According to According to the National Kitchen & Bath Association, these trends are the hottest on the market.

1. Shaker-style kitchen design
2. Maple and alder cabinetry finishes
3. Quartz countertops
4. Pull-down/pullout kitchen faucets
5. Polished chrome finishes
6. Under-counter refrigerator drawers
7. Dishwasher drawers for small loads
8. Marble vanity tops
9. Integrated sink tops and vessel sinks
10. Bronze and stainless steel finishes

Want to learn more about these trends? See all the images and read the full article here…

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Bathroom safety. It’s a huge issue for older adults — just watch daytime TV and all those ads for step-in bathtubs. But safe bathrooms don’t have to look boring or institutional.

Kohler, a kitchen and bath manufacturer, has launched a new initiative aimed at seniors.

“We’re talking about aging in place and design solutions,” explains Lynn Schrage, marketing manager for the Kohler Store in Chicago’s Merchandise Mart. “We wanted to find a way to help consumers understand things that help them out.”

Here are some of Kohler’s solutions:

» Design the vanity with one side for standing and the other with a removable shelf for seated users.

» An uplift mirrored cabinet by Robern (a Kohler company) opens upward with the touch of a finger. Bottom shelves are accessible when seated.

» There’s also an optional built-in TV mount and outlet inside the cabinet to add a flat screen without wires and clutter.

» Choose strong color contrasts to help older eyes see in the bathroom, especially at night.

» Plan on a higher commode than usual for easier mobility.

» Kohler has introduced a new line of spa bathtubs that soothe aches and pains. They combine the durability of cast iron with the technology of bubble massage.

» Bathing can pose problems, so Schrage suggests planning for transfer seating if you still use a tub. Kohler makes a tub with a built-in ledge and its own seat. The ledge serves as a grip rail, and the seat comes with the tub so you can bathe without getting in.

» Roll-in showers offer the next step in safety.

» Install a slide-bar hand shower that can be used standing or seated, suggests Schrage. Another nice option is what’s called a Turnspray. You can adjust and point the wall-mounted spray head.

» Today’s new Rainhead showers infuse the water with air to make the water feel “fuller” without using more water. Other showerheads can feature thermostatic controls so they become intuitive.

» Finally, be sure to install grab bars.

“Kohler has launched a series of decorative grab bars,” she said. “The details and finish match the faucets.”

The newest faucet finish is brushed gold. It’s a rich gold with a deep, vibrant aura, especially when set against the newest cast-iron color: caviar.

Source: IndyStar.com

Did you enjoy this article? Make sure you look for our other posts on bathrooms and aging in place.

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Financial considerations and Americans’ evolving lifestyles are driving preferences in home design.

According to the latest Home Design Trends Survey by the American Institute of Architects (AIA), houses and lots in the United States are continuing to shrink, as is homeowners’ desire for high-end features and amenities. What’s growing is a wish for greater accessibility within the home, which goes hand in hand with an increased interest in more open floor plans and layouts that allow flexibility to accommodate Americans’ evolving lifestyles.

While it’s typical for new home sizes to decrease during recessions, the AIA notes that the current downward trend in lot sizes, square footage, and interior volumes began before the current recession and housing bust. Interestingly, signs indicate that new home sizes are continuing to decline even as the market begins recovering. Fifty-seven percent of the architects polled for the survey reported decreases in home sizes, compared with 21 percent who reported increases. Driving this trend for smaller homes are concerns about rising energy costs and the rocky economy, combined with a desire for reduced property maintenance.

Read the full article here in the Residential Architects website…

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Just like these manor-style cottages with garage being built in a lot of residential areas in Quebec, this one is notable for its medieval style exterior ands its 36 feet wide facade. This handsome home allows for easy site planning on a narrow lot.

Find out more….

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The first things to catch your attention in this handsome manor are well-balanced volumes, remarkable windows and brick facade. The steep gables of the two central volumes give this house real elegance, achieving the manor style, always popular with home plan buyers.

To learn more about plan #3418, see details…

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Drummond House Plans, a house design firm specializing in residential architecture since 1973, recently created a collection of multigenerational house plans, for multi-generational, bi generational or extended families.

Are you thinking of inviting the grand-parents (baby-boomers!) to share a new house with your family, and want to make sure they have their own private areas?  Do you have young adult children moving back home to save money and want to offer them (and you!), private spaces?  Are you a blended family with many children in need of extra bedrooms and more than one kitchen and /or family rooms?

The Multigenerational Drummond house designs and floor plans are designed as one home containing two separate units.  The main unit is generally larger, offering three and even four bedrooms to accomodate a young family with children, while the other unit offers all the comforts of a full apartment with one bedroom, a kitchen, dining and living rooms, as well as a full bathroom and laundry facilities.  For security purposes, both units are usually accessible to one another from inside the home, but both have their own individual / independant access to and from the outside. 

I’d like to share with you three of my favorite multigenerational homes (or bi generational, what is your favorite word fo it?)  Each one caters to the various styles and sizes required by you.  These three beautiful homes all offer large units for the family including very well organized apartments for the grand-parents!  All within the same house!  Which ones are your favorites?  Have a look at all of Drummond’s multigenerational house plan collection and send me your feedbacks! 

Drummond Multigenerational Floor Plans no. 2821: Beautiful 2-storey Spanish / Florida Style, offering a one-bedroom apartment on one side (on the first level), and a large  3-bedroom home on the other side (for the family) with two private balconies on the second level!

www.DrummondHousePlans.com Multigenerational House Plan #2821

Drummond Multigenerational Affordable House Plans 2278:  Charming and Affordable Bungalow Style House Plan, offering on the same level (on the same floor!) a one-bedroom apartment, and a well designed 3-bedroom house. 

www.DrummondHousePlans.com Multigenerational House Design no. 2278

Drummond House Plans - Multigenerational Floor Plan no. 2278 (Main Level)

Multigenerational Designs Plan 3039: Spectacular (and yet affordable) Traditional House Plan Style, on two-levels, offering the grand-parents suite on the first level, and the large 4-bedroom unit on two-levels.

Drummond House Plans Multigenerational House Plan #3039

These multigenerational house designs are offered in many styles and sizes and can be order easily online or by phone: 1-800-567-5267.  All house plans in the Drummond House Plans collection, including any design from the multigenerational house plan collection,  can easily be modified to suit your needs by using the Drummond online house plan modification /customization service, to make sure they answer all your needs. 

I’d also like to recommend a great site I found, that has an article on “How to function in a multigenerational household“.  It is one thing to build a house and another to learn to all live together!

Drummond House Plans’ design team is planning on creating more multigenerational and multi-family house plans, so any comments or suggestions are welcome!

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Colours again?  Who can blame me especially on a day like this?  Ice pellets, snow, wind!  Gray and white are the only colours I’m seeing through my window today…..  Even the parked cars this morning are all grey and black in colour.

But what are the colour trends this year? Is there any pizzazz to look forward to? Perhaps the following can help you to get started in some choices you may want to make should you have chosen to remodel.

 Benjamin Moore has a nice way of presenting the 2008 trends on their website naming them Modern Tranquility, Organic Comfort and Pure Opulence.  Of course, it’s not because it’s trendy that it’s necessarily tasteful…

Sico on the other hand speaks of Mysterious, dark looks, Punch colours, Sico’s mushroom collection, and also Sico neutrals.  I particularly like Sico’s website for all the other sections.  For example, they have a Feng Shui colours section with precious information and other links.  Some of you will also delight with their  Colour Fan Club.  

There is much out there to give good ideas and uplift the spirits.  I for one am seriously looking forward to giving a little red touch to my kitchen!

Enjoy!

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