Monthly Archives: March 2012

Spring Cleaning Tips

With the new season beginning, it’s time to think about spring cleaning. This is a great opportunity to start getting your home in order by cleaning it top to bottom. I believe in a clean home not only for the obvious reasons but for the fact that it supports an organized and healthy lifestyle for your family.

Declutter

Before you begin, be sure to get rid of the garbage and extraneous clutter before cleaning. Purge, purge, purge. If you haven’t used something in over a year, you probably never will. Throw away or donate to charity.

Tackle One Room at a Time

You may be excited to get started cleaning, but be careful not to get distracted with too many projects in your home at once. It’s important to clean one room at time. By doing so, you’ll see the difference immediately!

Clean Windows

For me, clean windows are essential! They provide beautiful sunlight in and allow everything to be seen more clearly. After being shut up inside for months, it is so refreshing to open the windows and have fresh air flowing through the house. I like to to have scented candles lit as I go through my list of chores.

Clean Corners

By cleaning the nooks and crannies in your rooms, you’ll have an instant change. You’ll see the changes as you dust the corners of the ceiling and vacuum the edges of the room. It’ll make the space feel brighter and bigger.

Check Your AC

As spring begins, be sure to prep for warm weather. It’s important to change your home’s air filters and have the AC cleaned and serviced to use in the hot summer months.

Clean the Gutters

After the leaves fall in autumn, make sure you clean your gutters of debris that has gathered inside the gutters, eave troughs, downspouts and drainpipes. This will keep those April showers from damaging your home and provide a smooth flow through the gutter’s route runoff.

- Laura

100 Ideas for Your Home

It feels like yesterday I started writing our blog to share with homeowners the latest in design trends and renovation ideas. Today, I am thrilled to be writing our 100th post! To celebrate, our design team has gathered a list of 100 ideas to refresh the interior of your home.

1) Varied Cabinet Styles in the Kitchen
2) Earth Tones
3) Vessel Sinks
4) Porcelain Tiles
5) Maple Cabinets
6) Kitchen Hutch
7) Wesaunard Towel Warmer and Radiator
8) Stainless Steel Appliances
9) Recharge and Move Forward with Tangerine Tango
10) Tilt-Out Bins

Store your favorite fruits and vegetables in this attractive and functional cabinet. These can be built into any space in your kitchen.

11) Built-In Wine Storage
12) His-and-Her Bathroom Vanity
13) Robern M Series TViD Medicine Cabinet with Integrated TV
14) Engineered Wood Floors
15) Wall and Ceiling Mouldings
16) Clear Countertop Surfaces
17) Ceiling Spotlights
18) Radiant Floor Heating
19) Eco-Friendly Cabinets
20) Floating Shelves

For an open airy feel, a floating shelf makes it easy to reach items in the kitchen. From pots and pans to canisters, you can store practically anything on floating shelves. I recommend mixing floating shelves with your closed-in cabinets to diversify the look in your kitchen.

21) Kohler HiRise Wall-Mount Kitchen Pot Filler
22) Ceramic Tile
23) Butler’s Pantry
24) Wood-Mode Roll-Out Trays
25) Freestanding Kitchen Hutch
26) Modern Traditional Style Kitchens
27) Granite Countertops
28) Energy Efficient Appliances
29) Attractive Cabinet Hardware
30) Banquettes

When it comes to seating in the kitchen, create an intimate feel with a banquette. Over the past year, we have noticed that these cozy booths are becoming a favorite with homeowners. They are a great option that helps to accommodate a large number of people and allow increased room for the dining area within the space. Another real plus, you can have built-in storage in the cabinetry configuration.

31) KitchenAid’s Double-Drawer Dishwasher
32) Brown Tone Cabinetry
33) Task Lights
34) Single Hole Faucets
35) Multiple Stain Finishes in the Kitchen
36) Spacious Master Bathrooms
37) Recycled Countertop
38) Pull-Out Pantry
39) Built-In Microwave Cabinet
40) Victoria and Albert Shropshire Slipper Tub

With more homeowners choosing to separate the shower and the bath, add a little elegance to your space with a slipper tub. For a classic look, you’ll enjoy the Victoria and Albert Shropshire Slipper Tub. This model is ergonomically comfortable with its compact dimensions making it great for smaller bathrooms, too!

41) Space Saving Bathrooms
42) Walnut Wood
43) Sub-Zero Built-In Refrigerator and Freezer
44) Folding Area and Hanging Rod in Laundry Room
45) High-Gloss Cabinetry
46) Open Vanities
47) Pedestal Sinks
48) Vinyl Wood Flooring
49) Sub-Zero PRO 48 Refrigeration
50) Tiles Kitchen Backsplash

Most backsplashes for the kitchen are designed through intricate tile patterns. Tile comes in a variety of materials, shapes, sizes and colors that can be arranged to create a multitude of designs to fit your personality and space.

51) Vivid Colors in the Kitchen
52) Heartland Dual Fuel Range
53) Moen Destiny Hands-Free Faucet
54) Garden Bay Windows
55) Bead Board Kitchen Backsplash
56) Cork
57) Long Linear Tiles in the Bathroom
58) Thermique Towel Warmer
59) Quartz Countertops
60) Coffered Ceilings

Homeowners are getting creative and are requesting intriguing details for their kitchen ceilings. The coffer design is basically a sunken panel in the shape of a square, rectangle, or octagon. Most kitchens typically consist of wooden beams that criss-cross the ceiling. This original design clearly has some staying power since it dates back to the early Renaissance.

61) Porcelain Tile Planks
62) Wood-Mode Pull-Out Chopping Block
63) Cabinet Inset Panels
64) Moen’s 90 Degree Stainless Faucet
65) Resin
66) Eco-friendly Devices
67) Windows for Natural Lighting
68) Open Shelving
69) Perrin and Rowe Edwardian Faucet in Polished Nickel
70) Decorative Light Fixtures

Introduce a beautiful chandelier above your kitchen island that lights the room with it’s decorative design. It’s a wonderful modern or classic option for your kitchen.

71) LED Light Bulbs
72) Imitation Quartz Countertops
73) Kohler DTV II Custom Shower Interface
74) Glass Kitchen Cabinets
75) Wall Decor
76) Modern Kitchen Furniture
77) Soapstone Countertop
78) Widespread Faucets
79) Evit Vetro Tile
80) Bay Windows

Bay windows are a great option that can help bring in extra sunlight with windows projecting outward from the main walls of the home. They are also very inviting and can provide extra storage and interior space if needed.

81) Wood-Mode and Brookhaven Cabinetry
82) Glass Kitchen Backsplash
83) Gramercy Double Metal Washstand
84) White and Black Kitchens
85) Minimalism in the Bathroom
86) Windows and Natural Light
87) Bamboo
88) Wolf Dual Fuel Ranges
89) Appliance Garage
90) Custom Cabinets

Why go to Home Depot and get a standard cabinet when you could have a customized kitchen to fit your needs. Having the freedom to design what you want in your home will make you feel so comfortable in your space. Also, there may be unusual spaces that need special attention to find that perfect fit.

91) Blue, Green and Violet Paint Colors
92) Walnut Toilet Seat
93) Wall-Mount Sinks
94) Framed Openings to Kitchens
95) Granite Kitchen Backsplash
96) Long and Vertical Showers
97) Belle Foret Pot Filler Faucet
98) Reclaimed Wood Flooring
99) Box Bay Windows
100) Wood Paneled Appliances

Some homeowners are now opting to hide their appliances beneath wood panels that match their kitchen cabinets. By keeping appliances out of sight, the kitchen has a more streamline look that provides a minimalistic feel.

Thank you for taking the time to experience CCW’s talented and dedicated team of designers who continue to bring their energy, creativity and passion into your home. We hope our favorite interior design options inspired you to reinvigorate your home.

-Laura

Designing a Green Kitchen

As the heart of the home, the kitchen is a space that requires a lot of money, energy, and time to function for everyday living. To keep up with the busy lifestyle of today’s family, it is wise for homeowners to introduce eco-friendly appliances and products that help the environment. If you are considering a green kitchen design, take a look at what we recommend to update your space.

Energy Efficient Appliances

Technology has evolved in the kitchen allowing homeowners to save on their energy bills and be eco-friendly. As the only appliance to run 24/7, update your refrigerator to an energy efficient model. You could also install an induction cooktop which is 73% more energy efficient than gas.

Recycled Countertop

Top off your cabinetry with a countertop that’s made from recycled content. With a wide range of styles, you can choose from muted colors with paper-based products to bright and visually interesting terrazzo patterns made from recycled glass and epoxy. Also, bamboo is a great option since its a fast growth substitute for wood that is renewable.

LED Light Bulbs

Illuminate your kitchen with light bulbs that provide higher-quality light and use less energy than others. LED bulbs are an ideal solution for environmentally friendly and cost-conscious homeowners. Plus LEDs live approximately 100,000 hours, which means they’ll last for years.

Eco-Friendly Cabinets

Need to update your kitchen cabinets? Consider brands, like Wood-Mode, that have received certification in the Environmental Stewardship Program by the Kitchen Manufacturer’s Association. Our line of Wood-Mode cabinets are manufactured with the use of environmentally friendly materials and processes.

-Laura

Paint Color Trends for 2012

With spring upon us, many homeowners will begin to make design changes to their homes. This could be anything from a complete kitchen makeover to updating your bathroom’s sink. Whatever renovations you consider, be sure to freshen up your space for the new season.

One simple way to update any room is to paint the walls a new color. By adding a coat of paint onto the walls of your living room, dining room, or bedroom, you instantly redefine your space. The Paint Quality Institute has established the palettes that will be most popular this year. Today’s paint hues are drawn from the American landscape and bring the colors of the great outdoors into your home interior.

Explore these three popular color options for your home that will brighten up any room.

Blue

Blue isn’t only the color of the sky, but a beautiful option suitable for living spaces. It’s a color that has grown in popularity since 2011. As a natural soothing color, there are a variety of shades to select. Consider a turquoise dining room or a dark, strong cobalt blue for your library or study.

Green

As a color of many vegetables and plants, green allows homeowners to bring the comfort feelings of the world outside into the world within. Green is a popular hue for spaces that are natural spots, like the kitchen or dining room. It’s also a great palette choice for family rooms and bedrooms.

Violet

With its harmonious feel, violet combines the stability of blue and the energy of red. The hue provides a luxurious ambience, and can even add vibrant energy into any room when used as an accent color. Violet is a wonderful choice that can be a dominant color in a bedroom.