Glencoe Glam

Who says that functional needs to be ugly or boring? When you are working with professionals, you can have function AND beauty. Take a look at this beautiful project by Michael Menn Ltd.! We were tapped to provide our Siteline cabinets for a streamlined, budget-friendly solution!

As you can see, function is a priority. Michael’s team provided lighting in the toe-kick area for illumination at night, a zero-height threshold in the shower, shower seat that folds up, and a number of grab bars that aren’t institutional looking. We also provided a tall storage cabinet with roll-out shelves at a height that makes them easy to access and a storage bench where the owners can rest while toweling off after their shower. This bathroom is calm, beautiful AND provides a haven for the owners to enjoy for many years. Thank you, Michael, it’s always great to partner with you!

Photo credit: Dennis Jourdan Photography, Inc.

See the full project on our Houzz page.

What Will Cabinets be Wearing in 2021?

At January 12, 2021
By catherineschager
In Design Trends, Great Interior Design Products
0

In our last post we showed you some of the new and exciting door styles in our Greenfield line. You might be asking, “but what about the finishes? Is a white kitchen still the standard by which all others are judged?” The answer to that is no. Clients all over the country are showing their individuality and desire to connect with nature. While white is still prominent and classic, here are some other woods and finishes that you’ll be spotting in homes and magazines.

What’s old is new again: Remember last week I talked about Oak making a comeback? Does the thought of white-washed Oak from the 80’s make you cringe? Well, good news – you don’t have to cringe with these new Oak stains. There’s everything from a rustic finish grey Oak for those looking for that farmhouse aesthetic to the Scandinavian influence of natural finish White Oak to classic darker brown finishes that accentuate the natural grain patterns.

Choices in grain pattern: Without going into too much detail about how wood is cut, know that there are three types of cuts that give you different looks:

Flat cut: You see the familiar pattern of Oak (think of Oak floors with the definite arch patterns)
Rift cut: A way of cutting the tree to create a more uniform, straight grain
Quarter Sawn: Think of Arts and Crafts pieces of furniture done in Oak. You don’t see the arch patterns (cathedrals) but you do see a straighter grain with some flecks in it.

Our new offerings consist of White Oak in Flat Cut, Random Plank (sizes of the plank varies, just like in flooring) and Rift Cut

New colors: While grey is still on-trend, we’re seeing some fresher natural finishes as well. Take a look at these greys; they’re softer and more transparent.

Ready for rustic? While it isn’t for everyone, this rough-cut, limed finish could be a gorgeous partner to a high-gloss acrylic or even white painted cabinets.

Stay tuned throughout the year for new introductions!

A Trio of New Door Styles!

At January 07, 2021
By catherineschager
In Design Trends, Great Interior Design Products
0

Welcome to 2021! A brand-new year with some fresh offerings from our Greenfield Cabinet line!

You may know that we have partnered for several years with the Corsi Group to offer our clients quality cabinets and a streamlined, custom experience. Corsi’s Greenfield and Siteline cabinets are made here in the U.S. (in Indianapolis and West Virginia), offer quality construction, details and options and a great value. But what I am most proud of is the level of service that I receive from the factory. Everyone at the factory, from line workers, to finishers, to the customer service team works together and are proud to deliver their best always. They also stay on the cutting edge of cabinet trends throughout the country! Here are some new offerings that I think are inspiring. Stay tuned to see new finishes offered next week!

One thing you’ll notice about these 3 new styles: They all have a flat center panel and a raised edge all the way around the door. Flat center-paneled cabinets have been on-trend for a number of years, and the most popular door style has been the Shaker style. These three offerings riff on the Shaker style and take it up a notch to be slightly more modern and organic. All three styles can be used either in a more contemporary or clean traditional setting. They’d make an awesome statement in a library, office, or dining room too! Here’s our runway line-up! (Ok, imagine a fashion runway complete with flashing lights and sexy-voiced MC…)

First up is the Quaid, shown here in a Hybrid Rift-Cut White Oak veneer, sporting a beautiful mitre-cut frame. Oak is definitely on-trend this year and you’ll be seeing more of its beefy, brawny grain that imparts a feel for nature.

Next up we have Quentin with a mid-sized frame, shown in a painted finish. Yes, paint (especially whites mixed with darker tones like slate and navy) are still hot hot hot!

Last but not least is the Quincy, sporting the ultra-thin edge frame. Quincy is for those who want a clean, sleek look but shy away from a straight slab door. It’s elegantly dressed in a Hybrid Walnut veneer which appeals to those Mid-Century Mad Men.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this little kick-off ‘fashion” show! We will be featuring more in the days and months to come!

Product Innovation Awards from KBIS 2020

At November 05, 2020
By catherineschager
In Design Trends, Great Interior Design Products, Kitchen and Bath Design
0

This is our last installment of the Product Innovation Awards from KBIS this year. We look forward to bringing you more great products and ideas from 2021’s Kitchen and Bath Industry Show. Stay tuned!

Our first product for this week is the Shokunin Kamado Grill by Kalamazoo. All I can say is “WOW”! This grill is not only a beautifully designed piece of art but is so well thought out in creating the cooking experience. After watching this video I can almost taste the spatch-cocked chicken he’s talking about.

Next up is the GE Profile Opal Nugget Ice Maker. If you like to entertain your guests with cocktails and even slushy beverages but don’t want or have the space for a large icemaker, take a look at this! It’s a portable unit, great for indoor or outdoor entertaining, can make up to 24 lbs. of ice in 24 hours and can store 3 lbs. at a time!

There’s a quick-start feature that gives you ice in 20 minutes (perfect for a last-minute gathering!) and a detachable reservoir that allows for more ice production. You can even check and schedule ice-making via your smart phone! Hmm, this week’s choices seem to all be about entertaining! I’m optimistic that we’ll be back to warm gatherings with family and friends soon. In the meantime, we can be ready!

Last, but not least this week is the Miele G7000 Dishwasher series. Because after all the partying there is clean-up…

Let’s just say I’m a fan of Miele dishwashers to begin with as they pioneered the 3^rd rack for utensils. This series makes dishwashing even easier, from automatically dispensing just the right amount of detergent based on how dirty the dishes are, to movable sections and a handle-less feature that allows the door to open with a knock. It’s also almost noiseless, WiFi compatible so you can get that load going before the guests come, and even offers a QuickIntense setting for faster clean-up.

Favorite New Products from KBIS 2020

At October 29, 2020
By catherineschager
In Design Trends, Great Interior Design Products, Kitchen and Bath Design
0

In last week’s post we looked at some great products for your kitchen and bath – this week is a continuation of that, geared towards practical and design-savvy products to consider incorporating into your next remodel or new construction.

First up is the winner of the Bathroom Product of the Year, judged by the panel at KBIS, and it’s easy to see why. The SwapAble by Design by Intent allows you to plan now for the ability to live in place later.

For many years I have advised clients to consider the long-term when remodeling and create options for adding in elements for accessibility in daily living as we age. What Design by Intent has done is create a beautiful way to do this with a contemporary aesthetic. You can have a shelf for products now, and later it can be swapped out for a shower seat – all done with the aid of a simple clip. I love this because it provides beautiful, functional design! Kudos to Design by Intent!

Next up is another Kohler product for the bath – the DTV Mode Digital Shower System. It almost looks like a Nest thermostat, except it’s a thermostatic valve for your shower! With it, you can dial in the temperature settings, and even access and personalize settings via Kohler’s Mode app. Imagine, from your warm, cozy bed you can turn on and regulate your shower temperature for the perfect shower from the moment you step in! The dial also makes it easier to use than a touch screen for many.

Last but certainly not least is a very unique vanity! It’s the Terra Waterfall Vanity Sink by MTI Baths. The sink is integrated into the vanity and the design controls the water flow down the side of the vanity into a floor-mounted drain. What a WOW for your powder room!! The judges also loved that it is wheelchair accessible and the plumbing is hidden – so you get accessibility AND fabulous design all in one. Plus, your dog or cat can have a drink while the water’s running! I think I’m in love!

Planning for Your Luxury Home Remodel

At May 08, 2020
By catherineschager
In Kitchen and Bath Design, Tips and Advice
0

As many of you are now considering areas in your home that need some changes, we thought we’d re-issue these tips for the planning phase of your project.

For some of us, there may be the extra excitement of planning for a remodel in the new year. Congratulations! In our blog Tackle Home Design with a Star Lineup, we brought you some guidelines on building your team: the architect, the contractor, and the designer. Planning a luxury home build is a huge endeavor with spectacular results. Planning is essential.

Where do you turn to get information about budgeting for your remodel or new home? Take a look at the Home Trust International’s guidelines. They are leaders in the luxury home industry and a great resource to help you figure out your luxury home investment. Here’s a brief summary of their article:

1. Budget up to 35% of the value of the finished home for interior design services, project management and furnishings.
2. Interior design firms generally earn one third of the total investment.
3. Variables include renovations, art or furniture you may be bringing from another home.

Catherine Schager, AKBA, ASID Allied Member

A good designer can guide you through this process to help you figure out where to splurge and where to save. I offer a great outline of my process on my FAQs page and you can quickly schedule an initial phone meeting with me from my Contact Us page if you are ready to explore further.

The most important goal is to end the process with a gorgeous new home that feels like HOME SWEET HOME to you and your family. You can best reach that goal with good planning and realistic budgeting guided by a team of professionals who want to help you with your achieve your dream. Happy new home dreaming!

NKBA Event with Ellen Cheever February 2020

It was great attending this educational event hosted by Caesarstone at Café La Cave! Ellen Cheever, one of the very first educators in the kitchen and bath industry, an icon and inspiration to me and many other designers is giving her farewell address to the industry. She will be missed but leaves behind a phenomenal legacy to generations of kitchen and bath designers!

KBIS Presentation (left); with Michael Menn and Nancy Jacobson (center); with Nancy Jacobson and Ellen Cheever – kitchen educator extraordinaire! (right)

“Best Of Houzz” Badge for Service 2020

I would like to thank my wonderful clients who took the time and effort to post reviews about our work together. You are the reason that we’ve been able to be awarded a “Best of Houzz” badge for Service since 2017!

Visit our Houzz page to take a look and be inspired: https://www.houzz.com/pro/catherineschager/catherine-schager-designs.

Exciting Announcement!

We are proud to announce that Catherine Schager Designs is now a dealer for Greenfield Cabinetry and Siteline Cabinetry. We are excited to be able to offer these custom-made, high-quality cabinet options to our clients in-house. This will allow us to better streamline the process for our clients. Better control over the process equals a faster time to completion, something every homeowner can appreciate. Being an official dealer for Greenfield and Siteline also gives us the ability to offer our clients excellent quality cabinetry without the showroom overhead adding to the budget. Win-win-win for everyone involved!

Both cabinet lines are part of The Corsi Group, cabinetmakers that offer custom-made cabinetry with a special blend of old world attention to detail, combined with modern technical expertise.

Greenfield Cabinetry prides itself on creating superbly crafted, richly finished cabinets filled with a huge array of options for organization and convenience. They offer a myriad of styles, finish combinations, materials, and accessories. Here is a bathroom project we completed using Greenfield Cabinetry. The clients chose the Estridge door style in composite veneer with Quartered Wenge finish. Stunning!

Siteline Cabinetry offers style for miles! They are a made to order cabinetry company with state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities that allows them to deliver in less than the typical custom cabinet lead-time while still creating gorgeous, high-quality cabinets. They also offer a huge variety of styles, finish combinations, materials, and accessories to fit any tastes. Here’s a master bathroom project we completed using Siteline Cabinetry’s Libby door style in Cotton with grey glaze. Simply beautiful!

Stay tuned for more Greenfield and Siteline projects! Scroll through more images for both of these cabinetry lines on our pinterest board.

Innovative Cabinet Storage and Organizing Trends

Last week we showed you some of the exciting cabinet trends in 2018 that are making our kitchens and bathrooms a feast for the eyes. But what about when you open those lovely doors and drawers to the storage spaces within? One of the biggest trends in 2018 cabinetry is organization. The options are simply fabulous! Scroll through the images below for a look at some of the innovative storage and organizing solutions available to turn our cabinets into functional, orderly spaces:

Pullouts and Deep Drawers