Do your family and friends insist on hosting events at your home because they know you make amazing meals? Cooking can be a chore for some, but for others, cooking is a lifestyle. If you fit into this category, one of the best ways to accommodate your passion is to renovate and create a more effective workspace. Here are a few ways you can create your dream cook’s kitchen: 1. Improved Layout & Storage Renovating your kitchen can maximize the layout and storage of your space making it easier to cook. Every kitchen is broken down into 4 work zones to help with various activities across t ..read more

Are you looking for a kitchen design that is fresh and unique, but has a comfortable, familiar feel? It sounds like transitional style may be for you. This hard-to-define concept inhabits a vast space between traditional style and contemporary, and offers a perfect canvas for personal statements. Perhaps your style is clean and simple, bordering on contemporary. But you want a place for Great-Grandma’s flowered china cocoa pot. Establish the tone of the room with Shaker cabinets in a painted finish. Then modify one or two cabinets to display heirlooms and art through clear glass doors. Voila ..read more

Everyone wants a kitchen straight from a magazine. But magazine kitchens can sometimes seem to be missing something: people who actually live in them. Once you have your beautiful, magazine worthy kitchen, remember to personalize your kitchen to make the space yours. Take a look at these beautiful kitchens that feel anything but empty. Warm and Inviting In the kitchen pictured below, white painted cabinets, stainless steel appliances, and an accent color on the island establish an a polished updated style. Open shelving on the island provides useful and decorative storage. Far from boring, st ..read more

For the best kitchen remodel experience, do some research before interviewing remodeling contractors and asking for bids. You will minimize misunderstandings, expensive change orders and be better able to compare bids with the same specifications. Be well-informed on the following topics before talking to any kitchen contractors. Your Budget Decide how much you want to spend on the project, then develop a realistic budget and stick to it. You may need to do an overall expense review and research payment options. To fill in the total budget amount for each item below start with a design an ..read more

Why Do You Need a Contractor? Before setting out to hire a contractor, know who and why you are hiring them. Do you need a general contractor or are you able to do some of the work yourself and will hire skilled subcontractors? In your search for a contractor, be sure to check reviews in professional service websites.  Houzz, Angi and Home Advisor are popular sites. Also check professional organizations such as NARI (The National Association of Remodeling Industry) Better Business Bureau and other local agencies. All Costs Need to Be Set in the Contract Once your budget is established ..read more

What is the Difference Between Paint, Stain and Opaque Stain? Are you are someone who wants to make their home a reflection of yourself, showing your creativity and unique taste? You might want to consider our new Coastal Wood Stain Collection. Opaque stains are usually considered a good third option to the old question of whether to paint or stain your cabinets? While paint brings a smooth, flawless finish and offers endless creativity in colors. Stains show off the character of  wood surfaces and is more durable than paint.. It is also much easier to keep stained cabinets looking good ..read more

The History of the Decorative Door Style The decorative cabinet door styles ebb and flow in popularity. Both the seventies era and then the nineties saw the popularity of solid wood, stained, decorative style, cabinet doors. In the seventies the focus was earthy and natural, so the stained wood doors were the height of popularity. In the nineties the decorative door style, in stained wood, was once again very popular. This time it was with lighter more natural stains combined most often with white.  The focus was the warmth and coziness this created, with a country feel. What Defines th ..read more

During the course of a major remodel, the kitchen is often out of use for nearly two months. Your family will still need to eat. Restaurants will quickly grow old (and expensive), so you will want to plan an area to create quick meals. If your home doesn’t have a second, smaller kitchen, you will want to create a temporary kitchen to use during the remodel. Temporary kitchens may not be very glamorous, but will suffice for a few months while the new kitchen is being built. There are seven steps to creating a temporary kitchen: Find a location in the home with a sink and ..read more

Mudroom cabinets designed for the MinnePHit House. With three small children, our clients, the Brazelton’s, needed a mudroom that could stand the test of time. To create this space we needed to answer an important question: What are the most important features in a laundry room? 1) What do you need to store there? Create a checklist. Here are some examples: jackets, boots, shoes, scarves, mittens, flashlight, dog leash, keys, briefcases, totes, reusable grocery bags, outdoor toys, towels for muddy feet, etc. 2) Then determine the best type of storage for each of these items. Is it drawer or ..read more

Our grandparents surrounded the kitchen with solid walls, isolating food preparation (and the cook) from the attention of family and guests. Today, in response to more informal lifestyles, there is an overwhelming demand for open kitchens and center islands. Across America, walls are coming down as kitchens overtake formal dining rooms, living rooms, and mud rooms to provide multi-functional spaces. Is your home ready for the change? Before taking a sledge hammer to the house in a quest for open space, take a careful look at the wall. If it is supporting the roof or contains a chimney, plumbin ..read more