The What and Why of Skim Coating

Before you paint another wall in your house, let’s talk about skim coating. This process of applying a layer of mud (joint compound) to the wall will create a smooth, even surface. When finished, skim coating will effectively conceal all evidence of seams, fasteners or repairs to your walls, even under close scrutiny and under a variety of light sources. 

Why skim coat?

There are several reasons you’ll want to skim coat. Among them: 

  • Covering existing decorative texture treatments to an existing wall

  • Blending existing drywall with new installation for a cohesive look

  • Smoothing out a wall that has been patched and repaired

  • Refinishing walls with lingering wall paper paste or other wall treatments like stenciling and painted patterns

  • You plan to paint with a gloss or semi-gloss paint that will highlight any defect in the existing wall

What tools are needed?

You may need to apply multiple coats of mud to the wall in order to achieve the look you’re going for. Keep this mind when you’re determining how much joint compound to purchase. You’ll also need a roller brush and a wide drywall knife or squeegee trowel. Pick up a paint tray to hold the mud while you work. Of course, you’ll want to prep your room before you begin to work, so grab a few drop clothes too!

The *How-To* of it all

If you’re working with an existing wall, first make any minor repairs to the wall; for example, fill nail holes and lightly sand any loose pieces. You can also apply a fast drying primer to the wall in order to cover stains, highly pigmented colors or loose wall paper scraps. 

Water down your joint compound to roughly the consistency of a bowl of melting ice cream. You should be able to scoop the mud out of the bucket with an appearance of a lump that’s a little runny and sagging. 

Here’s the key: work in small sections. You don’t want the plaster to dry before you can wipe it down. Using your paint roller, place the mud on a section of wall and then immediately scrape the wall with the trowel. You’ll leave behind a thin layer of smooth mud. Once you’ve completed your first pass, let the walls dry completely. Continue applying layers until the walls are smooth and even. 

One last step: before you finish off your fantastically crisp new walls with your favorite color you’ll want to prime them. This will seal the porous mud and ensure the new paint color you’re looking forward to will adhere to the wall properly.

by Anjie Cho

Selecting Wood Floors: What You Need To Know

Hardwood floors bring character, warmth and comfort to a room. From species to finish, you have a lot of choices to mull over. And there’s more than just the look to consider. In fact, before you start to narrow down your style choices, you’ll want to consider these things:

What type of wood flooring?

When it comes to wood flooring, you have two primary choices: solid hardwood and engineered hardwood. The first is just what it sounds like. The second is a veneer layer sitting on a core of plywood. Before you decide which type of wood floor is best for you, however, you need to consider several of the following factors:

What will be underneath? 

Your sub-flooring is likely one of three things: concrete slab, plywood or particle board. This will help determine whether you use solid hardwood or engineered hardwood. For example, if you have a concrete slab, you’re going to want to focus on engineered hardwood. 

What level of your house are you flooring?

If you’re looking to put a wood floor in a finished basement, go with the engineered wood. It will hold up better with the moisture. Similarly, stick with the engineered wood floor if you’re planning on using it for a bathroom or other area of the house where moisture may be higher than normal. Otherwise, solid hardwood is a viable option. 

How hard are you on your floors?

High-traffic rooms and homes with kids and pets are better suited to harder wood species. Red Oak is considered the ‘hard’ hardwood floor of choice for its durability and cost. Among other popular wood species choices, hickory and maple are harder than oak, while walnut is softer. When selecting your flooring, do your research and understand how well your desired wood type will hold up to the wear and tear of your lifestyle.

What’s your style?

Now’s the time to look at the big picture. Consider the other elements in your room. What color are the trim, cabinets, and wood furniture? Will the room’s natural light be enough to balance dark wood floors? Is your preferred style more modern or traditional? Do you prefer exotic wood varieties? Is your eco-friendly side interested in exploring reclaimed wood or bamboo? Armed with the facts about your subfloor and room use, you’ll be able to pick the right look for your style and budget.

by Anjie Cho

Smaller Tubs, Bigger Windows: Tracking the Trends for Your Bathroom

featured this week in Chicago Tribune, by Barbara Ballinger

Years ago, home design professionals borrowed the spa concept from swank hotels and resorts to give the bathroom a soothing ambience, even if its occupants couldn't steal away. Now, another metamorphosis is underway. New York architect and designer, Anjie Cho, has found that some clients who travel frequently no longer want to be reminded of a hotel at home. They seek more personalized style, she says. Carolyn DiCarlo, also a New York architect and designer, agrees and says more homeowners view the room's purpose as a place to shut the door and enjoy their own personalized daily rituals. And though some may equate this space with excessive energy and water consumption, Los Angeles designer Sarah Barnard thinks the room has become more environmentally sensitive, particularly in California where stricter guidelines already are in place. "The bathroom can still offer a luxurious experience, but in a much more responsible way," she says. Here's what else our trends spotters are saying, along with what's now passe:

Bring in natural light. Big windows allow more light and even fresh air when space permits, says developer Jean Francois Roy, whose new luxe AquaVita Florida condominiums make that a priority. But place them strategically when possible, near a vanity where someone applies makeup, says Florida-based Cheryl Kees Clendenon, owner of In Detail Interiors.

Integrate room functions. Barriers between different spaces in the master bedroom are disappearing (again) with bedrooms often open to bathrooms and walk-in closets for another take on the loft look, says Stephanie Pierce, senior design studio manager at manufacturer MasterBrand Cabinets.

Don't toss the bathwater, yet. Big whirlpools that require being encased along perimeter walls are fading from popularity since many homeowners find them a maintenance headache, noisemaker and space guzzler. But not everyone wants only a shower if there is adequate square footage. The free-standing tub, often curved, has taken off when there's sufficient space all around, though it's impractical for some seniors. Another possibility, says Cho — deep soak tubs for total immersion.

Expand the shower but not too much. The notion of two-person showers generated buzz years ago, but the reality is that many simply want a large enough shower for one — and not too large, says DiCarlo. She finds that larger than 4 feet by 5 feet eliminates the warm, nestling feeling of a shower. The panoply of jets and sprays has also been scaled back with emphasis on a big rain head for a more functional luxuriating experience, says Barnard. Cho prefers hand-held shower heads, sometimes on a bar. She also likes to include a built-in bench and a niche for bathing products. And shower door hardware is being scaled back or removed, with some only installing a single fixed panel, says Clendenon. "It cuts cleaning, though it also cuts warmth, and you can't do a steam shower with it," she says.

Float the vanity. Creating a sleeker look, which also makes any size room look larger and pares maintenance, has spurred the popularity of wall-mounted, floating vanities rather than floor-to-counter cabinetry. This style offers another plus: For baby boomers beginning to think about aging in place, it permits greater accessibility with room underneath to accommodate a wheelchair, says Barnard. She favors wood or faux wood materials in a light maple, birch, alder or white oak. Caveat: A floating vanity requires good bracing; otherwise, countertops may sag, says Clendenon.

Introduce color and texture, but judiciously. While white still ranks as the No. 1 palette choice, including for tile grout, more designers are suggesting variations in creams and grays. The exception — a new trend — is a touch of bolder color for a personalized touch. Barnard suggests blue and purple to bring in the outdoors but says to limit the application. "Pick one dominant element in the room for the addition of color such as one tiled wall," she says. Luxury textured finishes are gaining a following. DiCarlo suggests rich mahogany or walnut cabinetry; resin for tubs and sinks instead of cast iron or enamel; and bronze, gold and tinted glass accents. Clendenon prefers impervious materials like natural quartz Silestone from Cosentino. 

On the way out:

1. Big, high-maintenance whirlpool tubs.
2. Dozens of shower jets and sprays, some of which rarely get used.
3. Small-size glass and mosaic tiles.
4. Harsh minimalism that doesn't feel nurturing.
5. Mirrored walls that lack interest and have a cookie-cutter look.
6. Vessel sinks that look great but aren't practical. 

...read full article

by Anjie Cho