Stella the Design Dog Blog

I’ve been hearing a lot of barking lately about using marble on kitchen countertops., please talk to your stone fabricators about the challenges of living with marble countertops in the kitchen before deciding on surfaces such as these. 15 hours ago elleneric thanked you elleneric I hear everything from, "They've been using them in Europe for hundreds of years with no problems in bakeries, restaurants and homes," to "They stain and scratch and are a nightmare." What's the…

Like most designers, I could really use a magic wand. Then I would perform some simple miracles: First I would change all residential sliding glass doors into French doors. Then I would change all those new French doors into OUTSWING doors. (Why does that point always come up after the installation?) And then, 10 years from now (when we’ve all gone contemporary), I would change all those French doors back to sliding glass doors. Because, of course, the problem with qui…

  Recently I tried cooking on an induction cooktop, I loved it. The look still made me think of those old glass top electric ranges, and I hated those for so many reasons. However, Wolf is onto something with these Professional & Transitional induction ranges. Wolf Induction Ranges Now they have: ... an exciting new alternative to gas. The Wolf induction range gives you a cooktop with incredible speed and control – boils water faster than gas, yet gives you precise hig…

When it comes to the enjoyment homeowner’s gain from projects, a new pool comes in at number one, receiving a perfect Joy Score of 10; Joy Scores range between 1 and 10 and higher figures indicate greater joy from the project. Ninety-five percent of homeowners who completed a pool project said they have a greater desire to be at home, 90 percent felt a major sense of accomplishment, and 80 percent have an increased sense of enjoyment when they are at home. However, Re…

According to the 2016 U.S. Houzz Kitchen Trends Survey, the majority of homeowners who are updating their kitchen cabinets are incorporating specialty storage. And why wouldn’t they? Storage is HOT. With so many great choices offered by Design Moe Kitchen & Bath, it’s a pleasure to plan the details of a new space. Here are a few to consider for your new kitchen. THE CHARGING DRAWER Store more with this charging station drawer. Ideal for all yo…

While we may think that there are big gaps in the needs of Baby Boomers and Millennials the research shows that these two groups are looking for pretty much the same things when it comes to their homes. • an open floor plan • a home for entertaining • modern touches Baby Boomers are looking for smaller yards that require less up keep and allow them to use their leisure time for travel and downtime. Millennials are interested in thi…

  There is something poignant about the things that disappear during our lifetimes. I don't care so much about the gadgets (the cordless phones, broken fax machines, and sad digital watches that end up in the nobody-wants-this-stuff-bin at the Goodwill). I'm thinking more about the friendly, personality-driven, neighborhood stuff that somehow looks different on every street. Mailboxes, for example: I know that they're not always the best-dressed item on the block. They start off …

Here in San Diego you can find recessed can lights in almost every home. Although they are not always the best light source (because of the downward, cone-shaped light), contractors, home-builders, and home-owners all like and use them because they are inexpensive and unobtrusive. Unfortunately, the same qualities that make them popular also make them somewhat, well, boring. Recently a client asked for suggestions on how to improve the look of the many can lights that marched across her ceili…

As a designer, I get asked this question all the time. What's better (or more in style, or what do most people expect), stained cabinets or painted cabinets? You would think that the answer would reflect my knowledge of the industry, or some profound professional insight. Strangely, though, the answer has more to do with the color of a clients' existing cabinets. That is, if you currently have stained wood cabinets, then you probably want to rip out those dark, heavy cabinets and replac…

I've been keeping a book of patterns lately. They seem so, well, delightful after all the p This tile design, "Cambridge," is from Stone Impressions. It has the look of engraving, with fine lines & shading. Artistic Tile has great tile patterns, precision cut, with glass, stone, ceramic, and mirror all mixed together. And I've always loved Walker-Zanger's La Fleur Pattern. There's something about light-colored flowers on a black field that feels both unex…