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Inspiring Eat-In Kitchens
2007-11-22 14:36:00
Do you need a formal dining room for your Thanksgiving dinner for a small group? No! Over the years, I've had one long table, as well as multiple tables, and I'll tell you what is best: it's whatever works! And, if that means eating in the kitchen, so be it. Here are inspiring eat in kitchens good enough for today's main event, the Thanksgiving meal. Images from Desire To Inspire and the (departed) House & Garden. Enjoy! 
More About: Kitchen Design , Kitchens

Happy Thanksgiving!
2007-11-21 18:33:00
Bar none, even Thanksgiving day itself, I'd say Thanksgiving eve is my most favorite day of the year. It's all potential at this point! The kids come home, we all begin to cook, chaos abounds, wine flows, the cat attacks the visiting dog, we get in each other's way, make the list for take-out, make a grand mess, and it's all good. It all happens in the kitchen at a fever pitch. Nowhere else in the house does the combination of working together and relating, occur, except the kitchen, together with the sensory pieces of food, colors, music, and so much love floating around, too, of course. My daughter and I, since yesterday, and probably before then, have been exchanging emails with multiple exclamation marks. Me saying "Come Home!!" multiple times, and she (having an otherwise very responsible job in the city), with equal doses of enthusiastic responses. It WILL be an invasion in just a few hours from this moment. It's 12:44 as I write this. I guess I should start pla...
More About: Happy , Hank

What I Did Last Week
2007-11-19 23:57:00
I guess I took a small leave of absence that was unintentional! I've just finished a crazy week, crazier than usual.It started last Wednesday in New York City. I was asked by KBB magazine (Kitchen Bath Business) to be a judge of product innovations for 2007, to be disclosed in their December issue. There were five other judges invited and, I believe, 147 product entries for us to go through. This took most of the day, and included much spirited, open, discussion. I suppose it was sort of what a jury room must be like! The jury foreman (non judge representative from KBB) did a great job of adding order to the chaos, and assuring that everyone was heard. We came with different points of view, a good thing. I could tell you who the winners are...but then I'd have to harm you!The next day, Thursday, I met a business associate from Europe, and we traipsed down to Washington D.C. to discuss a large residential multi apartment project. We took the 6 am train there and the 1 pm train back...
More About: Project Management , Week

A New Vision In Kitchen Design
2007-11-08 16:54:00
Coming soon...an honest, green, kitchen. A stunningly simple, organic, yet adaptable, point of view. Solid wood. Solid design.  Available in the New York area (for the first time), in the first quarter of 08 from...me! (more details soon!)  
More About: Design , Kitchen , Kitchen Design , Vision

Kitchen Shelving Trend and Iron Brackets
2007-11-07 15:50:00
Now that kitchen shelving is getting more popular, I also seem to be doing more of it! It adds such warmth and personality to spaces. It is a great look to mix both decorative AND useful items on shelving, that's really the beauty of it. Books, and salt/pepper shakers. Dishes and antique bowls. Vases and oil/vinegar botlles. Of course, closed baskets also look great on shelves, adding texture, but not dust!I've lived with open shelving for my dishes and glasses now for a few years, and I have to say we love it. The dishes and glasses are used so frequently that there isn't time to accummulate dust. Some glasses which are less used, we'll do a quick rinse under the nearby faucet, and that's it. Open shelving is not for everyone, granted. I just ordered 14 brackets for a project. The place I mostly go to is Iron Accents. It's a Yahoo store, a very reliable company, and I've used them for years, I can definitely vouch for their product and quality.  They also have a million...
More About: Kitchen , Trend

Green Kitchen Ideas
2007-11-07 13:28:00
Take a look at this green kitchen, isn't it great? I saw it on Apartment Therapy Green , and I had to show it to you. On that link, you can get lots more information in the form of an interview with the owners including some good, green tips at the end of the interview. Take a look here, for images of the kitchen. Another example of a "lite green" point of view. Well, this one  may be a moderate green remodel, but, again, it does not have to be all or nothing. Finding old things to reuse can generate lots of good design ideas.  
More About: Ideas , Kitchen

Kitchen Design Inspiration (Hamptons) Long Island Style
2007-11-04 20:36:00
What a weekend! On Saturday, I dragged my husband to go to a seminar on green kitchen design in Princeton, New Jersey, Miele's headquarters. Let me tell you, their headquarters are absolutely gorgeous. Modern, colorful, beautifully designed. What a treat. The seminar was filled with great information, which I have to gather together and make several posts of shortly. Very informative and will report back shortly. The seminar was over at about 1:30, and we began the drive back toward Long Island, over the beautiful Verrazano Bridge. When we were in the sort of beachy Brooklyn area on the Belt Parkway, I said, you know, part of me feels like driving to the Hamptons. My husband said, "let's go!" Crazy kids that we are, we did just that...into the remains of a hurricane which came fairly close to Long Island, resulting in wind and rain...very cozy, if not fun to drive in!We stopped at a few great shops, and by this time it was around 4:30. I was immediately inspired! The fir...
More About: Design , Kitchen , Inspiration , Decoration , Kitchen Design

The Secret To Making A Selection
2007-11-02 19:45:00
I met Grace, my client, and her best friend at the tile store today. She had to choose a floor for her family room, which is somewhat open to the kitchen we're working on. I wasn't purchasing it for her, but she's a great client, and I wanted to help her out, so I readily agreed to meet with her at the store, gratis. Happy to do it. How does this relate to kitchens? The whole house relates to the kitchen and the kitchen relates to the whole house. Grace had her cabinet samples and granite sample with her. Here's what we looked at. She wanted a porcelain tile for the floor (the family room is on a slab and the dog mostly stays in that room.) We quickly found three that we liked: A red with multi colored soft tones in it, a very elegant, sleek, tile, very large, very light, very subtle, but with a beautiful light and linear greigy color (my choice-a less is more kind of look), and an in between tile which was quite busy.  All gorgeous.Long story short, we chose a fourth tile ...
More About: Project Management , The Secret , Secret , Selection

Pardon My Dust - LA Times Remodeling Blog
2007-11-02 15:16:00
I recently "met" (in a cyber sort of way) Kathy Price-Robinson, author of the blog, "Pardon Our Dust", seen in the LA Times . I was immediately struck by Kathy's "voice." It is a voice of reason in this wild and crazy world we call remodeling. It is a voice of knowledge about the remodeling process, which is exactly what Kathy Robinson-Price specializes in...the process. How to put one step in front of the other, to survive the remodeling process (intact.) Kathy talks about what consumers need to know, and interestingly, what they don't. I like Kathy's take on the process. She knows her stuff, and she pulls no punches! It's my pleasure to introduce you to Kathy Price-Robinson. Thanks, Kathy! 1. OK, I'm curious, why remodeling? Where did your knowledge or experience come from? I started writing about houses as a fluke when another reporter at the Santa Barbara News-Press hated his assignment to write about a house a week and he asked me to take ove...
More About: Blog , Remodeling , Deli

Beautiful Kitchens - Western Interiors
2007-11-01 17:53:00
There's a small part of me that would love to do a kitchen out west, if I had a home, or for someone else, for that matter. What would I do? The whole rustic Colorado/Montana/wild west look? Or, maybe a kitchen with a California mediterranean/Spanish ifluence. Or, an elegant, San Franciscan back in time look? I don't know, but I do dream about a western kitchen. Or, maybe I'd choose sort of a modern, yet, warm, kitchen in Oregon or in Seattle, maybe? That could work out quite well. I first saw these at Apartment Therapy San Francisco. and gasped! What a treasure trove! They are from Western Interiors magazine.  Sometimes, less is more, and sometimes less is, well, less. You'll find your favorites, which, after all, is the point...there's something for everyone. :)You've got to see it in the slide show...go ahead, waste a little time and get into the kitchen dream zone...zzzzzzzzz  
More About: Kitchens , Beautiful

Retro Appliance - Chambers Copper Range
2007-11-01 12:40:00
A blogging friend, Dean, from Calfinder, a free service connecting homeowners to contractors in the San Francisco bay area, sent me an image of this amazing range, which resides in his parents' home in Newport Beach, Caleefornia. Isn't it wild? Surrounded by the soft grays and whites, really makes this range the focal point, the star, the diva of the kitchen! More about Calfinder. Calfinder is a very unusual type of contractor referral service. The people at Calfinder, well, here's a short description, which says it better than I can:"Before we certify a contractor we perform a variety of checks. Below are just a few of those checks: In-depth check of current license and insurance coverage Personal interview with at least 10 previous clients ensuring customer satisfaction and business reliabilityOngoing monitoring and customer satisfaction surveysFollow up with each homeowner we work with to ensure that our contractors are providing a great service"They also have a...
More About: Retro , Copper , Chambers , Range , Appliance

Color Trend - More Gray
2007-10-31 19:04:00
More gray news here for home interiors, fashion, and it's seen everywhere. Blinkdecor calls it gray skies and shows interesting examples of what's happening on the (gray) streets. Beautiful wallpaper from Mod Green Pod.Unrelated to gray, but I must show you these tiles, seen again at Blink Decor, which I meant to show you a few days back. Look at these, aren't they beautiful? Maybe not grays, but you need some color with gray, that's part of the message.  And, take a look at who else, a favorite blog, Another Shade of Gray ,  who has had a good few posts on gray paint, which is a great look at lots of grays, from warm to cool. Take a look: here-it starts and continueshere, and here, ok, and here Coming soon, gray kitchens, and my thoughts on, should you or shouldn't you? 
More About: Color , Decoration , Trend

A Kitchen Treat
2007-10-31 13:38:00
Happy Halloween! In honor of this holiday, which could go either way, depending on my mood (tread carefully today) I'll give you a treat, rather than a trick! Take a look at this (appropriately pumpkin colored) kitchen. How charming is it?? A perfect kitchen for today, October 31, with it's warm, cozy, colors and materials. I do believe this kitchen has not been changed for quite a few decades! I really should find out how many decades. It is used every single day by Thorvald, my (very active) 93 year old uncle in Denmark. Images were taken in August when I was there on vacation. I've seen this kitchen all my life, and this trip was the first time it occurred to me to photograph it. I'm so glad I did. Don't you see a life well lived? Notice the case of Tuborg beer in front of the curtain in the fourth image-he's always ready for guests. :) Enjoy this special treat! 
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Trend Focus - Gray Matters
2007-10-30 18:46:00
Gray is the new beige, according to Met Home's November issue, although some are saying gray is the new black. In the kitchen world, we're just on the upswing with black, let alone gray! I have to say, I remember the gray kitchens of the 80's. They truly were awful. The were either gray glossy formica or gloss lacquer with medium gray 12x12 ceramic tiles on the floor, softly shaded. Always 8x8 medium gray tiles in the bathroom. Maybe an ivory formica breakfast table with large ivory chairs that swung around, of course.  The moment it came into vogue, I, for one, hated that gray trend. I wanted to say, "Don't you see what you're doing?? Stop it!" This time it's different. There are a variety of grays, not just the super cold one trick gray. You see warm grays, dark gray/blues, grays paired with tan...and, unlike in the 80s, traditional looks with gray rather than solely modern. Point being, if you happen to like it for the long term, make it into a classic, rathe...
More About: Focus , Trend , Matters , Gray

A Minimalist Kitchen
2007-10-30 10:19:00
I don't think I'd call fellow blogger, Leah, a slacker, even though her blog is named More Ways to Waste Time. I think Leah's efforts definitely look productive, and with some "chic" thrown into the mix. A freelance writer, Leah interviewed me some months back for a piece on kitchen faucets for HGTV's website, yet to come out. Her point of view on home design, I find to be fresh!Leah went on a walking tour of homes in California's Oakland hills. The homes were "eh", she needed a drink, but it was the last home her tour group went into, which was the surprise of the day. The kitchen stopped ME cold, when I came upon these images, and she said everyone was just wow'd. Simple, elegant, modern, yet, to me, warm. I really love this kitchen.Things I'd tweak:  The window doesn't do it for me in this setting, but my guess is the owner wanted the home to stay true to its architecture. I don't get the round thing to the right of the hood. Maybe I'd add a...
More About: Kitchen , Minima

Kitchen Wallpaper - A Guide
2007-10-28 12:44:00
I talked with my blogging buddy, Linda, from Surroundings about wallpaper in the kitchen (wallpaper is BACK...big, bold, patterns and all.)  As the second part of our two posts on the subject, Linda adds some thoughts for you here. Linda is the owner of Chameleon Interiors, a design firm near Boston. Linda's been widely covered in the media, including on WHDH's "Room For Improvement." I'm a frequent visitor to her blog, and always interested in Linda's take on interiors. "Hi Susan, I've been loving all your recent posts on white kitchens - just fabulous! After the heaviness of the 70s, the overdone 80s and the granite/stainless monsters of the 90's, the sleekness of simpler white kitchens just feels so fresh and invigorating! One thing I've noticed - and love - is the use of bolder, graphic wallpapers in kitchens. The right graphic can really enhance a blank wall in the kitchen - really balancing the space. I think the trick, however, is getting the ...
More About: Wallpaper , Kitchen , Decoration , Guide , Guid

My Day Today - Talking Kitchens and More
2007-10-26 19:01:00
Once in a great while I like to sort of write about my day. Today seems to be a good day for that. Things are swirling around. Busy day.A New Installer I started the day with an appointment at 7:15 am in my office with a new, potential, cabinet installer. Choosing to work with an installer is not unlike choosing a business partner. You want to make sure the mutual goals are similar, the business values, good habits, in order to feel that there is synergy at a certain level to produce quality work. An installer and a designer, ultimately, are a team, like it or not. They both need one another to be successful, efficient, and get the job done in the best way possible. I like this installer, and I feel very confident about him. I'm very picky and interview installers with many questions. The answers were great. I foresee mutual respect, which must be present, or it won't work. This one's for you, Joe Z***Where I don't see mutual respect, unfortunately, is with Joe Z***, who I ...
More About: Project Management , Kitchens , Talking

Desire To Inspire - Inspirational Kitchens!
2007-10-25 23:35:00
I'm excited to present to you this first kitchen, in a series of wonderful kitchens culled from the Desire To Inspire blog! Jo and Kim, the ladies who are the force behind this award winning blog, (recently named one of the ten most influential design blogs in the blogosphere) have an "eye," a vision for finding stunning interiors. It is the place I go to when I just want to look at interiors to get, well, inspired. In fact, it can be very addicting, looking at these beautiful spaces! It is not quick and easy to do what Kim and Jo do. The time spent on research behind the scenes is impressive. To create a collection of spaces, which all flow from one to the next, is itself, a creative work. Whether the context is color one day, style the next, a showcase of a particular design firm, or any other theme, we understand what it is we are viewing. It all makes sense.Let's look at this elegant kitchen. It just speaks to me. I think, because, it reflects my personal style. Mayb...
More About: Inspirational , Kitchens

Kitchen Triangle Smackdown!
2007-10-25 12:22:00
Is the kitchen triangle all it's cracked up to be? Well, YES, for the most part. But, today's news in kitchen design is that the kitchen triangle just may not be for everyone! And, the funny thing is, I do believe that my presenting a kitchen plan to a client which does not include the kitchen triangle allows the client to be more savvy and confident in regard to what they want from their kitchen, not less. In this situation, I gave my clients a wide variety of very different plans which were good possibilities for their space. There is never just one solution, oh no! Some plans had angled islands and peninsulas, including other design solutions, and, appliances in varied positions.  Long story short, this was the one they chose. Why? For two reasons. First, they both cook. Right now, their aisles between obstacles, all around the kitchen, range from about 24" (that's correct) to 39" in width. Incredibly tight, with no room to move around. Frustrating to say the le...
More About: Kitchen , Kitchen Design , Smack , Angle , Smackdown

Green Kitchen Cabinets - All Or Nothing?
2007-10-24 23:24:00
This is a good opportunity to introduce my colleague and friend, Kelly, who just started her blog on, what else, kitchens! It's called Kitchen Sync. Kelly also has that golden attribute "experience," always a good thing.  Let's add to that, good judgment, good knowledge, and good creativity, and you have an interesting blog. I had asked Kelly if she wanted me to introduce her sooner or later. She forgot to answer that question, so, based on this great post she did today, it's right NOW!Kelly talks about some of the challenges we designers face today in both identifying what is "green" and defining "green" in methods and materials involved in kitchen remodeling. I've talked about that too, and I agree, there just is no black or white, rather, shades of green. Ultimately, our clients will decide for themselves what their definition of green is. And, I, and Kelly, in the meantime, work hard to increase our knowledge of sustainable issues relating ...
More About: Green , Kitchen Cabinet , Cabin , Inet

Antique Kitchen Cabinetry - Get The Look
2007-10-24 13:05:00
  I saw this gorgeous image from one of my VERY favorite blogs, The Reclaimed Home, and I immediately knew I have much to say about it. For the moment, enjoy this beautiful kitchen. Later today, when things calm down in my schedule, I'll be back to talk about it in more detail. I'm crazy about this look (and it's not even my style.) More later...what do you think of this kitchen?OK, I'm back.  Let's take this a step further. You want this look, but you really want it to look authentic, but you don't have the time or inclination to scour the flea markets and salvage yards, or if you do, you've come up with something, but not nearly enough to outfit a whole kitchen. You've got to know about Draper DBS cabinetry. Shameless self promotion aside, you just need to know what this company does. I took on this line of cabinetry for my clients because I was seeking authenticity...and I found it.  To me, authenticity is defined to be as close a replication to an aged pa...
More About: Kitchen , Decoration , Antique , The Look , Kitchen Cabinet

White Kitchen, White Home
2007-10-23 19:24:00
Not only is the kitchen white, but most of the home is white too. With accents, texture and little bits of color, it adds up to a gorgeous look. The home we see, today, is my cousin's home, just down the road from the Queen's summer castle in Denmark! So, yes, we have another white Scandinavian kitchen...we cannot have too many, I think. Enjoy the tour of my cousin's home. She has two small children, and the woman you see in one of the images is her mother, preparing dinner. Oh, the house is 150 years old. Please enjoy this slide show and tell me what you think!  
More About: Kitchen , Home , White

Black Kitchens - Trending NOW!
2007-10-22 23:27:00
I know you're ready for some wonderful kitchens! Last week was mostly an informational week, and I think we need a few days of kitchen eye candy, or, let's prepare dessert first in our kitchens! What a treat today, to see THIS blog mentioned on Decor8, by Rachel Perls of Hue Consulting. Rachel talks about the "black" trend in all things interior design related, including kitchens. Black , absolutely, is a trend in kitchens. I'm observing this trend is only getting stronger. I have to say it is stunning. It may be best dressed up, as you see in the little black dress, always a classic. But, is it a classic, in terms of kitchen cabinetry? That is the question! Surely, we are seeing so MUCH black these days, but I'm still not convinced it translates to a classic in the kitchen. I predict it will be dated in five years.  I'd tread carefully around black, if you can resist it! Can you? Take a look at Rachel's take on black. She is a color expert, and her point of...
More About: Kitchens

Kitchen Ventilation - Copper Hoods
2007-10-21 17:58:00
I received this really cute email yesterday from an artisan who makes hand crafted copper hoods. Here it is: "Hello, I am writing this letter in regards to a product I make that I think you might be interested in, Copper hood ranges, at the moment, I make them in my spare time but I would like to eventually make it a full time job, there a few different styles I can make and I attached a couple pictures.  By trade I am a welder and I learned how to make and design them while working for a company in Alberta Canada, I try to offer the the best possible price."The fabricator said he works only with design professionals because there are so many critical dimensions involved into custom making a hood, including issues with shape and proportion. Pairing a hood with the proper ventilation appliance becomes a whole separate challenge as well, in terms of dimensions, cfms, ducting options, and more. Likewise, he prefers to communicate with a design professional on finishes, m...
More About: Kitchen , Hoods

Kitchen Remodeling Ideas - See the Space
2007-10-21 13:36:00
So, we've done more talking about our kitchen remodel in our NYC apartment. We don't necessarily make fast decisions, or if we do make a fast decision, which seems right, that's great, but we still like to let some time pass to revisit those decisions to make sure we were not just being impulsive. We decide, then ponder, confirm the decision, then act. That's our style!Take a look at the pictures, so you can see the context of what we're going to do and why. Since those pictures were taken a few months back, some artwork changes have taken place, i.e., that huge black/white print is gone, among other changes, and the coffee table replaced. Eventually, we will get a flat screen tv and remove the large (but beautiful) bamboo cabinet. The first image tells the story! See that black loveseat? The way we have the furniture arranged, we are able to have two sofas in this small space quite easily. We NEED two sofas, so that we can each have one! We are unable to sit at a sofa without ...
More About: Ideas , Space , Kitchen , Remodeling , Deli

Green Kitchen Design Inspiration
2007-10-21 01:02:00
Today's post brings to a close, this special Green Kitchen Design Week. I have learned new information in the course of writing about this topic this week, and I hope you have too. I hope you are more aware than ever before of green design issues, product resources for green kitchens and the oppoortunities available to define "green" in the context of a kitchen remodeling project.Three easy to remember concepts in living green and creating eco friendly kitchens are the 3 R's:ReduceReuse RecycleThis is such a broad topic, I could never cover it in a week! In the future, I will discuss energy efficient lighting, eco friendly flooring, and other building materials used in a kitchen remodel, including how to find green products. Over time, I will also be adding to my green collection of websites and blogs, found on the sidebar. To get started, here are two resources I'm crazy about: Treehugger's How to Go Green and The Lazy Environmentalist, found via K+BB Green. Till...
More About: Inspiration , Kitchen Design

A Budget Green Kitchen Design
2007-10-19 12:40:00
We've all heard that, and if you haven't, you will, that materials for green kitchens can be more expensive than non green materials. So, what, then, for those who need to be on a budget, I'm talking a bona fide small budget, and you want to be green, and you also want a wonderful kitchen? Here are options! I recently wrote about my kitchen, but in this context, it's a different story! Do what I did First, let me clarify that our intent with our own kitchen was not necessarily to be "green." Our intent was to be resourceful.  At the time we did this, the green drumbeat was yet to be heard in a significant way. We needed a new kitchen, had some expensive family events coming up, and could not also do the "dream" kitchen, so, we chose to be resourceful and budget oriented. I clearly remember saying these words to myself, as I contemplated our lack of a budget: "You're a designer, design something!" Looking back, I cannot believe all of the green...
More About: Design , Kitchen , Kitchen Design , Green , Budget

Kitchens and Color = Spirit!
2007-10-19 11:56:00
Breaking News! Interrupting our regularly scheduled green series (again), I had to show you this. I felt like I hit paydirt when I checked one of my usual sources for decorating inspiration, Domino. Wow, take a look at Domino's reader's entries for their first decorating contest. This category is kitchens and dining rooms. You will quickly see that Dominos' readers are NOT afraid of color, texture, or decorative details! How great are these?? It's always so much fun to look at "real" kitchens, especially when you see real individuality in the design. I see spirit in these homes, and that's a special ingredient for a kitchen design that is always worth pursuing. Five finalists will be selected, and will be presented on October 23.  Good work, readers!Tip: While you're at it, check out the Renovator's Diary blog, by Brooke Williams, also on Domino. I've linked to September's entries, a good look at Brooke's very interesting kitchen.   
More About: Color , Decoration , Kitchens , Spirit

White Kitchen - Great Style!
2007-10-18 23:10:00
Let's take a brief break from all things green and take a look at a fun, white kitchen! Just cruising around, and spotted this little lovely kitchen on decor8, and I know you all need a kitchen fix, so here it is! What a great idea for instant color and dimension in the space. Of course, I see a cake with candles, but why not put up the banner, say, on a Friday night to start the weekend... 
More About: Kitchen , Decoration , Great , Style , White

Green Kitchen Design - Things To Know
2007-10-18 13:33:00
I think I'll throw out some random and useful information about designing green kitchens. These are not in any particular order, but are categorized for easy reference to get one started thinking about incorporating green kitchen design, and overall green principles. My goal is to keep it simple! Here's why. At this point, (nearly) none of my clients, nor potential clients, are asking questions about designing a green kitchen. They are very busy people, that I know. For many, there is not much time left, with active jobs and families, to become aware of, and accumulate (quickly/easily understandable) knowledge on this issue and how it relates to the kitchen they are thinking about remodeling. Of course, it is important that the "big picture" of sustainable design has a chance to go hand in hand with one's own plans to remodel the kitchen. That's where I come in! Let's take a look at some of these principles which can be easily implemented toward designing green kitche...
More About: Design , Kitchen , Kitchen Design , Green , Things