Furniture-style cabinetry continues to be a desireable amenity in new custom homes. In the kitchen, the simple touch of adding barley-twist engaged posts to the corners give this island a furniture feel. Across the room, the usual built-in media cabinet is abandoned to be replaced by a custom-sized armoire that just fits into the alcove. Changing to stain grade wood for some pieces adds interest and builds on the furniture theme. Read more!

Kitchen design

It is surprising how easy and affordable it is to bring custom elements into your home decorating. Using unique, one-of-a-kind finishes adds value to your property and enriches your experience living in the space. This copper hood gives a dramatic, old word touch to this kitchen design, but did not come from a high-end kitchen resource. It was made for this client for a fraction of the price at a sheet metal shop.

The accent tiles used in this kitchen backsplash are from Color Bakery, a company that creates hand painted tile designs on a selection of bases ranging from tumbled stone to glass tile. They have a variety of designs to choose from, or you can have something new created from your artwork for a very reasonable price. Using just a few specialty tiles mixed in with an affordable background field of ceramic tile, travertine, or even glass tile can give a custom, designer look without the upscale cost. Find them at www.colorbakery.com

Check back for more ideas on how to use specialty materials and finishes in your interior decorating.

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