Lisa LaPorta Q&A: Making Design Choices

Pfister is pleased to be working with interior designer and HGTV host Lisa LaPorta. In addition to LaPorta’s series of design inspiration videos, for the next few weeks we’ll be focused on questions Pfister customers have posed to LaPorta along with her response.

This week LaPorta is taking on design choices for the kitchen and bath and some frequent mistakes to avoid.

How can I infuse color in my kitchen even though I don’t have a lot of open wall space?

Lisa: There are a lot of easy and inexpensive ways to liven up your kitchen even if you don’t have a lot of open wall space. Adding a new backsplash is a great way to introduce color to a kitchen because it doesn’t take a huge financial investment, which allows you to be a little more playful with your color scheme. Painting the cabinets is another low-cost option. Counters and flooring also provide good opportunities to incorporate color, but require a larger financial commitment. Review magazines, websites and even TV or movie sets to gather inspiration!

Wheaton in Tuscan Bronze 

What are your favorite recommendations for updating the floors in my kitchen or bathrooms?

Lisa: In general, my favorite flooring material for kitchens and bathrooms is natural stone, which comes in marble, granite, limestone and slate tiles. With the bulk of the cost for new floors coming from installation, be sure not to skimp on the quality of your materials. Stone flooring is durable and low maintenance, but you still want to make sure that you choose the stone that is best for you and your lifestyle.

What is the most common mistake you’ve seen people make when redesigning a room?

Lisa: There are a couple of common mistakes people make when redesigning or redecorating a room. The first is that the room is too personal. You want the space to be your own, but being over committed to one color in any space can destroy a good design. Another mistake is making bold aesthetic statements that aren’t consistent with the architecture of the home. For example, if you have a country-style home, you can bring elements of a Tuscan villa into your home, but you shouldn’t overwhelm your space with them.

We would love to hear from you. Please leave a comment with any problems you’re having in your kitchen or bath and we’ll direct them to Lisa LaPorta for consideration in a future column.