Colorful appliances add market-fresh color to kitchen
Q. Our kitchen cupboards and appliances are almond in color. It is time to replace the appliances. We cannot decide whether to go with stainless steel or white. I don’t like the fact that stainless steel shows marks. Is there an alternative?
A. In Europe, you can buy appliances in a rainbow of colors, from bright green to vivid pink. A typical European kitchen does not follow the more conservative North American plan, where all appliances have to match. The good news is that North America is catching on. Here, our choices are limited, but there are a few bright, cheerful colors available in Canada and the U.S. I’ve discovered some choices that will surprise and inspire you. It’s back to the 1950s at www.bigchill.
com, where modern appliances are styled to cruise and jive. The flashy Beach Cruiser fridge is two-tone with dazzling metal trim. Ovens, ranges, fridges, microwaves and dishwashers are all available in eight colors, including blue, orange, red and pale pink, or you can order a custom color. There are styles and sizes to fit small condos and studios as well as full-size kitchens.
Italians are renowned for their exuberance and artistic elegance. Now these special qualities are brought to your kitchen by Bertazzoni, www.bertazzoni.com, in a market basket of sensational colors inspired by the wonderful produce and culinary traditions of Emilia Romagna, the heartland of Italian food. Shown here is a luscious contemporary kitchen brightened by crisp white and lemon yellow cabinetry and a juicy, tomato-red gas stove.
The Brigade lineup is equally colorful. Originally Viking Ranges, these classically designed kitchen appliances can be found at www.vikingrange.com. Check out their colors, which include apple red, cinnamon, Dijon, burgundy, cobalt and brigade blue, as well as stainless steel, gray and white.
All these products are top quality and enhanced by exciting design and colors. They offer a creative alternative to stainless steel and white that will be a sure hit.
Q. We have honey oak flooring downstairs, with ceramic in the kitchen and foyer. The stairs going up to the bedrooms are now carpeted. I would like to remove the carpet, but I don’t want to replace it with honey oak wood because I don’t like it. Can you suggest what I could do with my stairs to remove the carpet, please?
A. Do you know what is under the stair carpet? It may be just plywood, but you can paint the stairs a solid color, or add some painted tile accents on the risers and finish with a couple of coats of varnish. The stairs could become a focal feature. Or why not add a carpet runner, with the stairs showing at the sides painted, rather than using wallto-wall carpet?
Q. I plan to knock down a load-bearing partition wall in the main level of my two-story home, replacing the wall with a supporting beam. The span is about 24 feet. I need advice on how to do this, please.
A. I don’t recommend doing this yourself. Knocking down a wall to open up living space is a common renovation project, but if the new ceiling beam is not supported properly, your upstairs will come downstairs through the ceiling. You can check the Internet for instructions, but get help from a knowledgeable friend or professional.
Debbie Travis’ House to Home column is produced by Debbie Travis and Barbara Dingle. Email questions to house2home@ debbietravis.com. Follow Debbie on Twitter
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