REAL Exclusive Magazine

Timeless Designs

By Eric Gilbert

Our showroom displays a beautiful kitchen for which we’ve received many delighted comments. It appeals to those of us wanting “a fresh, new look that will not look old in five or ten years.” I hear that comment often. It seems, after all these years of being a throw-away society, we are finally seeking to make discerning changes that will enable us to free up our finances – and our time – to enjoy more quality living in the near future.

We are seeking timeless designs, which are not dated in a matter of a few years. (Remember avocado green bathroom tiles? Plastic laminate? Cheesy paneling?)

But as there is “nothing new under the sun,” how do we avoid being like any other era in their remodeling foibles?

First, we must acknowledge what we are doing, as a society, when it comes to choosing our remodeling projects. We visit model homes to see what new builders are doing. We avidly glean ideas from our favorite remodeling magazines. We visit various showrooms and homebuilder shows to see what the newest thing is. Of course, there really is nothing wrong with doing these things. The mistake we are making, however, is that we are copying one another. We want it to look exactly so because it is “fresh and new.”

But, honestly, how long will that appeal last if all we are doing is following the current fad? In about ten years our children will look at the expensive changes we made and say, “Oh that is so turn of the century!”

The best way to go about finding a timeless design, then, is to decide what it is we like about certain displays – in showrooms or magazines – and learn to make it our own, to go against the flow of the common, which does not have to mean “off the wall,” by the way.

We simply must determine what is fad fodder and what is actually timeless. In looking back over the centuries of home décor and styles, we find the timeless elements of stone, wood, glass and metal. Then there are elements that date an era, being typically the over-use of trendy products.

So, we can start by choosing current designs in time-honored elements. Color-infused glass is amazing on large appliances, so long as we choose natural colors (a nice blue as opposed to a blatant orange) that can easily fit in with updated furnishings. Wood is certainly still desirable for cabinetry, and there are new elements that appear to be wood but are more lasting, such as thermofoil and some veneers. Stainless steel will be accepted for a long time, as it appeals to those who like a professional kitchen.

Mix any of these elements for a unique, custom design that would be distinctly different from the current fads. Adding a patina metal insert to your refrigerator would make that dominant appliance a lovely focal point. Wood-design cabinets can be more stylized with glass or metal.

We’ve come a long way, with so many ways to rethink what can be done with our natural resources. Let’s create timeless designs, which we, and future generations, will treasure. Perhaps in the future, it will only take a coat of paint, new furnishings and window dressings to make everything feel “fresh and new.” Then you can go out and play.

BIO

Eric Gilbert, AKBD, is part of the trio owning DreamMaker of Manasota, serving as Vice President of Sales and Production. His natural talents of listening to customers’ wishes and producing them into phenomenal drawings have been honed by years of construction experience and continual classes with organizations like the National Kitchen & Bath Association and various product manufacturers nationwide. He was recently named National Salesperson of the Year by DreamMaker Bath & Kitchen. Eric lives in Palmetto, Florida with his wife, Tina, and their five children. For more remodeling tips or expert advice visit DreamMaker Bath & Kitchen of Manatee and Sarasota, at www.dreammaker-gci.com or call 941-753-2284.