Year: 2021

Wetstyle Opens New Showroom

Myrtle Ryan


Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville, Canada – WETSTYLE, a Canadian manufacturer of premium-quality bath fixtures and furnishings for the North American market, has opened its newly constructed showroom to architects, designers and the general public for the first time.

Beginning May 1, 2021, customers are welcome to view WETSTYLE’s product line at its new corporate showroom, with social distancing practices in place. The 11,600-sq.-ft. showroom, located in Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville, on Montreal’s South Shore, will be open by appointment only during showroom hours, from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Friday.

“We are very proud to welcome customers to this facility, which was designed to showcase our values as a brand,” says Mark Wolinsky, president of WETSTYLE. “We look forward to showing local specifiers and customers what we do.”

The showroom exhibits 19 bathtub models, nine furniture collections and more than 30 sink models to choose from, many featuring WETSTYLE’s proprietary WETMAR BiO material, recognized by GOOD DESIGN for Green Innovation as the industry’s first recipe for soy and mineral stone used in the fabrication of composite bath fixtures. Among the WETSTYLE products on display are the Stelle Vanity collection, Mood bathtub and Feel shower bases, all recipients of GOOD DESIGN awards.

Designed by Atelier Moderno, and recipient of the Grands Prix du Design 2020 award, the showroom is filled with distinct and intimate spaces, each highlighting an individual product. The contemporary space features non-obtrusive walls that isolate each product zone in vignette-like fashion, invoking sentiments of environments reflective of the products in use. Atmospheric lighting sets the mood of each product zone via strips and spotlights, reflecting off of a porcelain floor with marble-esque qualities that embrace the sophistication of the company’s high-end, handcrafted, made-to-order products.

“The showroom is the face of our beautiful finished products, and we have succeeded in creating a space that captures the essence of that beauty,” adds Wolinsky. “It’s also a vehicle for exhibiting the tremendous level of detail, craftmanship and passion invested in the making of our award-winning products.”

Ensuring a safe environment

With the health and safety of its clients and employees as a top priority, the WETSTYLE showroom strictly adheres to all government guidelines in respect to COVID-19 protocols. As of May 1, the facility will welcome customers up to a maximum of five people per designated appointment time.

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Fantini Calls for Awards Entries

Myrtle Ryan

New York – The Fantini Design Awards, an annual competition presented by Fantini USA, has opened its competition with a call for entries through October 29, 2021. The competition, celebrating its fourth year, celebrates the best of North American design inspired by water. Fantini invites all architects, designers and developers to submit their eligible projects for consideration.

Seven projects will be selected as winners by a panel of judges, and one representative per winning project will receive a four-day, all-expenses paid trip this fall to Casa Fantini/Lake Time resort, designed by Piero Lissoni at Fantini’s headquarters in Pella, Italy.

Qualifying Projects should:

Be either a Completed or a Future project

Be completed after January 1, 2019 and no later than October 29, 2021Be located in the U.S. or CanadaBe documented with high-resolution, professional photography (Completed Projects) OR a sketch, rendering and/or floor plan (Future Projects)

Completed Project Requirements

Fit in one of the categories: Residential or CommercialIf Residential, the Project must have at least:

One master bathroom with five or more Fantini fixtures (including faucets), OR

two or more bathrooms with at least three Fantini fixtures (including one or more faucets) in eachIf Commercial, Fantini branded products must have been used in the Project.

Future Project Requirements

Project must be under construction, meaning that the construction works have begun on-site in the U.S. or Canada but are not yet completed.Must fall into one of the following two categories:

Residential, provided it will install Fantini fixtures in two or more bathrooms; OR Commercial, provided that Fantini branded products will be used in the Project.

Project entries will be judged by Kendra Jackson, deputy editor, AZURE magazine; Olivia Hosken, Style and Interiors writer for Town & Country, and Alessandro Munge, founder and design director for Studio Munge.

All submissions must be received by October 29th, 2021 at 11:59 pm EST.

For additional information, visit https://fantinidesignawards.squarespace.com/

 

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4 DIY Kitchen Storage Ideas

Myrtle Ryan

Have you been craving some change within your kitchen, but aren’t looking to drop hundreds to achieve your new look? Well, you’re in luck. Changing up the look and feel of your kitchen does not have to be pricey. There’s countless do it yourself home projects regardless of if you’re looking for a smaller or larger scale project. If you’re in the mood for some change, this article is for you. Here’s 4 DIY projects which will improve your kitchen storage space.

Include Hooks and Racks

Fully utilizing hooks and racks within your kitchen will maximize the vertical space within your home. It allows often-used kitchen utensils to be easily accessible, so you are not forced to store items where they are hard to reach or see. You can hang mugs, pots, pans, and other cooking utensils from hooks and store larger items on racks. Pro tip, before fully installing your hooks and racks make sure to check their weight capacity.

Corner Shelves

Shelves don’t have to take up a lot of room for them to be useful. Even a shelf with a shorter than average length can be used to your advantage. Corners are often neglected within one’s home. They’re normally thought of as places to squeeze in a microwave or another appliance, but you can utilize this space to install cut shelving for extra storage. This storage space can be used as either a practical or decorative space.

Introduce Shelf Inserts

Use shelf inserts to create extra levels for jars and other items with varying heights. A clip-on basket also maximizes pantry space, and you can place flatter foods like tortillas and pasta boxes underneath. Shelving inserts are a quick and easy way to double your storage space. They are also cost effective and take almost no time to install.

Turn Your Backsplash into Storage

Your backsplash can serve many purposes. It can provide beauty and character to your home while also providing functionality. Implement a rail or a floating shelf within your backsplash. However if you’re concerned about damaging your walls, adding a few command hook will not hurt your kitchen.

Kitchen Solvers

At Kitchen Solvers, we want to ensure that you, the homeowner, protect and preserve your beautiful kitchen. The most important factor in how to make a kitchen remodel easy is getting help from professionals. At Kitchen Solvers, our expert design team can help you create the ultimate kitchen that fits your budget and offers some of the best features and styles available. Once the plan is established, we’ll take care of the rest. Connect with our team today to get started designing the kitchen of your dreams.

Make sure to check out some of our top trending articles: Small Remodeling Upgrades to Make a Big Splash in Your Kitchen and Confused about Cabinetry? A Guide to a Cabinet Reface or Replace!

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Professional Tile Cleaning Tips

Laurie Ragan

What makes tile cleaning so challenging? Dirt and contaminants accumulate over time, causing your tiles to look discolored and even darken in some cases. Over time, if you do not use regular commercial tile cleaning products as recommended, you will find it necessary to change your tile cleaning products as well as your tile grouting cleaning solutions. When you are looking for a solution to a stubborn stain or dirty spot, you may notice that some commercial tile cleaning products can leave streaks that are quite difficult to get out of the grout. This is especially true when you have a heavily stained tile.

The first step to preventing this problem is to ensure that you never allow soap scum to accumulate on your floors. You can prevent soap scum from building up by not using commercial tile cleaning solutions that are highly concentrated. These products can actually leave residue behind, which can make the stains more difficult to remove.

tile cleaning

Professional tile cleaning experts use hot water to loosen dirt and grime from tile and grouts. This hot water also helps to loosen any chemicals that may be in the cleaner. You should never clean tile with a harsh abrasive. Most professionals clean tile and grout with pH-balanced cleaners and mild dish soap.

Before scrubbing, thoroughly wash any area that you will be working on. For larger areas, use one cup of white vinegar and one gallon of warm water. Use a soft-bristled brush to scrub the area until the tile is thoroughly cleaned. Make sure you rinse all the soap away and then refill the tub with hot water. Never apply white vinegar directly to marble.

One of the biggest obstacles that homeowners face when they are mopping tile floors is getting the dirt out of the grout lines. You will have to work fast when mopping tile because if you leave the grout alone it will just build up and become a bigger mess. You can use a vacuum to get the dirt out of the grout lines, but you will need a power washer to get it completely out.

The grout lines are the unsightly places between the tile and the floor where the dirt builds. Use a mop to soak up the dirt as you go, but make sure the mop is only dipped halfway through the grout lines. Then, rinse the tile and grout with clear water so that you don’t trap the dirt back inside the tile.

Another great way to keep your floors looking clean is with baking soda. By mixing one cup of baking soda with two cups of water, you can create a paste that you can rub into the grout. The baking soda will absorb the excess dirt and then the scrubbing action will help pull out the stains from between the tiles. Before scrubbing, make sure you rinse the area with warm water to remove any soap residue.

Vacuum your tile floors often enough so that you don’t have to use abrasive cleaners on your tile surfaces. A good quality mop is all that you need to clean tile floors. For hard-to-reach areas that are particularly stubborn, you may want to use a steam cleaner. However, for general tile cleaning around the house or even in the garage, you can use your mop, wet paper towels and even vinegar to clean tile.

When it comes to grout, most professional tile cleaners use hot soapy water. If you want to go the environmentally friendly route, you can find plenty of organic products that you can use to make cleaning the grout easier. However, using chemicals to clean tile is not always a good idea. Some tile cleaners can actually cause damage to the grout, so it’s a good idea to test the product on an inconspicuous area first to see if you have a reaction. Some homeowners even opt for coal-tar or bleach-based solutions when dealing with stubborn grout.

Although there are plenty of ways to clean your tile floors, the trick is to start small and work your way up. You can save money by doing a homemade tile cleaner using ingredients that you likely already have. For example, you can make a simple scrubbing paste by combining lemon juice and club soda. Other ingredients that you can add to homemade tile cleaner solutions include borax and baking soda.

As you work on cleaning your tile, remember that you should alternate between wet and dry methods. This ensures that the grout cleaning products stay in contact with the tile and don’t lose their effectiveness. Some professionals suggest that you let the grout cleaner sit on the floor until it is fully dried before applying it with a mop or cloth. Before using the scrubbing pads, check the ingredients list on the grout cleaner to make sure it isn’t abrasive. You can also ask for assistance from a professional if you need extra advice about the best way to use the different grout cleaning products.

concrete

Concrete Services Creates the Perfect Outdoor Space

Cassie Coronado

concreteWorking with Concrete Companies in Tampa is a dynamic and ever-changing city. Permanent residents and visitors alike have adopted this city as an open concrete playground. Concrete is both functional and beautiful.

With concrete services, you can explore various styles, from precast columns to stamped concrete designs to molded concretes. There are also different concrete options for all kinds of budgets, sizes, and specifications. The selection process will give you numerous options for your next project that fits perfectly with your needs. Let concrete companies help you bring your concept to life.

Concrete is not just used for construction projects anymore. Residential and commercial structures are getting built with concrete to enhance the look and feel of the place. From walkways to retaining walls and pools, concrete companies have the expertise to make sure these structures are made with the highest quality workmanship and of the highest durability. Their expertise allows them to create structures that are durable and will last for decades.

Another popular application of concrete companies and contractors is in the realm of countertops. Countertops are no longer merely a functional part of kitchen counters. More people are finding concrete contractors to install countertops that are beautiful, functional, and even show well off the design or architectural theme of the house.

Perhaps one of the most common areas where concrete contractors install countertops is in the realm of bathroom countertops. Bathroom countertops are typically constructed by hand, but they can also be constructed by machines. As such, there are numerous types of countertops to choose from ranging from tile to granite. Whether you are building a new home or renovating an existing home, you can find a concrete contractor who can construct a great piece of countertop.

From driveways to walkways, concrete contractors have the expertise to help you choose the perfect material for your project. In terms of driveways, you can find both traditional and modern driveways, and concrete walkways. Concrete walkways are ideal when you are trying to create the look of space by utilizing the small spaces that are often overlooked by home owners. This type of walkway is also ideal for increasing the usability of your property as well. If you have an upcoming special event, such as a festival, you can choose driveways that will not only enhance the occasion but also increase traffic flow into and out of the area.

Of course, in many cases, you may not have a need for concrete services. However, no matter what the situation, you can count on concrete companies to come to your aid. From leak repairs to pothole repairs, concrete contractors can take care of almost any concrete job that you may need. You can also depend on them to make sure that your exterior walls and chimney are in good shape. You can trust these professionals to help you create the backyard of your dreams, or give you a timeless beauty that will outlast your home’s lifetime.

Whether you are having a new home constructed or you are simply looking to update your outdoor space, concrete contractors can help you create the home of your dreams. Take some time to explore the variety of services that are offered by these contractors. Not only can you find residential project specifications, you can also get an overall estimate based upon your specifications. In addition, you can choose from different concrete services, including facade repairs, stamped concrete, poured concrete, exterior slab repairs, concrete paving and more. Take some time to explore the variety of services that are offered. No matter what type of residential project you are working on, you can count on concrete contractors to meet all of your concrete needs.

stucco

How Does Stucco Work?

James Thompson

stuccoBefore you start using stucco, make sure that there are no underground elements such as salt, sulfur, or carbon dioxide in your soil. If you add these elements, the stucco will not bond properly with your masonry or base material, and it may result in structural failure. When you buy new plaster for your project, ask to see a sample so you can determine if the Portland cement you are using is appropriate for your soil type.

After determining that you’re using the proper cement for your home project, you’ll want to mix your stucco batch with either medium or light pigments depending on the needs you have for the area being stucco’d. For areas such as brick, you can either go with a dark or a lighter shade. Darker shades of stucco allow the pattern to stand out better against the background of the building and light colors help to show up more of the original stucco once it has cured. Another option you have is to blend the colors together. This can make for a unique look, especially if you choose to use historic stucco to match the exterior of your home.

The final step is to mix the Portland cement with water to create the final mixture necessary to seal the surface and allow it to dry. If you have a smaller wall or room to fill, you can mix the stucco by hand but if you are working with a larger space, be sure to have a container to mix the Portland cement with water in. Mixing by hand leaves small air bubbles in the stucco, and these can cause the stucco to stiffen and dry out prematurely.

Once the stucco has completely dried, you can apply it to the areas you want to coat with stucco. If you have already applied the stucco before the ground is dry, you should mix the cement with water and apply it to the surface right before the ground is hardened. Then, you can pour the mixture into your moulds and begin shaping the stucco into the patterns you desire. You can also hand stamp decorative patterns on the stucco once it has cured to give it a rough texture.

There are many options available when it comes to using stucco. Some of the more common uses include repairing cracked and worn floor tiles, protecting masonry structures, coating exposed brick walls, protecting exterior walls from weather, and making repairs to the portico and facades. When stucco is used as a binder, it seals the edges of mortar joints while also increasing the structural integrity of the building. When stucco is applied to the interior of a structure, it forms a smooth surface that will not mar the look of the flooring, walls, or landscaping. It also provides a textured surface for easy cleaning and maintenance.

Stucco can be combined with other materials to create a variety of effects including: stamped patterns, decorative crown moldings, textured ceilings and walls, stamped concrete finishes, pre-painted hardware and paint, and more. When stucco is stained or painted, the finished look can change dramatically. For example, a light stucco finish coat can be combined with dark wood trim, while a dark stained stucco finish can be combined with a light cherry wood trim. Stucco finishes can even be applied to architectural pillars.

When stucco becomes wet, it begins to expand like elastic. Because of this, any space that is exposed to water must be thoroughly dry mopped dry before stucco may be applied. Mopping after exposure to moisture takes care of a lot of potential problems, including cracking and shrinking, flaking, mildew, corrosion, and other water problems. If you are looking for a way to improve the look of your home, stucco may be the right choice. However, if you have young children or pets, you may want to consider an alternative to stucco, such as fiber-cement siding.

How To Choose Between Kitchen Sink Plumbing Fixtures

Myrtle Ryan

kitchen sink

Kitchen sinks come in a variety of mounting styles and various sink varieties. How the countertop is built, and the material that your sink is made from playing big roles in were kind of sink you choose to install. While the design and style of sink you choose will depend on personal preference, the kind of sink you get will largely depend on whether you are replacing an existing sink or remodeling your entire kitchen. Ultimately, what you decide to do with your kitchen sink will depend on how much space you have and what kind of budget you’re working with. Below are a few different options to consider when it comes to sink options.

 

Stainless steel: This is perhaps the most common kitchen sink available today. In addition to being extremely durable, they are also one of the easiest to install and come in a wide variety of sizes, colors, and finishes. Stainless sinks are also easy to clean because they don’t absorb stains easily, and they will hold up well to hot pots and pans on the stove. Unfortunately, since stainless sinks can be costly, they are often not the best choice for smaller countertops.

 

Stainless steel sinks are the most practical kitchen sink choices because they are very inexpensive and can be installed fairly easily. However, since stainless sinks can get very bright, they can also be great eye-causers! Plus, since the sink’s finish is so shiny, there is often a lot of visible dust residue, making the appearance of cabinets behind the new sink a little grubby-looking in places. Some people opt for a black cabinet surface or for something with a matte finish like brushed nickel to solve this problem.

 

Cabinet with Tilt: A kitchen sink with a tilt is called a zero-tilt cabinet. Its shallow depth helps to create space behind the countertop for extra dishes or pots. The zero-tilt design also allows for easier cleaning because all you have to do is tilt the cabinet toward the dishwasher. However, if you want a deeper basin, you may need to buy two units because the cabinet tilt doesn’t allow one to fit behind the other.

 

Standard Size: When you buy a new kitchen sink, you probably assume that the only options you have are standard sizes. That’s not always true. Sinks come in all different shapes and sizes no matter what their standard size is. If you’ve been thinking about getting a new kitchen sink, but you aren’t sure whether it will work with your existing sink, consider what might be available before making any final decisions.

 

If you already have a garbage disposal that comes with a kitchen sink, the odds are that the disposal is compatible with your new stainless steel sink. If it isn’t, you’ll need to buy a plumbing supply to match up the plumbing of the garbage disposal and your new kitchen sink. The plumbing supply will likely cost you more than a sink with a standard sink, but it will be worth it in the long run. You’ll be able to use the sink you already own and avoid the plumbing company’s markup.

 

Undermount and Overmount: Both of these kitchen sink plumbing fixtures come in a wide variety of configurations. You can get a sink with a single hole or two holes; you can choose a countertop with a hole or no hole; you can choose a deep or shallow bowl; you can get a standard size or a customized size, and you can even have a sink made from a material that won’t rust. Most under-mount and overmount sinks also come with their own tops, allowing you to choose whether you want an under-mount or an overmount sink. Undermount kitchen sinks are often made from stainless steel, but they can also be made from copper, brass, or bronze. They can be made in a bowl shape, but they’re also commonly used as a bar sink.

 

Drop-In: A drop-in kitchen sink fixture is just what its name implies-it’s a fitting that slips underneath the counter. These fixtures are available in stainless steel and a variety of colors and materials. Most drop-in sinks have a smooth underside surface and are made with textured surfaces on the underside for a non-slip grip. Stainless steel drop-ins are very popular because they’re very durable and usually offer a lifetime warranty. They are sometimes available in a polished finish to provide a glossy, modern look.