Defining Style

What is the "current design trend?"

This year, article after article (in both retail and to-the-trade magazines) designers are contradicting themselves before they even get to penning the final paragraph. As you read, experts are saying black and white combos are so now. However, neutrals and earth tones are hotter than they've ever been. Bold colors like hot pink and chartuese are timely. But dark green is selling with clients.

Basically, anything goes... and it's a blessing and a curse.

How fun it is to say that you can have almost anything you want and it is current with today's style trends. But what about tomorrow?

It's enough to drive a designer insane, let alone a homeowner trying to update their house to sell (or live in for that matter). With the economy strapped for cash, we want to spend our dollars on design that will last.

While the design industry seems to be saying "Anything goes! Just spend money;" consumers keep asking, "What design direction should I go in that is the best choice for longevity and resale value?"

So, adding our voice to all the other experts writing about home design, here is our take on how to focus yourself on a design for your home.

• Keep the architecture of your home in mind. If you have a home with a predisposed historical design, then follow it (ie. owners of bungalows should look to 1920's designs and materials for inspiration).
• Then be daring, go to the extreme. High contrast or minimal contrast. Stay way from the middle ground or the "safe zone." While, it does not need to shout, a home should make a clear statement.
• Finally, look for balance. Some women need to take off a piece of jewelry before they leave the house while others need to put a piece on - designing a room is no different.

If you're still finding yourself dazed and confused, even with a designer in tow as you visit the Merchandise Mart week after week, take heart. You can never go wrong with buying design that you like... after all, you live there. And if anyone asks you to define your home's style, tell them it's "eclectic" - after all, it's all the rage.

Written by staff designer Stephanie Bullwinkel, CBD for Imperial Kitchens and Baths, Inc.

 

Show Me Your Work

I love to look at the work of other designers. I have subscriptions to atleast 10 magazines showcasing either design trends for the general public or ideas and knowledge for industry professionals. Those fleeting moments when I’m waiting for applications to load on my computer, I’m surfing the internet studying the competition.

While our company is located in the midwest, I look at sites for designers and remodelers all over the world. The ideas that can accumulate in one’s brain is amazing! And while a popular design trend in Miami will probably never fly with my Chicago client, a solution to a design challenge can sometimes rise to the top.

Designers and remodelers should always be learning from each other. But as I have been surfing often lately, I have been coming across a disturbing trend more and more… Photo galleries that are not necessarily reflective of a company’s portfolio of work.

The most natural thing when shopping for a designer or contractor is to investigate their website. You see a link called “Photos” and wow! Amazing photographs of amazing rooms. The first question you need to ask… is this a “portfolio of work?” Or is it a “photo gallery?” The later being a collection of photos freely downloaded from the internet that has no relationship to the work performed by this company or individual.

Sad as it may seem, while not blatantly saying ‘this is my work’ when it is not – posting photos on a website gives the impression that this is the product of this particular company, especially when the source of the photo is not acknowledged. With unemployment so high, many people are trying their hand at flying solo and an impressive website is a good start to finding clients. The old adage of “fake it until your make it” comes in here.

There is nothing wrong with using a first time designer or remodeler on your project – as long as you know, up front, that you are a guinea pig and your investment reflects the inconveniences that you will inevitably encounter.

If you find a website where the photos are professionally shot and there are no acknowledgements attached to the pictures, ask them in an email or phone call if the photos of are their work. If the answer is that it is not their work but they can replicate that look, ask to see a portfolio of their actual work. Don’t be afraid to even ask for references for those photos. Trust is earned, not given – and in this business you are dealing with one of your biggest investments, your home. Never assume anything.

Written for Imperial Kitchens and Baths, Inc. by staff designer Stephanie Bullwinkel, CBD.

IMPERIAL KITCHENS AND BATHS, INC. FEATURED ON CHICAGO EPISODE OF “HOUSE CRASHERS”

On June 4th and 5th, 2010, Imperial Kitchens and Baths, Inc. of Brookfield, IL participated in the Chicago taping of “House Crashers,” a DIY Network show, to provide their expertise in giving a local homeowner's basement a custom look.

Online PR News – 17-June-2010 – On June 4th and 5th, 2010, Imperial Kitchens and Baths, Inc. of Brookfield, IL participated in the Chicago taping of “House Crashers,” a DIY Network show, to provide their expertise in giving a local homeowner's basement a custom look.

Architectural firm, JStanulis Architects, was asked by the producers of “House Crashers” to design a basement rehab for Chicago residents. On the show, it’s the homeowners and the House Crashers’ host who get involved in the construction as overseen by a local contractor. Brookfield based Imperial Kitchens and Baths, Inc. was approached by Jeremy Stanulis, principle of JStanulis Architects, to provide the custom cabinetry.

“While home remodeling is the main portion of our business, we have our own custom cabinet shop. Getting involved with House Crashers gave us the opportunity to show off the talents of our shop foreman, Chris Cole.” Says Larry Rych, president of Imperial Kitchens and Baths, Inc. “Chris has been with us for almost 20 years. His commitment and pride in his work really show. It was a tight deadline and he not only pulled it together, but he didn’t cut any corners with his quality construction.”

Imperial’s portion of the project included building the custom cabinets for the bar area and the full height doors for the closets that will now house storage and a new Murphy bed.

For the two days that Imperial participated in the show’s taping, half of the company’s 12-person staff got involved both on screen and behind the scenes.

“Building and bringing in our cabinetry was the easiest part of the project. The biggest challenge was working in the same room with many other artisans,” comments Rych, “not to mention the camera and lighting people asking us to stand a certain way while we worked so they could get the shot they were looking for.”

The episode of “House Crashers,” entitled "Martini Bar Basement," featuring Imperial Kitchens and Baths, Inc. will debut on the DIY Network on July 8th, 2010 at 8pm central time (9pm e/p). (Still photos of the project will be available on request after the program airs.)

Imperial Kitchens and Baths, Inc., established in 1966, is a family owned and operated home renovation business that focuses on kitchens, bathrooms and custom cabinetry. Its showroom is located at 8918 W. Ogden Ave, Brookfield, IL 60513. They can be reached by phone at 708-485-0020.
Email: information@imperialkitchensandbaths.com
Website: http://www.imperialkitchensandbaths.com/
Blog: http://www.imperialkandb.wordpress.com/

JStanulis Architects is a residential and commercial architectural firm. Principle Jeremy Stanulis is AIA and LEEP AP certified. The firm is located at 10 N. Roslyn Rd. in Westmont, IL 60559. They can be reached by phone at 773-203-4544.

Renovate Right

On April 22, 2010 the US EPA’s law on “Renovation, Repair and Painting” (RRP) will go into effect. This new law will affect you, if:

• You live in a home that was built prior to 1978.
• Your children (age 6 or younger) attend a facility that was built prior to 1978.

Why 1978? Lead-based paint was used in more than 38 million homes and buildings until it was banned for residential use in 1978. Once ingested, lead, like other heavy elements, has a way of hanging around in our bodies – this can cause biological disturbances. In large doses, it can lead to toxicity - affecting our brains and nervous systems. Children, in their developing stages, are the most susceptible to lead toxicity.

 

Lead in paint that is adhered to an object does not propose a danger – it does not out-gas or radiate. If you live in a home that contains lead paint, you do not necessarily need to have a costly abatement team remove all paint from your home. Disrupting lead paint is where the EPA’s concern is.

 

Lead gets into our bodies via nose and mouth. Paint chips and dust particles are the biggest culprits to ingesting lead paint. If you are renovating an older building, paint disruption is due to occur.

 

 

The EPA is requiring by federal law that all contractors who work in buildings built before 1978 and disrupt more than 6 square feet of interior paint or 20 square feet of exterior paint to be Certified. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Renovators
• Remodelers
• Plumbers
• Painters
• Electricians
• Window and Door Contractors
• General Contractors
• Landlords and Property Managers
• Some Building Engineers

Your contractor should provide for you, before the renovation begins, a copy of the EPA’s Renovate Right pamphlet. You will also need to sign documentation for your contractor’s files saying that you received the pamphlet. This documentation also outlines options available if you would like to opt out of the RRP procedures.

 

Certified professionals have been through training in how to properly handle spaces where lead paint may be present. Containment of lead paint chips and dust are a primary concern. These procedures are time-consuming and require additional job materials. You can expect your renovator to line item this procedure for your home project (this small cost may vary depending on the space, project and your geographical location). The added time and cost to your contract is worth the sense of mind in knowing that your health and wellbeing is being protected. The federal government is currently experiencing a backlog as US contractors rush to get their certification. If your contractor cannot produce a RRP Certification, ask to see proof of their RRP training.

 

Property owners who opt to DIY are excluded from this new law. However, it highly recommended that homeowners take steps to keep themselves safe with these best practices.

 

• Tape off with plastic the area you are working in.
• Limit leaving the work area to go to other areas of the home.
• Do not eat in the work area.
• Keep children and animal out of the area until it has been throughly cleaned.
• If you have them, use power tools that are connected to a vacuum system.

 

Do not sand lead-based paint. If you must sand an area, wear a face mask. When done, mist the area with a spray bottle of water to bring the dust out of the air.

 

When cleaning up the area, mist down all drop cloths. Fold drop clothes edges in first to keep dust and particles from escaping.

 

Clean the area with a HEPA vacuum. Remove the vacuum bag from the vacuum outside of the building and tape shut.

 

Promptly remove clothing and wash before walking through your home or coming in contact with other family members.

 

If you are not planning a major renovation, but you have paint flaking in your home, a fresh coat of paint will keep more paint from coming off. And of course… teach your children to NEVER EAT PAINT FLAKES OR CHEW ON PAINTED SURFACES (this includes furniture and window sills).

 

If you have further questions about this new law, you can add your comment below or visit www.epa.gov/lead/index.html.

 

Written by Stephanie Bullwinkel, CBD for Imperial Kitchens and Baths, Inc. Imperial Kitchens and Baths, Inc. is proud to have completed their RRP required training. As of March 18, 2010, Imperial is in compliance with the US EPA’s RRP rule and IDPH. Pending official notice from the EPA, the company will be a RRP Lead Certified Renovator in the Chicago area.

 

 

 

Architecturally Correct Kitchen Expansion

An addition should not feel like someone took part of another home and just stuck it on. But too often, that is exactly what happens. Inside and outside the home – roof lines, walls, floors, ceilings – everything should line up and make sense. But contractors who rush often ignore subtile details.

We all are familiar with the saying “God is in the details.” Regardless of whether you are religious or not, I think we all can agree that it is the details that make the difference. We recently completed work on a Berwyn Bungalow where the client is not only a discerning accountant, but is also a stained glass artisan. The details of this project were not to be overlooked.

Larry Rych designed the space to open up to the dining room and also incorporate the back porch. The new space had to made sense with the rest of the home. The cabinetry, tile and counter have an understated elegance with simple craftsman style. Crown molding around the ceiling elevates the stature of the room. Our client then added his personal touch, and the focal point of the room, with his own custom stained glass.

While traditionally, a home of this vintage would not have the kitchen open to the rest of the home (nor would it have a kitchen of such magnitude), the new kitchen feels appropriate because many design elements of the period were recreated and the new construction was seamlessly integrated with the old.

When you are shopping for a remodeling contractor, ask to see their portfolio; if you can visit a site, all the better. At first glance, you should see any glaring issues, then look closer. These details will make the difference, not in just how you feel about your home when the project is complete but also its resale value if you ever decide to move.

Designing By The Numbers

Sometimes we find ourselves in spaces that just don't feel right. Though we can't put our finger on it, we feel uncomfortable - sometimes to the point that we don't linger, but rather leave the area as soon as we can. If that space happens to be in our home, it's common to not use that room. Or if it is in our office, we'll end up wandering during the day or taking our work to the conference room or other space.

Issues with temperature, lighting, use of color, etc. can all be pinpointed to an extent. The most illusive cause of unknown discomfort, and probably the most common, is that the design of the room disregards the mathematical laws of nature... I speak of the Fibonacci numbers.

Leonardo Pisano Fibonacci (AKA: Leonardo of Pisa) lived from 1170 to 1250 and many think him one of the greatest mathematical geniuses. A good source of information about Fibonacci is by A. F. Horadam, "Eight hundred years young," The Australian Mathematics Teacher 31 (1975) pgs 123-134.

Recognizing that arithmetic with Hindu-Arabic numerals is simpler and more efficient than with Roman numerals, Fibonacci traveled throughout the Mediterranean world to study under the leading Arab mathematicians of the time. Leonardo returned from his travels around 1200. In 1202, at age 32, he published what he had learned in Liber Abaci (Book of Abacus or Book of Calculation), and thereby introduced Hindu-Arabic numerals to Europe. (Wikipedia)

Also in the Liber Abaci is one of his other great contributions to the world, what we refer to as the Fibonacci numbers. While he did not discover this number pattern (the formula was being used in India as early as the 6th century), Fibonacci did introduce this sequence to the western world.

In the Fibonacci sequence of numbers, each number is the sum of the previous two numbers, starting with 0 and 1. As such the sequence begins 0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, 89, 144, 233, 377, and goes on. The ratio that begins to emerge is referred to as the "Golden Ratio" (approximately 1.6180339887498948…). This ratio has history that goes back to the ancient Greeks and Romans.

This ratio is seen in all things of nature... shells, trees, our bodies. Artists of the Renaissance period used the formula within their paintings. Early last century, physicists found that the formula applied to crystal formation. Some financial experts currently use the ratio to forecast stock expectations.

Architects and designers use the Fibonacci Number system to create spaces of harmonious proportions. Famous Swiss Architect Le Corbusier used the system almost exclusively in designing buildings, furniture and spaces.

The portions provided by the Fibonacci Numbers and Golden Ratio give us a sense of balance when designing rooms. Whether we are looking to remodel or decorate, by incorporating these proportions into our "bag" of design theories, we can calculate appropriate room dimensions, fireplace placement, couch height, etc., which will feel appropriate to the other relationships in a room, including human scale.

Furniture can always be moved or replaced to remedy an awkward space. But if you happen to occupy a building that is structurally awkward, reaching a solution may be more difficult. Remodeling, sometimes, is the only option - however, not before exploring creative cosmetic changes. Windows that are out of proportion can be fixed with custom sized molding or curtains. Ceilings can be brought down, if above 8' AFF (above fixed floor). Bookshelves can bring walls in. If you have an awkward space and need suggestions, or if you have examples of disproportional spaces you have salvaged - please share them with us.

Written for Imperial Kitchens and Baths, Inc. by designer Stephanie Bullwinkel, CBD.

What is a Green Remodel?

Green - it's the hot new color that has nothing to do with decor and everything to do with product choice. But, outside of being a buzz word, what does "green" really mean? If you visit Wikipedia, after paragraphs on the color itself is a sentence directing you to the "Green Movement" or " Environmentally Friendly".

Environmentally friendly (also eco-friendly, nature friendly, and green) are synonyms used to refer to goods and services considered to inflict minimal or no harm on the environment.[1] To make consumers aware, environmentally friendly goods and services often are marked with eco-labels. But because there is no single international standard for this concept, the International Organization for Standardization considers such labels too vague to be meaningful.[2]

Green is a loose term thrown around by companies to instill consumer confidence while having to prove nothing to anyone. The end effect is commonly called Green Washing; ie. the term is meaningless because there is no substance behind it.

But there are still ways that you can be ecologically conscious when remodeling your home. Beyond the "Green" label, look for these qualifications:

1. Is the product manufactured domestically? This question is ecologically based for two reasons. First, less traveling time from the manufacturer to your home equals less emissions. Second, the US EPA regulations are more strict than those of developing countries - less pollution emitted, however you will see a higher price tag because compliance with these regulations is expensive.
2. Is the material in the product recyclable? This is a no brainer. On a global level, Americans, in general, consume goods faster than any other nation. When you are finished with a product, if you cannot resell/donate it for another person to use, you should repurpose the materials in that product for another task.
3. Is the natural material in the product a renewable resource? Wood is the best example of this. Choose product that can comes from companies that practice sustainable foresting activities. You don't have to buy cork or bamboo floors to do your part. These materials are typically forested in China, think of the emissions from transportation alone. Buying locally harvested wood can actually be a more effective choice. Stay away from anything marketed as "exotic."
4. Are the solvents/adhesives in the product low-VOC? VOC stands for Volatile Organic Compounds. VOCs are what outgas from a product after manufacturing. It's the smell of new paint, new carpeting, new furniture... and it is an irritant, and may cause short term and/or long term illness. Some people have no reactions to these outgasings, other people are more sensitive - regardless, they are not healthy for anyone.

These are guidelines you can apply to any purchase you are thinking of making, it doesn't just apply to improving your home. Don't get snowballed by marketing when the label says "Green" - ask why. Just because the salesperson tells you it's natural and that's why it's "Green" - take a moment to think.

As an example, one of the biggest misconceptions in this industry is that natural stone countertops are "Green" because they are natural. Think about the amount of diesel spent in cutting stone out of the ground, shipping it across the world, fabricating it into a top and then throwing the cuttings away. The end-user then repetitively uses a chemical sealant to keep the stone from staining. However - if you want a stone counter, and you are committed to living with that counter for the next 30 years or more, then the choice becomes more ecologically sound.

Want other ideas on how to make your remodel more friendly to the environment and to yourself? Post a comment and I'll get back to you. Remember, the money you spend is your vote on what the world manufactures.

Written for Imperial Kitchens and Baths, Inc. by designer Stephanie Bullwinkel, CBD.