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.

The budgeting question everyone wants to know... How much is this going to cost? Regardless of how excited we are, many of our thoughts about remodeling come back to the same question every time.  How much? How much does a kitchen remodel cost? How much does a bathroom remodel cost?  Generally speaking, determining remodeling costs is often guided ...

Shaker Style Kitchen and Bathrooms Kitchens and bathrooms in the Shaker style offer a simple, classic look that works between traditional and contemporary, much like the transitional design style. The shaker style features flat panel doors in with wide cabinet rails and stiles in maple, birch, oak and more. This distinctive look offers clean, crisp...

Coastal Kitchens and Bathrooms When we think of a Coastal design style for kitchens and bathrooms, what comes to mind first? Is it the warm sunshine brightening up the space? Is the airy, open feeling we get from being on or near the water. Is it the blue-green seaside inspired palette of colors that can show up anywhere…on walls, fabrics, furnitur...

French Country Kitchens (and sometimes Bathrooms) With earth tones and natural materials portraying the beauty and character of France, the French Country design style perfectly blends comfortable living with authentic cooking in the kitchen. Cozy and rustic, French Country kitchens have a near timeless appeal. You'll find wide-planked floors, anti...

Transitional Kitchens and Bathrooms Transitional design looks to fuse both contemporary and traditional design styles for kitchens and bathrooms, combining the clean, sleek lines of contemporary with the style and history of traditional design. Not too much of either, transitional kitchens and bathrooms are for those who want their style somewhere ...

Kitchen Cabinet Accessory Ideas - Glass and Vertical Cabinet Doors Two of the simplest ways to change the look of your kitchen can be achieved simply by changing the look or function of some doors. Glass Doors – Easily change the look of your kitchen. Glass doors can be a bright contrast to a darker finish or add a focal point to a wall of cabinets...

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...

Pull out your storage with Cabinet Roll Out Trays Are roll out trays are really better than shelves? Being able to pull your storage to you and access from 3 sides is a lot easier then bending over or getting on one or both knees to dig through what you have on the shelves or in the very back of the cabinet (don’t forget your flashlight!). A simple...

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...

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...

Traditional Kitchens and Bathrooms Traditional kitchen and bathroom designs and cabinets rarely if ever go out of style. Its' classic style and symmetry creates a calm, orderly décor for any kitchen or bathroom. Traditional kitchens and bathrooms have the formal, elegant look characteristic of the American and European homes of the 18th, 19th and e...

Let's find your design style There are a number of options to consider when finding the right design style for your new kitchen or bathroom. From Traditional and Modern to Eclectic and French Country, settling on a design style is an important early step in the remodeling process. What’s popular? Transitional design, that allows you to blend elemen...

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...

Let's get this kitchen remodel started! Congratulations! You’ve done all the work and now your kitchen remodel is about to begin! Now it’s time to prepare for contsruction and consider the impact that the kitchen remodeling process will have on your home and lifestyle. The following are some things you can do to minimize the disruption you will exp...

22 Universal Design Ideas for the kitchen, bathroom and entire home Many of us unknowingly already have many elements of universal design in our homes already. Whether it helps in the kitchen, the bathroom or throughout the entire home, filling our homes with smart universal design features will provide convenience and comfort to every user in the ...

The 2 finish kitchen - bringing more color into the kitchen Bringing color into the kitchen is always one of the most interesting challenges (and opportunities!) of a kitchen design. We already know that color can come from so many different or unusual things. These kitchen design ideas can come from almost anywhere in the kitchen. It can be a uniq...

Kitchen Safety - 4 kitchen design ideas to accomodate kids in the kitchen 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...

5 Bathroom Design Ideas to make your space feel bigger For most of us, we are constantly looking for ways to make our bathroom feel bigger. For some of us, it is a space issue…where we dream of having just a little bit (or a lot) more. For others, it is an organization issue. A bathroom that feels big enough quickly becomes cluttered, busy and full...

Selecting Kitchen Appliances Selecting kitchen appliances is a critical driver to the kitchen design process. Finding and selecting your kitchen appliances first in the process helps identify space, gas/electrical locations and design requirements to create the right kitchen design for your space. Appliances are often considered the “jewelry” of th...

6 Kitchen Storage Ideas to maximize your own kitchen space Whether you have a small kitchen, are losing a wall to open up more space or just seem to have a lot of “stuff”, having the proper kitchen storage is a concern in every kitchen. Here are 6 ideas to consider that can help maximize your kitchen storage space: Cabinet Accessories for your Kitc...

Kitchen Design Ideas to help you create your own Kitchen focal point 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.Whether it is a broader point...

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!

Storing spices in the kitchen can be a challenge and leave you “cayenne” over the best place for them. You want them near you while you cook and you want to be able to pick out the one you want easily. What to do? What to do?

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!