Second Place | Outdoor Oasis
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Dive into Design: What’s Hot from the Kitchen and Bath Show!
Industry responds to reciprocal tariffs, citing potential what-ifs and challenges
HIGH POINT — Reactions to President Trump’s tariff announcement began circulating throughout the furniture, décor and design industries immediately yesterday.
Some reactions were measured, others more responsive, but most are also paired with a “wait and see” approach as the clock ticks down toward the April 9 deadline for reciprocal tax implementation. And furniture industry execs are working with their global partners and legal teams to develop determine what is included, excluded and potentially revised between now and next week’s deadline.
Walls of Wonder
Before Covid, design was tending toward a more stark look: lots and lots of white, shiny surfaces, blue grey walls and very little decoration…almost to the point that nearly anyone could live in the space, but there’d be no indication of who they were, what they loved, or who they cherished.
A return to valuing face-to-face time with family and friends has changed the direction of design and now we see a trend toward an emphasis on individual expression. Texture and color have come back on the scene. Warmth and storytelling infuse the most magical spaces.
This has led to quite a lot of fun for me, honestly, and to the work that Stephanie Poulsen, my senior designer, and I have been doing. There’s a real freedom in the mix and match, the combination of levels of lighting, interesting objects and materials. It makes each space feel exceptional.
Most recently, we have been working with a family creating their dream home by way of a gut job remodel of a home that was once quite sad. Now it is brimming with personality and color, texture and interest.
Their little bathroom off of their home gym is a perfect illustration of the fun of the mix.
Here, living in perfect harmony, is:
- A geometric pattered cement tile
- The texture of board and batten painted millwork
- Moody floral wallpaper
- Classic carrara marble
- Antique gold fixtures and faucetry..even the “P Trap” under the sink is pretty!
There’s a common understanding among designers that there are 6 surfaces in a room: 4 walls, the floor and the ceiling, and when each is treated with interest and respect, magical things can happen.
Stephanie and I love combining pattern and color to maximize the visual impact of what we propose to clients. If you’re nervous about applying a “maximalist” approach to your space, a bathroom is a great place to try it out. We like to combine “Wow” moments with classic elements…reserving the bold things for surfaces that are somewhat less expensive, for example, paint or wallpaper. That way, should you tire of it, a simple switch may be made for an entirely new look.
Two more projects on the way exemplify our passion for material play. One is a powder bath for a commercial space. In it you’ll notice a more quiet color palette but it’s exciting nonetheless, sporting:
- A floral wallpaper
- Marble mosaic tile trim for interest
- Wainscotting
- Porcelain tile flooring with touches of gold and blue to connect to the floral wallpaper
- A gold wallpaper ceiling for an extra level of glamour.
And another project we are REALLY excited about is for a sweet family out in Oakdale. We think they’re wonderful and she is very fun and fancy, so we came up with this scheme for her.
She’s in love with green and glam….can you tell? Her space will include:
- Liberty of London floral wallpaper
- Spectacular Artistic Tile green and gold mosaic tile
- Classic check flooring
- Painted cabinets
I’d love to encourage you to find things that make you smile when you look at them, collect images, and then see what sort of interesting room emerges. Feel empowered to mix pattern and color, geometric, plaid, check and floral, metal finishes, wicker and wood. Your home is about what makes you happy, and there’s no better time than the present to express what makes your heart sing.
Happy Decorating! Love, Wendy
Shaping the future of bathrooms: A discussion on design innovation and consumer tastes.
Discover how evolving inclusive design trends, eco-friendly solutions, and cutting-edge tech are transforming bathroom design.
WEDNESDAY | FEBRUARY 26
2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Zip Water
Three years ago, I attended the KBIS show in Orlando, where I was first introduced to Zip Water.
The booth and the people were like an oasis in the desert. Clean, cool sparkling water and industry professionals to match! The Interior Design Society members on the guided tours I led were all just as enchanted. Fast forward and I have been blessed with the opportunity to be Zip Water’s first North American design influencer. It was installed early this fall and has absolutely changed the game for me in my kitchen and my household. The HydroTap delivers filtered cold, boiling and sparkling water in addition to the regular hot and cold water supply. It sterilizes knives and cookware, cooks veggies like broccolini and asparagus simply by soaking them in dispensed boiling water. Spinach and swiss chard are blanched in a snap! And no more waiting around for water to boil…pasta cooking time is cut in half.
The Zip Water appliance is also beloved by my family. My son appreciates how the Zip water sterilizes wood cutting boards with boiling water, and our dear dog, Everest, really loves his water bowl filled to the brim with sparkling cold, clean water.
I’m so honored and grateful for the opportunity to represent Zip Water …which has truly upleveled our kitchen and cooking experience in ways we’d never imagined.
Thank you for your trust Zip Water.
KBISNorth America’s Premier Kitchen & Bath Industry Show
We are gearing up for another exciting visit to KBIS…the kitchen and bath industry show put on by the NKBA showcasing millions of square feet of the latest in kitchen and bath design and product.
Kicking off the event Monday evening will be the gala where we are a finalist for “specialty kitchens” at the beautiful ENCORE hotel and resort. On the next day…I will have two tours back to back for the Interior Design Society, showcasing the very best brands for interior designers to collaborate with…10 stops in all. Wednesday, you’ll find me at the TOTO booth talking about trends in bath design with Alena Capra, CMKBD at 10 AM and I’ll be circling back around to my favorite, refreshing destination, ZIP Water all show long!
Hope to see you there!
Meet the boomers who’d rather spend $100k to renovate their homes than risk the frozen housing market: ‘It would be too hard to purchase anything else’
Brenda Edwards considers the four bedroom ranch-style house where she has lived for 20 years her forever home. It’s where the 70-year-old retired nurse and her 79-year-old husband want to stay as their mobility becomes more limited.
So she hired an interior designer for $20,000 and spent another $95,000 to retrofit their house in Oakdale, California. She had the kitchen aisles widened to accommodate a wheelchair in case she or her husband ever need one. The bathroom now has a walk-in steam shower and an electronic toilet seat that cleans the user when activated.
Making the most of your mudroom
A busy life filled with family, work, and interests means a home filled with things…sports equipment, laundry, backpacks, work totes, shoes, coats, umbrellas, electronics, etc.
This has made the mudroom rise in importance in recent years nearly to the level of kitchens as families work to corral the “mess” and establish some sort of organization to make the ins and outs of life and the house easier and less stressful.
Some little tips I’ve learned along the way may help you as you set about creating your own mudroom.
- A bench or chair goes a long way if you want your family to remove their shoes before walking into the house. A basket to hold shoes adjacent to the seat is a great way to contain the mess…so shoes are not strewn about causing a tripping hazard.
- Reinforced hooks are a game changer. Consider screwing a 1 x 4 board into the framing on a wall in your garage entry, then screw in hooks to hold coats and backpacks. The board will be anchored into solid 2 x 4’s and will provide a great support for hooks so that they don’t pull out of the wall with the weight of whatever is hanging.
- A desk area or counter for charging phones and electronics is very helpful. Even a surge protector outlet strip can be used. I have a family whose policy it is to leave all electronics at their charging station to make more room in their home for face to face interaction and uninterrupted study time…and so far, it’s worked well for them.
- A deep laundry sink is great for soaking sports clothing in OxyClean to remove stains before running a load of laundry. Wish I’d know about that hack when my son was in baseball.
- A hanging bar for drip dry laundry items is a game changer…No more searching for spaces to hang things over a tub or shower bar to allow delicate items to dry.
- A drawer for each family member is a great addition. Art supplies, projects, school work, returns, etc. may all be stowed away but remain accessible.
- A small desk area may be a smart addition…a laptop with a quick file system for bills, school paperwork, etc means things you have to remember coming in or out of the house are at your fingertips.
- A garbage can for tossing trash from sports bags, backpacks and purses will keep things nice and tidy.
The Modesto Bee | Best of Modesto – 2024 Winner
Established by Wendy Glaister with her grandmother’s encouragement, Wendy Glaister Interiors transforms luxury residential and commercial spaces across the state. Wendy excels in redecoration, kitchen and bath remodels, and designing homes from blueprints. With her warm personality and problem-solving skills, she collaborates closely with clients and craftspeople to create stunning, tailored environments.