Another GOP presidential debate is in the books. And much like the wide-reaching choices in candidates, the wide-reaching choices for the right cabinet color or finish for your kitchen remodel are no less daunting, confusing or in some cases…downright terrifying. It becomes a true “residential” debate to find the right cabinet color or finish.

How many of us design the kitchen with our kids in mind? We’re busy in the kitchen and all of sudden a little hand goes up or tugs on our apron asking to help. How sweet! Regardless, when we are in the kitchen we want them close by anyway, whether it is just to keep an eye on them or get them involved in a meal or other baking project.

In my house we all gravitate to the kitchen...for meals, snacks, homework, bills, you name it. We spend a lot of time there. And invariably with that comes our variety of devices, from smartphones and tablets to digital cameras, gaming devices, Kindles and more. With 6 people in my home, it can be like our own mini (or not so mini) electronics show...

Who can question the great Winston Churchil when it comes to kitchen remodeling advice? We’ve taken 5 motivational quotes and “translated” them to help inspire your new kitchen remodeling or bathroom remodeling project in 2014. What is your motivation?

More than ever, homeowners are open to experimenting with colors. With shades of gray or off-white dominating cabinet finishes (studies show that nearly 30% of all kitchens and bathrooms currently being done involve a shade of gray), the chance to add some color can come from a variety of sources.

If you are like me, you have had enough of this year’s winter…cold, snow, sleet, cold, snow, freezing rain, snow, cold, sleet, snow, cold, cold, cold. You’re feeling it, right?

Normally we would all quick to be answer with an emphatic “NO!” But that’s not the case when you are talking about just checking in to see how everything is going. Most would be afraid to call, thinking they would only “rock the boat” or “stir up something”.

How much does a kitchen cost? We love that question! It signals the start of what we hope will be a great partnership and relationship that will bring a dream to life, in what is arguably the heart of the home and most important room in the house. But if not approached thoughtfully, that one simple question can easily go down the wrong path. We wan...

If there was ever any question who has the best women’s gymnastics team in the world, it was answered with a resounding exclamation point at the Rio Olympics this week by our "Final Five". And while not quite on the same level of “success”, there is no doubt that the kitchen island is also a top performer, performing day in and day out. While the k...

There was a time when we just didn’t go for molding. Maybe it was too fancy, or just too extravagant. But not anymore. Today’s consumer understands better than ever how molding connects their cabinetry and all the components of their kitchen into a crisp, well thought out kitchen design. The truth is, molding is the finishing touch. The cherry on t...

Traditional Valentine’s Day gifts are so passé these days. Chocolate? Delicious of course but that moment on the lips is a lifetime on the hips. And who needs that? Flowers? Beautiful but they don’t last forever…and when they start to wilt and have to be thrown out. Awkward! Jewelry? Okay, admittedly that’s a little tougher to compete with. But unl...

March Madness. For basketball fans, it can be a source of some March gladness. But more often, March Madness creates more March sadness. Just ask anyone who had Michigan State winning it all. Or had Xavier, Kentucky or West Virginia going further than they did. And they call it the “Sweet” 16? The pain…is….real. So your bracket is busted. The harde...

So you think a warming drawer is really that impractical? I beg to differ. In fact, I would argue that the larger your family, the more essential a warming drawer becomes to the kitchen. With its’ sleek design and compact drawer-sized fit, a warming drawer can be a welcome and strategically designed element of your next kitchen. Here are 5 reasons ...

Times and styles are constantly coming and going, but for bathrooms cultured marble vanity tops continue to be a popular and in many cases timeless choice. By combining its durability and affordability with the high end appearance of veining and blended colors found in granite and natural stone, you create a look that rivals even the highest end lo...

We are starved for order and organization in our lives, and nowhere is that more present than in our kitchens.  Current kitchen design trends are showing more open looks and storage, meaning organization is more important than ever. Whether it is showcasing decorative items or organization in the kitchen, here are some ideas on how you can utilize ...

After 40+ years, my parents are starting a kitchen remodeling project. While there have been some minor updates along the way (cabinet refinishes, appliances, countertop and floor), it was finally time to pull the trigger. Mom has been the driver of the project but you can see my father start to come around as he sees designs, colors and samples of...

Whether you are a fan of soccer or not, chances are you have heard about soccer’s World Cup starting next week in Brazil. For soccer fans, a little something known as World Cup fever will soon strike with a vengeance, consuming us anywhere from 2 weeks to almost 4 weeks (if you are one of the lucky ones to make it to the finals and raise the Cup).

A quick search of the internet tells you that this is no ordinary topic. Over 83 million results in Google. Wikipedia discussions that more than double the discussion length of far more newsworthy events and topics. Endless visual images and data. With studies that show we use approximately 15 billion rolls of toilet paper a year in the U.S. alone,...

They would say… • Why did you let the kids use the cabinet drawers as step stools? • Why did you put those scorch marks in the countertop?

While The Hunger Games books and movie had their moment, offering a much different challenge than one would expect, the Hunger Games we face every day are still very much relevant and in the moment, albeit on a much, much different scale.  However, those frenzied moments of feeding ourselves, our families, friends, kids soccer teams, holiday guests...

It’s election day. The time to get out and vote on the candidates and issues affecting your community, your state and beyond that in some years. Making choices is what voting and freedom is all about and is something we do every day on things big and small.

One thing we can say for certain about the year 2020 is that it has been unpredictable. With all the ups and downs and twists and turns, we are pretty sure there is almost no one who will be sad to see it coming to an end.    In spite of all the challenges, something that we can always count on is the trends. No matter what kind of year we might be...

Do you want to go smarter with your kitchen? We have some good news! Forget about tearing down your walls or calling in a contractor. In many cases you do not even have to change the electrical or plumbing systems.

You might be asking, ‘is tile layout that important?’ Sure, it is! You may not know this, but your eyes subconsciously take in tile patterns. A wrong layout makes the room feel messy and cluttered, even if everything else is in place. But a good one? – It sets the tone for the entire room and ties everything together.

With 2020 firmly in the rearview mirror, we have forged ahead into 2021 with new hopes and even new dreams.  However, when looking into the reflection of 2020 it is hard not to notice how much time we spent in our own kitchen. Maybe you jumped head first into new cooking adventures and tools like airfryers or at-home pasta makers, or you just gathe...

Your countertop is more than a kitchen surface - it is a foundational element of your entire kitchen. Whatever you select to go on this surface impacts every other little thing that takes place around it. So yes, your countertop is that important.

Most people can’t tell the difference between porcelain and ceramic tiles. Who can blame them? The tiles are similar in appearance and feel, result from similar processes, and serve almost the same uses. So, confusing one for the other feels natural. But there are some key differences between these tiles that you cannot overlook in your quest for t...