Elements of design are the building blocks of art for good reason. They also happen to work when it comes to planning and laying out your kitchen. Whether you are all about luxury or bound to the basics, awareness of these fundamentals can make all the difference.
Read moreTip #3: Where can I save money and what items are worth the splurge?
Many of our clients begin kitchen remodeling projects in the summer. Kids are out of school and our commitments tend to be less (for some of us) in the summer months. Today's client query is one that I hear a lot. Naturally we all want to get the most for our money in all our investments but where can you save money in a kitchen remodel and what items are worth the splurge?The answer to that is largely subjective as we all have differing needs and priorities. That said, there are some principles that should never be compromised and those include efficient use of space, safety and the best quality you can afford.
Contemporary Kitchen with standard depth refrigerator. Courtesy of Houzz.com
refrigerator is a much better fit. Courtesy of Houzz.com
SplurgeI must confess, there are some standards in the kitchen industry that are just plain wrong. One of them is the standard depth refrigerator. A standard base cabinet depth is 24" (25" including doors). A standard refrigerator is about 33" deep! It might look perfect standing solo at the appliance store but it could look like a beast in your kitchen! Yes, they stick out. Depending on the layout of the kitchen we can sometimes work around the depth by surrounding the fridge with extra deep side panels and a cabinet above pulled forward. But if you're tight on space it is worth investing in what's known as a counter, or cabinet depth refrigerator. This means that the cabinet box will be flush with your counter top and your "stick out" will just be the thickness of the door. It makes a big difference. Here GE shows the difference between standard, or free-standing and counter depth. A standard GE french door refrigerator would be about 26 cubic feet and retails at about $2,100 vs. a comparable counter depth model which is around 21 cubic feet and retails at $2,700.00. Yes, you will have less cubic footage with a counter depth fridge and I suggest keeping the old fridge in the garage if that's an option. If the kitchen is large enough you can add a beverage cooler. When water, soda, beer and wine are taken out of the main fridge you get all kinds of space. There is also a third category if you've got the big bucks and that is true built-in or integrated. Those are even shallower but they are also more than a foot taller to compensate. Whether you opt for Sub Zero or GE. a built-in refrigerator is pricey but the most visually seamless, particularly if you add matching cabinet panels.
This kitchen was created using stock cabinet. Courtesy of Houzz.com
SaveYou can save money on your cabinets if you can keep to standard, or stock, sizes. Simpler cleaner lines with minimal molding can also save you enough money to splurge on that refrigerator! There are just two things to keep in mind. Make sure the quality of the cabinetry you buy is sound and backed by a warranty.SplurgeMany professional kitchen designers will be happy to consult with you on the layout and selections for your kitchen. An hourly fee is well worth it to have your plan validated by a pro. In many cases, if you purchase your cabinetry through your kitchen designer, design services are included.
Here they saved on cabinetry by selecting clean simple slab doors with no moldings and
they splurged on the counter depth refrigerator and focal point pantry door.
Splurge
You may have heard me say this before but I'll say it again. Buy a good quality faucet. Your faucet is arguably one of, if not the most, used items in your kitchen. Splurge up front and you won't be sorry. Buy a cheap faucet and within a couple years you will have drips and leaks. By the time you pay the plumber and replace the faucet you haven't saved anything. If you buy a stainless steel sink make sure the gauge 18 or lower to avoid denting and horrible water spots.
You can get this Solna faucet by Brizo for under $400.
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If you've decided on granite counter tops, think about using 2cm material with no build up so that your total cabinet thickness is 3/4". The minimal look works especially well with contemporary designs. You'll get the functional advantages of a stone counter top without the extra labor to build up the edge to 1 1/2". The look happens to be great, especially in dark counter tops. If funds are tight you can also leave the back splash for last. The area between your counter and upper cabinets can be tile or otherwise and it can always be finished at a later date. However if you have enough material leftover from your tops maybe you'll want to use it for the backsplash. A word of caution: if you're using a slide in style range you'll want to make sure it's compatible with the finished height of your cabinets.
SaveI love unique artsy cabinet handles as much as the next person but did you know that you can spend anywhere from $1.99 to upwards of $50 a piece for them? Aim towards the $5-$10 for really good quality knobs or pull. If you happen to fall in love with one of the $50 buggers maybe you can use just a couple for a special area.
Focal point hardware is on refrigerator (true built-in). The rest are simpler designs
in the same finish. It works! Courtesy of Houzz.com
Next up, Tip#4: Granite or Quartz?
Tip 2: New Cabinets, All or Nothing?
Contemporary Dining Room by San Francisco Interior Designers & Decorators Artistic Designs for Living, Tineke Triggs When mixing, a total contrast works best.
Anyway where were we?? Ah yes, I was sharing with you five big questions I get from clients. The first post in the series was about under cabinet lighting and here is number 2:2) Some of my cabinets are still really good, can I save money and just get more to match? While at first thought this may seem like a great way to save money, usually it's not. Even if your cabinet doors are simple, chances are you've had them a long time so the color may have changed. Also, each cabinet manufacturer makes their products slightly different so unless you can locate the original cabinet maker matching will be a challenge. Styles also get discontinued. If you're going to use a custom cabinet maker to replicate what you have you might as well just get new cabinets (unless he's a very very good friend). If you work within standard sizing parameters you can get some very good quality cabinets in today's competitive market. That said, there are some situations in which you can have the best of both worlds. Two toned kitchens are very popular. If you are replacing some cabinets, consider getting something totally different but complimentary to what you already have. Every situation is unique and it's worth investing in a little consultation with a kitchen design professional to see what can work for your case. The design solution below works because the lighter maple of the upper cabinets is picked up in the flooring. Usually I prefer to see a darker finish on the bottom rather than on the top. Darker colors are visually "weightier" so there is a "grounding" effect when you use them on the bottom. The operative word is "usually". Never say never as shown in the photo above. I love it. It works beautifully in this design. Lesson is don't be rigid. Think outside the box, pardon the pun!
A word about refacing- Refacing your cabinets means you will be replacing your drawer fronts and doors. The cabinet boxes themselves will remain including the drawer boxes. The thing to consider is that most of the cost of a cabinet is in the doors and drawer fronts. Along with that all exposed surfaces such as the ends and the frame around the front will have to be veneered or laminated to match the new doors. Depending on your existing cabinets, this could be a very labor intensive process resulting in less savings than you would have thought. One situation where I would recommend reface instead of replace is if you have already have great countertops which you now have a vested interest in saving. Then perhaps it would be worth it. Also, bear in mind, a reface doesn't allow you to improve your layout or add drawers. Whether new cabinets or just new doors and drawer fronts, remember that a clean simple flat slab style door is always the easiest on the wallet.Next up: #3: Where can I save money and what items are worth the splurge?
Elements Converge In Dream Kitchen
Another year is winding down. We have been blessed again with many interesting projects. As we are in “finishing up mode” I thought I’d share with you one of the best of 2011. This project was a true collaboration. Our clients, a couple of sweet snowbirds from Chicago, were very hands on which made it fun to see this kitchen take shape. The existing space was on the small side, the cabinets a little dated.
Our assignment was to add a whole range of state-of-the-art appliances and a clean unique contemporary feel that would flow into the existing family room. Naturally storage and function were also of the utmost importance but the real challenge was in fitting it all in!!
They chose a rich coffee bean stain for the cabinets to match existing cabinetry in the family room. The cabinet fronts were not ordinary doors, no way. Together, with our clients, we designed the Soldono and the Soldono Pacifica Doors just for this job. The Soldono custom door features a cherry frame around a horizontal grained oak center panel all stained in a rich espresso color. The center panel is beveled on one end with stainless steel grip strip inset on the frame. No hardware sticking out in this kitchen! A select few of the upper cabinets sport the Soldono Pacifica custom door which received center panels in olive ash burl veneer for a huge shot of “unique”. 
Stainless steel serves as an accent finish and is found in the appliances and in the monster-multi-functional Hafele appliance garage. Refrigerators are Subzero, ovens are by Gaggenau, cooktop is by Miele and the dishwasher drawers are by Fisher Paykel. Thank you to Linda Roberts at House of Appliances for her guidance. Counter tops are Caesarstone quartz by Stone Palace and the backsplash is painted glass by Florida Shower Door & Mirror, Inc. Clearly they do much more that shower doors! Perhaps the "piece de resistance" however is the glass tile behind the hood. It truly looks like water cascading down the wall behind the hood! The sink is a Precision by Blanco and the glass theme is picked up again with the glass table. You can find a listing of all the trades on the Local Resources page here at Kitchens for Living.
MY DESIGN PROCESS: A CASE STUDY
I write about a lot of varied things on this blog. Today I'm going to open my mind to you so you can step inside the creative (or whatever you want to call what goes on in there) process, as it pertains to cabinet design. The thing about designing kitchens and baths is that it doesn't only require vision in the aesthetic sense but also in the functional sense. We have to be creative in terms of the space constraints while being very aware of function.
WHAT HAVE WE HERE? This is a nursery equipped to serve the nanny. She's got an under the counter refrigerator to store bottles, baby food and wine whatever she wishes for herself. In addition there is a small sink and a microwave. There is also storage and counter top work space (underneath all the debris). That's a lot of function packed into less that six lineal feet! The lucky owners of this oceanfront abode are away for the summer, as is the custom in Palm Beach.MY ASSIGNMENTI have been asked to replace this set up but to keep the same foot print and function. The cabinets are to be more in keeping for this traditionally styled beach house.MY OBSERVATIONSThe backsplash (area between counter and upper cabinets) is really high, about 22". Not only does this mean less cabinet space but it's a bit of a stretch unless you're a very tall nanny. In addition, there is nothing tying the upper cabinets to the lower cabinets and since they do not go wall to wall it looks as if the uppers are just hanging out, hovering over the base cabinets, not a great look. In general the layout is off kilter. The microwave requires a deeper cabinet and it sticks out unattractively on the left.WHERE DO I START?The appliances are old and will appear even older surrounded by new cabinets. Remember that if you are investing in a new kitchen it's penny wise and pound foolish to try to build your new cabinets around your older appliances. I will suggest that we replace the microwave with a small built-in model in stainless steel. For this I know I must use a minimum of 24" out of the 70" I have available. The refrigerator is important too. This one is old and it's an odd size, about 19". The new one will have to be 24" and I will reccommend that we build it in for a more custom look and to unify the small space. These types of built-in panel- accepting- under- the- counter refrigerators are either 15" wide or 24" wide. I certainly can't detract from the function by going smaller so I will give them more refrigerator space by going with 24" wide. Now that I know what I'm doing with the appliances I will work the cabinet layout around that.
Here's phase one showing the larger ref, a built-in micro and an attempt to even things up and connect the uppers to the bases but it's still not quite there yet. I usually draw a free-hand sketch to work out my initial thoughts. The final solution (I drew it using Chief Architect) is to use 42" upper side cabinets instead of the existing 30" uppers. Then since the microwave needs a deeper cabinet (15"), I moved it to the middle and raised it up to create some design interest and to take advantage of the tall ceiling. I made the side backsplashes 16" high with the center at 19". I centered the 24" upper microwave over a 21" wide sink cabinet which allows the bigger refrigerator on the right and does not lessen the size of the existing drawers on the left. I'll need a minimum of 3/4" panel to the right of the ref. That makes a total of 24 3/4" with ref and panel. I will duplicate that on the left making the 4 drawer cabinet 24 3/4" wide as well. This allows the upper side cabinets to be equal at 23 1/4" each. Last but not least, I am going to suggest using matching wood beadboard above the 4" backsplash to tie the uppers to the lowers and add a small crown moulding on the top to finish it off.
PRODUCTSHere are the goods and why I picked them:Kholer faucet K7342 in brushed nickel finish- It's a traditional faucet in a finish that will blend with the stainless steel of the microwave. The height makes it user friendly yet it will fit perfectly in the space.
Kohler undermount entertainment sink K5848- I love the shape of this sink. I double checked the size and it fits in our 21" wide cabinet. It's a more updated undermount model but it's still cast iron. I'm specifying Biscuit to go with the cabinets but I will also suggest a stainless option which would also work.
SHARP R1214OVER THE COUNTER MICROWAVE- This model fits into our 24" wide space. It requires a 15" deep cabinet, check. It has a light below and I happen to know that Sharp makes a kick-ass microwave.
CABINETS BY HOLIDAY KITCHENS- flat panel with applied moulding. Finish, selected by designer, to be Snowdrift paint with Mink Wash. I chose Holiday cabinets because we have some custom size requirements and I can order Holiday in fractional increments. They also offer a wide array of finishes and door styles which is important in a higher end application.
U-Line Under the counter refrigerator - This model offers an overlay trim kit option which will allow us to apply a door panel to match the cabinets.What do you think? You see there's no mystery behind the magic of design. Those are the steps in a nutshell. I would love to walk you through the steps of your own potential magic. It's really a lot of fun when it all comes together, kind of like solving a puzzle AND you get to continue to enjoy it everyday!
ONE FLORIDA KITCHEN WITH A TWIST
I can’t believe I’ve been back a week already! I guess it’s time to refocus on Florida. What better way than to share this kitchen from my portfolio? Yes, it is the quintessential “Florida” kitchen but you don’t have to live in Florida to have one. If you have a yearning for the tropics year-round, this could be the perfect storm (poor choice of words) solution for you. This combination of white, stainless and shades of blue green that call to mind the ocean make this a Florida dream kitchen that you can apply to your own home.
I always say the best projects are the result of great collaboration and this beautiful kitchen was certainly the result of that. The house is located in a new development and came with a builder-grade offering of unremarkable cabinetry. The new design includes a few tweaks. One priority for this young mom was to have a very open feel to her kitchen. We even wanted to remove the wall between the kitchen and butler’s pantry. That was not to be as it turned out to be structural. Plan two was to open it up so that you could at least see through it. I think you’ll agree it worked really well.
The cabinetry is by Holiday Kitchens, Inc. The door style is called Seattle and it is wood with white paint. Counter tops are white quartz and the dramatic backsplash is penny tile. A penny tile is a round penny-sized mosaic tile that comes in sheets for easy installation. Appliances include a full sized 36” refrigerator and freezer by SubZero, a built-in wall oven and a handy microwave drawer by Sharp. Now all you need is a sturdy pair of flip flops and a stylin pair of shades to complete the ensemble.
