DIY Modern Design

Granite is not the only valid choice for a counter top. It doesn’t make you cool or stylish. It is the mindless safe choice. There is nothing wrong with granite if you choose it because you like it; but don’t choose it because it is “the best” and expect to impress anybody.

Likewise, having all stainless steel appliances does not make you better than everyone else. Okay, stainless steel is durable and bacteria-resistant. That makes it a good counter top (as in many commercial kitchens), but why does that make your refrigerator better than mine, which is a very durable, easy to clean white — which has never shown a fingerprint. Why are stainless steel appliances high end but a stainless steel sink kind of red-neck? That’s not logic; it’s just being snobbish.

Make your own choices. Choose what you like, not what someone else tells you is good. What is this, high school?

Do you want to live surrounded by contractor white paint for the rest of your life?

Are you forever watching home improvement shows hoping for inspiration?

Perhaps you are looking for your perfect design — the design to end all designs. (Hint: if you find it, it will be out of style in a year anyway)

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I love the look of glass mosaic tile. It has such a clean, crisp feel to it. But try pricing it at your local tile store. Once you are able to stand back up and recover, you will realize that the only way to use it may be to greatly downscale the square footage you intended to cover. Glass mosaic can easily cost $40-$50 per square foot and more, depending on the style.

I found a place on line that has it much cheaper. In fact, there is a whole range of colors available for under $12 per square foot!

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The easiest way to find out if something works is to try it. Sometimes it will work as you hoped. Sometimes it will work in a totally unexpected way. Sometimes it won’t work at all.

I am a very visual person and I can imagine a lot. But I am constantly surprised by the results when an idea leaves my mind and takes shape in reality.

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One of the staples of good cheap modern design is to use materials in a unique way. Your local home improvement store has all sorts of materials: wood, metal, plastic, glass. They look pretty normal if you use the products the way they were intended. But they can look exotic and cool if you use the materials for an entirely different purpose.

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When you are looking for a product, it is important to look in the wrong department. If you shop the department where the product is sold, you will end up with one that looks just like everyone else’s.

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