Style

By Taylor Lewis

Although Candice Olson, host of Divine Designs with Candice Olson and Candice Tells All on HGTV, resides north of the border, Americans everywhere are falling in love with her home remodeling projects. After appearances on Today, Live! with Regis and Kelly, The View and The Oprah Winfrey Show, Canadian-born Olson released her second book, Candice Olson Kitchens and Baths, in April. In her newest work, she shares tips, tricks and her own experiences for turning kitchens and bathrooms –- the two hardest-working rooms in the house, she says –- into personalized havens.

Using some of the most innovative appliances (cool-to-the-touch stoves) and high-tech devices (automatic flush and lid-lowering toilets with LED lighting), Olson is respectful of the homeowners’ wishes as well as the house’s original design. Whether it’s rescuing a kitchen from a 1980s design disaster or transforming a gloomy bathroom into a relaxation paradise, Olson has the solution.

This urban kitchen is perfect for a Kansas City loft (or any other space, for that matter), boasting stainless steel appliances, an antique cabinet that Olson transformed into an island, a wine cooler and a coffee preparation area.

“Inside the display cabinets, I added mirror backing to reflect light. The only windows in the loft are at the opposite end of the room, so light-enhancing tricks like this, along with under-cabinet lighting and track lights, help keep the space from feeling cavelike.”

Other popular kitchen updates include warming drawers, hidden stoves, blackboard paint, pull-out storage drawers, built-in barbecues and self-healing cork floors.

In this modern bathroom, Olson has incorporated state-of-the-art technology with luxurious elements. Homeowners live like royalty with an infinity-edged soaking tub, a walk-in steam shower, an LCD television embedded in the mirror and a sound system.

“Gorgeous green glass tile laid in a retro-inspired pattern adds a splash of color to the walls in the wet zones and gives a nod to the historic character of the house.”

Other bathroom luxuries include waterproof lighting, rain showerheads, steam showers, wet rooms and wall-mounted faucets.

*To find out more information on Candice Olson, Candice Olson Kitchens and Baths, or info on products featured in the book, visit www.candiceolson.com.