Unique Finds for the Kitchen & Bath
Creating a Unique and Personalized Design
While functionality and comfort are always the first considerations when undertaking a kitchen or bathroom remodel, aesthetics are also an essential element of every design. As a homeowner, your goal is to put your unique stamp on your home. When you're remodeling your kitchen or bathroom, the best elements touch on both a practical, functional need and an aesthetic expression of your style.
No matter your budget, there are plenty of unique items and elements you can incorporate into your design to express your style and improve the comfort and functionality of your home.
In this post, we're going to look at some examples of kitchen décor, bathroom décor, and products you can include to personalize your space.
1. Personalize Your Design With Lighting
Creating a layered lighting design is a crucial element of every remodeling project. Light is not only critical for functionality in the kitchen and bathroom. It's an excellent way to personalize your design, define your space, and express your personal aesthetic style.
Companies like Hudson Valley Lighting and Visual Comfort manufacture unique, stylish fixtures perfect for both the kitchen and the bathroom. These include modern sconces, chandeliers perfect for setting the mood, and pedestal lighting that can draw your attention to the kitchen island and help develop the entire room's style.
Forbes and Lomax: The Invisible Lightswitch
2. It's All About The Details...
In design, even the smallest detail can make a big statement. While we have many choices regarding elements like cabinetry or countertops, other features like light switches, plates, and vent covers offer fewer options. In fact, they're often overlooked in a kitchen or bathroom design, other than their placement within the space to meet code.
Today, smart lighting technology is available, including remote control dimmer switches and voice-activated lighting. Some companies like Forbes and Lomax are manufacturing high-design analog switches and beautiful plates that disappear into your design. They can also be used to create a high-design statement!
Another manufacturer creating a cutting-edge product that designers absolutely love is Bocci. Their 22-Series assembly results in operative components like plugs that sit flush with the surrounding wall surface with no visible cover plates. The unit pops into a receiving system set into any finish material like marble, wood, or stone or is plugged into a receiving system mudded directly into the drywall.
Finally, suppose you're looking for details that will up your interior design cool factor (pun intended!). In that case, ARIA creates custom modular air vents that can be used with any material, are functional, and complement any design.
3. Luxury Hardware: Bling for Your Kitchen and Bathroom!
Your kitchen or bathroom hardware is the "jewelry" of your remodeling project. Much like the right jewelry can finish the perfect outfit, the right hardware can subtly set a tone of quiet sophistication for your design.
High-end designers, like Jessica Davis and Nest Studio, are creating exciting collections of luxury hardware. Designers often collaborate to create other design elements as well, like lighting and bath accessories that allow you to personalize your home's aesthetic statement.
Bathroom and Kitchen Decor Offer Form and Function
Elements like luxury hardware and cutting-edge lighting can make a strong statement. These design elements can also improve functionality. Many of the design choices that you make can be a personal statement while also making your time in the kitchen or bathroom more comfortable or productive.
From convenient power options hidden in cabinetry to the hottest modern appliances, many products are functional and exquisitely designed. Here are some of our client's most popular choices.
The Galley Ideal Workstation 7D
1. The Galley Workstation
The Galley is an innovative accessory that was inspired to address efficiency and workflow problems in the kitchen. The Galley was invented by an award-winning kitchen designer to create a central workstation hub where every task in the kitchen could be performed.
The Galley has grown into an entire line of highly functional, stylish, and smart workstations where you can prep, cook, entertain, serve, and clean-up in one central and convenient space.
The Galley can be configured to meet your specific needs and includes several features, including platforms for a colander or mixing bowl, drying racks, cutting boards, serving boards, clean-up accessories, and more. You can set up and install workspace for 1 to 3 people to work simultaneously. The Galley isn't only functional, it looks fabulous!
2. The Indoor Greenhouse/Garden
Today, we're all looking for ways to maximize our health and the health of our families. This trend has been growing for several years but has really hit its stride this past year.
We're seeing more homeowners asking about creating a living wall in the kitchen or just off the kitchen to grow fresh herbs, salad greens, and more. One company, Natufia, has released the world's first fully integrated and automated hydroponic kitchen garden.
The Natufian Kitchen Garden automatically maintains the perfect light, temperature, water, and pH level to ensure optimal growth and health benefits for the plants. This is a way for homeowners to have year-round, 24/7 access to ingredients for healthy eating, regardless of the season.
Dacor Wine Station
3. Wine Station and Other Specialty Appliances
To really personalize your kitchen or bathroom, there are many great choices for appliances or features that can add to your kitchen and bathroom's functionality and design. In the bathroom, items like a large soaking tub or a steam shower can offer you a spa-like experience without leaving home.
Companies like Dacor offer luxury appliances that look fabulous and add a ton of functionality to the kitchen. Whether it's a beverage center for the kids (or a wine center for the adults) or a custom built-in coffee bar, luxury appliances are an excellent way to personalize your space.
Docking Drawer
4. In-Drawer Outlets and Charging Stations For the Kitchen or Bath
Today we all have our cellphones, tablets, and other electronics, add curling irons, water picks, hairdryers, and more, and suddenly outlets are at a premium. One way to make sure everyone has a place to plug in is to include one or more docking drawers in your remodeling project.
A Docking Drawer offers drawer styles that fit into any room design. Whether it's the kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, pantry, or walk-in closet, there's a charging option perfect for any remodeling project.
Robern Sculpt Lighted Mirror
5. Lighted Mirrors and Medicine Cabinets for Powder Room or the En Suite
A great mirror can make a huge difference in your day. It makes getting ready for work or a night on the town more enjoyable. Lighted mirrors can add visual drama to a room, as well as make your grooming ritual more pleasant.
Here at Toulmin Kitchen & Bath, we have installed beautiful lighted mirrors made by Robern in several projects. Robern also offers an excellent selection of lighted medicine cabinets to add even more functionality to your bathroom design. Customization options like adding electrical outlets, night lights, interior lighting, and organizational accessories are also available.
A Quick Word About Original Art
If you're looking to truly make a personal aesthetic statement, original art is an excellent choice. Art is the definition of "personal." It's not going to speak to everybody, but it should speak to you. This makes it one of the most important elements for distinguishing and personalizing your space.
You might have the same Crate and Barrel table in your kitchen as everyone else, but hang a piece of original art behind it, and it can completely transform the room, define the color palette, or create a new visual focal point in your design.
Original art isn't cheap, but you can invest in a few key pieces to make a statement. You can also shop vintage shops, thrift stores, or online sites like Etsy for more affordable original artwork. That's the beauty of art; it doesn't have to break the bank as long as it speaks to you!
The Bottom Line...
It takes a bit of creativity and an understanding of your options to create a unique home design that reflects your personal aesthetic. Start by thinking about and defining your needs. Then educate yourself on the unique options out there.
Your design-build professional can be a great source of information on the market's latest products and materials. They can also help you define your design aesthetic and provide you with samples of unique materials, fixtures, finishes, and décor for your project.
If you live in the West Central Alabama area, and you're planning a kitchen or bath remodeling project, give the design experts at Toulmin Kitchen & Bath a call at (205) 366-0807. Our design team can help educate you on all of the choices of materials available to you. Let us help you to create your dream kitchen to meet your needs now and into the future! Call today and arrange a free no-obligation consultation to discuss your project.
