Month: January 2019

Using natural stone in home décor isn’t exactly a new practice. Having been an element of interior design and architecture for centuries, natural stone has been a star, especially for residential dwellings.

In recent trends though, we’ve seen natural stone be used for a number of creative endeavors, from backsplashes for minimalist kitchens to floors for luxury bathrooms, and the latter choice is what we’ve exploring today!

Using Natural Stone for Bathroom Floors

Natural stone has a beautiful, bold and elegant look, which is probably why it was typically used as building material in olden times. Paired with its strong and durable qualities, natural stone offered much that made it worth the expensive price.

At present though, natural stone isn’t the only building material anymore that’s even stronger and more durable. This is why in many cases; natural stone has now become a lot less pricey than what it was a few decades ago. And that makes it more accessible, which is great news for those who value it because of its style and exclusivity.

Aesthetically, almost every type of stone has a different form, different veining and different coloring. From a homeowner’s point of view, this makes their home uniquely distinct. It also helps that with natural stone, it adds to the overall value of the property as well and that’s always a strong positive.

What to Know about Natural Stone

When using natural stone in a wet location such as a bathroom, there are certain points you have to take into consideration:

¨ The Expense

Depending on the type of natural stone you get, the price could easily go upwards of $100 to $300 and even more. Pair that with the combined labor and material cost and you’ll have yourself a hefty bill. In such cases, it’s always best to research on the best stones that won’t cost you a fortune.

¨ The Feel

While beautiful, natural stone is cold. So unless you have a radiant floor heating system in place, you might not feel comfortable, especially if you live in an area that has cold weather round the year. This is usually why most people opt for floor heating along with stone flooring as well, though that also causes their bill to hike up.

¨ The Maintenance

Stone floors are usually sealed for protection, and it’s this sealing that causes the floor to become slippery. Not a great option for homes with children and elderly people! In addition, stone floors can be brittle as well and do require quite a bit of structural changes if they are damaged.

However, to counter all these disadvantages, the best thing you can do is choose the right stone in the first place. And that’s where we come in.

Work with NYLoft!

NYLoft offers bathroom, kitchen and home interior services to all in NYC.

So if you’ve got a question about natural stone, contact us at 212-206-7400. We’ll help you choose the best stone for your bathroom!

Think of it as the final touches to an aesthetic masterpiece!

Molding — millwork used as elements for crowns, casings and baseboards etc — adds a lot more to a home than just the perfect finish.

Typically used to incorporate a facet of sophistication and character to your overall interior design, home moldings can pretty much take your architectural design to a whole new level.

So let’s dive into the details and learn as much as we can about moldings and how we can use them to beautify an otherwise simple home.

Learning about Moldings

Types

Moldings are broadly separated into three categories:

Primary Trim

These are the crown moldings, casings and baseboards. Also the most functional trim since they cover the gaps or seams between two sections, the primary trim is usually decorative, and used to set the tone and style of the room.

Design Enhancing Trim

These are the trims on the walls and entryways. Also chair rails, architraves and panel molding. These add an extra dimension and depth to the style.

Decorative Trim

This is the additional detailed molding, the corner blocks, rosettes, plinth blocks and more that add specific detailing to different aspects of the room.

Aesthetic Purpose and Usage

Ceiling and Floors

Typically, crown moldings are used to soften the look from wall to ceiling, whereas panel moldings are added as basic wall frames that can be dressed up with fabric or wallpaper.

Floors

Base caps, base shoes and baseboards are added to cover the gaps between floor boards, adjoining walls etc to create a smoother transition from room-to-room.

Windows and Doors

Especially for entryways, architraves are used to establish an overall style for the house. Casings are then used to incorporate the windows with the home design.

General Purpose

Additional moldings and trim elements such as screen beads; lattice and corner moldings are used to add a special touch of design to an otherwise simpler home interior.

Material

Basic materials that are used for molding and millwork include:

• Oak (hardest, durable, easy to sand and cut, great grain appeal, potential for better color)
• Pine (distinctive, interesting texture)
• Fir (available in mixed grain and vertical grain)
• Aspen (light, soft wood, better for ornate molding)
• Poplar (a favorite amongst interior designers, crisp grain lines and deep wood tones)
• MDF or Medium Density Fiberboard (high-grade, easy to paint)
• PVC (strong , durable, easy to cut without risks of cracking or splitting, offers moisture protection)
• Polystyrene (lightweight, usually installed with adhesive, flexible, moisture resistant)
• Polyurethane (resistant to rot and warping, offers potential for detailed patterns)

Choosing the right material usually depends on the design you want. And for that, you need to have a professional at hand who can do the job right!

Hire a Professional!

NYLoft offers custom millwork and interior design services to all in NYC. As a leading firm in home and interior design, we have the materials and the professional skills necessary to give your home the touch of perfection it deserves.

Contact us today at 212-206-7400 and book a consultation!

No paint job or exquisite furnishing can add that look of sophistication to a room that custom millwork does!

In its own category of interior design altogether, millwork stands apart from other components of home décor. Think of it as the ribbon or that touch of elegance that just ties the room together perfectly.

But as with anything else, there is a caveat.

With something as permanent as this, the stakes are high. You have to get it right otherwise the architecture of your home will suffer.

Learning about Millwork

Let’s look over certain components of millwork, starting with the types of wood that are used in the process.

While most homeowners seek design and aesthetics, what a professional considers is the strength of the wood, the rot resistance, softness and grain. So with most custom millwork, you’ll see some specific woods being used such as cherry, birch, walnut and white oak.

These options will give you a beautiful finish and a strong product.

Next, we focus on the level of detailing, which depends on the style of home you have, the project and the budget. For a highly detailed product, you’ll need a bigger budget. But if you’re fine with something simpler, you can always go with contemporary style millwork, which costs a lot less and involves less hand carving as well.

Adding Beauty and Character

Millwork offers more than just traditional woodwork. From crown moldings and wainscoting to custom cabinetry, millwork can be utilized to add character and beauty to just about any room of your house.

With NYLoft, we’ve created products such as built-in refrigerator cabinets, multi-functional cabinets, comprehensive media centers and storage, custom library and home offices as well as bathroom vanities for a number of clients. And from traditional millwork to minimalist creations, we’ve made sure that all lend a certain level of quality and beauty to the house.

Hiring a Service Today!

Keep in mind, custom millwork isn’t just for luxury homes in the suburbs!

Thanks to designers working hard to integrate traditional designs in urban settings, custom millwork is rapidly gaining traction in city homes as well.

So if you’re in NYC and are looking to give your home an upgrade; call NYLoft and ask about the millwork we offer. As a full-service firm in interior design and planning, we have the experts and the products you need.

Contact us today at 212-206-7400 and book a consultation!

Sure, you wouldn’t fit a 7-seater couch and a full entertainment center in your tiny NYC apartment anytime soon. But this doesn’t mean there’s no room for creativity in your modest abode.

With limited apartment space, multi-functionality is the best theme for all your home fittings.

And with some help from NYLoft, here’s how we can help you achieve exactly that!

Multi-Functional Features for Your NY Home

– Multi-Functional Dividers

You’ve got a lot of stuff for such a small place, and not a lot of space to put it in. Add some character and storage to the room by incorporating a room divider that also functions as a shelf. Not only will it make the room look bigger, it’ll also separate it from the rest of the house, thus giving you privacy, in addition to all that storage space.

– Stark White

Instead of going for a dramatic theme with bold colors, choosing an overall white theme for your apartment’s color palette will not only open up the space, it’ll also reflect more light and make it look cleaner.

– Shelves

Shelves are always a space saver.

Install shelves on one wall of your home in a different pattern to add a bit of texture to the look. For all your books, knick-knacks and anything you have a larger quantity of, using the shelves for storage will only make things look cleaner.

But more than that, they’ll add structure and symmetry to your interior design, especially if you keep things color-coordinated.

– Concealed Closets

Dedicate a whole wall for just closet space. Use wood paneled doors to add color to your surroundings and store extra blankets, pillows, suitcases—whatever you don’t want out and about.

– Low-Lying Furniture

Our usual selection of furniture takes up quite a bit of visual space when you think about it. Clear out the room and replace everything with low-lying furniture wherever possible. This’ll make the room feel less cluttered and bulky.

– Combined Spaces

Open-plan living is quite popular, and for good reason. Stretching out interior space creates a seamless flow, and gives a lot freedom in terms of design. Not to mention that with such open space, you get the chance to add some more features like a dedicated space for yoga or a reading nook.

And Much More!

Adding multi-functional elements to your home is easy if you know who to work with!

With NYLoft by your side, we’ll help you turn your home and interior design dreams into a reality.

Contact us today to book a consultation!