By Judy Penz Sheluk
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When it comes to home improvements, kitchens and bathrooms still rank #1
Today's consumers have been weaned on an endless diet of interior design shows and stylish magazine spreads, and they've come to expect their home interiors to reflect new trends - all while being environmentally friendly. Topping the wish list of showplace rooms are kitchens and bathrooms, and with good reason. Whether you're talking new or resale, those are the rooms that sell the house.
"Gone are the days when a builder could offer consumers a selection of beige, white and gray tiles and a handful of cabinet and flooring choices. Décor has become much more than an after sales afterthought," says ANDREA DEGASPERIS-RONCO, Décor Store Manager for Arista Homes. Arista's décor centre has evolved from a sales office to a separate trailer to their current 5,000-square-foot decorated store in Vaughan, a burgeoning city located just north of Toronto.
New Home Kitchens
"In the past, the preferred wood was oak, but this has definitely lost its status to maple," says DeGasperis-Ronco. "On the retail side, especially in higher-end residential, cherry wood is premium. Another major trend is the marriage of dark woods with cream finishes, such as an accent island in dark wood with cream cabinets to create a French country look. The painted look on MDF board is also gaining ground over the somewhat limited species of oak and maple. Backsplash goes from more natural stone to mosaic tiles, but we're still finding a leaning towards neutral colours."
For countertops, DeGasperis-Ronco says that laminate is still the most popular because of its affordability, but granite is still "hot", as is Corian and quartz, and there are now many durable products that mimic the look of granite. "When it comes to appliances, stainless steel still rules supreme, although we're hearing that in Europe bronze is making a big entrance, and they are always ahead of the curve. High-end homes are often incorporating finished cabinetry to cover the appliances. We're also starting to see a lot more buyers upgrading to hardwood flooring in the kitchen."
The number one request? "Definitely an island," says DeGasperis-Ronco. "Everyone wants an island bigger than their kitchen can actually afford. Second 'service' sinks are also in demand."
New Home Bathrooms
According to DeGasperis-Ronco, the two bathrooms that new home buyers will upgrade are the master ensuite and the powder room. "The most common request for the ensuite is upgrading shower stalls to a vertical spa system (a shower head with four body sprays on the wall and an additional hand-held shower). It's all about the pampered spa-like retreat. We're still seeing a lot of jetted, whirlpool bathtubs, and when space permits, buyers are looking for tubs for two. We haven't seen a lot of demand for the clawfoot tub, even with the new organic shapes that are coming out. Part of that is the lifestyle choice: These tubs look pretty, but unless they come with a separate heating system, the water tends to cool faster. They're more of a showpiece than a practical choice."
DeGasperis-Ronco says that popular flooring choices are porcelain, marble, granite, limestone and ceramic - "It's totally about the budget, although we are seeing a lot of heated floors. As for plumbing fixtures, we really can't classify them as fixtures any longer; they have become accessories available in a host of finishes. We're also seeing the use of furniture pieces, such as large wooden cupboards for linens in the master bath, while in the powder room we're seeing furniture pieces with a sink and faucet built in."
Retro vs. Repro
In the U.S., there is a concerted effort by antiques dealers to get the message out that "antiques are green." It's more than clever marketing. Vintage furniture is typically well made from solid wood and wood veneers that include oak, pine, maple, cherry, walnut, mahogany, and even elm - a wood no longer available. So if bathroom "furniture" pieces are "in", why not consider retro vs. repro? A chest of drawers can be used as storage for linens, or for use as a one-of-a-kind bathroom vanity (although you'll need to be sure that you can safely remove the inner central portion for plumbing). The good news here is that antiques enthusiasts/purists value condition above all, but very often, there is water or other surface damage to the top. That translates into a bargain for the custom builder or renovator. After all, if you're going to be drilling a hole to drop in a sink - and tiling over or covering up the top with granite, laminate, Corian, or another form of countertop - it hardly matters.
The best places to purchase antique and vintage furniture include country auctions, antique shows, and multi-dealer antique malls. For auction tips and terms, visit Auctioneer's Association of Canada. Antique malls typically feature dealer booths for 30 to 100 independent vendors, managed by the mall owners, with little flexibility in ticket prices. At antique shows, where multiple dealers gather to sell their goods, the final hours can be a great time to make a deal. To find an antique dealer, mall or show in your area, start with a visit to Antique 67 or the Canadian Antique Dealers Association.
VOC This Way
Building green used to be all about energy efficiency, and it still is. But there's a growing movement across the country to incorporate other facets into the green equation. Heading the list is indoor air quality (IAQ), which, in discussing interior design trends of kitchens and bathrooms, brings us to paint selection. The latest buzz word in green is low or no VOC (volatile organic compounds) paint. Here's a look at three options:
Recycled Paint
Boomerang(r) (www.boomerangpaint.com) is manufactured by Peintures Récupérées du Quebec (PRQ), a subsidiary of Laurentide Inc. and the largest manufacturer of recycled paint in North America. In 2005, PRQ collected 2,057,000 litres of paint.
Boomerang paint is manufactured from leftover, recycled domestic paint and stain. The VOC content of 90g per litre is lower than the new Environment Canada standard for 2008 (250g per litre for recycled paint).
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Milk Paint
Over 250 years ago, early settlers brought the method of milk painting to North America. Basic ingredients include milk, limestone, clay and natural pigments like coal, berries, roots, seeds and minerals. Milk paint's durability is evidenced today by antiques showing the original milk painted finish.
"We continue with this tradition using the same main ingredients," says LOREE WALLACE, co-owner of Homestead House, noting that because milk paint is absorbed into the wood fibre, it will never chip or peel. And, because the paint is slightly alkaline, it also naturally inhibits the growth of mould and mildew, making it perfect for bathroom walls, or painted vanities and cupboards. It also provides a completely breathable coating and is ideal for painting plaster walls and ceilings, medallions and other effects, and can be used to paint outside weathered wood without peeling.
Hemp Oil Wood Finish
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