It feels like yesterday I was roasting last year’s turkey and cannot believe the holiday season is here again. This Thanksgiving, we hope you enjoy spending time with those you love and building memories that you will never forget. I have a hunch that many memories this season will take place in the kitchen.
From everyone here at CCW, we wish you a Happy Thanksgiving.
-Laura
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
"As the 'heart of the home', your kitchen plays an important role in the lives of your family."
The sentence above was the first I typed onto this blog one year ago today. Over the past year, I have enjoyed sharing design projects from Columbia CabinetWorks’ experienced team and the latest trends in home renovations. To be honest, I was a little nervous about starting a blog. With so many other home remodeling and design blogs online, I questioned if my two-cents even mattered. Now, I look back and am thrilled that our design team has provided the most current styles and trends for homeowners. Whether you’re looking to update your kitchen, create an oasis within your bathroom or design an unique stand-alone piece, you have been my inspiration.
To celebrate our one year anniversary for the blog, checkout the top 5 articles our readers have enjoyed:
- Redefining the Butler’s Pantry
- Designing the Kitchen Backsplash: Part Two
- Tiling Your Bathroom
- Rethink the Bathroom Sink
- Kitchen Hutches
Again, 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.
-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
Thank you everyone who has helped us raise for the Capital District Habitat for Humanity. We are only $85 away from reaching our goal to donate $500 to this wonderful organization. Help us reach our goal by visiting our Facebook Page.
The campaign concludes Friday, May 6!
-Laura
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
CCW needs your help to raise money for the Capital District Habitat for Humanity! Click the image below and “like” Columbia CabinetWorks on Facebook. For every “like”, we’ll donate $10 to the organization!
Want to help even more? Grab your camera and take a picture of your favorite kitchen or bathroom detail, such as your cabinet handles, your kitchen backsplash or maybe even your bathroom sink. Once you’ve taken the picture, upload it to our Facebook Page and we’ll donate an additional $5 to Habitat for Humanity.
Our goal is raise $500 for this wonderful organization to help fund home ownership opportunities to low income households. The campaign will conclude May 6, so go ahead…be a “friend” and “like” us today. It’s quick, easy and we can’t do it without you!
Please share this post with your friends on Facebook and Twitter. We need your help to spread the word!
-Laura
As we get closer to the home show, we’re excited to announce that our very own chief cabinet guy, Evan Levey, will be presenting a seminar on kitchen renovations. Evan will be discussing various ways to save 10% off your kitchen renovation without compromising its aesthetic or functionality.
We hope you all will attend CCW’s seminar on February 12, at 2:15 at the Empire State Plaza in Albany, NY.
Looking forward to seeing you at the Home Show!
-Laura
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