Kitchen Design: How to Avoid Standing Room Only

Photo Credit: Dennis Jourdan Photography via Remodeling Magazine

Room for Two: Alder cabinets, honed granite countertops and a tumbled marble backsplash give this kitchen a rustic feel.

The homeowners of this 1920s house (pictured above) had been planning a kitchen remodel for a long time. They went so far as to work on a design that would enclose the porch to expand the space, then got cold feet during the market downturn, and, worrying about the return on investment for an addition, put the project on hold.

By the time designer Diane Lawson, of Diane Lawson Designs in Nashville, TN; met the couple, they had revisited the project but had opted to stay within the existing footprint. However, they presented her with a long list of desires that included: good traffic flow for two cooks, separate cooking areas, an island, increased storage, and a rustic Italian design and details that would blend with the home's Italianate style. 

Though most homeowners today want to open up the kitchen to the rest of the house, Lawson says this couple bucked the trend, choosing to maintain the separation from the living and dining rooms.

Fitting in the long list of the client's wants required some compromise, including a peninsula rather than an island, but Lawson viewed the project as putting a puzzle together to set all the pieces neatly in to the outline. 

Photo Credit: Dennis Jourdan Photography via Remodeling Magazine

Window & Wall Upgrade: When the original windows were replaced with low-E units, insulation was also added to the exterior wall.

Puzzle Pieces

To help create a rustic Italian feel, the clients chose knotty alder cabinets. Lawson says that this species has increased in popularity during the last 10 years and that the wood - sometimes referred to as "poor man's cherry" because of it's similar grain and reddish tones - can cost 10% to 15% less than cherry.

Since not all manufacturers carry alder, Lawson opted for custom cabinetry. Going with a custom shop also had the advantage of enabling her to maximize storage and create a furniture look with cabinets that fit the age and style of the house. "[The choice] boils down to [the client's] wish list and what they are looking to achieve," Lawson explains. "And, of course, budget."

The clients wanted to use the same finish throughout the kitchen - a rare choice these days, Lawson says. Currently, most of her clients are opting for a contrasting finish for the island. 

Lawson had known remodeler Michael Menn, of Michale Menn Ltd., in Chicago, for almost 20 years and brought him on to help her with the extensive remodel.  The ceiling above the sink had a soffit. Menn removed it to accommodate Lawson's design, which took the cabinets to the ceiling to provide extra storage. 

One of Lawson's biggest design challenges was the traffic pattern for the family's two "heavy-duty chefs" and keeping them out of each other's way. The original freestanding island really affected the pattern, so Lawson moved the island to abut a wall. "While you don't have access on all four sides [of the island]," Lawson says, "it gave us more room in the busy aisle-way, which is the main entry into the kitchen and is where we needed as much space as possible" - especially when one of the cooks is standing at the island prep sink. 

The island has a small trash cabinet and a shelf for the client's heavy stand-mixer.

Photo Credit: Dennis Jourdan (photo) | Nicole Babcock (floorplan) via Remodeling Magazine

Into the fold: Removing the door and adding upper and lower cabinets makes this former pantry feel like part of the main kitchen.

Photo Credit: Dennis Jourdan (photo) | Nicole Babcock (floorpan) via Remodeling Magazine

Cook Nook: The second pantry has a microwave and an oven. The existing laundry chute remains - but it has been reframed to match the cabinetry.

Separate Yet Cohesive

The existing 360-square-foot kitchen included two under-utilized pantries. Lawson thought the 18-square-foot closet next to the stove alcove would work better as a butler's pantry, so Menn removed the door to make it part of the kitchen and replaced the wire-rack shelves with cabinets that match those in the main kitchen. The L-shaped run of cabinets has upper and lower cabinets and a countertop. An undercounter wine refrigerator is the only appliance. 

The other 24-square-foot closet is closer to the dining room. Lawson considered removing the walls to incorporate it into the dining space, but there were two obstacles to doing that: a laundry chute in the closet and a two-story chimney that runs adjacent to that pantry. "We were bound," Menn says, but the team also thought that retaining the quaint "little pockets" of space matched the style of the 90-year-old home. As they had done with the other closet, the crew removed the door. The existing closet had some shelves, an outlet, and a hanging bulb. The new space contains an oven, counter space, and upper shelves with a microwave. The wife likes to bake, and this area gives her a space to work in while her husband prepares food in the main kitchen area.

Photo Credit: Dennis Jourdan Photography via Remodeling Magazine

Brick or Treat

The original cooking alcove was outlined with faux brick. The clients liked the idea of a brick alcove and felt that it fit well with the new design's rustic feel. And, Lawson says, the material ties in with the brick porch outside the kitchen.

Menn and Lawson thought the alcove could be enhanced to make more of a statement, so Menn's team created a taller, softer arch at the top of the opening and installed real brick - cut ¾-inch thick - on the entire wall, as well as on the wall adjacent to the butler's pantry.

The alcove also has contermporary features, including a sleek stainless steel hood, a Wolf cooktop, and a stainless steel storage drawer custom-made by the cabinet shop. The hood is actually made for an above-island installation that the clients had considered for the addition version of the project. They liked the shape, so Menn installed it here. He made custom ductwork to meet local code and vented the hood through an exterior wall. Narrow base pull-out cabinets flank the stove and hold spices. 

(You're reading Standing Room Only originally posted on Remodeling)

TopShop News | May 2013

TopShop News | May 2013   How are we doing? We love to get feedback from you, our valued customers, and we are always striving to provide the very best in quality products and service. It is important to us to know how we are doing. Did we exceed your expectations? Did we have the products you were looking for? Was your Sales Representative/Design Specialist friendly & knowledgeable? Where you satisfied with the service you received? Is there something we could have done better? When visiting our showrooms; where you greeted in a welcoming and professional manner? Let us know by clicking on any of the buttons below to submit a review on your experience(s) with American Cabinet & Flooring, Inc. We look forward to hearing from you! In Praise of Julia Child & The Well-Cluttered Kitchen by Steffanie Cameron | Build Direct Blog | April 29, 2013 Ahh, the French Chef. For many, the arrival of the 1963 PBS series was a doorway into a whole new world.  In 1948, Julia Child, was stationed in post-war Paris with her husband, and little did she know then, but she'd change America's cuisine forever in the years to come.  She spent much of the next decade writing Mastering the Art of French Cooking, the cookbook that would introduce French cooking to "servantless American cooks" once published in 1961. By then, she had returned to America to settle down with her husband in Massachusetts. Upon getting the word that her book was being published, there was no looking back for the towering dame who'd dominate the food scene for the next four decades.  Photo via Build Direct Blog Julia Child's Kitchen The quaint rural kitchen became the most famous kitchen in America, so, fittingly, at the turn of the 21st century, the Smithsonian Museum adopted it as a permanent exhibit, almost completely intact with the chef's collection of over 800 knives and endless tools, and, yes, those incredible pegboards.  Last weekend, I was kind of wistfully dreaming I could live Julia Child's life and cook in her kitchen. I blame Nora Ephron, rest in peace, thanks to her delightfully fun movie Julie & Julia. The DVD extras came with a long feature about the Smithsonian's adopting of Julia's kitchen when she decided to move into a retirement community at the end of her life. It was a passionate tribute to a legendary kitchen, and I watched it rapt. Today, kitchens often look almost sterile. So clean and clear of clutter. It feels almost like kitchens are meant to be seen but not used.  My Dream Kitchen No one could ever have accused Ms. Child of that sin of kitchen neglect. Everywhere, pegs and clips and hooks were filled with tools and pots and pans. Her kitchen was to cooking what a master carpenter's tool shed is to his woodworking mastery: A place for everything, a tool for every job, with instruments displayed so you simply reach out, grab it, and work. Looking at Julia's well-cluttered kitchen, one can't help but think there isn't a designer alive who'd put that kitchen in a showhome today, and yet it would be my dream kitchen, and I imagine I'm not alone. Julia Child didn't live to eat, she lived to cook. And then eat. And then cook some more. The woman had a mirror and a makeup drawer in the kitchen, for when guests would call, because she spent so much time in there! Toward the end of Ephron's film, you see Julia and Paul assembling that famous kitchen upon moving into the house. Paul armed with a Jiffy maker, outlining pots and tools on these walls covered with a carpenter's pegboards, so they's always know where the pot was supposed to hang. Between that, the endless drawers, the knife slots on her butcher's carts. the magnetic strips filled with knives, and the knick-knacks that made it feel like home for her, the kitchen was a place meant for work, for creating amazing foods, and for sharing them with the world, and we're all the better for her single-minded passion.  Photo via Build Direct Blog Life Happens in Kitchens I'm no Julia Child, but I've taught people to cook for a living in the past, and I believe there is no more valuable nor rewarding skill one can learn in life. Nothing beats being able to walk into your kitchen and make incredible braised chicken, or serve your lover an eggs Benedict on Sunday morning, or whip up the best cake ever for your kid's birthday, or just cook yourself a killer steak when you want a quiet Friday night catching up on your PVR. When you can do it for under $10 in ingredients versus shelling out $40 in a restaurant, you bet it's a quality-of-life skill that makes you happier in heart and mind. And providing that tasty joy for others is even more rewarding, as Julia spent a lifetime teaching us. Cooking can be done with a minimum of tools, but someone who loves to cook doesn't just have tools - they burst at the cupboards with spices and sauces and condiments and all kinds of pantry ingredients. There are books, squeeze bottles, weird utensils, and more that we need to truly excel in the kitchen. Show me an empty, clutter-free kitchen, and I'll show you a homeowner that doesn't cook. But show me a cluttered kitchen that's poorly organized, and I'll show you a cook who burns more than their fair share of dishes. Organized Clutter is Good If any one room should have some organized clutter, it's a well used kitchen of a passionate chef. Looking around Julia Child's hub, one instinctively knows there's not a dish in the world that Julia wouldn't have had the tools to cook. In today's global-village world filled of fusion foods, international ingredients, and a more savvy dining public, you'd think our kitchens would be getting more cluttered with awesome instruments, not less. Don't be afraid to fill your kitchen with tools of the trade. If Julia could do it, so can you. Maybe, just maybe, through the utilitarian-yet-loving tribute to her tool-heavy kitchen at the Smithsonian Museum, Julia Child will continue teaching us the glory of cooking, and the greatness of a well-cluttered kitchen, for years to come. Thanks for the memories, Julia! Due to popular demand... we've EXTENDED our Spring - Granite Vanity Tops -  Sale through the Summer! Check out some of these fun events happening in Denver, CO this month! 25th Annual Cinco de Mayo Festival and Parade May 4-5, 2013 Free Day at the Denver Art Museum May 4, 2013 Furry Scurry May 4, 2013 Denver Derby Party May 4, 2013 Buffalo Bill Birthday Celebration May 5, 2013 May 12, 2015 Tesoro Annual Indian Market and Powwow May 18-19, 2013   Five Points Jazz Festival May 18, 2013 Downtown Denver Arts Festival May 24-26, 2013 Denver Day of Rock May 25, 2013 May 27, 2013 Denver Comic Con May 31, 2013 Attractive. Economical. Simple. Our in-stock Merillat Cabinet Collection features a clean, modern style with a traditional overlay door and a flat center panel design providing a straightforward choice that creates exceptional looks.  All at a price point that makes this collection  practical and extremely simple. Fast. Smart. Simple. 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How to Choose the Right Neighborhood for You and Your Family

Photo via Freshome Design & Architecture

Where we choose to settle down and plant our roots is just as important as the home in which we cultivate our lives. A happy home is often so because of where the home is physically located. As homebuyers it is therefore equally important to note that not only are you buying a home, but in essence you are buying a part of your neighborhood. 

Photo via Freshome Design & Architecture

Where your home is located is equally as important as your home itself

Whether you are a first time homebuyer or are relocating to another part of the country, it is essential not only to look at the homes for sale but to take a close look at your potential future town and neighborhood. We tend to have these romanticized, pre-conceived notions of just how our perfect home will be and it is therefore imperative to pay attention to everything that surrounds your dream home. 

Photo via Freshome Design & Architecture

Buy with your head as well as your heart

I recently spoke with Betty Shepard, a Realtor with Prudential Fox and Roach in Mount Laurel, New Jersey who told me that "buyers tend to be too emotional when they are shopping for their home. It's important to look at the purchase of a new home from an investment standpoint." She states the importance of researching various neighborhoods of interest. "Find out what the housing market is like in your particular area or areas of interest," Shepard suggests. Take note to see whether a particular area is on a financial incline or decline. With that information gathered a home buyer will be able to assess whether their purchase will turn out to be a good financial investment.

Photo via Freshome Design & Architecture

Take advantage of the internet

Put aside some time to do some research online. Your realtor's website could be a valuable source of information about your town and all that it has to offer, as well as information on the schools and their performance and ranking in the state. Also be sure to visit your town's website if there is one. 

Photo via Freshome Design & Architecture

Visit your new neighborhood or town

Take the time to spend some time in the towns of particular interest. Get to know the feel and the lay of the land. This may be harder to do if you are in the midst of a work-related relocation, but if you can, do try to at least walk around the downtown area and drive through the neighborhoods. If you have children with busy weekend schedules, this may be particularly hard to do, but it can also be crucial to finding the areas that offer the best for you and your family. If you can, try out a local restaurant, do some window shopping and talk to the locals to get a sense of what they think makes their town so special. 

Photo via Freshome Design & Architecture

Drive through during different times of the day

Shepard thinks it is particularly important to drive through neighborhoods of interest at various times of the day. The neighborhood is lovely during the quiet afternoon, but is it still quiet and serene during rush hour or at night? "I was researching potential neighborhoods for a client of mine and I decided to drive back to this one particular neighborhood at night and I was surprised at how many trucks were parked on the streets. I knew at that point that my clients and I would have to re-direct our focus," she told me.

Photo via Freshome Design & Architecture

Make a list

Make a list of what's important to you. Just as you make a list of what you would like to have in your home, make a list as to what you would like to have in your neighborhood - be sure to note what's crucial and what you can sacrifice. Do you have a family or do you plan on starting one? Is the school system important to you? If you are a parent you may want to arrange for your child or children to visit the school and to meet with the principal.

Just as neighborhoods differ in personality, no two schools are exactly alike. Will you or your spouse be commuting to work? Do you need to live within a certain proximity to a highway or near a train station? Do you commute to a major city? If you do, is there a limit to your travel time? For those of you who will be commuting whether by car or train, to work, Shepard advises a trial run. Take the time to test out the commute. Will it be doable or will it simply take too long?

Photo via Freshome Design & Architecture

Consider your lifestyle

Another important thing to take into factor is lifestyle. Are you and your family active? Is it important that you are in a neighborhood that is good for walking, running or bike riding? Do you need to be near areas of cultural interest such as museums, universities, restaurants and shopping? How important is it to you that you are near a grocery store, bank and gas station. These might seem like small issues, but to a busy mother of a large family, proximity can be everything. 

Photo via Freshome Design & Architecture

Look all around the outside of your home

Pay attention to your surroundings. "I tell my clients to pay as much attention to the outside of their home as they do to the inside," says Shepard. "Be sure to ask yourself questions like what is the outside like? What are the neighbor's properties like? Are the neighbors too close for comfort, or would you like your neighbors to be closer? Pay attention to everything - all the small details." Often when you are buying a home you are buying into a neighborhood.

If you can, take the time to talk to neighbors. Do they have children? Do you have children? Are these people you can see yourselves getting along with or even becoming friends with? Hopefully, after all the long hours of research and leg-work you will not only find your dream home, but the perfect neighborhood to best suit your interests and your lifestyle. 

(You're reading How to Choose the Right Neighborhood for You and Your Family originally posted on freshome.com)

18 Ways to Allergy Proof Your Home

If you're itching to reduce allergy symptoms, this mini guide to reducing allergens around the house can help!

 Photo Credit: Allergy Season via naturallyfreerd.com (blog | Kristen)

If you or someone else in your house suffers from allergies, you'll want to get the house as allergen free as possible. Whether you are allergic to dust, pets, mold, pollen or all of the above, it can be hard to know where to begin. These 18 ways to combat allergens and create a cleaner, healthier home, will get you started. 

#1 - Stick to a Regular Cleaning Schedule

Keeping dust and pet dander at bay is a continual process, and it's especially important to stay on top of cleaning when allergies are a concern. Be sure to wipe surfaces with a damp rag rather than dry dusting, which often just brushes dust back in the air.

Ideally, members of the household without allergies would take on the dustiest jobs, but if you have bad allergies and must clean, wear a dust mask - or hire a cleaning service if you can. 

#2 - Start a No-Shoes Policy and Beef Up Doormats

Keep dust, pollen and more from entering your house in the first place by encouraging visitors to slip off their shoes at the door. Provide ample interior and exterior doormats to trap shoe much and a basketful of slippers for guests.

#3 - Upgrade Your Vacuum Cleaner

Get one with a HEPA filter to trap allergens - these filters work wonders. Also be sure to choose a vacuum cleaner with a bag that can be changed easily (that is, without spewing dust everywhere).

#4 - Swap Out Heavy Drapes

Thick drapes with lots of folds and pleats are masters at trapping dust and other allergens. Instead choose blinds you can wipe down or machine-washable curtains.

#5 - Remove Carpeting

Traditional wall-to-wall carpeting is notoriously difficult to get and keep clean. Whenever possible, go with hard flooring (wood, tile, linoleum) instead.

#6 - Steam Clean! Don't Shampoo Carpets and Area Rugs

If you really want carpeting, vacuum it regularly with a vacuum that has a HEPA filter and deep clean with a steam cleaner. Most rented carpet shampooers do not get hot enough to get rid of allergens, so consider making the investment in a real steam cleaner to keep at home. 

#7 - Store All Food in Airtight Containers

Don't tempt bugs and mice - every time you open a package, put the contents inside an airtight container in the cupboard or fridge.

#8 - Green Your Cleanup

Harsh chemical cleaners may irritate those with allergies. Luckily, it's quite easy to find safe and effective natural cleaners, so you can cut back on the synthetic stuff.

#9 - Cover Mattress and Pillows

Zip on dust mite covers to protect your sleeping area. If you have kids, be sure to get covers for their mattresses and pillows, too.

#10 - Keep Under the Bed Free of Clutter

Clutter attracts dust bunnies and makes it more difficult to reach the entire space to vacuum. Keep this area clean and clear, and be sure to reach under with a hose attachment to vacuum regularly.

#11 - Streamline Kids' Spaces

Children's rooms accumulate stuff like nowhere else in the house. But if allergies are a problem, having lots of toys - especially soft toys - everywhere will only make things worse. Try rotating out toys to keep things fresh (and neat), and store extras in an out-of-the-way closet. Washing stuffed animals when possible can also help keep dust at a minimum.

#12 - Wash Linens in Hot Water

Bedding, towels and kitchen linens should be laundered in hot water - remember that when you are shopping and choose fabrics that can stand up to the heat.

#13 - Store Only Clean, Dry Items in Closets

Putting away clothes or linens that are still slightly damp can create the perfect environment for mildew and mold to grow, while dirty clothes and blankets attract fabric-eating moths. Keep your closets fresh and bug free by washing and thoroughly drying items before storing them for the season. 

#14 - Clean and Ventilate the Bathroom Regularly

Frequent cleaning and plenty of fresh air should keep mildew and mold at bay. But if you do see mold, be sure to use a cleaner that says it kills mold - not all of the do.

#15 - Replace Filters in Fans and Heating and Cooling Systems

This is key for keeping the air in your home clean. Each time you change the filter in your bathroom exhaust system or air conditioning or heating system, mark the next change date on the calendar.

#16 - Keep Pets Out of Bedrooms, at a Minimum

No matter how sweet and cuddly your furry friend is, if he's making you weeze, it's time to set some boundaries. Keeping pets in a protected outdoor area would probably be ideal, but at the bare minimum enforce a no-pets policy in bedrooms.

#17 - Detox Your Home

Harsh chemicals can aggravate allergies, so do your best to avoid bringing them into your home. Swap out chemical cleaners and air fresheners for natural versions, and air out new furnishings and freshly dry cleaned clothes to give toxins a chance to off-gas.

#18 - Keep the Air Fresh

Open the windows to let in fresh air, unless you have seasonal allergies, and consider using a room air filter to clean the air. Avoid using fireplaces and definitely do not allow smoking in the house.

18 Ways to Allergy-Proof Your Home

(You're reading 18 Ways to Allergy-Proof Your Home originally posted on houzz.com)

Spring Decor: Season Change, and so Can Accessories

If you're like me, skin-tingling excitement occurs as you pull the box of summer clothes out of the storage, and put away the sweaters for the season. Spring, summer, it's like the whole world comes alive. Leaves sprout, flowers bloom, the laughing of kids playing in the streets returns. 

Photo Credit: Traditional Family Room by San Francisco Architect Gast Architects

This year, consider projects that allow you to bring the changing seasons indoors. Think "convertible decor". With smartly-chosen palettes for draperies, pillows and accessories; you can bring summer out of storage in a big way.

"Oh look. Summer. Time to pull the other pillow cases out, put the other curtains up, and..."

It's great to clean seasonally. Freshen the place up, get rid of clutter. Wash those decorative pillowcases and get the dust out of draperies. Why not change them up at the same time?

Transforming Spaces with Accessories Colors

Depending on wall colors and other surroundings, you have a lot of accessory choices. Maybe in hectic summer months you want light, cool pastels in simple designs without flashy bold patterns. 

Maybe in winther when you're more likely to be walloped by oppressive weather, you might want to embrace boldness and brightness, to liven up your indoors since you know you'll be stuck behind the windows more often.

Think of what the seasons mean to you. Do you need a winter pick-me-up? Is summer about relaxing? Imagine what colors and designs might be appealing to you.

Love Affair with Your Home

I bought end-of-season items before Christmas so I could get a fresh look when the spring came around. My director's chairs on my deck have been given the Caribbean treatment and my living room pillows are soon getting bright florals for summer.

Convertible room schemes aren't about impressing your guests or staying up with the times. It's about making your space bright, fresh, fulfilling, and keeping things interesting. It's about keeping the love affiar with your home alive and fun.

You don't need to blow your wad on expensive pillowcases or drapes, since we all know they're even more enjoyable when you score them on sale. They just have to be attractive, work together and offer a nice change of scene. Go ahead, keep them for more than a single season's use, as they'll feel "new" when you take them out after six months of hiding. It's not like the trend police will beat down your door because you're using 2012's look.

Photo Credit: Contemporary Living Room by Dublin Architect Optimise Design

Accessory Swap

The accessory-swap is a smarter way to go than redecorating every couple of years. It's budget-friendly, environmentally friendly and you can always easily donate or sell pieces you tired of.

If you've got convertibility in mind, you need to pick a great paint color that isn't going to disappear from the market after a season (like when teal or orange have been "the color of the year" and then you can't find a thing made with those palettes after the season passes).

An interesting neutral or classic tone on the wall will be the backdrop to a world of patterns and color combinations for your accessorizing. This doesn't mean only using "shades of beige". Olive green has been a popular color since the '70s. So have shades of blues and earth tones and pastels. Is it a color that'll work for the next five years and that you see fabrics and accessories in regularly? Then great. It'll do.

Seasonal Artwork Framing and Area Rugs

There are other places you'd be best off remaining neutral, too. Like when you're framing artwork. Getting vibrant mats or frames that play off the artwork rather than simply defining the art may wind up working against your being able to easily transform the look of your space by switching out pillows, drapes, and other accessories.

An area rugs' flexibility is also a consideration when you're making a rug purchase. Sure it goes with your stuff now, but will it be easily adapted to other schemes down the line?

If you'd like to be able to swap your space as seasons arrive, a mix of ongoing neutrals can act as a nice foil for a variety accessory looks is the way to maximize your paint choices and investment pieces for the long-haul while never getting stuck with just one look year-round. 

Don't just live in your space, love it. Have fun by keeping things fresh and embracing change every few months. 

(You're reading Spring Decor: Seasons Change, And So Can Accessories originally posted on Build Direct Blog)