It was an inauspicious start to the year: three weeks of hubby hacking and coughing followed by an equally long repeat performance starring me.
Five days in bed gave me plenty of time to mull over potential focuses for this year's column. Last year's theme was "Go green," a direction I plan to continue because of its sheer importance. But what, I wondered, could I offer homeowners more of this year that might make a welcome difference in their renovations?
I decided that, in addition to covering how our own bathroom makeovers turned out (they're not quite ready for their close-ups yet), I'll introduce you to nifty new products geared toward making the most of your renovations, big or small. Why shouldn't you have every opportunity to be on the cutting edge?
I found one product worth investigating, Liquid Stainless Steel, while wading through a stack of design magazines during my convalescence. The ad copy called it "the world's first brush-on stainless steel for your home" and "painless stainless."
Before and after shots show the results of Liquid Stainless Steel applied to kitchen appliances. (PHOTOS COURTESY OF THOMAS’ KITCHEN ART INC.)
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Thinking I'd simply inhaled too much cough syrup, I sent away for a sample (you can do the same, for the price of $4.01, by going to www.liquidstainlesssteel.com or calling 1-314-241-3500).
When my three-inch-square sample arrived, I realized I hadn't been hallucinating. It looked pretty good. As I handled it, I noticed I didn't leave fingerprints. That alone intrigued me. A visit to the manufacturer's website was illuminating.
(A note to designers of product-centric websites: this site is an example of how it should be done. It is easy to navigate, offers a slew of relevant FAQs, well-produced how-to videos, printable PDF instructions, and an exhaustive international list of where you can buy the stuff.)
Those step-by-step video tutorials, ranging from six to 10 minutes long, show the product being applied to a standard white refrigerator, kitchen cabinets and a table top. All are transformed with what looks like little fuss or muss.
I learned that the reason it looks so much like stainless steel is because it is stainless steel. Thomas' Kitchen Art Inc., the company that developed the product and launched it only 10 months ago, calls it's a product of micrometal technology, meaning it contains microscopic bits of 100 per cent stainless steel that is mixed with an automotive grade polymer to produce a durable finish.
If this coating really is as easy to apply as it looks, it could be a boon for people staging their homes for resale, to name just one audience. It would certainly be less expensive than replacing your standard appliances with stainless-steel versions.
Although this isn't mentioned in the product literature, I'm thinking it would also be a great way to update your kitchen with a steel-coated backsplash. Invest in inexpensive vinyl floor tiles in whatever size you like or, using a utility knife, cut them down to the desired size, prime, and then coat each tile with Liquid Stainless Steel, being careful to coat the edges, too. Then simply glue the tiles to your backsplash area. You'd end up with a clean, contemporary surface without those annoying grout lines.
Take it a step further and create a pattern simply by turning every other tile 90 degrees, for example. This would produce a pattern because the liquid stainless is applied with strokes that result in a brushed look that has a definite direction. By alternating the direction the tiles are laid, you can play with pattern variations — some tiles would have a horizontal direction and alternating tiles a vertical direction. The look would be subtle but interesting and would be highlighted by your undercabinet task lighting.
I didn't see vinyl tile listed among the surfaces recommended for the product so I called Tim Haas, vice-president of sales for Thomas' Kitchen Art, which is based in St. Louis, Mo. He didn't see any reason it couldn't work — providing a primer is used — since vinyl is a form of plastic. He agreed that, although at $280 (U.S.) a gallon, this product is more expensive than paint, it's still a lot more economical than installing stainless-steel backsplash tiles. And a gallon can go a long way.
The applications of the steel coating are numerous. Use it to update brass faucets, door knobs, light fixtures, chairs, cabinets and small appliances. Just don't go overboard.
As with all things, good design means knowing when to stop!
Product facts
Liquid Stainless Steel, developed by Thomas' Kitchen Art Inc., is currently available in seven Canadian provinces, but the product also can be ordered online. See the company's website, www.liquidstainlesssteel.com, for stores and locations.
- The coating is water-based and less odoriferous than latex house paint.
- VOC (volatile organic compounds) emissions are 250 grams a litre.
- It can be used on glass, brass, chrome, wood, metal and plastics.
- You can coat a standard-size refrigerator, stove and dishwasher in one weekend. And the refrigerator will remain magnet-friendly.
- As Liquid Stainless Steel produces an automotive-grade finish, it's as durable as the finish on your car.
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