Your taste, price will dictate kitchen, bath floor surfaces

June 22, 2007

By ROSEMARY SADEZ FRIEDMANN
Scripps Howard News Service
Monday, June 11, 2007

What floor covering to use in a kitchen or bath is always debatable. With all the options available, the choice is a matter of durability, practicality, price and aesthetics. The real questions are, which of those options is most important and if possible, is there a flooring choice that satisfies more than one of those needs?

Since the kitchen and bath floors take the most abuse in the house, durability is always top on the list. Now durability can also be attractive. Vinyl floors, anciently called linoleum, offer many styles and performance options and also offer low prices.

The most expensive of these vinyls is the one that is topped with urethane wear layer which has the most shine retention, stain resistance and longest life. The prices for vinyl range from as low as $4.50 a square yard to as much as $50 a square yard or even a little more. But that's not bad, since we are talking in square yards and not square feet.

Then there is tile. A glazed ceramic tile is quite durable, easy to clean and always looks like an upgrade. There are also the unglazed tiles and stones that are more rustic looking. If you choose an unglazed tile or stone, it is imperative that it be properly sealed otherwise the maintenance will be unbearable. Every spill will sink into the pores of the stone and stay. Sealing of unglazed tiles and stones, even if done properly, will need to be repeated regularly.

Slate, travertine, marble and granite all fall under this tile/stone category. They are great and beautiful choices, offering the most aesthetic version of the floor covering realm.

Prices here are counted in square feet., not square yards and the range is anywhere from a bargain basement price of $3, up to as much as $45 a square foot, and even more if you are looking at rare tiles and stones. The natural stones and marbles will be on the expensive side.

Laminated wood floors are quite attractive and with the lamination, the floors are quite durable and have a moisture-resistant quality -- very important in kitchen and bath areas. These floors offer the look of hardwood with the durability of lamination. Since this flooring is installed as a floating floor -- plans glued to each other instead of nailing directly to the floor, it can be installed right over any existing floor covering.

This saves on installation costs. Laminated wood floors range in price from approximately $8 a square foot up to $20 a square foot.

There are other choices for floor coverings for kitchens and baths such as cork and in large bathrooms even carpet, but they aren't as popular as the options we've discussed.

(Rosemary Sadez Friedmann, an interior designer in Naples, Fla., is author of "Mystery of Color," available at Barnes & Noble Booksellers and Amazon.com.)

Universal design is friendly to all

April 21, 2007

By ROSEMARY SADEZ FRIEDMANN
Sunday, April 01, 2007

Ever heard the term "universal design?" The concept is to incorporate design for the disabled with design for the non-disabled so that it all integrates without making the disabled stand out or be different.

Instead of knobs, for example, proponents of universal design use lever handles for doors and faucets. The door levers are useable by just about everyone regardless of physical abilities. And there is a bonus in that the levers are attractive and easy to use by all.

Varied counter heights for work surfaces such as in kitchens also are being incorporated into this integrated living design. This way a child, a person in a wheelchair, or unusually short or tall persons can all have easy access to different parts of the kitchen or other workspace.

The old standard height for kitchen counters was 36 inches. All counters were the same height. Now the varied heights place cabinets 30 inches high in some places, with the standard 36-inch height at other parts of the counter. Your personal comfort height can be accommodated easily even if you require a higher counter such as 38 inches or more.

More emphasis is being placed on appliance heights as well. Builders and retrofitters are incorporating microwaves, dishwashers and oven heights to be at levels where a person does not have to bend over or reach up to use them. The rule of thumb for heights for microwaves and ovens is that the bottom of these appliances should be 24 to 42 inches above the floor depending on personal ability. Also, the dishwasher should be raised to 6 to 9 inches above the floor for better and easier accessibility.

Cook tops with varied ability users are now mostly smooth tops with touch sensitive controls.

Freezer drawers are available instead of the standard, hard-to-open doors. These drawers can be placed under counter tops.

Closet systems now incorporate easy access clothing bars by using a pull-down system so the upper tiers of hangers can be accessed.

Non-skid flooring can be a common flooring for kitchens and baths as well as hallways and other areas where carpets are not used.

In the laundry room, front-loading washers and dryers are more accessible than the top load models.

Why limit grab bars to the physically challenged? Why not include them in all bathrooms? Put them in showers and tubs and by toilets. It is a great safety feature regardless of physical ability. There are grab bars available that have interesting designs and avoid that hospital look in your house.

Universal design has moved outdoors as well, incorporating sloped walkways into the landscaping so it becomes part of the design and eliminates the need for a separate handicap entrance.

But the general idea of it all is to make living comfortable for everyone.

(Rosemary Sadez Friedmann, an interior designer in Naples, Fla., is author of "Mystery of Color," available at Barnes & Noble Booksellers and Amazon.com.)