Choose colors for your home that you like over trends, says designer
Apr. 24—Trends come and go related to color, so people should choose what they like because that's what is important, says Terri Johnson, designer at S & S Cabinets and Spitzer Construction.
"The other thing about trends is they generally start in Europe, work their way to the coasts and finally to the Midwest," she said. "Once they get here they are already changing on the coasts and are out in Europe. Dare to be true to what you like, no matter this year's trends."
Johnson said she tends to look at Sherwin Williams or Benjamin Moore's colors of the year and incorporate them in the space. Wall color or accent pieces are easier to change than cabinets or flooring, she noted.
During the past year, people have been spending more time at home and personalizing their spaces, she said. That has included kitchens, bathrooms, workspaces, family rooms, gyms and entertainment walls, which are walls that include cabinets with TVs and other video or audio electronics, she said.
Sometimes a project starts with needing a new countertop or appliance and then grows from there, she said. Often the kitchen remodels require opening the room up to other areas of the house.
"Outdoor kitchens are also growing in popularity with spending more time outside," she said.
When people are considering a project, Johnson said function should be the No. 1 consideration. She said she also thinks about resale: How does the project fit with the rest of the house if the owner were to sell? An island that seats eight people doesn't need to be a priority in a two- or three-bedroom home if it takes away storage space for daily needs, she said.
Another area to consider is what she referred to as livable design/living in place.
"We cannot predict the future but there are things we can do to plan for it," she said. Some things to consider include under cabinet lighting, ease of cleaning, larger door openings, benches in showers, levers instead of doorknobs and backers for future grab bars or installing grab bars. While people think of large commercial products for grab bars there are many products these days that people wouldn't even notice when they were added to a bathroom, she said.
"They can be towel bars, toilet paper holders or shampoo shelves and come in several finishes to match the rest of the room," she said.
Johnson, an interior design graduate from North Dakota State University, has been the designer for more than 12 years at S & S Cabinets and Spitzer Construction. Johnson, who provides free design services for clients, said she asks a lot of questions in the first few visits to learn what the client wants and needs as well as measuring the space. It's important to get as much information as possible, she said, and that might include pictures from Pinterest or Houzz, she said.
"Sometimes it is difficult to imagine how your space will look so for them to show me what they like is a huge benefit," she said.
That information is put into the computer, different layouts are created and the pros and cons of each are discussed with the client. Once revisions occur to the layout then things like wood type, cabinet color, hardware, crown detail and countertop finishes are incorporated.
"We work with other subcontractors to finalize any other details for their space, such as flooring, ceiling detail, wall color, tile, electrical layout and plumbing options," she said. "Once all the decisions have been made I set up a timeline for the subcontractors to keep the project moving along without delays. It is important for the remodel to go smoothly so you are not without a kitchen or bathroom for weeks."
For more information, visit sandscabinetsnd.com.
