The Post-COVID Kitchen
COVID-19 has changed the landscape of our lives in myriad ways. Certainly, our responses to germs have changed since the beginning of the year. With COVID continuing, and regular flu-season upon us again, it’s time to contemplate what changes you might need to make your home as healthy, comfortable and stress-free as possible. I’ve put together these 5 tips to consider when thinking of remodeling your kitchen.
1. Has your cooking changed?
If you have more cooks in the kitchen, are eating more fresh foods or pre-packaged meals, you might want to consider adding a refrigerator or freezer drawer in your prep area. It helps keep all ingredients handy for whatever you need. Maybe even in a breakfast bar area or baking area. Speaking of baking areas, how about this tricked out drawer to hold all your baking needs? Talk about reducing countertop clutter!
2. Do you need WFH space?
Do you need to carve out some WFH or remote learning space? We can do that in a number of ways. From commandeering an under-utilized pantry or corner nook to incorporating charging drawers for laptops, tablets and phones, we can help you keep your sanity with a dedicated work area that seamlessly flows into the rest of the space.
3. What about light and air quality?
Air quality is so important. Good ventilation not only removes cooking odors and grease, but harmful gasses that are created during cooking. Whether it’s a down-draft, chimney hood or one that’s built into cabinetry, good ventilation is a must. Regarding lighting options, there are so many great options these days to light up the interiors of cabinets to help you find everything you need, and I always encourage clients to have multiple light sources to enhance function in the kitchen. Check out the lighting in this blind corner unit:
4. How about clutter control?
When it comes to controlling clutter, Greenfield and Siteline cabinets allow me to help clients customize the interiors to keep countertops free of “stuff” and make working in the kitchen easier. From dedicated plastic container storage to unique ways to access and utilize the cabinet above the fridge, there is something for just about every storage need.
5. How do you promote cleanliness?
We’re all more concerned with cleanliness and reducing the spread of germs, so here are some great options for you to consider. The first one is a trash drawer that opens when you break a beam of light with your foot. No more chicken hands touching the trash handle!! To close it up you can just wave your foot underneath again or give it a gentle push with your knee. Or how about this handy step-stool to help the little ones get to the sink for washing their hands? When not it use, simply fold it up and slip it back into the slot beside the sink.
Lastly, one of the most anti-microbial surfaces you can use in your kitchen is (drumroll, please) manufactured quartz countertops like the Cambria samples you see here! They are far less porous than granite countertops and so easy to maintain and they come in so many gorgeous styles.
These are just a few helpful tips of things to consider when it’s time to make your kitchen a family-friendly place! For even more ideas, including video clips of innovative new products, check out our pinterest board.
2018 Styles and Trends in Countertops and Accessories
- At June 15, 2018
- By catherineschager
- In Design Trends
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Let’s talk countertops. Whether your kitchen is small and cozy or large enough to entertain a crowd and equipped enough make Emeril jealous, your countertops are center stage. They take up a lot of real estate and there’s no hiding them away in the cupboard when company comes, so your best bet is to make sure you love them. Here’s the fabulous news: if you prefer a sedate look, a well-chosen countertop style can blend quietly into your overall design; but if you’re looking for a design statement piece, nothing adds personality and pizzazz to a kitchen (or bathroom) like countertops! Of course, nothing gets as much wear and tear either, from food prep to entertaining to homework (need we mention science projects?) so homeowners often wisely choose a gorgeous workhorse, like granite or quartz. Read on for a quick rundown of the newest trends and styles we’re seeing in 2018.
Materials
While are many wonderful materials to choose from, some are more work than others. Marble and wood tend to stain and are more easily damaged. Soapstone is durable but has little variety. This keeps people coming back to our previously mentioned workhorses, granite and quartz. Both are excellent choices. Granite used to be the reigning champ because it can often be found in jumbo-sized slabs and can be found in many unique designs.
Recently, quartz has taken the lead. Advancements have produced new, jumbo slabs that have closed the size gap. Dozens of color, style, and design options are now available. Quartz countertops can look like marble, granite, or even wood or concrete. Quartz is easy to clean and maintain and it’s nearly as indestructible as granite. (Granite still takes the hottest temps better.) Quartz is non-porous, so it won’t soak up any sloshed morning java or the red wine you sip while making dinner. Since quartz is engineered, the patterns are consistent, a plus for some tastes. (Others prefer the imperfections and uniqueness of granite.) Lastly, quartz is easier to keep germ-free. All those lovely pores and imperfections in granite not only soak up stains, they can also harbor germs, requiring harsher cleaning agents. There’s no place for germs to burrow and grow inside quartz. (Did you know bacteria can double in number every 20 minutes? All it takes is one germy cell phone on the counter…)
Textures
Polished finishes are still the most popular, but textures like matte are gaining attention. For example, Silestone offers polished, suede, and volcano finishes (below). All are non-porous and smooth to the touch, but the textures can add character and help hide flaws and scratches.
Silestone textures (polished, suede, volcano)
Caesarstone US is on top of the rising “urban industrial” kitchen design trend with a line of rugged concrete look quartz options that simulate a weathered patina.
Caesarstone Metropolitan Collection
Colors
2018 said goodbye to bright colored countertops and welcomed in a neutral color trend. Grays, beiges and white are popular in a variety of more soothing patterns and natural stone looks. Here are a few neutral bathroom countertops our own clients have chosen with beautiful results.
LCO Misterio from Vicostone; Vista Blanco from Marble Emporius; Travertine look-alike quartz
Cambria USA has dozens of neutral quartz designs in their lineup, like these stunning examples:
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- Cambria Brittanicca Gold
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- Cambria Brittanicca Warm
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- Cambria Delgatie
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- Cambria Highgate
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- Cambria Ironsbridge
Sinks
Composite sinks are gaining popularity in the kitchen and stone vessel sinks are being seen more and more in bathrooms. Aren’t these options from Stone Forest just lovely?
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- Stone Forest Carrara Milano Vessel sink
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- Stone Forest Onyx Wabi Vessel Sink
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- Stone Forest Onyx Wabi Vessel Sink
Faucets
Nickel and chrome finished faucets are still common choices, but brass finish is another growing trend. Whichever finish is chosen, faucet styles are trending toward either modern and streamlined or industrial and utilitarian, like the beautiful examples below.
Henry faucet by Waterworks in brass; NYC Apt of John Legend and Chrissy Teigen (Zillow listing)
Yaquina cross handle faucet from Rejuvenation in brass finish
Tolson faucet from Rejuvenation in brass finish
See more images from these current trends on our pinterest board. What do you think about the trends toward neutral, natural, modern and industrial?
Spring Cleaning Tips for a Long-Lasting Kitchen
- At April 13, 2017
- By catherineschager
- In Uncategorized
- 0
Finally, warm weather is on the way! You are probably in the midst of your annual spring cleaning activities. A freshly clean home is always a favorite way to welcome spring. Here are some tips for spring cleaning your kitchen that you might not have considered and will help extend the life of the heart of your home.
Hood Exhaust Filter
Undoubtedly your range hood will get scrubbed and shined, but remember to check the filter on the exhaust too. (This is the metal mesh covering the exhaust fan.)
A functioning exhaust is one of the best ways to keep grease and grime from depositing all over your kitchen, so you want to keep ypurs in prime condition. If your filter looks grimy, try soaking it in a mix of hot water, baking soda and liquid dish soap. After a soak, it should clean up nicely.
Refrigerator and Oven
When you clean your refrigerator and oven, take a few minutes to check for issues that could lead to a repair bill later. I recommend having your appliances serviced by a professional on a regular basis to extend the life and efficiency of the working parts.
Check the rubber seals on the doors. If they are getting dry, cracked, or caked with grime, they won’t seal properly. They might need cleaned and lubricated, or they might need replaced. Bad seals will cause the appliances to overwork to replace the heat or cold they are losing at the seal.
The coils and condenser fan on your fridge needs to be cleaned annually as well, especially if you have pets, and dust and pet hair can clog up the back of slide-in ranges.
Cabinets and Countertops
Your countertops get cleaned regularly, but at least once a year be sure to move any countertop appliances, canisters, or other items that “live” on the surface all year and check the surface underneath. Only use cleaning solutions approved for your countertop type. If you have granite, check to see if it is time for your countertops to be resealed. Don’t let this go if it is needed. If you have tile, check the grout for damage.
Cabinet surfaces don’t get cleaned as regularly and can accumulate a lot of grease and grime. Cabinets are often beautiful furniture pieces and since they are exposed to kitchen grime, they need to be cleaned annually. Be sure to only use cleaners approved by your cabinet manufacturer. Often a tub of mild soapy water and soft sponge is recommended, but always check first. For deeper grime, your installer or manufacturer can recommend the right product to use as well.
Windows, Curtains and Lights
What better way to let the bright spring light in than freshly washed windows? Like everything else in the kitchen, your windows are exposed to cooking grease and will get a build up on the inside.
Some curtains are machine washable and their is no better time to toss them in the laundry. Many must be professionally cleaned. Take them down annually and drop them at the dry cleaners, or have a professional come to your home depending on the time of window treatments you have. Blinds can usually be wiped with a damp cloth but in the kitchen, grease may make an appearance here too. Use cleaning solutions recommended by the manufacturer.
Don’t forget your lights! Dust bulbs with a dry cloth. Take down glass shades and globes and wash in soapy water. Metal shades and casings can usually be wiped with a damp cloth. Again, the manufacturer can recommend cleaning products depending on the type of metal.
After you’ve done all that cleaning, be sure to celebrate by bringing in some fresh, spring color! Visit our pinterest board to get some inspiration. Happy Spring!
Engineered Quartz Countertops
If you are looking to upgrade your kitchen countertops, there’s a new competitor you shouldn’t overlook. With all the best qualities of both laminate and natural stone, engineered quartz is a gorgeous, durable, and versatile option. Here are some of the features that make it so fabulous:
It’s not indestructible, but it’s close.
This stuff is strong. Engineered quartz is about 93% ground quartz combined with polyester resin to bind it and pigments for color. Unlike granite, the reigning king of high-end countertops, which is quarried directly from the earth in huge chunks and then cut into slabs, all the flaws of engineered quartz are engineered out. There are no invisible striations waiting to crack open or defects to cut around during manufacturing. Quartz is one of the hardest minerals on earth. Once ground and mixed with resin binders, it’s durability is unmatched. It’s scratch-resistant and heat-resistant up to 400 degrees F, though sustained heat can cause damage, so always use a trivet.
It’s low-maintenance and antimicrobial.
The resins make it nonporous, so it doesn’t have to sealed or polished – ever. That spilled glass of red wine that could permanently stain other countertops won’t soak in to engineered quartz. That also means bacteria, mold and mildew can’t penetrate the surface. Just wipe with soapy water to clean. Avoid harsh chemicals though. You won’t need them and they could break down the bonds between the quartz and the resins.
It comes in a dazzling array of colors and styles!
Color and design options never before available in stone products are a snap in engineered quartz. Brilliant solids, dramatic patterns, or veining nearly indistinguishable from marble are as available as replicated gloss granite or matte slate look. Engineered quartz can look like just about anything, with more consistent patterns and veins than 100% natural stone. Even opulent gemstones like agate or amethyst can be sliced and added with the resin binders.
The resins make it more flexible than natural stone, so it can be fabricated in a variety of shapes. Graceful curves, crisp bevels or chiseled raw edges can all be replicated precisely to your specifications.
Check out the inspiration galleries at Cambria and Caesarstone for more stunning options, or visit our pinterest board. Your imagination is the only limit!
Would You Choose Wood?
For your countertops? In a recent article in Kitchen & Bath Business, Brad Baker talks about the emerging trend of wood countertops in the kitchen. Actually, I should say the re-emerging trend. Wood, with its inherent warmth, durability and longevity was actually the first choice for countertops until after WWII when laminates and ceramic tile became the newest options.
Teak countertop
Right now, Europeans are choosing wood countertops more often with Scandinavia leading the way with 40% of countertops chosen being of wood. The U.S. is currently at 7%.
So what’s so great about a wood countertop?
- They’re beautiful, natural, and can come in colors from pale beiges to nearly black with many different thicknesses.
- They’re softer on the eye and on your knives (if you choose to cut on it) and dishes than granite or other stones.
- Oh yeah, you can choose to use it as a cutting board if you like the patina that you’ll create.
- Adding a wood countertop on an island or other element, lends a warm contrast and the look of an “unfitted” kitchen as opposed to the rigidity of everything matching.
- Many choices in looks, from the heavily striated zebrawood to the simplicity of Maple or Oak
- Different finish choices depending upon how you want to use it or the level of sheen you want.
- Can be a great eco-friendly choice if using recycled wood from old warehouses, homes, barns, old wine or whiskey barrels.
- Easily repaired depending upon finish chosen. A simple light sanding buffs out any boo-boos.
Reclaimed wine barrels
The list can go on and on. What I like most about a wood countertop is being able to see its beautiful grain and colors in a large swath, and the way it can warm up even the most minimal designs.
End grain pattern
What do you think? Would wood be a good choice for your home? Why or why not?
Countertop Confessions- Part 2
It seems that storms follow me when I attend events. The other night during that wild storm I was at an event in Wheeling (where of course the storm was the worst!) at the Terrazzo and Marble showroom. (I swear I saw the Wicked Witch of the West riding her broom!) It was a great opportunity to meet some new vendors, chat with colleagues, and see some of the most gorgeous stone I’ve ever seen. The folks there were kind enough to allow me to take some pictures to share with you and I’m adding a couple of other options as well.
Look at this Soapstone!
Isn't this beautiful?
I love the movement and color of this granite
Ok, now for some other options:
Onyx- A beautiful translucent stone. It is soft so you wouldn’t want to use it in a hard-working area but it can be lovely on a bar or in a powder room. If you can back-light it it glows and is fabulous.
Back-lit Onyx
Icestone- A Terrazzo material made of 100% recycled glass in a cement matrix. It’s a great idea for a “green” option, but be aware that it’s porous, needs to be sealed and waxed and isn’t heat-proof.
Icestone
And last but not least for today- how about a countertop that’s made of money? Sound far fetched? It’s not!
Shetka Stone – Is a product made in Minnesota (ok, pronounce it correctly- Min eh sot a 😉 ) that’s made of various types of recycled paper including decommissioned paper money which is shredded, broken down and compressed without formaldehyde or toxic glues. It’s stain, water, and scratch resistant and 55-90% recycled. I must admit it’s not the most beautiful countertop I’ve seen, but it’s an option for those looking to be kinder to the environment.
Shetka Stone- This color's called "Counterfeit"
I know which are my favorites, how about you? Which one of these would you love to have in your home?
