A fall treat..for the eyes and the stomach

The crisp smell of Fall weather certainly is here.

I thought I would post a picture of a "Medallion" kitchen that I can practically smell the apple pie baking from to inspire everyone to start thinking, "is my kitchen ready for the holidays?"

See if you find yourself happy with your current kitchen layout..or if there is room to improve.
Designing great spaces for the everyday family is what we do!

Enjoy the picture and a great fall recipe too, below:



PUMPKIN BUTTER:

2-1/2 cups cooked pumpkin; homemade pureed or canned
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup apple cider
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon allspice
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger

Combine all ingredients in a heavy 4-quart saucepan. (To make homemade pureed pumpkin, wash a medium sized sugar pumpkin and slice it, removing seeds, and pith, bake at 300 F skin-side up in a roasting pan filled with 1/4 cup water for 1 hour, or until tender. Remove, cool, peel and puree the meat.)
Stirring frequently to avoid burning, bring mixture to a boil over medium heat, then reduce heat and simmer until thick, 15-20 minutes. (Thickening time will be reduced if using canned pumpkin.)
Recipe yields about 2 cups of pumpkin butter; leftovers may be frozen in airtight container for up to six months.

(recipe from Traverse magazine Nov 2008)

Enjoy on some biscuits, toast or pancakes!

Design going to the dogs? I hope so!

I consider my client's home entrances, whether it be a side door, or front entrance, to be one the most important functions of their home.

It is where you welcome loved ones into your home, and kiss them goodbye with memories of a good time.

It is where the organization in the home starts, by entering in you now have a beautiful place for your purse, briefcase, shoes and other everyday necessities.

Now, for anyone who owns a dog..who wouldn't want a custom tiled in dog wash to gently clean off those muddy paws of your best friend? Wouldn't this eliminate time spent on washing your floors with the paw prints we so commonly see. This entrance comes right off the back yard.

When first walking into your home, it is essential to find a space to breathe, hang up your keys, toss your purse, kick off your shoes, hang up your coat, and set down the bags of groceries. Shown here is a custom cherry locker/bench system that I designed for my client's side entrance. Under the bench section are two large deep drawers for extra storage.

Now, not all side entrances have this much space but in this case, we utilized this room to also function as a laundry room that is pretty enough to dually function as a butler's pantry. Behind the cherry wood cabinetry is the everyday Costco goods every family needs. From extra food storage, to cleaning products, to kitchen linens, this room is a true work horse of the home.

What does your entrance do for you?

SUBMITTED..DESIGN AWARDS!

As some of you know, we entered a few of our projects into the Detroit Home Magazine for "Design Awards 2009."

Wish us luck ..and here are a few 'teasers' taken during our 8 kitchen photo session! Thanks again to our talented photographer, Jen, we think they turned out great We won't find out how we did until December, but working with our clients to create beautiful spaces is honor enough!

Hope these images inspire ....enjoy!

Concrete Evidence

Looking for something different & unique for a counter top material?? Ever thought of using concrete? YES...I said, concrete!

A local Detroit based company, by the name of "Origins Concrete Design" will custom make a concrete top for your kitchen, bar, bath or whatever area you desire...in any color, any thickness and yes, you can integrate sinks, cutting boards, etc!

There is a lot that goes into the creation of a custom top and it is a material you should educate yourself on before deciding. Derek, from "Origins Concrete Designs" will help you better understand the care and maintenance and what to expect from these beautifully unique counter tops.

These pictures are from Derek's portfolio..enjoy, and be creative in your next project by trying new materials created by local artists & designers! Love the edge detailing here with the dot imprints!

How cool is this trough sink for your next bath project? OR used in between custom cabinetry in your kitchen..remember, this concrete can be made into any color!

Faucet..or Sculptural Art?

In today's kitchen, the sink area is often the main focus area.

Clients want the most beautiful, unique cabinetry and only the best accessories to dress it up.

Kitchen faucets for instance, are one way of creating a signature look. Whether your look reflects a cottage in Cotswold, England or an open loft in SoHo, NYC you can find it locally here at Carlson Home Luxuries.

Mike Carlson has been a friend of mine, and Midwest Cabinet, for some time now and when I refer my clients to his amazing showroom in Brighton, I know they will be 'wow-ed.'

Take a look at some of my favorite faucets that Carlson Home Luxuries offers and see if this won't inspire a gallery viewing at your next dinner party!

Homeowner: "So, I'm on a budget..do I have options?" Me: "YES!!!"

First off...KUDOS to one of our cabinetry lines "Quality Cabinets" for ranking highest in satisfaction for cabinetry brands among Builders and Remodelers. We are happy to be a dealer and design with "Quality Cabinets" products.

I believe one of the main reasons that "Quality" is a favorite among Builders, Designer, Remodelors is that we offer a great price point, but still many design options to choose from.

For instance, one Maple door can come in up to FIFTEEN (go ahead..click on 'fifteen to view it all!!) different stain, stain/glaze finishes! Having so many choices for clients, make for beautiful cabinetry that is unique in every design application.

Soak your Monday Blues away.....

Monday...probably the least favorite day of the week. Especially now in Michigan, the weather is a little gray and wet outside.

However, isn't that the perfect excuse to come home, scroll your ipod to play some jazz, open up that bottle of Cabernet and slink into your amazing master bath.

What's that??? You don't have an amazing retreat of a master bath?

Well, you could have one just like this photo: custom designed using cabinetry from Midwest Cabinets.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhh................Monday's not so bad now.

PHOTO SHOOT 9/11/08

Excited..YES..thrilled..YES!!

We have a talented young photographer, Jen from JK Photography of Grand Rapids coming tomorrow (9/11) to shoot eight..yes, EIGHT kitchens tomorrow, for us at Midwest Cabinet & Counter. We are starting at 8 am in Detroit, move to Grosse Pointe, then to Huntington Woods and finishing in Commerce Township.

We hope to capture a bit of what we work on throughout the year. Some of the projects we will be photographing are modern, spacious lofts, some small but beautifully designed kitchens, others transitionally classically cool.

A BIG thank you to Jen, for helping us out with this..we look forward to viewing all the upcoming (and I know) fantastic images!!

Kitchen Remodel in Royal Oak, Michigan

Shown below is a Royal Oak kitchen remodel that I designed, along with my good friends, Megan and Ryan.

Can you believe that this kitchen is only about 120 square feet?

• Go vertical: One HUGE difference you can do is take the cabinetry up. up. up to the ceilings. No soffits! That will give your kitchen, additional space of approximately 12" in height for one cabinet...imagine all the space added up all around!!
• Choose wisely for your space: By choosing a simple door style ("Quality Cabinets" in Hancock Cherry shown here) it lends to a more clean and contemporary feel. The space seems larger, taller and horizontally wider.
• When opening up walls, make both spaces work: The peninsula bar area backs into their dining/family room, so by lifting the counter top height to a bar height of 42" high, it keeps the working space and the main sink hidden, along with any prepping mess.
• Use all your walls! We had a short shallow wall when you first enter kitchen, that now is their 'bar area.' Both the upper and lower are the same depth, allowing for storage and display behind the glass showcases their stemware. Perfect for entertaining.
• Coordinate your colors: Ryan and Megan did a beautiful job, picking colors that all work well together. Their cherry cabinetry is a warm red, along with their paint color and their natural brick which is original to the house. Stainless accents are seen throughout on their appliances, cabinetry hardware, lighting and plumbing fixtures. Granite counter tops are the perfect compliment, bringing all their colors together.

It was a pleasure working on this kitchen with close friends..and now their new daughter, Eden, will get to enjoy it too! :)

Design Envy-Product Post #3

Living and designing in Royal Oak, I meet many talented designers. One being, Gretchen Kramp who is an avid artist in creating her own hand made ceramic tiles, and lives in Royal Oak. You may have already seen her work featured at Detroit Zoo and sold in many boutiques in town.

What you may not know, is her tiles are available for your kitchen, bathroom and any other room you may be thinking of remodeling. Her fun, quirky, or classic tiles are sure to please many different styles. Here are some of my favorites, ready to purchase at her online store.

If you are looking for something beautiful and unique..take a peek at her work. They look amazing in a back splash focal point, butler's pantry, powder bath..and certainly pretty enough on their own.

Support local artists in your home!

GET ORGANIZED IN THE KITCHEN

Simply put, being organized is the key to time management.

Does this sound familiar; searching through your drawers for that whisk, pulling out seven pots to get to that fry pan, knocking over your garbage can when working between your cook top and refrigerator.

For most, that is probably every night while attempting to cook a simple family meal.

As your kitchen designer, I can help find 'homes' for all your kitchenware to live..and be at your fingertips, so you stay organized enough to put Martha Stewart to shame.

Take a peek at these photos from our "Medallion Cabinetry" line for some helpful ideas and inspiration!

It's a beautiful sight...get on your white gloves, and enjoy your new kitchen!

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!