Q&A: Which cabinet color should I choose? Q: We are building a new house, and the model home construction comes with grey tile floors in the kitchen, master bath, and two guest baths. We have 3 color options for custom cabinetry: light, medium, and dark wood. With my untrained eye, I really have no idea what is best. Even though the three choices are at different price points, can you provide suggestions for what cabinetry colors are best even if money were no object? Thanks!

Everyone always asks how long their renovation/remodeling/redesign is going to take. Of course, it’s one of the three key questions everyone should ask (along with questions about scope and budget). The answer to this one is always answerable to an individual client—but how do we answer the question in a general sense… in a blog entry…applicable to all…? Well, for starters, while scope and budget do impact the proposed schedule, we decided it was important to give homeowners

There is a definite allure to inhabiting a raw, floor-through space with high ceilings and remnants of a bygone era. But the design challenges are as specialized for a loft as for a Classic Six. Village West Design has completed several successful loft spaces, so, although each client deserves a unique solution, we thought we would share a few tips. The key goals in a loft are about preservation. Residential lofts are typically converted from factories, storage facilities or

You and the designer stand there in the existing space you’re planning to renovate, and you survey the scene. The designer tries to paint a picture for you of the various options and describes the plans you’re working on together, the layout, the materials, other details…but you just can’t seem to envision the final product. In fact, it’s even hard to assess the possibilities. For the designer, it’s more straightforward: we’re trained to create that vision—and to manipulate i

With summer in full swing, why not bring the outside inside? Here are a few tips and tricks to freshen up your home. Tip 1: Rearrange your furniture to make room for summer entertaining. If you don’t have a lot of space, consider investing in an expandable dining table to make room for more guests. You can also select a new coffee table or sideboard that works well for setting up a casual buffet. Tip 2: No need to purchase all new furniture; freshen up your décor with summer

The following article “The Real Value of Your Home” by Daniel Ian Smith was originally published in the West Village newspaper WestView News. People often renovate and redecorate their homes to maximize resale potential, but I believe true value is when we get the most out of a home while we are living in it. On every project the client eventually asks me, “Well, what would you do?” And I always answer the same way—by reminding them that it’s their home, not mine. Of course,

We have no trouble committing to an imaginative playground of a room for our children, but when it comes to adult space, many think it has to be “serious.” Mid-Century modernists relished opportunities to employ the language of clean lines and contemporary materials in devising toys and fun furniture. Likewise, today’s designers can follow suit with inspiration from children’s rooms. Children are inherently drawn to color, and adult tastes often differ only by our desire to m

It’s winter here in the West Village, bringing with it cartoonishly long shadows and that wonderfully clear, bright sky over the Hudson River. Winter light is one of our favorites, but it dawns late and fades early. This is why properly adjusted indoor lighting is essential at this time of year. We’re all affected by diminished daylight hours, so, first, turn up the dial on ambient light settings. You’ll get a burst of light whenever you switch on overall/general room lightin