The Big Move- Part IV The Vision Takes Shape

Yes, it's been two weeks since Part III!! I can hardly believe how the time is flying and how S-L-O-W things are moving at the condo.  Nevertheless, we soldier on and today's episode is extra extra since I owe you.  If you need to catch up, here are Parts I & II and Part III.

TheBigMove, downsizing, emptynesters, condoliving

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In this episode, I talk about my flooring choice, the living plan, paint colors and some changes we had to make in the kitchen.  There are LOTS of tips and pointers that you can use yourself.  In addition to that, Joe edited this one so you'll be able to enjoy his pithy commentary on screen, as I talk, as well as more of his NEW original music. Leave a comment and let me know what you would like to know about in upcoming videos.  We've got a long road ahead before we're pulling up with the furniture!

Another cameo appearance by Joe since he was such a sensation in Part III!!!

 

It's a wrap! Should we continue to let Joe edit?  Next up: The Bedroom, Master Bath Insanity and MORE changes for the kitchen, Oyyy!! I'm so glad you're making this journey with me.  See you on the flip side. xox Glo

 

 

Tips for Creating a Minimalist Kitchen

For years my husband and I have thought about the day when we'd be able to live small in a big way.  That means less stuff and more meaningful moments, experiences and adventures.  

The Miminalist Kitchen is clean and uncluttered. Photo by Wilsonart

The suburban life has its advantages and I will certainly miss having the big kids :) around as well as my morning walk route and garage studio.  That said, we're trading it in for simplicity, morning coffee and sunset wine on the water.  Yes, we're selling the house and moving back to my chick pad on the intracoastal which will now be a sanctuary for two, plus one kitty.  My musings brought me to Minimalism, a very inspired documentary about how two guys made it happen in their lives. Check it out on Netflix. Downsizing and moving is kind of like a mandatory form of minimalism, it's the only way.  Scary? Yes, but also exciting and since kitchens is what I do I began exploring the idea of what makes the Minimalist Kitchen. Here are thoughts to get you started if the idea inspires you too.

 

"Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."-  William Morris

These words by William Morris are the perfect place to begin when considering the Minimalist Kitchen.  The concept is, of course, not new.  Morris was a nineteenth century British designer, writer and social activist who espoused this principle and his advice is the perfect way to begin the journey to the Minimalist Kitchen.  Consider every single item in your kitchen in due course, i.e. not necessarily all at once but methodically and thoroughly.  If you're not sure, one way to decipher usefulness is to take note of the items you use every day, week, month and only on holidays.  Items used only once a year don't need to be stored in the kitchen if space is tight and if it's been more than a year why are you holding space for it? The kitchen remodeling process is very helpful in this regard. You're forced to empty all your cabinets then, as you live out of boxes during the process, you quickly become familiar with the items you really depend on.  Chances are there are less than you thought.  Usefulness is huge BUT remember the beauty too.  This means if you LOVE something you get to keep it!

Hobnail teapot by Teavana Minimalist Kitchen

 

Consider Multi-Use Appliances

These appliances offer versatility and save space for things you love.

Aroma Rice cooker minimalist kitchen

My daughter's boyfriend got us this rice cooker for Christmas and we have never looked back.  Not only is it a convenient rice cooker but it's also a slow cooker and a steamer! You can even hard boil eggs with it. In my house it earns its space in the kitchen. The Aroma Professional Rice Cooker comes in a variety of sizes too.

 

Bosch Benchmark steam combo oven minimalist kitchen

 

 

If your cooking goals are loftier there are many luxury appliances that combine convection, steam or microwave technologies into one appliance.  This Bosch Benchmark combo oven features steam on the top and regular convection on the bottom.  You can also get a microwave on the top if you prefer. These are just a couple of examples but you get the point, yes?

 

Ditch the Duplicates

 

Do you really know how many you have? I certainly was surprised to see I had so many funnels!  Speaking of duplicates, when I move we're having one big set of dishes that we love and use everyday.  That is all and I give you permission to do that too.  If you have little ones you will have to strike the right balance between beauty, durability and price.  I love the variety of suggestions here.  If you must have a set of separate dishes for the holidays remember they can be stored outside the kitchen if space is tight.

Gibson Elite Tequesta Dinnerware Minimalist Kitchen

 

Detach & Re-Charge

One nifty feature I've been working into most of my design lately is a charging station.  Give yourself and your devices time to re-charge.  This charging station gives you a safe place to store devices off the counter top and out of sight.  A few hours of detachment can work wonders.  It's a de-clutter strategy for your kitchen and your mind right in line with the Minimalist perspective.  See some of the options at  Docking Drawer Try it!

Charging Station Wellborn Minimalist kitchen

  Organize Your Recipes Digitally

I don't know about you but I have a lot of cook books and most of them I don't use.  There are so many easy ways to organize and save your favorite recipes on line.  I usually use Pinterest or AllRecipes.com to curate my collection . If you're not too internet savvy just take a photo on your phone or tablet.  It's as easy as that.  Definitely keep cookbooks with sentimental value such as the ones with grandma's hand written notes.  I actually wish I had some of those!

Minimalist Kitchen Pinterest recipes

The goal for me is less stuff.  The payoff is saving money, easy cleaning, maintaining what I have,  knowing where everything is when I want it and having more time and resources to travel and enjoy the relationships and experiences in my life.  As The Minimalists, Joshua Fields Millburn & Ryan Nicodemus say  "Love people and use things because the opposite never works."  

 

 

Stay tuned for my downsizing moving adventures in the months to come and let me know how I can help you craft  your own Minimalist Kitchen.

KBIS2017 Part III-Exploring Surfaces

This is Part III of my KBIS2017 recap.  You can find Part I  here and Part II here

Ok where were we?  Ah yes, I believe I promised you something to do with rhino poop and a surprise inside the shower.  In Part III, the final installment of my Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS2017)  recap, I’m going to deliver just that as I share with you two really cool surface manufacturers  that are game changers in the world of design.  The first is from the tradition of Ripley’s Believe It or Not!

 

MohawkFlooring,KBIS2017

 

Mohawk Flooring, known largely for their carpet, actually manufactures a wide variety of products including tile, hardwood, laminate and luxury vinyl.  The star of their show this year was SmartStrand Silk Reserve carpet which MUST be felt to be believed. The story is not only about the ultimate in comfort and beauty, but also unbelievable cleanability.  

 

To test this new generation of carpeting they had a rhino, yes a rhinoceros, live on it for two weeks! That includes peeing, pooping and God knows what.  This experiment compared SmartStrand Silk Reserve to other leading carpets.  The results were impressive. With the Pet Protection Warranty there’s never any worry about a little occasional cat puke. Here’s a little video so you know I’m not lying.

 

                                                                                                                       

 

Not only did SmartStrand Silk Reserve stand up to the rhino test, it was also a welcome respite for the tired feet of 24 or so bloggers and social media influencers.  We got to enjoy the silky soft  experience at the Ritz, no less. It’s really really soft!

MohawkFlooring,SmartStrandSilkReserve,Carpet

 

Since we’re talking about cleaning, let’s move on the the shower.  That’s where Wilsonart comes in.  Wilsonart is a leader in engineered surfaces such as laminates, quartz, solid surfaces and even interesting wall paneling which is a look that has been so popular.

 

I love how they are always coming up with something new that is so relevant and on trend.  One such item is Wilsonart VDL Artfully Repurposed Woods (above left).  Yes these are laminates, no splinters here, soft as a baby’s butt (well nearly).  I digress. Let’s get back to the shower on show at KBIS2017.  This seamless laminate shower wall (below)  is easy to clean with no grout lines and they assure me it’s water friendly.  I also love the sleek contemporary look.

 

Wilsonart, KBIS2017,BlogTourKBIS

Wilsonart is also offering their own brand of quartz.  I often have clients who seek a pristine white counter top.  This one (Niwa Q1002) certainly fits the bill.   Quartz is a very popular choice these days because of it's durability and stain resistance. Check out their website here for more on the wide variety of products you can find at Wilsonart.

Wilsonart, WilsonartQuartz, BlogTourKBIS, KBIS2017, designhounds

 

There you have it!  Thank you so much to Modenus and all the sponsors of BlogTour KBIS.  It’s such a treat to have access to all this in depth knowledge that I can share with you.  All editorial content is entirely my own opinions and perspectives.

 

KBIS2017 Part II- Color Splash!

This is Part II of my KBIS2017 recap.  You can find Part I  here.

If you've read part one you know that I was off meeting old and new friends earlier this month at our big annual trade show known as KBIS2017.  One of the best perks of being on Modenus Blog Tour is always the people.  What a huge source of friends this whole blog adventure has been for me!  Now back to the trends you need to know. 

BlogTourKBIS, Modenus

One of the huge trends at the recent Kitchen & Bath Show (KBIS2017)  in Orlando was bold brilliant color. I saw bright color across all product lines including cabinets, appliances and even faucets.  Cabinet Manufacturer Wellborn was no exception.  This vibrant  green was a big hit and showcases their custom color options.   The Color Inspire program offers a broad selection of hues from Sherwin Williams, Benjamin Moore, and Valspar. The possibilities are only limited by your imagination. 

 

 

ColorInspireWellborn

Color was also the star of the show for me at Metrie, North America's largest solid wood and MDF moulding company.  These stunning pink doors are a part of their Then & Now Finishing Collections.  This is actually a great concept that allows you to take a boring space and make it sing with character.  They have curated perfectly coordinated mouldings and interior doors to create "the look".  The styles range from the cutting edge "Fashion Forward", to girly "French Curves", to Minimalism with "Pretty Simple".  There are even a few more.  It's an awesome option for designers as it saves time spent hunting for the right crown to go with the perfect base board etc.  It's a one stop shop for  beautiful millwork and moulding details.

Metrie,KBIS2017,BlogTourKBIS

 

 

 

Just think of the chic "chick pad" you could create with Metrie...and then there were shoes.  I'm sorry my attention wanders sometimes.  Who can blame me for loving these shoes worn by Christine DaCosta aka Glamamama.

Grohe,Essence semi pro faucet, KBIS2017

 

 

I've got more color!  Check out these faucets by Grohe.  This is the Essence Semi Pro Faucet, available April 2017.  Notice the extended spout for added convenience in the kitchen.  The display is showing limited edition brightly colored silicon hoses. Change your mind, change your faucet, just like a chameleon!

American Standard exhibited this smart faucet that actually measures water for you. Just think, it’s easy, accurate and environmentally friendly.  Turn the dial and you get the perfect amount every time.  So simple. Kudos to the team at American Standard for thinking of it.  Speaking of good ideas, what could be better than a self cleaning toilet? The ActiClean toilet features a turbo type flush system that they call VorMax, with a fully integrated self-cleaning system. The CleanCurveRim omits that rim cavity and holes inside the bowl where dirt gets trapped and EverClean antimicrobial surface helps everything stay clean longer.  Egaads!! I'm just the messenger but it's a good thing.  I'm all for minimal toilet cleaning time.

Modulus, DXV,KBIS2017,BlogTourKBIS

 

Another American Standard company, the luxury line DXV showed their Modulus line for the bath.  I loved the sensuous sculptural line of these vanity tops BUT how cool is this tray? it fits perfectly on the top and then tucks away in it’s own spot underneath when you’re done. Voilá!

   Guess what folks? I've got more. Stay tuned for KBIS III -Just a hint, it has to do with rhino poop and a surprise in the shower (but not together)

L                   

Reinventing White Shaker Cabinets

There's a reason why white Shaker  cabinets are so hot; it's because they are so versatile, just like pasta, the final result depends on what you put with it.  Not only can you get this style in any price point but you can make it work with your own unique design style. Today I thought we'd take a look at some very different successful results all using garden- variety white Shaker cabinets.

Traditional to Transitional white Shaker cabinets with 2 1/4" frame (stiles and rails)

 

First of all, in case you've been off somewhere living in a cave, Shaker cabinets feature what we call flat panel doors. There's a flat panel in the center surrounded by a frame.  That frame is typically 2 1/4" wide which will give you a traditional look or 3" wide which is a bit more contemporary.  A word of caution, if your kitchen will have small doors (less than 15" wide) and you're going to be using glass in the center, go with the 2 1/4" or the glass section will be too small.

 

Encyclopedia of Shaker Furniture

 

The modern Shaker style gets its name from the original Shaker furniture.  "Shaker furniture is a distinctive style of furniture developed by the United Society of Believers in Christ's Second Appearing, commonly known as Shakers, a religious sect that had guiding principles of simplicity, utility and honesty. Their beliefs were reflected in the well-made furniture of minimalist designs.- Wikipedia  American Shaker furniture originated in the 1700s and has changed little since then. Original Shaker doors typically had natural wood finishes but today white is all the rage.  Fast forward to the twenty-first century where all that white simplicity can get a bit  boring and generic.  With the big movement towards personalization and custom design you can rock that Shaker look and make it your own.  Here are just a few examples:

                                                                                                                                              Los Gatos kitchen

                                                                                                                                                  Photo by Margot Hartford Photography - Discover kitchen design ideas -Houzz
 
                                                                                                                                              Los Gatos kitchen
                                                                                                                                                    Photo by Margot Hartford Photography - Browse kitchen ideas - Houzz

 

21st Century Victorian

The kitchen above is situated in an 1892 Queen Anne Victorian home in California and features a totally different take on white Shaker.  Accents include a luscious blue color for the peninsula and gorgeous Mamounia tile from  the Martyn Lawrence Bullard Collection for Ann Sacks. I love the mixture of natural wood, white, the pattern of the tile and that perfect shade of blue.

                                                                                                                                           Los Gatos kitchen
                                                                                                                                                                        Photo by Margot Hartford Photography - More kitchen ideas - Houzz

 

Since white Shaker cabinets are pretty much a blank canvas, they offer a great opportunity to showcase bold colorful art!  This painting installed in the kitchen/dining area is by Gordon Hopkins.

Mad for Mid-Century Mod

This new white Shaker kitchen is in a 1950's Mid-Century home in South Florida.  The homeowners wanted to retain certain elements such as this original planter and room divider to retain the fifties feel.  I always love to honor that concept when choosing finishing touches for the kitchen.  These handles complement the room divider perfectly and the Cambria quartz top emulates the original refurbished terrazzo floor in the main part of the home.   You don't have to retain all the original details but it can be very striking to tie a few elements together like we did here.

   white shaker cabinets, chrome cabinet pulls, chrome handles, midcentury modern, south florida kitchen

 

Cool Contemporary

If you have embraced the clean crisp appeal of contemporary design,  you can also have that with white Shaker cabinets.  The example below from Houzz shows achieves a chic contemporary effect through long sleek bar pulls on the cabinets, the clean look of no upper cabinets and stainless steel accents.  The rich wood floor lends warmth to the space.  

                                                                                                                       Raleigh Hills Kitchen
                                                                                                                                              Photo by Rockwood Cabinetry - Browse transitional kitchen ideas- Houzz

 

There you have it! I would love to help you "shake things up" with your own white Shaker cabinets. Email me at artfulkitchensbyglo@gmail.com  If you would like to have Artful Kitchen blog posts conveniently delivered to your inbox, please subscribe by entering your email in the sidebar.

                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                                          

Kitchen Design 2017- What's Next?

Fashion is a fickle phenomena.  What's in today quickly morphs into the the next new sensation.  It doesn't matter if it's clothes or cabinets.  Granted, interior trends are slower to transition but it works the same way.

 

Infiore Flower Light

 

Lately I've been giving a lot of thought to the huge love affair with contemporary design.  The pendulum is deep into the greys, floating shelves, waterfall counters, clean lines, simplicity, slab style cabinet doors or wide stile and rail shaker fronts. Don't get me wrong, I love it and I think it's going to be many years before these looks  become "outdated." If you've followed my advice in the past, you know I believe in designing to the structure.  If you follow the styling and architecture of your home when designing your cabinetry your kitchen will never be dated.  Then, of course, you have to have what you LOVE!  That is numero uno.

 

Rutt Cabinetry, Prairie Series

 

But what's next?  As sure as the sun rises the pendulum will eventually swing the other way and when it does it's going to be in a completely new direction.  I just can't see us going back to the traditional looks of the past with glazes, heavy molding etc.  Will the pendulum swing back to Traditional territory and what will the new Traditional look like? What's next on the horizon? “We are all familiar with consumers’ constant desire to see something new, yet they still want, in many cases, to have somewhat of a familiar comfort level,” said  Leatrice (Lee) Eiseman – executive director of the Pantone Color Institute. I think she's right.  We want fresh and new but we want to feel a connection to qualities we've enjoyed in the past. This kitchen by Rutt HandCrafted Cabinetry has got me thinking about what a "new Traditional" would look like.

 

 

Clean lines continue but now soft elegant detail makes an appearance

 

Darryl Minch, manufacturer's rep with the Baronet Group International, Inc., says "I'm seeing less extreme contrasts of color in the kitchen, think softer palettes , white and off -whites used in the same space".  My own prediction is that we will see a big resurgence of natural wood finishes.  I see hints of this all over.  For quite a while white painted finishes and dark espresso stains have ruled.  Neither shows the beauty of wood grain.  Textured laminates round out the top choices at the moment but how about the real deal?

bamboo cabinets, bookmatched, Brendan Donovan

 

Take your paneling in a different direction.  If you have an island in your plan, chances are you're going to need some paneling to tie it all together.  Take the traditional vertical beadboard and turn it for a "new traditional" effect. I'm loving this option for a coastal look as it's reminiscent of ship lap.  I started to use this design detail in my projects and now I'm seeing it more and more.

 

shiplap paneling, BrendanDonovan

 

If you're a design lover or savvy pro I'd love to hear your predictions for kitchen and bath design 2017.