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Perfect Pantries

Perfect Pantries Coming from the Old French word “paneterie” (meaning from “pain” the French word for bread) the pantry has changed greatly over time. Generically, a pantry is a room adjacent to the kitchen where food, provisions, dishes, or linens are stored and served. Older homes were designed with a butler’s pantry, and in fact at one time the butler slept in the pantry to guard the silver from theft. Over time, that space became a general storage area for the homeowner. More modest homes began adding a closet-like area to serve as a pantry, and many homes have these …

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Green Design: Appliance

Green Design: Appliance Workhorses When it comes to household chores, there are two types of appliances that come to mind that get a lot of use—those used for cooking and laundry. I was recently thinking about how much we use appliances in my own home and it seems as though we are always baking and doing laundry. Knowing that these are the workhorses of any home I wanted to find out what options are available today for these appliances—specifically the most efficient options.  I spent a bit of time studying GE Appliances. I started with the traditional oven and then looked …

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Ellen Cheever: Kitchen Designer

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Ellen Cheever: kitchen designer Ellen Cheever, a national authority on kitchen and bath trends, has spent the last 37 years redefining the kitchen and bathroom, and offers some interesting insights as to how kitchens have evolved and what’s in store for the future. Recently in Nashville for a continuing education seminar for members of the local chapter of the Association of Interior Designers and the local chapter of the National Kitchen & Bath Association, Cheever took time to discuss trends. She clearly visualizes kitchens today as they are designed to fit one of five demographic groups she’s identified, and discusses the open look …

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Time for Tile

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time for tile In addition to large format tiles which can now be used almost anywhere due to increased availability and improved installation materials and methods, homeowners are also able to select from porcelain tile closely resembling almost any natural product, according to Amy Balsimo of Louisville Tile of Nashville. “Thanks to high definition and digital printing, porcelain can be anything one can dream of—hardwood, travertine, slate, or intricately patterned,” Balsimo says. “Another interesting trend is the use of ‘fabric’ look tiles and metallic effects for contemporary or transitional tastes.” Sarah Higdon of Renaissance Tile & Bath agrees. “If you can imagine it, …

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May is home improvement month

May is home improvement month May is officially home improvement month and according to the Leading Indicator of Remodeling Futures Program at the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University, modeling spending is expected to be up about 6 percent by the end of 2012.

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Design a Vanity-Win Money

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  Foremost Offers $5,000 for Best Vanity Design Have you ever felt like the current crop of bath vanities on the market lacked enough style or functionality for your tastes? Now is your chance to channel your inner industrial designer.

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Natural Stone Countertops 2012

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Natural Stone Countertops Today’s homeowners are more inclined to refurbish their homes for their own enjoyment than for resale. And, where once natural stone countertops were quite expensive, today they are priced much more affordably and the demand for natural stone has continued unabated. Competition has driven the price of granite down considerably and its popularity as well as competition has led to the availability of a larger selection of colors, finishes, and edges. Natural stone is the most durable building material ever known, according to Kevin Sanchez, a spokesman for Antolini, “and has been used in décor and construction …

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Exploring Green Interiors – Thrifty Upcycling for Kitchen

Exploring Green Interiors try thrifty up-cycling of your kitchen for the holidays As the summer draws to an end and the weather slowly turns cooler, kids are returning to school and the holidays are creeping ever closer. It is during this time of year that our office is typically bombarded with a flurry of clients anxious to plan and execute a redesign, to be ready just in time for the family gatherings the holiday season brings. Still in the midst of a tough economy, not everyone is fortunate enough to be able to completely renovate their homes. So I have …

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Kitchen Cabinet Trends 2011

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Kitchen Cabinet Trends 2011 While traditional/transitional kitchen cabinetry remains popular, kitchen designers are reporting an increased interest in contemporary kitchens with clean lines. In addition, homeowners favor perimeter cabinets in one color with an island in another color, according to Nicole Monroe of Chris’s Custom Cabinets. “Frequently the mixed colors will take the form of painted and glazed perimeter cabinets combined with an island in a stained color—or sometimes the exact opposite,” Monroe says. Saying that her company’s clients still prefer a furniture look in their cabinetry is Laura Gunter Nickens of Gunter Woodworking. “While many of our customers seek …

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