Schluter: The Product You Never Knew You Needed

When I am hired to design a bathroom for a complete remodel, clients are always surprised at how many decisions there are to make. Of course that is why a client hires me, to take care of or guide them through the myriad choices and elements to consider. And one of the unexpected aspects of a bathroom remodel for clients is how tile edges are going to be finished. If a tiler puts a tile on the wall without thinking about how it is going to be edged, the raw, unglazed edge of the tile will be seen. And no one wants that. It is visually unappealing but it also exposes the corners to chipping and breaking.

In "the old days," a tile edge at the shower or bath tub was finished with what is known as a bullnose tile. Instead of being a flat tile, a bullnose tile has a slight rounded edge which returns to the wall.

A bullnose tile still has its uses and can look charming in certain bathroom settings, but clients now want bathrooms that are more contemporary, more sleek, and in these cases, there is a great way to edge tile that fits that bill.

There are a few companies that make metal edge strips but the premiere manufacturer (and they pretty much own the market) is Schluter-Systems. They are now the industry leader, so much so that when people speak about these metal edges for tile, they refer to them as Schluter, much the way people ask for a Kleenex when needing a tissue.

Founded in 1966 by Master Tile Setter Werner Schlüter, the metal edge idea was born in 1975. At first it was a simple "L" shaped piece of metal...one edge tucks behind the tile during installation and the other visible side hide the unglazed edge of the tile.

As you can see by the images below, there are many uses for a Schluter edge...they come in different finishes to coordinate with a color scheme or shower and sink hardware. They can be used to edge a niche, a wall, a shower entrance, anywhere an unglazed edge of tile will be seen.

There is a Schluter edge with a finer profile, appropriately called Finec, for those who don't want to see as much of the metal finish.

A square edge called Quadec provides better coverage around the edges of niches.

For a softer look, the Rondec is gently curved.

For a different type of design, there is the Schluter Diadec which is angled at 45 degrees, and the Indec which is indented allowing for a unique look.

The Schluter Designline offers the chance to insert a decorative band of metal or color in any design scheme.

And for even more design, the Quadec-FS is an in-wall double-rail strip profile featuring a recessed section to which field or accent tile is bonded.

Of course not just for bathrooms, a metal edge Schluter strip can be used anywhere one can install tile. They are extremely useful in kitchens to edges a backsplash and I have even used them on fireplace breasts to edge tile.

Finally, Schluter is not just for walls. The Schiene profile for floors is ideal for creating elegant transitions between same-height floor coverings.

If you have a bathroom you've been yearning to remodel, contact me and we can put Schluter to work for you!

Happy designing!

Holiday Inspiration 2018

If you haven't decked your halls yet, there is still time! Here are some inspirational images to motivate you to bring the season into your home.

Happy designing and Happy Holidays!

The Slimfocus Suspended by Focus Fireplace

Since it is still fireplace weather (at least here in chilly Northern California!), I will share with you a new product. Focus Fireplaces, the French manufacturer of the iconic Gyrofocus fireplace developed by Dominique Imbert in 1968, has announced a new design in their already impressive line-up of modern and sculptural fireplaces. The Slimfocus Suspended is a pivoting, wood-burning, steel tube which draws in air for combustion through the smoke evacuation flue and has an 82 percent efficiency rating.

“The Slimfocus, the latest creation from Dominique Imbert’s design studio, is the sleek result of a quest for aesthetic fluidity, minimum volume and excellent heat performance,” the company says.

The unit hangs from the ceiling with a made-to-measure flue and other adaptation parts. Available colors are matt black (standard) or anthracite grey (optional).

The Focus website says, "Focus remains where it began life, in the village of Viols-le-Fort in the south of France, in the stone house renovated by Dominique Imbert. This is where he created the very first Antéfocus, and today it is the company’s head office. It is also the workshop (L’Atelier Dominique Imbert) where Focus models are conceived and designed.
It is from this medieval hamlet in the midst of the Mediterranean garrigue that Focus exports its fireplaces all over the planet."

Happy designing!

Napoleon's Luxuria Line

Fireplace manufacturer Napoleon has announced a breakthrough product: their new Luxuria Linear line features a gar insert fireplace that does not need a heat screen! This is great news for us here in California where state law prohibits the sale or installation of a gas fireplace without a heat screen in front of the glass window. Too many unsuspecting children and pets had been burned by touching the glass window of gas fireplaces. But Napoleon has created something they call the Dynamic Heat Control and Glass Guard Systems which redirects hot air away from the window, making it cool to the touch and safe for little ones and furry members of the family. I can't wait to learn more about this brand new product and specify it for a client. The line even took first place in the Gas Fireplace division at the Vesta Awards, an award created by Hearth & Home Magazine in order to honor industry leaders in design and technology.

Thinking of adding a fireplace to a chilly living room or dining room--or bathroom (go ahead, live luxuriously!)? Give me a call.
Happy designing!

Focal Point: A Key To Successful Design

Every successful room needs a focal point to help center and ground the space. Building a room around a focal point or feature lends an air of balance, variety, interest...it brings to a room that extra something special.

Some rooms have architectural features that are clear focal points like fireplaces.

If a room does not have a ready-made focal point, often it will have a "feature" wall. This is usually the wall that your eye naturally falls to when you enter the space. Bedrooms often have a long(er) blank wall that seems a perfect spot for the bed. This is more often than not the feature wall. Your focal point can be a luxurious padded wall that acts as a headboard, below...

...or a full wall of drapery to soften the room...

...or take the idea of fabric on the wall and allow it to become a canopy.

A grand piece of statement art above the bed can create a wonderful focal point, bringing in extra layers of color and texture.

Or turn the piece of art into a wall mural for extra impact.

Many times a space does not have a focal point in the room...but outside of it. Windows can be natural focal points as well, drawing the eye out to a view beyond. Arrange furniture and furnishings in the room to take advantage of this!

And finally, homes and especially apartments often lack any kind of focal point, whether it is an architectural feature or a window. In these cases, use art to create a focal point as we discussed in bedrooms above. Jay Jeffers used an exquisite Asian image to draw attention to a wall...

...while interior designer Joshua Greene used a gorgeous, modern, abstract painting to anchor an arrangement in his living room.

Happy designing!