Garden State Soapstone

In the 20th Century, a room with a few chairs, a sofa, and a television became the standard.  Thanks to the technology boom, the 21st Century has changed the living room into the home entertainment space.  All the newest electronic devices, sound systems, and flat screen TVs accompany homes throughout the United States.  Completing the package, making one’s space different from others are things such as wet bars and kitchenettes.

Friends commonly gather to watch sporting events, movies, and in general catch up with each others lives.  Food and beverages are typically complimentary to such occasions.  Thought the kitchen has typically been the place where people gather to eat, drink, and share stories, the entertainment space has become the new location of the 21st Century.  The addition of a wet bar and/or kitchenette to an entertainment space can make the overall experience that much greater.

When beginning the design process, space of appliances, countertop area and walkways should mimic that of a well-designed kitchen.  Making room for additional surface area will help tremendously in such situations as preparing hors d’ouevres and snacks for group gatherings.  Though rarely including a cooktop, many wet bars and/or kitchenettes include a dishwasher, microwave, sink, and some kind of refrigeration.  Depending on ones needs, some of these items may rank higher than others.  Regardless, having a place to prepare and serve food, while continuing to engage in conversation with company is the biggest advantage of having a wet bar and/or kitchenette.

The kitchen sink area is one of the most important areas in any kitchen.  People commonly spend more time in front of their kitchen sink than in any other part of their kitchen.  Because of this, functionality and utility are the utmost important factors in deciding on your next kitchen faucet.  If a faucet sprays uncontrollably, or is difficult to keep clean, the water station is failing the home owner, no matter how attractive the design may be.

Typically consumers seek out a clean, aesthetically pleasing design, while commonly looking to incorporate more features in a smaller space.  When it comes to designing the kitchen as a whole, both designers and homeowners are working to ditch clutter in the search for open space.

Finish preferences on faucets have stayed relatively consistent with past trends.  Stainless shell, bushed nickel, and chrome continue to be the most popular.  More traditional, warm bronze finishes are also gaining popularity once again.  Finishes such as oil-rubbed bronze which was typically more common in bathrooms are now offered by most manufacturers in the kitchen.  This makes matching sinks to other kitchen appliances easier than ever before.

Vinyl and fiber cement siding offer many benefits to the home owner, especially in today’s times.  Whether the decision is made based on color, upkeep, or sustainability, there have never been more options for vinyl siding.  Color especially has elevated the perception of siding projects.  Options have moved way beyond the typical “white or beige” because of modern technology.  For a large number of homeowners, color is the leading factor when making the decision on what siding to use.  Designers are using color as a way to differentiate themselves from their competition, commonly offering 30 or more colors of all different varieties.

Vinyl and fiber cement siding will also add green attributes to the home.  It can also make a homeowner qualified for LEED and NAHB Green programs.  While wood shingles will need to be painted every three to five years, the paint and coating on vinyl last significantly longer.  Yet another green aspect of vinyl and fiber cement products are that they are comprised of recycled content, by as much as 50-60%.  Insulated vinyl siding will also score some green points, with raising the home’s heat transfer performance by up to 25%.

Working with a small space can require some creative planning.  In designing a small kitchen, it is important to establish the homeowner’s priority list.  There are several simple steps that can be taken in identifying the homeowner’s “must have” and “would like to have” items.

•       -First, figure out everything that is on the ideal “wish list”
•       -After creating the “wish list,” go through and prioritize every item on the list
•      -Finally, establish possible “trade-offs” with items that can be given up for the presence of other more important

Equally important is the need to understand the way the kitchen will be used, and how the family cooks and lives around the kitchen space.  Next it is important to consider whether it is possible or desirable to expand into the  floor space adjacent to the defined kitchen space.

All of these steps should be taken in the initial planning stages of designing the kitchen.

A separate laundry room with side-by-side equipment can commonly be reconfigured or combined into the kitchen.  The concept of having one large living center including entertainment, dining, snacking, laundry, computing, hobbies and cooking has become the new norm.  Front loading laundry equipment can easily free-up space making room for more counter lengths or pantry shelves.  Stacking laundry equipment can provide an area for special purpose appliances not even associated with laundry such as a wine storage appliance, or a second refrigerator/freezer.

Creating more space can also be do by managing passageway doors.  Replacing traditional swing doors with bi-fold doors (doors that slide along the outside of a wall) or pocket doors will take up less floor space and will not block work/storage areas.

Finding a new home for some kitchen storage in a furniture piece in an adjacent room is another great method for freeing up space in the kitchen.  Another way to free up space is to reanalyze the concept of of a table and chairs as the preference for the dining area.  Using a straight wall or L-shaped banquette with a table and several traditional chairs will save a huge amount of walkway space.

When designing a kitchen, no two situations will ever be quite the same, but when working with a small space, following these guidelines will help make the process a smooth ride in obtaining the kitchen of your dreams.

With the current state of the economy, many people have been choosing to remain in their current homes instead of moving into larger ones.  Adding an addition to the house has become a wise way to increase both the space and value to one’s home.  Some key things to consider before diving into such a project are ‘does the town has a good school district?’ ‘am I satisfied with this neighborhood?’ and ‘is the property large enough to accommodate an addition?’  For homeowners who say yes to these questions, adding an addition to the house is an excellent option, especially for people who already like their current home, but want some changes.

Adding on to your home can easily make the most financial sense.  The combination of buying a new home and moving typically will be much more expensive than adding on to your current home.  The expenses involved with moving itself can easily add up to thousands of dollars.  Adding to your existing home will bring a return on investment while increasing your home’s value.

By adding on to your home, you can make it anything you want it to be.  Instead of looking to buy “home of your dreams” you turn your own home into the dream house you’ve always wanted.

Currently trending are kitchen bump-outs, which even just a two-foot bump out can make the world of a difference in a kitchen.  Many older kitchens are unable to handle the desires of today’s homeowners, such as wall-to-wall cabinetry, large refrigerators, and large commercial ovens.  A simple bump-out can make all of these possible.

Here are five tips on revamping your space in 2012.

1. Rearranging Your Furniture

• Moving furniture around is the easiest way to change the look of your space.  Rearranging a room, or even trading furniture from different rooms can really add a new flavor and shake things up.

2. Picking A Focal Point

• Choosing a focal point can completely change the way a room feels.  Doing so can  be as simple as hanging photos on a wall to as drastic as painting a wall a new color.

3. Cover It Up

• Adding new slip covers to furniture is a cost-efficient way of spicing up the furniture in your home.

4. A New Scent

• Smell is the strongest sense tied to memory.  Adding candles or aromatherapy diffusers will bring a refreshing new feel to the rooms in your home.

5. Artwork

• Having a van Goh may not be in your budget, but affordable artwork is incredibly easy to find and can make a huge difference in uplifting your place.  Thrift stores and flea markets are great places to search for cost-efficient artwork.

Here is a picture of a recent job done by Garden State Soapstone involving the installation of a soapstone countertop with an undercount sink. The link below will take you to a video explaining the process we use in doing this kind of installation. Enjoy!

Garden State Soapstone – Undermount Sink and Countertop Installation Video

Italy held the 29th Cersaie event, considered to be the premier international exhibition of ceramic tiles and bathroom furnishings. Below are some of the top trends.

• Dusty Colors
Trends in tile generally mirror larger design industry trends, and this was particularly evident in this season’s color palette. From blue grey and clay to mauve and lavender, dusty hues were seen throughout Cersaie.

• Terracotta, Revisited
Terracotta is the direct result of craftspeople working with their hands. Perhaps searching for that link to the past, many Italian companies showcased the warmth and charm of this ancient material and reintroduced it in modern sizes, colors and finishes.

• Imperfections
Offering a nod to the trend toward personalization, Cersaie saw a host of unique offerings, from mismatched patterns to irregular shapes, suggesting that many designers are finding charm in imperfection.

• Creative Recycling
The green trend remains strong in the tile market, with creative recycling a hot trend. From reintegrating manufacturing residues into the production process to using recycled glass from discarded TV screens and computer monitors, tile manufacturers continue to push the envelope with new environmentally friendly collections, many of which were seen at this year’s Cersaie.

• Concrete & Resin
When it comes to tile, tastes tend to run to opposite ends of the spectrum. This year, both the subtle texture and soft feel of resin and the rough, industrial touches of cement were highly visible at Cersaie, as Italian companies provided an array of tiles that featured both looks with the functionality and durability of ceramics.

• Mixed Materials
Thanks to improving digital technologies, companies are mixing and matching the look of natural elements from alabaster and marble to metal and wood – and everything in between.

• Ceramic Rugs
While tile has many wonderful qualities, some detractors suggest the hard surface can appear cold and uninviting. To address this concern, many tile companies are softening the look of ceramic floors by offering decorative tiles with bold and intricate patterns that mimic the look of area rugs, resulting in a warmer appearance.

• In Full Bloom
Flowers are back in style, with many tile manufacturers choosing to decorate their ceramics with a broad array of floral motifs.

Hot water dispensers, such as InSinkErator’s Indulge™(shown), work as a system, delivering both 200-degree Fahrenheit water and filtered cool water at the touch of a handle. The instant access expedites daily tasks, such as boiling water for pasta or making oatmeal and tea, but is also convenient for cleanup. Unlike water coolers and sink mount filters that can be an eyesore, these dispensers are available in contemporary and traditional models, as well as several designer finishes.

Here are some images a client of ours just sent us from a job in Long Island. These show how wood and soapstone compliment eachother very nicely! Kitchen looks great! Thanks Donna!