Choosing Appliances for your New Kitchen
When remodeling a kitchen, home owners think choosing appliances is the less important step of the design process. “We will pick those out towards the end.”, “The cabinets and counter tops need to be chosen first.” or “Our refrigerator is standard size.” These are just a few of the answers I get when I ask homeowners if they have decided on what appliances they will be using in their new kitchen. Another common one is; “We are just going to keep what we have for now and maybe buy new next year.” When is the right time to choose your…
Kitchen Cabinets: an aha moment
Ever wake up one day and say to yourself “you know this place really needs sprucing up.” Everyone has that wake up moment. I recently had that moment and I do this for a living! I am so consumed with helping clients with their needs that my own needs are put aside. That “aha” moment usually comes when you are about to give a party and things just look tired. Okay, what do you do now? Do you read all you can via the internet? Do you watch HGTV? Do you ask your friends what to do? Hmm, sounds like…
Cabinets aren’t Only for the Kitchen
It has only been 20 years since cabinets were only used for the kitchen and baths. It was in the mid 1990’s that people started to use cabinetry for other parts of their home more often. Rooms like libraries, laundry, home offices and family rooms were either built in place by finish carpenters or people went to furniture stores to buy furniture that filled the needs of these other rooms. The problem many faced was furniture was very limited in styles, colors and sizes. Occasionally, people had us design hutches to match their kitchen cabinets. This way they had many…
What’s Hot In The Kitchen
One word: Organization How your kitchen space is designed and organized has a huge impact on your life. As an example, if the cooking utensils are located across the room from the range, you will spend precious time retrieving them. Not only are you wasting time, but you become frustrated. Another example, wouldn’t it be nice to have the spices next to the counter where you prepare the food to be cooked? Or right next to the cooktop if you are the type of cook that adds spices as you go? Let the space help you get through your day…
Remodeling Tips
Remodeling in your home does not have to be an excruciating experience when the right steps are taken. There are many people who are deciding to remodel for the first time so finding the right people becomes more important. Most remodeling ideas start when a specific need arises for either more space, function or to beautify up the room. A lot of my clients are usually sitting around their table or island when one says; “Boy, we really need to do our kitchen over but where do we start?” The key to that statement is the end, “Where do we…
Cabinet Fever
I am writing this right after the storm Nemo dumped large amounts of snow on the New England states. Nemo was thirty five years (almost to the day) after the Blizzard of 1978! Oh how I remember that! I was a new kitchen and bath designer and I remember it took me well over three hours to get home. (The drive was normally thirty minutes.) The governor of Massachusetts called a state of emergency that lasted a week. That meant we all stayed home and bonded. Because we couldn’t drive, a lot of neighbors, family and friends gathered and cooked….
CHOOSING YOUR CABINET HARDWARE
Believe it or not, this step of the kitchen remodel project can be a tad bit overwhelming. Based on the common questions I hear from my clients, I know you’re probably thinking a couple of things right now. “Do I have to use the ones that come with the cabinets?” or “What goes on the doors, handles or knobs?” or “How do I know which color to choose?” Before I answer, keep this in mind. Think of kitchen cabinet hardware as being the “Jewelry” of the kitchen. Jewelry is worn to complement and complete the outfit. Outfits and kitchens are…
2013 Color Trends
When looking at color trends, I like to start with the major paint companies. These companies spend a lot of time and money researching for a few years in advance. Here is what I found: At Benjamin Moore, the belief is that our economy’s gradual move away from the recession will be a driving factor in color selection, with eyes drawn to softer, more lighthearted pastels that speak of optimism and the promise of new beginnings. “The palette is shifting from super saturated and strong hues to softer, lighter pastel shades,” said Sonu Mathew, ASID, IIDA and senior interior designer…
SUPERBOWL COMMERCIALS, HALF-TIME SHOW OR THE GAME?
The excitement for the Super Bowl definitely comes in three categories. 1) The anticipation of the amazingly expensive Super Bowl commercials (and which one will be the best). 2) The excitement of the super star performing for the half-time show (and what “blooper” will happen that they can’t hide from). 3) The glamour of watching your favorite NFL team (and how the “Ref’s are favoring the other team)… and, of course, the food and beverages we will enjoy during the game at those Super Bowl parties with our friends!! I have to admit that I definitely look forward to the…
Super Bowl XLVII Match Ups
The hype for the big game gets a whole two weeks to show the world what type of match-up it is going to be. This past weekend was tough to get through with no football (Other than the Pro Bowl if you want to call that a game) to speak of. I’m sure that the respective cities have heard much about the big game but as of here in the northeast, we really have not heard a lot about it. The biggest thing that I can think of about the game is the two Harbaugh brothers coaching against each other. This is…