The Kitchen and Bath Project

Factory visit!

2011-06-07T04:56:00.000-07:00

I went last Thursday to visit the cabinet factory where I purchase all the cabinetry for my projects. It was so great to see how this little company is able to produce really incredible cabinetry as well as furniture.

I left there loaded up with the latest and greatest of samples. Current trends still see alot of painted product but stained cabinetry with darker glazes are definitely right up there in popularity.

I love the idea of incorporating unexpected materials ie leather, iron, and decorative glass to give cabinetry a really custom look!

WOW things sure can change!!

2011-05-27T04:38:00.001-07:00

Well, here I am at the beginning again!! I am so excited to share that I have started my own independent kitchen and bath design business. Welcome d + b kitchen design concepts! A full service kitchen and bath design house. Providing all phases of kitchen and bath remodeling and/or new construction.

After 16 years in the business, I thought it was time to go it alone. Incorporating all my design philosophies as I and my clients see fit!

Keep following me as I post pictures of past and present projects!!!!

Fall 2010

2010-09-02T07:23:00.000-07:00

Well here we are at Labor Day Weekend 2010. I hope you all had the most incredible summer and are now looking forward to diving into some home projects now that the kids are finally back in school!

We have had alot of requests in this economy as to how to spruce up the Kitchen without spending too much. I always tell people that new countertops, hardware for the cabinetry and a wonderful new backsplash can do wonders for a tired Kitchen and your wallet!!!

Summertime!!

2010-07-13T12:46:00.000-07:00

Ahhh its Summer 2010 and people are definitely enjoying the warm weather. Some of my favorite beach magazines can also become your highway to realizing your new Kitchen and all that it could entail for you.

Check out the current Trends magazine! Its filled with some wonderful details, information on new appliances and beautiful new Kitchens that we can all dream about!

2010-04-28T12:43:00.000-07:00

I have been taking some time to go through my trade publications as I do from time to time. But this time I am actually making a clippings file of inspirational items that I see! From a great backsplash idea in a kitchen or a tile layout in a bathroom to a fabulous cabinet detail.

I often tell clients that this is an important habit to start forming if they are thinking of remodeling their kitchen or bath. As a designer, its so helpful to see what clients have in their heads when it comes to their wishlist. Clients sometimes aren't able to articulate exactly what they are looking for but if they show me a picture, well as the saying goes, that speaks a 1,000 words!!

Kitchen and Bath Show 2010

2010-04-26T12:40:00.000-07:00

This year the Kitchen and Bath show was held in our own backyard of Chicago! I attended and although the show appeared to be alot smaller than in previous years, it is always so inspirational to see, touch and feel new product that is being introduced!

One of my favorite items was a Bamboo sink for Kitchen and Bath use. Beautiful to look at while being undeniably a green product for either environment. Bamboo has been used extensively for flooring, countertops and now the introduction of sinks. It is a great earth friendly choice.

Check it out at lenovasinks.com!

Top 10 Must Haves

2010-03-02T08:33:00.000-08:00

Yahoo Finance posted an article by Steve Kerch, stating what the Top 10 Must-have features are in today's new homes. The Kitchen is still King!!! What Mr. Kerch states is that Americans are willing to strip some of yesterday's most popular rooms such as home theatres in order to accommodate changing lifestyles. He also says that if you are going to spend design dollars you should spend them in the Kitchen. Granite countertops are a must for move-up buyers and buyers of custom homes. Also energy-efficient appliances are high on the most valued items. Home Office/Studies are replacing a formal dining rooms and the first floor Master Suite is rapidly gaining popularity.

Surfaces

2010-01-19T14:12:00.000-08:00

Clients are always asking what are the latest trends in countertop material? I always tell them that what is good for the city dwellers is not necessarily what is happening in the burbs. We are still seeing a predominately granite market in the suburbs of Chicago. I would venture to guess that I do probably 99.9% granite. However, in the city the shift is definitely away from the patterns of granite and into the calm, peaceful world of manmade or quartz based countertops. Many companies are now offering beautiful color palettes that imitate concrete and limestone. Caesarstone is one of my favorites!!! Check it out at Caesarstone.com.

Looking forward to 2010!!

2009-12-12T11:17:00.000-08:00

Our industry has been really hard hit this year as well as so many others. But it looks like the economy is creeping forward and people are thinking about investing in the real estate market again.

I have mostly been involved with new construction and have loved it but because of the economy we have been mostly involved in all aspects of remodeling. Remodeling is tricky because you never really know what you are going to get into until you demolish the existing site. But there is always a solution to even the most unexpected conditions!

Its really important that you have hired a reputable and experienced team to guide you through your remodeling project.

People always ask how long its going to take from the first day of demo until they have a fully functional kitchen. That's a hard question but I usually tell people plan on 6-8 weeks and then tack on a couple more weeks in case of the unexpected!!!

2009-11-21T04:41:00.000-08:00

Working with brand new clients is always a unique and exciting experience for me! I love listening to the challenges that clients face in their existing kitchens and then putting down the solutions on paper to create their dream come true environment.

This week, I was fortunate enough to meet two different clients..the first project will be to create a more functional space for a busy young family. The second project, is a dream home that had great bones but a total gut and redo. I fell in love with both projects immediately!! Stay tuned for updates....

2009-11-12T03:43:00.000-08:00

Appliances are a major portion of the Kitchen budget and deserve some homework time on what is the latest and greatest. Miele's refrigeration which is relatively new in the marketplace, offers some incredible state of the art technology. Did you know that if something is wrong with this refrigerator, it gets emailed to the service department, the part gets ordered and before you are even aware of the problem, the service department is calling you to set up installation of the defective part. AMAZING!!!

Happy 85th, Dad!!!!

2009-11-02T10:38:00.000-08:00

Even though it seems that economy is creeping forward, most folks are still frightened to invest in a total Kitchen or Bath remodel. There are plenty of things that you can do in the meantime. New countertops, particularly those of the Natural Stone variety can add so much to existing cabinetry. Brand new hardware can add an additional sparkle to tired looking cabinetry. Some designers will tell you that you can paint over cabinetry but please beware and get a professional. If its a poor paint job, it can make the cabinetry look worse.

Kitchen and Bath remodeling though even in the toughest of times, can get you a huge return on your investment. Most areas of the country cans still give you an 80-95% return rate on your investment. That's huge!!

2009-10-12T14:33:00.000-07:00

Color trends in paints have been forecasted by Sherwin-Williams for 2010 and the great news is that there is a wide range of colors from deep earthy hues to vibrant reds, oranges and even a pickle green!! I love Foothills and can see that totally working with crisp white cabinetry in the Kitchen and well as in a Master Bath. For a more neutral palatte, I could see using Nomadic Desert as well. I really love these colors as they can be used throughout the home quite easily.

Better Homes and Gardens Special Interest Publications"Kitchen and Bath Ideas" in their November/December issue has focused on the all white Kitchen. This is a style that NEVER goes out...It can be cool contemporary to classic to cottage...the colors mentioned above would work with all styles. Check it out!!

Trends

2009-10-06T09:39:00.000-07:00

Kim and I attended the Luxehome's Open House on Saturday, October 3rd where we participated in a Seminar by HGTV's Red, Hot & Green host Nicole Facciuto. In a before and after type format, she showed how she was able to take "before's" and turn them into "Green Afters."

So interesting as the Green movement has slowly come back into our minds after a year's absence!! Most of us have been consumed with survival mode!!!

We can all do our part for sure! One thing Nicole said and I have to agree, it is baby steps...if we can't do everything green, we can do small changes in the way we do things. Using post-consumer products in a new way is becoming quite trendy. Check out Paperstone or Vetrazzo..very cool!!! Unique countertops for sure...

Barrington Beauty - Le Grande Kitchen and Bath Addition

2009-09-21T16:06:00.000-07:00

Here is a large remodel/addition that we did in Barrington, Il. The homeowners bumped out the original back end of the house 12 feet to accomplish a gourmet kitchen and a master bath suite. The concept for this kitchen was warm, cozy, traditional. Requirements - a Wolf range and an eat-in Kitchen Island/Table!!

We used the Grohe Bridgeford Kitchen faucet in Brushed Nickel. Nice Traditional look especially with the cross style handles.

Here is Kohler's SmartDivide Cast Iron Sink. The lower divider allows for easy mobility of larger items from compartment to compartment while avoiding a collision with the faucet. We opted for an undermount application for the sink. Easy to clean up wet messes!!
Some cool natural stone details for the backsplash!!

Check out the valance detail below the sink cabinet. It makes a furniture statement!!
Again, another furniture detail at the Island. Chunky spools or legs flank this drawer base.

The goal of this Master Bath was to achieve a monochromatic color scheme in neutrals. The homeowners chose their own artwork, fabrics and paint color to make it their own~~

Another Grohe Widespread Lav faucet in the Master - only this time in Oil Rubbed Bronze. This has been a hot metal finish for the last few years. Certainly adds warmth. This is also the Bridgeford Collection.
Check out the stone details on the floor and in the shower. Using the same material can still add interest as you mix up the sizes of the tiles.

The Hall bath needed to serve 2 very important goals...its the bath that guests will use but the rest of the time this bath is owned by the homeowner's sophisticated teen daughter!! The theme was black and white...a total classic for anything from baths to kitchens to fashion even!!!

Polished Chrome was the metal of choice.
Traditional yet fun this black and white hex/mosaic design was used for the flooring and on the shower base.
Gorgeous huge black and white paisley wallpaper.. and cool crystal sconces!!
If you enlarge this shower picture you will notice the tile details. A larger more updated subway tile in combination with a harlequin pattern tile. Glossy black pencil liner and a glossy black chunky molding really pops against the whitest of white tile!!

Decisons, Decisions

2009-08-29T13:39:00.000-07:00

So many decisions have to be made in the course of one project. It can be utterly and completely mindboggling!! I like to tell my clients that we MUST start with the functionality of the Kitchen before moving on to the fun details of aesthetics. Although that can be initially disappointing to my clients, they do come around to this mode of thinking. The kitchen must work first and foremost.
I generally go through a series of questions that I will ask clients to get to the heart of the matter. How many cooks in the kitchen? How do you entertain? What happens at the holidays? What is your everyday schedule? How many people will be eating at any one time?

Once established I can then begin the nuts and bolts of putting the kitchen in order...I LOVE this part. Its like putting a puzzle together....Quite honestly the aesthetics comes almost at the end of the design process. I do have a visual at all times in my head of what the end look will be as I am space planning but its all business until the space plan is accurate for my client.

Some thoughts....

2009-08-26T10:03:00.000-07:00

So I have really been thinking a lot about Trends in the Kitchen and Bath industry...here is how I see things lately...
I truly think that designs today are indicative of what is going on in the world. As the world gets totally crazy, we want our living environments to be tranquil, peaceful, a virtual safe haven. In the last couple of years, Kitchens and Baths have taken on those same characteristics. Cabinetry has minimal decoration, cozy dark colors that sooth, minimalist ornamentation if any. It's a move towards sleek and quiet. About 10 years ago, the financial world was taking off and so Kitchens and Baths had over the top ornamentation..Corbels, spindles, onlays etc. could be seen everywhere. Heavy moldings, highly decorative door styles for cabinetry.
Just my thoughts for today!!

2009-08-25T12:30:00.000-07:00

The pictures that have most recently posted are from a project in the Western Suburbs of Chicago. The feel is subtle glamour, formal yet relaxed, a combination of gorgeous materials and textures. The Master Bath combines the warmth of Chocolate in the cabinetry against crisp white marble with polished nickel accents!! Gorgeous!!

A brief sample of my work...

2009-08-25T06:54:00.001-07:00