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.

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.

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 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!

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).

There are so many reasons out there that you might want to remodel your bathroom. Perhaps it is just because it is old, or maybe you need to consider an aging in place strategy. Some people simply want bigger bathrooms, or want to add smart technology to their room. But when you have kids and a bathroom that does not do a good job accommodating the...

Feng shui. You’ve heard it before, but what exactly does it mean? Put very straightforwardly, it’s a collection of rules that dictate the way energy (known as “chi”) flows in a room.  It is also affected by the spatial arrangement of your space. So, what does that mean for your bathroom remodel? It means you want to arrange everything in a way that...

When you’re remodeling your kitchen cabinets, ask your designer about what materials are the most friendly. FSC-certified wood is a great choice, along with solid wood, recycled wood, or even bamboo. Be certain to pay close attention to the materials being used to assemble the cabinets as well.

You know the big things you want for your kitchen. You’re getting new cabinets and fingerprint resistant black stainless steel kitchen appliances. Those are the big steps, and you can’t wait. 

It’s a problem that keeps happening over and over again. Your master bathroom just doesn’t have enough space. Houzz surveyed homeowners and 75 percent of them said that they’re sharing their bathroom with at least one person.  There is clutter on the counters, and you and your partner are always trying yet failing to keep out of each other’s way.

Your kitchen should be a place where you go to have fun. After all, eating food is one of the most universally enjoyed things in the entire world. When you’re going into your kitchen, you’re either making a meal for yourself, making a meal for a loved one, cooking for a party - you’re sharing something you love with other people.

The average person showers for about nine minutes a day, eight times a week. Each year that adds up to 3,744 minutes in the shower or, over two and a half entire days...just in the shower.

When you’re planning your kitchen design, we know you’ve got a lot on your mind. There’s the style, the time frame, the products to select, the design and all the nitty-gritty details. When you have so much to think about, you’ll take all the help you can get.  

When you sell your home, the expected ROI on a bathroom remodel is a whopping 70 percent. On top of that, remodeling your bathroom just makes you feel good! The average person spends almost 2 hours going to the bathroom per week, and that does even account for bath or shower time. That adds another 90 minutes.

“They don’t make ‘em like they used to,” is something you’ve heard, or probably said yourself if you’ve ever had something break. And in today’s fast moving environment, it’s more true than it has ever been...there is really nothing like the good ol’ days, when things were built to last. Perhaps this nostalgia is one reason why the vintage style is...

Maybe you get your energy bill each month and are left scratching your head about why it’s so high. Or maybe you know exactly what in your home is sapping all that power. Either way, it’s about time to take the steps to save power, and save yourself from that steep energy bill.

Anyone with their finger on the pulse of what’s hot in kitchen and bathroom design right now knows what a waterfall countertop is. If you’ve been looking for the best way to update your kitchen, you’ve found your answer. And if you don’t know what a waterfall countertop is yet, get ready to start wanting one for yourself when you learn.

When you choose to renovate your kitchen, it’s probably because the space is not making you happy. And if you think about it, that's exactly what a kitchen needs to do. Food makes you happy, and cooking it should, too. A space for family and friends to comfortably gather brings even more joy to the space.  Let’s face it...if your kitchen layout is ...

When it comes to remodeling your bathroom, you could be looking for help from quite a few people. You’ve got your designer, your electricians, your plumbers, and possibly more. If you’re thinking about remodeling your bathroom, you’re considering the thought of a brand new, beautiful room. And that’s exciting! But you also want to know the cost.

When you’re planning your kitchen renovation, you might feel like there are just too many hoops to navigate through. There are so many things to think about, and it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. It’s actually a good starting point to know what not to do in your kitchen renovation. That way, you’ll know exactly what to do when the time comes.