warm tones in the skin. Small, relatively inexpensive changes leave more in the budget for smart upgrades. “Alexa, turn on the shower” is a command made possible by the U by Moen Shower 2-Outlet Digital Shower Controller in beige or black ($733.72$734.74 with required thermostatic digital shower valve, amazon.com). Recommended by designer Kadlec, the tool allows shower control from voice, phone or controller. Set a time for your shower, start and pause to control water use, and control the temperature. It’s also available with four outlets. The Sensor Mirror Hi-Fi 8” Round from Simplehuman has five-times magnification for makeup application or shaving ($400, nordstrom. com). “I just love that it turns on upon approach and simulates natural sunlight,” says Tracy Morris, an interior designer in McLean, Virginia. “In this latest version, you can apply your makeup and complete other tasks in the room with Alexa.”
Moen
U by Moen Shower 2-Outlet Digital Shower Controller
Toto
Toto’s Washlet Electric Bidet Seat
Casey Hardin, a North Carolina-based designer for Decorist, recommends hands-free faucets, such as the Zura Single Handle Touch2O Vessel Bathroom Faucet ($532.67, build.com) by Delta. Once only for commercial bath-
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rooms, these faucets are making their way into homes. Turn water on and off manually with a light touch to the spout or handle or by placing hands near the faucet. It uses 20% less water than industry-standard faucets. Although Kirsten Gable, a kitchen and bath designer at Maryland-based Anthony Wilder Design/Build, has ordered Toto’s new Drake Washlet+ S500E toilet for projects, she knows the $2,035 cost can be prohibitive. The Drake features rear and front wash, a deodorizer, adjustable water temperature and a heated seat, as well as a super-effective flush; however, “Toto offers simpler models for less,” she
says, including the Washlet Electric Bidet Seat ($366, homedepot.com). A control panel adjusts water pressure, temperature and position. The seat is heated, and the lid closes softly. The seat also includes a warm air dryer and air deodorizer. Sticklers for cleanliness, rejoice: A portable toothbrush sanitizer is now available to sterilize toothbrushes between uses. The MAXOAK UV Toothbrush Sanitizer Case ($29.99, maxoak.net) “is a really convenient way to help keep it germ free and it only takes three minutes,” interior designer Coccaro says. –The Washington Post
A special supplement to The Frederick News-Post
A special supplement to The Frederick News-Post
April 2020 | Spring Home Improvement 11
C O NSTR U C TI O N
New Homes Deemed essential during the coronavirus pandemic, the residential building industry is still on the job. By Crystal Schelle
Photos courtesy of JR Capital Build
This is one of the projects by JR Capital Build on Broadway Street in Frederick. Owner Jessica R. Underwood said overall COVID-19 is not affecting her business.
JR Capital’s completed kitchen at 402 Broadway St. in Frederick.
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Considered an essential industry by the state in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the construction industry was not shut down when Gov. Larry Hogan ordered all nonessential businesses to close on March 12. At least two area builders are optimistic that the pandemic won’t affect overall construction numbers in Frederick County. JR Capital Build in Frederick is considered a luxury niche builder. “We focus on green and clean,” says owner Jessica Underwood. Underwood said she is continuing to build and has four projects underway. “We’re still building, per Hogan, but obviously we’re taking more precautions to limit the number of jobs on the construction sites and who is there at the same time.” Underwood is nearing the completion of two new condos on South Street in Frederick. “We’re a few weeks away from putting that on the market,” she said at the end of March. She also has eight new condo units on Fifth Street in Frederick under development, plus a project on Broadway Street. Hitting the timeline with inspections is the only challenge she said she has had. “The City (of Frederick) has shut down, so they are limiting inspections and we can’t file permits for anything,” she said. “So on the condos that we have going up on Fifth Street and then on the Broadway condos, we can't even move forward on those projects.”
The bathroom at 402 Broadway St. includes a soaking tub and walk-in shower. A special supplement to The Frederick News-Post
courtesy of Oliver Homes
Oliver Homes, based in Hagerstown, makes single family homes like one seen here in the quad state region.
Although time is money when it comes to construction, Underwood said she isn’t concerned about the financial aspect yet, mainly because it’s too early to tell how long she will have to deal with the setbacks. And, she said, the limitations are part of a bigger picture. “We all have to hunker down and do our part,” she said. “It’s temporary. It’s not the new normal. So we just want to stand with our leaders, with Hogan, and take their advice and put the community first.” Underwood did note the city informed her she could get some inspections as needed. “This is not a permanent state. It’s temporary and we’re working rapidly to get through it. We will get through it,” she said. “It’s coming at a challenging time because, nationwide, the housing market has been so strong. But I think when we come out of this, the housing market will be stronger than ever.” “My market is the urban market, so our downtown is vibrant,” she said. “Many groups are wanting new development downtown and are working with us to make sure that happens. So I think it’s a blip and that there’s only good things on the horizon.”
courtesy of JR Capital Build
JR Capital’s project on Citizens Way in Frederick includes an expansive living room.
Carl Vogel is the sales manager with Oliver Homes based in Hagerstown, which builds in Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia. In Pennsylvania, Gov. Tom Wolf ’s mandate has stopped construction during the COVID-19 pandemic, but in Maryland, Oliver Homes has been able to continue to work. With new construc-
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tion in Maryland, Vogel said Oliver Homes is continuing with business as usual, “so there hasn’t been a whole lot of difference. We’re just trying to be [safety] conscious,.” That means knowing who is working a particular job site at any time, limiting the number of subcontractors at the site at any given time and trying to practice social distancing as much
as possible. Vogel said the Frederick County Division of Planning and Permitting’s online permit application process has been helpful. “The timing couldn’t be better because [the county] just started a month or so ago taking residential and commercial permits online,” he said. Doing some of the paperwork remotely has helped Oliver Homes continue with day-to-day operations. Tools such as the online service help greatly, he said, because the builder generally has between 20 and 30 single-family homes under construction at any given time. The biggest change has been the number of people who are allowed at Oliver Homes’ main office at one time in accordance with the governor’s orders. While springtime is usually when construction gets busier, Vogel has seen a slight slowdown. However, he doesn’t think that will be the trend for the year. “Once things settle down—and who knows how long that’s going to be: a month, two months, whatever timeframe— I think there’s still a great demand for people looking for new homes.”
April 2020 | Spring Home Improvement 13
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A special supplement to The Frederick News-Post
A special supplement to The Frederick News-Post
April 2020 | Spring Home Improvement 15
THE KIT C HEN
Dream Kitchen Recipe ready when you go shopping. Ask where the valve is made and how you can get replacement parts. Above all, you want to make sure that your faucet is made of high-quality brass. You don’t want plastic parts inside your faucet. My advice is to always buy the best-quality kitchen faucet you can afford. It’s used hundreds of times a week by various members of your family, and it needs to last a long time.
by Michelle Brunner
As cofounder and senior vice president of design for the luxury fittings brand Waterworks, Barbara Sallick is responsible for some of the most beautiful faucets in the business. For her latest book, “The Perfect Kitchen,” she studied hundreds of photos from top designers to pinpoint that quality that makes a kitchen design resonate. She found that the best cook spaces aren’t the ones with an enviable range or a massive pantry; they’re the ones that feel the most personal. Here, Sallick talks about how to bring more character to this hard-working room. Hint: It’s not by going all-white.
Q: What factors should homeowners consider when choosing a cabinet style?
Q: What should you keep in mind when planning your dream kitchen? A: A good design needs to hit the mark visually, emotionally and functionally. Unless you take the time to put it all together and make it truly personal, it’s never going to live up to your expectations. Q: If you know exactly what you want, should you work with a general contractor, or do you need to hire a kitchen designer? A: It’s tough to achieve the results you’re dreaming of unless you hire a pro. Contractors have a lot of practical experience, but an interior designer will make you think about what you want in a way that a contractor might not. It’s a designer’s job to ask questions about your lifestyle, family and preferences. The benefit [of] a kitchen designer is that they know how to draw plans to within an eighth of an inch of their life. The most important thing is to have a conversation with someone who truly understands interiors.
Eric Piasecki/Otto
Architect Gil Schafer designed this white, open kitchen.
into the racetrack oval because you are no longer in a direct line from the sink to the refrigerator to the oven and back again. The popularity of the island has truly changed the way traffic patterns work in the kitchen.
investment, but it offers the biggest bang for your buck.
Q: Let’s talk money: High-end appliances or custom cabinets can be budget-busters. If you have one splurge in the kitchen, where should it be?
A: Clearly, you want to love how it looks and how it feels in your hand. Turning on the faucet is a humanistic, tactile thing. If the parts aren’t great, it can feel like it jerks in place when you turn the lever. You want a kitchen faucet that works so intuitively that you never have to think about which way the handle turns. Then ask if the scale is right for the size of the sink. Make sure the faucet or fitting that you choose is big enough to swing from one sink to another.
A: Hardware can be transformative. There are so many options for knobs and pulls; having beautiful hardware is like putting on your favorite piece of jewelry. You can change the feel of your kitchen from something that is rather ordinary to something very special.
Q: How has kitchen design changed over the years?
Q: But most people probably choose hardware at the end of the process, almost as an afterthought.
A: After looking at about 700 kitchens for this book project, I realized I barely saw any that didn’t have an island. I think the work triangle has evolved
A: Exactly, and that’s the problem. I think the second you choose your door style, you need to think about the hardware. It can be a significant
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A: Your cabinet style should have some relationship to the period of your house. If you are someone who has a traditional-style home, you’re going to want some kind of paneled door that nods to that, but the same kind of door might look silly in a more modern house. Thinking about the era of your home, even the style of your furniture, ensures that the cabinetry doesn’t become this jarring element that looks like it landed in your kitchen out of nowhere. Q: How do you feel about the darker trend for cabinet colors?
Q: You must have a lot of opinions about faucets. What should people look for?
Q: You could spend $60 or $6,000 on a faucet. Why is there such a wide range of pricing, besides the obvious variations in finishes and design quality? A: It’s hard to know what’s happening inside a faucet unless you slice it in half, so it helps to have questions
A: All-white kitchens have had their moment and then some, so I love the idea that kitchens can be moody and dramatic. Also, it’s hard to distinguish one white kitchen from another. Once you introduce a color, it begins to feel much more personal. Q: Any guidelines for coordinating the countertop with the cabinets? A: Cabinets always have tops and bottoms, and the counter is the connector. The process of layering both the countertop and backsplash, which can be two completely different materials (and I often prefer them to be), is all about the way they talk to each other. It doesn’t matter if the countertop is an active marble or the backsplash is a tile with a crackle glaze. They should have a connection and a conversation with each other. –The Washington Post
A special supplement to The Frederick News-Post
A special supplement to The Frederick News-Post
April 2020 | Spring Home Improvement 17
18 Spring Home Improvement | April 2020
A special supplement to The Frederick News-Post
A special supplement to The Frederick News-Post
April 2020 | Spring Home Improvement 19
MAKEOVER, continued from 9
smooth), and the kitchen and adjoining family room have an engineered wood that is standard width, lighter and scraped. I would really love to replace the carpet with a wood, but we can only find a close match to the kitchen wood, and replacing the foyer and dining room offends my sense of not being wasteful and probably makes the project too expensive. I’m worried about the look of having the two different (three visible if you count the playroom, also carpeted and open to the foyer) floorings right when you walk in. Am I doomed to replacing carpet with carpet to keep it simple and pleasing?
Laura Resen
When he renovated the kitchen in his Bellport, N.Y., home, designer Thomas O’Brien painted his cabinets a glossy white and installed satin brass handles, but he opted to use chrome for all the plumbing fixtures.
FINISHES, continued from 8
Feldman also advises paying attention to finishes. She likes to mix metals of different colors that share a similar warmth, such as unlacquered brass, polished nickel and matte black, but she says to never mix the same metal in different finishes, such as polished nickel and satin nickel. Like O’Brien, she does not mix metals that are closely related but just a bit off, such as nickel and chrome. “They are too similar to be interesting. One is the cool version and the other is the warm version.”
When possible, Feldman likes to use what she calls “live metals,” which are metals that are unlacquered. “I love the idea of metals aging and getting a patina,” she says. “It gives a space depth and allows the fixtures to age gracefully.” As for Young, she decided to leave the existing chrome fixtures, install antique brass cabinet pulls and hang an antique brass and dark bronze ceiling fixture that unites all the finishes. “The light fixture ties it all together,” she says. “It’s just like jewelry. When you wear a stainless-steel and gold watch, you can wear silver or gold, or both.”
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–The Washington Post
ing to see brands branching out into a more colorful kitchen world. Q: My staircase (center-hall Colonial, so a real focal point) is painted white with white posts and a shiny black banister. The molding is white, and the wall is taupe gray. I have a Dash and Albert runner on the stairs; it’s taupe with a dark brown chevron pattern. The stairs don’t look great; they look flat and not shiny, and they’re getting dirty and scratched. Any suggestions for a new paint job and runner? I’m thinking I should paint at least the tops of the stairs a shiny black.
Whatever you can do to get your floors to match up is the way to go, and budget is always the first factor to consider.
A: Whatever you can do to get your floors to match up is the way to go, and budget is always the first factor we need to consider. You are correct in thinking that too many different floor surfaces will create a fragmented and disconnected space. One continual floor surface will help aid in A: I just finished painting my own banthe flow of your home. ister and spindles in my home. There Q: I really hate stainless steel. I have was much talk about how to make the white appliances, including a new stairs themselves stand out. I went with dishwasher and bottom-freezer a dark charcoal gray, and I love how it refrigerator. However, I would really contrasts with the neutral elements like to exchange my gas range for an of my home. It sounds like your home induction range, and it seems they could use a little contrast to really make only come in stainless. Are you aware the staircase pop. Your idea of painting of any brands that come in white? Or the treads black is great. Make sure to even a fun color—green, red, navy— use a durable, slip-resistant floor and that would look good with white? porch paint. I suggest going with an eggshell finish for the paint if you want A: A lot more kitchen brands are ex- a little sheen. A new runner that is more ploring colored appliances, including colorful or has a different texture can Viking, True, Hallman, Smeg, GE Cafe, also bring life to the space. Kenmore and KitchenAid. It’s inspir–The Washington Post
displays and timers.
HOT TUB, continued from 4
• Infrared saunas
• Wood-burning saunas Wood-burning saunas are similar to those used in ancient Finland. Here, fire is used to heat the sauna rocks, which give off steam when water is added. The temperature can be controlled by adjusting how much wood is burning in the stove.
In an infrared sauna, there is no water or steam. Heat elements deliver the heat directly to the user’s body rather than heating the air. Instead of being hardwired like other saunas or custom hot tubs, infrared saunas can be plugged directly into a household outlet.
Available since the 1950s, electric-heated units are the most popular type of commercial sauna. Regarded as efficient and easy to use, these saunas typically include remote controls that feature temperature
These free-standing modular units or lumber kits can be wood-burning or electric, and the rooms are typically made of western red cedar, Nordic white spruce, aspen, alder, hemlock or pine.
• Electric-heated saunas
• Manufactured sauna rooms
A special supplement to The Frederick News-Post
A special supplement to The Frederick News-Post
April 2020 | Spring Home Improvement 21
22 Spring Home Improvement | April 2020
A special supplement to The Frederick News-Post
A special supplement to The Frederick News-Post
April 2020 | Spring Home Improvement 23