Do you have your own personal tile collection? Samples for possible use or distinctive tiles like the Talavera pieces in this photo? Bring them out of hiding and use them to accent centerpieces on cocktail or dining tables. If it gives you joy, find a way to use it!
Kitchens
How To Select the Right Island(s)
What has happened to kitchens? Once we went to an island, it evolved into a single long counter in front of cabinetry. This looks great but real cooks need convenient appliance locations and ample countertops for assembling their dishes! We learned quickly and thoroughly during the COVID lockdown that it was important to eat at home! There have been more recipes published since then AND they have been more practical. So, back to kitchen design. From one island to two? How do you navigate two? Start with your appliance locations and go from there. Consider your preference for double ovens or a range. The spacing on this is a major determining factor. Restrictions also include doors and windows.
A recent photo I saw showed two islands and at the back was the Wolf range – between the islands. This range is a focal point and it is difficult to give it its due with an island covering it up!
Other designs show a prep kitchen separate from the show kitchen. Others have a spice kitchen for the separation of aromas! This is ever changing. Just work it out with function first as there are many options to make it look great!
Backsplashes Offer a New Look for Your Kitchen
Are you ready for a new look in your kitchen in the new year? A great backsplash can give the entire kitchen an updated look! Your eye goes to a contrast in color so if you want pop then add a backsplash that is colorful. The entire area from the base cabinets to the uppers can be updated. Covering the wall up to the exhaust fan over the stove is also a good idea.
It can be paint in your favorite color or a pattern you find that you love. DIY down and dirty option – use chalk paint for color and you can write on it!
You can use tile or tile banded by narrower tiles of the same or coordinating colors to achieve the desirable height. (Put the cut tiles where they show the least if you can’t use all full tiles.) Ceramic or glass tile will have many options.
Glass, mirror, stainless or copper are a totally different look and again can be combined with tiles or used in specific areas. The smooth surface requires more cleaning so use accordingly.
You can use natural stone or quartz. Either the same surface as the countertop or a contrasting solid color. Backsplashes made from slab can be cut to fit the space in squares, rectangles or slab. We had black galaxy granite on the countertops and the backsplash of our last home. Natural stone does not have to be sealed every year as you often read. It varies from stone to stone. We never resealed the black granite backsplash and regularly need to reseal our current limestone.
Don’t know a kitchen remodeling contractor? The supplier will! Or ask your interior designer!
Looking for inspiration? Visit my Pinterest Kitchen board or the Countertops board.
Is Natural Stone Obsolete?
Is natural stone obsolete? Never! Even as we were trending toward the quartz (composite) products in recent years, many people were holding out for the real thing! Yes, quartz is lower maintenance than natural stone products that need to have the surface recoated. But the Black Galaxy granite we had in our last kitchen was never recoated in the fifteen years we lived there and it still looked great! Natural products also look real – they are! Quartz is great for the contemporary look that is now in. It doesn’t need to be refinished but it is also harder to repair. A recent project with an oversized island required natural stone as quartz was not available in a wide enough slab. Approach each situation with an open mind and use the product that is best for it. The current limestone in our kitchen is high maintenance but I would only replace it with quartzite – another natural stone!
Observing the Recent Kitchen Changes
In recent years the kitchen / family room combination has been overwhelmingly popular. It has evolved from the days when appliances looked like appliances. With wood panels on refrigerators and the more streamlined design of appliances, it is now easy to have a seamless transition in the two areas without looking at a ’50s era kitchen. The main obstacle has been having a big enough kitchen if the back wall is mainly appliances and the island is the only other component. Cooks should design kitchens! By extending at least one side of the kitchen (an L-shape) and then positioning the island, you have created more appliance and countertop space. A U shape with an island also works well. Recent articles showcase a working pantry/scullery. Spacing is always a determining factor. The working pantry has the advantage of caterers working behind the scenes and the disadvantage in everyday functions of separating the cooks! It is more convenient if everything is in a continuous area where cooks can talk to each other! A second sink, dishwasher and microwave in the secondary area would allow prep for the main or dessert course after guests have started to enjoy the starters or main course. However ice, wine, seltzer taps, ovens, coffee stations and refrigerator drawers with afterschool snacks for kids all need to be close to their final use areas. Ice makers can be noisy and need to be located accordingly. Open shelves collect dust whether they are exposed in the kitchen or in the usable pantry. Linens, flatware and dishes close to the tables cuts down on cross traffic. We have come a long way since the ice box but with so many options it takes careful planning to achieve a highly functional space.
Kitchen Remodel Details
A recent article in the New York Times about kitchen remodels had some tips that I thought were worth noting as I begin a new project!
- It is a good idea to create a mock island with cardboard and a folding table or whatever will give you the idea of the size.
- Lighting should include different types – the same as any other room – cans in the ceiling, pendants and spots in cabinets would be an example.
- Make a list of every decision.
- Samples should be kept so any discrepancies can be determined.
- Appliances don’t have to be from one company; it is just simpler.
- The cabinet makers should install or supervise the installation with the contractor providing oversight of electrical and plumbing.
- Grout is a color option. It should be on the list of choices to be made.
- Water alarms in case of a leak?
- Countertops are large, heavy and awkward to maneuver. Pad any obstacles in the moving path.
- Caulking also comes in colors and should disappear.
Hire a designer who coordinates the entire project with adjoining rooms. I review the guidelines from the National Kitchen and Bath Association and use supplies that are the best, assist with the latest appliance information, involve cabinet makers in keeping with the scope of the project and bring in a lighting expert who has the best options for the project. The designer is the homeowner’s advocate with the end goal of function and cohesion of the elements.
Do contractors love someone watching every detail? No, it slows them down! But if you are there on site, they will ask your opinion and it may just turn out to be the best kitchen ever!
Wrigley Mansion Kitchen Renovation
Celebrated Chef Christopher Gross has designed the most stunning kitchen at the Wrigley Mansion in Phoenix, Arizona! Recently while enjoying Happy Hour with friends, Chef Gross gave us a tour of his renovated kitchen. The large rectangular layout in blue is gorgeous and provides many workstations for various tasks to be completed during the bustling process of gourmet meal preparation. The adjoining dining area complete with chandelier and steel framed doors to the balcony creates an intimate backdrop for wine tasting. Underway is the new exclusive dining area with Camelback and adjoining mountain views. Weddings, special occasions, date night… this combination is the best!
Litchfield Park Townhouse Renovation
The building contractor and his wife have done their past two homes in contemporary style so the new trend is their comfort zone! The total re-design of major appliances in the past ten years has made it possible to have a kitchen that blends seamlessly with the overall design instead looking like “the kitchen.” We applied all of the newest technology to this space. Working with Steve Johnson, formerly with Pogenpohl and now Ergersman Cabinets, for the third time with this receptive couple allowed fast decisions made with confidence that the end result would be appreciated by all!
As with any remodeling project, we first confirmed the bearing walls (it extends to the ceiling on the right side of the island). Leaving only that wall intact, the original wall between the kitchen and dining room was removed as well as the closet and the wall separating the dining room from the living room. The focal point in the kitchen now is the beautiful mosaic above the invisible black cooktop with a black granite countertop. The lighting adds a new look rather than typical pendants (Sonneman’s Suspenders). Appliances with wood panels blend with the cabinetry. The couple cooks and spend evenings sharing meals with the television on.
The dining and living areas are in the same place, just open to the kitchen. The old beehive fireplace was easily updated to a more contemporary look with a black granite hearth and a smooth surface.
The bath was also transformed with a walk-in shower. The wood cabinets throughout were matched to the porcelain flooring tiles. New cabinetry and lighting completed the look. Barn doors transition from the master bedroom. A refreshing change!
