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Ask any builder about their business this year, and the answer will likely be, “the big projects have dried up”. But the flip side is that small projects—the makeovers that can transform a kitchen or a bath without moving a single plumbing line or changing the structural bones of a house—are more important than ever. The same holds true for taking advantage of unused space, like that corner of the basement where a bathroom might be the key to a comfy little apartment for a retired parent or the son or daughter looking for a job.
It is in this spirit of doing more with less that we offer up a dozen projects that show how kitchens and baths with unrealized potential have been tuned up and turned into spaces that bring smiles to their owners’ faces. For example, check out the basement bath by Minneapolis remodeler Greg Schmidt, in which he turns the existing vertical drain line bisecting the room into an organizing element dressed in Craftsman trim. Or take a look at the amazing changes in Double the View, where architect John Hopkins uses a wall-sized mirror to emphasize a kitchen’s hillside panorama.
In addition to these inspirational projects, this issue includes in-depth articles that will help you make informed choices for a variety of essential materials, fittings and fixtures. Our buyer’s guide to kitchen flooring lays out the common, and not-so-common, options, with unbiased pros and cons. The Dirt on Dishwashers reports on the latest energy-saving and performance enhancing options for this ubiquitous appliance. And don’t miss our survey of off-the-shelf storage solutions for the kitchen. You’ll be amazed at what clever devices are available to take advantage of every cubic foot of space.
If you'd like to know more about the issue, or if you've got a project that you'd like considered for next year's issue of Kitchens & Baths, drop me a line at cmiller@taunton.com. See the Call for Entries page for details on refining your submission.
Charles Miller
Special-issues editor
Published 2009, ISSN 1096-360X, #FHB091201
