Blog

Designing for the Season

We all love to decorate our homes at this time of year, but it seems a shame to limit ourselves to just holiday decorations, that often come down right after the New Year. We love to extend the holiday cheer by adding seasonal decorations that can be put up earlier and left out later, so that your home retains the warm, cozy feeling of the holidays longer!

Gift Ideas for Design Lovers

It’s that time of year, when we are all frantically trying to find the perfect gift for our loved ones. We love to help our friends and clients with ideas for their shopping lists. If you have a design lover or two to buy for, we have a list of suggestions to help you stock the tree and stuff the stockings with plenty of goodies.

Want a New Kitchen for the Holiday Season? Better Start Now!

It means weeks of take-out and paper plates, workmen and dust.  However, the pay-off for the upheaval is THE KITCHEN OF YOUR DREAMS.  Imagine the joy of preparing your family holiday feast in your newly remodeled kitchen.  No more tripping over each other, room for all your extended family and all your seasonal or fine china? Though it seems far away, if your kitchen is to be ready for this holiday season, the time to start is now.

Gadgets to Help Make the Perfect Thanksgiving Meal

At Cabinets & Designs, we’re all about making your kitchen a comfortable, functional, enjoyable space. However, around the holidays, no matter how great your kitchen, you may need a little extra help with your holiday meal. To that end, we’ve found some helpful gadgets to ensure your Thanksgiving meal is easy to prepare and tasty to eat.Inject a Little Flavor: Baste your turkey from the inside out with flavor injectors.Sur la Table has two items for this task: 1-The traditional flavor injector comes with a graduated window for easy measurement, and a needle that stores in the syringe when not in use.  2-The iSi® Gourmet Whip Plus includes two tips for flavor injecting, but is a versatile tool that creates hot or cold foams, creams, soups, sauces, batters, and beverages. The Turkey Cannon from chefsource.com can be filled with wine, beer, soda or any liquid of your choice and placed inside the cavity of the bird. It is described as “beer can chicken on steroids.”For Perfectly Roasted Turkey: Now that it’s flavored, make sure it is moist on the inside and crispy on the outside with these gadgets.

Halloween Memories

While driving by a pumpkin patch on the way to work, I started thinking about my favorite Halloween memories. Somehow, they all involved being gathered with my family in the kitchen. Whether carving pumpkins on the kitchen table with my dad or roasting the seeds with my mom, we were always in that heart of the home. So, when I arrived at Cabinets & Designs, I started asking my coworkers about their favorite halloween memories. Surprisingly, the answers were all similar: memories of early childhood halloweens, helping their parents prepare in the kitchen. So, to get you in the halloween spirit, we’re sharing some of our favorite memory making halloween tips and treats.

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. 

Father's Day Has Us Thinking About Dad and the Kitchen

As Father’s Day approaches, pictures of Dad grilling steaks while drinking a beer with his buddies spring to mind. However, newer generations may be replacing this quintessential image with a more sophisticated version of Dad: placing the finishing touches on a Boeuf Bourguignon while sipping a wine from the accompanying region. We’ve noticed that men have become more involved in their kitchen makeovers, and think it’s because they are spending more time in the kitchen. We have a few theories as to why:The kitchen has become the heart of the home. Contrary to popular belief this has not always been the case. In the early and mid-twentieth century, kitchens had a utilitarian function and design, serving as a “work-place” for stay at home moms. When the work was done, the family gathered in a separate, aptly named, “family room.” However, as women entered the workforce and household chores became divided more equally between the couple, kitchens grew to accommodate families working together. The kitchens became large enough for two or more cooks, enabling men to help their wives prepare the family meal. In addition, the once separate family room became integrated into the kitchen design, allowing children more time with their busy parents. In modern constructions, a large percentage of space is dedicated to these multi-functioning kitchen/dining/family rooms; and an equally large percentage of time is spent there. It’s no wonder Dad feels more comfortable in the kitchen.Men love gadgets. As a result of the expanded size and function of the kitchen, they became more technologically advanced. Large screen TVs, easily viewed while cooking, mean Dad never has to miss the big game while helping out. Computers integrated into the front of the fridge or in the cabinetry allow him to follow along with a cooking demonstration in real time, anytime. While performing these tasks on large, professional-grade ranges from names like Wolf, make him feel like a professional chef.Men follow trends. Let’s face it, men want to be cool. The rise of cooking shows and macho celebrity chefs probably has much to do with men hitting the gourmet aisles in the supermarket. The panache of the Galloping Gourmet has been replaced by the bravado of Gordon Ramsey coupled with the excitement of game shows. Shows like Iron Chef have turned cooking into a sport, a competition, and men do love sports. Many of these shows, such as Top Chef, emphasize the pairing of food and wine, and restaurants often have pairings on their menus. Cigar bars have given way to wine bars, and men have followed suit. Instead of humidors filled with Monte Cristos, men have begun collecting rare wines, housed in refrigerated storage units from Sub-Zero. Keeping up with the Joneses means keeping up with their wine collection.Of course, the reason may be as simple as women love men who can cook. So, this Father’s Day encourage Dad’s love of fine food and wine; but, remember, even the best chefs like a night out.