WHO ARE YOU?

Whether it be blogging or kitchen design, I am always thinking –How can I make it better?  With that commitment in mind, I signed up for the 4-week Blog Triage class with Cynthia Morris http://www.originalimpulse.com/blog and Alyson Stanfield http://artbizblog.com.. Today’s assignment is to describe the people I want to visit and read my blog.  Let me know if I’m right.  Send me a comment.  Let me know  who you are and what you want to read about on this blog.

Reader Profile 1

I see you as a woman perhaps 35-63 years of age.  You are pretty savvy, like to utilize the internet for research and comparison.  You have resigned yourself to the fact that although you may want to move, you’re not going anywhere soon but dammit you deserve to have a kitchen you love.  You want this kitchen to work better than the one you have and you want it to reflect your own unique spirit.  You are a creative.  Maybe you are an artist, a quilter, a crafter, a writer OR perhaps you haven’t realized it yet.  But you know all the great meals you devise or that beautiful garden you have behind the house?  Well that’s art too.  You don’t go out as much as you once did but have found some great  blogs about cooking, entertaining and home décor.  You’re beginning to think about this project as a reality but where do you start?  How much is it going to cost?  Everyone of us has a budget, right?  You’re a little overwhelmed.  You don’t want to make such a big investment and make a mistake.    You’re sitting  with your cup of tea or glass of wine enjoying your quiet time early in the morning or after everyone else has gone to bed and your dreaming…

Reader Profile 2

You are a fellow blogger or kitchen and bath professional.  Either you have met me in business circles or through another blog.  Scanning/reading blogs is part of keeping informed about your topic.   I’m hoping that you will see Kitchens for Living as a venue to market yourself, your product or your own blog.  It is my philosophy that the more expert information I can provide the more valuable it will be as a resource for my readers.

If I got this wrong let me know.  I want to know who you are!

IS YOUR KITCHEN REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRAT?

Thank God the campaign ads are over.  The public has spoken.  The die is cast.  That said,  I thought it would be fun to see what a Republican kitchen looks like vs. a Democratic kitchen.  After all your kitchen is a reflection of you and we intend to get to the bottom of that as we continue to explore the Intuitive Kitchen process.  Since they won, let's examine what a GOP (stands for Grand Old Party in case you didn't know)  space entails.  The Grand Old Party kitchen is "old world".  (Think family values, back in the day and all that).  It's American-made (what else?).  The bigger the better,  luxurious, we're talking the Porsche Cayenne Turbo S  (oops, sorry not American) of kitchens.  Notice the strategically placed island positioned to defend the maid from attacks from the family room (and did I mention big?).  If you think this is funny, don't laugh.  People DO design to the party.  A few years back when France was strongly out of favor by the GOP I offended a potential client by showing them French limestone for the backsplash!

On the other side of the aisle we have a Democrats kitchen,  smaller in size and high in function so that Mama can easily whip up those 30 minute meals (thanks Rachel) after a hard day surfing the web at work.  Bamboo cabinet doors (harvested by kids in Costa Rica because it's not as far as China) on no-formaldehyde added boxes are a must in keeping with the sustainable Green initiative.  No pretense here,  just a liberal dose of the exotic as we embrace the contributions of world culture.  If we could, we'd spend the big bucks on the latest technology like an induction cook top but they're too expensive.  Let's go with a nifty Electric Gourmet Wok for $99.95  at Amazon.com instead.

If you're of the Independent persuasion, don't feel left out.  There's a kitchen for you too.  It's called Transitional and it works whether you're having a conservative OR  liberal day.  The door is a Shaker style.  Definitely modern with the right hardware or it can be "countryfied" in a flash with cup pulls and few porcelain farm animals on the counter.

THE KITCHEN DANCE

If you've been reading my blog you know that the innovative brand, Brizo Faucets turns the handle full blast when it comes to creativity.  Their current advertising campaign is aptly titled "License to Dream".  What better way to illustrate a dream than by blending product with artist?  That is exactly what they did.   Artist  and illustrator Erin Petson was one of five chosen to take a product line (Talo Smarttouch)  and dream it to life.  Here's how she describes her inspiration,  "A new sense of grace in the kitchen.  Cooking becomes less of a chore and more of a dance.  It's choreography."

Hmmmm. This got me dreaming about my own dancing adventures in my kitchen.  Now I must confess, loyal readers, that I have a small kitchen, really small.   That said, the hubs and I do turn out some pretty exceptional dinners every now and then and we love to cook together.  How do we do it?  We dance.  We've got the rhythm down.  It goes something like this.   I swing my hips to the right.  He opens the trash.  He slides to the left I open the utensil drawer.  He opens the fridge and I dip under his arm.   Whenever we cook in our little kitchen  I think we fall in love a little more.  You should try it sometime.  It's very romantic.  There is a rhythm to everything.  The Intuitive Kitchen can be a place to revel in the ritual of cooking and eating at home.  So find your partner,  grab a recipe, turn up the tunes and dance in the kitchen.

THE BEST DISHWASHER

Premier global marketing information service J.D. Power and Associates recently ranked Miele dishwashers number one in customer satisfaction for 2010.  Miele dishwashers have long been a favorite of mine as well.  I love the nifty cutlery tray they offer which not only cleans your eating utensils more efficiently but is also conveniently located in a pull out drawer at the very top of the dishwasher.  Ranging in price from about $1,200-$2,200,  a Miele dishwasher definitely falls in the "champagne taste" category.  Nevertheless  check it out and you may find it well worth the splurge.  What makes this appliance a favorite is performance and reliability including an almost non-existent noise level, variety of functions and energy efficiency.

In its Economy cycle, the new Miele series only uses 1.2 gallons of water.  A typical  Energy Star dishwasher uses an average of 4 and  non-Energy Star models use about 6 gallons.  In contrast, washing by hand uses around 16 gallons of water!

Another interesting,  if slightly creepy, feature  is Miele's innovative RemoteVision^™ monitoring service  now available on select dishwasher models. RemoteVision provides a 24/7 WiFi link that alerts the technical service team whenever there's a performance issue to assist the homeowner to correct the problem or, if necessary,  schedule a service appointment.

The best way to find out about the full line of Miele products is to visit one of their Galleries like I did.

The Galleries, located throughout the US,  are open to both the trade as well as consumers, and many special events and demonstrations are scheduled throughout the year.   If you live in South Florida you can visit the one in Boca Raton.  To purchase a Miele appliance you'll have to visit one of their dealers.  My favorites in the area are Florida Builder Appliances in West Palm Beach and House of Appliances in Delray Beach.    They are listed on this website under LOCAL RESOURCES.

MID-CENTURY KITCHEN MAGIC

Welcome to kitchensforliving.net! With the help of Heather LaCroix from Third Eye Design this blog is now an official website. All my previous posts may be found right here and you can subscribe to  future posts by using the Blogger button or via email. More additions are on the way including a comprehensive list of the "GO TO" resources for kitchens in South Florida as well as some national links.  Check out Brendan Donovan Furniture & Cabinet Co. on  Facebook for our latest shop promos and don't forget the THUMBS UP!

Innovative and creative couple Charles and Ray Eames are most commonly known for their slick ergonomic bentwood chair designs of the post-war era.  They sought to bring comfort, edgy style and affordability to all the furniture they designed.  They were proponents of mass production and design for all people.  Mid-century design is enjoying a resurgence not only in home decor but also in the media with the popularity of Mad Men (love that show!).  If you live in an area with an abundance of ranch home designs of the 50s and 60s you may want to add an authentic touch of  the Eames aesthetic in your kitchen which is easy to do.  Here's how:

1. Choose blond to medium toned natural wood finishes.  Cabinets in these finishes are among the most affordable.  A simple stain rather than coats of paint, glazes or washes is less labor and less product needed.

2.  Slab doors and drawer fronts give you an overall modern look which can be Mid-Century depending on the other elements in your kitchen.

3.  Keep it simple!  The designs of the 40s-50s were all about clean lines and no visual clutter.  Try to get it of the counter (of course unless you have a cool toaster, coffee pot or other authentic looking small appliance)

4. Paint color is a great way to add the MCM feel.  The colors of this prosperous era were upbeat and cheerful, just what we need to come home to today!  Sherwin Williams even carries a line called Suburban Modern which offers an authentic pallette.

5.  Don't forget the boomerang!  As I was growing up (my formative design years)  I remember our Formica kitchen table with its gray and pink boomerang  pattern.  Now whenever I see it I go right back to my first kitchen experience.  So you don't want Formica?  No worries, how about fabric?  Cover your kitchen chairs or create a wall hanging in your favorite MCM pattern.  Find some awesome designs on line right here at Contemporary Cloth.

Last but not least send me pix and I will post!  If you are a professional or an enthusiast leave a comment and your contact info.  We're all about good content.  With your input Kitchens for Living becomes an even more valuable resource.

KITCHEN BLING!

This track lighting system works great with a contemporary design www.brilliantlighting.com

Just as a beautiful pendant is a focal point for a necklace, a pendant light can add a little bling to your kitchen.  Light fixtures are a great way to add visual interest and color without a lifetime commitment.  After all, you can usually change them without too much hassle when you want to freshen things up.  Get that kitchen scrapbook out and take note!  Here are some of my favorite looks and where you can get them.

Kyoto Pendant Lamp by Meyda Custom Lighting

If you are a fan of the Asian aesthetic these lights are for you.  Beautiful in their Zen simplicity, they are also a great match for the stainless steel finishes you may have in your kitchen.

These whimsical light fixtures will make you smile even before you've had your coffee! www.coated.com These coffee lights  consist of light colored coffee cups with dark colored saucers. The light source is inside the cup.  Pretty clever, huh?  If you’re pretty good with handyman repairs and are comfortable with minor electrical wiring, this would be a nice DIY project. Not only would you save yourself a couple of dollars on the purchase of this unique fixture, but you’d be able to customize it with your personal preferences. Don’t like the coffee cups, no problem, change them. Don’t like the saucers, change them as well.The Coffee Lights sell through Connex for $199 US.

Finned Wine Bottle Pendants by Meyda Custom Lighting

These elegant specimens with their finned openings are actually made from wine bottles.  The deep jewel tones are a lovely accent for either painted or wood stained cabinets.