Joan Kohn 10/22/2003

HGTV: Welcome to HGTV's hosted chat room. Joan Kohn, host of HGTV's Kitchen Design and Bed & Bath Design and author of a new book Joan Kohn's It's Your Kitchen, is here to answer your questions about your kitchen, as well as her book and HGTV shows. Hello, Joan, welcome to your first HGTV chat.

Joan Kohn: Thank you...it's a pleasure to be here!

Question: I will like to put some curtains on my kitchen window but I don't know how to build it or make them. Which books or place where I can find information do you recommend?
Joan: The easiest thing to do is to use cafe curtains, which are really easy to make. If you're a first time sewer, they're a great first project because all you have to do is make two side seams and then just do another simple straight seam for the rod. You can make a short curtain as a valance, which lets a lot of light in and then you can do a half curtain for the lower half of the window or you could do two full half curtains. In general, the less covering of the window, the more sunshine comes in and so there's a trend toward minimal window treatments these days.

Q: Hello, Joan. Love your shows. Do most people prefer cherry or maple cabinets in the kitchen
Joan: Well, cherry is a much darker and richer and deeper so if you like that color, cherry is for you. Maple tends to be lighter, more clear and neutral so it really depends on the other elements of your kitchen design.

Q: I need advice on giving my dining room set a shabby chic look. On two of the chairs I have used "milk paint," but I'm not so sure I like the look. Any advice?
Joan: What's the original finish of the other chairs?

Q: As a redhead, I've always loved the earth tones of Tuscany. I've recently purchased a townhouse with white appliances, ceramic tile, fixtures. Help! Creamy whites have been my choice. How can I make THIS work?
Joan: I think you're going to have to come in with some warm yellows to warm up the white because it will receive the yellowish tones. Maybe you could even go toward amber. Look at your lighting plan and see if there's a way to introduce a warmer bulb or shade to your fixtures so that you can get a cast of warmth into that room. I would try for a yellow/creamier color on the walls to see what you can do with the white to soften it up. The wall color and lighting are two good places to start, and then gently layer in some soft amber colors and neutral greens. Since you've got white, be careful not to make the contrasts too sharp so use soft tones. If you come in with some really sharp contrasting colors of yellows, oranges and greens, the white will seem harsher. Appliances and tile can be painted so you could do a soft yellow mural over the tiles to soften them. Even a floral or geometric pattern on the tiles would work.

Q: Hi Joan, I love your shows. Please tell me that there are new episodes of Bed & Bath and Kitchen Design in the work.
Joan: Thanks so much for the sweet message. As a matter of fact, we're not shooting new shows right now, but please send me an e-mail to joan@joankohn.com. I can forward your message to the people who count these letters and they are very interested in your response so I thank you and am keeping my fingers crossed for new shows, too!

Q: The original finish on the chairs is a light-color stained pine, so it's not too hard to cover. I sanded the 2 chairs before painting them...
Joan: There are so many exciting options. You can do a base color, and then a glaze over it to give them an antique look. You can distress them a little if you want, which is always fun to get your aggressions out on your chairs! You can always try a different color stain...maybe something dark and rich would appeal to you. Another thing that's fun, if you have a fabric that you love for the upholstery, pick one color from the fabric, even an intensely saturated color (like periwinkle blue) and paint them a flat color for a nice contrast with the traditional chair. If you can give me more clues about how the rest of the room looks, I could give you more specific ideas.

Q: Hi Joan, Big Fan. I've got real pine floors in the kitchen of my 1865 home and am toying with removing them. Will they still retain their appeal if I sand and refinish them or will this diminish their appeal (as well as their value??)
Joan: Well, the floor sounds wonderful! Without seeing them, I would do anything I could to keep them. If they are really in bad shape, I would consult an expert in floor refinishing to keep them looking as authentic as possible. I'm guessing they have a lot of life left in them so they could be sanded down and look beautiful.

Q: Hi Joan, Where does one start when trying to select kitchen floor material?
Joan: I think the kitchen floor is one of the first things to look at when you're doing your kitchen because it touches every corner of the room. So it's very important aesthetically in terms of balancing the whole design. The first decision is whether or not you want the floor to flow continuously into the rest of the house. If you do, wood floors are wonderful throughout a home and the kitchen. Wood is wonderful because it's comfortable to walk on and with the wonderful polyurethane finishes they are doing these days, you never have to worry about water damage. But in general, take your clues from the flooring and the architecture in the rest of your house and choose a material that works in a complementary way. I hope I'm answering your question. If you have a more specific question, I'd be happy to try to zero in for you.

Q: Good evening, Joan! I've ordered your book and really look forward to reading it. How long did it take you to write the book? Were you inspired by your show? And where did you find the kitchens?
Joan: Thanks so much for ordering the book. I hope that it will become your best design buddy! Of course, I was inspired by my shows and I wanted to find a way to pack all my ideas into one neat little volume. I received submissions for the book from top architects and designers from all over the country. While the book was a really hard and long process, taking over two and a half years, the most exciting part of all of it were my wonderful interviews with these extraordinarily talented people. I'm convinced that as much as all of us want beautiful kitchens, our designers and architects want them just as much, if not more, than we do!

Q: I'm having a house built and the builder does not offer the color cabinet I really want, would it be possible to glaze or paint maple cabinets once they are installed. I love the kitchen layout but I would really like an antique white creamed color cabinet.
Joan: Absolutely, yes! Some high-end kitchen cabinet manufacturers install cabinets and choose to finish them once they are installed. Furthermore, one way to save money on a kitchen design is to purchase less expensive cabinetry where the finish is not so fantastic but you basically like the style, and then do the final touches yourself...so I think you're on to something!

Q: I have never done this before so I am not sure what to do, but we are going to remodel our kitchen and were wondering about the laminate lock in tile floors. Does anyone know about these?
Joan: I've never heard of lock in tile floors...what's your issue with them?

Q: In reference to the last question on wood floors, are there certain types of wood that are better for standing on for long periods of time?
Joan: Although there are "soft" and "hard" woods, I don't really think that your legs will know the difference. The big difference is between a material like tile or stone and something soft like wood or even padded laminate veneers.

Q: What is your favorite kitchen in the book? Why?
Joan: Well, I picked all the kitchens in the book because they represented the personality of the person who built them. So in that respect, each one is MY favorite simply because it's THEIR favorite. BUT, if you look at the last picture in the book, you'll have to smile because it's clearly a kitchen that could only belong to one person, which makes it kind of the poster kitchen for individuality! One of my major goals in writing the book was to give people the confidence to express themselves and as you'll see, that last kitchen in the book was created by someone with extreme confidence and joy for life!

Q: Speaking of wood floors in a kitchen, if you have dark cabinets would you go with a lighter color hard wood floor and what if you have a light color cabinets.
Joan: Interesting question. If you're worried about too many contrasting woods, you can always do a border to match your cabinets and a center field of a lighter color. Or darker. There's always a way to unify diverse materials.

Q: It's like the Pergo wood floors, but fake tile instead, they lock in and are also glued. I just wondered if you knew if they were any good. Because I don't really like wood floors and want something more durable than linoleum. Thanks.
Joan: Although I've never had one of these floors myself, and while every material has its pros and cons, laminate is a wonderfully versatile, affordable and beautiful material. My instinct is that you should go for it!

Q: What do you think of the new trend to use stainless steel as a backsplash for the entire kitchen and not just behind the stove?
Joan: I think it's a wonderful option if you want to make a strong statement. It's certainly a viable choice. Stainless steel is wonderfully reflective and will take on the tones of the rest of your design. Just beware of the fingerprints! Believe it or not, I clean my stainless steel refrigerator with Endust...it works for me! Sorry...beware the fingerprints!

Q: If I went with the cheaper oak cabinets will they give a smooth appearance once painted or glazed or will the grain still show?
Joan: You can paint them so that the grain does not show...absolutely!

Q: Where do you buy your books? Are they available at the bookstore ?
Joan: Yes, they are at bookstores everywhere. You can also get them at the HGTV store on hgtv.com or come to my own website, joankohn.com. I hope you like it!

Q: We remodeled our kitchen, I love the whole room except one wall that's I just can't get right. A window is on one side, door on the other, about an 11ft space that's just bare. Right now I have a 25-26in. crackled shelf with some frames and candles there. It gets lost on such a big wall, so I need to add something. I had two plates on either side of the shelf. But I really hate it and now I'm looking for a new idea. Overall, it's sort of a rustic, ol'timey kitchen with hunter green walls. Please help, I'm clueless and driving myself and husband crazy.
Joan: What I want to know is where the door and window go? Is there any way to expand outside? I need more details! Are you willing to do any architectural changes?

Q: It is an outside wall, but we're already over-budget on this redesign. Sooooo I can't really venture into another major project right now (unfortunately). Is there any simpler (read cheaper) way to dress up that wall? Maybe in the future, I could turn it into French doors. That would be lovely.
Joan: Have you thought of a storage chest that you could use with cushions on top of for extra seating along the wall...almost like window seats without the windows? Seating areas in kitchens are very big these days and I'm guessing that you might have just enough room for this faux window seat idea. What do you think of that?

Q: How can I save money when redoing my kitchen?
Joan: Well, the easiest thing to do is to clean everything out and give your kitchen a fresh look with a fresh coat of paint. Cabinetry is the most expensive item in a kitchen design and there are lots of ways to economize there. One way is to use only upper cabinets, even as lower cabinets because they are less deep and cost less money. Another idea is open shelving. It makes things easy to reach and can be extremely decorative. I have all kinds of tips on my website for saving money, but the best thing I could say to anybody is take your time and invest in permanence. If you are going to move, for example, spend your money on items like fine tabletop appliances, beautiful dishes or even a wonderful kitchen table that you'll take with you and have forever.

Q: I am redoing my kitchen, but don't want to go to a lot of expense on fixtures. I would like to have track lighting in my work area, but the guy at home depot doesn't think I will have enough light on the ceiling. Should I be concerned with that? I thought if I pointed the five lights to where I want them, it would be fine. My kitchen is long and narrow and there is a chandelier at the end over my table. The part I am talking about for track lighting is about 9 feet long. Any suggestions or tips would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
Joan: Well, to tell you the truth, your kitchen sounds similar to mine and I have recessed lighting in the ceiling, (which is essentially the same thing you're talking about). This works perfectly for me. The issue is, will shadows be cast on your working surface by your upper cabinets that will block the light from above? If not, you're fine. Otherwise, think of some under-the-cabinet task lights. Good luck!

Q: Next March , we plan on guttering out our kitchen . And replacing everything . What kind of lighting should we use above and below kitchen cabinets ?
Joan: Lighting is one of the most important issues you can address in your new kitchen design so if you have upper cabinets over your countertop work surfaces, it's smart to install task lights there. Above the kitchen cabinets, the light is intended to generally illuminate the room so you can use any combination of track lighting, recessed lighting and other decorative fixtures. Best of luck!

Q: How well is a downdraft work, my cooktop will be on an island how powerful of a cooktop can you get without getting the big professional hood .
Joan: Good question. Manufacturers and dealers always emphasize the importance of proper ventilation. However, use your judgment in terms of your own cooking style. For some of us, a down draft is more than enough to do an excellent job on a daily basis. In fact, I've never heard anybody complain that they were disappointed when they chose that option...plus, it's so pretty and virtually disappears. On the other hand, hood design has really evolved in the last years and your hood can not only do it's work, but it can become a major design focal point if you choose to have it do that.

Q: We are thinking of putting in either the Pergo or Bruce oak parquet flooring in our kitchen. But first I want to know how the thin snap together flooring holds up over time with heavy appliances on them? does the floor sink after time??
Joan: All my reports from people to whom I've spoken say that the Pergo works wonderfully! I don't have it myself, but I hear only good things.

Q: I've always wondered what it would be like to publish a book and then promote it. Is this your first experience with it? What have you been doing?
Joan: Thanks for asking! Yes, it's my very first experience and it's absolutely fascinating! I'm doing a huge national book tour. Just last weekend, we had a major event at the Merchandise Mart in Chicago. We're celebrating anywhere and everywhere we can!

Q: If I can only make 1 thing better in my kitchen, what should it be?
Joan: Take a good look at your kitchen, be very honest with yourself and decide what you can't live with anymore! Then, strategize carefully, save your money and TOSS IT (not your money, the thing that you can't live with anymore)!!

Q: I'm remodeling my 1950 kitchen. The original cabinets had a solid Formica countertop that stretched all the way up the backsplash to the upper cabinets. When removed, we discovered that it was attached with a tar-like substance that just won't come off the walls. Do you know what it could be? And even if you don't, do you have any suggestions for preparing the backsplash area for tile?
Joan: I think that you're going to have to resurface that wall. You could put a thin veneer wood or you could use Durabond 90. It works really well and is like a plaster material (it's a powder that you mix with water). I think you have to do a nice skim coat over that wall over that glue-y stuff.

Q: When I watch your kitchen design show,(everyday) I notice a lot of Viking ranges, do you feel that Viking is the most popular choice, if not what is?
Joan: Vikings are wonderful and there are many other wonderful manufacturers as well. The look you love is obviously that commercial, industrial style. Wolf makes lovely ranges in that style—many manufacturers do—including wonderful imports from Europe but you certainly can't go wrong with a Viking.

Q: What is the biggest change you have seen in kitchens in the last 10 years?
Joan: The architecture is becoming far more exciting than ever before. As people make their kitchens as important as any other room in the house. Kitchens have become the new living room and so we're seeing exciting ceiling treatments, gorgeous floors, niches, alcoves, bay windows...you name it and it's all so beautiful! By the way, pantries are making a big comeback, adding a lot of functional possibilities as well as great style to today's kitchens whether they are traditional or contemporary.

HGTV: Well, everyone, our chat hour is over. Thank you for joining us tonight. And thank you, Joan, for spending an hour of your evening with us.

Joan Kohn: I had a wonderful, wonderful time!! Thanks everybody for the wonderful chat! I hope you'll have a chance to look at the book It's Your Kitchen, Over 100 Inspirational Kitchens and that it will inspire you to build the kitchen of your dreams. Just one more thought...good kitchen design is not about having it all at once. It's about getting on that design train and building your dream kitchen one beautiful step at a time! So do something beautiful for yourself!