SPECIAL SECTION: Spring Home Renovation Guide
cleaning system, eliminating the need for in-bowl or in-tank cleaning solutions. A convenient flip-up door on the tank’ s top houses the control panel for the cleaning system, which is activated at the user’ s touch for a one-minute Quick Clean or 10-minute Deep Clean cycle. The toilet tank and bowl feature EverClean, a permanent finish that inhibits the growth of stain and odor-causing bacteria, mold, and mildew on the surface to help the toilet stay cleaner longer. The system, which operates on four AA alkaline batteries, runs independently from the normal toilet-flushing operation, meaning the toilet will always flush, even if the cleaning cartridge or batteries have run out. Additional features include a slow-close lid and anti-slip bumpers that lock the seat in place.
Tub: Few people will argue that nothing beats a long soak in a warm tub. Now, the bathtub’ s appearance and special features can be specially tailored to satisfy your personal preferences. Extra-deep, extra-wide, with and without jets, freestanding or integrated into the architecture— the possibilities are nearly endless. Keep access in mind when you choose your style; don’ t select a tub so deep it’ s difficult to
climb in and out, and remember practical considerations like bathing children.
Floor: Because it offers broad aesthetic appeal and it’ s relatively easy to keep clean, tile flooring is a top choice for bathrooms. Not only can you add style with the color and texture of the tile, you can take your flooring to even greater levels with special patterns and designs. Another flooring enhancement— heated coils that run below the surface to keep cool tile warm and cozy when it’ s cold outside.
Storage: While aesthetic appeal is important, a bathroom without sufficient storage space is truly lacking in function. Be sure your design includes a place to keep essentials like towels and personal grooming items. Whether your storage space blends in or stands out is entirely up to you; some vanities actually look more like stylish furniture, and open shelving is a popular choice for a modern space.
With the wide range of options available, it’ s easy to create a bathroom that delivers the perfect combination of style and function.
Smart, Stylish Designs for Outdoor Kitchens
Kitchens are moving outside and are expected to be a top design trend in 2017.
An outdoor kitchen can greatly improve the value of a home, and it brings family and friends together. Whether it’ s having your neighbors for a weekend barbecue or a big family gathering, everyone loves being outside.
Big or small, the basic principles of outdoor kitchen design remain the same. Get started by understanding these basics:
Get the right heat— It all starts with the grill, which is the centerpiece of the outdoor kitchen. Russ Faulk, chief designer and head of product for Kalamazoo Outdoor Gourmet, suggests basing your selection on the cook you aspire to be, not the kind you are now. Remember that there are no uniform depths, heights or widths when it comes to grills, so future upgrades can be a challenge.
More homeowners are also expanding their cooking capabilities with specialized products offering different types of heat. Smokers, pizza ovens and charcoal or wood-fired grills are options to keep in mind as they can enhance the outdoor cooking experience.
Assess the space— Think about how you envision the relationship between your indoor and outdoor kitchens. If they are relatively close together, an outdoor kitchen can utilize the indoor kitchen’ s capabilities, such as prep space and storage. Conversely, a fully independent outdoor kitchen with refrigeration, warming cabinets and cabinetry is more self-reliant, but will require more space and connections for gas, water and electricity.
In the zone— You’ ll get the most out of your outdoor kitchen when you have different functional zones designated. Plot out where you will position four key zones, wet, cold, hot and dry, to make prepping, cooking, serving and cleaning much easier.
The cold zone should be next to the wet zone. This will simplify moving food from the refrigerator( cold zone) to the sink( wet zone) to wash and get ready for grilling in the hot zone.
Also plan for uninterrupted counter space or landing areas for placing platters and utensils while cooking. Grills should have at least 24 inches to one side and 12 inches to the other. Sinks should have 18 inches on both sides for room to wash food or place dirty dishes.
Be sure to dedicate enough space for each zone and think about the relationships among them for cooking and serving activities.
Left outside— Being outdoors means your refrigeration and cabinetry will need to be equipped to handle the elements.
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