Open floor plans that create a social kitchen are a big focus in kitchen design right now. Cooking is more of a communal event than ever. Family, friends and even guests are getting involved in creating a meal. Combining the kitchen with living and dining areas makes dinner a family event and opportunity to share your day over meal preparation.

Kitchen backsplashes are often one of the last items installed in the kitchen, but it can have a profound impact on your entire kitchen design. Kitchen backsplashes are not just wall protection anymore. They’re a chance to jazz up your kitchen and express yourself!

I frequently have clients who think they want white cabinets for their kitchen but are afraid to commit. They worry that white cabinets will be boring or go out of style. Well, I’m here to tell you that in my humble opinion, nothing could be further from the truth!

It’s your kitchen. If you want to put your knobs in the center of the cabinet door that’s your prerogative. I don’t think it will look too good but I’m not going to live there. Neither is your designer, contractor, architect, cousin, neighbor, friend or anyone else you are looking to for advice.

Any kitchen remodeling or bathroom remodeling project requires great communication and teamwork. Get a homeowner, interior designer, kitchen designer and craftsman in one room (preferably a kitchen!) and the ideas can start flying. The right teamwork though can pull all of that together into a real dream kitchen!

Today’s laundry rooms are not what they used to be! By incorporating more features and amenities from other areas of the home, some dread is being taken out of doing the laundry. Planning and a desire for greater functionality in the laundry room is the key. Here are a few things changing today’s laundry room:

Every kitchen has a focal point. That one area that always captures peoples’ attention the moment they walk in. Or brings a smile to your own face because it looks better in your kitchen than you ever imagined it could. Most are intended. Some are not.

Don’t talk to boomers about Universal Design. Today it is Smart Design that benefits everyone of all ages, incorporating smart design ideas throughout the home to allow families of various sizes and multiple generations to stay in place. Want some smart design ideas that can make your home “smarter”? Here are 8 tips:

Quick, can you name the Thanksgiving feast served by Charlie Brown for all of his friends? If you are thinking 2 slices of buttered toast, some pretzel sticks, a handful of popcorn and a few jelly beans you were correct!

Designing and remodeling a bathroom is one of the most popular remodeling projects today. It can be both fun and challenging. You have some ideas about what you like…and some that you dream about for your bathroom. To help you get started on your new bathroom, we’ve given you a few easy steps to get started:

Last week, we shared results on the most desired kitchen trends based on a survey given to Kitchen & Bathroom Designers by the Research Institute for Cooking & Kitchen Intelligence (RICKI). This week we wanted to share the results of what consumers are asking for most when remodeling their bathroom. Here are the top 5 most desired bathroom design t...

The Research Institute for Cooking & Kitchen Intelligence (RICKI) gathered feedback from kitchen design professionals indicating what consumers ask for most when they want to start remodeling their kitchen. Here are the top 5:

Ok, I admit that this likely comes as no surprise to anyone reading this since I work for a kitchen company (I’m also thankful for bathrooms but that’s a whole other discussion).

The kitchen is a great place where people can come together and make a meal and talk about their day...except for when you’re cramped when there’s more than one person in the space. Or you keep bumping your elbow on that poorly placed counter. And you are constantly wrestling those pots and pans out of your cupboards. Yes, kitchens can be great, bu...

When you look at your bathroom, do you go “blah?” Maybe you’re not too excited about the boring old decor you’ve seen every single day in there for years. But you spend a lot of time in your bathroom - getting ready, showering, and you know, doing business. It’s about time that you gave your bathroom some TLC. And you’ve got to start somewhere. A b...

When you look at your kitchen, you see it as a whole. You’ve got the lights, the cabinets, the floors, the appliances, and maybe most importantly, the food. But when you break your kitchen down into those different sections, you might start paying attention to more detail. Here are some details that you could be ignoring in your kitchen that actual...

Step inside your kitchen. If you’re not home picture it in your head. How’s it looking? How does your kitchen make you feel? If you had a less than a positive answer to those questions, then you probably already know something needs to change. Your kitchen should make you feel warm and relaxed. You should be ready to whip up a dinner or sit with a ...

When you’re planning a kitchen remodel, it’s an understatement that there’s a lot to do. You have to think about when you want to do your remodel, what you want to remodel, what style it should be, and more. But perhaps the most pressing thing on everyone’s mind? The budget. Don’t stress about how much everything is going to cost. Stick to a plan t...

Are you thinking of entertaining for the holidays, but look at your kitchen and think twice about having people over? You want to cook and have a place for your friends to stay, but envisioning having to prepare all the food in your tiny kitchen is making you want to suggest having a party somewhere else.

So you’re in the bathroom squinting at yourself in the mirror and it dawns on you: your bathroom is just...dim. Even if your bathroom is large, when it’s not bright, it can feel smaller. And that’s the opposite of what you want. But you don’t have to be afraid of the dark. There are some surefire ways that can lighten up your bathroom and start you...

The kitchen is an intimidating place for some people. For others, it’s where they go to make masterpieces. Whatever level of kitchen aficionado you are, everyone can agree they love food.  If you want to be a master chef, you need a master kitchen. Here are some ways to bring your cooking and your kitchen design to the next level.

Close your eyes. Imagine the kitchen you grew up in. The table you ate it. The area your mom cooked, baked and whipped up seemingly magical meals...and similarly dreaded meals (I still don't care for Salisbury steak to this day...). Focus in a little more and picture the countertop. Can you see it? What is that? Plastic? Laminate. But then a few ye...

You walk into your kitchen, thinking about how you’re going to prepare yourself a meal fit for a king. But then you actually get inside your kitchen. You look around and realize that your kitchen couldn’t make a meal fit for a king, because it’s too tiny. Your kitchen might be small, but you can still make it feel like home. And you can make a luxu...

We are always looking for more space (or at least the illusion of it), and no where is that more evident than in the bathroom. Yes, you have endless choices in bathroom cabinets, cabinet accessories, space saver toilets…the list goes on and on. But trying to create a relaxing, organized and spacious feeling environment in the bathroom is tricky whe...

In many ways, kitchen remodeling is its’ own series of events, particularly when it comes to making product selections. Call it your own “remodeling decathlon”. Just like in the Olympic Decathlon, 10 “events” (or products for you kitchen decathletes) must be prepared for and participated in to help you achieve your goal. Your gold medal result depe...

The world lost a legendary one-of-a-kind figure when Muhammad Ali passed away last week. Through all his highs and lows, Ali was more than a boxer to his fans, his reputation for being positive and a motivation to others making him larger than life. His words inspired many in all walks of life, and will continue to do for generations to come. So wh...

Perhaps no one knew more about bringing teams together than University of Tennessee coaching legend Pat Summitt, who passed away this past Tuesday. The winningest coach in NCAA basketball history left a huge legacy both on and off the court. Over 38 years, Summit’s teams made it to 22 Final Fours and won 8 national championships, creating a standar...

Kitchen cabinet accessories are critical to every kitchen design. Enjoy our kitchen cabinet accessories inspired 'Twas the Night before Christmas.

When it comes to colors in the home we all have our own vision for our kitchen and what that should look like, from countertops and appliances to walls and floors and everything in between. So, about that “everything in between” comment…yes, we’re referring to your kitchen cabinets. With the timeless popularity of white and a surge in variations of...

When it comes to kitchen remodeling and designing your new space, your kitchen appliances should be given very special consideration. Appliances are often considered the “jewelry” of the kitchen, adding to the look, style and performance of your space. Often times, you will select your appliances first (or very early on) in the kitchen design proce...

For many of our projects, we get the opportunity to focus on one room at a time. The kitchen. A master bathroom or a hall bathroom. Throw in the occasional wet bar, laundry room, guest bath, butler’s pantry and well…you get the picture. But then there are those projects where you get to do it all. And all at once. Where the design juices really get...

We use the term dream kitchen or dream bathroom often in the design world. Talking about a first time kitchen or bathroom remodeling project with a client who has waited so long for this often feels like a dream is coming true. And while it is, there are also those times when we are reminded that the word dream means many things to many different p...

My parents recently finished their first ever kitchen remodel. This would be a daunting process for any son or daughter to help out with…the more so when you work for a kitchen & bath company like I do.

According to a recent homeowners study conducted by the Research Institute for Cooking and Kitchen Intelligence (RICKI), more and more consumers are intrigued by the idea of adding current “kitchen” technology to their own kitchen space. What are those top kitchen design trends in technology? Here are your top 5:

You look at a bathroom and naturally think a bathroom remodeling project would be a lot easier than a kitchen remodeling project…and who could blame you? Less space, less stuff, less decisions, right? Nothing could be further from the truth!

It doesn’t even have to be around the holidays for you to have a wishlist. There are things that you want in your master bathroom year round, because you’re going to be using your bathroom year round. Here’s some things to keep your eye on if they’re not already on your list.  

You love to entertain. And you’ve been entertaining the idea of getting a wet bar or a dry bar.  Your house is known as the place where people go to gather. Maybe you love hosting a small, intimate gathering. Or maybe you love to get a big group together and call it a party.