Recent Articles
Making it personal
Whether you're a fashionista who considers “Gossip Girl” star Blake Lively your idol, an eco-friendly student who thinks Al Gore is “the man” or a dude who decorates with books, you can find the back-to-dorm decor that reflects your personality and tastes. The choices are more varied than ever in this year's crop of cool stuff to trick out your dorm room and turn it into a sweet space. » More
Greener home furnishings
Take the award-winning installation “Lightshowers” put on by DuPont Corian at this year's International Contemporary Furniture Fair. Egg-like polished rocks and smooth slabs of Corian were underlit, with nature sounds generated from a hypersonic speaker. When a person crossed the sound wave's path, it essentially “woke” the sound. » More
Nailhead trim is a hit
By Liz Seymour
THE WASHINGTON POST
 The Washington Post
In this kitchen, the backsplash is painted orange and covered with glass for a contemporary look. |
Back-painted glass is a big trend, says Bethesda, Md.-based kitchen designer Jennifer Gilmer. This style, in which the back of installed glass is painted, is a popular choice because of its contemporary look and the seamless shot of color it provides, she says.
Her showroom window currently features a glass backsplash painted a bright orange. “People like the noninterruption,” she says. “No grout lines.”
Gilmer also reports that kitchens are simplifying and that more folks are requesting fewer cabinets and more wall space.
Floating shelving can be installed to counter a lack of cabinetry. This type of open storage works best for often-used dishes and glasses. If there's no need for extra storage, the shelving can be used to display collections or artwork, making the space more personal.
Green materials continue to gain momentum, with renewable and engineered woods now included among the standard offerings of many manufacturers. Also on the upswing: Asian accents, Gilmer says. Subtle touches on cabinetry include sliding doors, which can remain open while you cook, and glass doors with horizontal panes of glass to resemble shoji screens.
