- Design Trend: Spring Remodeling on a Budget -
Get the Most out of Your Money - Hot Colors for Cool Kitchens and Bathrooms
- Cheryl Tiegs' Kitchen Makeover - Oh so close!
- FAQ - Simple Ways to Transform Your Bathroom
- Feature Photograph - Lifestyles Contest Winner
- Cambria in the Community - Sobriety High Scholarship Program
- Beautiful Design Giveaway Winner
- Exclusive Offer - For Subscribers/Members Only
- Cambria in the News
- Where to see Cambria
It's that time of year again. Spring is in the air, which means fresh thoughts, and new beginnings,
especially when it comes to your home. If you're looking to maximize your dollar during a spring remodel,
it's important to pay attention to trends that are both affordable and long-lasting. For those looking to
remodel a kitchen or bath without breaking the bank, consider two hot, yet affordable, design trends:
- Use bold colors to create personal touches. Accessorizing your kitchen or bath with splashes of color can save money by allowing you to really freshen up the look of a room without purchasing new appliances or fixtures. Try painting a contrasting color on one wall in your kitchen to freshen up the interior of the entire room. Creating an accent wall not only adds color to a room, but a touch of personal style, too.
- Go 'green'! The 'green' trend is here to stay so why not do your part and use eco-friendly materials in your next remodel. There are an abundance of household items on the market today that are not only beautiful, but inexpensive and won't harm the environment. If you're looking to brighten up a room with light fixtures, use compact fluorescent light bulbs. They are 70 - 75 percent more efficient, last from 8 - 10 years, and cost approximately $6.00 per bulb, saving you money on electricity bills. If you're looking to paint as part of your remodel, use low VOC paints, which won't emit harmful toxins into the air. Low VOC paints are not only affordable and available at most local hardware stores, but they are available in bright, bold colors, perfect for any spring remodel.
Here are some additional ideas from Cambria to stretch your remodeling dollars:
- Save money by planning ahead. This will prevent hasty (and costly) decisions later in the project.
- Be sure to include all product and material selections in contractor contracts to avoid confusion and unnecessary change orders. It is also wise to save 10-20% of your budget for unexpected expenses.
- Increase efficiency, not size. Reorganize and equip your kitchen for maximum utility.
- Instead of purchasing new cabinetry, reface or refinish the surfaces.
- Consider long-term costs, not just short-term gains. For instance, investing in maintenance free items like quartz countertops will, in the long run, save you money on cleaning/sealing products.
- Make sweat equity count. Unless you've got loads of time (and expertise) to spend on your project, the best way to add sweat equity is up front, by handling your own demolition, or at the back end, by doing some of the finish work yourself.
For more information on Cambria natural quartz countertops, visit CambriaUSA.com.

PHOTO: Cambria's Bristol Blue™ in 1-cm thickness is showcased in this contemporary bath design photographed by American Standard. This luxurious bathtub sanctuary is defined by bright colors and simple elegance that brings a spirit of authenticity to this bathroom retreat.
What colors are the trendiest for kitchens and bathrooms in 2008? According to Color Marketing Group, the leading international association of color design professionals, here are four key drivers affecting color decisions:
Natural Greens and Textures - People want their homes and their lifestyles to look 'green,' no matter what color they are. In-home color and product decisions continue to trend toward looking natural. Products that evoke natural colors and textures, including natural imperfections, lend authenticity to interior design. Greens, off-whites, sand, rock and soil colors, and brownish-greens are the colors in favor and in fashion.
Warm Metallic - Flashy and Classy - Technology trends have made shimmery, shiny finishes really hot. This year, the metallic surface goes warmer. After so many years of brushed chrome and nickel, warmer copper and bronze tones have emerged as the top choice. Kitchen appliances such as mixers and blenders, now available in bronze tones, are excellent accent pieces for your trend conscious kitchen.
Ethnic, Global Accents - Globalism continues to inspire our love for ethnic accent colors from around the world. From Africa, colors like Moroccan reds and glowing oranges. From China, rosy pinks and sunny golden yellows. From Latin America, lots of turquoise. These ethnic accents add the perfect "punch" to stylized kitchen and bath designs.
Bet on the Blues - One of nature's most versatile colors. Blues inspired by our natural environment,
colors that remind us of sky and water, are evident in today's kitchen and bath designs.
Also, look for the emergence of much darker blues with the mysterious and magical qualities of
infused purple. For example, Pantone, the world-renowned authority on color and provider of color
systems, anointed its Blue Iris as 2008 Color of the Year. At the far end of the spectrum,
trendy designers are using the blacker blues. Inspired by technology, these deep, vibrant navy blues
are so dark you may think they're black.
Former supermodel and Cambria spokesperson, Cheryl Tiegs, is currently undergoing a "Cambria makeover" in her California home. The finishing touches are now being completed by Cheryl and her designer, Martyn Lawrence-Bullard.
Click here for a video of Cheryl and Martyn discussing the project.
Next month in Design Trends, you'll see the stunning photos of Cheryl's finished kitchen, plus a delightful surprise... We'll save the details for next month, so make sure to check your e-mail box for the April issue of Design Trends or simply visit http://www.cambriausa.com/learn_newsletter_signup.cfm for an archive of all Design Trend issues.
Q: Laura from Vail, CO asks: "I want to update the look and feel of my bathroom without completely remodeling. What are some subtle ways to transform what has become an eye sore in my home?"A: The bathroom is meant to be a place of serenity and relaxation. Changing the look in your bathroom is a great way to create the oasis you desire after a long day. Think natural colors and texture when changing up bathroom fixtures and linens. Try painting the walls a soft, natural color; brown, green, ivory. Also, find linens that are un-dyed, giving the towels that "au natural" look. If you have a walk in shower, use natural pebble tile for the floor and a complementary color on the shower wall. We suggest the soft, even hues of Cambria quartz from the Desert Collection™. Softening your bathroom is more than redecorating; it is creating a space of retreat and tranquility.
PHOTO: Cambria's Brownhill™ from the Quarry Collection™ offers a graceful distinction when set between the peaceful, monochromatic hues of Oakhampton™ and Cherrybrook™ found in Cambria's Desert Collection™. Together, these three colors add a touch of luxury to this bathroom retreat.
This month's feature photograph showcases an old-world bathroom that lives within the walls of Bella Palazzo, the Street of Dreams' feature home at Stone Canyon Club in Oro Valley, AZ. The hand carved twisted stone columns, hand glazed cabinetry, travertine floors, and Cambria's Ashford™ countertops combine to provide the rich luxury and tranquility in a refined spa retreat.
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Cambria is a proud supporter of many local and national charitable organizations, including Sobriety High,
Bolder Options, Habitat for Humanity, Big Brothers Big Sisters, as well as various charities which support
the men and women in the United States Armed Forces.
For fifteen years, Sobriety High School (SHS) has brought new hope to chemically-dependent students in grades 9 - 12. SHS is a safe and caring place for students in recovery to receive a quality education. Few, if any, other programs are as successful as SHS in providing a path toward a productive adulthood coupled with long-term sobriety for youth with addictions. To date, it has successfully graduated more than 200 students.
The Cambria Sobriety High Scholarship is a program that provides complete financial resources to pay for post-secondary education as well as direct student mentoring for one Sobriety High graduate each year. Last year, Nathaniel Johnson from Sobriety High's Arona Academy in Coon Rapids, MN was selected as the 2007 Cambria Sobriety High Scholarship Award recipient. Nathaniel was chosen based on his stellar academics as well as his SAT score that placed him in the top 98th percentile of incoming college freshman. Nathaniel is the first student from Arona Academy to earn the scholarship. Other important elements factored into his selection, including his commitment to maintain sobriety. As Nathaniel put it himself in his personal essay, "The alternative style of education at Arona awakened in me an insatiable desire to learn more and more. I look forward to my college career with the highest hopes. And academics are one of the primary accomplishments I have fulfilled in my recovery." Nathaniel is now enrolled at Augsburg College in Minneapolis, MN and is majoring in engineering.
Each month, Design Trends subscribers receive exclusive access to special offers, events and promotions from Cambria. Last month, 25 lucky winners received one free pass ($55 value) to the 2008 Kitchen and Bath Industry Show, April 11-13 in Chicago.
This month, 25 Design Trends subscribers who register will receive a free copy of the spring 2008 issue of Kitchen Trends Magazine; filled with 100's of ideas for outstanding kitchen design.
Click Here to Enter (Open to newsletter subscribers via monthly email)
See the official rules detailed at the end of this email.*
Cambria is regularly showcased in high profile newspapers and magazines across the country and was recently
featured in the spring '08 Better Homes & Gardens special interest publication Beautiful Kitchens. In an article
titled "Counter Intelligence: For truly distinctive countertops, consider the fine details," Cambria's Bristol Blue™
is featured in a decorative edge profile. For the full
story and other recent articles featuring Cambria, visit In The News.
Cambria is regularly showcased at trade and home shows across the country. We'd love for you to stop by and visit with us at one of these upcoming shows near you:
Kitchen & Bath Industry Show:
Save the Date! Cambria will again be exhibiting in the Kitchen & Batch Industry Show April 11-13, 2008 at Chicago's McCormick Place, booth #1953 in the South Hall.
More shows this spring:
4/4-6/2008
Southern Minnesota Home & Builders Show
Mankato, MN
4/4-13/2008
National Home Show
Toronto, Canada
4/11-13/2008
Kitchen and Bath Industry Show (K/BIS)
Chicago, IL
4/23/2008
Builder Product & Service Show
Minneapolis, MN
5-9/2008
Cincinnati Home & Garden Show
Cincinnati, OH
- Cheryl Tiegs Kitchen Makeover Project - Completed Makeover!
- More kitchen and bath design news and tips
- Cambria in the News
- Exclusive Offer