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Kitchen Design Notes

Kitchen Design Notes
Welcome to Kitchen Design Notes. Whether in the middle of a kitchen remodel, planning one or just dreaming, stop in and browse. This blog is part sounding board, part roladex. Here, I can share tips and pass on the latest design information to you.

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Articles

How to Choose Patio Furniture: A.K.A. The Education of a Kitchen Designer
2008-06-01 20:19:00
It is summer time and the news papers are full of ads featuring patio sets for sale. I want to remind you about the importance of avoiding tropical hardwoods for your patio furniture.It's funny the way things come about. Life is circular in so many ways. A cause and affect motion is set into place in our lives, like it or not, the same way a pebble hits a pond of water and has a ripple effect.For me, my ripple effect was something as simple as shopping for a new patio bench last year. It brought my attention to the destruction of tropical rainforests. I was aware, yes, but it didn't really impact me, so I thought, until it was about to impact me in my own backyard, literally. I felt small really on what impact I could have. Ultimately, I did not purchase a bench from Target made from nyatoh. What could I do, I am just one person among billions on our planet. Nevertheless, I researched this and wrote about it for the first time here in my blog October 15, 2007, Woods to Avoid and...
More About: Education , Kitchen , Furniture , Designer , Patio

When shiny and bright will not do
2008-05-31 20:23:00
Here is wonderful picture of a very old and original German silver sink. The homeowner was able to preserve the original sink from the butler's pantry.The homeowners were updating a 100 year plus home in Maine. It is quite an accomplishment when you can remodel by adding modern day conveniences and still maintain the character of the home. For the full article please see House Beautiful online article, Kitchen of the Month.
More About: Bright , Shiny

Pillow Talk
2008-05-29 06:13:00
Now that spring is before us, we look around our homes for a fresh approach.Short on cash and big on ideas does not mean you are limited for a fresh look.Human beings have an innate desire for change. We want to try out the newest restaurants, see the latest movies, we change our clothes to fit the season, we change our hairstyle to lift our spirits and remain current, why not freshen up our furnishings to welcome the new seasons?Fresh flowers are temporary, paint is a weekend project, slipcovers are costly.Pillow s are the answer. Pillows are one of the few items you can count on that is easy on the budget and delightful in your space to bring in a fresh design statement. Pillows in the kitchen? Well, but of course!Feel free to try something new. Do you have a banquette that could use a little more comfort? Add two or three toss pillows for cushy back support.Has anyone been able to sit in a Ladder Back or Windsor chair and can say without wincing that they are comfortable for more ...
More About: Talk

Go ahead, Write on the Walls
2008-05-26 23:28:00
I came across the product that can have some kitchen applications too. Cover a pantry door panel. Cover the side of a wall cabinet, add to a plain painted backsplash.Write a grocery list, write a message, let your kids draw their art.Each kit contains 4, 19”x24½” chalkboard panels that can be used separately or combined for a large 38”x38” chalkboard writing surface. For more information contact Wall Candy Arts.
More About: Ahead , Walls

Kitchen Sociology and Home Tours
2008-05-26 19:37:00
Yesterday I took my Mom out to the Pasadena Highlands Home Tour in Pasadena, CA.Home Tours are a lot of fun, a chance for homeowners to show off their flair for home keeping and their remodeling savvy and a chance for the general public at large to take a peek at how others keep a home, what taste they have and of course taking note of ideas they can use for their own homes.We had a great time touring through other people's homes and laughing with a little guilt that that we have a lot of organizing to do before we would dare let anyone tour our own homes. We fell in love with the color schemes, the architecture, the gorgeous tree lined streets. And finally, we gained a new appreciation for our circa 1980's tract homes. Albeit, our newer homes can never compare to the charm of the historic Pasadena homes, we have to content ourselves with the fact that our cookie cutter tract homes have bigger closets and wider hallways. As they say, the grass is always greener on the other side ...
More About: Kitchen , Sociology

Gratitude
2008-05-14 02:40:00
I apologize if you haven't seen anything new from me about kitchens or baths for a while.Life has been ridiculously busy, chaotic, new, fun, exciting, challenging, enlightening, and continues to be more so everyday.This post is really simple and short. It is about gratitude for the people who enter into my life. As I reach out to people in my community I learn more about myself. Maybe it's old age, maybe the cavalier attitude of youth has shed it's shell on me, but whatever it is, I am grateful.
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Seminar was a success!
2008-05-03 23:06:00
Whew, what a blast! I am coming off the thrill from a very successful seminar I gave on Kitchen and Bath trends for 2008.The design/build firm I work at began holding seminars, a different remodeling topic each month, open to the public. Each one of the sales people, including our fearless leader, has a turn at bat to lead a seminar. This month was my turn. The fun part about this seminar is that I get to speak to a captive audience about topics I am passionate about. I can convey that energy and enthusiasm to people who want to hear about kitchen and bath trends. It's sort of like our own remodeling mixer, we can meet and greet people in an informal and fun gathering, and perhaps may even become a client in the near future. In speaking to a couple of people about shopping for materials, they mentioned how astonished they are at the nonchalant service they receive in the plumbing and tile showrooms. Unfortunately, it is true, there are sales people who are bench warmers, and more ...
More About: Success , Seminar

Blue is the New black
2008-04-24 17:24:00
Patricia Gray has mentioned Blue is the New Black at her blog . Blue remains timeless. It can be bold or quiet. I noted in an earlier blog that blue remains a popular color even the kitchen. Color communicates who we are. Bold colors for a free spirit. Demure colors for soft spoken types. It can also transmit a vibe. Do you feel best when at the beach, or are you invigorated by world travels and need to be surrounded with more exotic colors and elements?Back splashes can be an opportunity to create a vibe for your space. Hard surfaces can play off of soft surfaces such as cushions & fabric.From the most bold...Shown here, variegated handmade glass tiles. Reminiscent of the ocean, by Erin Adams through Ann Sacks. Interior Design by Frank Roop and Dalia Kitchen Design.Large Zen Weave in mottled blue, Ann Sacks tileTo the fanciful formal...An interlocking oval in hand cut glass tiles in Ann Sacks silver and mineral presents itself as a whimsical yet formal pattern.To the invigorati...

John Adams
2008-04-24 15:58:00
I have started to read a new Blog by Fay, called Red River Interiors.A really smart blog on interior design. I appreciate the historical perspectives, and her personal point of view.I found someone else who admits to watching the HBO special about John Adams , not just for the historical significance of the formation of our country and the life of our second president of the United States, John Adams , but I found myself hitting rewind and pause to absorb the period elements of architecture and design through the following:Architectural embellishments, fireplaces, moldings, floors,Room colors, paint and wallpapered halls for the Federal periodThe furnishingsThe hair styles (wigs)The window treatmentsThe gardens at Peacefield in comparison to Monticello and the French gardensThe unfinished interiors of the White House in 1800.It appears the construction of the white house indeed suffered from contractor delays. Remember this when you are agonizing over your own remodel. Interesting fac...

Seating Arrangements in the Kitchen
2008-04-23 19:37:00
When personalizing a kitchen, the seating area is the area to make a statement.Embellish,Streamline,Simplify,C olorize.Expand.Take a kitchen from functional to fabulous.Here are some of my favorites.SO INVITING... At the far end of the kitchen, an 18th-century French farm table is lit by a three-bulb version of the pendants over the kitchen island.The reproduction Thonet dining chairs came from Paris. Notice the dark wood hutch, a family heirloom, with gleaming white ceramic and ironstone pieces the homeowner collects.As seen in House Beautiful. CLARITY...Modern dining room featured in House Beautiful December 2006 issue.COLOR + TEXTURE = A+AND MORE COLOR...On the cabinets, high-gloss paint--Benjamin Moore's White Dove--easily wipes clean and is set off by custom-colored grass-green walls.The 48-inch gas range is by Wolf. The Country Kitchen sink is paired with the Amarilis Heritage faucet, both by American Standard. Click here for House Beautiful article.MINIMALISTIC = MAXIMUM IMP...
More About: Seating

Electrolux Kelly Bags
2008-04-20 22:47:00
Calling all handbag lovers: The hunt for “Kelly ’s Bags ,” a new on-line game inspired by TV personality Kelly Ripa, starts April 14 at electroluxappliances.com. The new game designed by Electrolux , Europe’s leading premium appliance brand, is designed to attract those who covet the latest clutch, hobo or satchel, as well as anyone who wants to win one of 10 new suites of designer kitchen appliances from Electrolux. Anyone who registers to play will be supporting The Ovarian Cancer Research Fund, a cause important to Kelly and women everywhere. Visit electroluxappliances.com for game rules and how to play.

Blue Kitchens
2008-04-20 21:16:00
Blue has always been a popular color. Do you have a favorite color and want to incorporate in your kitchen without looking overdone, see how blue accents these wonderful kitchens. Elegant carved cabinetry in this Connecticut kitchen take us straight into French chateau country. click here. House Beautiful.Here is the ultimate collector's fantasy, with beautiful blue cabinets to show off pottery, and a hand-carved island from France.As seen in House Beautiful. Click here.The contemporary Quimper dinnerware is still made in the original factory in France. The cabinets were custom-designed by Joanne Hudson and built by Downsview. A collection of tea cozies is tucked on top. Old Italian apothecary jars are lined up on the marble countertop from Vermont Quarries. Featured in House Beautiful January 2007 issue.Kitchen from Electrolux.com
More About: Kitchens , Blue

Beautiful sinks
2008-04-20 19:13:00
More beautiful kitchen sinks.Enjoy!What strikes me the most about this sink and counter is the rustic appeal of the concrete against the glossy cast iron sink. A mix of materials-Beautiful . The concrete countertops were cast in place and finished with an acrylic sealer and a special wax. To maintain the patina, they're rewaxed about every two months.As seen in House Beautiful. French country style with the farmhouse sink is the cleanup and storage area, where dishes are kept. House Beautiful.Ann Sacks's Zeus sink with an antique copper patina is paired with Kohler's Vinnata faucet in Vibrant Brazen Bronze. From House Beautiful. Click here. Bucks County Soapstone makes the old-fashioned farmhouse sink with a canted front and a little dip in the rim, as if it had worn down over the years. Perrin & Rowe faucet for Rohl.Franke's Manor House apron-front sink in stainless steel puts an industrial spin on the country look. As seen in House Beautiful.A duo with creative details. Th...
More About: Sinks

Modern life, vintage look
2008-04-14 01:34:00
These photos were published in the LA Times, February 22, 2008, from an article "William Krisel: Modern architecture's everyman".I do enjoy the clean simple lines. Sunshine and the easy access to the outdoors predominates this style.This is architecture I can live with.Enjoy.
More About: Life , Vintage

The Ahhh Tub
2008-04-13 07:23:00
There is nothing like a deep soaking tub.At a height if 24" don't even think of using this for a tub/shower combination.This is the ultimate in soaking tubs. Simple & Pure Luxury. The height to the overflow is 19.5". The interior length 70 1/4", plenty of room to luxuriate in a tub. It does come in alternate sizes and shapes.Here is one of my favorites tubs.The Elise by the brand MTI Whirlpools.

Tackling Formaldehyde and Alternatives
2008-04-13 06:12:00
The March/April 2008 Issue of Building Products has a good summary for clarifying the use of formaldehyde in building products. There is no web link, unfortunately, so I will copy the article here.Most structural engineered wood is glued together with binders that contain phenol formaldehyde, a product with minimal off gassing. The binders used for some non-structural, interior grade products, like particleboard, MDF, and hardwood plywood, however, can contain urea formaldehyde, a volatile compound that is classified as a carcinogen. Urea formaldehyde is also linked to respiratory problems, eye and nose irritation, and allergic reactions. The telltale sign of its presence: the sweet smell that most kitchen and bathroom cabinets emit. New regulations in California will restrict urea formaldehyde emissions, but do not deal with phenol formaldehyde. In response, manufacturers are developing formaldehyde-free binders, using products like polyurethane and even soy. Last summer, the Cal...
More About: Alternatives , Formaldehyde

Commercial Kitchen Zone Arrives Homes
2008-04-09 06:46:00
I was raised around a commercial kitchen and so I have a fondness for cooking and planning for cooking. My favorite place, as a kid, was the cold zone where the tubs of ice cream were kept, and the fountain/beverage service area, where I was so thrilled at "organizing" the mise en place objects . I loved the elegant dishes reserved for serving ice cream, the tall and amusing shape of the ice tea spoons, the white coffee cups with the apple red rims laid out with matching saucers stacked next to them, the glasses in pull out plastic trays below the counter for ease of serving glasses of water and iced tea. (I probably drove the servers crazy when I "re-organized" things for them before service). At the tender age of eight I knew the difference between a steam table and a deep fryer, was enthralled with the glow from the salamander, watching cheese bubble on the hot plates, I loved stirring the sauces in the steam table when the cooks would permit me in the kitchen during prep hours. ...
More About: Commercial , Kitchen , Homes , Zone

Allowances
2008-04-08 05:10:00
Tales from remodeling. As I review remodel proposal with clients, I explain this: I do not include allowances for plumbing fixtures, cabinet hardware or tile. The reason is simple, there is a false sense of security built into a proposal, a security bubble that is easily burst when the homeowner visits the plumbing store and starts pricing the fixtures they want on the project. The shock and frustration sets in after one realizes the contractor allowances are not close to being realistic. It can add up to thousands more than what the contractor allowed.Here is one example from the blog, Dream Home Diaries.Our builder, John, does not have cheap taste. Quality materials were included in the budget: granite counter tops, composite decking and Hardie Plank siding. Then why, oh why, did he allow such paltry amounts for sinks and faucets? Paul and I were shocked to learn that John had budgeted only $20 for each bathroom sink —thinking that we would be pleased to use the kind of ugly d...
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Allowances
2008-04-08 05:10:00
Tales from remodeling. As I review remodel proposal with clients, I explain this: I do not include allowances for plumbing fixtures, cabinet hardware or tile. The reason is simple, there is a false sense of security built in to a proposal, a security bubble that is easily burst when the homeowner visits the plumbing store. The shock and frustration sets in after one realizes the up charges start adding up. It can add up to thousands more than what the builder allowed.Here is one example from the blog, Dream Home Diaries.Our builder, John, does not have cheap taste. Quality materials were included in the budget: granite countertops, composite decking and Hardie Plank siding. Then why, oh why, did he allow such paltry amounts for sinks and faucets? Paul and I were shocked to learn that John had budgeted only $20 for each bathroom sink —thinking that we would be pleased to use the kind of ugly drop-in sink one finds in spec houses.Lesson learned: when comparing bids, request the co...
More About: Allowances

Learning From Others Mistakes
2008-04-07 02:07:00
I must give a nod to The Kitchen Designer, Susan Serra, for her masterful opinion in her blog dated 04/06/08, Lessons Learned from New York Times "Dream House Diaries". Susan Serra's 14 points are a primer for anyone planning a home renovation project.A builder who assumes the cabinets are to be built around a predetermined plumbing and mechanical plan means someone put some thought in planning the kitchen, you would think so. But to read in the "Dream House Diaries" that the builder suggested to leave the kitchen planning till the point where the floors are down is nothing but a** backwards. It indicates the builder is interested in a cabinet order taker to come in later to get it in and get it done. This causes a huge disservice to the homeowner who is intent on a "Dream Kitchen for their Dream Home".Whether building from the ground up or renovating an existing home, the mechanical locations for plumbing & gas lines, go hand in hand with planning the kitchen. Also, the place...
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Paint your Kitchen with Cyber Paint
2008-04-06 22:49:00
Time is money when your painter is waiting for an answer. Hearing the painter ask. "What color?" can be unsettling when all you have to base your decision is off of a small paint chip the size of a business card or a postage stamp.My client and I were going back and forth on the idea to paint the molding dark or not.Seeing a concept before you put the paint brush to work is a huge help to visualize the space.For us, we needed to see french windows, doors and door casing and lots of molding for a comparison. The cabinets and cabinet crown molding is a dark cherry wood, the crown molding around the room is paint grade. Should we go with a dark stain on the exterior doors and casing or paint them light?There are two on line tools I want to tell you about that are invaluable.Experimenting with different colors before painting saves a lot of time and mistakes.Quick Tips:Take the smaller paint chips from the paint store, grab a 1/2 dozen and paste them together to make one large paint chi...
More About: Kitchen , Cyber , Paint

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