Having Enough Room for Your Stuff

By Gale

Even in the biggest kitchen, there never seems to be enough room for your stuff. There must be a gravitational force that attracts things to the kitchen, and then they stay, invited or uninvited. But do not fear there is more space in your kitchen than you think.

Start with your upper cabinets. Can you access all the contents without a step ladder? When you visit the very top shelves, are you surprised at what you find? There is a whole new generation of cabinet inserts designed to maximize your inner space. While they will not keep the disorder down, these cabinet aids will help give you greater storing capability. You are on your own when it comes to controlling your clutter.

Spice Island

Take advantage of the lost space where the stove meets the cabinets with shallow shelving of your favorite spices and most frequently used seasonings. The Marion Cabinets in maple from Omega Cabinetry has accessories such as these shallow shelves which are useful in many places. For more information, log onto www.omegacab.com.

Open and Shut Case

Forget about a broom closet. Try this slim line cabinet that easily glides out from a dead space. It even has room for a handy bucket on the bottom level to hold smaller sprays and cleaners, and it is designed to keep you and your cleaning supplies very organized. The paneled Cloister cabinets in maple from Plain and Fancy Custom Cabinetry are designed with these convenient inserts.

Going To Pots

A two-tiered pot rack that pulls out easily makes the cooking process easier. Having the lids where they should be reduces your need to kneel down on the floor and scramble for the appropriate size lids. The Two-Tierd Cookware Shelves are from Rev-A-Shelf Cabinet Accessories, and more of their innovative products can be found on www.rev-a-shelf.com.

Mom and Dad meet Madura

By Tammy

Ever wonder how granite would look in a laminate surface? Wonder no more. Wilsonart’s Madura series arrives just in time for spring!

You see I’m the daughter of a Wilsonart retiree. I’ve grown up with laminate surfacing all my life. Much like the Wilson house, laminate adorned many surfaces in our family home. I remember vividly the avocado green appliances, white marbled laminate and laminate wall paneling.

My parents, who are now empty-nesters built a home nine years ago. Being a brand loyalist, they would have no other surface material but Wilsonart Laminate for their new countertops. So, they chose their design from the good old faithful laminate chain (boy, did I have fun playing with those when I was little). And even though it still looks good, it could use a little style update.

So, what better way to introduce a savvy new granite series than to my very own parents. Mom and Dad meet Madura!

Madura Pearl countertop and island shown.

Quotes from my parents:

”I wish your dad would switch out my tops! Not that I need new tops, but Wilsonart has made me fall in love all over again.

“That’s not laminate.”

“The finish is authentic. I’d never need to worry about my granite chipping.”

“The decorative edge is the only way to go. I want to say goodbye to the brown line.”

“Just look where technology has come in a short time.”

Haven’t seen Madura yet? You can simply visit Countertop.com or visit your local retailer. I’m betting on Madura Gold as a fan favorite. How about you?

Kitchen Trends: Looking Back or Looking Forward?

By Gale

I am always on the lookout for new ideas to share with you. That was why I was puzzled to discover in a press release from the National Kitchen and Bath Association that they were using research from their member kitchen and bath designers and calling it the “11 Kitchen and Bath Trends of 2011.” Maybe I’m wrong, but I think of trends as being able to look forward to the future… not backwards to what has already happened. Let me give you a few good examples:

A Place for Wine

While the incorporation of wine refrigerators seems to be on the decline according to The National Kitchen and Bath Association, un-chilled wine storage is growing in popularity. While only 39% of surveyed designers incorporated wine storage areas into their kitchens at the end of 2009, just over half—51%—did so as 2010 came to a close.

What does that mean? Either we Americans are not aware that there is a need to optimize our wine, so it does need to be stored properly, or maybe we are drinking it faster so it does not have time to spoil! I think that wine bottles stored for “show” is a really a total waste of space.

How you store your wine will affect the flavor, color and character of each bottle. Even those bottles kept for a few weeks or months can be positively or negatively impacted by the type of home wine storage you have. For most wine lovers, having the right kind of wine storage unit is imperative. Think about temperature, light, humidity, storage angle and ventilation... and a wine cooler. And use those cubbies for some other purpose.

Bonjour Réfrigérateur 


The French door refrigerator has strengthened its position as the type specified most often by NKBA member designers. Freezer-bottom models specified by 8% of designers fell very slightly from 60% to 59%, while freezer-top refrigerators were only as 2010 drew to a close—down from 10% a year earlier. Translated from the statistics, this means that French door refrigerators, which are almost all freezer-bottom design, are still relevant to designed-kitchens.

I think what is relevant is that most of us hate to bend down or even worse, get on our hands and knees to retrieve something that lurks in the back of our refrigerators. And as time goes on, we want even our fridges to be more accessible. I, for one, do really want to find those unused cartons of leftover food before they become pungent. Keeping everything chilled at eye level means that I never have to bow down to the refrigerator god again!

A Worthy Vessel 


Undermount sinks continue to dominate newly remodeled bathrooms, with 97% of NKBA bathroom designers having specified them over the last three months of 2010, up from 95% a year earlier. However, vessel sinks have become the clear second choice among designers, as 51% of NKBA member designers have specified them in the final quarter of 2010, up from 39% a year ago. Why are they touting the Number Two choice?

Vessel sinks have been in the market for a number of years and are a “certain look”, which is not always practical but is usually pretty. I like having the extra countertop space that the Number One choice, an undermount sink, provides. It is a cleaner look and one that is important in the kitchen as well. Technology has also allowed the mixing of materials for undermount, say a stainless sink marries with a solid surface counter, or an acrylic sink works well with a laminate top.

Next month: 8 more ‘trends’

Floored in Every Sense!

By Tammy

Goodbye creamy carpet, Snowflake to be exact! Nine years you have served our family well, but my Himalayan and 6-year old have put you to the test. And don't count mom and dad out. We've brought our fair share of allergens in with yard maintenance and loving the outdoors. Farewell sneezing.

Drum roll, please… I am happy to report that the living room and secondary hallway, along with a closet, are now complete (see my Holiday post for a refresh). Take a look at a few of the remodel pics.

Before

After

Okay, yes you might say, “Tammy, the walls are matchy-matchy with your new floor.” Problem-solved! Stay tuned to “Living with Color” in the coming weeks. Lets just say, the remodel continues (can you see the to-do list piling up?). I like to say “inspiration” has taken hold. Has that happened to you during your remodel? Please share your inspirations too!

Note of caution: It is realistic to run into snags along the way, so plan your remodel with some leeway. Plan for your careers, children activities, and holidays, to name a few (even the Super Bowl) to all dip into your valuable time. And among all, don’t sweat the small stuff. It all gets finished in due time.