Made in America

After hearing about ABC’s “Made in America” program, I started thinking about our business and product offering. What is “Made In America”? 

I have great news! With the exception of some of our decorative hardware and plumbing companies, EVERYTHING we offer is MADE IN AMERICA!!!

From Plain & Fancy Custom Cabinetry to SubZero & Wolf, we can literally make your entire kitchen and/or bathroom out of products made right here in the United States. What a great feeling to support OUR country!

So, next time you go to make a purchase, think about where it's made. You can make a difference and support our country too!

Secondary Sinks in the Kitchen

Currently, I am designing 3 different kitchens for 3 different clients who all have completely different needs. While working on each unique design, I have noticed one major commonality between them all.... a secondary sink.

My first set of clients are a married couple who's children are all out of the house living on their own. The husband and wife both love to cook and spend a lot of time in the kitchen together. For them, the secondary sink acts as a secondary "prep area". Even though, most of the time, they each have separate duties, they will undoubtedly need the sink at the same time. Now, they each have their own space to work on their own part of the meal.

In my second project, my clients are big entertainers. They love having parties and inviting all their friends and family over. The kitchen as a whole doesn't have enough room for an entire Wet Bar Built-In. So, by designing in a secondary sink, we are able to create a "bar area" for their guests. Now, they'll have a space that is suitable for preparing their guests' drinks and rinsing glassware.

The third kitchen design is for a family of 5. My clients have 3 young children all under the age of 10. Being the fabulous parents they are, this couple has their kids join in on the after diner clean-up. This is where the secondary sink comes in handy. While Mom or Dad are cleaning the big pots and pans in the main sink, the kids are able to rinse off all the dishes and put them in the dishwasher without anyone getting in anyone's way. Having this designated "clean-up center" makes tidying up the kitchen much faster and less of a hassle.

I've added some great "inspiration" photos of kitchens with a secondary sink.

Would you want a secondary sink in your kitchen? If yes, why?

~Bethany~

House Beautiful's Kitchen of the Year - 2010

I was ecstatic to hear that Jeff Lewis would be the designer for House Beautiful’s Kitchen of the Year! We are huge fans of Jeff at Details and often use his Bravo TV show “Flipping Out” as a common water cooler conversation. We rarely get the opportunity to design with contemporary styling in our area, so admiring his projects can be a breath of fresh air.

For me, Jeff does an amazing job making contemporary design appealing to someone with traditional taste.  The key is keeping things clean.  I think we can thank his OCD for this talent. Overcrowding with props and/or countertop appliances can definitely ruin a look – especially when working with contemporary design.  The open shelving, for example, looks fantastic with just basic white dinnerware and plain glass stemware.  A pop of color with natural objects, like flowers or plants, are also a great idea to keep things simple and less distracting to the eye.  To add something a little bit punchy… my favorite “pop” of color in any kitchen would be the illustrious red knobs on a Wolf range. What a statement!

We can’t wait to see what Jeff has in store for us when the new season of “Flipping Out” begins on August 10^th.  Check it out!!!

~Jill~

Transitional Kitchen Design

In the design community, contemporary style and European influence has seemingly taken over in the past 10 years or so. Hard lines and angles have been used with cold materials and colors to accomplish an almost naked look. This commercial style was not only being designed for offices and public spaces, but also private homes. However, recently I've been noticing a surge of warmth showing itself in mainstream design. For so long, I think people were missing a very important part of how a home should feel... comfortable.

Now, those same people are thoughtfully embracing color and softness into their spaces. The outcome? A transitional style that meets traditional and contemporary in the middle. The overly intricate details of a traditional style have been toned down while the colors and textures have been enhanced. The clean lines of contemporary designs have still been embraced, however, the materials and textiles used are warming up the look. And, of course, no design trend can change without affecting the kitchen design field!

For example, with HGTV's 2010 Green Home came a refreshing dose of transitional design. The kitchen flaunts beautiful framed inset cabinetry with great vintage cup pulls, which is all quite traditional looking. However, the doors are simplified by their shaker style and crisp white finish while the cup pulls tie in with the new (and modern!) stainless steel appliances. The warmth of the wood flooring makes for a perfect contrast with the red quartz island countertop. The chunky crown moulding with its' simplified profile meets the traditional bead board ceiling seamlessly. All of this, along with many other details, lends itself to the comfortable and fresh feeling style that is Transitional Design.

What are your thoughts on this design style?

~Bethany~

The Importance of Working with a Kitchen Designer

As kitchen designers we are repeatedly asked, what are the benefits of working with a designer rather than a stocked box company? The most important and most clear reason, in my opinion, is customization. Renovating a kitchen is a big investment and we understand that. So, in the process, why not make your new kitchen the space of your dreams?! For this "On The Water Addition" my client had a few specific needs that had to be met in the re-design of her kitchen. 

First was space. There needed to be plenty of seating for her family and friends to sit comfortably while she was busy cooking up a storm in her new kitchen. There also needed to be enough counter space so that the prepared food could be served from a spot in the kitchen other than her work areas. In order to accommodate that, we configured a large asymmetrical island that provided enough space for everyone to sit. Then, we designed a long, easily accessible, built-in buffet. With the windows above, it really becomes the focal point of the room.

Secondly, because of that entertaining, she needed to know that the clean up process wouldn't be a slow one. To make sure that didn't happen, we incorporated an additional "clean-up station" in the island. This included an extra sink and full size dishwasher. Now the home owner can be assured she won't be wasting quality time with her guests in order to finish cleaning the kitchen.

Third, the importance of recycling was expressed to me. She needed a place to keep her cans and bottles organized but, at the same time, out of sight. So, designed into the floor plan and disguised by the cabinetry is a base cabinet that allows the family to send cans and bottles to the basement. There the cans and bottles can be sorted into their correct bins. 

 And last but not least... coffee! My client wanted to make her morning routine of coffee making easier and less of a hassle. Her Keurig was going to be decently far from the sink areas. So rather than having to bring the Keurig to the faucet across the kitchen, we designed a faucet specifically for the Keurig itself. Now, no more spilling water on the floor!

I guess my point is that if you're going to be investing your time, money and energy into such a large project, the choice is clear! Work with a professional and make your new kitchen a unique space built just for you!

Bethany Gardner, Designer for Kitchen & Bath Details