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.

Multigenerational Concepts and Design

Here at Cabinets & Designs the concept of “multigenerational” is an important one. From a design standpoint we have talked about multigenerational and transgenerational design before; it’s sometimes referred to as universal design as well.

Designer Showcase: Laura Minor

After completing my internship and graduating earlier this year, I became the newest member of Cabinets and Designs, Inc.

The Evolution of Kitchens

We spend so much time thinking about “what’s next” when it comes to our kitchens, but have you ever wondered, “What came first?” The evolution of the kitchen concept has taken place over hundreds of years. What was once a room hidden from view, and used primarily by servants and house staff, is now often a focal point of our homes; a place where we not only allow guests to roam, but use as the centerpiece of our family gatherings. To illustrate, let’s take a brief look at kitchens through a decade progression:

Modular Refrigeration

It is interesting to see how the industry is working towards making the kitchen more accessible to multiple cooks by providing several work areas.  One way is integrating the latest trend in refrigeration which is modular refrigeration drawers. Refrigeration is being moved around the room to better serve the cooks in their work areas.

Kitchen Remodels: A Return on Your Investment

Have you been thinking about remodeling your kitchen, but you have been waiting for “the right time”? One of the best reasons to remodel your kitchen lies in the long-term investment value. A kitchen remodel has traditionally been one of the best interior remodeling projects in terms of “ROI,” or return on investment. This consistently high ROI, combined with our current Brookhaven promotion which can save you up to 50% off either your wood finish or door style, means that the right time for your kitchen remodeling project is now.

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.

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!  

Designer Showcase: Robert Crellen with Cabinets & Designs

Cabinets & Designs wants to wish a very happy birthday to designer Robert Crellen, who recently turned 80 years young. 

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:

New! From Silestone

We have exciting news about new products from Silestone by Cosentino! Silestone is an industry leader in natural quartz surfaces, providing customers with the most beautiful, highest-performing products on the market. Strong, scratch-resistant, anti-microbial, durable, and attractive, Silestone by Cosentino surfaces will enhance any room in your home. 

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.

Barbeque Season: Grills, Griddles and More

Whether it’s hot dogs and hamburgers, a “low and slow” brisket, or a load of vegetables from the farmers’ market, everything tastes better when it’s cooked on the grill. Here in Texas barbeque is practically an art form, and because every artist wants to work with the best tools, this week’s blog is all about the best in indoor and outdoor grilling—complete with a recipe from professional “barbeque artist”, Chef Garth Blackburn, Executive Chef of Sub-Zero/Wolf.

Pantry Systems

In last week’s blog we talked about some of the latest interior features for cabinetry. This week we’re talking about pantries: styles, features, options and the specialized storage and organization they can offer you when designing--or redesigning--your kitchen.

New Cabinets, New Feature

A beautiful new exterior isn’t the only design improvement you get when upgrading cabinetry; advancements in interior design features have improved efficiency, organization and accessibility for interior cabinet spaces. From kitchen remodels to home offices and media rooms, modern cabinetry can offer you improved space utilization in just about any room in your house. In the Bedroom

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.

Create a Kid Friendly Kitchen In Time For Summer

For many of us the kitchen is the real “family room” of our homes. It’s important to remember that when kids spend time in the kitchen, safety is important. That doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice style for safety. This checklist of suggestions can help you incorporate kid-friendly features into your kitchen space. Use these ideas to help you create an accessible space that is safe and comfortable for users of every age. Keep the kids safe and make them feel like the kitchen is theirs, too, with these kid-friendly kitchen tips.

Back to Backsplashes

Is your kitchen the heart of your home? If your kitchen is where you gather with family and friends we know how important it is to you that it always look its very best. And that is where we come in! At Cabinets and Designs we are committed to helping you update your kitchen and to make the remodeling process as easy as possible. So let’s bring the conversation back; specifically, back to backsplashes.

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.

Universal Design: Kitchens Designed With Everyone in Mind

The architect Ron Mace, often considered to be the father of “universal design”, coined the term in the 1980s and defined it as “the design of products and environments to be usable by all people, to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation or specialized design.” Mace believed in his idea so much that he launched the Center for Universal Design at North Carolina State University and began putting it into practice. At first the focus was universal design for public areas. The first universal design options for the home were regarded as ugly or institutional. Today, this couldn’t be further from the truth. With interest growing in the area of universal design, manufacturers are designing useful, attractive products that meet the needs of everyone in the home.  Architects, builders, and designers are embracing these exciting and beautiful options. Universal design choices can now blend seamlessly into home interiors, not calling attention to themselves, yet making designs more functional and comfortable for all.

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. 

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:

Green Gadgets for Your Kitchen

We’ve decided to share some of our favorite green gadgets for your kitchen and where you can find them.Wood-Mode’s Recycle CenterWood-Mode makes dividing your recycling easy with their four compartment recycling center. This one unit has sections for paper, glass, plastic and aluminum.Bamboo Cutting BoardsBamboo is all the rage for those seeking a renewable, sustainable alternative to wood. Some of our favorite bamboo items for your kitchen are from the Malibu Company. This company uses the Moso strain which yields a durable bamboo tube, 16% harder than maple wood. It is a fast growing bamboo, no reseeding is required and all parts of the plant are used.GreenPanThe GreenPan is the first environmentally friendly non-stick pan. Conventional non-stick pans and cookware are coated with PolyTetraFluoroEthylene, a synthetic substance which starts to degrade at temperatures over 260 degrees. GreenPan’s non-stick surface is made of Thermolon which can be heated to 450 degrees. It also uses fewer toxic chemicals and emits 50% fewer green house gas emissions during production. You can find a wealth of information about the environmental benefits of this product on the GreenPan website.Hand Crank Coffee GrinderSave electricity and boost your morning workout by grinding your own coffee. The Bodum grinder holds enough coffee for an 8 cup coffee maker.Hand JuicerHand juicers use no electricity and preserve the nutrients in your beverage. The citrus juicer is probably the first to come to mind. However, manual crank-style juicers are perfect for wheatgrass or carrot juice. Best of all, if a storm knocks out your electricity, you can still enjoy the health benefits of fresh juice.Owl Electricity MonitorThe Owl electricity monitor is the perfect kitchen gadget for getting real-time information on your home’s overall energy use. You’ll know at a glance how much electricity you are using, what it is costing you, and your home’s CO2 emissions.Water Powered ClocksThese clocks use the electrolytic power of water to generate enough energy to display the time on a digital face. Best feature, you can even use the water cell for fresh flowers to brighten your kitchen!Filter AeratorsLow-flow aerators are the easiest, most cost-effective way to reduce your home’s water consumption by 50%. They are available at any hardware store and screw easily onto your existing kitchen faucet.Induction CooktopsThese are the most energy efficient cooktops on the market. Electromagnetic elements allow the cooktop to heat almost instantly and perfectly evenly. They are so fast, they can even boil a pot of water in 3 minutes.WaterWeek Water BottlesThese reusable water bottles come in five different colors so you have water ready for every day of your work or school week. Just fill with water at the beginning of the week, pop the bottles into the included tray, and place in the fridge. You’ll no longer feel guilty about throwing out hundreds of plastic bottles a year.One of our other favorite stores for green products is Crate and Barrel. They have a great selection of bamboo, recycled paper napkins, glass, and other eco-friendly products. 

Cosentino Exceeds Industry Environmental Standards

This month, we’re dedicating our blogs to the Earth. In September, we’re all about going green and celebrating the products committed to the environment. We’re starting with one of our favorite products, Silestone by Cosentino. Silestone products qualify for points toward Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification for builders, companies and individuals. In addition, Cosentino has a long history of environmental responsibility. Both you and your builder can feel good about using Silestone Quartz in your home.

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:

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.

Why You Should Use Frameless Cabinets in Your Kitchen

Kitchen cabinets add definition to your kitchen and also help in maximizing utilization of available space. This comes in handy particularly if you have a habit of keeping your kitchen chock full of supplies at all times. Cabinets will play an even bigger role in keeping your kitchen organized if you have a smaller kitchen with limited available space. There are two main kinds of cabinets that you can have in your kitchen, with face frames or frameless. Both will serve you well, but frameless cabinets have some significant advantages over cabinets with face frames. These include:

How to Choose Custom Kitchen Cabinetry for Your Kitchen

When planning to revamp your kitchen, remember to pay special attention to cabinets. When planning to revamp your kitchen, keep in mind that custom cabinetry can transform your entire space, and increase the value of your home.Choosing the perfect custom cabinetry to match your kitchen décor is not an easy task. You need to consider the construction, color, and design of the cabinetry. Here are some pointers to help you choose the perfect cabinet for your kitchen.Making sure the designers know what they are doing

Why You Should Install a Quartz Countertop in Your Kitchen

Are you planning to get a new countertop for your kitchen? Why not go for a quartz countertop this time? These countertops are made of slabs of quartz bonded together with a special type of epoxy resin. The result is a high durability countertop that goes great with any kind of kitchen décor. If your old wooden countertop has been showing signs of age, it is high time you replaced it with a much better alternative.Here are the top 5 reasons why you should get a quartz countertop:

Effective tips for organizing a kitchen

The kitchen might just be among the most difficult spaces to organize, but it is certainly not unconquerable. In this article we will show you how the application of some simple strategies will transform even the most badly organized kitchens into the most well organized ones. The most important principle that one should keep in mind while organizing any space is to discard stuff that is not required. A lot of us have the tendency of keeping items that we don't use and probably never will, so even if these things are in a working condition they are effectively useless and taking up unnecessary space. It's a lot better to donate such items to people who might use them.