With the Great Northeast Home Show soon approaching, we decided to run a Home Show Special to celebrate. Visit us at the Times Union Center during the Great Northeast Home Show from February 10-12, 2012 to enter to win $5000 off your cabinetry order. You can also enter to win by signing up on our website…simple fill in the “Contact Us” section through the link below:
This Home Show Special will continue through February 29, 2012. Good luck!
Looking forward to seeing you at the Home Show!
-Laura
It’s that time of the year again for the Great Northeast Home Show! This event is the largest consumer show in upstate New York. Each year, thousands of homeowners come to browse through products and services for their home. We’re excited to be part of the exhibition and you’re welcome to stop by our arena showroom at the Times Union Center on the concourse. Also, be sure to enter to win $5000 off your cabinetry order by filling out the “Contact Us” section on our website.
The Great Northeast Home Show will be held in Albany, NY at the Times Union Center and the Empire State Plaza from February 10-12, 2012. And don’t forget, there will also be helpful informative seminars presented by local and regional experts, including our chief cabinet guy Evan Levey.
Looking forward to seeing you at the Home Show!
Visit the Great Northeast Home Show’s website
-Laura
Recently, I had the exciting opportunity to be one of the ten judges for the 2011 Saratoga Showcase of Homes. The event is an annual tradition in upstate New York that allows homeowners to tour exquisite homes and learn the latest design trends. In total, we had to judge 19 homes that were divided into four categories: condos, classic homes, executive homes and luxury homes. For each home, we were given 15 minutes to view and inspect. We were even given plastic booties to wear over our shoes to keep from damaging parts of the home. I won’t lie; I was a little shocked by this, but would hate for anyone to track dirt into my clean home!
My role was to inspect and critique the homes’ kitchen designs, interior decor and master bath workmanship. For the kitchens, I had to determine if the builder matched work within the kitchen with the price of the home. You’ve heard me say it before, but generally the kitchen should cost 10% of your home’s value. When it came to judging the workmanship in the master bath, I had to inspect everything to see if it was finished properly. Were the walls straight? Was additional caulk needed? How was the application of paint and trim?
Overall, this was an amazing experience, and I am thrilled to have been involved. It was wonderful opportunity to meet other designers and builders who are interested home renovations and style. Moments like these truly make me happy to be the designer that I am today.
-Laura
It’s that time of year again and the Saratoga Builders Association is bringing you the 16th annual Showcase of Homes! Starting September 17th, the Saratoga Builders Association shows off the area’s finest homes built by contractors and designers within the Capital Region. For the next three weekends, you can tour beautiful homes and explore the latest designs in high-quality furnishings and fixtures, as well as the latest building techniques and products. This year, the event will showcase 19 new homes throughout the Saratoga area, including the towns of Greenfield Center, Malta, Moreau, Ballston Spa, Halfmoon and Wilton. I’m super excited for this year’s Saratoga Showcase of Homes to see the area’s design talent, and because I will be one of the judges!
Saratoga Showcase of Homes Link
Tickets for all 6 days are only $20 per person, and free for children under 12. Also, the proceeds from the 2011 Showcase of Homes event will support Rebuilding Together Saratoga and Habitat for Humanity of Northern Saratoga, Warren and Washington Counties. You can purchase your tickets online or at various locations around Saratoga. Looking forward to seeing you there!
-Laura
As much as I love my kitchen, there’s nothing like heading outdoors and firing up the barbecue. And with summer beginning, it’s hard to resist a good old fashioned hotdog, hamburger or steak from the grill.
Each year about 600 fires and explosions occur because caution wasn’t used around gas and charcoal grills. When cooking outdoors, whether hot and fast grilling, or low and slow barbecue, there are a few things you need to know to make sure nothing goes wrong and to get the most out of your cooking.
1. Never barbecue inside your house, garage, trailer, tents or any type of enclosed area…grills are designed for outdoor use only. The carbon monoxide fumes may accumulate and kill. Enjoy your grill in a well-ventilated area but be aware of wind-blown sparks.
2. Keep the grill clean of grease and food build up to avoid fires. You can brush the grill with canola oil to prevent food from sticking.
3. I’m probably too cautious, but some parents have the younger children light the grills. To me that’s a definite safety risk and no children should have this responsibility.
4. Read your manual and learn the minimum distance that must be kept clear around the unit. I suggest that you take a good look at your equipment and imagine the worst fire you can. Make sure there aren’t any buildings, trees or other objects within the “keep clear” space.
5. Most igniters on the grill stop working causing you have to light the flames with a long match stick. When lighting the igniter, be sure not to turn the valve to the gas on too soon…it will make a huge flare up.
6. Keep foods refrigerated until you are ready to cook. Leaving edibles in the hot sun can ruin the party.
7. Keep a fire extinguisher handy when outside.
8. It is not advisable to use sauce at the beginning of your cooking. And always wait at least one minute before serving food to avoid burns.
9. Keep the grill stable to avoid tipping. Place your grill over a plain surface; not over any steep or sloping surfaces.
10. Never store or use flammable liquids, like gasoline, near the grill.
-Laura
Last week, the Vanguard Showhouse finally opened its doors to the public. As I walked through the newly renovated rooms, I was amazed by the transformation that had taken place within this historic home. In October 2010, Anna and I visited the showhouse for the first time. I remember walking into the parlor, and seeing how desperate this room was for an upgrade. Below, you can see how the parlor looked before the renovations began.
For this renovation, we were teamed with Blairhouse Interiors Group, an interior design firm in Latham, NY. Our role was to design cabinetry within the parlor. After measurements and designs were drawn, we were inspired to create a Chippendale piece to match the interior around the home. And of course, the cabinets would be made within the Wood-Mode family, Brookhaven.
Finally, after months of designing and working with our installation team, the room was completed. The cabinets were designed to maximize storage and act as a media console for the home. Also, glass doors were installed to showcase possessions and to bring a sense of comfort to the room. Along with Blairhouse Interiors decorating expertise, the room is not only modern, but also a space you will never want to leave.
Working with the Vanguard Showhouse was an amazing experience for CCW and one I will never forget. Being involved with the project allowed us to work with so many wonderful people, including Nate, the owner of the home. As I look back through all of the planning that went into the renovation, I am proud to be a designer. The home is absolutely beautiful and is a place I wish I could live in forever!
-Laura
Posted in BrookHaven, Design, Events, Wood-Mode
Tagged brookhaven, cabinetry, Designer, Events, home, renovations
If you read this blog weekly, you may have heard that Columbia Cabinetworks is part of the Vanguard Designer Showhouse in Loudonville, NY. For the past several months, we have been busy designing the cabinetry for the parlor in this historic 1839 home.
We invite you to come out and visit this wonderful Showhouse next week. You can purchase tickets for $18 at the door and proceeds will support the Albany Symphony Orchestra! This is truly a great cause! Below are the times and dates:
Showhouse Opens May 3, 2011
Tuesday, Friday and Saturday: 10:30–5:00
Wednesday and Thursday: 10:30-8:00
Sunday: 1:30-6:30
Visit the Vanguard Designer Showhouse Website
We hope to see you there and will have plenty of pictures soon!
-Laura
Tomorrow is Earth Day and we are reminded that each of us has the power to reduce our impact on the environment. We encourage you to participate and make others aware of the environmental issues seen throughout the world. Make a difference by taking part in these simple actions throughout the home:
Let your friends and family know that the small changes they do will have a huge impact on this wonderful planet we all call home.
-Laura
Posted in Bathroom, Events, Home Office, Kitchen, Laundry Room, Trends
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.
-Laura
Thank you everyone for stopping by our showroom at the Times Union Center this weekend. We had another successful year at the Great Northeast Home Show and couldn’t have done it without you. I always enjoy meeting people who are interested in renovating their homes and seeking design ideas. It really gets my juices flowing.
With today’s economy, we were thrilled to see many homeowners at Evan’s seminar to learn creative ways to shave 10% off a kitchen renovation, without compromising on design or function. After the presentation, it was great to hear that people found it informative and to the point. I really enjoyed it when Evan told home owners they should consider the things they need, the things they want and the things they cannot live without in the kitchen. Like I have said before, you should renovate a room to fit your tastes and lifestyle. Designing and installing what you really want in your home will make you happy and make the project a success.
I would also like to give a special thank you to Ali for helping with the crowds this weekend and making sure the heaters were plugged in! After last year’s chilly weather, we thought ahead and brought two to the arena showroom.
So whether you stopped by to grab a cookie or to discuss cabinets, we’re glad to have met you and hope you visit our main showroom in North Greenbush!
-Laura
