Retro Kitchen Appliances

Yesterday I was looking through a Coastal Living Magazine and saw a home with a refrigerator that had belonged to the owner's grandmother. The woman had it brought up from her basement and refurbished so that she could use it in her summer home. I thought that was such a cool idea! Not only was it sentimental for the home owner, but it also looked super cool. Knowing that not all of us are lucky enough to inherit such a cool heirloom, I did a little research. I found a company, called Big Chill , that not only makes retro refrigerators, but other appliances, too. Now, you definitely have to be 100% committed to the vintage look, but by using appliances like this you can really give your kitchen a punch of 1952! Whether you want to just give your kitchen a simple touch of this retro style OR you want to make the whole kitchen feel like a blast from the past, the Big Chill is one option that does the trick. You could even add a pop of color by mixing a kitchen full of modern stainless steel appliances with a vibrant refrigerator or range. Either way, know that by adding something a little different to your kitchen is what separates it from every other kitchen out there!!

~Bethany~

Decorative Hardware... The Jewelry for your Kitchen

Imagine getting all dressed up for a night on the town. You've got it all... new dress, gorgeous shoes, fabulous hair... and no earrings. Actually, lets take it a step further... no jewelry at all. What?! That is just absurd! Well, think about your kitchen cabinetry the same way. A kitchen without the final touches of hardware is, well, naked.  Although it may be the smallest part of a kitchen, the hardware can truly make it or break it.  As you see here in this photo to the left, the linear brass pulls simply gives a very vintage feel to the cabinetry without going overboard. However, one could easily change out these traditional looking pulls for some square polished chrome knobs and take the entire kitchen's style in a whole new transitional direction.

The next example shows very sleek linear hardware. Here, the cabinetry's lines had already developed the clean simplistic style. The addition of such bold pulls successfully completes the overall modern feeling.

In the last photo to the left, these sassy glass knobs are whimsical and airy. But, at the same time, they are also adding a slight touch of "coastal freshness" to the look. In addition, the standard panel door has been modified to a colorful glass door.

As you can see, the hardware does a LOT when it comes to really making a design cohesive. Don't let them become an afterthought! The addition of these little "gems" is priceless when it comes to pulling the look of the kitchen together.

We have an amazing gallery of decorative hardware here at our showroom! Come in and check it out!! Also, If you mention my blog, we'll give you 15% off of your hardware order!!!

~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~

Custom Kitchen Design with Pets in Mind

Let’s not forget…….. Our Four-Legged Family Members!

Kitchen and bath design has evolved dramatically in the last 10 years.  One of my personal favorite design trends would have to be the recently discovered thoughtfulness for our family pets.

I have found that design has moved toward providing comfort for the “whole family”, including pets especially in the kitchen, bath and mudroom areas.

For instance, entryways or mudrooms are no longer just for wiping your feet and hanging your coat.  I have been incorporating pet stations, food storage and even sleeping quarters in several designs.  Some of the pet showers are built with no expense spared, many boasting high-end fixtures, custom stone and even mosaic sea glass tiles.  The design goal is for Client’s pampered pets to relax in (for a lack of a better description) spa-like retreats. I find that the rear entryway is the most logical place to rinse off your pet after a long swim in the salty ocean or roll in the mud preventing mud tracks throughout the house.

In the kitchen, I have frequently designed in some small creature comforts such as built in pet beds so those four legged family members could lounge peacefully in a hide-a-way sleeping nook while feeling close to the hustle and bustle of the busiest room.  There are also newly added cabinet options such as custom pull-out serving stations for family pets to enjoy their dinner. 

In addition, another interesting idea would be to conceal pet food and/or litter boxes away from sight but easily accessible behind cleverly cut doors possibly in the kitchen, laundry room or bath...

~Tena~