kitchens

Let's talk about romantic kitchens, ok? Picture yourself in a cottage, set way back  from the winding road. The house sits on a hill. The cottage garden is seen from the kitchen window and the vegetable garden is just beyond that. The kitchen, first and foremost, is a soothing place where its owner finds solace at any given time of day. People speak in soft voices, smiles and every motion in

Maybe it's the start of cool weather, the recent economic uncertainty surrounding us or another hidden reason, but, I've had this soft mantra in my head saying "cozy kitchen" for a couple of weeks now, knowing I need to share this subject with you. I'd say with certainty that a cozy kitchen is in the eye of the beholder. To me, a cozy kitchen is about individuality, whatever the style. It's

Cashmere is an exclusive model, designed according to the rules of traditional interior decoration. This oaken kitchen is proposed in two versions: either brushed and varnishing or brushed and lacquered in precious cashmere wool nuances. The top and the back splash are both in aged marble, with carved decoration on the back splash. Gallery Gallery is suitable for an elegant house, an

I've been collecting images here and there since August, when I thought I'd do a dog-days-of-summer-dreamy-white-kitchens post and, again, was so busy with these two kitchen orders that I could only procrastinate just a little and collect the images, saving them for later. Well, finally, today is the last day I am working on these orders after a summer of finalizing them, believe it or not, but, I

Swagger into the hip lifestyle of uptown apartment living in this Sweet sequel. It`s time to create the kitchens and bathrooms of your clients` dreams. Decipher clues to determine what your clients need, then design a room with your own creative style and moxie. Home Sweet Home 2 delivers hundreds of new furnishings and appliances in 12 stylish categories. Even the savviest home designers will

What’s the best kitchen faucet filter? Do you want a kitchen faucet with filter attached, a completely enclosed screw on design or a countertop model that uses your own tap? Here’s how to choose. Basically, the difference between a countertop system and an under the counter model that includes a kitchen faucet with filter has to [...]

by: ARA (ARA) - From the automobiles we drive to the houses we live in, everything in America seems to be getting bigger these days. While we may debate over the desirability of this trend towards... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

ALNO lands contract to supply The Cube in Dubai with high-quality kitchens...Al-Bawaba - Amman,JordanThe total value of the project is AED 800m (EUR 138m). The BMG Group is currently planning a series of new projects in the Middle East, which may also be ......The Cube is an architecturally innovative building that takes account of the latest developments in environmentally sound building techniqu

I'm sitting here listening to WWOZ radio on the net as I often do, listening to a very modern version of "When the Saints Go Marching In" part rap, part gospel, part jazz, and of course, with that New Orleans influence everywhere. I know, you're saying "whaaaa?" but trust me, it's a good thing. Now, here comes another rendition after that one? Ok, I'll take it!Oy vey, so how do I weave this into k

As you may remember if you've been a reader for some time, I LOVE the Tour de France!I never paid much attention to the Tour until our son took up cycling in a very serious way, with dreams of riding in le Tour himself one day. That particular dream has been replaced now, but it was very much alive for a few years. And so it goes. But, watching the Tour is now a fixture in our home. It's a beautif

It’s that time of the week again. Check out the image below for my Post Secret of the Week… ‘Nasty Arse Kitchens’ [Website - TheLostGirl’s Blog]. Now I have to admit being a bit OCD about cleanliness, especially when it comes to food preparation etc. but even I don’t think I am this bad! The secret [...]

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced a voluntary recall of Mini Chef toy kitchens due to choking and tip-over hazards.The toy kitchens, made in Thailand by eStyle Inc., of Los Angeles, Calif., include pegs that support the oven and... Tech Tags: children's newswatch children's news kids news children kids youth

Today Mini Chef Complete Toy Kitchens have been recalled, they are Manufactured by eStyle Inc., of Los Angeles, Calif. The following product safety recall was voluntarily conducted by the firm in cooperation with the CPSC. It affects about 65 units and the hazard is “The four pegs supporting the oven shelf and four pegs supporting the [...]

Photos and descriptions on ardorny.com:"Separate Kitchen" in E.91st/Upper Eastside Studio/1.0 Bath $1200"Modular kitchen where you'll be able to do light cooking" in W.64th/Upper Westside Studio/1.0 Bath $1395 (with a 7x7' sleeping area)"Kitchen" in "extra Large Studio with a lot of character" in Lexington Avenue/East Midtown Studio/1.0 Bath $1395"Foyer with Kitchenette. Appx. 4X13" in W.102nd/Upp

I have been very reluctant whether to carry out repairs of our old house back home or just build a brand new one where all the designs will be based on what I want. I was browsing lately for some good kitchen designs that will best suit my family. We are growing and I am thinking of going home for a while so having a new house is really a priority now.I have seen some fitted kitchens online at ada

For the next week, I’ll be doing some extra commenting on on the WMLSPOTD. Why? Because next week I’m making a presentation to my Keller Williiams Realty Office Meeting. I’ll be posting an example of each of the categories. That way, I’ll only be showing them the previous weeks postings on VVV.       I use a simple [...]

Print ad reads:I don't cook. So I made my eat-in kitchen a fabulous walk-in closet.My coworker Kirsten came across the ad in a magazine and commented, "In Manhattan, we do this because we don't cook and we don't have any closet space."She went on to tell me that one of her friends sublets an apartment from a girl who stored her extra shoes in the oven.

Kitchens need to be inspected very thoroughly. Because they are one of the most used rooms in any home, there is a tremendous amount of traffic that goes through every kitchen. As well, they are one of the most expensive rooms to refurbish in the house, especially in you live in Staten Island. More: continued [...]

You might start thinking this is the outdoor grill tv network. There's a lot of good video clips out there. I'll start text posting again for outdoor grills but for now, I'm letting the video feed continue.

At KBIS, I took a 1/2 day sort of refresher course on venting. There is not a whole lot new in venting concepts, but, it did reinforce and remind me of the "ick" factor, which I'll explain. Here's what's happening. First, our kitchen floor plans are more OPEN to other rooms. This means that pollutants from cooking have more opportunity to freely move about your home, hanging out in your furnishings, your artwork, your pillows, walls, flooring, you get the idea. Just as an fyi, grease from cooking turns into vapor and floats in the air as particles for as long as 72 hours!ADD TO THAT, the tighter construction of newer homes, which can encourage mold growth and trap pollutants, and your health becomes at risk for allergies, asthma, lung disea

Create a convincing "turn of the century" style kitchen using salvaged architectural elements and period reproductions like those featured here.Before the homeowner undertook the year-long renovation of her early-1900's kitchen, she consulted books and periodicals, foraged through salvage companies for antique building elements appropriate to the late-Victorian era, and enlisted the expertise of G

Italian kitchens are famous around the world for their high level of style that doesn’t compromise in the slightest on functionality. But what makes a truly Italian kitchen? More: continued here

A renovation opens up the kitchen of a 1912 home while bringing it Victorian charmBright IdeasWhen a married couple bought their 1912 home on Long Island, New York, five years ago, they found it hadn't been altered much in the 80 years since its construction. "We considered that an advantage," says the wife. "Most of the houses in the area had been done over and over again." But that also meant th

Long after Christmas and holiday parties have passed, a joyous spirit lingers in this Pennsylvania kitchen. Yuletide ColorsAs an interior designer and self-described "redaholic," the owner of this 1756 home in Embreeville, Pennsylvania, had no problem deciding on the primary color for his kitchen. Settling on a pleasing second hue, however, proved difficult. White was too bright, black simply not

Family life has always centred around the kitchen. Whatever culture or country you may be in, socialising takes place in the kitchen, from parties to family meals or occasional snacks. Even having a coffee and a chat with friends often takes place in the kitchen. Food is the most important aspect of life that we cannot [...]

How do you choose what colors will work for your kitchen design? It’s easier than you think. Once you eliminate what won’t work, you are left with a simple palette to choose from. So here are a few... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

How do you choose what colors will work for your kitchen design?It’s easier than you think. Once you eliminate what won’t work, you are left with a simple palette to choose from. So here are a few ways to filter out colors from your kitchen.Color for Small Spaced KitchensDon’t use dark timbers and colors that will make the space appear smaller. So avoid dark reds, purples, dark blues and greens. Look for clear crisp colors or whites with a tint of blue, green or yellow for a subtle background of color. Keep cabinetry simple and unadorned and avoid clutter as it will create chaos in a small kitchen. Color for Large Open Plan Spaced KitchensDon’t make a huge contrast in color to the remainder of the décor in your home unless you want your kitchen to visually dominate the living spac

This must be the most gray day in history! We're having a nor'easter, and it seems as if everything is gray. Well, not everything. The backdrop of the day is surely gray, but I happen to like this type of day, at this time of year. You have gray skies, then, especially now, there are still trees with beautiful, bright, brown, leaves, peppering the gray skies, that have not fallen yet, the brown tree trunks, some white snow, and green ivy as a ground cover. All this from my window. Gray, brown, white, green. It works for me. Another beautiful color palette by Mother Nature. So, perfect inspiration for, what else, gray kitchens! Neutral, cozy (some), simple, elegant, charming. Lots of different looks in a gray color scheme. What are cold, gray, skies, to some, may be a cozy backdrop to others. Sort of like these kitchens, I presume. Most images have been collected from Desire To Inspire, a favorite blog with endless, absolutely endless, interior design ideas and inspiration.

Building outdoor kitchens is all the rage and if you haven’t already built one, I’m sure you’re cooking up an outdoor kitchen plan for your home. Free Content for BlogsAnd why not upgrade your backyard to be the hot spot on the block for entertaining and relaxing… Outdoor kitchens increase your living space adding tremendous value and appeal to your home. That’s why building outdoor kitchens is the second most popular remodeling project after indoor kitchens. However, a great outdoor kitchen is a complex project. You can certainly enjoy your backyard and grill up some tasty BBQ on any charcoal or gas grill, but to truly bring your kitchen outdoors requires significant planning, skill and expertise. This project is not a do-it-yourselfer. Here’s what you’ll need to consider: Your basic outdoor kitchen set-up will include a built-in barbeque grill, countertop, sink, refrigerator, outdoor kitchen cabinets and cozy outdoor furniture or barstoo

Yesterday was the ceremony for the award of the Nobel Peace Prize. Of course, since Al Gore is the recipient, it is especially interesting to hear his speech on our planet's climate crisis, including his philosophy, ideas, and solutions. Just as interesting, and compelling, is the speech given by R. K. Pachauri, Chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Most likely, one does not hear about this second speech, only Al Gore's, so take a look.I am not a scientist. I am also not a full fledged treehugger, nor do I have an expanse of knowledge in this area. I'd say that I am increasingly making real efforts to become aware of this issue, especially as it relates to my work. This is a very broad issue to sort through. It will take time and it will take a commitment to continually seek out knowledge and learn to apply that knowledge in my work. Take a look at the speeches given yesterday.  It did occur to me yesterday, when I put the tv on, that CN

So, I'm at the dentist this morning (a whole hour appointment) and I'm happily under the sweet air, and what do I start thinking about, but this blog. First off, I'm very busy these days, so that's the reason for the less frequent posts. So, I'm hearing drilling in my head (mind you, all different whirring sounds, not just one type, the high pitch AND the low pitch) and after that I'm hearing beeping, like a truck backing up, yet, I'm relaxed and focusing on details of the blog and what I want to talk about today. Then, I had to concentrate on acting totally normal after I get up from the chair, as if I feel no lingering effects of the sweet air and am in total control! I'll tell you, this is one, painless, dental practice.But, back to lying down in the chair and thinking of the blog...What came to mind was just a small detail of the dynamics of the remodeling process and the client/designer relationship, or client and builder/contractor/whatever relationship. I was e

Do you need a formal dining room for your Thanksgiving dinner for a small group? No! Over the years, I've had one long table, as well as multiple tables, and I'll tell you what is best: it's whatever works! And, if that means eating in the kitchen, so be it. Here are inspiring eat in kitchens good enough for today's main event, the Thanksgiving meal. Images from Desire To Inspire and the (departed) House & Garden. Enjoy! 

I see many new and older homes in and around Tallahassee and Pensacola, Florida. I have observed that homebuyers want bigger kitchens and that the kitchen is very much the center of activity, conversation and planning. It is used as an office, decorative piece, place for preparing checks to pay the bills. It is a [...]

There's a small part of me that would love to do a kitchen out west, if I had a home, or for someone else, for that matter. What would I do? The whole rustic Colorado/Montana/wild west look? Or, maybe a kitchen with a California mediterranean/Spanish ifluence. Or, an elegant, San Franciscan back in time look? I don't know, but I do dream about a western kitchen. Or, maybe I'd choose sort of a modern, yet, warm, kitchen in Oregon or in Seattle, maybe? That could work out quite well. I first saw these at Apartment Therapy San Francisco. and gasped! What a treasure trove! They are from Western Interiors magazine.  Sometimes, less is more, and sometimes less is, well, less. You'll find your favorites, which, after all, is the point...there's something for everyone. :)You've got to see it in the slide show...go ahead, waste a little time and get into the kitchen dream zone...zzzzzzzzz  

GetKitchenSupplies.com http://feedblendr.com/blends/20249.rss http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-122660114.html Foodservice Equipment & Supplies magazine has announced that it has released its second electronic flipbook. The flipbook, entitled, Getti...

Once in a great while I like to sort of write about my day. Today seems to be a good day for that. Things are swirling around. Busy day.A New Installer I started the day with an appointment at 7:15 am in my office with a new, potential, cabinet installer. Choosing to work with an installer is not unlike choosing a business partner. You want to make sure the mutual goals are similar, the business values, good habits, in order to feel that there is synergy at a certain level to produce quality work. An installer and a designer, ultimately, are a team, like it or not. They both need one another to be successful, efficient, and get the job done in the best way possible. I like this installer, and I feel very confident about him. I'm very picky and interview installers with many questions. The answers were great. I foresee mutual respect, which must be present, or it won't work. This one's for you, Joe Z***Where I don't see mutual respect, unfortunately, is with Joe Z***, who I met

I'm excited to present to you this first kitchen, in a series of wonderful kitchens culled from the Desire To Inspire blog! Jo and Kim, the ladies who are the force behind this award winning blog, (recently named one of the ten most influential design blogs in the blogosphere) have an "eye," a vision for finding stunning interiors. It is the place I go to when I just want to look at interiors to get, well, inspired. In fact, it can be very addicting, looking at these beautiful spaces! It is not quick and easy to do what Kim and Jo do. The time spent on research behind the scenes is impressive. To create a collection of spaces, which all flow from one to the next, is itself, a creative work. Whether the context is color one day, style the next, a showcase of a particular design firm, or any other theme, we understand what it is we are viewing. It all makes sense.Let's look at this elegant kitchen. It just speaks to me. I think, because, it reflects my personal style. Maybe t

I know you're ready for some wonderful kitchens! Last week was mostly an informational week, and I think we need a few days of kitchen eye candy, or, let's prepare dessert first in our kitchens! What a treat today, to see THIS blog mentioned on Decor8, by Rachel Perls of Hue Consulting. Rachel talks about the "black" trend in all things interior design related, including kitchens. Black, absolutely, is a trend in kitchens. I'm observing this trend is only getting stronger. I have to say it is stunning. It may be best dressed up, as you see in the little black dress, always a classic. But, is it a classic, in terms of kitchen cabinetry? That is the question! Surely, we are seeing so MUCH black these days, but I'm still not convinced it translates to a classic in the kitchen. I predict it will be dated in five years.  I'd tread carefully around black, if you can resist it! Can you? Take a look at Rachel's take on black. She is a color expert, and her point of vi

Yes, it’s an old cliche, but my lifelong experience is that EVERY cliche in the world is based on fact. Bathrooms are the hardest room to shoot, but if you don’t get a great picture, don’t put it on the MLS. The only thing worse than a bad picture is NO PICTURES AT ALL!     Share This

Breaking News! Interrupting our regularly scheduled green series (again), I had to show you this. I felt like I hit paydirt when I checked one of my usual sources for decorating inspiration, Domino. Wow, take a look at Domino's reader's entries for their first decorating contest. This category is kitchens and dining rooms. You will quickly see that Dominos' readers are NOT afraid of color, texture, or decorative details! How great are these?? It's always so much fun to look at "real" kitchens, especially when you see real individuality in the design. I see spirit in these homes, and that's a special ingredient for a kitchen design that is always worth pursuing. Five finalists will be selected, and will be presented on October 23.  Good work, readers!Tip: While you're at it, check out the Renovator's Diary blog, by Brooke Williams, also on Domino. I've linked to September's entries, a good look at Brooke's very interesting kitchen.   

It occurs to me that one of my "life philosophies" translates very well to designing a green kitchen. I'm one who tries to be aware, not only of black and white, but shades of gray in relation to an issue. The shades of gray give us freedom, flexibility, and choices to find the right path toward the right solution, in this case, designing green. It is awareness.Once one goes into the world of "green design" it's easy to become immersed in a world, not only of green products, but of ways to have a green lifestyle in general.  You can go down that road as slowly and as near or far as you want to. I find that it is a journey. You can choose to be more "lite green" in your philosophy than "forest green." Think of it as fluid. I am finding the more I know, the more I want to know, forming my own, personal, version of a green philosophy (which is often changing.) Here are some easy ways to begin thinking green for a kitchen remodel. You can inco

I couldn't let this post go without showing it to you, especially since you know I have a "thing" for retro kitchens of the 60s and 70s. Do I love them? Um.....right now, I have that sort of pained half smile squinty-eyed look on my face. Sort of like greeting someone you really don't like. Let's be brave soldiers together and gaze at these wonders from kitchens past. My mother issues are coming up for me...What a fabulous collection we have here from Desire to Inspire, ok, fabulous being an oxymoron. Nonetheless, we can talk about color, pattern, pattern (oh, sorry, I said that already) and color. I know there has to be one with a rug in there somewhere. Desire to Inspire's Retro Kitchens 

Here is a collection of modern kitchens, snapped at the kitchen show a few months back in Las Vegas. I have not put these images up till now, and it's interesting to compare them with the Scandinavian modern kitchens I just photographed in August. Some of these kitchens were made to showcase appliances, and some were showcasing cabinetry. Perhaps you can see that the trend of tile walls is strong. A bright color trend is seen, as well as dark shades of cabinets in these images, also strong. Quite frankly, I think some of these are uninspiring, at least to my eye, a few others are good, and the second to last image is a great example of just way too much going on...putting different materials together just because you can! What's your take...and preferences?  

Here's what's happening around the blogs for some kitchen info and inspiration. First, check out Desire To Inspire's post on dining spots. Definitely an important stylistic part of the kitchen, it's great to see this variety of styles and colors. Love their choices! Jo & Kim at DTI recently spent the week guest blogging at design*sponge. Some great postings this week on the d*s blog. Breaking News: Stay tuned, as this week I'll be interviewing Grace Bonney, design*sponge publisher extraordinaire, on all things NOW, relating to home design.Did you say you wanted a colorful kitchen? Take a look at this kitchen and all the other home entries in Apartment Therapy's Fall Colors Contest. AT says: "Color is a powerful part of interior design, and the cheapest way to change a room, but few feel comfortable using it. To inspire confidence, we're going to share all of the best color homes, tips and sources, worldwide." Vote!Kitchen Design Notes has some solid information on

I received this email from Elizabeth, a reader, and just had to share it with you. Here it is in its entirety:"Susan- i ran across your site a few months ago and i am continued to be drawn to your work, photographs and thoughts as a source of tasteful inspiration for our kitchen. we recently purchased a home with a kitchen that needs updating so i am currently living and breathing kitchen design (i am a designer by training and so this is a dream project for me). Anyhow, I wanted to send you kudos on your work and blog. I would love it if you would post your thoughts on the resurgence of the white kitchen. it seems like every magazine i pick up these days has all white kitchens. is it just a trend? is cherry/maple.oak totally dated?" Elizabeth, this is a great question! Thank you for your lovely comments and for your question. Here's what I think. I think there are a few things going on. There are no ifs, ands, or buts...white is a classic in kitchen design, and its interpre

One of my favorite blogs, freshome, was interested in the kitchen "scene" in Copenhagen, which I have not yet shown on this blog. I went to a good number of kitchen showrooms, every single one of them having wonderful looks and features within. Some features and styling are very subtle, almost imperceptible as being something special, unless pointed out, making the look all the more...I think "organic" is a one descriptive word, following Denmark's great, and historical, tradition for design excellence. So, I encourage you to look closely at these images in the flikr slide show. Here is what I observed, which I shared with freshome, on that blog: "I LOVED going to Copenhagen's kitchen showrooms, seeing the latest, and very cool, design ideas. Large patterns on walls, beautiful, and textural wood grains, lots of dark charcoal or black, and white, cabinetry, these are some of the latest trends in kitchen design. I also noticed backsplashes with clear or colore

My husband and I changed two rooms of furniture around yesterday, swapping furniture in each room. The dining room furniture was put into the smaller of our two family rooms. The family room furniture was put into the dining area (not the breakfast area), which is open to the kitchen. We now have a great room floor plan, that I've been designing for my clients for the past, close to, 20 years!Two of our three kids moved out about 3 years ago, the smaller family room just wasn't getting used, and at the same time, new lifestyle patterns were emerging for us. Our daughter and son in law visit from the city on occasional weekends, our other son, less so, and lots of time is spent in the kitchen along with a variety of activities such as preparing meals with great music playing, laptop use, sports tv with no sound on, hors d'oevres before dinner, relaxing, talking, dining, and any combination of same. Being on the "other side" of raising children, I can tell you, at least for

(For more Five Things/Ways advice articles, click here.) Some of these may seem obvious if you like to cook. Sadly, many people don't and they rely on instant food or take out (probably why they gained all that weight!) Relearning how to eat and cook is part of successful weight loss. So before you start your diet, make sure you have these items on hand in your kitchen: 1. Measuring spoons - Get several sets to place around your kitchen. I have a traditional round set in a drawer by the refrigerator and the set of 6 RSVP Spice Measuring Spoons by the stove. The skinny retangular shape of these spoons makes it easy to measure spices right out of the bottle. I also use the large tablespoon one to measure out my Cream of Wheat each morning. It's the only measuring spoon I have that fits right into the hole in the box. Amazon carries a huge selection of measuring spoons. If I had to buy new ones, I'd get the Nigella Lawson Measuring Spoons. Her six-piece set features a 1 dsp., which

I spoke with a Consultation client today, a mother of two very young children. She was struggling because she could not decide which white to choose for her cabinet color. Her kitchen, at the rear of the house, could be seen from the front door, first through the living room, then through the dining room, then, into the kitchen. She also needed to select paint for her walls in these rooms. This entire space, these rooms, I'd consider to be relatively small in size. Here's what occurred to me. First, as a mother who raised three kids in a white kitchen(!) I needed to discuss the inevitable...dings, nicks, marks, wear, even non-kid wear combined with kid-wear! It's a bad scene, and if it doesn't happen right away, in time, it will. When asked when will it show, I replied, it could be the next day or much longer, but show it WILL!What I suggested was a soft, neutral, elegant shade, such as a light/medium greigy/beige shade. This type of shade can serve many purposes: It will serv

Last Monday and Tuesday, I attended a series of workshops, presented by Quality Custom Cabinetry, whose custom cabinetry I use in many of my kitchens. They make a wonderful product Not only that, the entire (and I mean entire) culture of this company is something special. They will go to the very fringes of their ability to accommodate their designers. And, they will do so happily and willingly. I really love this company, and have been carrying their products since 1997. I'm not so sure Quality would want me to shout this from the rooftops, but, I learned that they employ a Chaplain full time to attend to the needs of all of their employees, in the factory and the office building, complete with his own cubicle.  He is there to be called on as needed. Quite impressive, I thought. One of the workshops (to Quality's credit) was on green kitchen design and thinking green, as is being implemented by Quality in their products. They referred us to easybeinggreen.com and we went around

In addition to announcing a new attorney, Kitchens New LLC in Atlanta announced the hiring of paralegal Sharon C. Semmens in a recent press release. Semmens brings 25 years of paralegal experience in estates and trusts, corporate, premises liability, labor and employment issues to the table.

From Property Management to Luxury Kitchens-Home Partners goes upscale in Georgia (Kitchen Cabinets Online) - (Panorama Press ) Atlanta, Georgia-December 22, 2006-Home Partners Associates, property management technology, is announcing the acquisition of Farrow’s Appliances of Woodstock, Georgia. The company specializes in upscale design and remodeling of kitchens and additions for North Georgia

Luxury Kitchens and Appliances and Viking Appliances bring upscale to North Georgia (Kitchen Cabinets Online) - Luxury Kitchens and Appliances (LKA), located right on the Cobb and Cherokee county border in Georgia, announced it is teaming with Viking Appliances to bring superior kitchen alternatives to North Georgia. Viking, known as the benchmark for gourmets, is famous for manufacturing ranges

Believe it: World Class Custom Kitchens in Cobb County and Cherokee County, Georgia (Kitchen Cabinets Online) - (PanoramaPress) Woodstock, Georgia-December 5, 2006- In a barren wasteland of “Big Box” stores and bland, homogeneous design options, Luxury Kitchens and Appliances (LKA) breaks new ground by introducing one of Atlanta finest design outfits, Fusion Design Group, to its fast growing

Luxury Kitchens(LKA) unveils a new line of Custom Kitchen Cabinets in the Woodstock, Ga (Kitchen Cabinets Online) - (PanoramaPress) Woodstock, Georgia- -Luxury Kitchens and Appliances (LKA), located right on the Cobb and Cherokee county border in Georgia, announced it is teaming with CWP to bring superior custom kitchen cabinets to North Georgia. CWP, located in the picturesque Shenandoah Valley

Oh, I have so much to share with you in the days and weeks ahead (and months!) We're here, in Copenhagen, nearly two weeks, and leaving to go back home Thursday morning. Our suitcases are packed, as tomorrow will be filled with two different family outings, maybe one more quick stop at a kitchen showroom, and somehow we have to pack the two paintings I bought! Copenhagen is truly one of the design capitals of the world. To have two weeks to observe great design in shops, in public spaces, and in private homes, has been a constant source of education, enjoyment, and privilege. I've also been inspired by learning new ways of thinking about protecting our natural resources and changing the way we live in small ways. Danes are famous for subtle, but pointed, humor, and perhaps you will see this characteristic in this special exhibit I will show you on thinking green, which is taking place at the Danish Design Center. Coming soon.So, having been in six of my family's kitchens this time a

I thought I'd share with you an article that just came out that I was interviewed for...take a look, it's on TheStreet.com. My son, 21, is a huge fan of Jim Cramer, so this adds points for me with him. Points for me? I think it should be the other way around.Take a look and stay in the loop! Luxury Kitchens on TheStreet.com.

In new luxury condos going up throughout the city, the latest trend is subtelty. Large spaces with quiet, subtle luxury is being seen in the newer condo projects.Designers are creating kitchens that conceal major appliances. Flaunting appliances such as the Sub-Zero, the Viking, the Wolf are out. Today many buyers are looking for kitchens to be more sleek and concealed they don't want to see appliances anymore.Many of the new condos are featuring kitchens that look like a built -in-piece of furniture; dishwashers are covered, refrigerators are covered. Instead of traditional ovens, many condos have flat, sleek oven tops. Sleek (and often smaller) appliances with brand names like Fisher & Paykel, Liebherr, Gaggenau, Miele and Bosch are starting to replace the commercial style appliances like Viking and Wolf.The right appliances or combination of appliances has become the new status symbol. Granite and marble is out, stainless steel is out, quartz resin and glass are in.Out are kitc

Something I already knew, which was confirmed at KBIS in May...open shelving is HOT! It adds that warm touch, anyway it's done. Although, there IS an art to the arrangement of objects on open shelving, very much so. I designed my own kitchen (meant to be temporary, and here it is 4 years later) with lots of open shelving of various types to allow me to be surrounded by my collections. FYI, in the first image of my kitchen, the objects (all mine) were artfully arranged by the stylist on site when my kitchen was shot for publication last year, so I can't take credit for that! But, I digress.Let's call today's journal entry, Scandinavian Wednesday, rather than Monday (late again) and take a look at how the Scandinavians "do" open shelving. They're very good at arrangements, the shelves themselves, and creating a look and feel of real warmth. Today we'll look at traditional shelves and arrangements in the kitchen. It's not really difficult to put items on a shelf, but one

Here are some modern kitchens from Metropolitan Home, which came in the mail yesterday. It's a great issue...go out and pick up your copy. Meanwhile, I would love to know your thoughts on these kitchens.        

Today is Bastille Day, commemmorating the storming of the Bastille on 14 July 1789. Of course, on this national holiday, always falling in the midst of the Tour de France, it is traditionally the day upon which French riders will make a special effort to take a stage victory for France! And, so, it is appropriate to show some kitchens from France today, and I think I have a treat for you! Since the Tour is entering the treacherous and stunningly beautiful French alps, let's take a look at some French country kitchens in some luxury chalets, oui?  Images from the Oxford Ski Company, specialists in luxury ski vacations. I'm there...I just need to learn how to ski, just a detail! I hear tomorrow the route for the Tour is even more grueling in the mountains of France. I'm watching, are you?           As you can see in the first image, many of these chalets will accommodate from 10 to 20 people, or more. Some have 8-10 bedrooms, hot

The first stage of the 94th Tour de France began today in London, for the first time ever. They say one million spectators lined the streets to take in the start of Le Tour, the route going from London to Canterbury, 203 kilometers. 189 of the world's best cyclists are now on their way toward 20 stages in all, through villages, mountains, long flats, and ultimately, of course, into Paris (wait till you see the luxury Paris kitchens I already have lined up!)I have a personal interest in the Tour. My son is a bike racer and aspires to great cycling accomplishments! We frequently attend races around our region. I'll be watching the Tour every day. I must say, the producers of the tour tv footage frequently include amazing views of the French countryside and villages. Turn it on for an hour, you'll see what I mean. It is a fabulous tour of France. Those aerial views are crazy!So, in honor of the first stage of Le Tour, beginning in London, here is a collection of kit

I love the blog Absolutely Beautiful Things, authored by Anna. Today, I looked through it and found a few posts on particularly beautiful kitchens, which I'd like to show you. The first post shows a gorgeous white kitchen which is actually very similar to one that I did recently.  And, in Anna's later post Kitchen Love Part Two, please check out the inspiring ways to use shelving on walls and in pantries. Anna is an Interior Designer in Brisbane, Australia and owns a very wonderful shop called Black and Spiro. Please also take a look at the blog At Home With Kim Vallee. The advice on this blog is excellent. It is practical and insightful and creative, a special and important combination. Kim's writing translates into focus and direction and makes it easy to follow too.And one more, more shelving from Small Space Style, another blog with great ideas and again, very practical advice.I need to do a post about shelving in kitchens, it is so HOT these days. These blogs have inspired

It turns out it's perfectly appropriate, and I even wish I had planned it this way, that I'm two days late for my weekly Monday Scandinavian Kitchens exhibit. Today, being, July 4, Independence Day, is the perfect tie-in to dedicate this post to my parents, who came from Copenhagen to the U.S., at that time, sailing past Lady Liberty, to pursue the American dream. My parents, especially my mother, wanted to assimilate as seamlessly as possible into American life. She quickly found a church to become a member of, got involved in school and PTA activities, made lots of genuinely good friends and was happy to gain citizenship and to feel like an American. My father founded a business, made his fortune, later lost it all, blaming it on unions, also typically American! I lived the American dream growing up, and while assimilation was important to my parents, the wonderful Scandinavian cultural traditions remained intact. Food, the language (between my parents), the fantastic Danish modern

Very interesting article in The New York Times, Buying Into The Green Movement. This piece talks about our eagerness to literally "buy into" the green movement, causing critics to question the fundamental issue...are we "consuming to conserve", thus, this line of thinking being a paradox? Are we eager to buy new green products, products, whether green or not green, which may not truly be needed at all, thus, creating an unnecessary environmental impact?I can't advise new homeowners whose kitchen is 40 years old and damaged, to forego renovating their kitchen. I am not of that philosophy, although some may be. To me, THAT is an oxymoron. However, there are ways to think a little deeper as to how one can be green, with, or even without, the use of green products.  Let's take new kitchen cabinetry. A client may have an interest in designing with "green" products. One issue, which has a huge environmental impact, of course, is fuel. A homeowner may want

I just uploaded another ten images into my now growing authentic, charming (admittedly not for everyone) French Country Kitchens album. I think it's because I just booked an apartment in Copenhagen this week for my vacation and I'm thinking vacation...villas...authentic European kitchens. I'll bet there are those who want to rent a home in France for vacation and experience living and cooking in one of these kitchens. I really hope they don't end up cooking meatloaf, that would be a crime and subject to banishment from French soil, FOREVER! But, I digress.If you're inspired to create a French country kitchen, a word of advice. Look at these images. Get inspired. But, also look for the details. For example, you may not care for the general look and feel of an entire kitchen, but look more closely, and you may see that you like the hood or the shelving or another detail.  Don't judge any one of these too quickly. In a few cases, while I didn't love the kitchen, there was some

Since my last Scandinavian Kitchens post, summer has arrived! Summer, to me, is one of those extreme experiences in many ways. I wouldn't want it all year, I like it just long enough to really enjoy it fully. I happen to like the summer garden better than my huge spring rose flush with thousands of rose blooms. Likewise, eating any meal of the day al fresco enhances the dining experience and creates summertime memories. As another summer solstice-inspired change, I lightened up the look of the blog a little bit...also more light filled and clean for the summer. I hope you like it. Here are some fresh, summery, Scandinavian kitchens for you to dream on (ok, put wireless in the backyard and then bring your laptop, jump in the hammock, and dream that way!)   I'm especially excited this week because just this morning I found and booked an extremely (that word again) charming apartment in Copenhagen for our vacation this summer, for 2 weeks. Made the plane reservations

I just heard from my blogging counterpart, Timothy, at Charles and Hudson that he's a part of the hot new site PointClickHome, the new shelter hub that brings together ElleDecor, Metropolitan Home, and HOME magazines.  From what I see, there are lots of lifestyle  areas to check out, such as food, decorating, remodeling,  gardening, and more good stuff. It's laid out well and logically, with lots of great images, informative, and down-to-earth chat across the site. The two words that come to my mind are "fresh" and "smart!" Good work, Timothy! 

 Want to see some beautiful kitchens? Look through Coastal Living's kitchen section and get inspired! I love lots of things about this kitchen and have a couple of quibbles. LOVE the same paint on the walls as on the hoodLOVE the dark brown accentsLOVE the contrast of the white floor and dark island/tableLOVE the use of whiteDON'T LOVE the refrigerator enclosureWOULD BETTER LOVE an integral open shelf toward the top of the island for useful storageWOULD BETTER LOVE the ceiling fixture over the island hanging lowerWOULD BETTER LOVE a piece of artwork hanging over the recessed wall cabinet next to the blinds Overall, a winner for me. How about you?? Enjoy these inspiring kitchens.  

Want to see some beautiful kitchens? Look through Coastal Living's kitchen section and get inspired! I love lots of things about this kitchen and have a couple of quibbles. LOVE the same paint on the walls as on the hoodLOVE the dark brown accentsLOVE the contrast of the white floor and dark island/tableLOVE the use of whiteDON'T LOVE the refrigerator enclosureWOULD BETTER LOVE an integral open shelf toward the top of the island for useful storageWOULD BETTER LOVE the ceiling fixture over the island hanging lowerWOULD BETTER LOVE a piece of artwork hanging over the recessed wall cabinet next to the blinds Overall, a winner for me. How about you?? Enjoy these inspiring kitchens.  

So far, in this series on Scandinavian kitchens, I have not showcased many brands of cabinetry, so I'd like to do that today. Let's focus a bit on the cabinetry, surely an integral part of any kitchen, as the kitchen is often (mostly) about storage. Storage that is functional, furniture-like, cool, whatever...as we know, the aesthetics of the cabinetry lead the rest of the kitchen's theme. I think it is safe to say that the vast majority of current Scandinavian kitchens incorporate contemporary themes. This is another reason why it's very helpful to see this regular series, as the vast majority of kitchen design in the U.S. is traditional. Perhaps this series on Scandinavian kitchens will help many consumers become more comfortable with contemporary kitchen design. Since Scandinavian (modern) kitchen cabinetry is seen in rooms (within Scandinavia) with traditional architecture, surrounded by heavily textured materials, or situated among smooth and sleek surfaces, with which one usu

Today, I present kitchens to put a smile on your face. First up is the fabulous Fabulon. I swear, Fabulon is obsessed with kitchens. I've had other great material from this blogging kitchen fan. Oh, and please turn up your speakers when you visit. Jo and Kim from Desire to Inspire never ever disappoint, with frequent forays into the kitchenworld. Did you ask for more from Desire to Inspire? Ok, you have it, then go here to a beautiful kitchen and here to another beautiful kitchen. And, also, check out Terramia, for inspiring PINK kitchens...you'll need to exercise your scrolling pointer finger to seek out two kitchens in this post, but it's worth it!And, a nice idea for a sink/countertop from my colleague Peggy, at Kitchen-exchange. Enjoy!  

Well, I guess I took an unintended week of vacation from blogging...very busy week last week! But, more about that another time. After all, clients ARE #1! I'm toying around with the idea of going to Denmark on vacation at the end of August. Which got me into the vacation villa, or "summerhus" as it's called, rental mode. A great place to look at REAL Scandinavian kitchens.  I found some lovely kitchens that may actually make you want to COOK while on vacation, do you think? In any event, surely, the design, and openness of a kitchen plan is conducive to happy and casual living in a rental. Who wants to be isolated in an entirely separate room if you don't have to be. A perfect reason to search for an open kitchen plan. Please go to nice summer and take a look. Oh...click on "Luxury Cottages."  Nice start.   I also found this great kitchen at klmdesign.dk. 

There are many Scandinavian kitchens which have beamed ceilings. There are many old buildings, both apartments in the city and old farm homes, which have beams used as structural timbers in the home. Of course, as said before, Scandinavians beautifully mix their contemporary design aesthetic with these old beams, and they do it with style and confidence. Thus, a home with truly rustic elements does not have to continue this look of "country", even if the floors are old, the walls are textured stone, as well as the ceiling with ancient beams. Some old structures have low ceilings. In these homes we will see beams too, but they may be closer to the ceiling, more shallow, and perhaps painted a light color, looking into blend in, another great look. Enjoy these images, and please look through the previous images in this category in the sidebar to see other great beamed kitchens. Top image is from Tidens Bolig, second image from Bo Bedre. And, again, here's a great Scandinavian b

Hi kitchen fans, the latest installment is here of 60s-70s kitchens, and the last entry of this type for a little while. I think I've made the point, to show examples of kitchens that we can't believe we really either lived in or were designed, in our recent history! I'll put one up every now and then for another laugh and "yikes!" I'll be replacing this feature with a regularly scheduled Saturday "New/Cool Product." It's important to be aware of what is in the marketplace, and so much is in the marketplace in the world of kitchens. And, having attended 3 design shows in May, I have lots of great material to go through, and I'm really picky too. So, back to the kitchen of today. It sort of looks like iron fencing, doesn't it? And, the aquamarine? Hmmm, not sure I have an explanation for that! The curtains REALLY give away the time period here, don't you think? But, what really bugs me is the typical cabinetry to the left of the image. I think something ther

A slow weekend around here, mostly spent in the garden, in and out of the house, depending on my mood. Either way, relaxing, and I hope you are too! I found some interesting things on kitchens!First up, a couple of recent posts on Desire To Inspire.  This is one very nice example of kitchens from Israel, and another post from DTI, here. One, all about storage, the other all about open shelving! Next, from my colleague in Westchester, Mark R. LePage, AIA, where I'm sure he lives well, is a discussion on the kitchen being more than the typical hub of the home, but the electronic hub as well. I'll be adding more to this discussion, as I uncover my notes and information from KBIS, still a bit buried! You'll be hearing more from Mark soon, as we "get into" a little discussion about architects and kitchen designers working together. Or, maybe we should call it "Survivor!" Stay tuned for this lively discussion, coming soon.From another colleague, Peggy Deras,

It seems appropriate, as a tribute to Memorial Day, to showcase a 60s-70s kitchen which salutes our national symbol, the eagle! And, our second national symbol, the orange! Ah yes, the brown appliances, the laminate butcher block countertop, the brick veneer, and of course, we must have patterns which don't make sense and colonial style chairs. What more can I say?? Truly, a historically accurate kitchen....have fun! 

I love days like this. While he was not on screen long, it was all good.I could not help but laugh at this momentHe brave he was too. He tried to help. He could have hid in the back room. No Damian was brave. How did Mr Craig see him? (I really have a hard time calling him Jerry) {ok on after three viewings i see that he saw Sam turn to look at Spinelli}Best momment was what he said about Amelia"Well.."The Driven One' no doubt wishes she produced a show about remolding kitchens."Made me giggle the whole rest of the showOh here is another camera phone moment.http://bradfordanderson.net/

I went to ICFF yesterday in New York. What a show. It seems bigger than ever. ICFF is the International Contemporary Furniture Fair, and International it is....many countries are represented, grouped together in their own areas. This is a wonderful show. The products are highly creative, with such beautiful finishes, colors, textures, it's the best of the best I think in terms of creativity for modern design. I was crazy about this show. Lots of ideas for kitchens, creative, fun, or just alternative ideas. Really gets the creativity flowing. I will be putting products up from this show for some time, as I will from the KBIS show as well. There is not a "shelf life" that is just days after the show to be compelled to finish reporting on a show. There are so many wonderful items, it will surely take me months to get through the great items I've seen, so look forward to fantastic ideas and resources over time. Here's your breakfast table in the city or the country! This table

After a 2 week absence due to the KBIS show and other things thrown into the mix, it's good to be back with Scandinavian kitchens on Mondays. Here we go! Here are actually two kitchens, but one has a lot of images. I'd like to take a minute to review what makes them Scandinavian in nature and what is also not only cultural, but good design.  The first concept is lighting. Scandinavians love interesting lighting, and lots of it. So, the lighting fixtures must be well designed as well as highly functional. Task lighting is huge in Scandinavia. There are little light fixtures anywhere and everywhere. So, take note of the lighting.   Second concept is "shapes and forms". This is a more architectural concept, which can be seen, for example, in the mosaic tile wall behind the cooktop and elsewhere. Scandinavians do not fear blank walls, and in fact have used them as part of their design work for a very long time, long before this idea became popular elsewhere. It

Here is a colorful AND modern kitchen! We have a fabulous built in radio along with a built in light off center above the cooktop. As usual, we have pattern, seen in the stripes, in multiple areas, but I hate to think of the cleaning issue over the cooktop. A wonderfully creative white laminate countertop, and the "piece de resistance" (insert your own accent marks) the shag rug! Love those "cathedral" upper door panels too, they were such a staple for elegant kitchens. Enjoy! 

Podcast for Top Design fans....while at the GE press event last night, a special guest was Matt Lorenz, winner of Top Design. Matt talked about his kitchen design and was also asked about backstage gossip! Meanwhile, after the presentation, I spoke with Matt, only to find out later that I must not have turned on my recorder! What Matt said to me is that he prefers to have total control over his kitchen designs, and he works out details directly with the cabinet maker of his choice. He feels he wants to have the ability to direct the kitchen design to fit with the design of the entire home. He said that while he fights for what he believes to be the right design direction, in the end, it is the client's home, and they have the final say. His vision for the entirety of the project is held closely by him at all times. Spoken as a "top designer", I'd say. Thanks to GE for this fun opportunity!

Today we have a little bit of a mix to keep things interesting. All modern kitchens. Some, just downright elegant. A few that you cannot see very well, but you sort of get the picture anyway. Isn't that what our homes are, when all is said and done, an overall feeling? What feelings turn you on and off about these images?One thing I have not mentioned as yet is that typically, and I only see this in one image, surprisingly, but typically, the lighting hangs down quite low in Scandinavian homes. I LOVE that look. It creates a real intimacy and softness.      In the top image, I'm crazy about the minimalist feel and the plain walls, Also, the artwork. But, I don't believe those plain walls will remain perfect forever. I don't get that.  These lower two images are from the same kitchen. I'm responding to the large, plain, windows and the white walls, which I love. It's an overall tailored look, very modern, but tailored. I LOVE the way this

I'm so thrilled when I come across a great kitchen in the blogs...they are not so frequent on interior design blogs, so I still say "YES! A kitchen!" and I think interior design bloggers also love kitchens too, I can absolutely feel it. They can't help but put a kitchen in from time to time, one that speaks to them. At least, that's how I see it. I KNOW they love them! The kitchens are often grouped with an entire home's images, so you can see the flow of the home, which is good for context. Here are a few recent ones I've noticed as being special.An Eye For An I:nterior chronicles some very nice kitchens. Take a look through the "pages" of the blog.  This rustic kitchen with the (La Cornue?) black range is from the blog. The styles range from rustic to modern, and in between, and the feature with this image is from Sandra Lane, a photographer. Take a look at the Peak of Chic's complete devotion to kitchens! OK, at least on April 24, it was wholly kitche

I think it's a very common thing in Scandinavia to show small splashes of color, like, very small. It seems the smaller the color, the bigger the impact (in some cases). My friend, Lone, a Danish girl who lives in New York, showed me an ad (she's a kitchen designer) she was putting in a magazine, and it was a kitchen that was all white with some black and then only half of a red chair was showing, sort of at the way end of the room...of course, an Arne Jacobsen chair. I didn't get it at first, I don't see that a lot, but now, these images brought that concept back to me, and brought it to life. Images from Bolig Liv.So, now we have 3 interesting elements....white (nearly always), a splash of color, and texture (nearly always). Fantastic combination.It's fun, cool, and fresh, don't you think?    

Up to this point in this blog, (although the major color is green on this page) I have not addressed designing green kitchens, creating a green kitchen life within whatever kitchen you have now, and green kitchen design issues overall. I am a person, in general, who is open to new ways of thinking, always, and this issue must be addressed. While I am not a treehugger, I do hear the drum beat about the importance of taking care of our planet, our natural resources, and doing our part. At this point, I am probably more "Lite Green", as I have heard the term used, describing those who incorporate some form of green living into their lives, where they can. That would probably be me. I've consciously cut down on electrical usage, recycle, bought up lots of flourescent bulbs, admittedly not for everywhere in the home, and try to be aware of my energy usage. Sometimes I am forgetful. My husband is even more on board with this than I am. My idealistic son is involved in this movemen

I tried to break out of black and white Scandinavian kitchens, but I'll tell you one thing, it's not easy! There is more black than I realized lurking in Scandinavian kitchen designs I am coming across. Black is very interesting in kitchens...sometimes you hardly know it's there. It is a neutral and it makes a statement, but sometimes it comes on like the strong, yet silent type of statement, sort of like Leonardo DiCaprio...don't you just wonder what's going on behind those eyes (and those eyebrows?) I know I do. Moving on...Many of us are familiar with a classic light to medium blue gray color, found more in Swedish kitchens than in Danish kitchens, for example. Why gray? Isn't the air cold enough to be also reminded with a cool color? I wonder about that. Doing some quick research does not reveal answers. I'll need to get on this trail. The light gray kitchen and dining area is from Vakre Hjem & Interior. The white kitchen, from Interior Magasinet, as well as the top

There is an apartment building, hmmm, can it even be called an "apartment building"? I think not. Perhaps I should use the word "residential tower", at New York City's fabulous upper west side address, 15 Central Park West, nearing completion in the months ahead. For the benefit of my readers outside of New York City, unfamiliar with  this famous street, Central Park West is arguably New York City's most architecturally renowned residential street, having been added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. The residential buildings along Central Park West are grand, having been developed and built shortly before the depression, during a positive building era of "let's party till it's 1929". The new residential building at 15 CPW, is designed by Robert A. M. Stern and developed by Arthur and William L. Zeckendorf (brothers).The celebs who have already bought into the residences are:stingdenzeljeff gordon, nascarnorman learone half of th

Many of you have heard of Normal Room, the website where people from all over the world upload images of the rooms in their home, just to show others how they live and to see how others live. A great concept to make the world a little bit smaller and to understand a little bit better how other cultures do what we do, cook.....and, think about what's the same, what's different....it's all good, right? So, as a dutiful editor of a kitchen design blog, I went through the entire category of kitchens and chose the ones I thought were most interesting to me.The rest were, well....normal.  :-) The first image IS a kitchen, a typical kitchen somewhere in Africa...the 2 just below, I did not take note of, the 3rd image on the left is from the U.S., the 4th image on the right is from the UK, and the bottom image is, of course, from Finland. Oops, the one with the postcards before Finland is Germany. And, check out my friend, Peggy's post too on an unusual kitchen.  Enjoy! 

I have a confession to make right here and now. I'm addicted to American Idol. There, I said it. I never watched this program before, ever. About 4-5 weeks ago, my husband and I were surfing the channels (I can't remember who had control of the remote, but I can say "stop right there", right?) But, I digress.  At first we thought "this is way too bubble gum". We're New Yorkers, we're beyond this! But, we quickly got into it. It's appointment tv for us. We talk about it, judge the contestants, judge the judges, love/hate Simon, have a great time with it. I KNOW who's going, or who should leave, after last night's performances! It WON'T be Sanjaya (he was perfect for that song last night.) And, we'll find out TONIGHT! (Melinda Doolittle, you really needed to move much more during that song, as I suggested to the tv!) Do we call in? No, THAT'S where we draw the line.  ;-)So, what does American Idol have to do with kitchens, kitchen design, kitchen r

Kitchens are popping up like spring flowers around the blogosphere. All sorts of good stuff I am finding on kitchen design, kitchen products, kitchen remodeling too. I was almost blown away when I saw images of Julia Child's kitchen on The Happy Living Blog. I suppose the kitchen is pure function! I remember hearing about the pegboard somewhere being in Julia's kitchen. Here is a link to the exhibit at the Smithsonian of Julia's kitchen. Thanks for this reminder of this interesting kitchen! And, what is this about a kitchen consultation you were at, as seen on your blog? Keep me in the loop!                   A great segue to The Kitchen at Apartment Therapy, filled with not only recipes, but lots of stuff for the kitchen, including tips on products, cooking methods, and more. What really blew me away this morning were the images on Desire to Inspire. The kitchens! They're filled with sou

Since last week's black and white Scandinavian kitchens had such interest, I thought I would do it again! You know, I have to admit, something struck me this week that did not strike me last week. Part of the reason, I think, that these kitchens appeal to us is that it is not just the white cabinetry and great accessories and materials, it is that, surprisingly, and very unlike what is done, at least in the U.S., the walls are also white! The decorative/accessory layer also has much white in it as well. That is what is distinctive about these kitchens and their "look". We see the first image a million times, it is a popular look. But, we do not often see it with that type of lighting or with the simplicity of white walls, or, for that matter, the raw look of flooring such as we have here, which I hope you can see.As I have said previously, I really believe the Scandinavians do electic "right", and, added to their own distinctive look, with color and light elements,

Well, I sure hope you have been following along in this wonderful showcase of the 2007 NKBA Design Competition finalistsfor 2007 in a variety of categories. There are probably two or three small categories to come after this one. Open plan kitchens have been a fixture now, at least in my design practice, for quite some time. The early thinking at the time this trend started, was that the family could be in closer contact with one another, ending so many decades of the kitchen being isolated, cut off from other parts of the home. It was a concept that was very well received, particularly as we moved into a more casual way of life in our homes, households becoming much busier, and so on, and walls continue to be torn down today, as a result of this thinking, still very much a factor in kitchen design. Not everyone wants an open plan kitchen. I don't have one, nor did I feel the need for one. Yet, I still wanted my kitchen to reflect what was happening in the rest of my home and incorpor

I've hunted for a week to bring you the most wonderful, delicious, sweet and charming, and yes, also austere and elegant, kitchens that are uniquely French, mostly French country, and ah, so magnifique! (That is all the French I know). They are the real thing!To go along with the kitchens, also, please take a look at some interiors to complete the look. Linda, from Surroundings recently had a post on a new Paris Hotel, always a great type of venue to view interiors. And, if that is not enough, go to Decor8 to do some shopping in Paris, with the fantastic list of Paris shops on the right side of the page, under, well, Paris! And, enjoy a great short read about one woman's love of France over at Hygge House.Please go to the French Country Kitchens gallery to see the kitchens. I recommend a glass of red wine before you go!