KDG Kitchens & Baths

Appliance Bugaboo

2012-10-18T09:54:00.000-04:00

I find that communicating to my kitchen clients some key facts as they make selections for all items that will go in their new kitchen will surely make the process easier for them and for me. One category that tends to give us some trouble needs more discussion as the kitchen design takes shape. Appliances can be a real dilemma. We rely on our appliance expert. (Her name is Andrea at Appliance Connection: (703) 492-7283) We do need to know which appliances you choose for your new kitchen, and in fact spend a good bit of time getting various specifications and exact dimensions to ensure we allow enough clearance for our cabinetry. We also advise as best as we can how the appliances you choose will integrate, fit, and look when set in place in your brand new kitchen. This is tough to do perfectly on paper or with words.

The appliance industry has challenges too. They want to give you the best features, durability, beauty, and affordability. Most of your appliances are designed to fit into the cabinet industry standard depth of the base cabinets in your kitchen. This magic number is 24”. Your countertop should overhang the front of your base cabinets by around 1 ½”, so the other magic number is 25 ½”. Dishwashers, ranges, cook tops, wall ovens, microwaves, hood fans, and wine chillers all seem to tuck into this space neatly enough. Most appliances seem to becoming “chunkier” as the desire for a more commercial appearance continues to drive sales. This will cause the doors and handles to protrude more than we found 10 years ago, so that does give us cause to create more clearance in corners so that we don’t have drawers colliding with dishwasher handles. But the overriding “problem child” in the appliance family is the refrigerator. The one item that is opened and closed more than any other is our biggest challenge as designers. When you look at refrigerators in the appliance store, there may be no cabinetry around them to illustrate how they will look installed in your house. They might be lined up like gorgeous soldiers awaiting your inspection. You are free to open and close them, check out the nice shelves, lights, and cool gizmos that their research and development has come up with for that year. The real dig is the depth of the thing. Keeping the magic numbers of 24” and 25 ½” in mind before you go refrigerator shopping will save us all confusion later on. There are refrigerators out there that with the handles measure 35-36” or more in depth. That’s a foot deeper than all that nice cabinetry and granite. We can make the beautiful wood returns alongside the refrigerator a bit deeper. We have even arranged for the contractor to cut into the 2 x 4 wall to create a bit more space to recess it in further. We can do some special planning if that very large capacity refrigerator is mandatory for you.

Some appliance salespeople are not thinking about this detail. They often simply want you to have the 26 cubic foot behemoth of your dreams. Come in for a visit to our showroom to discuss some other pitfalls we have learned to avoid when you decide to remodel this most important room of your home.

Winter 2012 Promotions Going On Now!

2012-01-23T12:38:00.000-05:00

Crystal Cabinetry Winter Promotion

Free Upgrade to Inset Styling
Free Highlight or Glazing
Free Upgrade to Cherry Wood

From now until April 10th, 2012 Crystal cabinetry is offering free upgrades for all of their cabinet lines. If you or your clients are looking for a way to save some money on custom or semi-custom cabinetry, now is the time. These discounts are valid on orders placed from now until April 10th, 2012.

Paint, Highlighting & Brushing

2011-09-16T11:12:00.000-04:00

High end custom cabinetry lines have been offering a brushed finish for years, but now some semi-custom cabinet lines are starting to offer the unique finish. Shiloh Cabinetry is one of those lines. And even better than just offering the finish, they offer it as a standard, no upcharge option.

The Brushing Technique is the newest addition to Shiloh's lineup of specialty finishes. The brushing is hand applied for an antiqued appearance. It is available in Polar White, Soft White, Eggshell or Ivory, with Cafe or Slate Highlight. Due to the hand-applied process, significant variation is common.

Read more to see the available colors.

Eggshell with Cafe Brushing

Ivory with Cafe Brushing

Soft White with Slate Brushing

Eggshell with Slate Brushing

Ivory with Slate Brushing

Soapstone

2011-08-17T10:10:00.000-04:00

Money Magazine declared Soapstone #1 in value when compared to Granite, Solid Surface, Concrete, Butcher Block and Ceramic Tile.

We have had a Soapstone countertop in our showroom for years and it still gets a lot of attention. People have a lot of questions about its durability and cost. Below are a few pros and cons of Soapstone just in case you are considering it for your kitchen. If you would like a closer look please feel free to stop by our showroom.

SoapStone is a soft stone found in Finland, Brazil and in the heart of Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains. Below are some of the pros and cons of choosing this surface for your kitchen.

Pros:
• Its naturally nonporous (stain resistant)
• No fussy, vulnerable sealants; scratches can be sanded and oiled away.
• Prices out similar to granite

Cons:
• You can get any color you want, so long as it's green or dark gray.

The Alberene Soapstone Company has been harvesting, processing, and fabricating soapstone from their Virginia quarries since 1883. We've visited their operation, and it is really quite impressive. Visit their website to learn more.

Trends - 1" Thick Doors

2011-07-27T16:16:00.000-04:00

Looking to create stunning cabinetry with substance?

Try using one of Crystal's 1" thick door styles. The thicker, heavier look of these styles creates dramatic depth and an element of quality and true craftsmanship. Available on inset construction only, you have the option of 3/4" thick face frames or 1" thick face frames.

Design Tip:
Use 1" thick door styles on a 3/4" thick face frame. This allows for an additional profile to be added to the outside edge of the door to enhance the depth even more.

Click "Read More" to see the door styles available at 1" thick

NARI President's Breakfast (August)

2011-07-27T15:50:00.000-04:00

Latest News from NARI:
Join us for the August President's Breakfast. This free breakfast meeting brings together professionals in the remodeling industry to network and share their insights. There's no set agenda--just time to discuss what's on your mind.

Thursday, August 11, 2011
Time: 7:30 am - 9:00 am
Host: Architectural Ceramics
Location: 800 East Gude Drive, Suite F
Rockville, MD 20850
RSVP using this online form

Questions:
Contact June Stanich of the Membership Committee at (703) 591-7443 or by email.

Camping at Home - life at home without the use of your kitchen

2011-06-28T12:54:00.000-04:00

When people tell me they are ready to remodel their kitchens, we have a lot of information to exchange. I want to know their needs and tastes, and they need to know exactly what the process is. One area that I find some confusion is the gutting part where they don’t have a kitchen for about 6 weeks. Many folks never thought about the fact that they would spend time packing up everything in that kitchen, have a contractor tear everything out often including the drywall, then proceed to rebuild it from the bottom up. This will take some time, almost always 6 weeks.

I want them to be prepared, because there are many ways to make this transition much easier if done ahead of time. Camping at home means that there is a table, chairs, refrigerator, microwave, a few dishes, and hopefully a source of water. I urge paper plates and plastic flatware because the clean up is the hardest part to accomplish. The barbeque grill is a great way to actually cook through this period, but how are you expected to wash all that greasy cook-ware? I explain how they can get some meals put up for the weeks to come. Some families are good at this and actually make casseroles and other cooked meals and freeze them. If they have taken the time to prepare a space in the house to go CAMPING all they have to do is heat and eat mom’s good cooking. Others rely on relatives close by to bring food over. They are the lucky ones. If neighbors are good friends, perhaps they will let you come over to put a meal together, or at lease boil some pasta to put that micro-waved jarred sauce on. In these busy times, several businesses have sprung up to make meal prep fast and freezable. Dinner Done and Let’s Dish charge you a fee to come in and put as many meals together as you sign up for. It all gets packed up in plastic containers and bags, labeled with contents and instructions to go directly in the freezer. Restaurants may sound great at first, but believe me, it gets old quick. (and expensive!)

When all the dishes, glasses, pots and pans come out of the old cabinets, inevitably there are some hard decisions to make. Everything usually winds up on the dining room table on a table cloth. That’s a great time to cull out duplicates or things that never truly have been used at all. Sometime long lost items appear. A few boxes can be filled with donations and carted off to the thrift shop or Goodwill store. Usually a tax receipt is given which makes this trip a win win.

The good news is, when the new kitchen is finally finished, and you get to put everything away, there should be a place for everything, and everything in it’s easily retrievable place. Also, there is almost always more room than before, so those gorgeous glasses in the basement, or the lovely wedding gifts packed away in the basement for years can finally come out and be a part of your life.

This time frame is much like a pregnancy and delivery. It takes what seems like forever, and is pretty inconvenient, but enduring this discomfort makes the end result is so wonderful you’ll get amnesia about that unpleasant time you lived through.

-Julie Hendrickson

NARI - July Education Dinner Meeting Announced

2011-06-28T12:43:00.000-04:00

Wednesday, July 20th, 2011

What's your "X" Factor? How do you distinguish yourself from your competition when you meet with potential clients? Join NARI July 20th as Tim Nagle, Owner of Remodel Buddy, discusses how to create the ultimate marketing system. You'll gain a more in-depth understanding of what marketing truly is and how to develop a system for your success through the Art of Differentiation! You'll discover how to identify the important point of difference--one that matters to your ideal clients and how to promote it.

Concurrent Sessions will include:
- New Local Building Codes for Montgomery County: Are you current on the Changes?
George Muste, Manager of Montgomery County Residential Review,
Steve Thomas, Manager of Montgomery County Residetnial Ispections

- The Sale Beneath the Sale: From Kids in the Candy Store to Signed Construction Agreements
Jeff Nay, President, Sandler Training

Early Registration Ends July 15th.
Register Now to Save.

The Falls Church HS Senior Art Show

2011-05-24T11:20:00.000-04:00

You're Invited!!!

The Falls Church High School Senior Art Show is running from May 20th - June 2nd. The reception is JUne 2nd from 6pm to 8pm at the Kleppinger Design Group Showroom at 2809-A Merrilee Drive Fairfax, VA 22031. For direction click here

Shiloh's Custom Paint Program

2011-05-24T11:11:00.000-04:00

The inability to find your perfect color no longer stands in the way of achieving your vision. Shiloh Cabinetry is now offering the entire Sherwin-Williams color palette as part of their Custom Paint Program. With an entire palette of colors to choose from, the Custom Paint Program opens up a whole new possibility for color. Just visit any Sherwin-Williams location and choose your perfect color. Then let Shiloh Cabinetry go to work making your vision a reality.

A Fresh Start (Part 3) Craft Room Wrap Up

2011-05-24T10:54:00.000-04:00

It seems as though we started remodeling the craft room in my house about 4 months ago, but I can now say, we are 99% finished. My #1 goal was to find ways to organize everything so I could find it easily. I also wished for a more attractive place to work in, with better light and restful colors. Additionally, I didn’t want to break the bank.

By taking out the silly sofa bed that was supposed to work for guests (but never really did) and making this strictly a work space, we gained lots of room. I now have several distinct work spaces, and find that two can comfortably sit at separate areas and work at the same time. I saved money by using shelving, lighting, fabric and storage units mainly from IKEA. I also made liberal use of The Container Store. Of course, having access to custom cabinetry helped immensely. I tapped into friends and relatives who were happy to help, if not in a huge rush.

I left the walls in the faux finish stripes that I did with a friend many moons ago. It is durable and neutral and provides a soft pattern against so much white furniture. The fabric gave us the colors such as the soft grey blue used in accessories. There are touches of black in the new desk chair and various other items. I really think every room should have some black. Glass doors in the wall units help me see where things are and give depth and interest in what could have been fairly flat looking.

We have one drawer strictly for paints of all kinds. (acrylics, glass, fabric) The containers with all the brushes are behind glass doors directly above. There are bins labeled for every craft I am (so far) interested in located in the open shelf unit. The rubber stamps, inks and papers are right at hand with glue and scissors close by. Making a quick card for someone does not now involve an hour long search for materials.

The beads, wire, findings, and pliers are just a reach below the card stuff. I plan to take a few classes this summer to brush up on ways to assemble these collected treasures. I have a special area I call the “jewelry hospital” so I can sit to repair/rework things when I find a little time.

Inspiration is close at hand as all my magazines/books are corralled properly and labeled clearly.

The sewing things are mostly located at the new workstation under the window. I was thinking this would be the best location because of the natural light, but realize now I need to put a light-blocking shade up there too for when the sun is blaring in. Both the Bernina and the Serger fit nicely on my new L-shaped top. All the notions are in the desk drawers to the right. That desk belonged to my husband when he was in high school (in the 60’s!!!) and he thought I was crazy to re-use it, but painted up and with new spiffy hardware it works just fine, and it is a bit of nostalgia in a room full of new things. I also merely spray-painted and re-covered the seat and back of an old chrome chair I found on the curb about 20 years ago. Covered with a dusty blue patterned fabric left over from another project, it now has a new life.

A sore area was always trying to find zippers, buttons, seam tape, interfacings and the like. I found cute little bins on sale at the container store and made labels for each item. These are now in the closet on shelves which is concealed most of the time by a curtain. I can open the curtain either way as I made a tie back and put a hook on each side. This is helpful when I’m trying to reach up high or pulling out large things. Those deep shelves are perfect for folded fabric storage as I can see easily where it is.

What you don’t see in these pictures is the ironing board, which truthfully is up almost all the time. There is plenty of room to move around when it is up, and it is handy for a quick touch up. When we are sewing, we find it’s nice to lower it and pull it up close to the sewing machine. There is much less wear and tear and it’s a time saver.

I have to thank the cast of characters for all their support and assistance. My daughter Kelly is the person who assured me that we could do this. She aided in the design and muscled huge heavy boxes of built-it-yourself furniture in and out of vehicles and actually assembled that big unit herself while I was at work. My husband Ralph was extremely important to the project as he re-wired outlets, installed new light fixtures, built the countertop, installed the cabinets and crown molding, cut odd shaped shelves for the closet and offered moral support. Also, Langston Urrita, our painter friend, kindly donated his time removing the old wall paper border.

I now have a beautiful room I am proud to share with friends who want to play/craft with me.

This exercise was really exactly what we go through to remodel a kitchen. Finding everything in it’s place, getting enough room to work comfortably, access to all the machines, and having a beautiful space to share with friends and family is the goal. We help folks realize that every day at Kleppinger Design Group.

PS: I don’t recommend a do it yourself for a kitchen project.

Crystal Update

2011-05-24T10:51:00.000-04:00

I just wanted to take a minute and share some news from Crystal. I spent then last 3 days up at the factory with 14 others designers from around the country, learning about upcoming product offerings, while at the same time they picked our brains for products and features we as designers would like to see. They have been fortunate to have seen growth in the last year, and were very sincere in passing on their thanks for our business. That growth has allowed them to develop new products, and expand upon existing ones. Coming this summer we will see several new stain colors for Maple, Cherry and Alder, new design options, expanded moldings and more. They are limiting themselves only to their and our imagination for products we can think of.

So check back in a few weeks as we get the official release of these new products.

Andrew

NARI President's Breakfast

2011-04-29T14:22:00.000-04:00

Two President's Breakfasts Announced

Friday, May 13th and Wednesday, June 15th

Join the National Association of the Remodeling Industry for two upcoming President's Breakfasts. At these free casual events, meet Chapter President, Jerry Levine, as well as others in the business. Members can bring guests. Anyone thinking of joining is welcome to come and talk to members about NARI and get membership information. Hope to see you there.

Upcoming President's Breakfasts:

May 13, 2011
Lutron DC Experience Center
Click here to rsvp.

June 15, 2011
Merrick Design and Build, Inc.
Click here to rsvp.

Furniture for the bath (Part 2)

2011-03-29T11:56:00.000-04:00

Mid Continent's vanity program offers six different foot options to finish of the base of your vanity with style. They also offer different options for the exposed ends of the cabinet including flush finished plywood ends and matching false door end panels.

The images above are: Tulip Foot, Cove Foot, Bun Foot, Corbel Foot, Tapered Foot and Metal Foot

The Program includes:

• Bath vanities
• Tall storage cabinets
• Wall and mirror storage

Cabinet choices include a full offering of colors, styles and species from the Mid Continent kitchen program (request a brochure). Bath cabinets can be created with a number of end panel options, as well as a variety of base choices. Use this flexibility to create truly personalized cabinetry for the bath.

A Fresh Start (Part 3)

2011-03-29T11:50:00.000-04:00

Craft room......nearly finished......3-29-11

My fabulous craft room is almost done. I can see the light, but I have some busy work ahead of me. The closet shelving is installed and primed. The crown moldings are up. The old desk has a coat of paint (but needs another). The hardware is installed. The glass has been ordered for the glass door cabinets. More sorting was done (buttons, ribbons elastic, lace, notions, beads and jewelry findings). I still have the rubber stamps to round up, and more storage bins to find and purchase, but the new countertop is installed and painted a color which looks amazingly like the brushed nickel hardware. (!) It still needs another coat, and 2 days to dry fully.

Throughout this whole process, I have been frustrated to no end while waiting for volunteer help from my family members. I always thought of myself as a patient person, but I have felt so sorry for myself while facing tasks I could not perform myself. I am a total do-it-yourselfer, at least, housewife style, but when it comes to dangerous power tools, I have to draw the line. Expert talent and super strength have been required for cutting of plywood sheets, and installation of heavy cabinetry. Experience was needed for compressor driven pin nailers which were necessary for installation of moldings and such.

When I work with folks in the showroom to help them with the design and selections for their new kitchen, I try to prepare them for the length of time it will take to get their project completely finished. I mention that it is a great idea to make a space for “camping out” in their house. A place for a refrigerator, microwave, table and chairs, and a shelf of some sort for boxed cereals, etc. Some pre-made casseroles in the freezer are a great idea if one has the time and discipline. Sometimes a sympathetic neighbor or relative can open their kitchen up for some meal prep. Paper cups, plates and plastic flatware sure make clean up easier. I tell these families not to try to be too green for the 6 weeks or so as they will have no way to wash up.

You would think I would be relaxed about a mere craft room taking 3-4 months to re-model, but after designing it and preparing for it, it was extremely difficult to wait to fully enjoy it. I can see now that all my fun hobbies will be more accessible, and the layout will permit up to 3 people to work together in there, which will make it less isolating. The new lighting will enable me to see from every spot. The new storage will make digging and hunting for materials a thing of the past. There is a place for every single thing I have and need, and even some extra for more crafty fun.

These are all goals for a well thought out kitchen. The planning, the shopping, and the executing are all critical for the end result to be amazing. Each step of the process is exciting as you see the pieces and parts coming together. The waiting is very difficult, but is so worth it.

Maple has never looked more beautiful!

2011-03-24T10:43:00.000-04:00

Crystal is pleased to introduce four new stains developed to create a clean, radiant finish for maple. Not only do they look fantastic on maple, they’re available on other Crystal woods too!

Fawn on Maple

Prairie on Maple

Praline on Maple

Toffee on Maple

To see all of Crystal's finishes visit their website or stop by our showroom in Fairfax, VA.

NARI President's Breakfast

2011-03-22T14:46:00.000-04:00

The National Association of the Remodeling Industry continues its Presidents Breakfast on Thurs. March 24th. If you're a member of NARI or thinking of joining you should really take advantage of this networking opportunity. These free breakfast meetings bring together professionals in the remodeling industry to network and share their insights. There's no set agenda--just time to discuss what's on your mind.

Thursday, March 24, 2011
Host: Ferguson Enterprises
Location: 5650 General Washington Drive
Alexandria, VA 22312
RSVP using this online form

Thursday, April 7, 2011
Host: Sisler's Stone
Location: 7139 Lee Highway
Falls Church, VA 22046
RSVP using this online form

Questions:
Contact June Stanich of the Membership Committee at (703) 591-7443 or by email.

Color Trends

2011-03-22T07:57:00.000-04:00

A few new color options from Crystal Cabinetry.

A hint of color adds a little zing to any room. Three popular colors emerging are— green, gray and blue. These colors have a soothing and calming affect because they remind us of earth, sky and water and also blend well with warm wood tones.

Crystal’s greens are: Basil, Mohr Green and Sage; grays are: Overcast and Stonebridge; and for blue we have the versatile stain: Cape Cod.

Try them with different color highlights or glazes and get an entirely new shade! For instance put black highlight on Cape Cod for a cool blue, or Van Dyke Brown on Overcast for a warm gray. Mohr Green in a Rub-thru finish over Umber stain with black highlight creates an appealing, organic combination.

For more on Crystal's color options visit their website.

Closets, Pantries, Garages, oh my!

2011-03-17T14:00:00.000-04:00

In the next few weeks we'll be introducing you to our new custom closet line. Our website will let you explore all the unique door styles, finishes and accessories. And best of all, they offer solutions for offices, pantries and even garages. Stay tuned...

Furniture for the bath (Part 1)

2011-03-14T10:53:00.000-04:00

Mid Continent Cabinetry has created a great vanity program designed to provide furniture quality cabinetry for the bath. They designed the program to offer the utmost in choice and flexibility. The Program includes:

• Bath vanities
• Tall storage cabinets
• Wall and mirror storage

Cabinet choices include a full offering of colors, styles and species from the Mid Continent kitchen program (request a brochure). Bath cabinets can be created with a number of end panel options, as well as a variety of base choices. Use this flexibility to create truly personalized cabinetry for the bath.

We'll be following up this post with a closer look at the some of the available options.

Tales from a Kitchen Designer (Part 4)

2011-03-14T08:49:00.000-04:00

Okay, a lot has happened in the past 12 days. I am not quite sure where to begin. I left off with us installing the cabinets. It only took 3 days total. Two days to set the cabinets and one day for us to install moldings, panels toe kicks and put all of the shelves, doors and drawers back in. That alone took several hours. All in all, everything went in pretty well, which is good since my wife was starting to get tired of the dust and is ready to be done. I was a little short on crown molding, and had missed a shelf on one of the base cabinets.
All in all, anything addition I had to order would not prohibit us from moving forward. Once the cabinets were set, the tops were measured and we waited. While we waited, I installed hardware and only mis-drilled one drawer head. We cleaned the cabinets what seemed like a dozen times and kept staring in amazement of our new space. After 4 weeks, cabinets were set, and we were waiting on countertops. That weekend I bought and painted the base molding and door and window casing, so I would only have to touch up nail holes once it was installed, as well as finishing any painting I had left to do.

Week 5 started off slowly. The guys were to come Monday to install the moldings and start on the appliances but got tied up on another job. Since nothing can really progress until countertops get installed, it didn’t slow us down any. Tuesday they came and put the trim on. It’s amazing how some pieces of wood can make such a difference in how a space looks. Wednesday brought not only the installation of our granite tops, but the delivery of our double ovens and refrigerator. At the request of our contractor, they were set in front of their openings, so he could get them hooked up and installed. My wife was excited to get the pictures I sent of the granite tops and her double ovens. I believe she said it brought tears to her eyes to see the ovens sitting there. That evening, our oldest son bellied right up to the side of the peninsula top is and pretended he worked at McDonalds. The wires hanging down for the under counter lights were his microphone, and he was ready to take orders. It’s funny, I never thought about how our boys would react to the remodeling. Our youngest doesn’t seem to really care, but our 6 year old has really taken an interest. He’s opening cabinets and checking things out. Thursday brought the installation of our Corian top and the hope we’d have everything hooked up that night. Unfortunately for us the Corian installers didn’t get to us after lunch, so by the time they were done, it was too late for the plumber to come. No matter, we had all of our counters and now we could see the light. We did have a minor hitch with the installation of the Corian, but we were able to solve the issue, and in the end it did not slow us down. Friday brought great joy to our house. The plumber came. By the time we got home on Friday, we had running water, a working gas cook top and our new refrigerator was hooked up.

Now that we had the plumbing hooked up, we could start to unpack. Unfortunately the dishwasher wasn’t working (something the electrician would have to address). But that didn’t stop us. We started unpacking boxes and putting things away. We had made a list of what items were going into what cabinets. While a nice guide, it didn’t get updated to reflect the final plans and we had to make adjustments as we went. Even with a guide, it has been hard. While we have a lot more space than we did have, it is taking time to figure out where to put some things. We’ve lived with our old kitchen for 9 years, so adjusting is going to take a little time. The biggest surprise for my wife is to see how much space we loose because of the inset hinges. They stick into the cabinet a couple of inches, and that is prohibiting her from putting some things where she had planned. Also, we went with 42” high cabinets for the storage, but she’s only 5’-2”, so anything above the 2nd shelf of the cabinet she will need a stool for. And since the electrician did not make it out to our house on Friday, the double ovens are still sitting on the floor in front of where they go. This is prohibiting us from putting our pots and pans away, as well as accessing a couple of other cabinets. We did what we could, and hopefully we’ll be able to finish soon.

Monday morning, the electrician is to come, so all of the appliances will be hooked up, cover plates put on the switches and outlets, and recessed and under cabinet lights will be installed. All that we have left to wait for is the tile installer to come, hopefully this week too, so we can fully move back in. Anything left after that is for me to do. I still have painting to touch up, and things to hang on the walls. Plus, once we get unpacked, we have to give our living room, dining room and sun room a thorough cleaning. Dust is every where, and even thought we’ve done what we could to contain it, it gets everywhere. We are looking forward to getting our house back to normal. We were even discussing who we should have over first to break in the new kitchen.

Stay tuned, hopefully by the next time I write, we’ll be all done. Check out the new pictures now that we have counters and appliances.

Andrew,

PS. I do have one confession to make. While I checked and double checked the height of the backsplash area and my wife’s Kitchen Aid Mixer, I did not check a fruit stand/tray she has. It won’t fit. She reminded me about it, but I just forgot. So I have to find a new home for it somewhere, and figure out where we are going to put our fruit. If that’s the biggest mistake I made, I can live with that.

3 great cooking apps

2011-03-08T22:17:00.000-05:00

Anyone that enjoys cooking has loads of cookbooks and recipe cards. Many of us even have a cabinet or two dedicated to storing our cookbook collection. But with the rise in smartphone use its definitely worth mentioning a few of the best cooking apps available. Here are our top three.

Epicurious (free - Universal)
Available free for both the iPhone and iPad, the Epicurious Recipes & Shopping List App is the first truly smart cookbook. This next-generation kitchen companion enables food lovers to search for great recipes, create interactive shopping lists, and follow step-by-step, stove-side instructions. Plus, with the sync feature, you can access your personal Recipe Box on your iPhone and iPad. Read More http://www.epicurious.com/services/mobile#ixzz1GEocLkM4

How to Cook Everything ($4.99 - iPhone only)
Everything you love about the cookbook: 2,000 recipes and recipe variations; 400 how-to illustrations; hundreds of menu ideas; and Mark Bittman’s straightforward cooking advice for simple good food.

The Betty Crocker Cookbook (free - iPhone only)
Find out what's for dinner, get step-by-step directions on how to make it, and even get coupons to help you save! It's all right here and it's all from your favorite kitchen expert, Betty Crocker.
The Betty Crocker® Cookbook for iPhone is a FREE application that puts more than 9,000 kitchen-tested recipes at your fingertips. And best of all, it's lightning quick and doesn't require a wireless or 3G connection.

Is your refrigerator running? Let me check my computer and see.

2011-03-08T21:45:00.000-05:00

We'll all be hearing a lot about "smart appliances" in 2011, and Control4 is just one of the companies interested in home automation. They have partnered with Sub-Zero and Wolf to make appliances more energy efficient and easier to program. While the system won't let you refrigerator order more milk just yet, it does offer some energy saving modes and worth while alerts that can easily be accessed by way of mobile devices or other computers.
The full press release is included below.

Press Release

Control4 Partners With Sub-Zero and Wolf
Control4 can now connect to Sub-Zero and Wolf high-end kitchen appliances for convenience, energy savings and the perfect meal every time.
Las Vegas, NV – CES 2011 – January 6-9, 2011 – LVCC South 21407 – Control4, a leader in affordable IP-based control and entertainment systems, today announced its partnership with Sub-Zero, Inc. and Wolf Appliance, Inc., industry leaders in premium refrigeration and cooking appliances.

Control4 collaborates with third-party manufacturers to design products that integrate with the Control4® platform. Through this new partnership, Sub-Zero® refrigerators, Wolf® ovens, and Sub-Zero® wine storage units can be integrated into Control4 networks, resulting in unprecedented benefits from being able to manage appliances through a Control4 system.

“The connected home isn’t just about consumer electronics gadgets — every appliance and service should be easily accessed and managed through any touch point in the house. There is no better example of this new reality than this partnership,” stated Control4’s CEO Will West.

In a Control4 digital home, eco-conscious homeowners can program Sub-Zero freezers and refrigerators to maximize energy efficiency by automatically setting ice-making production and other energy-intensive functions to lower levels at different times of the day. Homeowners can also automatically adjust settings to accommodate specific lifestyle needs, such as increasing ice production prior to entertaining large numbers of guests. Users also have the option to receive alerts that allow them to manage and monitor energy usage. For the first time, homeowners can send energy deferral requests or general service requests through their Control4 system directly to Sub-Zero and Wolf.

“Sub-Zero and Wolf products are known for their cutting-edge design and performance,” said Michele Bedard, Vice President, Marketing for Sub-Zero and Wolf. “This partnership is another extension of our capabilities that allows us to fit into the lifestyle of our customer and do our part to be even more energy efficient.”

When integrating select Wolf products into their Control4 system, homeowners can be notified when pre-heat is complete, view the current oven temperature, receive alerts when the timer is almost finished, and access meat temperature from the internal meat thermometer.

With the Control4 platform, Sub-Zero wine storage unit owners can monitor their unit’s door status and even receive-mail or text message alerts when a door opens or closes. Since temperature and humidity are critical elements to storing the perfect bottle of wine, collectors are assured that their wine unit door has been properly shut and air is not entering or exiting. These alerts also provide a new level of monitoring should anyone enter the wine unit without permission.

Examples of Sub-Zero and Wolf’s integration with the Control4 platform will be on display in the Control4 booth during the CES 2011 show. For more information on Sub-Zero and Wolf products, please visit www.subzero.com or www.wolfappliance.com. For more information on Control4, please visit www.control4.com.

About Control4
Control4, a leading provider of the operating system for the smart home, delivers intelligent control over consumer electronics products, appliances and networking systems through an easy-to-use and intuitive software interface. Founded in 2003, the company delivers affordable automation of lighting, music, video, thermostat, security, and energy management systems through more than 1,900 custom integrators, retail outlets, and distributors in over 70 countries. With the most intelligent, open and affordable control solution on the market, Control4 is the platform of choice for major consumer electronics companies, residential homes, hotels, businesses and utilities that require an intelligent, open and affordable control solution. For more information visit www.control4.com.

About Sub-Zero and Wolf
Sub-Zero, Inc., is the leading manufacturer of American-made premium refrigeration, freezers and wine storage units and it leads in product design with its built-in and integrated lines. Founded in 1945, Sub-Zero is a privately held company in its third generation of family ownership. Headquartered in Madison, WI, Sub-Zero also operates a manufacturing facility in Phoenix, AZ. Specializing in food preservation, Sub-Zero pioneered the concept of dual refrigeration and prides itself on being the first company to store frozen foods at ultralow, “sub-zero” temperatures. Wolf Appliance, Inc., is the premier maker of ranges, ovens, cooktops and grills and was among the first to introduce the convection oven into the residential market. It is based in a state-of-the-art production facility in Fitchburg, WI. Both Sub-Zero and Wolf products are available throughout the United States and internationally. For more information about Sub-Zero and Wolf, please visit subzero.com or wolfappliance.com.

Press Contact
Kimberly Lancaster, Caster Communications, klancaster@castercomm.com, 401-792-7080
Megan Lemoi, Caster Communications, megan@castercomm.com, 401-792-7080
Natalie Bond, Richards Partners for Sub-Zero and Wolf, natalie_bond@richards.com, 214-891-4186
Katie Myers, Richards Partners for Sub-Zero and Wolf, katie_myers@richards.com, 214-891-5842

Copyright© 2011 Control4 Corporation. All rights reserved. Control4 and the Control4 logo are registered trademarks of Control4 Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. Other names or brands may be claimed as the property of others.

Tales from a Kitchen Designer (Part 3)

2011-03-02T13:11:00.000-05:00

It’s amazing what can happen in a week. Last Friday the cabinets arrived, and boy did they. We had boxes everywhere. In the kitchen, dining room, living room, sun room. I almost put some in our boys rooms, but they wouldn’t be happy with that. I was able to get the kitchen painted prior to the cabinet delivery, and then again after they arrived. The color that was agreed upon turned out to be a little too blue for my wife. She was looking for a greener color and what was on the wall was not that. After a last minute review of the color chips we had, a new color was selected and by the end of the weekend, my painting was done, (at least everywhere cabinets touched), and a few of the cabinets were unboxed, and staged to be installed. My wife happily helped do a little of that, just so she could get a glimpse of her new cabinets.

While we have entered week 4 of construction, and consequently dirt and dust everywhere, Monday was the day we were waiting for. It was the day we started to set cabinets. It is the proverbial home stretch. According to her, it was the equivalent of my wedding day. Apparently Sunday night I appeared anxious, constantly fidgeting with the cabinets, unboxing what I could and moving them around. By Monday morning, I had set up an area that had all the different hardware we would need (screws of varying sizes, washers, shims, tape, pencils and markers, etc). I also grabbed some drinks and snacks to munch on while we worked. I guess she was right, what has been months in the planning comes down to the day that cabinets get installed. Of course running through my mind is all of the details and little things that I hoped I accounted for when I designed the kitchen and ordered the cabinets.

They guys showed up and after unloading the tools, we got to work. It didn’t take long to find our groove, and we made pretty good progress. By the time we stopped for lunch, on section of the kitchen was finished and my wife was jumping up and down with excitement. She was sky high, and we had only just begun. By the end of the day, all of the cabinets in the main part were installed. The funny thing about installing cabinets is that it is truly and art and skill. Yes, anyone competent enough with tools can do it, but it truly takes a craftsman to install them the right way. Sometimes the cabinet goes in rather quickly without any problems, and sometimes it doesn’t. The key is it’s not about speed, but precision. If you take the time to make sure each cabinet is level, it makes installing the next one that much easier. And it shows in the final product. Sometimes the best thing to do is stop. We hit that point Monday afternoon with our oven cabinet. It was late in the day and we had to figure out a way to stand it upright. It would have been easier if I ordered the cabinet the right way, but we were able to solve the problem. After everyone left, I swept the floor yet again, and we had a picnic dinner on the kitchen floor. It was actually the cleanest place in the house at the moment. That night our oldest son played with some of the boxes, and even had a “restaurant” that he served us our dinner from.

Day two got off to a slow start, but once everyone got there, we found our rhythm and kept moving. At the end, we had installed all of the cabinets and the kitchen looked good. I could see the design come together and now the space was really defined. It’s amazing how in two days we went from having an empty room to what looked like a kitchen again. While everything went in right, I did have a few oops moments. I ordered two wine cubbies too tall (part of that had to do with the ceiling and floor not being level) plus an accessory here and there that was in the wrong spot.

Overall, we are happy with how it’s turning out. It will take a bit to get used to the fact that the kitchen is a little smaller, but nothing time won’t take care of. My wife is anxious to start putting things back into the cabinets and start to clear out the living room of boxes. However, we informed her they were not her cabinets yet. We still had work to do and until the doors and drawers were back on and the moldings installed, she wasn;t allowed to put anything in them. She’s waited this long, what’s a few more days.

Hopefully by the next update, we’ll have countertops on. Stay tuned.

Go to the photos...

- Andrew

Tales from a Kitchen Designer (Photos)

2011-02-11T13:53:00.000-05:00

View photos of my kitchen remodel currently in progress. The most recent photos are at the top of the page.

Before any work began