Including Your Pets in the Kitchen

Problem: Where To Put The Pet’s Bowls?

 

Addressing the modern needs of a large family and incorporating every family member is necessary in designing the perfect kitchen—even including the family dog and cat!  This clever pet-food nook is another space saver, integrated inside a cabinet; no one trips over the food bowls anymore! Contact Kitchen & Bath Details to speak with a designer about where to put this design solution in your new kitchen!

We apologize for the grainy photos, but we just had to share how cool AND useful this cabinet can be in the kitchen or auxiliary room.

Emerald Green - Pantone's Color for 2013

Each year, Pantone, the world-renowned color experts, designate an official "color of the year".  For 2013 they've selected emerald green.  They describe the color as "lively, radiant and lush...a color of elegance and beauty that enhances our sense of well-being, balance and harmony."  Who wouldn't love a little elegance and harmony in their home?  Pantone's website (www.pantone.com) is a great resource to check out a huge variety of colors and current color trends.  A pop of color is a fun way to give a room touch of personality, especially in the kitchen.  To help you make this the year of emerald green, we've selected some fabulous kitchen and home items shown below, including some products available through Kitchen & Bath Details! 

Photo Credits Clockwise from mixer:

1. Kitchenaid Mixer in Bayleaf (available at Macy’s) 
2. Atlas Beaded Knob (available at KB Details)
3. Schaub Drawer Pull (available at KB Details)
4. Vintage Measuring Spoons (available via Etsy)
5. Costas Esmeralda Granite (available through KB Details)
6. Emerald Green Globe Light Fixture (available through Frederick P. Victoria & Sons, Inc.)
7. HGTV’s Blog featuring Emerald Green design ideas
8. Emtek Green Glass Knob (available at KB Details)
9. Vintage Green Glass Canister (Image via Retro Art Glass)
10. Starmark Cabinetry in English Ivy (available at KB Details)
11. Vintage Green Mixing Bowl (image via Etsy)
12. HGTV’s Blog featuring Emerald Green design ideas
13. Emerald Green Charger (available at Amazon.com)
14. Bath from Benjamin Moore (paint color:  Tarry Town Green)

Southcoast Magazine's Special Kitchen Feature

We were the featured "Kitchen & Bath Design Showroom" in the June/July 2008 issue of Southcoast Magazine. Again, some of the info in this article is a bit outdated (such as our address), but we wanted to share the overall piece on our blog.

Integrating an Antique Slate Sink into a New Kitchen Design

The “old” ….. like new

When most people think of a “new” kitchen, they automatically think all of the elements are…. well, new. This isn’t always the case. I’ve designed entire kitchens around existing pieces such as a vintage range, butcher block top, and most recently, a gigantic double basin slate sink.

My client was very specific about including the existing 5 foot long slate sink in her “new” kitchen. She felt that the sink would help retain some of the original cottage charm of the beach house. I couldn’t have agreed more! The slate sink created such a lovely counter-balance to the brand new painted cabinetry, modern appliances and Silestone countertop.

Problem: The slate sink had seen a better day. It was stained and cracked from years of use. The sink also had an irregular shape on the bottom, most likely a result of accommodating the original base.

Solution: We contacted our local stone fabricator and he agreed to remove the sink, painstakingly restore it to its original beauty, and then reinstall it into the new custom cabinet. When I designed the new base for the sink, I decided to conceal the funny shape on the bottom. This would eliminate the visual busy-ness therefore accentuating the clean lines of the rich black slate.

All-in-all, I think it’s simply fabulous!

South Dartmouth Renovation...Before and After

When Mike and Kevin walked into the Details showroom I knew right away I was going to love working with them. Their excitement and ideas made me immediately intrigued. They told me how they have a second home near the water in South Dartmouth which they needed to renovate. At the time, I don't think any of us knew how thorough the actual renovation was going to be. My first trip to their house was super informative! They had put a lot of effort into researching kitchen magazines and had photos and articles of things they liked and didn't like. They had a specific style in mind which they were able to clearly describe to me. It was apparent that functionality and design were both going to play an equally major role in their project. And just as important as those two aspects were, we, of course, had a well thought-out budget to stick to.

My first step, as it is in 100% of the projects I work on, was functionality. Mike is the chef in the house, so giving him a prime prepping and cooking area was key. As you can see in the "before" photos, there wasn't much space for us to work with. I knew walls were going to be knocked down and new spaces would have to be made. The wall that originally separated the kitchen from the dining room was removed completely. We did, however, make sure to keep the built-in angled closet which was original to the house. What we were left with was a much more open space with a lot more light! In place of the removed wall, we built a knee-wall and brought it further into the dining room to create a better work flow within the kitchen. This knee-wall also gave us the perfect opportunity for Mike's peninsula cooking area. And, since Kevin is pretty handy in the kitchen, too, the added square footage made it comfortable for two people to work together.

Entertaining was also a big factor to consider while space planning. The kitchen was so closed off from every other room of the house. It was also a narrow make-shift hallway from the mud-room entry to the rest of the house. To correct that problem, we opened up the wall from the mud-room to the kitchen and were able to almost double the width of that framed doorway. This made the two spaces start to feel more like one. The knee-wall I previously spoke about also lent a hand in creating an entertainment friendly home. On the back side of that peninsula I designed in a Sapele Mahongany bar. Now Mike and Kevin's guests can comfortably sit and converse while the two prepare meals. (A neat little side note: Mike and Kevin decided to repeat the Sapele Mahongany tops in the mudroom in order to blend the two spaces even more. It was a great move on their part!) You can see the amazing difference in the before and after photos! Where Mike (seated) and Kevin (standing) are in the "after" photo is nearly the exact location you see the side of the refrigerator in for the "before" shot.

Remember when I said these clients came to me with a definite style in mind? Well that style was centered around double hung windows which were to be centered over the sink! There were no "Ifs," "Ands" or "Buts" about it! There would be 3 and they wouldn't be any smaller than what was there previously. I took Kevin and Mike through all the different ways this would impact their design. The biggest change was to the amount of wall cabinets. But by taking all the information I gave them into consideration they decided the window was more important. I am thrilled they did! The brightness of the white on white scheme is magnified by the light that comes through those windows. It is such a beautiful focal point and I truly believe it makes the kitchen what it is!

After a lot of planned revamping came a lot of unplanned renovations. Once the contractor began demolition, structural problems and safety issues popped up. The project grew to a scale no one could have predicted. But, Mike and Kevin took it all on with the greatest mind-sets. They were patient, smart and strategic in their decision making. That, along with their fun and outgoing personalities, made for a very smooth and enjoyable project. The end result was a quality renovation with a fantastically fresh and airy style! It was an absolute pleasure working as their designer!

~Bethany~