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Author Archives: Steph Gillin
A month to month plan to declutter your home! From Houzz.com
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Biggest Kitchen Design Trend of the Year 2016?
We are talking about kitchens, all day everyday, with clients, fellow designers, fellow contractors, vendors, friends….it is what we do after all! And we have read a ton of articles about what is “hot” in a kitchen now! There are tons of opinions and plenty of debate. All ideas and thoughts are great, but we hear one, constant and VERY real common thread in every conversation we have about a kitchen. And it is: STORAGE!
We titled this article “Trend” but storage is truly a life changing, must need element in any home design project. There are endless ways to accomplish this trend. Some are unique, some are standard, some are personal but all are important.
You can leaf through our past article on this subject, but in the next few weeks, we will be featuring some fantastic kitchen storage ideas. Most can be incorporated into your existing kitchen cabinetry. If you are not up to a DIY project, give us a call and we can help you out!
Roll outs in a tall storage pantry for the kitchen.
Unique Kitchen Cabinet Storage
Here are a few unique kitchen cabinet storage ideas to make your kitchen more functional and hide some common kitchen clutter:
Electrical outlets added to charge and hide devices
Cherry Hill kitchen features roll out trays in base cabinet to store pots and pans.
Kitchen Aid mixers can be concealed into a cabinet and even placed onto a lift. Included in this mixer lift is storage for cook books!
Large pantry with roll out trays to organize items.
Spice Rack in Base Cabinet Cherry Hill Kitchen
Message Center in kitchen
Want to hide the trash cans in your kitchen?
Tilt down storage at kitchen sink for sponges and wash rags.
Creating Storage Solutions for Technology
Message Center in Kitchen Wayne, PA
Welcome to the age of technology! Oh, you have been here for a while? So you must also have charger wires everywhere for mobile devices and other clutter related to the wireless world? Well we have come up with a few simple ideas to consider when designing and remodeling your kitchen.
Conceal outlets in cabinets: the picture above and below shows two ways to hide those wires needed to charge devices. We all put them in our kitchen in the same spot (usually on the counter) so we don’t forget where they are. Imagine your new kitchen having that spot in a cabinet and hidden.
Create a “Drop Zone”: “Drop Zone” is a modern day buzz word. It literally means a spot to drop anything you walk with in your hands. For most of us, this in the countertop or mud room bench or dining room table…wherever we can land these items safely and be able to find quickly. With smart design, this “Drop Zone” can be incorporated into your cabinetry. It can be a life changing decision!
Mud Room Drop Zone
Use slim end of run pantry to create a mobile device charging station, message center and hanging storage.
Baskets and Cubbies: sounds simple, but is it really? If you plan for certain sized baskets and create cubbies that meet your daily life, it is simple. Baskets in a cubby are easily accessible and hide the mail, extra plugs, ear buds, etc. Cubbies work great for shoes, umbrellas and other bulky items. Don’t forget hooks too! You can hang school bags, jackets and even you purse. Grab and go!
Picking a Paint Finish…made easy!
Here’s what you need to know about four main paint finishes, there are 4 basic sheens: flat, eggshell, semi-gloss, and gloss. Below is a list of the best bets for where to use them in your home. But please remember: There are no set rules for how certain paint colors look in each finish; that decision is totally up to you!
Flat: also may be referred to as “matte”. This sheen has the least amount of shine. It is also the least resistant to stains and harder to clean. It does cover cracks and imperfections well and is a good option for textured walls. Plan to use this finish in lower traffic areas like a formal dining room and it is perfect on ceilings.
Eggshell: also may be referred to as “satin”. You really can not go wrong with an eggshell paint. It resists stains better than a flat paint, wipes clean easily, it also has a little more luster and shine than a flat paint. We use this in kitchens, bathrooms, bedrooms, living areas….everywhere!
Semi-Gloss: this is a tough paint and will show less wear than flat or eggshell. It reflects more and will show imperfections in the wall more than the aforementioned finishes. We use this solely on trim work, mouldings and doors.
Eggshell blue paint in desk area
Gloss: shiny and a good choice only on trim and furniture. If you are going for a “glam” look, you can try this on the walls. We have not done that yet, so if you do, please send us pictures!
