The Big Move: Episode 8 The Big Reveal

Yes, it certainly has been a while since our last episode but guess what? The Big Move is complete and it's time for THE BIG REVEAL. We are done for the most part.  I guess the truth is the homeowner is really never done.

There's always something, right? Anyway, we are enjoying our new home immensely and in this episode I will give you a tour of the kitchen, show you some of the of the work we've been up to since we met last, share some final words of wisdom and then THE BIG REVEAL!!! Please comment and let me know what you think.  I think the final result is so Glo&Joe.  You'll see my art and Joe's music represented.  Then there's Mac. =^..^= These personal touches are what make a house a home.  Special THANK YOU for following our adventure we are so grateful to all the generous souls who contributed to making it happen.  Without further ado, THE BIG REVEAL

If you just happened to find my video, there are seven more on my YouTube channel. You can tag along with me, a South Florida kitchen and bath designer, as I, with my husband, transition from suburban family living to a cozy condo by the water. As new empty nesters, we're downsizing, minimalizing and taking a property with potential from sad to fab. Follow The Big Move series as I encounter all the choices and issues my own clients face from the other side!

Join me in my upcoming kitchen design workshops in 2018 if you're thinking about a new kitchen in the new year.  Email me at Gloria@ArtfulKitchens.net and I'll let you know the dates and locations.

Going Topless...In Your Kitchen

Unless you've been living under a rock you know that the less-is-more look of the topless kitchen is hot!! When I say topless I mean no upper cabinets. There are certainly pluses and minuses to this design decision. But "how can I live without half my kitchen", you ask.  Fear not. Today we will examine the possibilities.

white kitchen, traditional kitchen, stainless steel hood, island, white countertop, kitchen windows, crystal chandelier,no upper cabinets

Less is Now

No complaining if you haven't done a thorough kitchen purge in the last year.  We all have "stuff" and if it never sees the light of day it's stagnant energy taking up real estate that could be otherwise useful or beautiful.But what about dishes? They always go in the upper cabinets. Actually, dishes work perfectly in drawers if you have this drawer peg system.  You'll find that they're easier to access too, particularly if you're short like me ;)

Dish drawer, dish pegs, black plates, drawer cabinet

Clever Corners

Another way to maximize the space you have below deck is to use the corner space.  My favorite way to do this is with a base lazy susan cabinet. It's versatile storage for almost anything. Just be sure to get this type, without the pole.  With trays mounted on shelves, you won't lose things to the Twilight Zone if they fall over.  (Chrome rails are optional) The only caveat is that you will need 36" on both sides of the corner to make this work.

base corner cabinet with lazy susan chrome rails

If you can't swing the 36" in each direction you can perhaps use the Cloud which fits in a blind corner cabinet.  We can discuss more when you call me to help you with your new kitchen.

white cabinets, contemporary, chrome, blind corner cabinet, revashelf

Ultimate Simplicity

The most simple solution of all is the open shelf.  They are both feared and widely popular.  Some feel like it would look way too messy but I say it doesn't have to be all or nothing.  A few open or floating shelves can add a lot of lightness and visual interest as well as storage above the counter in lieu of cabinets.

farmhouse kitchen, HGTV, white cabinets, apron sink, open shelves

Artful Arrangement

In the photo below, they actually did not eliminate uppers entirely but it feels like it.  Here they are using the shortened uppers for remote storage, i.e. the stuff you don't need to access every day. The "go to" storage is in tall pantry cabinets.  That's right, you don't have to use the pantry only for food, they are great for everything.  If your pantry is full depth, like these, rollouts work great for easy access and to avoid items getting lost in the back. If you're observant you'll also notice the last cabinet sits on top of the counter.  If you have the counter space this is a great way to conceal countertop items for less clutter.

contemporary kitchen Dekton wood cabinets pantries

Creative Compromise

As we've seen, one does not necessarily need to banish the upper cabinet entirely to score an updated and functional result.  Here is a loft kitchen I recently designed.  My clients were in love with the idea of floating shelves and this look worked for their urban vintage style. Since space was at a premium in this condo we did opt to keep a few good sized upper cabinets.  The look is actually a blend of contemporary and transitional. A full pantry also would've worked to the right of the refrigerator but my clients preferred this arrangement which is very symetrical and offers a bit of extra counter space.  Hey, I always say the best jobs are good collaborations. :)

ArtfulKitchens 3DRendering kitchendesign

.

No matter what your situation, creativity can offer you choices. In over 20 years I have found that there is always a solution that will work in your space and I would love to help you find it.

Tear Sheet Tuesday: Wine Storage

Welcome to another edition of the occasional series I call Tear Sheet Tuesday.   If you want to catch up you can do that right here  and here.  In a nutshell, I tear what strikes my fancy and I share that with you here.  It could really be anything. It’s all about what inspires me.

Now I'm all inspired to share with you some tips and ideas for storing your liquid treasure, wine! Here are some things to keep in mind along with some wine storage eye candy curated just for you. 

Climate Control

If you want to be technical about it wine should be stored at the perfect temperature with a touch of humidity.  The sweet spot for white wines is about 45 degrees Fahrenheit.  I'll admit it, I love an ice cold glass of white wine but my preference may be costing me when it comes to flavor.  Your refrigerator, by the way, is probably chilling in the thirties.  It is often said that red wine is served and stored at room temperature.  That could be true if you live in northern France but they definitely don't mean Florida!  The room temperature they refer to is 55 degrees Fahrenheit.  Sunlight and heat are deadly enemies of the vino. Many people store wine in the kitchen but that's not necessarily the best place for it.  If you do store it there, make sure to keep it out of the sun, away from heat and anything that is going to cause vibration, no matter how subtle.  There is an abundance of wine cooler appliances on the market in price ranges from the hundreds to several thousand dollars.  Call me for a wine cooler consult to make sure you get one that fits and will work in accordance with specifications. 

Sideways is Not Just a Movie 

Wine is traditionally stored sideways to keep corks from drying out BUT if you're going to drink it soon it doesn't really matter. I'm sure you've noticed a lot of wine these days doesn't even come with a cork.  That used to be anathema to a wine aficionado but no more. Increasingly, winemakers "prefer screw caps for white wines and reds meant to be drunk young," says Dave McIntyre, a wine writer whose columns appear in The Washington Post. For more on the cork vs screw top check out this interesting article. One big benefit of storing sideways is storage, it makes the most efficient use of space.

Clever or Kitchy?  You Decide

Looks like a great idea to me, anything that suggests books and includes wine is a win!

Breaking with Tradition

I'm not a traditional gal and am one to prefer interesting asymmetric balance but there's just something about the perfect symmetry and classicism of this that rocks my world.  I am not alone.  This image has 5400 saves on Pinterest!

A Spot for Wine

If you're planning a new kitchen and you find yourself with an extra six inches you've got a spot for wine.  Notice it's insulated from the ovens by a decently sized pantry cabinet away from heat.  It's also not too close the window.

Retrofit Your Wine

This wine storage system by Wine Logic can be inserted into your existing cabinetry.  Sounds logical to me! 

                                                                     By A Direct Cabinet Distributor Corp East Patchogue - See more Home Design Photos

 

Amazing what can come out of one image torn from a magazine, huh?  Please share your tears with me and don't forget to subscribe to Artful Kitchens.  There's a lot of excitement around the corner!

 

NEXT UP:  Part I of The Big Move, follow my journey as a new empty-nester with a behind-the- scenes look at what it takes to sell a house in the suburbs, remodel and downsize for the good life.

Design Tips Inspired by The French Chef

Julia Child was a pioneer in the world of haute cuisine at a time when celebrity "chefdom" was a decidedly manly occupation.  She didn’t care.  The kitchen was her natural habitat and she had her own ways of making it work for her whether she was whipping up a soufflé or flaming a creme brûlée.    Child is credited with bringing French cuisine to America in the 1960s and was host of The French Chef on PBS which aired from 1963-1973.   Interestingly, she did not learn to cook until she met her husband Paul Child, an American diplomat with a refined palate. Julia also worked for the government during WWII as a research assistant in the Secret Intelligence division of the OSS (Office of Strategic Services). It was in this capacity that she created her first recipe which was for shark repellent! It worked and is still in use today.  After the war the couple settled in Paris where Paul worked for the US Foreign Service and Julia attended the renowned Le Cordon Bleu cooking school.  She had fallen in love with French cuisine.  Julia stood 6’2”, never had any children and left this world in 2004, two days shy of her 92nd birthday.  She was quoted as saying, “with enough butter, anything is good”.  Apparently her health was none the worse for it.  Julia’s real life kitchen was donated, moved and reassembled in the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History in 2001. The layout was devised by Julia and her husband and customized to her cooking needs, including higher counter tops to accommodate her height. Pots and cooking utensils are all placed exactly as they were in her home.   Today Julia would be utterly amazed at the advancements in appliances, materials and new storage options. Although her kitchen goes back 50 years she had ideas and practices that are very relevant today.  Here is what I think today’s kitchen would look like through the eyes of The French Chef.  Organization and Easy AccessJulia was known for her handy and efficient peg board system.  Companies like Rev-A-Shelf have taken this concept and expanded it so that it doesn’t have to be on the wall.  Moving pegs allow these inserts to be customized.  This is especially handy for dish storage in new kitchens that feature fewer upper cabinets.  A "Julia kitchen" includes a place for everything and everything in it’s place. To Make the Cut You Must Have Great KnivesA self-proclaimed knife freak, Julia collected them all her life and never met one that was sharp enough for her! Check out this delightful anecdote from the New England Historical Society and you'll see what I mean.  I agree that there is nothing more frustrating in the kitchen than dull knife. The winner in my book is J.A. Henckels International 8" Classic Chef's Knife in terms of quality and value for the money.Having a great knife is half of the equation, now we have to store them.  Julia preferred to house them on a magnet attached to the wall.  Today she would love this railing system by Clever Storage that allows you to take advantage of the space between upper and lower cabinets.  It's safe, attractive and accessible.  Win!  The Mother Ship of RangesJulia used a 1950s six burner used commercial gas range by Garland.  This company is still in business so you can get a modern version today but I’m betting Julia would fall for the TriFuel range by Tecnogas Superiore for its state of the art versatility.  In fact, it was just announced Product Innovator Award winner for 2016 by Kitchen & Bath Business Magazine.  It features dual gas burners plus four induction zones and an electric griddle. Below are dual gas ovens equipped with two convection fans and a broiler.  The Beauty of Butcher BlockThe French Chef was fond of her extra high maple counter tops for food preparation.  You may not want an entire kitchen with wood tops but, if you can, it's great to have a section of it for food prep.  Wood butcher block counters are a natural eco-friendly choice, absorb noise, are gentle on dishes and can be refinished.  In addition to this, wood has inherent antibacterial qualities and can add a beautiful warmth to your kitchen. If you're going to use your counter for food prep it should have an oiled finish which does need to be maintained.   Last but not least never enter the kitchen without a sense of humor and adventure Child was never without it!  She said, “in cooking you’ve got to have a what-the-hell attitude!”-If you'd like to experience cooking like a French chef  you can stay at what was once Julia and Paul's part-time residence in Provence, France courtesy of Airbnb.

The Best of KBIS 2016

Bam!  Another show is in the books and although it's been a busy week "back at the ranch", I've been dying to share my finds with you right here on Artful Kitchens.Las Vegas was host to three days of networking and education for the best of the Kitchen & Bath industry.  As a member of the Kitchen & Bath Business Magazine's Advisory Board,  I had the pleasure of appearing on the KBIS Next stage as a part of the panel discussion entitled Trials & Tribulations-Solutions to Your Biggest Kitchen & Bath Challenges. It was an exciting exchange of ideas between both the pros on the panel as well as a savvy and engaged audience. I also had the opportunity to spend some time in the Las Vegas I like best, off the strip! I hiked in the Red Rock Canyon and visited my friends at Retro Vegas on Main Street. My digs for this trip were with my dear pals Karen, Barry & Wink.  They live in a midcentury modern gem that, rumor has it, was briefly home to Lucille Ball!  They are avid Airbnb'ers and wonderful hosts.  Check it out if you find yourself in Vegas. This location is so convenient to the Convention center I could walk, which I did, once.  Mostly I Ubered. Enough walking happens on the show floor!  So without further ado, here's my recap of the biggest and most notable trends and products that caught my eye at KBIS2016. ColorWhite still reigns.  In fact paint giants Benjamin Moore and Sherwin Williams have both selected shades of white as their color of the year.  You know I am a huge white fan. It is always the best backdrop for art and design. It also continues to be the favorite cabinet color in my area.  Remember white is not just white, there are an infinite number of varieties you can have fun with.  If you need more punch in your kitchen you could find some great options at the big show.  I saw bright saturated colors in several appliance brands including Bertonazzi, Viking and BlueStar which offers 750 colors!  Grey has not left the stage.  The newest versions are warm, venturing into taupe territory. Textured wood grains such as cerused oak are really popular. Wood-Mode showed both traditional and contemporary versions of ribbon Mahogany. The Perfect TouchTouch latch technology was EVERYWHERE!  If you prefer a sleek, uninterrupted look for your cabinets and appliances this is for you, a gentle nudge will open your cabinets. This is nothing new but it's taken off.  I also loved the button that allows you to close this cabinet when you're done without resorting to dangerous acrobatics (I'm short).Feeling BrassyActually brass, copper, bronze and myriad versions are hot for plumbing fixtures and hardware.  My favorites were the new BauHaus inspired Litze collection by Brizo Faucets. and Kallista's Vir Stil collection.Not Your Grandma's CorianIf you're like me Corian has been dead to you since about 1998.  That sentiment has now ended in my book.  I saw a 2"thick sleek contemporary version of Corian that was perfectly at home in The New American Home.  The other exciting thing I saw in counter tops was this quartz by Silestone.  Yes, it's GOLD!  I just wish the photo could capture it's sparkly beauty.Thrills from ThermadorAppliance brand Thermador held a press conference on the show floor to introduce a couple of impressive new products, the 60" pro range available with steam and a double oven featuring steam and convection.  These are firsts in the industry.Organize ItJust when I thought we had it all the category of organization it goes to the next level. There was a great representation of brands ranging from Hafele to Rev-A-Shelf to Hardware Resources but Glideware is taking the market by storm.  If you've got a mess lurking somewhere I guarantee there's a way to make it neat and accessibleTile StyleMy two tile favorites were Michael Berman's Collection from Walker Zanger and, of course, Ann Sacks who are featuring a new line by L.A. design maven Kelly Wearstler. Love!I can IKONIf you read my blog you know I love me my Silgranit sinks, meet IKON the apron front version which easily works in any style kitchen from Traditional to Contemporary. Their Artona  faucet perfectly complements the Silgranit sink.Stikwood Rocks!

Stikwood’s line of lightweight, real-wood planking offers designers and DIYers a peel-and-stick solution to achieve that perfect, sought-after blend of rustic and modern. It can be used on walls and ceilings and comes in tons of colors, even prints! I'm thinking this could be great on the back of a kitchen island.

Believe me, all this is just the tip of the proverbial iceberg.  There was so much more to see and learn about at KBIS 2016.  Check out this year's winners of Best of KBIS for more info and of course if you'd like any more info on what you see here email me at artfulkitchensbyglo@gmail.com

Open Shelves Add Function and Style

Open shelves, especially floating shelves happen to be all the rage at the moment, should you or shouldn’t you?  I often hear concerns about neatness.  Do we really want to see it all? Maybe we do.  Open shelves can greatly increase efficiency in the kitchen. Having our most used dishes, utensils and ingredients displayed and at our finger tips is very tempting!  This is how the chefs do it and there is even a term for it in French. Mise en place is a French culinary phrase which means "putting in place", as in set up. It is used in professional kitchens to refer to organizing and arranging the ingredients and items that a cook will require for preparing the menu items of the day. We can also apply this concept in our own kitchens. Here's an interesting story I came across on NPR about Mise en place. Listen and you will discover the perfect French pronunciation!Usually storage space in the kitchen is too dear to squander on an area strictly for show so I urge you to incorporate an open shelf  or open cabinet only if it will be useful as well as visually interesting.  When you get right down to it, kitchens are comprised of boxes and row after row of doors can get pretty boring.  I like to add some variety with open shelves and glass doors.That said, if you do have a collection that you love to gaze upon and showcase , open shelves are perfect is hard to reach areas such as high up or on the far side of a peninsulaThis client is a talented potter.  What better way to show off her work?  Easy to get to for dusting when you’re on the other side of the peninsula but this area is not really accessible when you’re on the working side of the kitchen.http://www.shelterness.com/pictures/open-shelves-on-a-kitchen-30.jpeg