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TIPS & TRENDS

Trompe l’oeil

Hardwood Flooring

The Differences Between Marble, Granite, Travertine and Limestone

Jacuzzi vs Whirlpool vs Air-Jet Bathtubs

Solar Light Tube

Apron Sink

Pilaster

Portico

Backsplash

Bay Area Home Styles: French Normandy

Terms of the Trade: Duotone

Bay Area Home Styles: Craftsman

Bay Window

Kitchen Cabinetry 101

Chair Rail Molding

Baseboard Molding

Crown Molding

More on The Wonderful World of Windows: The Clerestory

More on the Wonderful World of Windows: The Palladian

The Imperial Staircase

What is wainscot?

The many windows of today’s homes…

Box-Beam Ceiling

Neoclassical vs. Colonial Revival

Colonial Revival

Porte Cochere

Parterre Garden

Bay Area Home Styles: Eichler

The Pinnacle of Luxury and Comfort

Health-Smart + Retro-Chic = Linoleum

Garden Follies Make a Comeback

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Trompe l’oeil

If you've ever seen a window that turned out to be a wall, you were more than likely deceived by a trompe l'oeil. Pronounced with a French accent (like "Trump-Louie") the term literally means "trick the eye," which is exactly what it is intended to do. Essentially an art technique that uses realistic imagery to create an optical illusion, this clever addition to an otherwise boring wall brings a three-dimensional scene out of nowhere. Take for instance this trompe l'oeil of a window overlooking a lovely vineyard, which we came across in a delightful custom Menlo Park house built by O'Brien Homes. The perspective painting expands the formal powder room, suggesting that the space is larger than it really is by playfully exploring the boundary between image and reality. Don't let these realistic renderings fool you!

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Hardwood Flooring

For many people, wood is the best material to line a floor with because it provides long-lasting durability and can even increase the value of your home. But before laying down planks of wood on your floor, you need to decide on what type you want because the possibilities are endless. One question to ask yourself is whether you want domestic or exotic wood (domestic is usually cheaper). A few domestic options include oak, maple, mahogany, cherry, or Douglas fir, while Brazilian cherrywood, leopardwood, and teak make up a few selections in the exotic variety. Next, residential home builders and home owners who are remodeling need to pick a flooring grade and cut – which refers to the angle the woodgrain points as the log goes through the saw. The three cuts of hardwood flooring that are standard in many homes are plain, quartered, and riftsawn, while harder cut (quarter-sawn) boards have close-together pores. Reclaimed wood floors are growing in popularity and refer to re-milled beams often taken from dilapidated barns or recovered from floors in old homes. An elaborate border is also often used on the outside edges of hardwood floors. Developed during the middle ages in Europe, this border is commonly known as a feature strip, and can be as small as a quarter-of-an-inch wide, offering a wonderful color contrast to the main floor color. The feature strip shown here was part of a sweeping oak floor in a new Menlo Park home.

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The Differences Between Marble, Granite, Travertine and Limestone

When conducting market research for our professional real estate brochures, we here at Marketing Designs see many different building materials. Some of the hardest to distinguish between are tiles and countertops made from stone – specifically marble, granite, travertine, and limestone. To help realtors and residential home buyers alike, we’ve put together a quick guide to these common, and similar, designer stones often found in kitchens and bathrooms.

Granite is a very hard stone made of crystallized minerals. Characterized by its iridescent shine and a flaky, “granulated” appearance, it comes in exotic varieties such as Juparana Dream and UbaTuba, and is ideal for kitchen countertops since it is resistant to household acids such as citrus and vinegar. But don’t do any chopping on granite because it is harder than your average blade and doings so can ruin a good knife.

On the other side of the geologic coin is marble, which is easy to spot due to the many veins running through it. Marble comes in many different types, but the most popular varieties in today’s custom home designs are Calcutta and Carerra, which feature attractive patterns of gray veins. Unfortunately, since marble contains a lot of calcium and can easily be affected by cooking acids, it isn’t the best material to use in a custom kitchen.

Limestone and travertine – both part of the marble family – are different in appearance. Limestone has a rough, gritty surface, while travertine is dotted with holes that are often filled with cement and smoothed over. As home marketing experts, we do not recommend using limestone in food prep areas since it is extremely porous and difficult to keep clean.

All four of these stones can be “honed” and/or “polished,” wherein a reflective, shiny surface or softer, matted face is achieved through manufacturing. The stunning marble tile shower showcased in this newly built Atherton home is finished with mosaic designs of both Carrera marble and limestone.

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Jacuzzi vs Whirlpool vs Air-Jet Bathtubs

Today’s designer home builders are often faced with a tough decision when constructing a lavish bathroom: Jacuzzi, whirlpool, or air-jet bathtub? Each option offers a comfortable spot to relax after a long day, but the differences between these bubbly tubs are significant. A Jacuzzi bathtub is made specifically by the Jacuzzi company, which began in 1955 when an Italian immigrant named Candido Jacuzzi developed the J-300 submersible bathtub pump to help his ailing son. In 1968, Candido’s brother, Roy Jacuzzi, introduced the world to the “Roman Bathtub,” the first integrated whirlpool tub. Frequently, bathtubs with any type of water jet are mistakenly referred to as ‘Jacuzzis’ even though they are actually made by other brands.

Adding to the confusion is the whirlpool tub (not to be mixed up with the brand Whirlpool), which refers to a bathtub with “whirlpool jets” – large round jets that produce strong bursts of water for massage, ideal for people with special therapy needs.

Air-jet bathtubs, on the other hand, propel air bubbles through dozens of tiny holes for a gentle, soothing sensation. There are two main manufacturers of air-jet tubs – Ultra and Americh – and the main benefits of air-jets are their quiet motors; also, with an air-jet tub you can add bath oils or salts without worrying about clogging!

The whirlpool tub shown in this photo was installed in the bathroom of a brand-new Menlo Park home.

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Solar Light Tube

Every so often when conducting research for real estate pamphlets, we’ll stumble upon a solar light tube. Like the clerestory window, the concept of the solar light tube was originally developed by the ancient Egyptians to bring natural light into cavernous rooms. If a space in your home feels a bit dank and dark, you might consider installing a solar light tube, also known as a “tubular skylight,” “sunscoop,” or “tubular daylighting device.” What looks like a concealed circular skylight on the interior is actually a long tube lined with highly reflective material designed to capture light rays and bring them from an entrance-point on the roof into the home. Ideal for small windowless spaces like closets, hallways, laundry rooms, and second baths, a solar tube can illuminate areas you thought were impossible to light. In an office that is used eight hours per day, studies have shown that a solar light tube can save up to $30 or $40 per year on your energy bill! To further optimize the use of solar light, a heliostat can be installed, which tracks the movement of the sun and directs sunlight into the light tube at all times of the day. The heliostat can even be set to capture moonlight at night. A great alternative to a skylight, the solar light tube provides ample natural illumination while not causing much of a change in the aesthetic of a room. The installation of one of these energy-saving sun-makers will undoubtedly brighten your life for years to come.

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Apron Sink

There’s just something special about a great apron sink. Also known as a “farmhouse sink,” this traditional kitchen element can bring Old World charm to any modern cooking space. Since it is not often seen in Bay Area architecture, the Marketing Designs team seldom writes about the apron sink, so we thought we’d take a moment to do so. Unlike most sinks, which are set within the countertop, an apron sink comes out from the counter all the way to the front of the chef’s apron—hence the name! With its deep utilitarian basin ideal for party-size pots and large cookie sheets, the apron sink evokes the worn-in look of a bustling rural kitchen in the countryside while presenting a wonderful central focal point. Vintage apron sinks are definitely out there (try visiting your local flea market or salvage store) but connecting an antique sink to a modern water line may add some extra cost to the final price. Try looking into one made by today’s sink manufacturers, who produce contemporary versions of this old-school appliance using various materials such as porous fireclay, vitreous china, stainless steel, marble, copper, or stone. We came across this porcelain apron sink in the updated kitchen of a fabulous San Mateo Craftsman home.

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Pilaster

A pilaster, as used in home architecture, is a slightly projecting, flat rectangular column built into or onto a wall, reproducing the details and proportions of a classical column. Its purpose is ornamental, giving the appearance of a supporting column, but its effect is elegant, and it can add definition to a room. In our real estate marketing endeavors, we come across pilasters every so often, but most commonly when we visit homes built in the architectural style known as Greek Revival. Pilasters are used on the corners of frame houses but can also be found across an entire façade in lieu of free-standing columns. A pilaster projects only slightly from the wall, and has a foot, a shaft, and a capital (a small crown at the top of column). More elaborate pilasters feature fluting or paneling and can even showcase an entablature – a detailed series of carved moldings and bands on the capital. In residential home building, pilasters are also found on the sides of doors or windows. These days, high-end construction companies and Bay Area architects alike utilize decorative pilasters on furniture – as seen in this photo of a fluted pilaster, taken in a fabulous Los Altos home. Furniture pilasters were a popular custom design element of the late-16th and early-17th centuries. Here at Marketing Designs, we feel that the time-honored tradition of the pilaster has translated well into today’s new home.

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Portico

First seen in ancient Greece, the portico has had a lasting impact on classical architecture. If you know what the columns on the Pantheon look like then basically, you know what a portico looks like. It is a covered entry porch leading to the main door of a building and defined by a colonnade (a series of columns) supporting a small roof structure. Sometimes, a portico will extend outward over a walkway and can even be enclosed by walls. And even though today’s common portico isn’t as grandiose as the the Pantheon, it can add elegance and functionality to a home by continuing the roof line to encompass a covered, outdoor living space. The portico entry seen on this residential Atherton home presents wonderful design and top-notch construction. We here at Marketing Designs always look out for porticos, since they can really assist us in marketing a home.

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Backsplash

A backsplash is a vertical surface, usually found in a kitchen or bathroom, built to protect the wall. Adding durability, hygiene, and beauty to the room, a half- or full-backsplash can be made out of practically any material—from ceramic tile to marble or granite slab to stainless steel. Since a backsplash is installed behind a cooktop or bathroom sink, stay away from porous or unglazed tile—food, grease, and soap scum can permanently stain or discolor some materials. Glazed tile is ideal since it has a thin coating of glass on the surface, allowing buildup to be easily and completely washed away. For added decorative effect, glass or mosaic tile designs can be inlaid with the backsplash.

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Bay Area Home Styles: French Normandy

After World War I, returning American veterans created a demand for romanticized versions of the traditional French farmhouse. Steeply pitched, hipped roofs are a typical feature, with prominent dormer windows that sometimes showcase leaded glass. Decorative half-timbering and an eclectic mix of building materials, such as stucco combined with brick and stone masonry, help to evoke genteel rural charm. Picturesque details may include an asymmetrical facade, massive chimneys, and a prominent round entry tower with a high, conical roof.

The earliest French-style homes were built for America’s elite and often resembled 16th-century chateaus. A return to this theatrical approach is increasingly popular on the West Coast, where the mild climate is conducive to grandly proportioned living spaces with generous access to the outdoors. Living rooms are often crowned by high ceilings with exposed carved-wood cross-beams, while multiple fireplaces add warmth throughout, including expansive master suites and detached guest cottages. Modern amenities are easily incorporated into both renovated and new French Normandy homes, such as recessed lighting and built-in media, designer stone flooring and countertops, and professionally equipped chef’s kitchens. As in a French country retreat, plenty of wood is also used, and integrated-color plastering often adds a rustic patina that continues to age nicely. The result is a distinguished executive living environment with European flair.

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Terms of the Trade: Duotone

It can be surprisingly difficult to write about simple color schemes, so it’s nice to have some terms stored up our sleeve when we enter a home with a stark palette. A term we’ve utilized in the past is duotone—employed when a home uses only two hues. And it’s rare, but every so often we’ll even enter a home that features a monochromatic scheme—which includes just a single color throughout.

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Bay Area Home Styles: Craftsman

An enduringly popular style found throughout the Bay Area, the classic Craftsman Bungalow was most famously championed by Gustav Stickley’s Craftsman Farms in New Jersey around the turn of the last century.

Born out of a desire to emulate simpler times and balance the increasing availability of low-cost, factory-manufactured goods, the Craftsman put emphasis on humble, natural materials and the visibly hand-made. Based on the Hindi word bungalow, meaning shelter, the cozy-looking Craftsman house celebrated warm woods, rustic stone, and proudly exposed structural elements.

Usually defined by a deep, welcoming porch and broad overhanging roof, the bungalow opens to an exceptionally flowing and informal interior highlighted by richly stained wainscoting, custom tiled fireplace surrounds, and art-glass lighting fixtures. Promoted by architectural plans from firms such as Sears, Roebuck and Company, the bungalow was particularly suited to the needs of middle and working-class families. Today, original Craftsman residences dating from the early 1900s through the 1940s are highly prized, and brand-new Craftsman-influenced homes are renewing interest in the style. These newly built homes offer modern amenities such as volume ceilings, well-equipped kitchens, versatile media/family rooms, and expanded floorplans. At the same time, they feature a delightful vintage ambiance with hardwood flooring, beautiful reproduction fixtures, multiple fireplaces, and generous outdoor entertainment areas.

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