Any designer or contractor worth their weight should be informing clients about material details and lifespan. I believe that we need to offer this information – it’s part of the service aspect that we do!

- Jacqui Loucks, Jacqui Loucks Interior Design

Last month, I had the opportunity to chat with my colleague Jacqui Loucks of Jacqui Loucks Interior Design about the larger considerations for interior design that is functional, aesthetic, and easily maintained. The only hiccup?

She had SO MUCH AMAZING information to share, that I had to split her insights into two blogs! This month, we are going to dive a bit deeper into a few products and materials for interior design, helping you to make even more informed decisions when creating your dream space.

I personally learned so much from Jacqui about the role an interior designer has in supporting their clients to create the functional home and aesthetic they want, and how it relates to their long-term lifestyle goals post-renovation. 

As a professional cleaning company, and a self-proclaimed “cleaning enthusiast,” I was naturally drawn to her insights on materials and how to ensure clients are satisfied long after the interior work is completed. 

 Sparkling Surfaces and Counters

As gorgeous as high sheen surfaces are (aka: shiny and reflective), they are not particularly easy to consistently return to their original glory.

After all, there are some finishes that are much more forgiving than others and high sheen...well that is just angst waiting to happen. This comes down to knowing that not all high sheen materials are created equal. The following are Jacqui’s recommendations for consideration when looking at adding a high sheen surface to your home.

Countertops: Countertops are hard-working task areas and the right performing materials must be considered for long term use.  Jacqui recommends natural granite or man-made composite stone surfaces  (e.g. caesarstone or equivalent) in a low-sheen finish. The density, or porosity, of these materials makes them less susceptible to nicks and scratches. The natural, organic patterns of granite are not only beautiful, but they help to conceal any mishaps that could occur over time. The composite products have anti-microbial properties that stop any bacteria or harmful germs from harbouring on the countertop surfaces.

Cabinets: High sheen or glossy cabinets are a gorgeous aesthetic! The rub? They tend to act as reflective mirrors. This means that they must then be cleaned as such because they’re prone to fingerprints, dust, and sunlight. The best result for high-gloss cabinets is to specify an autobody paint finish, which increases the hardness and durability of the cabinet fronts.

Jacqui shares, “if the client wants a high sheen look, we would definitely specify finishing the millwork with an autobody paint finish, as there is a better degree of hardness to keep it more scratch and fade resistant. What’s important to note is, they are NOT resistant to everything.”  Meaning, the high sheen may capture sunshine and reflect light more harshly at different times of the day. Most of the time, this can be managed with window treatments and/or dimmer switches. What I personally respect about Jacqui is that she feels that it’s crucial for interior designers to share this information with clients as it helps them understand how products perform once installed.

Appliances: Stainless steel is truly one of my favourite looks when it comes to appliances. BUT, not all stainless steel is created equal. Therefore, not all stainless steel will be easy to clean...and our team knows this from cleaning A LOT of stainless steel. This comes down to understanding the gauge and finish of the steel. The best guidance here is to “test-drive” your options in the showroom before purchasing, and invest in the best quality stainless steel for your budget. This includes knowing what your budget can afford and what to expect of the products once they’re installed. 

If you are not keen on stainless steel appliances, Jacqui loves - and often recommends - adding millwork panelling to fridges and dishwashers fronts, when possible. This not only offers a seamless and cohesive look to a kitchen, but you also won’t have to worry about fingerprints on stainless steel every time you use your fridge. Of course, while there are other material options to consider for appliances, stainless steel is one of that is most common ones we come across in our Clean Club Calgary clients’ homes.

Sinks: Similar to appliances, I love a quality stainless steel sink. It is an excellent product that is anti-microbial and repels germs…Who wouldn’t love that?! Like stainless steel appliances though, there are different gauges and finishes based on the manufacturer, so it’s important to understand the best option and performance for your lifestyle and budget.

All in all, if you love the look of high sheen surfaces, then you should have them and embrace them for all they do! Just know that they tend to have a bit more maintenance to them.

 Flooring for Your Feet and Vacuum

Floors can be a professional cleaner’s best friend or our absolute worse nightmare depending on the type of material installed.   

Selecting appropriate flooring materials is an important aspect to consider when renovating or building new. For instance, a hard, flat surface is typically easier to maintain than a material that is highly textured. There are several surface options in a variety of budgets to choose from to ensure you get the best floor for your needs. A few of the more common ones that we come across in our daily cleanings are:

Natural stone tile: Limestone, granite or marble flooring is absolutely stunning to look at. To help maintain these surfaces, there are excellent sealants out there to protect them so you don’t have to worry (as much) about scratches or staining. However, even if they are sealed, absolutely NO HARSH CHEMICALS should be used on natural stone. Knowing this will save you from accidentally causing harm to your stone floor and impacting its lifespan and look. 

Hardwood: As beautiful as dark, shiny hardwood floors are, they can be difficult to keep looking pristine, similar to high sheen cabinet surfaces. When selecting hardwood floors, consider a finish that has a low sheen finish and a wood species hardness rating that works best for your lifestyle. For instance, if you are an active family and/or have large pets, avoid softer wood species, such as walnut. Rather, opt for a harder wood, like hickory, oak or maple. 

A low-sheen finish and lighter stain colours are typically better at concealing surface scratches and can give you some extra time by not needing to maintain a glossy shine by mopping every day.  Lately, many hardwood manufacturers are offering highly textured or distressed options for you to consider. The installed look of these is gorgeous, but it is important to know that the more distressed the flooring finishes are, the more opportunity there is for dirt to hide in, therefore requiring more elbow-grease with each cleaning.

Bathrooms with Grout, not Grit

Next to the kitchen, bathrooms are the most used room in the house (…sometimes, they’re used a whole lot more!)

When cleaning bathrooms, it is evident that not all tiles (and grout!) perform the same way.

Below are some simple guidelines that Jacqui uses when selecting tiles for any bathroom project:

• Large-format tiles are a favourite go-to size. Not only will this reduce the number of grout lines required, but this larger size also looks more luxurious and seamless. 

• Avoid highly textured tiles where mould and mildew love to live when wet.

• The choice of grout is just as important as the choice of tile. 

Diving deeper into this topic, Jacqui let us know that not all grout will perform the same way. Spaces like bathrooms require a grout that has stain and humidity resistant capabilities (epoxy or high-performance grouts). 

If a standard porous grout is used in a bathroom, it will hold onto moisture and be prone to mildew and mould. When cleaning, no matter how hard and how many times you scrub, this type of grout discolours in wet spaces. Also, if scrubbed too hard and too much, the likelihood of the grout breaking down increases, negating all effort you put into making your bathroom beautiful.

Other recommendations and thoughts on bathroom maintenance:

• Consider adding a water softener to help minimize hard water and mineral build-up on tile and glass within your shower and tub areas.

• Know how often you are going to clean your bathroom as a once a week cleaning requires a different level of effort than every two weeks.

• Smaller tiles add more texture and can add to your cleaning time.

• Natural stone requires applications of sealant more often, making it a bigger commitment to maintain. There are many porcelain tiles that are as convincing as natural stone without the maintenance.

The main takeaway that I took from Jacqui is that there are excellent choices for all your aesthetic goals to give you the best results that you’re looking for. Understanding how your materials need to be maintained and how they will perform once installed are the best questions to ask while you’re in the process of your renovation or build. An experienced interior designer and your general contractor would be the best resources for these answers.

There is so much more to interior design than making a home aesthetically pleasing. A professional interior designer will create solutions to support a better function of your home while helping you understand the quality and performance of the materials being installed within your budget. This allows you to make better-informed decisions, giving give you more peace of mind that you are getting it right the first time.

If you are ready to turn your home into the functional and beautiful space you want, connect with Jacqui to learn more about the details to get you there.

If you are happy with your home and are ready to live in it without the stress of cleaning it, connect with me to see how Clean Club Calgary can clean for you!