Blog

KBIS: From a Designer’s Viewpoint

A guest blog by Rick Beckham, CMKBD

Maria Goes to KBIS!

My biggest takeaway from attending KBIS 2013 was the “30 Under 30” presentation. For the first time, the NKBA brought 30 exceptional young professionals under the age of thirty to KBIS.  The group of “30 Under 30” were divided into three groups, and were tasked with researching the “showroom of the future,” the next generation of Universal Design, and the overall direction of the kitchen and bath industry.

KBIS: A Look at the Products We Loved

We Love the New Wood-Mode Website!

Our friends at Wood-Mode Fine Custom Cabinetry have recently updated their website and we think it looks absolutely fabulous! The new layout is gorgeous, and the navigation is even more intuitive and user-friendly than the previous version. We love that Wood-Mode’s commitment to high-quality customer service and flawless design extends even to their own website, and we would love to give you a mini-tour of their “new look.”

Houston Habitat For Humanity ReStore

If you are not familiar with the Houston Habitat for Humanity ReStore, it would be our pleasure to introduce you to this wonderful program. The ReStore is actually a home improvement store that offers new and like-new building materials; open to the public, shoppers can enjoy the experience of shopping for their new home—for materials like furniture, paint, cabinets, appliances, and more—while benefitting from deeply discounted prices. Proceeds from the sale of these household items go toward Habitat for Humanity’s mission of eliminating substandard housing in our city.

Reorganizing Your Bathroom

We hope you enjoyed last weeks’ blog on reorganizing your kitchen, and that you will find this week’s topic—reorganizing your bathroom—just as useful. 

Reorganizing Your Kitchen

The next best thing to a total kitchen makeover is a reorganization of your kitchen; reorganization makes your kitchen feel new, but can be done on a smaller budget. Making small changes can yield big results, so let’s take a look at some of our favorite ways to get more out of what you already have in your kitchen.

New Cabinets for Your Kitchen: Wood-Mode and Brookhaven

Their outstanding reputation and longevity speaks for itself. By moving with the times, all the while remaining rooted in their core values, Wood-Mode has been a trusted name in cabinetry for over sixty years.

Appliance Makeover

We hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season and a Happy New Year, filled with delicious food and quality time with family and friends. Everyone at Cabinets & Designs enjoyed a restful break, and now we are back, ready to help our clients redesign kitchens, baths, and everything in between!An interesting phenomenon occurs around the holidays, perhaps because we are doing so much more cooking—high-volume cooking, at that—and entertaining than usual. Many people are inspired to make changes to their kitchens during and after the holidays. Why?

What is Transitional?

Merriam-Webster dictionary defines the word transition as:

Prioritize and Organize: Your Kitchen, Your Lifestyle

As hard as you work in your kitchen, it’s important to have a kitchen that works hard for you in return. The only way to accomplish that is to design a kitchen which accurately reflects, and supports, your lifestyle. A huge, sleek, modern kitchen with the highest-end appliances is great … unless you hardly ever cook! A cozy kitchen with an eat-in breakfast nook is perfect … unless you entertain frequently, and use the kitchen as an extension of your entertaining space.

Different Bathrooms, Different Approach

There are things you want every bathroom to be: practical, because of course it must function; relaxing, because we spend time bathing, or getting ready, or freshening up in a bathroom; tasteful, because it should reflect something about you, while also feeling like an extension of your house.

The Trend That Won’t End: White Kitchens Are Back… Again! - Ashley Scherch, Interior Designer, Cabinets & Designs

White kitchens have surged and resurged since the dawn of kitchen design.  Kitchens became the “heart of the home” in the 1920’s and have only continued to grow as the most used room in the home.  Over the years, white kitchens have gained and seemingly lost popularity only to regain it a few years later.  I believe they have established themselves on the list of lifelong trends.  If done right, a white kitchen is classic and timeless.  

Remodeling Tips and Suggestions

Remodeling projects are all about managing expectations, and that is true for all the players: clients, contractors, installers, and designers. We all have expectations for a job, which is where the excitement of change comes from; those same expectations can sometimes cause anxiety—usually when something unexpected happens. The trick to surviving a remodeling project is managing expectations through patience and communication.

Alternative Uses for Countertops

During the process of a kitchen renovation, choosing a new countertop is often one of the most difficult and important decisions a homeowner will face. We have had clients confess that selecting the right countertop involved months of research to find the perfect one. This week we are going to take a look at countertop materials, and discuss creative ways you can implement countertops outside the kitchen to enhance other rooms in your home.

Invitation—Written by Senior

If you are building a new home, or remodeling an existing one, you will sooner or later be confronted with options on whether or not to upgrade various materials that are specified in your project. When budgets are a consideration it is extremely important that you make the right choices. Aside from your own personal pleasure or comfort, we believe decisions should be based on how certain upgrades could affect the future value and sale-ability of your home should you desire to sell it.

Where Do You Find Design Inspiration?

Design inspiration can come from the most unlikely of places, or it can come directly from the pages of a design magazine. Creativity, fluid and unique to each individual, is often inspired by something that resonates with us on a personal level; perhaps it reminds us of our childhood, or a favorite vacation spot. When the muse calls it’s important to listen to our inner voice and follow the path toward our individual vision. Creating a space for our families to live, and filling that space with interest and inspiration is an art form, just like painting, drawing, or sculpting. Creating and recreating our homes to reflect our personalities is a form of self-expression. We recently asked our clients where they go to seek design inspiration.

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.

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:

Gun Room

At Cabinets & Designs we do so much more than kitchens and baths! We can help you transform any room of your home into something special. One of our most exciting projects recently has been the creation of a custom gun room for a client in Hockley, TX. New cabinet installations can help you repurpose any space in your home to make that space more useful and enjoyable for you and your family.

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.

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.

Factors that Affect Pricing

There are many factors that can influence price when it comes to selecting cabinetry.  When choosing between cabinetry lines cabinet construction is a major factor.  Once a line is selected, door style, finish, and wood specie can all affect pricing.  Layout, sizing, and decorative materials all have a direct link to pricing, as well.

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.

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. 

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

Commercial Applications: Cabinetry

Are you thinking about an office remodel, or are you getting ready to build a new office facility? If you are embarking on a commercial project that requires installing new cabinetry we would love to help you! Our designers can help you choose the right cabinets for your project, as well as create an attractive and functional design for your offices. When in doubt we always recommend you Ask An Expert!

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:

Media Room Cabinets

A media room is a place in your home that could benefit from the addition of cabinetry. Are you ready to dedicate an entire room to an entertainment area? Or are you looking to make your current family room/media room hybrid a more functional space? Either way, we offer design and cabinetry solutions that will make a difference. Like the kitchen, a media room is a space where we are likely to spend a lot of our time when we are at home, so installing cabinets serves to both organize the space and provide aesthetic appeal. After all a media room is full of equipment, right? DVDs and CDs (and their cases), wires and chargers, books and manuals, not to mention all of the high-tech toys themselves: gaming consoles and controllers, media players and remote controls, speakers...the list goes on and on. Looking for ideas? 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.

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: