ARE YOU VISUAL...

Are you able to walk into an empty, pink painted room and see how it would look, if; you wallpapered it with a Jacquard pattern, installed floor to ceiling, slab dulce stained cabinetry with a triple stack of mouldings, Andromeda granite with subway tile?

No? You are not alone..

That is where we come in..with the visual aid of CAD 20/20 program we are able to show you how your cabinetry design will look, in YOUR space. After field measuring your space or using blueprints, I am able to generate your personal design to review with you.

Inhale and exhale...and enjoy the visual sight of what your kitchen or bath, or office...could look like!

Where do I find my Design Inspiration?

Back in March of 2007, I was lucky enough to meet my culinary hero, Giada De Laurentiis, at a charity event in Chicago.



She was sweet, humble and passionate for her work...not to mention, ultra beautiful and teeny tiny!

Giada, Tyler...need a new kitchen designer? :)

Here is a fun shot of Tyler Florence from Food Network, and I at the same charity event..he actually was running the live, fun and crazy auction!





The love I have of designing, cooking, and just being in the kitchen with family & friends...always leads to creative inspiration.

Cook like Giada De Laurentiis

For those who may not know; I love love love the food network. Saturday mornings, clicking to the food network, my hot, swirling coffee in hand, PJ's still on, my husband reading his Free Press Sports section next to me..true bliss.

My love of the chef world started on PBS, early in my childhood, when my Mom and I would watch Julia Child, or Jacques Pepin, and try different recipes. Now I find so much inspiration from the sounds and visuals of a great cook in the kitchen. I believe it lends to my design work as well.

Today, one of my favorite chefs, as you see above, is the beautiful Giada De Laurenttis. Her show visually is so beautiful, clean and classically Italian with a modern twist.

If you are a fan, like myself, you long to have some of her culinary tools. Well...ask you shall receive. I have found some of her staples seen time and time again, all available online.

Create some "Everyday Italian" in your own kitchen:

Her Walnut cutting board, from http://www.ozarkwest.com/:

Adorable porcelain measuring spoons, from http://fantes.com/measuring-spoons.html#porcelain:

Simple and clean glass pitchers, for storing fresh herbs, or mixing Bellini's, from http://www.lekkerhome.com/: Also..what a cool website in general..one of my fave's!

And, finally..her most used stovetop to oven cooking tool, the trusty and fool proof, Le Creuset Braiser, found at food network's store: http://www.foodnetworkstore.com/p-311688-0-_Le-Creuset-Dune-Covered-Braiser.aspx?Ntt=le%20creuset%20braiser&Ntx=mode+matchall&Nty=1&Ntk=All

Hope you find this enjoyable and inspirational to get in YOUR kitchen and start creating some great memories with your family~

How to combine different tones, in a classic manner

Shown here is a photo from one of our lines "Medallion Cabinetry"


The cabinetry style is the Ellison door : shown in both the Maple Painted "White Chocolate" and the Cherry stain "Onyx."



When combining two different tones, or even two different cabinetry styles; try to keep it simple.

• Don't go for trendy doors. Pick classically cut doors...a trained professional will be able to assist you in that selection.
• Pick colors that are more neutral, like shown above. Even though the counter tops are a black granite (shown on the painted cabinetry) and a white & gray marble (shown on the darker cherry)..it works.
• Keep to an overall neutral color palette, choosing two tones (like this light vs dark) will keep your design from looking dated.
• Make sure your cabinets are cohesive with your flooring. What I advise is, do NOT try to match up your floor coloring to cabinets. Your floors should either be lighter or darker than your cabinetry. See how in this photo, it's a medium toned Oak that works well with both cabinet colors. Perfect!
• Go with what you LOVE...you can't go wrong with that!

Hope this inspires!

Design Envy-Product Post #2

Cabinetry hardware...it truly is the 'jewelry' for your cabinetry. Think about it, you can quickly change the look of your kitchen, by switching out your knobs/handles from brass to satin nickel. Or from ceramic knobs, to artistic pebble pulls.









Here are some of my fave's...that are a little more unique. Have fun with it....if you are nervous for a full kitchen hardware change...start in your powder room!



Go for the "DESIGN ENVY" look:


































Pictures featured, were pulled from these websites:

http://www.sokostudio.com/


http://sea-stones.com/


http://www.anneathome.com

Ziggy & Steve's job continued...

Look at the adorable tumbled baby subway tile...way too cool!



Here is the Master Bath:
Hancock Maple-Dulce
http://www.qualitycabinets.com/

A co-designers shout out-Good job Ziggy and Steve!!!

Today, my co-workers, Ziggy Martin and Steve Peters gave me a tour of a Grosse Pointe home they just finished designing the following cabinetry for.

What you will see in the kitchen is our "Quality Cabinets" line in Maple Manchester door-Cafe/Licorice.

The master bath was "Quality Cabinets" Maple Hancock door-Dulce stain (one of my faves!)

I thought it turned out so beautiful! Great job guys! I only had my camera phone with me, so please excuse the poor quality of the pictures. It was a sunny day this morning, so it created quite a misty glow in the pic's...a bit ethereal.

Enjoy!

My design concept..featured online now!

One of my favorite blog sites and local michigan designer, Jennifer Mitchell, contacted me to help out with a design dilemia for one of her readers.

Intereseted in seeing what I came up with?

Visit her http://designholeonline.com/ blog space to see the virtual design, and her client's before photos I had to work off of.

I hope you find this inspirational to get creative in your kitchen space!

Weekly Design Envy Product Post #1

Ok, so I have decided..even though I do not sell these COOL & AMAZING products that I come across..I can no longer dismiss them!

What I have decided to do is post a cool product, new or not, once a week....that I love!

So this week, the home entertainer in me, screams "I heart this"

This sink is from Native Trails and is constructed of hammered Copper...I can just see this sink filled with ice and bottles of wine or champagne chilling for the evening. Or as a prep sink, it lends to a unique feel. Sure to be the talk amongst your friends!

According to their site, check out these benefits: Recent studies have shown that copper has remarkable natural antibacterial properties which actually kill dangerous bacteria such as E. coli in a matter of hours, while stainless steel and other traditional surfaces allow them to survive for weeks. Enjoy the "living” qualities of your beautiful hand hammered bowl and feel proud to own a unique and functional work of art!

More at their website: http://www.nativetrails.net/index.htm

Is it easy being green?

Lot's of talk of how we should all try and adapt a 'greener' lifestyle to better our future and our beautiful environment. I'm proud to say, our cabinet lines are not only embracing that idea, but taking action. Designing spaces for me, is easy when using these product lines, and now knowing it actually helps the environment instead of hurting...well, that makes me and my clients smile! To learn more about it, please visit the website and consider a green product when you purchase next! That can apply to cabinetry, counter top materials, flooring, and appliances...get creative! :)

http://www.tomorrowsthinkingtoday.com/green/index.aspx

Much more than just Kitchens and Baths!

Sure, we design fabulous kitchens and bathrooms, bars, and entertainment units...but what else? I'm picking three photos to show you how cabinetry, when designed by a professional, can be in almost every room!

Who wouldn't love this boot bench in their mudroom, or side entrance way from your garage? This can be custom built to YOUR space, in whatever doors style and colors fit your home's decor. Now that's a welcoming a thought:

With many companies going virtual, a home based office is becoming more & more common. The old school idea of having a desk next to your Mom's old bookcase just doesn't quite cut it anymore. I can design a grand library or a simple piece that will compliant your space, and keep you organized and pleased to "come to work."

Are you a wine enthusiast, or an inspiring Martha Stewart of entertaining at home? How about turning your lower level into your very own bistro or wine cellar? I can design cabinetry for any space, any nook & cranny to create the individual look we are after. Storage doesn't have to be ugly or a closet, it can look like antique finds from France, or an old heirloom passed down..but better yet, has the interior organization of the new millennium. Cheers to that!

and now...THE AFTER!

The cabinetry used for this kitchen/design was our semi-custom "Medallion Cabinetry" in Park Place Maple shaker style doors; Divinity classic paint.

Down came the wall...opening the space incredibly!

Paneling your refrigerator can create a more seamless look:
The flanking upper cabinets were purposely held away from chimney hood to create a wider cooking area and a larger focal point for subway tiling. By removing the existing window that was there, enabled the design to be symmetrical and much more functional.Deeper upper cabinets, like the one shown below, can hide an unsightly microwave.

What a difference a wall can make!

Many of my clients start off discouraged, stating "I have a small kitchen..what really can be done?" There is always something I can do, to create the illusion of a larger space. Whether it be removing a dividing wall (like this project), widening a window width, taking cabinetry uppers to the ceiling; there are many, many design options that your kitchen designer can review with you.

Here we are starting with "THE BEFORE PICTURES"

In this case, it started with removing a wall that was between the dining area and the kitchen area. Opening up that space created such a larger, inviting kitchen space. My next task was reworking the footprint of the kitchen. I suggested closing off a window, allowing space to move in the new range and stainless steel chimney, creating an elegant, eye catching focal point. My client has an adorable little garden, so I suggested moving the sink to that window, for views of serenity and privacy; something sacred when living in a bustling suburb area. Keeping the cabinetry design a clean painted white with no glaze lent to a crisp and airy feel. The shaker style was transitional enough combining the old (her home's hand stuccoed walls), with the new (stainless steel appliances and the slab design of the cabinetry drawer fronts).

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Using "Medallion Cabinetry's" wood hoods creates warmth in your Kitchen!

"There’s nothing like a wood range hood to rekindle the spirit of your kitchen. From functional to fine furniture, wood hoods are offered in a variety of styles to highlight your décor. Individual components allow you to design your own special style. Or select our dramatic one-piece deluxe hood, with a raised panel arch, and a crown molding plate rack, and you have a renowned design statement." -Medallion Cabinetry


Many of us now lean towards a larger sized commercial cooking range or cook top. With that comes the large amount of 'colder' stainless steel. While in some designs, we strive for a colder, sleek look, other times we want a warmer design.
So how do you warm up the space and create your cooking zone to be more inviting? Use a wood hood!
Hidden inside the wood hood is a full venting system with halogen task lighting, and all the CFM amenities you need for the standard to larger commercial range. What is a CFM? It is: Cubic Feet per Minute is a means to measure air flow. The higher the CFM figure, the more air the fan is moving. We have hoods that have CFM strength of 300, 600, 900 and 1200 CFM..hang on to your children! : )
To determine which you need depends on your cooking area and what your cooking techniques involves. (higher CFM's are needed for wok use, indoor grilling, deep frying, etc.)

Take a look below at a few options available, but the possibilities don't end there! I can design your look to be as unique as your project.

Thinking of remodeling?? Here are TIPS to get started..don't get left in the dust!

We at Midwest Cabinet & Counter Inc., are professional master members of the REMODELOR'S COUNCIL OF MICHIGAN-a division of NAHB and BIA.
Remodeling your home can be an exciting experience..here is a guide to follow to make it it's is also an enjoyable one too! Click below for an online guide on how to select your local remodelor:

http://www.biaremodelor.org/guide.htm#2

Make sure you hire a knowledgeable professional; here are some of our builder's and contractors we work with time and time again. Working with professionals ensures your job will run smoothly and on time! Click on link below to see a list of professionals in your area.

http://www.biaremodelor.org/listcol.htm

We are here to help YOU achieve the home of your dreams! Get that 'DESIGN ENVY' in your home!