Bathrooms

A master bathroom with a freestanding bathtub and a double sink with a large mirror above them. There are several cabinets to the left of the sinks and drawers underneath. The floors are a white and grey marbled porcelain and the walls are off-white.

A Tale of Two Baths

This month I am proud to present to you 2 incredibly special Master baths. As you will see each Master Bath offers a quite different look but at the end of the day the 2 projects had very similar requests that were met.

Highland Heights Master Bath

A master bathroom with a highlight wall next to the walk in shower. The wall is a beautiful textured light grey tile to contrast the dark grey textured tile floor. There is a shelf built in to the wall. A potted plant sits on the shelf and a large framed painting hangs above it. There is a narrow space of wall between this and the shower where John has installed a cabinet and drawer.

This project was an exciting one in which I was presented with a broken up space with several small areas such as a closet etc. The space inspired me to open it up and create a spa type feel. The client was accommodating in that they allowed me to use my creative abilities and not only meet their functional needs but to at the same time create interest. One of the many focal points to the bath is the glass divider panel to hide the commode. By using the glass panel instead of a wall, I was able to give a separation while at the same time allowing natural light thru. Located within the panel channel is LED strip lighting which gives a stunning view when lit thru the glass. One can also find the LED lighting within the toe kick of the cabinetry. Opposite the panel is the feature wall to the bath.

I organically extended a shelf from a floating tall medicine cabinet. Notice how I also had a tile feature wall behind it. At the end of the bath, you will find a large walk-in shower. A request from the client was to also have a large shower door so down the road should the need arise to have a walker or assistance to shower getting in would still be comfortable. Some other features to this bath include a make up area, a de-fogging mirror to shower, a large shower bench, a skylight, a hamper and much more.

The right side of the same bathroom. There is a double sink with plenty of cabinet and drawer space underneath. Behind the sink is a fogged-glass partition which hides the commode. Behind that is the large walk-in shower that includes both a fixed and removable shower head and a grab bar. There is a skylight on the ceiling of the shower and the rightmost wall in the shower has a fogged glass window that let natural light into the room. The make up area is a large vanity built in to the corner of the bathroom. There is a large mirror that extends to the ceiling. Underneath the vanity there are stacked drawers but there is also space in the middle where a stool sits.

Gates Mills Master Bath

A master bathroom with a freestanding bathtub and a double sink with a large mirror above them. There are several cabinets to the left of the sinks and drawers underneath. The floors are a white and grey marbled porcelain and the walls are off-white.

I had the honor to do this client’s kitchen several years ago and was so honored when they called me to be a part of not only their Master bath, but also 2 other baths. Each one turned out so special in their own rights. Looking at both projects you will notice a totally different aesthetic appearance, but from a functional standpoint so many similarities. Where the previous bath desired a warmer feel with the use a more natural materials, this Master Bath takes on a more classic feel.

The use of marble looking porcelain tiles so beautifully accent the character of both the client and their home. One of this client’s main desires was a free-standing tub. This gave me the opportunity to have it become one of the focal points of the space. Another feature is the large walk-in shower. The client also desired a large door and area once inside the shower to maneuver about should the need in the future ever arise to need it. One of my favorite parts to this bath is the heated floor. It really makes a difference in these cold winter days to come in and have a toasty warm floor. Some other features to this bath are as follows. LED lighting under the vanities, large chased out drawers under the sinks, a vaulted ceiling, a hamper and floating shelves to allow for an accent area within the space.

Another bathroom in the same house with double sinks. There is a commode to the right and a towel rack on the wall. In the mirror you can see the corner of a walk-in shower with glass doors. The floors are an off-white tile and the walls are painted a similar off-white color. A large walk in shower with glass doors. The shower walls and floor are the same marbled porcelain tiling as the floors of the rest of the bathroom. There is a built in caddy to hold soap. There is also a seated area in the shower with a grab bar.

Winter Webinar Series Debut

Well, here we go again. This Saturday, December 19th our Fall Webinar Series comes to a close with the bonus webinar “Where Do I Begin?”, then, the ever-popular webinar series continues with the winter schedule just released. Mixed in within the popular topics you will find some new exciting topics which include “Kitchen trends 2021” (so nice to say 2021!), “Selecting The Right Kitchen and Bath Plumbing Fixtures”, “Selecting The Proper Floor For Your Space”, “A Study of Countertops”, among many more.

The webinar series will always have a place close to my heart. It was started to brighten up the darkest days of the pandemic and to give you something to look forward to and to take advantage of the “down time” by educating yourselves so you would “hit the ground running” when the time came. I am so blessed to have received so many emails and texts on what the series means to you. I am so very humbled and honored by your notes and to be able to offer these webinars to you. So please, keep enjoying.

January 16th:
9:00: Kitchen Trends 2021
10:00: A Study Of Countertops

January 30th:
9:00: 25 Tips Towards A Perfect Kitchen
10:00: Selecting Plumbing Fixtures For Your Kitchen

February 13th:
9:00: Selecting Cabinetry Thats Right For You
10:00: Selecting The Proper Flooring For Your Space

February 27th:
9:00: Selecting Appliances To Fit Your Needs And Budget
10:00: The Kitchen Layout: A Study Of Guidelines To Follow

March 13th:
9:00: The Bath Layout: A Study Of Guidelines To Follow
10:00: Selecting Plumbing Fixtures For The Bath

March 27th:
9:00: Accessorizing The Kitchen
10:00: Designing The Home Office

April 10th:
9:00: Why “Design Only” May Be The Best Fit For You

Sign Up Now!

Webinars are running free of charge at this time. Please contact Celina at Celina@thehalldesigngroup.com or 216-905-7177 to register for one or both webinars.

Heart shaped tile backsplash.

A Tile Revolution

“Tile is Art to Architecture”

Did you ever hear the saying, “what goes around comes around”? That is the case with tile today. When I started in the Kitchen & Bath industry in the eighties, tile was all about pattern. Well, here we go again! Clients today are looking for patterns in both the splash and floor to create excitement and make a statement within the space.

Geometric tile that is meant to look like wood

Floral tile in a bathroom

Heart shaped tile backsplash.

I had the opportunity this week to hear Erin Adams speak. Erin is one of America’s most celebrated product designers. You may have seen her work with Ann Sachs over the years. Erin used a couple of terms that really said where the state of tile is today, “contained chaos” & “tile is art to architecture”. Each phrase is ever so true. Tile today is trending to creating the focal point of the space and can add a sense of personal style. Some tiles that are available to accomplish this include geometric patterns, highly patterned encaustic cement tile, 3-d tiles & porcelain tiles that duplicate wood and stone.

This new and exciting era in tile is a dream come true for The Hall Design Group as we continue to create not only functional spaces but also ones that add excitement and the client’s personality!

Acclaim-In-Shower-Fog-Free-Mirror-by-Electric-Mirror-in-the-Park-Hyatt-New-York-New-York-2

Fog-Free Shower Mirrors

There are so many options for today’s shower that help create an “experience” for us upon entering. We have available to us rain-heads, body sprays, steam units, speakers for our music and so much more. But something that gets frequently overlooked is a fog free mirror in the shower. A fog free mirror will allow us to shave in the shower amongst many other things. The way the system works is a defogger is attached to the back of the mirror (which will require electric) which can then be set in flush with the tile for a clean, sophisticated appearance. A simple flip of the switch will activate the de-fogger. Some models also come with built in light systems to make shaving that much more productive. So if you are in the planning stages for your bathroom remodel you should give this mirroring system some serious thought.

ledlight2

A Designer’s New Best Friend:

LED Lights

I have always been a firm believer in the “Murphy’s Law” theory when it comes to the location of recessed lights in a kitchen & bath remodeling project. Just when you need a can located on center in the most critical of situations then there will always be an obstruction in the way. Whether it be a joist or even heating or plumbing obstructions. Led lighting has come thru again for me. As a designer, I now have cans available to me that are only ½” thick (this is the thickness of drywall). I can now locate the lighting throughout the project wherever I desire. Some of the critical locations that this really helps me is centering the can over a sink or centering on a table location etc. I recently completed a family room with beams and I needed to center the lights between the beams and it turned out wonderfully!

Ad for Webinars

Webinars: Another Exciting Educational Tool Presented by the Hall Design Group

Throughout the years, I have gathered a collection of educational tools to guide the kitchen & bath consumer through the challenging task of remodeling. These tools have included many seminars, classes, design guides and pricing guides. The Hall Design Group is now proud to present a new and valuable Kitchen& Bath tool to further educate you so you can have a good understanding of the decision-making process. Now you can enjoy letting me assist you in the comfort of your own home. I have put together a collection of webinars that cover the many topics needed to successfully create the Kitchen & Bath of your dreams. Some of the topics include understanding design styles, finding the right appliance package for you, understanding and selecting the right cabinetry for your kitchen or bath, countertops, designing one’s kitchen, and lighting the space. Visit The Hall Design Group website to see a detailed explanation of each webinar including the schedule. You can also register at the same time.

What is the Proper Height for a Bathroom Vanity?

The correct height for a vanity is the one that you are most comfortable with.  In the past 30″ height with the top was the norm. As the years have gone by my clients have asked the cabinets to be raised. We are now at the point where most people prefer 36″ with the top. This height is the same as your kitchen counter.
 

Custom Cabinets or Stock?

The other consideration before selecting the height of the vanity is to know if you are going to use custom cabinets or stock. With custom cabinets we can set the height at anything we want to.  My ideal height is 33″ with the top.

If you are using stock cabinets then you are going to be limited in size to the 30″ height or use a kitchen cabinet and see if they can reduce the depth to 21″ for you.

What Should I Expect From My Kitchen & Bath Designer?

The most critical part of starting a kitchen and bath remodel is finding the right person to guide you through the process from start to finish. I always tell my students and clients that you will end up “marrying” this person for the next several months so make a smart choice when hiring this individual.

A good kitchen and bath designer must excel in three categories to be effective. The first is to have great communication skills. To have a design meet you’re every need this person must be able to listen to all of your wants and needs and then convey them into a design that works for you. The second category is to be a creative designer that can take the kitchen or bath and not only make it functional but also bring some excitement and creativity into the space. The third category but certainly not the least important is to find a kitchen and bath designer that has the technical experience to make the project smoothly transition from the original design concept to that of a set of working plans and then into the construction phase.

Hammer-Rendering-Set-1

The kitchen and bath designer should be strong in all phases of the construction process. This includes construction, plumbing, electrical and much more. When interviewing the kitchen and bath designer one should find out what you can expect in the way of design drawings. The minimum to expect is a floor plan. I would strongly suggest that the designer also include a set of elevations. Elevations define the plan and make it so much easier for you to understand the scope of the kitchen or bath plans. I would also strongly suggest to have colored renderings presented. The renderings today are photo realistic and will greatly help you visualize the final result.

As you can see throughout my website I am a big believer in educating rather than selling. There are so many selections to be made and I would definitely find a designer with product knowledge that will be willing to be by your side and assist you in making all of the smart choices as you move through the project. This will eliminate wrong choices being made and save you so much time and money in the end by limiting the mistakes down to nothing.

The last trait that I would look for in a kitchen and bath designer is to find one with a passion for what they do. This will make the entire process “fun”.

Good Luck!