Dreaming of a White Kitchen...

I’m always designing, writing about and thinking about kitchens.  It’s what I do.  Today I started thinking about what MY dream kitchen would look like and thanks to our uber talented design pals over at houzz.com I think I found it.

Modern Kitchen by Auckland Kitchen & Bath Designers shannon pepper design

It’s this stunning kitchen by Shannon Pepper Designs in New Zealand.  Not only is it a visual pleasure, but it would also be a blast to cook in!  It features glossy white cabinetry with contemporary slab fronts, white marble counters and a stunning red painted glass backsplash.  I’m loving how the red is picked up by the bar stools too.  I love, love, love.  I wonder if she calls this “Pepper Red”?  If not, she should!  

Modern Kitchen by Auckland Kitchen & Bath Designers shannon pepper design

I also love the contrasting cabinetry in the adjacent bar. Now for me I must confess I would tweak just a couple of things because that’s what I do.  I take a dream and I tailor-make it to suit YOU.  But wait we were talking about me today!  I would have run that HOT “Pepper Red”  backsplash all the way up behind the hood and I would have lowered those upper cabinets because I’m short and because it would give me more storage.  Something like this:As they say, a girl can dream.  Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and tons of beauty, love, health and prosperity in the new year!! Thanks for reading Kitchens for Living.  XOXOXOX 

The Dope on Oak

Where have the days since Thanksgiving gone! Time is certainly flying by. This is traditionally our “quiet” time of year as no one want “remodel destruction” around the holidays. That said, some are looking ahead and beginning the planning process for the new year. One huge consideration that has to be made is what type of finish to choose for your cabinetry. While “white” is the go-to choice for many nowadays, I do have certain designers looking for something special in the finish department. It used to be that oak was a bad word in Florida but grainy woods have made a comeback.  I think it all started when someone figured out that you could achieve an interesting textural look by combining oak with a dark coffee, or espresso finish.  The result actually looks a lot like the popular (and pricier) Wenge wood!  There are two main types of oak to choose from, white oak and red oak.  Red oak is what you’ll typically see here in the US.  White oak is usually a custom option.  Oak in any color is a sturdy choice and is classified as a hard wood, unlike pine for example.  You can get knotty oak, sometimes referred to as character oak or you can get a clear oak with minimal or no knots.The door below is an example of quarter sawn red oak and is by Dura Supreme as shown on Houzz.  This is typical of what you would get if you were looking for a Craftsman style door for your kitchen.  The hallmark of Arts and Crafts design is an emphasis on the natural quality of the material without excess ornamentation.

 The other request I get is for quarter sawn oak.  This refers to how the planks are cut from the log.   It is a more expensive option and it incurs a lot of waste in the process.  The benefit is even straighter wood graining and increased stability.  Sometimes the terms "rift cut" and quarter sawn are used interchangeably but rift cutting is actually even more expensive and involves some complicated cutting.  You can read about the differences here. Another term that’s starting to come up is “cerused oak” which is really interesting.  Basically the prominent oak grain is filled with white for an interesting textural  effect.  The British refer to this as “liming, or limed oak”.  Pair this with all the popular shades of gray and you have a really updated version of a look that was also in vogue in the 1950s. (Yes, Mom, your china cabinet from the fifties is cerused oak) I found this great article if you want to know more.   So there you have it.  If you’re looking for cabinets with interesting natural texture, oak can be a great choice!   Want to know more about how to specify the right cabinets for you or your clients?  Drop me a line!

One Bachelor's Kitchen Makeover

So you need a new kitchen. Let the dreams commence! We read all about the ubiquitous “dream kitchen”. The gorgeous kitchen above may be found on Houzz.com and features cabinets by Holiday Kitchens. Sorry if you thought it was the after shot. Sadly, it is not but I think you'll agree that we made a huge improvement. To be sure the heart of the home is the most expensive room in the house to remodel so how much do you need to do? Do you need to reinvent the wheel to be happy? I say no.

Take a look at this typical example.  This kitchen is in a classic Florida ranch style, 3 bedroom 2 bath abode circa 1978.  Do you think it needed a new kitchen?  Here’s the scenario:  The owner is a bachelor with a teen-aged daughter who lives with him part-time.  It’s a small kitchen.  We’re not changing the flooring and you don't have to.  Just remember to make sure that new cabinets will cover the old "foot print" of the kitchen.  Your installer should shim cabinets, as needed, so everything's nice and level.  Basically this client was due for fresh new cabinets, tops and appliances.  He actually likes to cook and his favorite appliance is his GE Advantium Speedcook Microwave Oven, so much so he wants two!  Oh, and he wants a cabinet that is easy to access from the porch because he grills a lot.  We used Holiday Kitchens for the cabinetry (same resource used for the gorgeousness at the top of the page).  You may know Holiday Kitchens for their higher end custom cabinets but they also offer a really good quality cabinet in a middle-of-the-road price point.  Laminate tops were replaced with durable granite by Stone Palace and we fit that extra microwave in a tall cabinet with pantry storage above and below. Nothing crazy just nice and new.Next up: Can healthy chips taste good? We had fun finding out!

Kitchen Case Study: Update and Integrate

  One of the perks (not twerks) of my job is that I get to work in lovely homes on the beach.  If I'm having a "design panic moment" all I have to do is look out the window at the ocean and all is well.  This townhouse project came to me as a referral and is actually a winter home on the ocean in Delray Beach.  This homeowner is a potter with a keen eye for design and finishes.The kitchen was outdated and not very  functional.  My client enjoys cooking and entertaining and was seeking  to integrate her open kitchen with the stylish and artful adjacent dining and living room.My first thought was that even though we would lose cabinets, the soffit structure had to go.  We could make up that loss of storage by going higher with the cabinets and by adding a tall cabinet to the left of the refrigerator. I wanted to open up the space yet ensure that it was integrated with adjoining areas.  The ceiling is so high we were able to increase the height of the cabinets without having to go all the way up which would have disrupted the existing crown molding.   We also gained storage by adding the two end cabinets on either side of the seating area.  The cabinet to the counter is also great storage and the open shelving to the right was included to showcase some of my client's pottery pieces.  Scroll down to see the solution.

 We used a warm stained bamboo with a subtle blue-green tint for the cabinetry.  The back wall is aqua glass tiles to reflect the ocean.  There is a pantry with touch latches to the left of the built-in refrigerator.  An appliance garage conceals toaster oven to the right of the sink and open shelves feature my clients beautiful pottery creations.

My design was custom built by Brendan Donovan Furniture & Cabinet Co.  Cabinet  hardware is Top Knobs Sanctuary Collection in German Bronze. Refrigerator is Subzero with flush installation.  The rest of the appliances are by Jenn Air.  For this project we selected the Blanco Quatrus medium single sink  because it fit the space as well as the styling of the kitchen so well.  The faucet is Blanco Kontrole.  Again this stylish Blanco faucet provided the look and pull out functionality we needed. In addition,  the scale was appropriate for the space.  Counter tops are  grey granite from Cavastone fabricated by Stone Palace.  They feature a contemporary "waterfall" detail at the end of the peninsula.All in all I would say mission accomplish and my clients agree!

Tip #5: To Glass or Not To Glass?

Of course I always welcome questions from inquiring minds but today we’ll cover the final fifth question of the top five I get from my clients.  They want to know, “can I have glass doors on my cabinets if I’m not exactly tidy”?  I say YES!!  I love the look of glass doors on cabinets and there are so many different choices.  I even think that glass doors on food cabinets can be interesting and very "Parisian bistro looking".  I know most of you won’t go that far but for your dish storage they’re great.  You can see what’s where and score a little visual interest at the same time. Still not comfortable? You don’t have to go clear.  There are lots of patterned or frosted (acid etched) glass that “hide a little”.  If you’re traditional you might like the look of seeded glass whereas acid etched is definitely more contemporary. 

Eclectic Kitchen but mostly traditional with seeded glass (no mullions)

Contemporary Kitchen by Westfield General Contractors Michael Robert Construction    Be aware, mullions may not line up with shelves.  Use tempered glass for lower doors.  In this case it works as glass doors reflect the window and the French doors.

Mullions? What are these things? They are the little strips of wood that divide the glass opening.  This treatment is usually more traditional.  I usually prefer no mullions.  If you’re going for glass, go all the way.  Mullions can be visually busy and conflict with the shelves inside the cabinet if they don’t line up with the horizontal members.Mullions can get creative too.  For example the X shape will give you a design detail reminiscent of a British Colonial Bermuda style. 

Kitchen by Weston Kitchen & Bath Designers Drum Hill Designs,LLC

Adding a glass door to your cabinet can be a little more expensive because we typically have to finish the interior of the cabinet to match the outside and that is an upcharge for most cabinet manufacturers.  One or two shouldn't break the bank however.Glass doors are best added to upper cabinets for safety reasons.  You can add them to a lower cabinet but just remember to spend the extra money for tempered glass.Starting next month I will be answering more consumer questions over at  The Sun Sentinel.  Send me yours and you may get a reply in print!

Tip #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

Eclectic Kitchen by Indianapolis General Contractors Wrightworks, LLC This counter depth

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. 

Contemporary Kitchen Cabinets by Other Metro Tile, Stone & Countertops Quality Stone Concepts

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. 

Contemporary Kitchen by Washington Architects & Designers Barnes Vanze Architects, Inc

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.

Kitchen Faucets by Bonita Kitchen & Bath Designers Jamie Gold, CKD, CAPS

You can get this Solna faucet by Brizo for under $400.

Save

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. 

Asian Kitchen by San Francisco Architects & Designers John Lum Architecture, Inc. AIA

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?