Kitchen Design - Your Sink

When you think of kitchen design, do you think to add color to your sink?  Well Houzer has.  Their porcelain enamel sinks come in a variety of colors and styles.

Here are a few colors and their styles:

These under-mount sinks are part of the Porcela series and are double baked at 1500 degrees F.                     

Their non-porous surface can resist chips, stains and scratches.

Choosing a sink other than White or Stainless may seem

"not practical", but Why Not?  Most kitchen designs are too neutral and need color desperately.  Having an all white kitchen and installing a turquoise sink would be beautiful and unique.   So Why Not - add some color to your sink:)                  

Simple 4th of July Decorations

I am having some friends over for the holiday and want my house to look festive.  I found these simple 4th of July decorations on the web.  

Color rice with food coloring, put in jar and add a candle.

Glue festive paper on a tin can and add flowers.  

Paint canning jars to hold silverware.

BEST DISPLAY - THE AMERICAN FLAG

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY

COLOR TRENDS

Trends, Trends, Trends - It seems there is always an article on what trend is "In".  It can be a kitchen trend, color trend, furniture trend, etc.  Just when you think you have your home the way you like it, you read an article about a trend which may lead you to second guess yourself.

I personally try not to follow trends.  I am a firm believer that "If You Like It" that is all that matters.  You live in your home, not other people and their opinion.

With that said, being the in the business of home remodeling, I do have to keep up with the trends for knowledge and when a client asks the question "What is considered in style"  I will tell them what is trendy, but always follow up with "What are your likes and how you function in your home".

I was on the Sherwin Williams website with their color of the year for 2015.  I am currently in the middle of a major overhaul in my own home.  I am painting all my stained trim white (I have always had stained trim, and really wanted a change - not trying to be trendy).  The color I had picked for my walls is Sherwin Williams Rye Grass which happens to be a "trend" color to coordinate with Sherwin Williams color ot the year Coral Reef .  I had planned on using a coral color as accent with accessories.  One may think I am following the paint trends - I picked out these colors last spring.  

I picked colors that I liked, not what some article told me I should like.   I am carefully choosing fabric and accessories that I know I will like for a long time because frankly when I am done with this home project - I Am Done!

Sherwin Williams Rye Grass Color - my wall color

 Sherwin WillIams Coral Reef - not sure yet but will use for accessories

Open Shelves in your Kitchen

Open shelves in your kitchen - do you love it or hate it?
The trend for kitchens is getting rid of upper cabinets and having open shelves for dishes, pots, pans and any kitchen gadget you have. 

 Looking on the web for pictures, I have found that all these kitchens are "staged" very well and the open shelves look Great!  How would these shelves look in the real life of a kitchen?  Most people do not have perfect coordinating dishes, pots and pans.  Would you have the time to make sure the shelves look good each and every day?  What happens to these dishes out in the open with dust, kitchen grease or any other airborne particle?  

Here are some pictures I found on Google.

PERFECT COORDINATION WITH THESE SHELVES

SOME OPEN SHELVES CAN APPEAR MESSY

There is a place for open shelves in a kitchen, I am just not sure if they should replace all your upper cabinetry.

A GOOD BALANCE BETWEEN OPEN SHELVES AND UPPER CABINETRY

CUSTOM WOOD DOOR

Our CPA had a dilemma with one of their small offices in their space.  This office had a metal security door that had to stay, but looked terrible in the space. 

Our solution:  We put a solid wood panel on the interior side of the door.  This panel matchs the style and color of the cabinetry in the office.  We used black metal decorative brackets to attach the wood the metal door.  We also built a matching wood panel to cover the metal service panel in the space.  

Now this office has the security of metal door with the look of a wood door.  Very happy client.

                            OUTSIDE VIEW OF DOOR

                              VIEW LOOKING INSIDE

             INSIDE VIEW OF DOOR AND SERVICE PANEL

CUSTOM PICTURE FRAME

I had purchased this great photo from Esty that would look perfect above my fireplace.  When I hung it up the scale was Wayyy off, but I was determined to find a solution.  Quick answer - build a frame.  

I wanted a simple frame in rustic wood.  When constructing this frame, we made sure to include the knots in the wood. Once completed, the picture looks even better and in the proper scale.

BEFORE THE FRAME

PICTURE WITH FRAME

KITCHEN REMODEL - SOUTH ROCKWOOD

In this kitchen, cabinetry was mixed light and dark.  This created interest that would otherwise be too "light" or too "dark".  White kitchens have been the norm for some time, but it is time to bring back the stained cabinets.  The counters are also two different colors.  Kitchens do not have to be "matchy-matchy".  Go ahead and mix it up.

Overall View of Kitchen

Glass cabinets with interior lights to display dishes

Farm-style sink, glass drawer fronts 

 

  Added wainscoting and shelf supports to dress up back of island

  

 Pot filler for convenience, white subway tile with a metal deco strip to add interest.