Move Over Rubbermaid

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Today, kitchens and bathrooms are finely tuned home fashion statements, a marriage of art and style.

Kitchens are being designed to not only indulge our culinary endeavors but to be a gathering spot for the family and entertainment centre. Up stairs, the master bedroom is shrinking to make way for the master suite.

These two spaces are any thing but just functional and utilitarian. They are the new 'mega' rooms designed with never before seen attention to style, luxury, organization and detail.

So, what's really shaking things up for 2005? In the bathroom we'll see designer sinks made of glass, odd shaped ceramic, stainless steel and stone vessels, looking much more like art than the wash basins of old. Kitchens will morph into pure elegance with professional-style sinks, countertops, and cupboards and may even include built in dishwashers.

Looking for something a little edgier? Try placing more that one faucet in the kitchen. Here are some of the latest places to add a shiny new faucet: try placing one above the stove, it will be really handy for filling those large pasta pots. Want to make some hot chocolate and don't want to wait for the water to boil? Place an instant hot water tap by the beverage centre. Turn your sink faucet into a water source for the surrounding plants and change your standard tap into an extendable and flexible watering tool. 
 
Faucets no more. The look is all about clean surfaces, and in the bathroom, faucets will no longer be seen on the counter, they move to the wall. In the shower, change up your basic three-level pressure head with a luxury a rain forest head or two for ultimate showering pleasure.

Almost 75 per cent of people who decide to makeover their kitchen or bathroom will choose to start with replacing their counter tops. Laminate every where will move out to make room for natural stone tiles made of granite, limestone and quartz. No longer is one surface throughout the room good enough, or necessary. Today's best-dressed kitchens are home to multi surfaces. For example, it wouldn't be a shock to find an island top made of granite, stainless steel stoves, a glass bar on top of the island and laminate or quartz on the remaining horizontal surfaces.

Cabinets are getting a facelift in the 2005 with the addition of corbels, feet, woven moldings, ornately carved posts and lattices. Cabinet height will be staggered and more than one finishing material can be used.

Many kitchen and bathroom companies are offering a black or charcoal stained cabinet (often with a cream wash over top). This cabinet is usually mixed and matched with solid and veneered wood cabinets. Another popular mix, are coloured high-gloss polyurethane cabinets which may also be paired with veneered ones. Cabinetry not only looks great but is also home too highly intuitive and well thought out organization. Personalized compartments and storage solutions that optimize space and ergonomics are nothing short of genius. How ever did we manage before the makeover?

In these two rooms brown has become the new black, often paired with pink, rich earth tones, reds and electric greens.

The detail is in the sparkle and sparkle comes from the metals in the room. Stainless steel or nickel appliances and hood fans are hot in the kitchen often accented with copper and black iron. In the bathroom look for stainless steel or nickel to remain popular but running close behind are the bronze and oiled finishes.

Whether your looking for a complete overhaul or are simply looking to freshen up one or both of these rooms, 2005 offers you an endless selection of style and opportunity.