The special things in life usually come down to the details.
That restaurant was terrific because the chef prepared and plated the food thoughtfully. Your trip was marked by happening upon that incredible shop. The hike was extraordinary because you saw a rare animal.
It's the details that make for excellence and connection to a moment in time — that extends to your home.
The details make or break your home experience. So, when it comes to remodeling, intentionally selecting each material and element is of paramount importance.
In this blog, the designers at Corvallis Custom Kitchens & Baths share the most crucial details you should pay attention to in each room of your remodel. We give you our advice so you can create a custom home look and feel that's all your own!
Demonstrating the Importance of Details
Before we get into the nitty-gritty, it's helpful to take a moment and examine how the details of a remodel merge to form an overall aesthetic.
Take our traditional white kitchen, for example; what makes it attractive to the eye? The colors altogether are undoubtedly striking, with the bright white, the soft green, and the warm honey tones. All these details really support the traditional look.
To start, the addition has high ceilings with warm wood beams to support it. This gives this open-concept family/kitchen/dining area a grand feel. Secondly, the play of light as it streams in from the two kitchen windows works to create a light and airy feeling as it dances against the light tone on the ceiling.
Then, to ground the space, the clients and designers selected a warm honey-toned hardwood floor to be used throughout and they are stunning! Lastly, the designers called for custom made “furniture like” cabinets to be made in both white and soft green tones.
All these elements work together to make this cozy, traditional open-concept kitchen a wonderful family gathering spot! Up close, each piece becomes a treasured detail; when you step back, the entire room ties together in a beautifully blended mix.
Remodeling: It's All in the Details
A remodel is more than just a chance to change a room's functions. It's an opportunity to create an entirely new feel in your home. Our designers accomplish that by employing exquisite attention to detail in every space we encounter.
Now, we'll walk you through the most crucial elements to mind in each room and give you our tips on how to make the best-detailed decisions for your home.
Kitchen
A kitchen must be functional and withstand lots of daily wear and tear. But, it should also be beautiful, the kind of place where you don't mind spending a few hours cooking a delicious meal and cleaning up afterward.
Backsplash
A great backsplash can elevate your kitchen from stunning to genuinely spectacular. Make a statement with a smooth, slab marble backsplash with gray veining running through it. Or try something modern like geometric hexagon tiles. Subway tile is a classic choice that you can spice up with different colors or finishes. Some backsplashes (like the one we featured above) have a subtle wave that creates movement and extra shine compared to flat backsplashes.
In addition to what kind of backsplash, you should consider how much. Do you want your backsplash to go all the way up to the ceiling and really draw the eye? Or would you prefer a smaller, less-showy backsplash that plays a supporting role to your kitchen's main characters? For this decision, it's crucial to develop an understanding of scale. You may adore those flashy, multi-colored tiles when looking at a small slab of them. But, you might not feel the same way when they're plastered across your entire kitchen.
Flooring
Your flooring should be elegant and durable enough to handle spills, splatters, and dropped dishware. Hardwood is the ultimate classic choice and comes in various colors so that you can pick the perfect grain for your kitchen. Vinyl and laminate flooring are also solid options, which can even mimic the look of hardwood or natural stone. Tile is one of the most durable floorings around. With a near-unlimited variety of colors, shapes, patterns, and textures, tile allows you to accomplish any look you want — with the knowledge that it'll last for years.
Hardware
Kitchen cabinets tend to get a lot of attention. But the type of knobs and drawer pulls you put on them are just as important as the color, material, and cabinet design. Match your cabinet hardware to your faucet and, if you feel extra cohesive, your appliances.
For a traditional look, try gold or bronze finishes. Modern kitchens usually feature chrome. Colored hardware — from black to white to pink — is becoming more common and can infuse a sense of fun into your kitchen. We recommend mixing and matching the color and finishes of your hardware so no matter what color metal comes into your space, it fits into your current hardware scheme.
Bathroom
Creating a calming place to get ready for each day and night is about much more than the type of shower or tub. Take a look at the details that make your bathroom.
Tile Choice
Tile is essential to your bathroom, yet, it's an element that's often overlooked. Tile typically covers your bathroom floor and the areas around your shower and tub. For a modern, monochrome look, you can keep all the tiles in your bathroom the same. Or, mix and match to create visual variety and a sense of spunk. Choose from shiny or matte; large format for a seamless look or small-sized for relaxing repetition; go with a circular, natural shape, clean rectangles, or funky hexagons — whatever helps you achieve the desired look!
Storage
Everyone is familiar with the way bathrooms accumulate soap bottles, beauty products, and scores of towels. Having all that clutter out in the open ruins any bathroom tranquility you've managed to achieve; that's why storage is so vital in this space.
One of the best ways to satisfy your storage needs is to include custom storage in your vanity or linen closet. Built-in drawer dividers and specialized compartments allow you to tuck away all your bathroom products and find them easily whenever you need them. A medicine cabinet can also do the trick. Whatever you do, we don't recommend opting for open storage. While you can include some here and there for the aesthetic, open storage tends to end up messy, dusty, and definitely not the vibe you wanted.
Luxuries
Who doesn't want their bathroom to feel like an in-home spa? To accomplish that, you need to pay extra attention to where you can add luxury to your bathroom. Hate hopping out of a shower onto cold tile floors? Add in-floor heating to keep your toes toasty! Love a luxurious shower? Try dual shower heads, an overhead waterfall shower, or a detached shower head to maximize your enjoyment. Tucking your toilet away in a water closet can give you extra privacy and comfort. And a sizable freestanding tub can make your soaks way more enjoyable.
Primary Suite
The primary suite is a sanctuary — or, at least, it should be. Here are a few details that ensure your bedroom and bathroom are spot-on for your style.
Lighting
Lighting is essential in every room. But, for now, we'll focus on how it impacts the bedroom. Of course, you'll want thick curtains or shades to block light when sleeping. However, your space will benefit from bountiful natural light during the day. Install large windows (preferably with a view) to let in the light and enjoy sunrise and sunset right from your bed.
Artificial lights are important too. You can go for huge statement lighting, but it's usually best to go for something subtler, like elegant sconces or overhead recessed lights in a relaxing environment. No matter what type of lighting you choose, ensure they have dimmers so you can create the perfect mood lighting at any time of night.
Color
Color has a significant influence on mood. In your bedroom, it's best to choose soothing colors. The best color for your bedroom depends on your style. Try white or gray for a minimal approach. Or infuse warmth into your space with tans, mauves, and creams. Some find a light blue or green creates a relaxing, natural vibe. Meanwhile, others may prefer darker, enveloping hues like deep jewel tones or black.
Flow
A great primary suite is more than just a bedroom and bathroom. It may also include a sitting area for evening reading, a coffee bar for a morning beverage, a spacious walk-in closet with a dressing area, and so much more.
With so many elements in one suite, a sense of flow and function can get lost in the shuffle. Don't let this happen to you! Work with your designer to create a primary suite that facilitates your daily routine. If the first thing you do every morning is take a shower, place your bathroom door near the bedroom and your closet on the other end of the bathroom; that way, you can go right from bed to the shower to the closet for dressing without having to go back and forth from one room to another.
Detailed-Oriented Design & Remodeling Services
You deserve the details! At Corvallis Custom Kitchens and Baths, our job is to bring those details to life in your home.
Our design-build approach means we oversee every detail of your remodel and allows us to make the most of every element in your home. And our attention to detail doesn't stop at design. In addition to our high-quality work, we're experts at staying on budget, communicating with our clients, and transforming your ideas into a fantastic home.
Contact us to meet your designer and dive into the details today!
