It’s most clearly seen when you imagine the cross section of the “blade ” of a key.  If you look at a key like you’re going to jab yourself in the eye with it, you will notice that the grooves and ridges that run down the sides back toward the handle are not always the same in size, shape, or number from key to key.  This is regardless of the shape of the key‘s teeth – those bumps and ridges that resemble a mountain range if viewed from the side.

The keyway is what prevents you from even beginning to push the wrong key into the wrong slot.  If you have the right keyway but the wrong key, you can easily slide the key into the lock ¬≠but it won’t turn.  See the difference?  Wrong keyway: square peg, round hole.  Right keyway, wrong key: right hotel, wrong room.  (I know I’m showing my age here, but trust me, hotels used real keys in olden times).

What does this have to do with the price of rice in China?  Well, most of the buildings we build or remodel have either one of two keyways that are proprietary to the lock manufacturer, so you can’t replace just the guts (cylinder) of the lock and leave the rest.  We run into this problem all the time when we are trying to match a new lock in a house to its existing key(s).  If a house has a Schlage/Baldwin keyway, we can’t buy a lock with a Kwikset/Yale keyway and expect to have it re-keyed to the original house key.  Or vice versa.

Just to be clear, there at least 1000 different keyways in use at this moment in history.  And those are just the mass-produced examples.

Of course, there are examples of lock manufacturers making replaceable tumblers.  Any competitor’s tumbler that’s keyway compliant can be swapped in, but these are fairly rare.  For example, Kwikset once made a tumbler that was Schlage compliant, but quit production after 2 years.  This cross-pollination came from the Kwikset “Titan” line of locks and handsets. The Titan is Kwikset’s top of the line.  Many Locksmiths will tell you that the Titan line is on par with any good quality residential lock/handset system.  I have my doubts.  I know that the Titan line of keyed locks has an innovative feature that lets the locks be re-keyed with unprecedented ease.  Maybe this is why locksmiths have a soft spot for the Titan.

Some 3^rd party manufacturers make tumblers that convert from one keyway to another, but they’re not very good quality.  And not always available.

So, if you can choose, should you use the Schlage/Baldwin keyway or the Kwikset keyway?

Answer:  Always try to stick with the Schlage/Baldwin keyway, but if you have to match a Kwikset keyway we recommend Yale products over Kwikset.  I’m sure there are others as well.  Yale has the most keyways available within one line of locks, as far as we know.  And their hardware is just fine, as a rule.

Neither H&H nor I have any vested interest in any lock manufacturer, particular keyway or ANY industry group that does.  I just know what my 20+ years working closely with door hardware tells me.  This is a crappy place to skimp when it comes time to finish out a building project.

Maxim:  When choosing finishes for a building project, as a function of day-to-day use, the more you have to touch a building part, the more time and money should be spent.

Good door hardware FEELS good.  Heavy, precise door handles/hardware tell the occupant that they are not only safe, but that they are home.

– Sam

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“It was predominantly the collapse of the car-dependent suburban fringe that caused the mortgage collapse.”  So writes Brookings Institution senior fellow Christopher Leinberger in his recent New York Times Op-Ed piece, “The Death of the Fringe Suburb.”

(NOTE: NY Times illustration at left by Victor Kerlow.)

Leinberger explains that the housing downturn has hardly been uniform in its impact.  Instead, we’ve witnessed an absolute cratering of demand in the outer ring suburbs, those areas where speculative, car-oriented development of cookie-cutter McMansions was most explosive before 2008.  Things have gotten so bad out there that many suburban fringe houses are now priced at below replacement value according to Leinberger.

Meanwhile, walkable neighborhoods in the urban core and inner-ring suburbs have become bastions of relative health.  And this is reflected in real estate values.  Back in the late ‘90s, the most expensive housing per SF was in the high-end outer suburbs, according to Leinberger.  “Today, the most expensive housing is in the high-density, pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods of the center city and inner suburbs.”

Leinberger is not alone in drawing connections between sprawl and recession, or compact urban form and economic health.  As we reported last December in our blog post, “The Urban Growth Boundary has been good to us,” the Home Builders Association has begun to recognize the link, too. Portland Architecture’s Brian Libby wrote about the 2010 Home Builders Association of Metropolitan Portland’s annual forecast breakfast thusly:

“Tim Sullivan of John Burns Real Estate Consulting said at the breakfast that if not for the state’s strict land-use laws, Oregon might have suffered a fate more like Phoenix or Las Vegas: massive overbuilding that has created an economic black hole, especially in the once big-booming Sin City. ‘It’s because of your urban growth boundary,’ Sullivan said. ‘You’re the antithesis of Phoenix, where you can build anything, anywhere at any time.'”

Portland’s recession would likely have been much worse with unbridled sprawl and its concomitant overheated speculation.

So we’re fortunate that Portland was ahead of the curve.  But what Leinberger is finding is that the market itself is shifting the U.S. away from its unhealthy suburban sprawl diet, and in fundamental, lasting ways.

“Simply put, there has been a profound structural shift — a reversal of what took place in the 1950s, when drivable suburbs boomed and flourished as center cities emptied and withered,” writes Leinberger.

What’s behind the shift?  Baby boomers and their millennial children – empty nesters on the one hand, and young adults just getting started on their own on the other – who together now make up 50% of the US population.  Both groups, according to a recent National Association of Realtors study cited by Leinberger, want to live in walkable, vibrant neighborhoods, not car-oriented developments.  And they’re not alone.  In fact, only 12% of future homebuyers want fringe suburban housing anymore, according to the same study.

“This lack of demand all but guarantees continued price declines,” writes Leinberger.  “Boomers selling their fringe housing will only add to the glut. Nothing the federal government can do will reverse this… The good news is that there is great pent-up demand for walkable, centrally located neighborhoods in cities like Portland, Denver, Philadelphia and Chattanooga, Tenn.”

On the policy front, Leinberger calls for a reinvestment in cities and inner-ring suburbs to lay the foundation for economic recovery.

“It is time to build what the market wants: mixed-income, walkable cities and suburbs that will support the knowledge economy, promote environmental sustainability and create jobs,” concludes Leinberger.

“Hear, hear!” we say, both for public policy and as business strategy for Hammer & Hand.  After all, we’ve staked the claim that serving as a steward of Portland’s built environment is economically viable, even profitable… and more importantly, that our services represent smart investments for our clients.  So far both have been true, particularly in the years since 2008.  Taken together, residential remodels, commercial tenant improvements, new infill houses, accessory dwelling units, universal design retrofits and home energy remodels represent a big reinvestment in the built environment at the core of our fair metropolis.  Leinberger’s opinion piece is another affirmation that these efforts are aligned with a “new normal” that is emerging from the ashes of the Great Recession, one that brings with it promises of greater economic sustainability and environmental health.

– Zack

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Upcycled door fence on West Burnside.

I recently came across an undeveloped lot along West Burnside fenced off from the public by a screen made up entirely of upcycled doors. Each door is painted a different color and has a unique design. Stepping back and taking in the fence, it’s more public art installation than partition, and it brings a distinctive character and personality to the place.

Upcycled materials use at the Jean Vollum Natural Capital Center.

Other examples of upcycling abound throughout Portland on both a small and large scale. In 1998, Ecotrust purchased the McCraken warehouse, a 1895 Romanesque style building, and converted it into the Jean Vollum Natural Capital Center (the first LEED certified historic building in the nation). By the completion of the project, 98% of all construction debris had been reused or repurposed into the new renovation. Ecotrust Director of Events Sydney Mead explained how steel plates, which were originally used for forklifts to drive on, were repurposed as wall panels in the hallways of the building. Other examples of upcycling in the Jean Vollum Natural Capital Center include original plumbing repurposed as lighting fixtures, steel fire doors converted to wall dividers, and wood wall paneling reclaimed from the deconstructed building.

Reclaimed & repurposed materials at H&H headquarters.

Like at the JVNCC, Hammer & Hand upcycled materials extensively as it built its headquarters in SE Portland. Using recycled doors and glass in addition to reclaiming lumber from the old Lewis & Clark College bleachers, the headquarters established an unique aesthetic combining aged materials with modern design while reducing its eco footprint.

Of course upcycling in construction isn’t limited to institutional and commercial projects; it’s equally applicable to residential work, both new and remodeled. Our recent commercial-to-residential remodel in SE Portland, featured in this year’s Build It Green! Home Tour, refinished, reused, and repurposed framing lumber, windows, and plumbing fixtures during construction. We routinely draw on our stockpile of materials salvaged from previous projects to bring upcycled elements into Hammer & Hand remodels and new homes.

While upcycling saves resources and reduces waste during construction, there is also an intangible element to the practice. In an Oregon Home Green Living article last year, Hammer & Hand co-owner Daniel Thomas explained that when we upcycle materials we’re preserving both the embodied energy and embodied narrative of these objects, the unique stories and history stored in each object.

For me, upcycling reminds me of buying a used book. I’m purchasing the words printed on the page but I’m also purchasing the cover that’s been worn and tattered from sitting in its previous owners back pocket, the dog-eared page housing a meaningful quote, and pencil notes in the margins expressing ideas from readers past. Like a used book, when we upcycle materials and repurpose them during construction, we are ensuring that the legacy of the object’s stories and history continues, while allowing new narratives to be written and established.

It’s refreshing to see upcycling occurring in construction of projects all around Portland. As this practice continues to become more mainstream, we should take a moment to appreciate the beauty, utility, and tradition of the materials surrounding us, all waiting for new narratives to be written.

– Jeff

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Black and White Kitchens Offer Timeless Appeal

When planning a kitchen remodel one of the most important visual elements to consider is color. Updating a kitchen’s look usually requires big changes such as new tile, flooring, cabinets, and appliances, so it’s important to choose a color palette that won’t go out of style in a year. For this reason, neutrals like black and white are great colors to use when updating a kitchen. Take a look at these five beautiful kitchen remodels all designed to take advantage of the timeless charm of black and white.

Bright designlab designed this Irvington bungalow kitchen with white as a primary color to keep the space bright while black accents like table legs, countertops, and pendant lighting add a subtle contrast.

Another small way to bring black into a kitchen design is to update the hardware. This Council Crest kitchen designed by Stephanie Tottingham has bronze drawer pulls and knobs in a black finish for a striking look against crisp white cabinets.

Black doesn’t have to be relegated to small accents, however. Black flooring and cabinetry ground this modern Westmoreland kitchen designed by Studio Coop Architecture while white walls and ceiling keep the space feeling open and bright.

Another way to use a lot of black in a kitchen remodel is by updating the space with large floor-to-ceiling cabinets in a black finish. In this Marshall Park kitchen remodel, Bergevin Design used black on the cabinets and kitchen island but kept the kitchen design feeling balanced with a bright white ceiling and tile backsplash. The result is a modern kitchen with a sophisticated and clean look.

A black and white kitchen doesn’t have to be entirely black and white. Pairing gray with black accents is a great way to use black while keeping the space feeling warm and comfortable. This Portland Nob Hill kitchen designed by Lynne Parker is a perfect example of a kitchen remodel with a gray, black, and white color scheme. Soft gray cabinets and fresh white walls keep the space feeling welcoming while black marble countertops and oven backsplash add a hip modern feel to the room.

Would you use a black and white color scheme in your next kitchen remodel?

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5 Pro-Approved Wall Decorating Ideas

Here at Hammer & Hand we are so lucky to work with a variety of talented and creative interior designers, architects, and design-savvy homeowners who know how to make spaces look stunning. We are continually impressed with the unique ways these professionals design and decorate spaces. Ready to get inspired? Check out these five creative wall decorating ideas from the pros:

#1: Mirror Gallery Wall

There are many different ways to create a gallery wall, but this one just might be my favorite. The owner of the home worked with Ariel Arrow to design a monochromatic mirror gallery wall that adds interest to an otherwise neutral space. The frames are painted white to give this collection of assorted mirrors a uniform look. This trick keeps the gallery wall looking cohesive rather than chaotic.

#2: Living Walls

Living walls (also known as vertical gardens) are often seen in retail spaces, like this one designed by Scott Fredrickson of Enviroscapes NW at this Portland Danner store. These beautiful and impressive installations also create a healthier environment by naturally purifying the air.

#3: Art Gallery Wall

This small bathroom, part of a larger kitchen and bathroom remodel designed by Kevin Fischer of Alice Designs and Charlotte Cooney of Domestic Arts, is given big personality with a collection of artwork. The variety of art adds charm to the room while the red and gold frames echo the red and gold bathroom tiles.

#4: Bold & Beautiful Patterned Wallpaper

Not an art lover? Wallpaper is a tried-and-true way to add color and pattern to blank walls. In this Irvington house remodel designed by Emerick Architects, a black and white paisley pattern gives a dining room with a simple neutral color scheme some interest and movement. White ceilings and a wide white trim keep the room feeling balanced.

#5: Tile Mosaic

This striking bathroom in a floating home designed by Kevin Fischer of Alice Designs and Charlotte Cooney of Domestic Arts has a black and white “Beau Monde Raku Flower” tile mosaic by Ann Sacks running vertically to the ceiling. The tile mosaic is the focal point of this elegant white bathroom, drawing attention to the most important feature of the space: the bathtub.

The next time you’re considering giving your walls a fresh look try foregoing a new paint job for one of these eye-catching wall decorating ideas.

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In Seattle, a city known for its rain, stormwater runoff management is a constant concern. One way to help manage this problem is to install rain gardens on commercial and residential properties within the city. Many urban residents have already installed rain gardens as part of their properties’ landscapes (Hammer & Hand’s Ballard Passive House project will have a rain garden assembled this week!) and the Bullitt Center, “the greenest commercial building in the world,” uses a comprehensive stormwater management system that incorporates both a rain garden and constructed wetlands.

For a closer look, Landscape Contractor Steve Weber of Barker Landscape Architects was kind enough to answer a few questions about rain gardens in Seattle:

Hammer & Hand: Why are rain gardens important in the Seattle area?

Barker Landscape Architects: In the City of Seattle, stormwater runoff collected from our home gutters and downspouts is fed directly to our residential wastewater pipes on route to water treatment facilities. Throughout the rainy season and especially during peak rains, the wastewater system can be overwhelmed, resulting in combined sewage overflows (CSO). These overflows run directly into our city’s waterways, polluting the water and threatening wildlife. In 2012, that volume of untreated overflow runoff totaled 154 million gallons!

Rain gardens provide an opportunity to redirect stormwater runoff from entering the wastewater system by filtering it into the residential landscape. They use bioretention soil, which helps filters contaminants from the stormwater as it infiltrates back into your yard. The rain garden is installed with an overflow of its own, preventing flooding from occurring in your yard from a peak storm. The landscape is then planted with wetland species (often native ones), which can handle the excessive water within a rain garden.

Photos by Barker Landscape Architects + Forrest Gardens Construction

In 2010, Seattle Public Utilities and King County started a pilot program in neighborhoods most directly affected by the CSOs called Rainwise. This program offers rebates to homeowners who install a compliant rain garden and/or cistern system, reducing the end cost of these landscape improvements by an average of 85% (according to Rainwise statistics). Seattle Department of Transportation has also installed a few roadside rain gardens along the right-of-way.

H&H: What types of plants would you suggest for planting in rain gardens here in Seattle?

BLA: Wetland edge varietals, such as native sedges and rushes, Beeblossom (Gaura), and Kelseyi Dogwood make great Seattle rain garden plants. Beeblossom’s white and pink flowers and the red branches of Kelseyi Dogwood give an added splash of color to the typically green rain garden plant palette.

H&H: What are the important design elements to consider when planning and installing rain gardens?

BLA: There are three main considerations that go into the planning of a rain garden:

1. The square footage of your roof (this determines the volume of water you’ll need to redirect).
2. The infiltration rate of your soil (how quickly water soaks back into your yard).
3. The size of the ground area you can devote to your rain garden.

If the infiltration rate is not enough to handle the stormwater from your roof, a cistern can be added as a holding tank until the rain garden can handle more water. Rain gardens feature sloped sides down to a bottom area (determined by the size of your roof) – then filled with the bioretention soil and plantings. If the rain garden’s sides are limited by a bordering retaining wall or other “vertical wall” element, then that bottom area may have to be increased significantly to provide adequate infiltration back into the yard.

While there are some technical requirements, remember to get creative – there are plenty of ways to enhance the style of any rain garden. Try to add cobble of various sizes, colorful plants, driftwood, or sculpture if you can.

BLA: Forrest Gardens Construction has installed dozens of rain gardens year-round, yet nothing beats working outside in the NW when the sun’s out.

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These five built-in storage solutions from past Hammer & Hand projects all show off creative ways to store wine and liquor collections. Each home, regardless of its size, has a special feature that utilizes space for hidden storage. Cut the clutter and consider adding one of these clever design elements to your home:

#1: Secret Wine Shelf

This hidden wine cabinet’s door and door mechanism (a pulley, window weight, and cord) were salvaged from an old dumbwaiter discovered during the demolition for the remodel of this retro style kitchen designed by Kevin Fischer of Alice Designs and Charlotte Cooney of Domestic Arts. The door slides open and shut easily for a clean, uncluttered look with plenty of storage space behind it for the owner’s wine collection.

 #2: Pull-Out Liquor Cabinet

This hideaway liquor cabinet slides out from the otherwise-unused space inside the archway wall. It was added during the remodel of this Portland Tudor home designed by Kevin Fischer of Alice Designs and Charlotte Cooney of Domestic Arts. What a clever way to add storage to unused space!

 #3: Vertical Wine Drawer

This little drawer with extra vertical space was designed by Alissa Pulcrano of bright designlab for a compact kitchen remodel. It’s the perfect spot for storing a few bottles of wine, but could also be a handy space for keeping olive oil or other items needed nearby while cooking at the stove.

 #4: Modern Liquor Shelf

The modern liquor shelf in this Wintler Park remodel, also designed by bright designlab, is a great example of how an organizational element can also have artistic flair. This long white shelf adds a brightness to the earthy tile accent wall. The shelf is backlit with LED lighting to give the bottles a glowing effect (and to make reading labels easier!).

 #5: Arched Wine Cellar

If your wine collection requires built-in storage of a larger variety a wine cellar is the way to go. This impressive barrel vaulted wine cellar designed by Emerick Architects was built by Hammer & Hand as part of a new Arts and Crafts revival home. This cellar, crafted from beautiful tongue and groove fir, features plenty of shelves for the owner’s growing collection.

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Most architectural styles can be found in neighborhoods across the United States, but each region tends to lean towards a few specific styles. Will you be able to find a Pueblo Revival style home in the Pacific Northwest? Probably, but it’s definitely not the norm like it is in the southwest. Regional factors like weather, history, and natural landscape have a big impact on the architecture common to each part of the country. Take a look at some of the most popular Pacific Northwest home styles illustrated through seven H&H remodels and new homes:

Pacific Northwest Home Style #1: Colonial Revival

Colonial architecture is often recognized by the trademark columns framing the front door of the house, shuttered windows, and classical detailing. This Colonial Revival Portland home is a perfect example. Columns frame the front door and the facade is almost perfectly symmetrical for a very stately look.  Remodel designed by architect Celeste Lewis and designers Jennifer Leonard and Liz Murray.

Pacific Northwest Home Style #2: Craftsman

This Portland Craftsman home was once a little bungalow, but a Hammer & Hand remodel transformed it into a larger Craftsman Style home. Craftsman homes like this one often feature gable roofs, decorative brackets under eaves, natural materials and finishes, and handcrafted workmanship. Remodel designed by Emerick Architects.

Pacific Northwest Home Style #2: Tudor Revival

My personal favorite, Tudor Style homes have almost a fairytale quality to them with their steep-pitched roofs and arched entryways. This style is also known for narrow windows grouped together and a stucco facade. Though this style originated in England, many homes in the Pacific Northwest, including this adorable Portland home, have this romantic Tudor Revival style architecture. This home is a great example of Tudor Revival design, but it is missing the half-timbers often found set into the stucco facade of Tudor Revival homes. Remodel by Kevin Fischer of Alice Designs and Charlotte Cooney of Domestic Arts.

Pacific Northwest Home Style #4: Rustic Cabin/Pacific Lodge

This rustic cabin located near Rhododendron, Oregon is an updated example of classic Pacific Northwest rustic style. With miles of beautiful forest and a myriad of outdoor activities to choose from, the Pacific Northwest is an optimal place for rustic cabin retreats. Built primarily of reclaimed and salvaged wood, this cabin has large common rooms and a stone fireplace common to traditional lodge design. Designed by Giulietti Schouten Architects.

Pacific Northwest Home Style #5: Houseboat (also known as Floating Home)

Ever since Sleepless in Seattle, houseboats have been synonymous with the city of Seattle and the Pacific Northwest in general. In fact, the above houseboat floats in Portland, not Seattle. Houseboats, or “floating homes,” are a lot more house than they are boat. Houseboats are moored and are often found floating adjacent to a pier rather than floating down a river untethered. While these alternative forms of housing may seem small, they often hold compelling interior design and architecture that makes the most of the space. Remodel by Kevin Fischer of Alice Design and Charlotte Cooney of Domestic Arts.

Pacific Northwest Home Style # 6: Modern

While Modern Style homes offer tremendous flexibility in architectural design, most show common design elements: open floor plans, clean lines, and minimal to complete lack of ornamentation. Recent Modern Style homes lean towards an industrial feel with use of natural, unaltered materials. This Portland home is a good example of Modern Style architecture: it features a clean exterior design and an open interior layout complete with natural bamboo floors and maple cabinets. Designed by COOP 15.

Pacific Northwest Home Style #7: NW Modern

During the modernist movement a regionally-specific style referred to as “NW Modern” began to gain popularity in the Pacific Northwest. This style uses similar lines and designs of modern style but with a few Pacific Northwest twists. This NW Modern style home proudly features one of these twists: a roof with an extended overhang to create a protected outdoor space year-round (a must in an area known for rain!). Many NW Modern homes feature Japanese design aesthetics and an incorporation of the natural NW landscape. Designed by Scott | Edwards Architecture.

I love all of these different Pacific Northwest home styles, but like I said, Tudor Revival is definitely my favorite. Which Pacific Northwest style do you like best?

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A kitchen remodel can feature a variety of updates, such as energy performance upgrades, new flooring, updated appliances, and refinished cabinets. One update that heavily impacts the kitchen’s aesthetic are the counters. The color, grain, durability, and texture of the counter material has a strong impact on the kitchen’s look and feel. When deciding which material to use you must consider color, style, and most importantly, durability.

There are many materials available that are both durable and attractive. Take a look at the countertops chosen for each of these five Hammer & Hand kitchen remodels to get some ideas for your own remodel:

The clients of this Council Crest kitchen remodel, designed by Stephanie Tottingham, handpicked Cardosa stone for its unique grain pattern, feel, and durability.

The marble countertops of this Portland compact kitchen remodel, designed by Alissa Pulcrano of bright designlab, act as a great visual transition between the rich walnut cabinets and the light cream walls.

Charcoal-toned lightweight concrete countertops add contrast to this bright and airy Bungalow kitchen remodel also designed by Alissa Pulcrano of bright designlab.

The use of two countertop materials bring variety to this retro-style kitchen remodel designed by Kevin Fischer of Alice Designs and Charlotte Cooney of Domestic Arts. One side features natural maple butcher block while the other side has a darker wood laminate with an aluminum edge band (an affordable and period-correct option for this style of kitchen).

This jatoba wood countertop adds a rich, traditional feel to a historic cottage kitchen remodel designed by Emerick Architects. Jatoba is a good wood for countertops and flooring due its hardness and durability. This kitchen counter also has a hand-rubbed oil finish.

Which countertop would you choose for your kitchen remodel?

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When planning a bathroom remodel many decisions must be made: Will there be a soaking tub or just a shower? Pedestal sink or drop-in? What type of hardware best fits with the cabinet material?

One of the most important aesthetic decisions, however, is what type of tile to use in the bathroom. The color, size, and pattern of the bathroom tile has a big impact on the look and feel of the space. Small tile can simulate movement while larger, glossy tile can make small bathrooms feel more grand. Take a look at these five Hammer & Hand bathroom remodels and see how the tile choice impacts the atmosphere of each space:

This bathroom remodel, designed by Ronda Haas-Huntze, has a droplet pattern created using an Italian glass tile, available through Pratt & Larson. This bathroom tile pattern hints at rain drops dripping down the sides of the shower.

Black tile from Ann Sacks gave this condo bathroom remodel, designed by bright designlab, a sophisticated new look. Horizontal lines on the tile give them some texture which warms up the look of the bathtub area.

Always a classic, simple white tile never goes out of style. This bathroom remodel, also designed by bright designlab, features long rectangular tile in white for a clean look.

Subdued tones of green, white, and orange work together in three different bathroom tile patterns to give this bathroom remodel, designed by Steelhead Architecture, a varied look. The white hexagon tiles of the heated floor keep the space feeling bright while the mottled green tiles match the green wainscoting of the wall.

The radiant-heated floor of this floating home bathroom remodel, designed by Kevin Fischer of Alice Design and Charlotte Cooney of Domestic Arts, is covered by wide square marble tile by Ann Sacks. The same tile covers the interior of the shower for a cohesive look. The result? A bright and airy bathroom that stays warm year-round.

What type of bathroom tile do you have in your home?

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