SYH: ZH710
SY: this one we installed recently (see next picture). Two very long arms: Arm 1: 71.65", Arm 2: 44.5". The two arm version will potentially push out of your allowance a bit. https://franceandson.com/products/mid-century-modern-msc-r2c-rotating-wall-sconce-two-arm-plug-in36152?epik=dj0yJnU9M1pTOXhFYmZULS12Mm9nWWlUS3NDYUFJMTZLY0xpMEsmcD0wJm49aWNHbzlhWFF3MXF4SkpYYWRXTF9ZZyZ0PUFBQUFBR0Q0ZXpj
SY: here are two views of the ensuite over-mirror sconce (or anyway its effect) in the north bath. It feels heavy to me. I try to avoid down lighting vanities whenever I can, because the better lighting is actually at face level. (Your ensuite is the exception - no good place to put face level lighting in there, all things considered.)
SY: another view of the ensuite over-mirror sconce in the north bath. I really love the Novel Mini Pendant I put in below (marked as my favorite - it is actually going to be ok in allowances I think!), and actually I dig the others too a lot - all would feel light and not intrude on the useable space, if that's a concern for you, James? This is not a bathroom more than one person will likely be using at a time, so that corner is reasonably filled with a pendant... and it also helps to bring a tall ceiling down in a small space, so it doesn't feel like a shaft.
MZ: James says he would prefer a fixture like what we will have in the ensuite bathroom SY: North Bath pendant direction. Next I will show 4 options for North Bath pendant. Allowance was $300. I like all the fixtures I'm showing you, and an initial pass has shown them to be good in all the ways (scale, context, lumens, etc). But they will vary in their particulars. I've included price, size and lumens for each so you can see the primary variables.
MZ: TBD depending on how much storage we have overall SY: where will you store and sort your laundry and how many categories do you sort into (usually darks, whites, and maybe colored batches)? Some people like pull outs or cabinets for that purpose, and we do have room for that in the laundry room.
SY: North bath pendant option. THIS IS MY 2nd FAVORITE. But I don't want this both in the living room and the bath! 7" Diam for $352. This orb-shaped piece casts direct light downward and glare-free diffused light outward in all directions. Can be used individually or grouped in clusters. Bulb for small (not included): LED or halogen; G9 base; 25W max (25 halogen = 450 lumens) https://www.dwr.com/lighting-ceiling/here-comes-the-sun-pendant/10005166.html?lang=en_US
SY: North bath pendant option. This is kelly wearstler and takes 1 (visible 60W) bulb. 8" diameter and 20"h. $300. 738lumen. https://www.ylighting.com/nodes-1-light-pendant-light-by-kelly-by-kelly-wearstler-KKWP254491.html?cgid=YLLIG3&dwvar_KKWP254491_AttrValue1=Midnight%20Black&dwvar_KKWP254491_AttrValue2=Short
SY: probably, but it may push outside allowances is all. I'll look! MZ: this is awesome!!!! Can we find a sofa light that looks more like this one? Longer arm and smaller shade. SY: new living room layout, showing adjustable arm light over sofa on the west wall, and pendant over table in the foreground. Next I will show you options for both these fixtures. Allowances are $1200 for pendant over table and $250 for sconce behind sofa. I like all the fixtures I'm showing you, and an initial pass has shown them to be good in all the ways (scale, context, lumens, etc). But they will vary in their particulars. I've included price, size and lumens for each so you can see the primary variables.
MZ: does not love SY: Option for a pendant over the round table in the living room. This one is much simpler and about half the price, and is an LED Fixture: Height 3.1", Diameter 14". $560. Lumens 1125. . https://www.lumens.com/china-led-pendant-by-seed-design-SED719767.html?utm_source=google&utm_medium=PLA&utm_term=&utm_brand=Seed-Design&utm_id=SED719767&utm_campaign=16735779498&gclid=CjwKCAjw7IeUBhBbEiwADhiEMbHvGQCLYN8KpCDOigTr31Ns5JxZt-pnRnufcWzFryJ2Y7O50nMyPxoCjAYQAvD_BwE
MZ: does not love SY: Option for a pendant over the round table in the living room. The Here Comes the Sun pendant is pretty awesome, and just about the cost of the Ph5. The 7" diameter option is a possibility for the North Bath, but there's an 18" diameter that is pretty great for over the round table in the living room. Bulb for large or extra-large (not included): LED, CFL or incandescent; E26 base; 40W max. https://www.dwr.com/lighting-ceiling/here-comes-the-sun-pendant/10005166.html?lang=en_US
SY: And here is the fixture I'd recommend for over the Ensuite Mirror. 37" wide and within allowance for above ensuite vanity. Perfect! Other options I found were not worth going outside of allowances. https://www.lumens.com/0-to-60-led-vanity-light-by-modern-forms-MFMP374092.html?cgid=21&dwvar_MFMP374092_AttrValue1=Black&dwvar_MFMP374092_AttrValue2=24%20In&dwvar_MFMP374092_AttrValue3=2700#start=24&sz=24&prefn1=Width&prefv1=13%20-%2024%20inches&tileIndex=5
SY: this is what I'm going for with your laundry - but with wider (30") tall cabinet on the left; probably no room for uppers on the right (perhaps some small situation before the window); and storage below as shown in addition to some stool space. Good? (Also not white. :) https://shershegoes.com/washer-dryer-in-kitchen/. MZ: awesome! Our washer dryer are terrible so we were planning on getting new ones.
SY: cutouts like this would work on the north bath vanity. They may be more expensive but I think Stoll's can do them, and for less than the cutouts happening on the inset cabinets in your ensuite. We will have to work with them to achieve this (because there is cabinet framing behind the doors of course). But is this what you are thinking rather than pulls? We may want to do pulls in the laundry for cost efficiency, but we will see.
SY: these are low profile pulls - another option for the north bath? MZ: James likes this one but he would prefer cutouts if possible. SY: got it!
SY: the Kohler low profile pulls pictured in situ MZ: it think we prefer the simpler design of the delta trinsic style in black SY: oh, sorry - this was just for the Kohler PULLS - next image up. :)
I can’t seem to be able to upload this… we like the bottom left streamlined versions. https://www.ebay.com/itm/323843251419. SY: Could we do those in the laundry, and something a little more solid and refined in the bathroom perhaps? I will post a picture of an edge pull also. Very basic and sleek. MZ: right edge pull, that’s the term I was looking for!
SY: pulls for laundry room & north bath. Opt 1. We will order these to touch and feel in person unless you object!
SY: pulls for laundry room & north bath. Opt 2. We will order these to touch and feel in person unless you object! MZ: I added another option in a different photo. How about not having handles but cutouts in the cabinet doors?
SY: what about something like this? chaise on the north end and sectional that wraps around the back wall instead of sofa or set of chairs. (Click to open to see the whole image.) I just want to pull the furniture around into a circle, because it's much more aesthetically pleasing. But of course, we aren't specifying your furniture, so maybe we just leave it as our latest plan shows and you just get whatever you get!
SY: recent SYH project with a sliding door like what we are thinking might work best in your ensuite shower. For maximum accessibility to controls and towels. MZ: that makes sense.
SY: we discussed a new furniture layout that centers the sofa on the tv. How is this? MZ: seeing this layout, my first reaction is that we will end up not using the right most area with the 2 chairs and small round table and it will feel like filling the space with furniture for the sake of it. I wonder if we could consider extending the shelves to wrap around all the way down this right most wall? SY: maybe. That will (of course) add a fair amount of cost. I dislike a furniture situation that is lined up parallel to the tv, so that it's just stadium/theater seating. It's much cozier and more inviting to have a furniture situation that creates a circle of conversation. SY: Let me rephrase that. We could certainly add built-in on that wall. We did not eek out a lot of space for books in this basement. But I would still put chairs in front of it :-) SY: another thought: what about a loveseat/second sofa on that end instead of the two chairs? MZ: I am just not sure we would ever use it…
SY: just checking that I am right about your intent for the sinks and faucets in both baths. Here in the ensuite: two wall mount mixer taps, into a single wide trough sink. I'm thinking we can integrate the trough sinks into the countertops with acrylic. Photos of that vs. undermount trough sink, posted next. MZ: I like that! SY: got it. LMK about integrated vs. undermount sink - see next images. MZ: I like integrated! SY: ok!
SY: An SYH project showing trough sinks integrated into countertops. (Incidentally, with deck mount mixer taps - I believe these are Delta Trinsic, actually.) MZ: I do recognize the Delta Trinsic indeed ;)
SY: here is an undermount trough sink (not integrated into countertop, but separate and mounted under countertop). With two wall mount taps.
SY: just checking that I am right about your intent for the sinks and faucets in both baths. Here in the north bath: one counter mount mixer tap, into a single standard size undermount sink. MZ: great! SY: thumbs up!
https://www.instagram.com/p/CbQLGJsKdcV/?utm_medium=copy_link
SY: ok, trying the warmer (less white) maple plywood or maple veneer (I think that's what your most recent images are) and liking it - if we nix the stone in here. (And I took away the green chair.)
SY: maple plywood with stone behind shelves. We will want to look at samples with the stone in real life, but it looks kinda bad here.
SY: maple plywood with white behind shelves. MZ: I think this is a good combo! Keeping the wood behind the TV but removing the stones. I like this wood tone!
SY: no wood behind tv. Kinda empty IMO, but not offensive. :)
SY: no wood behind tv (open up to view). Not bad! But not my fav.
MZ: I like color and grain. SY: Marina, on these images, could you paste in your source URL into the comments? That would help us know the details potentially of what we are looking at.
MZ: I like color and grain
MZ: Susan you will probably say this is a bit too pink but do you think it’s a good example of light color plywood with concrete flooring? SY: yes, I do like this! The stone is probably what is tripping us up. And this is warmer than some of the very light, almost white plywood effects in the images below. Let's do this: let's have the cabinet maker get us some samples. We can put them with the stone and perhaps the concrete floor if we can see it, and look at it in person. Sound good? MZ: sounds great! I stole these images from instagram, I’ll see if I can add the links. https://www.instagram.com/p/CatrDHpKubj/?utm_medium=copy_link
MZ: I like this shade of wood - https://www.instagram.com/p/CUxnWlxMbhW/
MZ: I like this shade of wood even though the grain is a bit much
MZ: like this shade of wood finish. SY: do you like the two tone / exposed edge? Or just the shade of the doors? I like both! I am undecided when it comes to the edge. Not sure what James thinks. What do you think?
MZ: il like this color of plywood
SY: light plywood with pink undertones on the ensuite vanity. not great here.
SY: So, maybe we do this to solve the powder room problem and keep the stone, but we go for the plywood/maple effect in the family room and if it doesn't work with the stone, we consider covering the stone in there. MZ: I like that! I asked this on a TV room picture too: are we married to keeping the stone exposed? SY: but we could do the vanity in here in black laminate with exposed plywood boxes.
SY: black laminate with exposed plywood boxes. (You'd see more of the edges actually - like the next image. I just didn't take the time to update the model extensively.)
MZ: beautiful! SY: here is a house we completed recently with black laminate cabinets and exposed plywood edge boxes. Beautiful.
SY: yeah, I hear you, I just love that warmth. It's not the green that is the problem - it's an overall effect. But maybe we can find a lighter wood tone that we can see in person and feel good about. Also, we could lose the wood behind the tv, yes. It would save $$! I obviously like it the way it is, but wouldn't be heartbroken to lose it. :) MZ: this wood is too orange and dark for us, I think. SY: here is the original suggestion. Minimal grain, rift sawn oak. We could expose some plywood edges if you like.
MZ: I'll measure our current toilet and will let you know! SY: got it. We will suggest! Comfort height is a bit higher than standard, and actually these days comfort height is more standard than standard. :) Do you know what you have currently by chance? People tend to notice the difference between Comfort and Standard. If you don't know, you may want to go somewhere you can sit on both and see what you like. MZ: I think we don't know! Dual flush sounds like a good thing, standard height sounds right. No bidet. I think beyond that we're a bit ignorant :) SY: talk to us about what you'd like in a toilet. Skirted base? Comfort or standard height? Dual flush? Built in bidet? Or if you don't know, tell us that! (This is Kohler Persuade: a quite streamlined design that is a bit above your $500 each allowance number, but just for purposes of starting the conversation. https://www.build.com/product/summary/1322316?uid=3151131&inv2=1&msclkid=6ba38849f0e91d33d897e9b347b8d02c&gclid=6ba38849f0e91d33d897e9b347b8d02c&gclsrc=3p.ds)
MZ: here the plywood works well with the concrete floor in my opinion, what do you think? MZ: this is beautiful! SY: Uncommon Projects is a London based plywood cabinetry company that makes beautiful things and has served as inspiration in several of our projects. Their plywood cabinet box frames are exposed, and they use laminate or veneered plywood on the doors. I *think* you mean you want the plywood frames to also be the cabinet doors, right? Here, "UP suggested using maple-veneered birch plywood for the cabinetry as it looks very similar to birch, but is much harder wearing and better suited to heavily used kitchen furniture." https://www.uncommonprojects.co.uk/#/brockley-coach-house/
SY: UP suggested using maple-veneered birch plywood for the cabinetry as it looks very similar to birch, but is much harder wearing and better suited to heavily used kitchen furniture. https://www.uncommonprojects.co.uk/#/brockley-coach-house/
SY: Another company making plywood cabinets. These are oak veneered plywood, without exposed edges. I like this warmer oak rather than the pinker maple in the UP images. http://www.witlof.co.uk/fair-ridge-cottage/7xd5e8r8wria5g364nru9htod4ysiu MZ: I think both James and I like the pinkier tones of the maple or birch in the other images. Now the big question is how this works in the ensuite bathroom with the constraint that the stone imposes on tile and cabinets... SY: yep, that is the big question! We will need to get samples and see in person.
MZ: if you are worried about how plywood goes with the green chair I don't think we need to worry about this because we don't like this green. MZ: are we married to keeping this exposed stone? On another note, I think James and I are not so sure about having the entire wall behind the TV covered with wood as opposed to simply white SY: That light plywood with pink undertones is kind of unfortunate here. With both the stone and the living room furniture scheme. I don't dislike the light/pinky effect of maple and raw plywood as you say you like so much below, but I'm not sure about it in this context, given that we want to warm up the stone and concrete floors and balance the nice jewel pops of color throughout. The two tone from UP that you think is beautiful might work - that's the warmer plywood edges and interiors, with maple veneer fronts. But to be honest, I still like the warmer effect, whether it's the warmer plywood stain or the rift sawn white oak (which could also be a veneer on plywood boxes). Your stone and concrete floors just call out for warmer finishes to offset them! We could nix the stone I suppose, but I kinda like having the little glimpses of it if we can preser...
SY: stained and oiled plywood cabinet fronts from Witlof - NOT veneered. http://www.witlof.co.uk/lansdowne-drive/f4ymdppezj0kgt8t925lkaoalddwoo MZ: beautiful!
SY: Matte polyurethane coating & oiled ply cabinets - not veneer. From Witlof. This is warmer than the plywood cabinets in the previous image. I feel as if this may be what you're talking about, no? Significantly more grain pattern / movement in all these plywood cabinet fronts. http://www.witlof.co.uk/shernhall-st/ MZ: this is a good in between pink tones and too warm tones of the maple. SY: ok.
SY: this is a great article, with lots of images of plywood cabinetry. https://www.grundig.com/ktchnmag/blog/how-sustainable-plywood-is-changing-the-way-we-design-kitchens/. MZ: I think this is the tone of plywood we'd like. SY: got it. I think this grain is the same as the image to the right, however. Not sure if we can minimize the grain if it's plywood doors and not veneer. With maple veneer we could minimize the grain.
SY: I feel as if this is too busy and also too cool for you. No? Plywood grain is pretty pronouned. You ok with that? I was going for a rift sawn oak veneer like pictured above - warm and very tight grain (ie, without the big swirls and cathedrals). https://www.grundig.com/ktchnmag/blog/how-sustainable-plywood-is-changing-the-way-we-design-kitchens/. MZ: agreed, the grain is too much. I like the coolness of the color. SY: ok. I'll find out from the cabinet maker if plywood grain is what it is. If it's just like this, then we may need to do a maple veneer instead.
SY: plywood. Warmer stain, like I think you want. But so much movement! https://www.sustainablekitchens.co.uk/journal/plywood-kitchens-inspiration/ MZ: I think this tone is too warm for us. SY: ok, I see what you're hoping for now.
MZ: do you think a cooler plywood would work with this color? SY: this is the Fireclay Mustard Seed we initially were thinking for your ensuite shower, which I still love. You can see the variation (v2) is pretty low. I used a lot of colors in your basement space, per the inspiration direction we set. I'd hate to do blue, therefore, in both baths. You know? That said, I get it and I don't think blue will be wrong in the ensuite per se.
SY: here is the Mustard Seed in context. I tried a lot of colors to arrive here for the Preliminary Design. After trying the colors you told Keri you liked from Fireclay this week, I still think that this is the clear winner with the stone. BUT I want to look at it in person for sure, and also talk to Jim to figure out how the tile meets the stone there in the corner anyway.
SY: The only other one I don't hate with the stone, among the v2 tiles you liked from Fireclay, is the Dusty Blue, shown here. Note that all of these images are for color purposes only, to see with the stone and white penny tile floor and warm wood cabinet (this image feels as if it can still represent plywood). I think a vertical rectangular tile looks great, but not sure yet of scale or grout color, and these images don't show any variation - they are just one tile multiplied over the surface.
SY: this is Fireclay Sea Glass. Really bad with the stone.
SY: lighting running along the vertical edges of the bookshelves
Q