Spa Treatment

Escape the pressures of the world

Work, kids, traffic, deadlines, in-laws, hassles. No matter what form it takes for you, everyone gets stressed out. If you’re like me, it happens a little too often. Vacations are great stress relievers, but with so much responsibility, how do you find the time to get away often enough?

Contemporary Getaway

The best solution is to create a private oasis just a few steps from your own bedroom. A soaking tub, relaxing music, soft lighting, and tranquil surroundings can work wonders on your mood in just a few minutes. The best part is you don’t have to make reservations! That was the motivation behind StarMark’s new line of Spa Vanities.

Country Retreat

No matter your tastes, you can customize this new line of vanities to suit your personal style. Elegant to Comfy; Urban to Traditional; the choices are yours. StarMark’s full line of doorstyles is at your disposal. Eleven different leg shapes empowers your individuality. And if you just can’t find what you are looking for in StarMark’s 600+ standard finishes, they are more than happy to finish your new spa vanity in any custom color you wish.

Fresh Aire

 And what’s a spa renovation without a little financial stress-reliever? Right now (and for a limited time), you can order StarMark’s line of Spa Vanities for 20% OFF their regular price! (Believe me, 20% OFF doesn’t come around often in the kitchen & bath business).

So start on the path to your own relaxing retreat. Call or e-mail us today. Peace and serenity awaits.

Returning Clients Create Retirement Dream

After living in their west Bradenton residence for a few decades, these homeowners felt that a simple kitchen update was not sufficient to keep them comfortable in their retirement – a major overhaul was in order. For years the kitchen seemed dark and cramped (even though it had white cabinets and a domed ceiling), and the foodie that lives here felt that there were several areas where functionality could be improved.

Before

Originally, they wanted to move a wall and steal some of the existing dining room space for a more spacious kitchen. Even though they routinely used the dining room and needed to accommodate a large table, they felt that was the only way to achieve what they wanted. Then they met with Scott Duncan. Since Duncan’s Creative Kitchens had assisted them with a bathroom  remodel just the year before, the clients knew what they were in for. 

Scott walked through the existing kitchen with the homeowners, asking about the good and bad aspects of the existing room. Being a foodie  himself, Scott was able to appreciate the need for better ergonomic flow as the homeowner would pass from food prep to cooking to cleanup. In the end, Scott was able to devise a plan that not only improved the space, but didn’t have to rob precious area from an already cramped dining room or spend money moving a wall which housed the plumbing (which would have added a couple thousand dollars to the final cost of the project).

Removing the dropped ceiling was a given, but the majority of improvements were accomplished by widening an existing doorway, pushing the fridge a little further into the adjacent family room, and creating an opening between the kitchen and the dining room. The space not only appeared larger, but enabled the clients to feel like they were present at their own parties (and not just the kitchen help). 

To keep with the rest of the house, a definite nod towards the traditional was achieved by using StarMark oak cabinetry in a warm tone (Oak Georgetown in a Honey with Chocolate glaze). An additional glazed finish really brings out the grain in the raised panel doors. The warm but light tones of the Tropical Breeze granite becomes a focal point as it travels up the wall behind the cooktop. Since no walls were moved, the existing tile floors were salvaged and allows the flow between rooms to continue unabated, augmenting the feeling of larger space.

To juxtapose the traditional air, cabinets were accented with frosted glass, and black appliances show a more contemporary flair. The addition of a wine chiller is but one of the special details these homeowners desired in an effort to achieve the functionality and ergonomic affect a foodie desires when he or she creates. 

Instead of moving that pesky wall, glass cabinetry was punched through, adding dimension & conversational ease in the kitchen – and a focal point for the dining room.

With a kitchen like this, retirement might be everything it’s cracked up to be after all.

Simple Tune-up Creates Warm Simplicity in Bathroom

Warm and Cozy - a more inviting space for guests (after)

My recent clients were looking to bring their existing bathroom out of the 80’s. They had originally thought about removing everything and starting from scratch. But as our conversations evolved, I discovered that the only thing they were unhappy about was the dated vanity. The tub was in good condition; the tile on the walls was neutral; and the floor had only been down a short time. All this room really needed was a little warmth without much fuss.

Since we had completed their kitchen remodeling project just a year or two ago, I already had an idea of their tastes. Since this guest bath was just off of the family room (and in view of the kitchen), it made sense to continue the warm and simple feel of the kitchen into this space.

As you can see, honey colored maple cabinetry coupled with the brown and gold tones of the granite countertop play into the inviting cheerfulness of the existing shower tile. The fact that the perfect granite ended up being an inexpensive remnant was just a bonus!

Since it is a guest bath, a little visual interest was in order. Frosted glass softens the additional storage area and allows the upper cabinet to double as a medicine cabinet without displaying all of the homeowner’s personal details. Removing a door in the base and adding a couple of wicker baskets make towel storage both convenient and eye-catching.

Changing the faucets and light fixtures to an oil-rubbed bronze brings a feeling of completeness to the room that other metallic finishes might lack. And in a practical step, we decided it was a shame to dispose of a perfectly good mirror - so it was chopped in two, polished up, and reinstalled above each sink.

The cold, austere look of the 80's (before)

The big, cold emptiness of the original bathroom is now gone. By varying the heights of the vanity and bringing in warmer tones, we have been able to transform this space into a cozier, more inviting guest bath without breaking the bank. (If you’ll notice, we even kept the same paint on the walls). I think the only problem these homeowners will have now is convincing their guests to go home.

Add Another Closet – Without Adding a Closet

Her Side

Ever wish you had more closets? Is there ever enough closet storage, no matter where you live?  I rarely come across people who have too much.

His Side

My latest clients were having the same dilemma – their condo just didn’t have enough closet space to house everything. The walk-in closet in their master bedroom had become like the Bermuda Triangle – things went in and were never seen again. The problem? Their closet was set up with a single hanger rod with one shelf above it – all the way around the room. It was a nice sized closet (about 5 feet by 7 feet), but it wasn’t being used to its fullest potential.

Believe it or not, we were able to more than double the storage capacity of the closet, customize the storage to the homeowners’ needs, and do it all for about $2,000.

The biggest problem – not enough shelf space. My clients preferred to fold much of their clothing, and a single wire shelf around the top of the room just wasn’t cutting it. They didn’t have many long things that needed to hang, but an abundance of shirts and slacks were eating up what little hanging space was available to them. 

By taking advantage of the unused space of the existing walls, we added 120% more storage than they had started with! All without adding any square footage to the closet! Seriously – the closest thing we got to actual construction was adding a coat of paint to the walls. Everything else was accomplished by adapting the storage capabilities to our clients’ needs.

It isn’t often that a closet turns out nice enough to photograph, but I had add this one to the album.

As you can see, each person has his or her own side for hanging clothes, ample shelf storage for folded items, plus extra space on the connecting wall. They even have room to go shopping for more!

So next time you think you’re running out of space, take a minute to take a gander at your existing closets. You may be able to save the cost of adding on to your home – and still add a closet.

Mini Remodeling Trends

Received this from Kitchen & Bath Design News. Thought it was interesting: 

'Mini Remodel' Trend Highlights Decorative & Functional Hardware

As cautious consumers look to spruce up their homes without breaking the bank, mini remodels are becoming increasingly common. Decorative and functional hardware can play a key role in these jobs, as it can provide an updated look and better functionality while giving consumers plenty of "bang for the buck."

Decorative hardware allows for greater personalization, whether the preference is for coordinated hardware throughout the home or unique designs that speak to the homeowners' tastes, interests and passions. Bolder, larger pulls and knobs are hot, with clean lines and linear designs all the rage right now. In functional hardware, quiet-close features, door dampers, slides that accommodate large drawers and lifter mechanisms are in high demand.

Below are some of the hottest trends in decorative and functional hardware.

• In decorative hardware, transitional styling remains a strong trend, as it works in a broad array of environments and doesn't get dated easily, making it a "safe" choice.
• Dovetailing the trend toward greater simplicity in design, decorative hardware lines are cleaner and more linear, with less ornate detailing. But less ornate doesn't mean unobtrusive: Bold is in right now, with larger bar pulls, appliance pulls and oversized knobs being used to make a design statement.
• At the ultra high end, traditional still holds strong appeal, with some seeing a revival in French and early Italian period hardware, as well as requests for special finishes such as two tones and patinas.
• There is continued interest in formal finishes such as polished chrome and polished nickel, while stainless steel, satin nickel and satin chrome are popular for their ability to coordinate well with popular fixtures and appliances.
• Functional hardware is increasingly being seen as a design element, not just an afterthought, with growing demand for advanced closing technologies, such as self-closing drawer slides and door dampers that eliminate the noise associated with cabinet door slamming.
• With an aging population, hardware that enhances accessibility, such as lifter mechanisms, is becoming increasingly popular. 

 

You can always have free samples sent to you from Top Knobs USA. Or stop by our showroom to see a wide selection of hardware choices to start your mini-remodel!