Jamie Gold, AKBD, CAPS's Profile

I created a Sensible Style kitchen and bath gift guide you can shop online, too:

http://jgkitchens.blogspot.com/2011/12/sensible-style-2011-kitchen-bath-gift.html

Happy holidays, fellow AT fans!

I love the splash of color on those dining chairs, though they don't look terribly comfortable.

I just shared some tips on integrating this year's hot color into your kitchen without dating it:

http://jgkitchens.blogspot.com/2011/03/sensible-style-color-charged.html

A few comments on this:

1) I've designed hundreds of kitchens and baths for newly-constructed homes -- even custom ones. Their walls are rarely square/plumb either!

2) I've seen great examples of modern decor with traditional architecture. (In fact, my folks have both in their San Francisco Victorian.)

3) There's a terrific trade resource AT readers will really love for completely customized architectural woodcarvings. I blogged about it today:

http://jgkitchens.blogspot.com/2011/02/molten-gold-artistic-merit.html

What's really a drag is when your $10 shower rod cracks your tile and requires an installer to come and replace it for more than $100! No savings there, I'm afraid.

It's not a hot rod, but this incredibly cool new shower drain from California Faucets is definitely worth checking out:

http://jgkitchens.blogspot.com/2010/05/molten-gold-drainiacs-ii.html

So is this one:

http://jgkitchens.blogspot.com/2010/04/molten-gold-drainiacs.html.

I promise after looking at these beauties, you'll never look at your standard drain the same way again!

I love the idea of extra-long shower curtains as a new way to enhance your bathroom. Here's another innovation, a bit pricier, but worth every cent, in my opinion:

http://jgkitchens.blogspot.com/2010/04/molten-gold-drainiacs.html

I love how Italian style encompasses the traditional and contemporary, the classic and innovative, the subtle and splashy -- all in the same space!

I wrote on Italian style in my own Gold Notes blog this week, inspired by my new Italian-related job:

http://jgkitchens.blogspot.com/2010/03/italian-job.html

You know how it is: You buy an Alfa Romeo and suddenly you spot every other Alfa on the road! I'm now an afficionado of all design things Italian.

Thought I'd share a related link on how to fall in love with your kitchen again, just in time for Valentine's Day. Hope you enjoy. X0X0

http://jgkitchens.blogspot.com/2010/02/sensible-style-fall-in-love-with-your.html

The folks behind Corian are super-inventive -- they created the entire category 30-plus years ago, and keep on innovating.

I love the brand's new Private Collection:

http://jgkitchens.blogspot.com/2009/12/molten-gold-classic-new-corian.html

I agree with zoee that these could be fun in a kids' bath. I don't see them in a powder room or master suite.

You can add whimsy and charm to a bath without upping the kitsch factor. Here are a couple that exemplify that, that I think you'd enjoy having around longer:

http://jgkitchens.blogspot.com/2009/11/molten-gold-fabulous-faucets.html

Most of my kitchen design clients are very zealous about their counter space. Many also have kids, and lamps on counters would stand a real chance to get knocked over. I think they're a pretty option, but not necessarily a practical one.

Here are some practical kitchen lighting tips from a lighting pro who shared her insights on my blog:

http://jgkitchens.blogspot.com/2009/10/lighting-101-guest-post-kitchen.html.