1) Identify all the activities each person uses their bathroom space for – bathing, showering, using the toilet, grooming, dressing...you name it!

Forget wants and needs for a second and let’s talk about desires. Specifically, what you desire in your kitchen. Is it a simple, functional upgrade or is it something more personal or exotic?

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.

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!

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!

When planning a kitchen, there are so many decisions to make…from little things like the location of cabinet hardware to bigger, more functional questions like where to locate the dishwasher.

As an avid cook and kitchen designer (in that order!), I have a definite list of must haves for my own kitchen. Here are my top 5: 1) A Tray base – stores cutting boards, cookie sheets and serving trays in an organized and easy to access 9” to 12” wide cabinet. Go a little wider and get muffin tins and rectangular casserole dish storage too.

As you already know, kitchen ideas are everywhere! Here are 3 things you can do to help your kitchen designer get started on your kitchen: 1. Pictures! Pictures! Pictures!

One of the most important considerations when you are designing your kitchen is how and what you cook. Do you use the fry pan, a wok or grill on the cooktop for most of your meals?

Nowadays the kitchen sink has been elevated to the level of appliance in the kitchen. It is no longer just a hole for water, soap and dishes. You can do so much more with the right type of kitchen sink and sink accessory. How do you know what’s right for you?

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!

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!

It’s Halloween. That time of year when drop way too much money on costumes, candy, decorations and more and then wonder what happened as we emerge from a self-induced sugar coma. And a Friday night Halloween? You may as well just pack it in for the weekend right now.

It’s the start of a new year and the buzz around kitchen remodeling is louder than ever. Is it time for you to consider kitchen remodeling? Here’s a “list” of fun clues that can help you determine if the time is right for you to remodel your kitchen:

One of the goals of clients remodeling their kitchen is for the new kitchen to be more organized and offer storage than the current version. A good designer will ask you to list your most used kitchen items and discuss placement and storage ideas based on your list.

Its spring time, and nothing ushers in that feeling better than a white kitchen. Timeless in style, white kitchens offer the refreshing breeziness of spring and the opportunity to showcase vibrant colors like those that come from spring’s first blooms. Whether it is from flowers, fresh fruits and vegetables or the colorful decorations and keepsakes...

We’ve all heard the saying “It takes a village…”. With kitchen design, it does not quite take a village but there is no doubt that it is a team effort. Not only a collaboration between designer & client, but with a support team ready to assist to turn great kitchen ideas into great kitchens.

It's a new year! Thinking about remodeling your kitchen? You are not alone! Many homeowners are considering kitchen remodeling in 2013. According to a survey on 2013 kitchen remodeling trends by Russell Research, the most popular choices for updating the kitchen are countertops (76%), wall coverings (70%), cabinetry (67%) and flooring (64%).

We recently completed a kitchen remodeling project using soapstone kitchen countertops (and one kitchen sink). As you can see from the picture, with it's medium gray cast and distinctive veining a soapstone kitchen countertop can create a unique look that can really make any kitchen pop!

Last month I shared my personal top 5 things I would want in my own kitchen. Now I put on my bathroom designer hat and turn my attention to my personal getaway space...the bathroom. Here is what I must have. My top 5:

One of the early choices to make in kitchen cabinets when remodeling your kitchen is choosing a door style. There are 3 main kitchen cabinet door styles: traditional, full-overlay and inset.

Everyone knows the tree goes in the front room, the wreath on the front door and the lights outside…but what about the kitchen? The kitchen is where the real magic of the season happens for those fabulous meals and treats. Check out our list of what’s naughty and what’s nice.

Kitchen and Bathroom Cabinet Basics - what you need to know Along with your appliance choices, selecting cabinets early on will help you make other decisions regarding your new kitchen or bathroom design.  Learn more about Reico's cabinet brands here, or visit our Reico Express page for in stock cabinets and other products you need quickly.   Maybe...

Your Guide to selecting Countertops for the Kitchen or Bathroom The countertop works hard. From food prep to casual dining to homework in the kitchen to the toiletry and make up covered bathroom vanity top, the countertop is the most highly used surface in the entire household, often times in the center of it all. So choosing the right material is ...

Measuring your kitchen or bathroom doesn’t have to be difficult. While we can gladly assist, all you really need is a tape measure, pencil and a piece of paper or the a floor plan grid. Like you can find in our Kitchen and Bathroom Planning Guides. There are even some apps today that will let you take a picture of the room and start to figuring out...

Finding the right design ideas or your own design style When planning your new kitchen or bathroom, finding the right design ideas or your own design style is a hard but important early step in the remodeling process.  Trends are helpful but should not be your only resource for getting ideas.  Whether you need small kitchen design ideas or a tradit...

Store your baking pans and trays with ease Cookie sheets, lasagna pans, pizza stones, large cutting boards….we all have them in our kitchen along with the make shift storage solutions we come up with that either waste valuable space or are located in less than easily accessible locations. A simple solution is to incorporate a kitchen cabinet specif...

Maximize cabinet space and storage in a small kitchen design Wall depth bases and a bottom sink base drawer cabinets make better use of smaller kitchens where space is limited. 12” deep Wall bases offer a cabinet storage options in tighter depth spaces. A bottom sink base drawer cabinet offers storage in a cabinet that does not typically have a dra...

When you have to use a blind corner cabinet, you have to use this cabinet accessory When space for a lazy susan corner cabinet is not an option and you have to use a blind corner base cabinets, one of the best ways to get the most out of the space is to add rotating roll out trays to your cabinet. It turns a difficult corner into a simple-to-access...

Pull Out Storage is just easier A small space can present design challenges in any size kitchen. Pull Out Storage Cabinets offer a variety of solutions, from wider spaces with larger items like dishes, pans, and food can be accessed to very narrow spaces where smaller items like spices, cups, glasses or other baking ingredients can be accessed. Wit...

Decorative Project Boxes to organize the "other" stuff in the kitchen We like to have our family with us in the kitchen or very nearby when we are cooking or working in this space. A great kitchen cabinet accessory idea to keep your items neat, organized and nearby is to incorporate a cabinet with storage bins or decorative project boxes to provide...

Share your favorite items on an Open Shelf Storage Cabinet Open Storage Shelf cabinets add a more decorative look to any kitchen. From open storage pieces, carved legs and other decorative molding and trim accessories, you can an island or entire kitchen a distinctive look. Check out what a simple open shelf with a pair of decorative carved legs do...

Options for storing your Pots and Pans Next to the cooktop or range area is a very handy location to have a cabinet with roll out trays to access where you are storing pots and pans. A staggered roll out can easily accommodate pots and pans in a larger roll out tray with shorter, staggered shelves for your lids, offering convenience and organizatio...

Go deeper... drawers that is! Deep drawer cabinets offer ample storage for cookware of every shape and size and can be conveniently located underneath the cooktop to provide convenience and ease of access. Kitchen Cabinet Accessories Deep Drawer Cabinets

Two accessories in one? We can do that. The Chopping Block and Trash Combo kitchen cabinet accessory offers convenience.  Complete your food prep and then conveniently slide it into the trash.  No more chopping, moving and making a mess. Kitchen Cabinet Accessories Chopping Block and Trash Combo