The 5 top trends for 2012:

1.  Cherry Not Picked:  Designers are saying that clients are heading towards other woods for their cabinetry, such as Oak (that’s a surprise!), walnut, birch and bamboo.

Courtesy of Houzz.com, I like the dark and light combo

2.  The Dark Side:  More dark finishes are being used (58% of the time according to the NKBA).  Would someone please let the design magazine publishers know this??  Pick up any design magazine and what you find is white, white, white.  Of course, magazines don’t always reflect reality (you think?)

Love the watery color of this glass tile backsplash!

3.  Be Transparent:  Glass in the backsplash is very au courant.  It’s not only beautiful, but easy to clean and there are so many ways of utilizing it.  From glass tile through glass panels, there’s something for every style.

4.  Let There Be Light: LED light, specifically.  It’s being used more often as it’s “green” and much lower in profile than CFL’s or incandescents.

Dark, light, transitional, this kitchen has it all! Courtesy of Jennifer Charleston of twenty7 design workshop www.twenty7.com

5.  Transitioning:  More people are choosing transitional style (between contemporary and traditional.  Softer than contemporary and cleaner lines than traditional) over traditional.  Contemporary style is the next most frequently requested.  Seems people are choosing less embellishment and simpler lines.

So there you have some of the most current kitchen trends!  While I always recommend that you choose what you love, it’s good to know what is current in order to make the best decisions.  After all, unlike clothing, you’re going to live with those choices for quite a while!

1. De-clutter!  Time to put away the winter boots, hats, gloves and winter paraphernalia that we in the Chicago area have to live with.  Even if you have to pack them into plastic bins and store them in the attic or basement, your home will look instantly fresher and more seasonal without all that heavy stuff lying about.

A light and airy entryway!

2. Get rid of grime! Nothing is as beautiful as the sun streaming through clean windows, and you’ll enjoy the fresh breezes with clean screens.

3.  Change accessories! Put away the heavy winter throws and pull out (or pick up) some pillows and accessories with a little pop and pizzazz. Think outdoor colors and lighter weight accessories like a wicker basket for books near a cozy chair, or some brightly colored candles on the mantle.

Bright and light throw pillows and lighter weight rug create a summery feel

4.  Flower power! Never underestimate the effect of fresh flowers.  Whether it’s a few sprigs of lilac from your yard, or a bunch of jonquils from the supermarket, flowers bring a breath of fresh air indoors.  Place them all over the house, like the guest room, powder room, and don’t forget the foyer for a warm welcome to your guests.

Flowers from your yard add beauty!

5.  Get cozy!  Find a sunny spot for a cozy sitting area.  Maybe it’s a porch, maybe it’s in the family room, or just a sunny spot in your bedroom.  Pull up a small chair and maybe a little table for a beverage, have a seat, relax and dream!

A cozy spot to read or dream!

Enjoy!

Here are the before and after photos:

"Before"

Yes, I know the color combination of white switch plate and brown outlet is hideous.  The contractor just did that because he knew we were going to change it.

"After"

That switch plate practically disappears.

Again, it’s a small detail, but it makes the project as a whole much more “finished”.

Bonnie creates beautiful murals and fine decorative faux finishes for your home or commercial space.  You can find her at blecat@bonnielecat.com.

The "before" picture. Sorry about the guy in the picture. They were having their windows cleaned!

I suggested a slight re-arrangement of their furniture, and we selected  a paint color that softens the room and blends well with the furniture.  Our valance incorporated most of the furniture colors but brought in a new pattern that’s sophisticated and some fun trim.  Once all that was done, we found artwork that made the space warmer and more inviting.

Here's one "after" view

Here’s another vantage point:

A simple color change along with new artwork and window treatment makes all the difference!

What rooms in your home need a tweak?  Don’t forget the outside of your house!  More on that in an upcoming post…

Happy Easter, and Happy Passover!

Challenge 1: We had a small footprint to work with and it wasn’t going to expand, so we increased the accessibility and useability of the layout by:

• Shrinking the sink down to allow for a spice pull-out cabinet between the dishwasher and range.
• Increased the size of the end wall and base drawer cabinets
• Changed 2 door base cabinets to 1 wide drawer base and 1 smaller door base with roll-out shelves
• Added a deeper cabinet above the refrigerator and pulled it forward for better accessibility
• Added pull-down shelves in 2 upper cabinets for better accessibility

We also added additional counter top length by creating a “shelf” of countertop material that is seamed at the end of the sink base.  If there’s a need to access the window from the inside, the seam can be cut and the shelf removed and replaced.

Challenge 2: The outlets couldn’t be moved, and create an eyesore in the backsplash.

• We’re going to use metal outlet covers and have them painted by artist Bonnie Lecat of Bonnie Lecat Designs (www.bonnielecat.com) to match the backsplash.  You’ll still see the outlets, but they’ll be minimized.

Challenges 3 & 4:  Small area for a table and chairs and the need for privacy at night.

• We found a small (26″) round glass tables and clear lucite bistro chairs which don’t take up any “visual” space, yet allow the client to sit comfortably and read the paper or enjoy a meal.
• We also changed out the duette window shades to a softer, and more sophisticated Roman shade which is lined for privacy at night.  The shade on the right window is actually just a valance as the client never closes this side.

Ok, enough talk- I know you want to see the pictures!

Fridge side of kitchen (we still have some punch list items to finish!)

Table & chairs & window treatments

The whole room!

Professional photos to come…..

The client said ” I just want to let you know how fabulous it is.  The table is the perfect size.  I was able to sit and enjoy the paper and a cup of coffee and even though everything is the same size it seems like so much more space”.

What are your thoughts?

Here’s what we started with:

You can get a peek at her beautiful view here

View of the windows, and space for table and chairs

Refrigerator wall

Our Challenges:

• Very small kitchen
• We wanted to be able to give her the greatest amount of counter space, yet we have to allow for access to the window in case of a problem with it.
• Better access to cabinets and more organized storage
• Strange placement of outlets with the inability to change their location (we’d have to put a plate over the existing location)
• The overall footprint would remain the same
• We didn’t want to block her view, which is of the lake and is fabulous but wanted to allow for some privacy from a neighboring hi-rise in the evening.
• The space for a table & chairs is very small

We changed:

• Lighting
• Flooring
• Cabinetry
• Paint instead of the wall paper
• The range and microwave (she had replaced the dishwasher and fridge a couple of years ago)
• Sink & faucet
• Window treatments
• Backsplash

I look forward to showing you some pictures of the completed project next week!

1.  Induction cooktops are becoming more prevalent.  They are more popular in Europe, but are catching on here.  What’s great about using them is their low heat output (your kitchen doesn’t get heated because just what’s in the pan is getting heated), ease of clean-up as the surface doesn’t get hot, and you can put individual units in several places in the kitchen.

Jenn-Air Induction Cooktop

You can read more about induction in my previous blog:

http://catherineschagerdesigns.com/2010/06/introduction-to-induction/

2. Microwave/Convection oven combinations allow for smaller kitchens to have one large oven and still have the ability to host a crowd.  Jenn-Air makes a model that can steam-cook, has a combination convection/microwave setting, and a speed-cook setting.

The Jenn-Air convection/microwave

3. Wall Ovens- are becoming packed with features to make it easy to cook even if you’re not the best cook!  Jenn-Air even has one that you can program favorite recipes into and it can convert a standard recipe time to Convection mode time.

Combination of wall oven and microwave

So what’s your favorite new trend?

Ellen discussed new ways of organizing the appliances in different areas of the kitchen, namely the cook, prep, clean-up and storage areas.  I’d like to talk about 3 of these today; prep, clean-up and storage, and touch on the others in later posts.

1. Due to the emphasis on healthy eating, more fresh food is being prpared, with a need for sometimes as many as three sinks in the kitchen.  One for prep work and possibly serving, one for clean-up and one for a dedicated beverage center.  There are a multitude of new sinks on the market today that can perform a number of different functions.  Here’s a really cool one that I was introduced to by Rick Glickman of Dream Kitchens in Deerfield.

Ok, this is my dream sink! Watch the video of how it works by clicking on the link below.

http://www.thegalleysink.com/promolong.html?action=showdetail&pic_id=184

2. The dishwasher is also showing up in a number of places, and people are tending to opt for more than one.  The butler’s pantry is a great place for an additional clean-up sink and dishwasher as is a dish drawer in a beverage center.  As we’ve been discussing Age-in-Place issues, a new trend is to also separate the dishwasher from the sink and then elevate it by adding a drawer beneath it.  This allows for easy access and less bending.

3.  One of the most interesting trends is in utilizing food storage (refrigeration and freezers) in multiple places in the kitchen.  Gone are the days when there was only one place to grab a beverage.  Undercounter refrigerated and freezer drawers can be incorporated into prep areas and beverage areas.  Individual refrigerator and freezer units can be separated to allow for maximum storage in the most convenient place.  For instance, there was one design that incorporated a full freezer out of the main kitchen and in the butler’s pantry.  There are now great options for combination units like wine and beverage storage in the same undercounter units.

Courtesy of Jenn-Air, a combination wine and beverage fridge

I enjoy keeping up to date on the latest trends and ways to help my clients make the most of their kitchens!  Which idea strikes your fancy?

Find #1.  Sensational Screen!  This hand-painted screen done by an artist friend of mine is now available.  Would make a great headboard for a bed, eye-catching statement behind a sofa, a great cover-up for a corner or even hide a small home office in your living room.  www.bonnielecat.com

Gorgeous!

Find #2.  Fur in Fashion!  Yes, it’s back.  Last week’s Fashion Week in New York saw fur accessories and apparel.  That means that it’ll start showing up in home goods soon.

Michael Kors handbags for Fall 2012

Find #3.  Cool Coffee Table!  This book-matched walnut table is from Brandner Design. www.brandnerdesign.com .  They have many other cool items as well.

I love the natural look!

Find # 4.  Perfect Pliny!  Ok, I was thinking Spring!  I love this chair called Pliny the Lounger from loll designs.  They specialize in outdoor furniture made of recycled material.  It brings back memories of rocking in my aunt’s backyard in a big old red metal lawn chair.  www.lolldesigns.com

Mod and yet retro!

What fun finds have you found in February?