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Designing ideal spaces since 1997 |
Telephone: 514-620-9040 or 514-262-1540 By appointment only: 4230 Blvd. St-Jean, Suite 211 Dollard-des-Ormeaux, Quebec H9H 3X4
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info@idealspacedesign.com Design info: Articles & Q+A section Written by Karen S. Weiner |
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Featured article:
Karen is currently busy writing articles which will appear in HOMES & LAND Montreal to Mont-Tremblant magazine. A new design article will be posted here shortly. In the meantime...
Click here to visit Karen's blog
If you find yourself as busy as we are, you might want to take a look at these books:
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Reader's question & our answer:
Q: We bought a 30-something year old home a few years ago and we have to do renovations in phases rather than all at once. The kitchen cupboards are still the original but we changed the floor. We love our new floor and we are ready to change the cupboards. We spoke to a few people and some said we'll have to redo the floor again, while others said there would be no problem keeping the floor. What's the deal with this?
A: More often than not, the flooring does have to be changed as well. There are two situations that might allow you to keep the flooring: a) when the new flooring was done it was installed underneath the cabinetry as well; OR b) your new cabinets will have exactly the same layout and dimensions as the existing.
Even if you are fortunate enough to meet one of these conditions, there is still a chance that things could work against you. Once your old cabinets have been demolished, it is always possible that it will be found that there is a weakness or damage to the sub-floor, most common under the sink and dishwasher; to repair this properly access is needed to more of the sub-floor. Another possibility is that the new flooring can be damaged badly at the edges where it butts up to the toe-kick on your existing cabinets (presuming the flooring does not continue underneath).
Using the 30-year old layout for the cabinetry often isn't the best solution. The sizes and quantities of what goes into our kitchens today is very different. While the kitchen often used to be little more than a utility room for food prep, it is now the hub of a home in many cases. Consider your layout options thoroughly now, so that you don't regret your decisions within months of the project being completed.
The following books provide excellent information about kitchen renovations. Click on them to read more:
Other articles by Karen (click to read): Environmentally-friendly does not mean high costs or fewer choices.
Questions about the fees involved with hiring an interior designer are not easily answered; each project, client, and designer is different. But you can learn how to estimate the design fees a bit.
Most careers can be defined with only a few words: a doctor diagnoses and treats ailments, a police officer upholds the law and investigates crimes... How can interior design be summarized in one sentence? When it's time to do work in your home who should you contact for help, or even to handle the project completely? Some projects are better suited to one professional than the other, and sometimes it's not clear-cut who you should be involving.
Good ideas, knowing where to shop, and a good eye aren’t enough to guarantee you a successful reno. Knowledge is the key, and your knowledge has to extend beyond the “stuff” that goes into an interior.
Take a look at large scale redesign and renovation projects. From budgeting to implications and the effect on the value of your home, you have to be well-prepared to commit yourself to a major project.
Kitchen cabinets can be designed to be low-budget, middle-, or high-end. There are factors that can push a low-budget project into a higher range. Learn the answers to, "How come it costs that much?"
A fresh look at the "less is more" topic. Karen offers wonderful tricks and tips to visually expand and open the spaces in your home, as well some surprising ways to hide the clutter.
Welcome visitors with style -- your style. Learn some great tips and ideas for creating an inviting and eye-catching entry into your home.
This article offers some tricks-of-the-trade that will help transform a child's room into a space Mom and Dad will enjoy too. Whether your child is 3 or 13, this is a must-read before you head out shopping.
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E-mail us your design questions, or any topics you would like to read about in an article. |
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