Bright colors, chrome and modern vinyl give this space personality.

King Features Syndicate

Sales and Marketing
Everready Glass
Sales Reps Administrative & Professional
Jorgensen Brooks Group
Counselor Mechanical
Komatsu Equipment Co
Resident Field Mechanic Administrative & Professional
Tucson Urban League
CEO/President Finance and Accounting
Charles E. Gillman Company
Accounting Specialist Trades/Construction
RANCHO RESORT
MAINTANANCE POSITION

Renovating is always a personal journey; it's up to you how far you want to go, and whether the trip will be a safe and comfortable one or adventurous and even a bit scary. No matter which road you take, the smart traveler always checks out the terrain to discover what's new and what suits.

Every year due to the increasing demand, there is an improvement in both the quality and the quantity of building products, furnishings and accessories for the home. Marketing through the Internet has paved the way for better-educated consumers. You no longer have to be a kitchen designer to get the inside scoop on the latest in appliances or the best flooring options. You can browse for cabinetry and countertops, play with color and learn about lighting.

With the surge in loft and modern condo living, many materials that were first meant for commercial use have successfully crossed the line into residential living. These exciting options allow us all to make decisions that are practical, but also as whimsical as we dare.

The flamboyant kitchen seen here originally had plain white laminate cabinets, wood trim and a dated parquet floor. Knowing that the homeowner is an adventurous young woman who loves color, I designed one of my most radical face-lifts. I began with fiery shades of orange-red, and I painted the ceiling and walls in blocks of brilliant color juxtaposed against white.

But the most dramatic and unique feature is the row of cabinets that surrounds the stove. Pieces of orange plastic sheeting were adhered to the old cabinet doors with double-sided tape and trimmed with aluminum corner channels to make a neat edge. Decorative plastic sheeting is not generally found at your local building store, but you can find distributors through the Web, including at www.lumigraf.ca.

To balance the spirited paint and panels, the countertops and lower cabinets were given a coat of dark-gray melamine paint — also called plastic enamel or laminate paint. It's paint that's designed to look like laminate. Preparation steps for painting are the same for any slippery surface: Wash with TSP, sand and apply a high-adhesion primer.

Flooring has perhaps made the biggest leap, with old favorites such as linoleum and vinyl products upgraded and redesigned to offer a vast range of colors, patterns and textures. The tread-plate design on this gunmetal-gray vinyl is edgy and modern (www.lsitile.com is a good source).

I splurged on black slate for the backsplash, cutting 4-by-8-inch tiles and laying them subway style. The table, built to accommodate friends who gather and eat in the kitchen, doubles as extra counter and prep space. It has been covered with 4-by-4-inch light-gray slate tiles, also hand-cut to fit.

To complete the unique character of this kitchen, two banker's desk lamps were affixed to the ceiling; they can be turned on by the main switch. The shiny chrome matches the wall clock and other chrome display items.

It would be impossible not to smile when you enter this room. This renovation journey proved to be well worth going that extra mile to discover the unexpected.

Designer's Choice

By Debbie Travis