As you know by the last couple of posts I’m deeply in love with all things contemporary but then again I’m certainly no “one trick pony”. I have always been intrigued with Craftsman Design. Think bungalows, organic forms and warm rich woods. 
The Arts and Crafts Movement which occurred at the turn of the last century, was a response to the blossoming industrial age. Mass production was coming into its own and a few intrepid souls were missing the personal human touch of household objects made by hand. The leading proponent was William Morris, also known for his beautiful stylized floral prints.
One of my “go to” hardware suppliers, Hardware Resources, has just unveiled cabinet hardware inspired by the period. Named after Arts & Crafts architect Bernard Maybeck, these selections are a great way to jazz up existing cabinets and give you "the look". Since they’re only inspired by, and not reproductions of, the Arts & Crafts Movement, the design is fresh and new as well as being a stylized nod to the Craftsman style. One beautifully styled knob and 3 cabinet pulls will be available in 5 trending finishes. In addition to the Maybeck design, by Jeffrey Alexander, they will be introducing the Brenton (Elements) and the Royce (also Jeffrey Alexander) at the upcoming KBIS (Kitchen & Bath Industry Show). 
Emulating this look in cabinetry is easy. The Shaker door style, which is all the rage, can be transformed to reflect the Arts & Crafts look by the addition of appropriate hardware. You can get handles like these here.Here's your opportunity to get crazy with a tile back splash. You will see a couple of motifs that scream A&C including the dragonfly and the ginko leaf. Add some green to the mix and you've got it!
If you're interested in this look or a stylized version of it I'd love to hear from you!
The Rest of the "Hot Pepper" Kitchen Story
Happy new year peeps! Back at the drawing board this week after a nice holiday break. I got a lot of annoying little things done AND spend a little time in the studio but that's another story. Last post I told you about my dream kitchen. I don't know about you but I'm still dreaming and that was just enough to pique my interest. The lovely Shannon Pepper of Shannon Pepper Design in New Zealand, YES, New Zealand (who knew they were rocking such awesome design down under?) shared some of her musings with me:
KFL: What parameters were you given before designing this kitchen?Shannon: The kitchen needed to be very functional for a busy family of 5. The kitchen is very much centralised in the home so it also needed to be very " good looking " for better words. There needed to be space to tuck things away like appliances etc to keep the space tidy.KFL: What was the biggest challenge of the project?Shannon: Hmmm, I'm not sure there were any real challenges in this project as the client was very easy to deal with and realistic. The space was very proportional and easy to plan. I say that but originally, in the plans from the architect, there was a window on the hob (stove) wall which we were trying to work around. After much thought the client decided that since the space would only look out onto a hedge and wouldn't offer much light we opted to remove the window and add under cabinet lights to keep the space light.
KFL: Is there anything you'd have done differently if you could?Shannon: Not really, I love this kitchen and loved working with this client.KFL: Can you describe they type of client you were designing for? Shannon: The clients were both doctors and they have 3 children under 12. The family is busy with extra activities after school for the children and wanted a space that was functional and easy to maintain.KFL: What brand of cabinets did you use?Shannon: The cabinetry used is a Dezignatek vinyl wrapped (known here as thermofoil) product. The colour is white gloss and the profile of the doors and drawers is Milan. This product is great for giving you a painted finish look but without the chipping and scratching possibilities of paint.Not only is this a dream kitchen but it sounds like it was an all-around dream job too. Check out Shannon's website for more pics of her beautiful projects.
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.
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!
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!
Trending on Pinterest
That long weekend went by in a flash, didn't it? I don't know about you but I have to slowly ease back into the work mode. On Mondays it's always fun to see what's hot on my Pinterest. That'll work! So without further ado this gorgeousness was the most re-pinned (original sources included) from my boards over the holiday weekend.
Since it tis the season to be thinking about gingerbread this pic is getting lots of love. Of course it's always the season to think about Paris! I found it on my BBF's (Best Blogger Friend's) blog Surroundings but you can find the "how to" here. It's on my "Food" board.
This stunning pic lends a whole new meaning to the concept of "public bathroom". If you love it, there's more where that came from and you can find it here on Google+.
Speaking of bathrooms, this one was pretty popular too, not surprising. It can be found on the delightful blog Mix and Chic. Both bathrooms are on the "Step Into My Bath" board.
Patti is on my "Super Cool Peeps" board and I guess some fans found her this week. If you haven't read it, her book Just Kids is fabulous! The original source for this shot can be found right here. 
And last but not least this cool chair on my "Charles Rennie & Margaret M." board got a few nods. It came from this site where you will find many similar beautiful items. There you have it, eclectic to say the least. Now back to business. Up next: A new way to "rock" your kitchen.
Happy Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving Greetings from the Sunshine State.
