Here is a fun quiz to see how much you know about interior decorating. I found it on my IRIS Members Only Newsletter and Jim and I had fun answering the questions. We missed 2.
Click here to take the quiz.
Let us know how you liked it!
Thursday, March 6, 2008
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11 comments:
Bonnie-I have a question for you. I am going to do something to my kitchen and bathroom cabinets. Should I stain them darker or paint them white? Which will make the areas look bigger?
Thanks,
Kim
My preference is white assuming your fixtures are white. I think it makes kitchens and bathrooms look updated, clean, airy and bigger. However, I have not seen your cabinets, flooring or counter tops. If you want to post a few photos on your blog I can give you a better answer. If you paint them make sure you sand really well and undercoat first and use glossy, good quality paint. Double coat it and then make sure you let them dry for several days before using them. Nice new hardware is the finishing touch.
Kim, one more thing, if you do white..make sure you put a color on the walls so the cabinets stand out.
Thanks Bonnie. I currently have a black stove, white fridge and white dishwasher. I am planning on replacing the stove to white so that it will match. I have my kitchen walls painted a color called burlap (brown). The floors are the original vinyl. I will be replacing the floors in the next year if not sooner also. Any suggestions? As far as the hardware I am having trouble deciding the finish I want throughout the house so I have not updated anything yet. I am leaning towards brushed nickel. Thanks for all your help. Kim
I took the test an I missed about 6, pretty good huh?
Hi Kim, I think that the white would be pretty. I think you will need to add a nice bright or bold accent color to make it interesting. I don't know what your color preferences are but lots of colors go with a burlap type color. A chocolate brown or a red or pumpkin might be nice. I think brushed nickel or chrome for the hardware. Stay away from any of the gold tones for faucets...they all eventually turn green. Chrome is always nice too. I like knobsandpulls.com to just see what is available without having to drag kids out, etc. Sounds like a fun project!
Hey Jen..Woohoo on the test. Don't you wish you actually got the money they were saying each question was worth?? We could build our utopia!
Thanks Bonnie! You have a great eye for this kind of thing. What do you think about the floors? I need something hard and durable but not too expensive for the entire main level.
Ahhh, flooring. There is always tile which is hard! I am not sure what it runs $$ wise in Utah. Tile has some disadvantages. One, the grout, which is a dirt collector and when mopping it kind of just pulls the dirt into the little grout grooves. Also anything you drop will break and can crack the tile. It is cold and can look cold if you don't get a warm color.
I love Jen and Lowell's new flooring and it seems to clean up really well and yet has a warmer look that the tile. It comes in several different shades. I have seen it in a warm ash color and it was really nice with the white cabinets.
The fake wood laminates tend to have a hollow sound when you walk on them and we had Pergo in our dental office and it was sticky feeling when you walked across it in tennis shoes. Hated that.
If you want a tile look but easy upkeep there are some nice vinyl laminates that are one sheet and you actually have to feel them to know they are not tile. If you go with that go with a well known brand and top of the line for best results. We have it in our kitchen entry and laundry room and really love it. They are much easier on your feel and legs, but they are softer than tile of course and you said you were looking for hard. So....? It really depends on your personal preference, how long you plan to live there, etc.
Go for something darker than your cabinets which should be not problem if you go with white. I like to say something around the color of Cheerios or something that is not so dark it shows every single little thing that falls on the floor. And not so light that it shows the dirt. Something middle of the road color wise tends to hide a multitude of things.
I would stick to the geometric look like a tile or wood look, or something that looks like stone as it is more contemporary than any designs with florals or whatever.
I hope that helps. If you look around you will discover just what you are looking for. What do you have for your counter tops?
Thanks Bonnie. I do not need a literal "hard" floor, just something that is not carpet :(, as my entire main level is like an entryway. Thanks for the great info. My countertops are currently white with wood trim that matches the cabinets. What do ya think?
Kim, sorry I am so late in responding to your last comment. If you are happy with your counter tops..keep them. If you are looking for an upgrade go for granite or Silstone in a nice earth tone would be fabulous. I don't like Corian as much, it is so dull looking and stains easily from what my clients have told me. Tile can be nice. Laminates are the least attractive to a perspective buyer. Again, it is a matter of personal choice, budget, and how long you are staying. If you keep what you have you will definitely need a great accent color to liven it up with all the white.
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