photography by Ted Dayton

FOR KITCHENS & BATHS
Tip: Don't be Locked into One Style
"Kitchen and bath trends are all over the place, and that's the good news. A 'Contemporary with a hint of Craftsman' look I just completed has a variegated glass and stone mosaic tile backsplash in the kitchen; vessel sinks and brushed-nickel finishes on the faucets in the bathrooms; a large single-bowl stainless steel kitchen sink and much more." Kathy Phillipson of
Kathy's Kitchen & Bath Design 645-2104

Tip: Get Sophisticated
"A much-desired trend is self-closing drawers and soft-closing doors for kitchen and bath cabinets. This option helps make life easier and gives your kitchen and/or bathroom a more sophisticated look and feel." Nick Oz of Dannick Design 775-7430

Tip: Built in Convenience
"Create decorative built-in niches by utilizing 'dead' spots for multiple purposes, like a place to display attractive accessories or an organizational system to put an end to clutter. Consider putting a niche behind the stove, or building a niche to store both soap and shampoo." Hannah Moshe of Cavalier Builders 800-749-5765

FURNITURE
TIP: Price-tag Wars can End in Heartbreak
"Before you invest time and money on a sofa, do some research so you can settle into your new couch with the comfort of knowing that you found the best long-lasting value for your money. Remember: Shopping with an eye only on the price tag can end badly. Poor-quality furniture often becomes more expensive in the long haul because of required repairs or early replacement."
Douglas Green of Douglas Furniture 255-8366

FLOORING
Tip: Invest in Softer, Stronger, Longer-lasting Carpet
"Tigressa SoftStyle Carpet features exceptional softness and ultimate strength. Advanced yarn engineering provides superior durability with a pleasant, luxurious touch while its unique geometric fiber shape protects Tigressa's color and maintains a pristine, smooth appearance. Plus, Tigressa's HTD technology features precision-engineered, high-tensile denier filaments half the size of a human hair, for an ultra-soft texture. Densely tufted, resilient mircrofibers show less matting, crushing and wear than other nylon carpets and super-strong precision nylon fibers allow more filaments per square inch to spread out daily abuse." Ben Griffiths of Brent's Carpet One 255-3337

TILE & STONE
Tip: Turn Tile into a Work of Art
"Squares, rectangles, diamonds, ovals; smooth, nubby, textured; matte, semi, high gloss; ceramic, porcelain, stone, metal, glass; tiny mosaics to 20-inch pieces; floor, walls, backsplashes, counters! There are as many tile options as there are places to put them. The choices can be overwhelming, but the results can be stunning when you work with a professional." Lisa Wicall of Wicall's Carpets 259-6040

Tip: Match Granite to your Personality
"Just like people, no two granites are exactly alike. With the enormous variety of color combinations and veining patterns available, choosing the right granite for your home can be a bit overwhelming. So how do you decide which color, pattern, or finish will best suit your unique personality, theme or style? Click here to take the Granite Personality Test."
(Editor's Note: I took the test. Seems I'm a Tropical Green Granite kind of girl!) Surfaces USA 200-0080

WINDOW COVERINGS
Tip: Up the Drama, Even in Small Spaces
"Shutters can be installed on small windows. As a window gets smaller, it is imperative to make sure that the shutter has at least three louvers in it for balance. If need be, the louver width can be reduced form the regular 3.5 inches to 2.5 inches to allow for more louvers in the shutter. On high windows, a pole can be provided so the user can adjust the angle of the louvers in varying light conditions. Shutters are timeless and elegant. They always bring drama to any room and visually as well as monetarily raise the value of the home." Bob White of Country View Shutters 800-980-7838