Countertops - What’s Trending

When it comes to countertops, there are quite a few different directions you can go with them. These are the top three we are seeing everywhere and gravitate to as recommendations for our clients. 

Granite 

PDR Interiors

Granite is without a doubt what we recommend the most out of these countertop options. One of the best things about granite is the amazing variation you get from stone to stone. This creates beautiful character and interest in any space. On a practical side of things, it is very durable and is resistant to things like heat, cuts, and scratches. One small downside to granite is you do have to re-seal it every so often, but that is a small sacrifice for a huge reward!

PDR Interiors

Marble

api.shopstyle.com

Next up we have marble. Marble is undeniably beautiful, elegant and classic. It is without a doubt thought of as a higher end material so you will be raising the value of any space with the addition of this material. A few downsides to this choice are its higher price, its likelihood to stain and chip more easily than other materials like granite or quartz. This is where style and practicality butt heads, although that is not to say when properly cared for it is not an excellent choice! 

kylieminteriors.ca

Quartz 

cambriausa.com

Finally we have quartz. This is an interesting option because it gives you the best of both worlds. It mimics the look of natural stone like marble, with the durability of a manmade product. They have come so far with the pattern and variation you can achieve with quartz. It also requires much less maintenance which is a huge plus. It is a great choice, especially in kitchens that will get a ton of use!

interiorsbystudiom.com

Bathroom Refresh - Quick Tips for an Update

Update your Shower Curtain

atlantahomesmag.com

Bathrooms are one of the easiest places in your home to update and make a big impact with small changes. Your shower curtain is a place where you can get a large impact with just one item so it is a great way to refresh your space. You may even consider having 2 or 3 shower curtains that you can keep on rotation every few months. This way you can give yourself a change every once in a while without having to always go out and buy new ones. 

gripelements.com

Change out your Bath Mats

designlovefest.com

Bath mats can really take a beating over time and become dingy and even change color. This may be something you don't immediately think about updating when it comes to your bathroom but swapping your old mats out for fresh can work wonders for the whole space. If you choose to have a backup shower curtain or 2, consider having coordinating mats for each curtain. This certainly does not mean they all have to match, you just want to make sure everything coordinates nicely. 

shopstyle.com

Paint/Wallpaper

PDR Interiors

Lastly one if the biggest impacts you can make in a small space like your bathroom is to update the paint color or wallpaper. Wallpaper can make a gorgeous statement in your bathroom or powder room, and with it being the star of the show, your other items can remain simple and neutral {can’t get easier than that!}. When it comes to painting your bathroom, there are so many different directions you can go. Keep it clean and simple with a soft blue green or cream, or go all out and have fun with a color you wouldn't want to commit to in a larger room.

PDR Interiors

Spring Spruce Up - Quick ways to Freshen Bathrooms

As we continue our Spring Spruce Up series, one place in the home that immediately jumps to mind where a quick refresh is always a good idea, is the bathroom. Check out our tips below on freshening up the bathrooms in your home for Spring!

Polka Dots & Rosebuds Interiors

Polka Dots & Rosebuds Interiors

Shower Curtain

Polka Dots & Rosebuds Interiors

When taking on a bathroom update, one of the most cost effective and impactful changes to make is updating your shower curtain. When it comes to choosing a curtain, we usually suggest staying away from anything too theme oriented like a beach scene or nautical items. The main reason we suggest staying away from these is because it is easy to tire of these overly themed pieces. This isn't to say you can’t still have a nautical or beach vibe in your bathroom, you can just incorporate it in more subtle ways like artwork that are easier to swap out over time. 

Polka Dots & Rosebuds Interiors

Bathroom Accessories

Polka Dots & Rosebuds Interiors

Updating your bathroom accessories is another quick way to freshen up your bathroom this Spring. When we say accessories that can be a whole range of items including everything from toothbrush holders, to trays, to your toilet paper holder. We tend to think of these items as very functional so it can be easy to overlook the style they can add to your space. You will be amazed at what updating items like these can do for the overall look and feel of your bathroom!

Polka Dots & Rosebuds Interiors

Winter Reno - Trends in Lighting for Kitchens and Bathrooms

Lantern Style

Polka Dots & Rosebuds Interiors

Lantern style light fixtures are a big trend in lighting right now especially in kitchens. Most of the lantern style lights are open without any glass closing them in which creates a nice open feel. These are two examples of this style in different finishes which shows how they can work with so many different decor styles!

3adesignstudio.com

Exposed Bulbs

countryliving.com

Another big trend in lighting in general is to have exposed bulbs, especially Edison bulbs. This trend translates well into kitchens and bathrooms since they have a very sleek and clean style. Some popular styles that have exposed bulbs include lantern, cage, globe, and bell jar. 

greigedesign.blogspot.com

Brass 

houseofhargrove.com

The brass and antique brass trend is still holding on into 2017, but now in smaller doses. 2015 and 2016 was all about brass and now the trend is going to more subtle touches instead of all over. This is a finish that is now readily available in light fixtures that work beautifully in kitchens and bathrooms.

bloglovin.com

How to put Together a Bathroom Renovation Timeline

Polka Dots & Rosebuds Interiors

Last week we talked about putting together a kitchen renovation timeline. This week, we continue this series as we move onto bathroom renovations. A lot of what we discussed last week holds true for bathroom renovations as well. Once again, every project is different depending on the size and individual needs. This makes it difficult to name a standard timeline for a bathroom renovation, but here are some elements of the process to understand before diving in. 

Polka Dots & Rosebuds Interiors

Try and have all of your selections made ahead of time so you can order everything and have it waiting once each sub-contractor is ready to complete the job. The last thing you want is for time to be lost because you are waiting on products to arrive. You can assume it will take around 3 weeks to get most of your materials in (ie. tile, harware, fixtures), but you want to add in buffers to that so you don't run into any backorder surprises.

Polka Dots & Rosebuds Interiors

One of the most important things to remember when doing any type of home renovation is that it is very hard to predict how long something will take and what you may run into. You never want to put yourself on a timeline that is squeezed in right before a major event you are hosting such as a holiday party or hosting guests of any kind because you can be sure something will come up and throw off that timeline. Try to pick a time of year where you have plenty of time after said renovation to be completed before you truly need it to be finished. When all is said and done, you can be looking at anywhere between 6-12 weeks for a bathroom renovation depending on the size and specifics.

Polka Dots & Rosebuds Interiors

Countertops: Granite, Marble, or Something else? How to Decide

Granite

Polka Dots & Rosebuds Interiors

Granite is one of the most popular choices for countertops. There are a number of reasons for this, one being its gorgeous pattern and variation. It is also very durable as well as stain and heat resistant. Granite requires occasional sealants to improve its luster as well as its longevity. This is not as tumultuous as some make it out to be however. There are many products such as granite wipes that help with this between sealants. 

Polka Dots & Rosebuds Interiors

Marble

Polka Dots & Rosebuds Interiors

Marble is a very beautiful and luxurious material that is also very on trend right now. Marble also requires a high grade sealant. It is unfortunately the most porous of the countertop varieties. This means that it is more susceptible to staining. This makes marble not the most ideal for households that need to be kid friendly. 

homebunch.com

Quartz

imperialhomecenter.com

Quartz is very similar to granite except that it is not a completely natural material. This is a great choice if you want as little upkeep as possible because it does not require any sealing and is very durable. The down side to quartz is that it does not have as much natural looking veining and color flecks like both granite and marble do naturally. 

thesweetestdigs.com

White is for more than your wedding

Lately I have been drawn to anything white.  Other than my wedding dress, I usually shy away from this color in clothing and in furniture for my own home because it is inevitable that I will spill something and stain the crisply colored fabric.  A few weeks ago I began work on a bathroom remodel for a client and white became my go-to color.  This bathroom is pretty small by today’s standards for master baths and there is not feasible way to knock out walls and expand it.   

So, I’m getting creative with ways to make it “feel” larger.  That’s where the white comes in.  Bright white, antique white and gray are the base colors for the tile, cabinet and floor.  Keeping things airy and unified will allow the space to be brighter and appear roomier.   

These are the samples of the items I’ve selected so far.  I’ll post pics when the project gets completed. 

Life's A Beach

Are the cooler temperatures and rain are getting you down?  Turn your house into the beach!  This bathroom has walls the color of a tranquil ocean.  When you look closer you see shimmering, iridescent jelly fish swimming about.  Capped off with silver and white accents, it's the perfect setting: surrounded by marine life with no danger of being stung.