KBB - October 2013 - (Page 10)

DESIGN WITH… Celebrity Design with…Nicole Curtis Nicole which I can retain the original cabinets are the kitchens people love the most. What are the beneﬁts of using salvaged or custom-made materials in your designs? There is nothing like a custom-made kitchen rather than stock, and I am addicted to using every tradesperson I can get my hands on. I love to use salvaged pieces to keep a budget down, and I can achieve this look with the budget most designers use for their tub. What are two must-haves in any kitchen design? K+BB got the chance to talk to Nicole Curtis, who stars in “Rehab Addict” on the DIY Network and HGTV – the new season starts on Oct. 17. Nicole specializes in restoring historic homes in Detroit and Minneapolis and uses salvaged and custom-made materials in the process. In our discussion, she shared some of her experiences with kitchens and bathrooms in these old homes. Function is ﬁrst because I am a cook and a mom, and the materials have to be washable. So many designers put things in kitchens that don’t seem like they would work with an active household. Everything I use has to be durable and cleanable. You can still achieve a classic kitchen by using natural stone countertops and solid wood cabinets – materials that won’t fall apart. What are the main challenges in the kitchens you seek to renovate? What about must-haves in bath design? The layouts are never standard. We build today for design, and 100 years ago they built for function. What about challenging bathrooms? People have done some goofy updates and have followed trends from the 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s in a 120-year-old house. We aim to break through the trends with a more classic design. What have been some of your most successful kitchen and bath renovations in the homes you’ve worked in recently? Every single one is a success because they are all unique and challenging – each one has a different touch and a different layout. Nothing we design looks like another, but our designs are all very classic and in tune with the home. Those in Circle No. 7 I love pretty bathrooms, but the fabrics have to be easy to throw in the washer. I like a monochromatic, clean look – one that is not too busy – because you have to keep up an overdesigned bathroom. There is no high maintenance in my designs. I have never seen a bathroom from 100 years ago go out of style, and there are ways to incorporate modern mechanisms into these old bathrooms. What is your one piece of advice for kitchen and bath designers? A lot of designers – especially when they are starting out – need to trust their instincts because the client is not always right. I study the entire family for which I am designing because it is important to make sure all the clients are comfortable with a design. ■ — Chelsie Butler http://insinkerator.com/pitchblack http://insinkerator.com/pitchblack http://insinkerator.compitchblack

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of KBB - October 2013

KBB - October 2013
Contents
Online Contents
Editor’s Note
Show Director’s Note
Celebrity Design with...Nicole Curtis
Universal Design
Trends
Products
Reader’s Choice Awards
KBIS Countdown to Design & Construction Week
Dealer Dish
Design
Magical Transformation
Let there be Light
Industry Viewpoint

KBB - October 2013