Columbia CabinetWorks Wins the CRBRA’s Best Kitchen Remodel Award

Let me just start off by saying that this has been one extraordinary week for CCW! From exciting projects underway to our most recent award, we have a lot to celebrate. CCW was recently honored to win the Best Kitchen Remodel at the Capital Region Builders and Remodelers Association’s (CRBRA) first annual Best in Building Awards!

So which project was the winning kitchen remodel? Well, it was a previously shared project designed by Ray and featured on our blog: A Design Upgrade on the Classic White Kitchen. This space is simply incredible! The CRBRA was impressed by how Ray took a simple classic white kitchen request and added excitement, beauty and functionality all in one amazing kitchen.

A few of the well received details included the kitchen’s maple wood cabinetry with a Nordic white finish and Rockport Recessed doors. Also, who could forget the massive island featuring four solid wood turned legs and wainscot panels that truly anchors the space. This feature alone paved the path for casual dining and ample seating when hosting family and friends.

Ray had been extremely excited for this project from the first day he met with the homeowners and we couldn’t be more proud of the final outcome! Thank you so much CRBRA for recognizing our talented team!

-Laura

4 Ways To Design A Family Friendly Kitchen

Raising a family isn’t easy, but, if designed well, your kitchen can help! See some great tips below that aim to bring family organization into everyone’s favorite room!

Two Rooms in One

Blending together the kitchen and family room into one great space creates an open area for everyone to gather. Whether mom and dad are cooking, kids are doing homework or little ones are enjoying playtime or a favorite cartoon…the space becomes multifunctional for everyone to use 24/7.

Get Organized

The recipe to any successful home may just be to minimize the clutter. By organizing your home for each family member, you’ll make things easily accessible. And that in turn helps things run smoothly throughout the day! Consider storing the kids’ things in bottom shelves and drawers for easy reach. You could even have cabinetry made to fit the children’s height with built-in inserts that can serve a different purpose when the children grow. Also, having a dedicated home station for the adults makes a great location for storing paperwork, bills, and the family computer.

Introduce Color

Design a bright, interesting space the entire family will enjoy. Color adds personality outside the all white kitchen. Why not incorporate a funky, vivid colored countertop or eye catching tiled backsplash behind the stove?

Appreciate the Memories

If you’re the sentimental type who enjoys holding onto memories, select items for the home that will inevitably show wear and tear. By selecting porous materials, such as Carrara marble or a maple butcher block, you introduce items that will add an old fashioned, settled appeal over time. These items are meant to embrace imperfections and showcase your family’s history of stains and rings!

(Photos courtesy in order: Houzz & Patrick Sutton Associates, Fresh Home, Dornob and The Grothouse Lumber Company)

The Transitional Kitchen

Dine By Design

The transitional kitchen is all about a mix between modern and traditional looks. It’s a wonderful opportunity for homeowners to choose the elements they love, without being locked in to one particular style.

Before Photo

Recently, Ray met with a couple who were looking to update their kitchen. They really enjoyed the seminar that our Chief Cabinet Officer gave at the Home Show last year. (Include link to that blog article). Ray noticed from the start that these homeowners were engaged in and excited about the design process.

The homeowners had been looking to create a kitchen that would have a refined, yet modern country feel. After visiting their home for measurements, Ray knew what needed to be done. He removed the raised breakfast bar which made the space feel much more open. Knowing that the couple wanted a white kitchen, his suggestion for Nordic White on Bridgeport was the obvious winner. The cabinetry would also include framed drawer fronts and be topped with a soapstone countertop.

Lastly, there was one special detail Ray added to this transitional kitchen. He completely custom designed a decorative hood for over the oven area.

Bravo Ray for combining so many stunning elements in this kitchen. Not only was the client thrilled with the renovation, but the customized touches truly enhanced the overall kitchen design!

-Laura

Rethinking Your Kitchen For Entertaining Guests

I recently got married and as my lovely wife Marissa’s birthday approached, I wanted to make the occasion perfect. What she wanted was to invite a few couples over and cook a celebratory dinner to share. As our NYC apartment’s galley kitchen might have been too cramped, we decided to go to my family’s week-end house for the festivities!

But here was the problem…and a problem is certainly something you don’t want on your wife’s birthday. Although the kitchen in my family’s week-end house has a footprint more than enough to accommodate the eight of us, the kitchen was designed a few decades ago and the layout is not conducive for friends to gather together, help cook, or just enjoy some appetizers and a glass of wine. We made it work and the evening was a success, but it sure got us thinking about what we want from a kitchen as we begin to think about our first house.

Like many of you, Marissa and I love to entertain in a fun and casual way, getting everyone together in one space to cook, converse, eat good food and drink even better wine. Gone are the days of the “formal” dinner party where the guests only see the living and dining room. The kitchen has morphed from a room to prepare for a party to the space at the heart of the party. Basic kitchen chairs have been replaced by comfy window seats and easy access bar stools. The classic kitchen table has been replaced by multi-functional islands…perfect for chopping AND chatting.

As we begin to house hunt, one thing we know: whatever we have to sacrifice…a dining room, an extra study…our kitchen will have a layout for today’s entertaining!

Evan

How To Decorate With Textures

Texture is everything and can play a vital role in how you layer the look and feel of a space in your home. Just remember that moderation is key. Knowing where to start is important, but so is knowing when to stop.

Decide a Look

Hewn wooden ceiling beams are accented by a weathered-wood farm table.

Do you want a cozy look and feel? Then select woods, plush fabrics, woven surfaces and natural fabrics for the floors and surfaces to add texture to a room. However if a streamlined look is what you want, then introduce lacquer, plastics, metals and glass. Just remember that balance is key. The best rooms have a perfect mix of both.

Introduce Nature

Thick, twisty tree branch and vase filled with freshly cut winding twigs.

Nature can play an interesting role in the home. It’s the perfect place to draw inspiration. Try using shells, stones, horns, feathers, and the unexpected, like cotton blossoms and birch branches, as decorative objects.

Make it an Accent

Leather Ceiling Tiles

Replace your accent colors with textures and surfaces. Texture can be used in place of color in a monochromatic scheme. And don’t forget the walls. Whether you include high-gloss paints, shell, leather wall tiles or Venetian plaster… walls are a great surface to play up texture.

Adjust the Lights

Relaxing Den

Your lighting scheme is just as crucial as the textural surfaces you add. Be aware of the materials and objects that reflect light or create visually interesting shadows.

CCW’S Holiday Wish List: Kitchen

Yesterday our designers shared what they wanted this holiday season for their living rooms. Today, see what they want in the kitchen!

LLumar Windows

When it’s winter, the sun sets early, the winds are cold. There are days when you just want to be snuggle under a blanket indoors. However, we all still crave natural lighting and lots of it! With LLumar Windows you can keep your home lit naturally and safely. Their products block more than 99% of all UV rays which helps preserve the color of your furnishings, fabrics, curtains and other materials. Also, you’ll save up to 40% on your energy bills while enjoying the outdoor views.

Pumpkin Cranberry Nut Bread

Is there anything better than the smell of fresh baked bread throughout your home? Here’s a tasty recipe from Epicurious that will put any fruitcake to shame. This bread is the perfect combination of flavors for the holidays. It’s even better when you share with your friends and neighbors!

Vintage Kitchen Aid Mixer

Has there ever been a better kitchen appliance for the home? These rare, yet exquisite, vintage mixers from Kitchen Aid are built to last. They’re the perfect tool for baking cookies, cakes and more. With its strong motor and classic beehive glass bowl, this mixer looks great in either an industrial or farmhouse kitchen.

Liebherr SBS 246 Refrigerator

Innovative is the word to describe this refrigerator. Liebherr is recognized worldwide for their refrigeration and freezer technology. From its stainless steel finish to LED lighting, this model sports features that will have you staying in your kitchen more often! Our team loved the built-in wine cooler for storing our favorite Pinots and Chardonnays.You’ll enjoy the Biofresh feature that provides the perfect climate for keeping foods fresher while retaining more of their nutritional value. Food can actually last up to three days longer. What makes this appliance even better is that it is Energy Star efficient!

5 Kitchen Trends for 2013

2012 was another fantastic year for the kitchen! From new materials to less traditional designs, people were wanting something different in the heart of their home. If you’re considering a kitchen renovation for 2013, be sure to take note of these popular design trends.

Open-Plan Kitchen

The unity of cooking and living flourishes in the New Year as more homeowners are opting for a seamless transition between rooms. This trend makes entertaining crowds a breeze, as guests float between the kitchen and living/family room.

Glass

High gloss abounds, from cabinets to appliances, but nowhere is this more striking than in the rise of back-painted glass backsplashes. It’s easy-to-clean and the reflective surface adds a beautiful polish to the space. Instead of a single glass sheet, glass mosaic tiles offer an option for an impressive design.

Modern Appliances

Today, we are beginning to live more like the Jetsons than the Jones’s thanks to smartphones and tablets. The kitchen is more mobile than ever and can be controlled through multiple devices. Expect to find more professional style appliances in the home. Go-to designs will be professional gas ranges and induction cooktops that will make any neighbor green with envy.

Transitional Style

According to the National Kitchen And Bath Association, the “traditional” kitchen design was dethroned by the “transitional” style in 2012. The kitchen is moving in a more modern direction, but still contains many elements of traditional style. Think more simplified lines, chandelier lights and big, open spaces made for entertaining.

Plain or Colorful

Appliances: expect to see more colorful options from kitchen manufacturers in the New Year, but don’t say farewell to stainless and paneled options just yet!

Why Choose Custom Cabinets

When it comes to home renovations, the big debate is not which refrigerator to buy. The hot topic question is whether or not to hire a designer for the cabinetry. No matter how big or small your renovation may be, custom cabinetry can play a starring role.

Planning

By hiring an interior designer, you can avoid costly mistakes while increasing the overall value of your home. Store bought cabinets will deteriorate over time compared to the extraordinary durability of custom cabinets. Also, our kitchen designers have a trained eye that will maximize the beauty and efficiency of your space.

Wow Factor

Every kitchen should be designed to impress. Designers are trained to think outside of the box and see an overall picture that clients often cannot. When it comes to cabinetry, custom and semi-custom provide a myriad of options and details. These will not be available at the big box stores. By working with a kitchen designer, your space will look more unique and pulled together.

Your Home’s Value

If your home is for sale, you certainly don’t want it to sit on the market forever. By hiring a kitchen designer, you can increase the value of your home by upgrading your kitchen, which in turn should accelerate the sale process. A kitchen upgrade could have as much as a 70% return on investment!

4 Things Every Kitchen Should Have

If you’re planning to design the kitchen of your dreams, be sure to keep our designers’ essentials in mind.

Kitchen Island

When space allows, having an island in the kitchen is essential. Not only is it the social center of your space, but also an area to prep food, eat, serve or complete tasks. Islands can also provide additional storage and functionality for maneuvering within zones in the kitchen.

Diverse Cabinetry

Cabinets play an important role in the kitchen for storing dishware, pots, pans, appliances and more. However, you don’t want your kitchen to have only top and bottom closed cabinetry. Add some flavor to the heart of your home with glass door cabinets and open shelves. These features are great for showcasing your favorite items in the kitchen.

A Hook

Every kitchen should have a hook that ties the room together and pulls you in. This could be a backsplash, an ornate oven hood or even a fancy chandelier over the island.

Friends and Family

No kitchen is complete without the people who matter most. Whether you invite your neighbors over for a glass of wine or enjoy a delicious meal with your family, it’s because of them we build memories that last a lifetime!

Organizing Your Kitchen

A kitchen is only as functional as it is organized. If your cabinets and drawers feel cluttered, take a look at these tips to reorganize the the heart of your home.

Kitchen Regions

With a variety of unique design options, you can choose to install custom zones for easier organization. For your glassware and stemware, there is the drinks drawer. You can always opt for an appliance garage to store the toaster and blender. If you’re an enthusiastic baker, you can even install a baking bar for oven mitts, cookie sheets and loaf pans.

Inventory

If you can’t identify the proper use for a piece of equipment or gadget, it’s time to give it away. If you rarely use an item throughout the year, stow it in an out-of-the-way cabinet or storage area. Get rid of duplicate items. It’s also a good idea to carefully examine your kitchen once a year to identify things that you don’t need. Give them away! This is also a great opportunity to see what equipment you would like in your home and make your wish list.

Storage Containers

Be sure to invest in different sizes of storage containers with multiple uses. Go for pieces that nest inside one another which take up less room.

Everything Has Its Place

Pots and pans are best kept near the range or cooktop, mixing bowls close to the countertop you use for food preparation, and plates, glasses and flatware by the dishwasher or sink. If you decide to have an open display (either on open shelves or in clear glass cabinets), be ready for the extra work. You’ll need extra time to make sure you are keeping everything smudge and dust free.