The northwestern U.S. is not the place for frills and frippery, but for kitchens and baths that work hard and play hard. “We are pretty eclectic here, plenty of contemporary design happening, but with all the natural materials technically   ts into a transitional design style. We have a fair amount of older traditional homes as well, but even within those homes the traditional design is less fussy, simplifed and cleaner,” says Paula Kennedy, owner of Seattle, WA-based Timeless Kitchen Design.

Human-centric lighting (HCL) is the art and science of designing interior lighting systems that mimic natural light, be it daylight or darkness. Exposure to the “right” light can render a positive biological impact on the master clock in your brains and in turn, your circadian rhythms. The net objective of HCL is improved occupant comfort, mood and productivity in indoor spaces that support healthy circadian rhythms.

• Accessible residential design and construction ensures that the layout and design elements are accessible for people of all ages and abilities, allowing homeowners to stay in their homes as long as they choose, rather than how long the house allows them to. Accessible design provides occupants with independence, dignity and peace of mind, all of which contribute to health and wellness.

Homeowners and remodeling contractors alike have found themselves in the “perfect storm” as market dynamics for construction and more specifically, remodeling, have changed in recent years. Let’s investigate the causes and effects of this economic phenomenon and how you can develop realistic expectations for a remodel project.

Office al fresco or simply a COVID-safe space to relax and commune with family and friends — many Americans are devoting time and financial resources to creating an outdoor living experience in their own backyards. Driven in part by the COVID-19 pandemic and the need for social distancing, many homeowners are using the disposable income they previously devoted to dining, entertainment and travel, along with the time saved from not commuting, to make improvements to their backyards, with a specific emphasis on decks.

Kitchens and baths may be at the top of most homeowners’ renovation lists but you might be surprised to know that laundry rooms are garnering a lot more attention than they used to, especially if there is an opportunity to incorporate “mudroom” features. Gone are the days when this room was overtly utilitarian, used for the sole purpose of housing the laundry machines. Today’s laundry rooms are high-traffic, multitasking zones that help homeowners stay on top of chores (pet grooming, garden activities, crafting, gift wrapping, home office duties, storage) and organized.

Trends in laundry room/mudroom design illustrate that homeowners are seeking a seamless transition from the back entry of the home that is functional, aesthetically pleasing and tailored to their lifestyle. Key to these desires is to use every inch of space and incorporating high-durability, low-maintenance materials.

Toilets typically do not make for polite conversation. But when you think about how often people use a toilet and how many options you have when selecting the right one, maybe it’s high time to reconsider the perceptions of “toilet talk.”

Toilets come in two basic configurations: one-piece and two-piece. One-piece toilets are fabricated as one continuous piece of porcelain (or vitreous china), meaning that the toilet bowl and tank are fused. One-piece toilets can either be floor-mounted or wall-mounted (the tank is built into the wall and typically requires a 2-by-4-inch stud wall or a bump-out wall sized to the toilet).

Molly McCabe participated in her first home remodel when she was only 12, renovating an 1895 farmhouse on Lopez Island.

Now she could win any of those home improvement reality TV shows.

After earning a Master’s degree in Business Administration and a career in finance, 19 years ago she followed her “passion for making dysfunctional spaces functional, as well as beautiful.”

As a result, her business on Bainbridge Island, A Kitchen that Works, recently won a statewide Excellence in Remodeling award from the Building Industry Association of Washington.