Blog

Mini-Renovations: Give Any Room a Face Lift

Are you itching to give your kitchen, bathroom, or bedroom a new look? If you don’t have the time or the budget to start a major remodeling project right now, you can still achieve a big impact by making small changes. Here are a few of our favorite tips for freshening up any room of your house with small, relatively inexpensive changes.

Ask the Client: Where do you look for the latest trends?

We are always on the lookout for the latest trends for home and interior design. Whether a trend is function-based or rooted in the latest design aesthetic, we want to give our clients the inside track on fresh new ideas that they can incorporate into their homes.

Innovative Floors and Walls

This summer our blogs have focused on innovative new products: bathroom vanities, tub and shower design, and new surfaces from Silestone have all been featured on the Cabinets and Design blog. This week we want to explore innovations in walls and flooring, but first let’s briefly discuss practical considerations when choosing flooring and walls for your bathroom.

Designer Showcase: Grace Coffman

Grace Coffman has been in the design industry for over nineteen years and worked with Cabinets & Designs for the past four years. Her experience, talent and attention to detail make her an asset to the team.  Grace took some time to answer a few questions so that you could get to know her better.  Enjoy!  

Innovations for the Bathroom: Vanities

Continuing our series on innovative new products for the home, this week we are spotlighting some of our favorite products for the bathroom; specifically, innovative new vanity designs. In our blog about shower and bath renovations we addressed functionality issues surrounding “aging in place,” and the way designers are finding better ways of combing form and function to reduce the “institutional” appearance of these bathroom features. Designers are also applying these goals in regard to vanity design; here are some of our favorites.

Innovations for the Tub and Shower

The movement toward trans-generational and universal home design has ushered in a new era of innovation in the bath industry. The concept of “aging in place” is taking hold, but today’s home owner doesn’t simply want to age in place, they want to age with grace—and that extends to a desire to have elegant, stylish options when renovating their homes. Companies like Kohler and Moen are leading the way by offering consumers beautifully designed products that will look gorgeous and prove functional as you age in  your home, or as multi-generations come to live in your home. We want to share some of our favorites from the latest in cutting-edge tub and shower innovations.

Preparing for the Installation Process

It’s time for the installation process to begin!  Elation or trepidation?  When our homes are under renovation or construction it can be a frustrating experience, but there are many ways to navigate the difficulties and make the process smoother for you and for your family. Before installation begins, a bit of prep-work will help you figure out how to create a comfortable living environment for your family, and working environment for the men and women who will be working on your home.

Appliances and Fixtures

When it’s time to remodel your kitchen or bathroom, choosing appliances and fixtures can be a hugely overwhelming task. What better way to navigate through the myriad of choices than to consult with experts? We’ve asked Mark O’Brien and Beth Bryan Maley of Morrison Supply to share their expert opinions on these topics; read on for their professional insights:

Kohler

Some of our favorite products from the 2011 Kitchen and Bath Design Show (KBIS) were products by Kohler, a leader in kitchen and bath products. Kohler combines design, functionality and sustainability, and offer a beautiful array of choices in terms of color and finishes, and of course they offer the highest of quality. In a recent blog on KBIS Grace shared her thoughts on the Kohler Elevance Rising Bath Wall, a stylish bath that is on-trend with the latest in universal and transgenerational design. 

A Few Notes from KBIS

Attending industry shows is always exciting, and this year’s trip to the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show proved both productive and creatively stimulating. KBIS is the world’s largest international trade event dedicated exclusively to all aspects of kitchen and bath that specifically serves kitchen and bath dealers, designers, architects, remodelers, wholesalers and custom builders. Many of our favorite brands and designers were on-site, showing off their newest, most innovative products. Wood-Mode was out in full force, further expanding on their tradition of combining beauty and quality performance; never sacrificing style for substance, or vice-versa, Wood-Mode offers the best in contemporary and traditional styles to suit any home.

Transgenerational design and your home

According to Transgenerational Design Matters, the concept of “transgenerational design” means: The practice of making products and environments compatible with those physical and sensory impairments associated with human aging and which limit major activities of daily living. We think you can take the concept of transgenerational design a step further, and apply it as it pertains to homes in which multiple generations live and use the same space in different ways. How can you design your kitchens and bathrooms so they are safe for children, functional for parents, and usable by grandparents? TDM Principles says it best: “In short, transgenerational designs accommodate rather than discriminate, and innovate rather than replicate.” Let’s talk about that a bit further... 

Designer Spotlight: Maggie Grants

Maggie Grants has been in the Kitchen and Bath Industry for over 20 years.  She passed the National Kitchen and Bath Association Certified Kitchen Designer Exam in 1989.  Maggie’s kitchen designs have been featured in the September 2008 issue of Houston House and Home and various other publications.  Maggie contributed to the design and layout of Cabinets & Designs’ beautiful showroom.

The Forgotten Room: The Laundry

Most of us don’t do much in our laundry room besides the laundry, right? Even if it is a combined space—like a laundry/sewing room or laundry/bathroom—most of us think of the laundry as a work area; like most work areas, a few thoughtful updates can make that area work for you. 

The Finish Story

All finishes are not created equal.  Multiple hand and machine sanding and oven-baked drying operations are used on every finish to insure long-lasting quality and durability.  Wood-Mode/Brookhaven use a process of wetting the wood to raise the grain, along with one-and two-step hand staining, producing deep colors with enhanced wood grain and beauty.  Uniform color in the wood is achieved with toning and spray staining applications.  Catalyzed sealer, hand-sealer sanding, spec distressing and catalyzed matte or standard sheen varnish spray operations are used to create lifetime durability and beauty on our stained custom cabinet wood products. Wood-Mode’s catalyzed oven-baked varnish top coat with ultraviolet screen inhibitors provides maximum resistance to scuffing, dents, moisture, UV fade and most household chemicals.  The opaque finishes receive high quality sealer, primer and catalyzed color coats to insure beauty and lifetime durability. An extensive hand-sanding operation is performed between each spray application.  A multi-step hand-buffing process creates the smoothest, richest patina imaginable.

KBIS

The theme of this year’s Kitchen and Bath Industry Show is “Collaborate. Innovate. Inspire.” These three aspects of home design will be explored in detail by trade and industry partners, April 26-28 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. KBIS is the largest international trade event focused exclusively on every aspect of kitchen and bath design, and that caters specifically to kitchen and bath dealers, designers, architects, remodelers, wholesalers and custom builders. Described as “the ultimate destination to discover the latest products, designs, trends and education that industry has to offer, the show boasts:

Line of Sight: What is it and Why is it Important

When you are designing a new space or redesigning an old one much of the fun is in picking out your new “stuff”: new cabinets, furniture, and decorative notions. It can get a little tricky when it comes to your design; where to put these things to optimize form and function? It’s important for space to have flow cohesion contributes to an aesthetic sense of continuity. The goal is to maintain a cohesive look while allowing each space to have its own identity through distinguishing characteristics. Let’s use a clothing analogy, where your entire living space is your “outfit” and each room is an individual piece of clothing or an accessory: you want your kitchen (a sweater) to go with the living room (your jacket) but you want to be able to distinguish one from the other; for each to be distinctive, but taken as a whole they create a total look. We’ve compiled a list of tips to help you achieve line of sight between rooms in your home. Read on:

Ask The Expert

We have received so many great questions on our ASK THE EXPERT page on our website that we thought we would share them with you.  We figured if one person had a question, surely someone else would be wondering the same thing.  We hope you find our answers helpful and informative.

Sugarland Home Show Highlights

We’d like to thank everyone that came out for the Sugarland Home & Garden Show this past weekend.  We were lucky enough to have a prime location near the entrance.  On Saturday over 2,000 guests attended the show and on Sunday, 1,500 guests.  Cabinets & Designs proudly showcased our new door samples including metallic finishes, knotty alder, and an artisan crackle finish.  Wood-Mode’s DVD played featuring the history of the company, how the cabinets were made, and different themes from traditional to contemporary.  We also had our design software, Chief Architect, running to show floor plans and perspectives of recent and upcoming projects. 

NEW YEAR’S REMODELING RESOLUTIONS

Sometimes remodeling can seem like a daunting task.  We at Cabinets & Designs have come up with a variety of projects to suit any level of ambition.START SMALL… Even small changes can have a big outcome.

Traditional to Contemporary

Wood-Mode and Brookhaven offer a wide variety of door styles, finishes, and mouldings to create the perfect look for your space.  Design theme collage boards are used to help clients narrow in on their style.  The themes include traditional, transitional, and contemporary choices for any room in your home. The American Traditional theme features a raised panel door which is classic in traditional style.  Queen Anne legs, pediments, egg and dart and dental mouldings are used to accentuate the time-honored look.  Burnished brass pendants and sconces top off the design.  The cherry wood and pewter glaze give it a slightly worn look providing depth and sophistication to the cabinetry.  The American Traditional theme is the epitome of elegant, old-world style.

Setting Up Your Guest Bed and Bath For The Holidays

We’ve been told the holiday season brings much joy to all. Unless, of course, you are the one hosting all the festivities at your house. In that case, the holidays can feel less joyful and more stressful. However, if you prepare your home in advance for your guests, you can avoid some of the holiday tension. In fact, you can set up a guest bed and bath which are so inviting and relaxing, even your most demanding relative will feel too good to complain. In the Bathroom:Consider placing travel sized toothbrush, toothpaste, dental floss and mouthwash on a small tray or coaster. Make a shower caddy for your guests. In order to economize, buy reusable travel sized bottles and fill with shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and lotion you already own. Label the bottles with your guest’s name and contents. (Nobody wants to mistake conditioner for body lotion!) Add a washcloth or body pouf, bar of soap still in the packaging, and a disposable razor. Remember to customize your baskets for your male and female guests, or buy unscented products.Place a scent diffuser or flameless scented candle on the vanity. Place extra rolled towels in a basket. Your guests will appreciate not having to ask every time they need one.Remember to have a hamper in the bathroom for dirty towels. You could even provide each guest with a personalized laundry bag so their dirty laundry does not end up with yours. If your guests include children, consider placing a step-stool in front of the sink so they can easily reach the faucets.For an extra bit of luxury, provide your guests with a fluffy, white bathrobe. In the Bedroom:

October is National Kitchen and Bath Month

October is traditionally the most popular month for homeowners to renovate their kitchens and bathrooms. That is why the National Kitchen and Bath Association has designated it National Kitchen and Bath Month. To celebrate, throughout the month, Cabinets & Designs will share some of our favorite tips, tricks (and treats), and inspiration. 

Environmentally Friendly Cleaners for Your Kitchen and Bathroom

You can “Go Green” and “Save Some Green” just by changing your cleaning supplies. While there are specially formulated eco-friendly cleaners on the market, you probably already have some of the best in your fridge or pantry. Here are a few of our favorites:

What Is A Lifestyle Showroom?

If a picture is worth a thousand words, then a Lifestyle Showroom is worth a thousand images. Our lifestyle showroom is where your vision meets innovation, and design begins. Cabinets & Designs is Houston’s largest showroom currently displaying cabinetry and related products for every room in your home. We showcase kitchens, bathrooms, dressing rooms, study/office areas, entertainment centers, and wet bars. While we do have hundreds of pictures and samples to inspire your design, we most enjoy witnessing your surprise when you encounter our many ingenious interior cabinet storage options.  Here are a few of the surprises you’ll find in our Lifestyle Showroom:

Keeping Bathroom Cabinets Organized

Cluttered bathroom cabinets are a frequent sight. Not only do they look bad but they can also make it difficult for you to locate required items especially when you are in a hurry. Moreover, people with cluttered bathroom cabinets sometimes repurchase items that they already have but were not able to locate. However it is not very difficult to organize a bathroom cabinet in a useful manner and keep it neat with a little conscious effort. The first step towards organizing your bathroom cabinet is to take out all the stuff and then sort them into similar categories. For example, the razor, shaving cream and after-shave would belong to the same space. Next you should scrupulously discard anything that you are not using as well as those items that are way past the expiration dates. This step would alone reduce a lot of clutter and make space for the required stuff.After you have sorted all the required items into groups you can begin the process of arranging them in the cabinet. One useful tip in this step would be to place things that you use more frequently in the lower shelves and those that you use less frequently to rarely in the upper ones. If you have under-counter storage, then you should invest in boxes or bins - whichever fits best in the available space. A three-drawer plastic unit can be very useful, as it will help you keep three groups of items neatly organized.After you have successfully organized your bathroom cabinet, you should keep in mind that in order to maintain it that way you should develop the habit of keeping items back in their designated places after using them. Also keep track of expiration dates, other than needlessly occupying space; they can also be harmful if used.  When it comes time to remodel your bathroom, consider integrating organization options into your new cabinets.  Our expert designers can help you find the right cabinets to fit your needs.   

Buying the perfect bathroom cabinets

Your bathroom is never complete without a bathroom cabinet, no matter how good the quality of your plumbing and furniture is. A properly designed bathroom cabinet will let you keep your toiletries organized, and will considerably improve the overall look and feel of your bathroom. Choosing the proper cabinet for your bathroom is important. Here are some quick pointers on how you can get great quality custom cabinetry for your bathroom.