Grill As Art

Outdoor Kitchen

As we approach this Father’s Day weekend we thought we would share an article on one of our favorite ways to celebrate with dad…with a great barbecue.   We have come a long way since the standard charcoal grill!

Is it a backyard sculpture or a barbecue?  Today some grills are both, combining high-performance cooking capability with cutting-edge, artistic design.  Contemporary barbecue grills are attracting attention and, although they still represent only a tiny blip on the sales screen, they are becoming a legitimate segment of the grill business.
Unlike the bigger-is-better approach to traditional grills, modern grills have a striking minimalism in their designs, are usually compact and offer sleek lines, streamlined styling and a distinctive silhouette.  In terms of function, they often incorporate innovative features that solve storage problems or answer other needs, while still packing the heat and performance needed to grill a mean steak.

If you would like some assistance on creating an outdoor kitchen for your home, please give us a call

Universal Design…Going Mainstream

Universal Design-Kitchen

By 2030 more than 70 million Americans will be over 65.

With the first wave of Baby Boomers hitting “official” retirement age this year, the trend toward Universal Design (design that accommodates all) seems to be going mainstream.

Rather than waiting for that critical mass of retiring boomers to occur you may have noticed that designers and builders have been “designing differently” for some time.  Since Universal Design holds universal appeal, it is just plain good design.  It needn’t look ugly or institutional-as a matter of fact at first glance you may not even realize that many of the commercial spaces, health care facilities, restaurants and hotel rooms (see article “The Boomer Room”) are not only beautiful, but safe and accessible. offering independence, choice and control for all to use.

Universal Design balances the understanding of human needs with users experience.  As boomers age they frequently experience some of the following day to day challenges:

• Declining Vision
• Reduced Hearing
• Decreased Strength and Agility
• Limited Reach
• Difficulty Bending

Designing accordingly, elder care design professionals who are familiar with the unique physical & emotional changes that accompany the normal aging process respond with innovative design solutions that address these challenges in a seamless, almost undetectable manner.  A few of these are:

• Lighting sensors that improve lighting and safety as you walk in and out of a room
• large print or signage, reading materials and glare-free computer screens
• “Drive-in curbless showers” with grab bars and shower seats
• Wider hallways with fewer flooring transitions
• Comfort height toilets and vanities
• Enhanced tones on doorbells & phones
• Easy-in, easy-out chairs and seating units

One of the driving forces for Universal Design becoming mainstream is the aging population.  It is helping us to reinvent the world we live in, teaching us to design differently, to create environments that while evolutionary, appeal to and serve a very broad spectrum of the population.

Universal Design-Bathroom

10 Retro Kitchen Remodels

Retro Baby Blue Fridge

The kitchen is possibly the most often remodeled room in a house. Dated cabinets, hardware and appliances are replaced with modern equivalents. However, if you are lucky enough to have a charming retro kitchen in your home, you may choose to preserve its character rather than start with a clean slate. Some people even seek out retro kitchen appliances for their new homes!  Get inspired with these well-planned retro kitchen remodels.  To find out how to get this look for your kitchen give us a call!

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Outdoor Kitchens

Outdoor Kitchen

With Memorial Day and the summer grilling season right around the corner, we thought we would feature Outdoor Kitchen spaces on our latest post.  If you would like more information on how to create your outdoor entertaining oasis, please give us a call.

Few summer pleasures are as much fun as a cookout. The smell of grilling food is mouth-watering, everything tastes great and it’s hard not to have a good time – that is, unless you’re the harried host running back and forth between the grill and the kitchen for the chicken and steak, forks and knives, beer and wine, and ketchup and mustard. And when everybody’s done, all the leftovers must be lugged back inside.

An outdoor kitchen can help you slow down and spend more time with family and friends by putting all the ingredients for outdoor dining close at hand. It can be as simple as a storage cabinet for cooking gear or as ambitious as a full kitchen with grill, refrigerator, sink and eating area. Either way, your yard will gain an outside “room” that’s a natural gathering spot.

What to Include

Outdoor kitchens cost from about $3,000 for one with a good-quality grill, a 6-ft.-long counter and a patio to $15,000 and up for higher-end versions with an assortment of appliances. Although it’s tempting to compare outdoor kitchens to the one indoors, there are some key differences.

For example, while a grill and counter space for preparing food are essential, a refrigerator and sink aren’t. But including them can boost the value of your home by helping your outdoor kitchen qualify as a second kitchen. “The increase may equal the cost of the project,” says Pam Young, a Sacramento, California-based designer and founder of Patio Kitchens, which makes outdoor cabinetry. And though indoor-kitchen design includes a raft of rules and caveats, outdoor-kitchen designs are much more casual.

~click here to read full article~

Modern Luxurious Living Room Interior Design

Modern Luxurious Living Room

We thought you may enjoy this wonderful photography of a few luxury living rooms shot by Jeff Heron.  If you would like assistance in creating these looks in your home, just give us a call.

Jeff Heron who has a B.F.A in commercial photography from University of Detroit, MI has a passion for architecture and design which is reflected in his collection of artistic photographs.

The interiors design here are no doubt marvelous and it will definitely take a massive effort in doing these on your own. The fine details in each of these interiors are just splendid. If you’re looking for ideas towards your living room then these modern interiors might be the solution, please enjoy the photos below from Jeff Heron.

~click to read full post~

13 Top Bathroom Remodel Trends

From heated floors to soaking tubs to flat-screen TVs, the emphasis today is on luxury and comfort.

The bathroom is the new den.

More and more, people are going to the bathroom to relax and even luxuriate after a day in the rush-rush world, say home re-modelers and designers. Homeowners are upgrading the rooms — outfitting them with everything from soaking tubs to heated floors — to make themselves comfortable. But peace and quiet aren’t the only motivating factors. An upgraded bathroom helps sell a home and can be a good investment.

Recently several award-winning remodeling experts around the country were polled for their recommendations about what’s on the rise. If you’re mulling a remodel, here is a baker’s dozen of trends to consider, both for yourself and for the market.

~click to read full article~

Tips for “Greening” the Kitchen

There’s a color sweeping the nation…and it’s green! Many people are beginning to understand the impact, or carbon footprint, that their lifestyle choices make on the planet. As a result, they’re starting to seek ways to reduce their impact. One way they can do so is by turning their attention to their kitchens and tweaking what products they use in there.

“The good news is that changes made in the way people use their kitchens and to what products are used there don’t have to break the bank. People don’t have to do a 180º overnight. Making small changes here and there can add up to big results, over time,” says Chef Paul F. Magnant, dean of culinary at Stratford University, here.

Here are a few tips from Chef Magnant to help you start greening your kitchen:.

• Start with what you bring into the kitchen. Buy as much food that is locally produced as you can so that fuel isn’t wasted trucking it to you. And forgo the paper-or-plastic debate by sticking to reusable bags you take to the store.

• Skip the disposables. Whether it’s for a picnic or a party, opt for utensils, dishes and bakeware that can be reused to save on resources. Invest in a set of cloth napkins, and turn old sheets, towels or clothing into rags for cleaning by cutting them into small pieces.

• Keep it going. Stick a wicker basket in your kitchen to contain all of the items destined for recycling. Once the day is over or the basket is full, just take it to the larger bins to be sorted.

• Recycling saves a lot of items from heading to landfills, and reduces the amount of garbage at your curb each week. You can also reuse your raw vegetable left-overs and scraps by setting up a composting system and using the collected matter in your garden.

• Drink home water. Skip buying the bottles of water and invest in a water-filtration device for your kitchen. You’ll save a lot of money in the end and will avoid adding to the water-bottle problem our country faces.

• Clean green. Save money by using natural cleaning supplies and keep unnecessary chemicals out of the environment at the same time. Take a spray bottle and put equal parts water and distilled vinegar in it; this can be used as an all-purpose cleaner for everything from counters to sinks.

• Think big. When it’s time to buy new appliances, opt for ones that are energy-efficient by specifically looking for the ENERGY STAR endorsement. ENERGY STAR is a government-backed initiative that ensures you’re buying an energy-efficient product. Bigger isn’t always better, especially if you don’t need the extra room. Smaller appliances will shave money off your bill each year.

“Nobody is going to make all these changes overnight,” adds Magnant. “But making a couple each year will have your kitchen as green as can be before you know it. We what save, saves us!”