Hiding Kitchen Appliances Behind Cabinetry

For years, homeowners have treated high-end appliances as the centerpiece of their kitchen.  Whether you had a stain-less steel refrigerator or a shiny induction cooktop, you were surely to become the envy of the neighborhood.  Over the past year, I’ve been noticing a trend in luxury kitchens that seems to be playing a disappearing act on appliances.  Homeowners are now opting to hide their appliances beneath wood panels for a more simplistic look within the home.

With this new trend, guests may be puzzled when walking into a kitchen without the refrigerator, dishwasher or other appliances.  But don’t worry, the appliances are still there and are concealed underneath wood panels that match the kitchen’s cabinetry.  These new designs are built with more storage to keep countertops clear and easy.  For everyday appliances like the toaster, microwave and coffeemaker, you can install an appliance garage (a convenience option that contains shelves and has a retractable door) to help keep countertops clear.  By keeping appliances out of sight, the kitchen now has a more streamline look that provides a minimalistic feel.

So what’s the reason behind this growing trend?  Well, homeowners are aware of the importance the kitchen plays in their home.  They want to redesign a space that’s not only welcoming, but cozy.  Instead of an appliance, the new hook in the kitchen may be an antique furniture piece, a decorative hood or a special sink. I’m also noticing that more kitchens are designed with an adjacent seating area that’s more like an additional living room with armchairs, sofas and a fireplace.  The kitchen table is essentially gone!  This adjacent room softens the space and acts as a parlor to host conversations.

To many, it may seem a little crazy to cover up expensive appliances.  However, designing a space that’s comfortable and inviting trumps showing-off the once popular kitchen bling.

-Laura

Laundry Room Design

The average American family spends 8 hours per week in the laundry room.  In the past, laundry rooms were located in the most unwelcoming parts of the home, like the basement.  Today, homeowners have moved their washers and dryers closer to the kitchen.  Moving the location of the laundry room improved convenience for the entire family to toss their dirty towels and clothes into one accessible spot.  With the laundry room now on the main floor, it’s time to design a space that you won’t want to hide from your neighbors.

For this renovation, the laundry room needed to reflect the style of the home, while keeping it light and airy.  The original layout was in need of an upgrade as it didn’t provide the functionality needed in laundry rooms today.

Folding area and hanging rod for clothes

By adding a folding area and a hanging rod for clothes, the room provided additional storage to eliminate clutter.  These features also increased the room’s functionality and accommodated the homeowner’s need for convenience.

Brookhaven II Lewisburg recessed square inset cabinet doors finished with an Opaque Painted Lace

To match the Colonial style farmhouse, custom built Brookhaven II Lewisburg recessed square inset cabinet doors were installed. The doors were then finished in an Opaque Painted Lace, which truly brightened the room and gave a clean feeling throughout the space.  For the countertop, a granite Santa Cecilia was chosen.

Pull-Out Ironing Board

To save space and add function to the room, a pull-out ironing board was installed within the cabinets.

Deeper sink base and raised appliances

The laundry sink was set at a lower height to not disrupt the window as the original sink base did.  The washers and dryers were also raised off the floor to allow easier access into the machines and to protect the refinished pine floors that were installed.

Extra deep broom closet for storage

An extra deep broom closet was built to store the vacuum, brooms and step ladder that were kept out and about in the space before.

Rethink the Bathroom Sink

The kitchen may be highly trafficked, but don’t forget the other central hub in the home: the bathroom.  It’s the room all guests ask for and a place for a homeowner to relax after a long day.  If you’re renovating the bathroom, it’s important to not overlook any details, especially the sink.

With a wide variety of styles and materials, there’s plenty of room to be creative and find the sink that will have everyone looking forward to washing their hands.

Self-Rimming

The safest and oldest style is having the sink sit on top of the counter.  By cutting a large hole into the countertop, you can drop the sink into place and secure with caulk.  This is a great option that allows homeowners to mix-and-match different countertop and sink materials.  However, it’s important to know how difficult it is to keep the rim of the sink clean.

Vessels

If you really want to bring the wow factor to your bathroom, consider the vessel sink.  This growing trend provides a bold standout by having the sink sit on top of the countertop.  With a variety of materials to choose from, (glass, stone, ceramic and certain metals), you can be creative with different styles and colors.  However, if you consider a metal sink made from cooper and stainless steel, be aware that they are easy to scratch.  Also, glass vessels are gorgeous, but with fingerprints and possible mineral deposits, you’ll want to use a soft towel to wipe down after every use.

Pedestal

Having a pedestal sink is a fun design for a bathroom that doesn’t need a lot of storage space.  Some materials to choose from include porcelain, vitreous china, copper, glass and stone. Also, don’t limit yourself to traditional models. There are square or rectangular shapes, semi-circle or other creative designs to choose from.

Wall-Mount

This vintage design is great for half baths and powder rooms.  These sinks keep the floor area open when space is at a premium and are height adjustable for children and those in need of wheelchair access.  Most wall-mount sinks are not designed for countertop space, but you can find different styles that provide additional length.  Also, some wall-mounted sinks have built-in storage compartments.  And if you’re not a fan of the exposed piping, consider covering it up with a concealed arm or wall support.

Undermount

This dominating trend provides a smooth and clean appearance that is perfect for today’s modern design.  Unlike self-rimming sinks that sit on top of the countertop, these sinks are mounted underneath with clips.  You’ll also enjoy how easy it is to keep the sink clean without having the rim area on top of the countertop.

Vanguard Designer Showhouse: Cabinets!

As some of you may know, CCW is part of the Vanguard Designer Showhouse, scheduled to open in May 2011.  We are very excited to be designing the cabinetry for the Media Room and our Chippendale inspired piece has arrived.  The Brookhaven cabinets were delivered to the Vanguard house in Loudonville, NY a few weeks ago.  Only a few more finishing touches to the room and we’ll be installing the cabinets!

I’ve included several photos below to show how custom-made cabinets are delivered to a home.  It always makes my day when I see the Wood-Mode truck coming up the road.

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-Laura

Framed Openings to Kitchens

When it comes to home renovations, our designers are noticing a growing interest in framed openings for kitchens.  This design is planned around an open floorplan that separates the kitchen from neighboring rooms with columns, partial walls or taller cabinets on the sides.  I really enjoy this trend because it provides a spacious, yet intimate feel of comfort.  These framed openings can help define the kitchen’s focal point, which are often the island and range area.

With a classic design, these white columns separate the kitchen within the open space. The seating area around the island help create the illusion of being in a separate room.

These support columns were required to help frame the view on each end of the island.  The simple columns and turnings bring a warm, cozy feel to the large kitchen.

Consider separating your open floorplan with partial walls and a header. While lengthening the room, this look will keep your kitchen more intimate than ever before.

By adding rustic wood columns along the kitchen and dining areas, the spacious floorplan easily divides the neighboring living room.

The tall cabinets on the sides of this kitchen are like bookends that help bring form and function to the room.

Use your imagination and design a space that fits you.  This tree column is a creative way to enhance your space and frame your kitchen.