"Green" Your Home Ten Ways

Marble countertop over custom cherry cabinets Matching finishes "Finishes" refer to the final covering on all your room surfaces.  In the case of the bathroom remodel pictured above, the finishes are marble countertops and backsplash for the vanity and cherry wood with an oak stain for the cabinets below.  There are literally hundreds of finishes to choose from, so how do you start and what do you base your choices on?  Start by imagining which colors you would love to see as you walk into your newly remodeled bathroom.  Cheery, bright yellows?  Soft, feminine lavenders?  Neutral or robust earth tones?  Once you've established a color field, let your contractor know and have him assist you in choosing the correct cabinet wood plus stain to harmonize with your color scheme.  Bleached oak and blonde woods will lighten the space, mahogany will darken and enrich, cherry or teak will brighten with reddish tones.   The cabinets can be painted any color as well for a smooth contemporary look that eliminates the wood grain.   Next have your contractor provide you with a sample:  a small plank of the wood and stain you have chosen.  Bring that sample along with you to the tile or stone showroom as you look for a countertop finish that will go perfectly with the cabinetry.  Hold the sample up to the tile or stone and observe how the colors in each material harmonize or clash.  Note in the photo above how the reddish veins in the marble match the cherry cabinets below, but the gray veins and light background set off a stunning contrast. Don't forget how much of each material will be present in the new bathroom, and add into the equation the square footage of the room.  If it's tiny, you don't want to overwhelm the space with multiple busy patterns.  If it's a medium to large room, you can afford to be more daring and add some panache.