smileyface2013

Stain a piece of flat stock to match and install it as a filler.

A prep sink without water is useless and I don't see the point

If you go to the expense of moving the drain you might as well get a faucet.

Remove tile counter and backsplash, wallpaper, and wall desk. Update or remove the fan; update light fixture over dining table, replace fluorescent lighting in kitchen with non-fluorescent. Replace dishwasher with a stainless steel to match the wall ovens. If refrigerator is not stainless, replace with stainless. The floors look great as is.

It will help you if you know what style you are aiming for. Then you can determine what the replacements should be. Depending on the style you want, you may or may not want to do something with the cabinets, knobs/handles, and hood over the pass through. I think the hood over the pass through is charming, and not necessarily expendable, depending on what style you want your new kitchen to have.

Congratulations on your new house. Judging from the number of new posts you have asking for design advice on different rooms, you'll be doing some painting and other updates all through the house. If you will be replacing the carpet, pick your carpet and paint color at the same time. Both will look good if you take the wood floor color into consideration. PIck an easy to live with neutral paint for most rooms and the ceilings if you don't have different colors picked out for each room. Trim color can be the same throughout the house.

If you are keeping the carpet, get it professionally cleaned before choosing paint colors, especially if a smoker lived in the house (ceilings look discolored in places, as if from smoke). Then clip some fibers in a closet to tape to a foamcore board.

I would get the kitchen tiles and bathroom tiles professionally cleaned before moving in. Tiles can be sealed for easier cleaning. If you have extra kitchen tiles (check garage), take one with you when you shop. If no tiles, bring home a lot of off white paint chips, find the closest match, and tape that to your foamcore board, too. Add photos of hardwood floor and the cabinetry. Keep your sample board in your car to save time shopping.

As suggested above, The kitchen countertop tile's grout can be painted to match the tile. That will reduce the 1980's - 1990's feel. Replacing countertops can be done after you have lived there for a while. Take a drawer front or small cabinet door with you when shopping for countertops; it will save time because many colors can be identified on the spot as good or bad coordinates.

By the way, this is a good time to add photos to your ideabooks showing the overall colors and style you are going for.

Old houses have loads of charm and high ceilings, but would go modern just to be able to find everything maintenance wise. It would have to be a modern, traditional though!

When I think of all the things that can go wrong with an older home, give me new any day.

I live in CA. and the drought is pretty bad here. My showers start with a gallon bucket strategically placed where the first few seconds of cold water is captured and so is the water running off of me. That bucket of water goes right into my garden. A quick shower is 5 minutes, more, it's a waste of water. Shaving can be done with water turned off, so can lathering hair with shampoo.

About fifteen minutes. My hot water is solar, so I can use it till it is all gone. So far, in the tropics, no drought.

Tile the ceiling. It looks finished, tidy, and upscale. Plus, if there is any moisture, you won't have to worry about paint peeling or mildew.

We built our home about 3 years ago and tiled the ceilings of 2 showers. I think it looks great and cleans well too.

I think tiling ceilings is outdated because a continuous bathroom ceiling adds visual space. However, there is nothing wrong with tiling it other than an aesthetic choice
If your shower is enclosed it can be appropriate (in the last two images, I prefer the latter to the former for reasons outlined above)
North Lake tahoe Residence
Lakewood Bathroom
Stanford

Like my neighbors too much to leave

I am overdue for a move:)

Asbestos - Once proper abatement has occured it is GONE! Mould is a huge sign that something has gone very wrong and needs a very large renovation to remove it. And then you are never really sure it has been taken care of.

Both remediation events are expensive...but asbestos is "easier" for many projects. Mould is something that can sit BEHIND studs = can't see it = did't find it = it comes back and you do it all over again.

Asbestos won't do anything until it's disturbed.

Do Not play around with any idea other than calling in the professional's and having it removed, check for other places in your home that might have it. I know it is expensive, but so is Cancer, not worth your life or that of your loved ones. ..........Your renovation can wait, and when you do it, you won't have to worry about asbestos. If you watch HGTV, they deal with it ASAP always.........

We don't know for sure if we have asbestos (or lead paint) in our house (built in 1949), but when we remodeled our kitchen and master bath last year (which included wall removal), we hired a general contractor who was also asbestos and lead paint certified.

He treated the demo work under the assumption that there WAS asbestos and/or lead paint, and therefore took the necessary precautions when removing walls, etc. This was included in his bid in the "demo" section.

Most homes "of a certain age" have asbestos. Even if you don't know for sure you have asbestos, it's better to be safe than sorry and assume the worst at the beginning (rather than find yourself with a big $ addition to budget once demo starts if asbestos is found once demo begins).

I agree with Christopher Sullivan: "Pond = habitat".

Also, fountains involve more water evaporation I thought, and are therefore less good for water conservation purposes, but I'm not sure.

They both have there positives and negatives. Here is a solution for both. A pond less water feature is low maintenance, looks beautiful and still has that tranquil sound!

Summilax - LOVE your floor! It is beautiful.

For those redoing kitchens I recommend drawers instead of cabinets. We did a mix, and had I known how much I would like drawers, there would be way less cabinets!

@ cljaki- thanks! I agree with your recommendation. We used drawers in our new cabinets wherever it was feasible as DW complained of not being able to access stuff at the back. Where we left doors we put in pull out shelves.

Artwork over the buffet. Color. Chandelier over the table. Potted flowers and plants.

Thanks for all the great feedback! I will move the buffet to the opposite side of the fire please...I never considered that. This weekend will shop for some art and a rug to bring all of it together (I hope). Thanks again!

i too think you need to move buffet to the other wall and add a painting above it. painting should be same width as buffet or 3 piece
move the chair from the corner and add a plant there
on the other wall i would also add a big plant, like palm tree
you also need a mirror above the fireplace

I love it. Great choices!

Great transformation and attention to finishes. Nice job! -Chelsea Construction

That would be a great spot to add a screen (Agreed) and some matching window treatments!

The easy answer is to add color with the backsplash, but don't forget a backsplash is permanent. I suggest neutral with an interesting finish, maybe a crackle glaze. Add color with accessories or paint.

I agree, go with something neutral as its there forever. Add color with drapery, accessories etc. which can be changed up on a whim or seasonal.

keep it simple and not busy.

Here is a photo of the wall I was referring to (it's an older photo as you can see,,the fireplace is not what it should be, but that is another project I need to tackle at some point)

We have 20 ft ceilings in our living area. We struggled for a couple of years to get it right. We tried group photos, big metal signs, baskets, floating shelves and wall hangings but nothing sat right. One day we found a giant vintage leaded glass window. We tried it above the fireplace and it was magic. The paint color on the wall was a perfect backdrop for the glass and the rougher edges of the window, it needed nothing else on the wall and every time someone walks in the room they say "Wow, what a great wall!". It does not detract from the fireplace and completes with out competing.

A retaining wall, plus steps.

I'm in about the same zone. I used woodruff at my old house and it was great, but best in shade. Check out this site for some more suggestions: http://gardengallery.ca/ground-covers

I agree that the aging/patina of cherry is great! I have cherry cabinets and walnut floors. I love the way both woods have aged! If the kitchen is dark and you're worried about dark counters, I would consider a bright white quartz. I love cherry and bright white (which brings me back to this example). Not quartz in this pic, but a good example of cherry with bright white counters. Beautiful combo.
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I don't think I agree with cherry looking country or rustic. It can also look modern depending on the kitchen design.
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[houzz=Los Altos Hills Residence 2]
[houzz=Shaker Cherry Kitchen Cabinets]

If you don't know what you like, a good way to figure that out is to create an ideabook on Houzz just for kitchen photos, then search for and collect several photos of kitchens that you like. You'll need to go through as any photos as possible., until you are exhausted and have a good collection of at least 20 or more photos. What are the common threads in your favorite photos? Colors, surfaces, door styles?

why would you change the flooring? it seems to flow with adjacent space. my advice: make sure the choices you make here flow well with the adjacent spaces. do LOTS of shopping and take samples whenever possible. for example: a sample cabinet door can be brought to a stone company to help you pick the perfect complimenting countertop or vice versa. i think it's easiest if you pick one element that you LOVE and allow it to inspire the rest of your choices. look here at houzz kitchens, magazines, etc to see if there is a style you are drawn to (such as white cabinetry and dark cabinets or shaker style cabinet door fronts vs. raised panel, etc). so much will really depend on your budget, keeping this in mind will help you narrow down your options...i say, don't waste money on a designer. you can make these decisions yourself...and it's so much fun! keep us posted!

Brackets and a post in the middle.

All day job but resolved by cutting the 15" cabinet back to 12" to equal the side cabinets. Left the cabinet height as is and recut the crown to run in front with a spacer behind. Perfect . . no, but doubt anyone will notice unless I tell them. Again thanks to all for the help.

rust.

terra cotta

Hi jessicastitcher,
The problem is you don't have any contrast except for the white baseboards and window trim. Dark Blue is a very tough colour to design with, you must get the balance of dark and light perfectly. To be really honest, I'm not a huge fan of painting all the walls dark blue - but you can work your way into the room now by adding more bright - light in your accessories. That will let you see your beautiful wall colour.

Bring in more white - in your artwork, accessories, bedding and drapery to really help the pop the blue off the walls. Your oak furniture isn't helping either, it either needs to be a dark espresso colour, or white. I'd also change out your hardware to something more sparkly - chrome and crystal. For your drapery, if you originally wanted more "navy" to your walls, then find a fabric that has BoTH your wall colour and the dark, rich navy you want! Ensure that the patterns for your drapery and bedding compliment one another and don't clash- too much pattern in here will also close the room in making it feel smaller.

Good luck with your room, I'm sure it will be perfect when you start adding those finishing touches - a few photographs to help inspire you...

ITA with qofmok, tile has the grout to maintain, which, in a small room, is nothing. But in a large room or area, it's a lot of grout to seal and clean on your hands and knees. Dirt does collect in the grout, and does look dingy, and is hard to get out. I will think twice before I use tile in a large room. again.

Hardwood!

I would go with hard wood in all rooms and tile floors in the bathrooms and laundry room. But some people like carpet in the bedrooms. I would use padded rugs in areas where softness is needed. They add a nice decorative touch to a room.

I like the combination of wood and metal. You're right, the cedar does warm it up a bit, and also makes the house more visually interesting.

Thank you smileyface :-) i hope to start getting ready for landscaping. And though fall is upon us, I know of a few things we should/could do before snow so we can get started with that as soon as snow melts!

Bump... A few of you weighed in on a plum color vote a year and a half ago :-)

Hang a large quilt or textile on the wall.

Yes I haven't moved in yet!
The furniture is not mine. I thought Danish modern ?

Without seeing the photo, I'm pretty sure I would center the light fixture over the faucet, unless the sink width is very narrow and the space rather tight.

Also, I think 4 lights over each sink could be too much, unless it's a wide space and a large bathroom that can handle it.

if the 4 lights fit in the space it will be okay as long as they don't extend beyond the mirrors or beyond the vanity but 3 lights would probably have worked better

Mirrors will be custom so can be any size. Thanks for the tip that lights should not extend beyond mirror. Before the tower cabinet went up I didn't even think to pay attention to the light placement.
Just went with what contractor said, which was a fixture with three or four lights.
I thought the fixture would be centered in the space, not with the faucet. Learning a lot with this remodel. Totally new at this, so I really appreciate your help and suggestions.

Ditto what smileyface2013 just said.

Decided to do the same quartize as backsplash! I think it will look awesome to have the veins running across the countertop and up the wall to the cabinet! So excited, very pricy;)

Thank you I will check that site out, I chose the black cat ornament as she reminds me of my real one

I had a system installed after someone tried to break in one day when I was out. My dog was a puppy at the time. Now that he's big, he sets off false alarms with the "petproof" motion sensors so I had to have them disabled. But the doors are still wired, and I have the all-important sign!

Leaving the leg lamp on display seems to be quite an effective deterent;)

Here's a word we don't get to use often--ostentatious.

Love the wood floor....hate the tile floor
Those 2 fake columns are funky.

Overall...not feeling the love here.

haha....leelee....just used that in another foyer comment!

It's a 21st (maybe late 20th) century large suburban home, sometimes referred to as a McMansion. This particular ones incorporates a few of design influences from traditional styles like Victorian and French Provincial, but a lot of it, like the prominent garage and plate glass window above the entry, is pure 21st century invention.

You have a beautiful home! If you do an image search on the internet for mcmansion, you will see homes very similar to yours.

For decorating purposes, I would think that styles falling in the "transitiional" category would work well, as would "traditional", depending on your preference.

Thank you...

When I had frameless shower doors installed, I was given the option of the regular glass that has a green hue to it or one without the hue. I think they said that it will still have a slight color to it, more blue than green. I opted for the more expensive glass without the green. It's pretty much colorless, but if you look at the edge it's still definitely green.

You could call a couple glass installing places and see if they have any ideas or products without a green edge. But I think your shelves look fine as they are.

Here's a formula for finding the right size chandelier for both over a dining table, and in a foyer.
http://www.lightology.com/index.php?module=tools_chandelier_size

You mentioned linear - Here is another option and also appears to have a similar finish. The shape of your table has a lot to do with which type of fixture you go with.

Since it's a small space, I would go with white or pale yellow or cream - get the right shade directly from the tile. Keep the shower curtain closed to reduce the amount of crazy tile shown.

If you're set on having a color---no white---a deep royal purple or blue would look nice. Keep us posted.
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Hi, the tile is cool. I would choose whatever color is inside the medallion, navy or black. Have fun!

My favorite room is definitely my sun room. It is a great place to sit in the morning and have coffee or in the evening and have a cocktail while watching the sunset. Ahhhhh......

I enjoy time in our family room the most. It's very spacious so the kids can have toys scattered everywhere and hubby and I can still kick up our feet while watching tv.

A ceramic swan - from my FIL's coworker (!) - with a two foot wingspan and an impossibly curved neck. It was so fugly I wanted to wring that above mentioned neck. I gave it to MIL and told her I never wanted to see it again. Well, she displayed it on her foyer table for two years.....

I wonder how many people give hideous house gifts intentionally and snicker when the giftee puts them up just to be nice??

I was given by my 10 year old son a brown box, inside I found two white pet mice. I screamed, everyone else had a great laugh.

A brass figurine depicting two grizzly bears mating. It was a wedding present. Maybe that's why the marriage didn't last.

Worst gift I ever received was a roll of toilet paper! The funny thing was she wrapped it! With a bow and everything. Sure it had a shell pattern on it but really, toilet paper? How do you respond to that!