FHB Logo Facebook LinkedIn Email Pinterest Twitter X Instagram Tiktok YouTube Plus Icon Close Icon Navigation Search Icon Navigation Search Icon Arrow Down Icon Video Guide Icon Article Guide Icon Modal Close Icon Guide Search Icon Skip to content
Subscribe
Log In
  • How-To
  • Design
  • Tools & Materials
  • Restoration
  • Videos
  • Blogs
  • Forum
  • Magazine
  • Members
  • FHB House
  • Podcast
Log In

Issue 239 – Kitchens & Baths 2013

On the Cover

A Clever Island With Drawers

This slick storage solution is a small-kitchen space saver.

Subscribe View the Digital Issue

The Magazine

  • Subscribe
  • Renew Subscription
  • Gift Subscription
  • Online Membership
  • Magazine Index
  • View Past Issues
  • View the Digital Edition Archive
  • Contact Customer Service
  • Author Guidelines
  • Advertise

Features

  • Bath Sinks with Style and Sense

    Don’t let choices overwhelm your quest for a great lav.

  • A Better Bath Plan

    Splitting this bath into two zones made it functional and comfortable.

  • A Designer's Guide to Countertops

    Style and use are the keys to choosing the right countertop for your kitchen.

  • A Galley Kitchen That Works

    An often-overlooked layout transforms a small, awkward space into a functional, modern kitchen

  • Universal Appeal in Accessible Design

    A remodel proves that individuality rules, even in accessible design

  • Small-Bath Serenity

    A Japanese-inspired bath rich in details and in space-saving solutions.

Article

  • Inside Chefs' Kitchens

    Design, organization, and material ideas from three professionals

  • Two Baths for a Vintage Home

    With a nod to classic style, a pair of bathrooms is transformed for a modern family

  • kitchens illuminated with lights
    Kitchens Illuminated

    Get your recessed-can lights right, and the rest is easy.

What is the Difference

  • What's the Difference: Electric Ovens

    Conventional, Convection, and Microwave

  • What's the Difference: Stone Sealers

    Impregnating, Topical, and Enhancing

Drawing Board

  • Zones for Small Appliances

    Design for small kitchen appliances based on zones for cooking, food prep, and breakfast.

Fixtures and Materials

  • Switches and Plugs That Outshine the Fixtures

    If you’re a fan of sleek, modern design, Legrand’s new Adorne series is cool and functional. The snap-on cover plates without visible screws come in 32 colors and textures, but…

  • Microwave in a Drawer

    For ease of use, a microwave is typically installed between an adult’s chest height and head height, but this takes up space that otherwise could be used by a cabinet,…

  • From Large Format to Small Details

    A huge cast-porcelain wall tile and an intricately etched stone mosaic illustrate the diversity of today's tile trends.

  • Panasonic Can/Fan Combo Gets Greener

    Last year, Panasonic introduced its WhisperRecessed ventilation fan, which combined an 80-cfm exhaust fan with a 6-in. can light in a single fixture. By eliminating the need for a separate…

  • Grab Bars in Plain Sight

    Grab bars don’t have to be large pipes anchored to the wall. American Standard’s new Invisia line of bath accessories incorporates grab-bar safety into stylish toilet-paper holders ($240), accent rings…

  • A Smart Faucet with Style

    By combining handsfree and temperature-control technologies with Art Deco inspiration, the Charlotte faucet from Brizo presents modern conveniences in a decidedly retro package.The collection’s touch-free lavatory faucet features optional SmartTouchPlus…

  • CFL as an Art Form

    Plumen bulbs take the twisting glass of a compact-fluorescent bulb and elevate it to a sculptural level. The swooping form of the 11w Plumen 001 is equivalent to a 50w…

Great Ideas

  • Cantilevered Connection

    At the request of the homeowners, I designed this contemporary Idaho cabin to embrace the stunning views of its locale. One of many prominent details designed to create a connection…

  • Clever Cabinet

    Our clients were living in a 1985 farmhouse that failed to suit their busy lives. Together, we worked to bring organization and order to a complete redesign of the home’s…

  • Wine Lover’s Backsplash

    The owner of this kitchen is a wine lover who collected lots of corks over time with intentions of putting them on display. Corks from red wine, white wine, and…

  • An Elegant Enclosure

    An expanded bath. While the outdoor enclosure limits the sightline out of the bathroom, it allowed for a greater amount of glass to be placed in the bathroom. The large…

  • Tuck Away the Toaster

    Storage space was limited in this compact modern kitchen, so San Francisco-based Hulburd Design (hulburddesign.com) invented some creative storage options to accommodate everyday appliances and to reduce visual clutter. Here,…

  • Grab Bar for Accessibility

    The owners of this large, open loft see the kitchen as the heart of their home. Randy, the husband, uses a wheelchair much of the time, so accessibility is a…

Commentary

  • Durability Matters: Lessons from a 1960s Ranch

    Senior editor Andy Engel inherited the house where he grew up, whose kitchen is original from 1964. Although he remodeled the bathrooms, which he says were functional but out of…

Design Gallery

  • Variety is the Spice of Life—and the Kitchen

    Well-designed kitchens that are the perfect blend of form, function, and materials.

Tailgate

  • Gray Uhl, Plumbing Guru

    This designer has seen the industry create fixtures that use less water and foresees a future in which a house’s water use is a closed-loop system.

More? View Past Issues

Fine Homebuilding Magazine

  • Issue 331 - June 2025
    • A More Resilient Roof
    • Tool Test: You Need a Drywall Sander
    • Ducted vs. Ductless Heat Pumps
  • Issue 330 - April/May 2025
    • Deck Details for Durability
    • FAQs on HPWHs
    • 10 Tips for a Long-Lasting Paint Job
  • Issue 329 - Feb/Mar 2025
    • Smart Foundation for a Small Addition
    • A Kominka Comes West
    • Making Small Kitchens Work
  • Issue 328 - Dec/Jan 2024
    • How a Pro Replaces Columns
    • Passive House 3.0
    • Tool Test: Compact Line Lasers
  • Issue 327 - November 2024
    • Repairing Damaged Walls and Ceilings
    • Plumbing Protection
    • Talking Shop

Fine Home Building

Newsletter Sign-up

  • Fine Homebuilding

    Home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox.

  • Green Building Advisor

    Building science and energy efficiency advice, plus special offers, in your inbox.

  • Old House Journal

    Repair, renovation, and restoration tips, plus special offers, in your inbox.

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters

Follow

  • Fine Homebuilding

    Dig into cutting-edge approaches and decades of proven solutions with total access to our experts and tradespeople.

    Start Free Trial Now
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • X
    • LinkedIn
  • GBA Prime

    Get instant access to the latest developments in green building, research, and reports from the field.

    Start Free Trial Now
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
  • Old House Journal

    Learn how to restore, repair, update, and decorate your home.

    Subscribe Now
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • X
  • Fine Homebuilding

    Dig into cutting-edge approaches and decades of proven solutions with total access to our experts and tradespeople.

    Start Free Trial Now
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • X
    • LinkedIn
  • GBA Prime

    Get instant access to the latest developments in green building, research, and reports from the field.

    Start Free Trial Now
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
  • Old House Journal

    Learn how to restore, repair, update, and decorate your home.

    Subscribe Now
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • X

Membership & Magazine

  • Online Archive
  • Start Free Trial
  • Magazine Subscription
  • Magazine Renewal
  • Gift a Subscription
  • Customer Support
  • Privacy Preferences
  • About
  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Careers
  • Terms of Use
  • Site Map
  • Do not sell or share my information
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility
  • California Privacy Rights

© 2025 Active Interest Media. All rights reserved.

Fine Homebuilding receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

X
X
This is a dialog window which overlays the main content of the page. The modal window is a 'site map' of the most critical areas of the site. Pressing the Escape (ESC) button will close the modal and bring you back to where you were on the page.

Main Menu

  • How-To
  • Design
  • Tools & Materials
  • Video
  • Blogs
  • Forum
  • Project Guides
  • Reader Projects
  • Magazine
  • Members
  • FHB House

Podcasts

  • FHB Podcast
  • ProTalk

Webinars

  • Upcoming and On-Demand

Podcasts

  • FHB Podcast
  • ProTalk

Webinars

  • Upcoming and On-Demand

Popular Topics

  • Kitchens
  • Business
  • Bedrooms
  • Roofs
  • Architecture and Design
  • Green Building
  • Decks
  • Framing
  • Safety
  • Remodeling
  • Bathrooms
  • Windows
  • Tilework
  • Ceilings
  • HVAC

Magazine

  • Current Issue
  • Past Issues
  • Magazine Index
  • Subscribe
  • Online Archive
  • Author Guidelines

All Access

  • Member Home
  • Start Free Trial
  • Gift Membership

Online Learning

  • Courses
  • Project Guides
  • Reader Projects
  • Podcast

More

  • FHB Ambassadors
  • FHB House
  • Customer Support

Account

  • Log In
  • Join

Newsletter

Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters
See all newsletters

Follow

  • X
  • YouTube
  • instagram
  • facebook
  • pinterest
  • Tiktok

Join All Access

Become a member and get instant access to thousands of videos, how-tos, tool reviews, and design features.

Start Your Free Trial

Subscribe

FHB Magazine

Start your subscription today and save up to 70%

Subscribe

We hope you’ve enjoyed your free articles. To keep reading, become a member today.

Get complete site access to expert advice, how-to videos, Code Check, and more, plus the print magazine.

Start your FREE trial

Already a member? Log in