Classic with a Twist: Kitchen

Showing posts with label Kitchen. Show all posts

HOW TO: Create a Sociable Kitchen

Following our Kitchen series this week ...

Your kitchen is a gathering area.

No matter how wonderful other areas of your house may be, your kitchen

WILL be the magnet.

So how do you make it more sociable while still being functional??

Try these tips!

1. Include a Casual Sitting Area:

Add a small sofa or grouping of chairs so guests will have a place to sit.

link

2. Create a Cozy Nook:

This can be apart of a table sitting area, and make it look cozy by adding

pillows and drapery!

TCI Project

3. Open up with Barstools:

Everyone loves to be eye level with the cook, and barstools help to get on "their level"!

link

4. Make it Bright:

No one likes a dingy space... make it light, bright and airy for happiness all around!

TCI Project

Thursday, April 20, 2017 Comments: 0

Bringing the Ease into Faucets and Plumbing Fixtures... Glamorously

Lately, we have been selecting plumbing fixture after plumbing fixture!

And our first decision is always... how can we make this selection glamorous AND useful?

Some of the top brands have come out with touchless technology that is invigorating:

This idea allows you to use your kitchen sink without contaminating the handle with raw meat or a messy chocolate covered hand.

Kohler Touchless

Moen Motionsense

Pfister React Technology

Delta Touch20

Our 2nd question is always ... what will the finish be?

Our current top two finishes are POLISHED NICKEL and CHROME.

(the Delta Vero Collection)

According to Houzz, read on the find out the difference between the two finishes!

POLISHED NICKEL:

If you like a smooth, shiny finish but are tired of chrome, try polished nickel.

It's darker than chrome, and with different levels of lighting it can appear to change in color.

(an American Standard Faucet from our visit to Ferguson for a custom Highland Park build!)

(a Brizo Faucet from our visit to Ferguson for a custom Highland Park build!)

Advantages: Easy to clean. A durable finish. A great alternative to brushed nickel.

Disadvantages: More expensive. It's hard to find matching accessories or fixtures for it.

Styles it works with: Like chrome, it looks great in a variety of settings: modern,

contemporary, traditional and eclectic.

CHROME:

Chrome is currently one of the most popular finishes because of its versatility.

(a Brizo Faucet in Chrome Finish)

(a Brizo Shower System in Chrome Finish)

Advantages: It's generally the most inexpensive finish. It's a very easy finish to clean and maintain. It's durable, easy to find and easy to match with accessories and other fixtures.

Disadvantages: Shows water spots and fingerprints.

Styles it works with: Almost every style.

So what's your style? Your "finish of choice"??

Tuesday, April 4, 2017 Comments: 0

STYLE THAT: Kitchen Edition

Each and every area of the home has a unique way of being styled that makes it just as important as the next.

We've discussed bookcases, nightstands and china cabinets ... today we tackle the arguably the most important statement in the home.

The Kitchen

1. Large Statement Vases in Color Scheme-

Choosing a pair of tall ceramic pieces within the color scheme will instantly spruce up an island or empty corner without cluttering

TCI project

2. Less is Best-

Instead of lining up the toaster, blender and kitchen aid mixer... neatly tuck them away in a cabinet and choose small groupings of glass cloches or vases to stack in corners of the kitchen cabinets to pop a color or texture or interest instead of a messy appliance.

TCI project

3. Whispy Florals:

Bring some height to your room by adding a tall vase of faux whispy florals for a change of texture and medium

TCI project

4. Food Items as Decor:

You guessed it! Speaking of a kitchen...use items such as lemons for a yellow color scheme, oranges, etc to add to a bowl will bring a natural element to the kitchen

TCI project

Cook up some beautiful designs!

Tuesday, March 7, 2017 Comments: 0

A Totally Organized New Year in 5 Steps

We hope everyone had a great New Year celebration!

Its a fresh start, a new year and what better way to ring it in but to organize and make ready all your spaces for good use??

Where to begin, how to start? TCI is here to tell you! We've searched and complied a list for you:

Start with the Kitchen:

- Begin with the large appliances and clean them out first

- Tuck away small appliances to clear countertop space

- Work top to bottom by cleaning out cabinets and getting rid of items unneeded

link

2. Continue to the Bathrooms:

- Deep Clean

- Declutter by rolling towels and washcloths and storing them neatly

- Buy organizing bins to store tiny toiletries that create dirt and mess

- Keep it up! Continue to keep things clean and put items back where you got them

link

3. Focus on the Family Room:

- It's easy to clutter this space. Its the most used and loved area, Start by stacking books, folding blankets, setting pillows up straight and creating order to the room

- Dust and Vacuum. This always helps

- Furniture upholstery- Protect your surfaces with fabric protectant!

- Add a few touches - new pillows, a new accessory

link

4. Kids Spaces:

I'm going to guess if you've got kids, you've given up on having an organized home. But guess what? You don't have to!

- Deep Clean to start

- Label bins and teach your kids with a leveling system

- Clean out old toys

- Create zones for reading, sleeping and playing throughout the room

- Start with one area at a time. Playroom, bedroom etc

(TCI new project)

Happy Organizing!

Tuesday, January 3, 2017 Comments: 0

Client Project: In Progress Coastal Kitchen Remodel

We love seeing the "before and after" pictures of projects, but what about the "before and DURING" images??

Well get ready for an eye full! This incredible client has taken on quite the remodel and we know it will pay off in the end.

We use concept photos like this one to help clients visualize the end result we are shooting for!

Take a look at these before and DURING pictures and fasten your seatbelt as we reveal some of our design plans at the end of this post!

BEFORE: Looking at the Range side of the kitchen

DURING: Wall and cabinets removed and plumbing gutted

BEFORE: Looking into the new dining area

DURING: Wall and old existing server bar removed

BEFORE: Old Wet Bar

DURING: Making room for new wet bar!

So what are we going to do with this current mess??

Turn it into something incredible!

Here is our vision:

This floor plan may help orient you from the pictures above. This shows what walls are being removed and how we are making this an open and bright plan.