March 2014 E-Newsletter

Kitchens for Cooking and Entertaining

There are many reasons why people remodel their kitchens. Sometimes the goal is nothing more than a kitchen upgrade, with new countertops, cabinets, floor, and appliances. Sometimes the goal is a gourmet kitchen, with professional-grade appliances and cooking capabilities.

Still, many would agree that the kitchen is more than just a place for cooking. Families gather in the kitchen in the morning, getting ready for their days or brewing a cup of coffee. Kids do their homework there, so that they can be near parents who are preparing dinner. Plus, many people now prefer a more casual style of entertaining guests, where friends can stop and chat in the kitchen while sipping wine or nibbling hors d'oeuvres. For this multi-purpose kitchen, conventional kitchen designs are often inadequate. Luckily, with a little bit of inspiration, kitchens can be redesigned and remodeled to better fit their multiple uses.

Laying It All Out

In kitchen design, one of the most prevalent structural frameworks is the "work triangle," which is comprised of the space between the range, refrigerator, and sink. Most of the work happens at these three places, and it is important for them not to be situated too close together (as the cook will feel cramped with too little counter space) or too far apart. Another option that's becoming popular is the kitchen designed around the concept of stations, more like restaurant kitchens, with a prep station, a hot station, a clean-up station, and even computer station.

In a kitchen that's used for both cooking and entertaining, the layout should also create smooth traffic patterns and make it possible for more than one person to cook at a time. In addition, family or friends who are not cooking will feel more comfortable gathering in a kitchen if there is sufficient space outside of the work area for them to relax without being in the way. A welcoming, casual floor plan that is open to the family room, breakfast nook or dining room will allow kitchen traffic to flow easily in, out and around the spaces.

A Natural Gathering Spot

An important design element is an island, which can play a big part in creating comfortable places for non-cooks to socialize in the kitchen. Island options can include bar-height seating at stools, a nook with a bench and upholstered chairs, or a convenient spot to serve food buffet-style. And, if you want the island to house a cooktop or a sink, it is possible to have a dual-height island with a lower level for food prep and a higher level for seating or serving.

The Butler's Pantry

A valuable addition when you're entertaining is a butler's pantry. With extra cabinets, counters, sink and perhaps an extra dishwasher or refrigerator, a butler's pantry provides a perfect area for you to stage foods for serving. Everything from hors d'oeuvres platters to coffee cups can be set up there, while the extra counter space helps when clearing dirty dishes. It's often fairly easy to carve out room for a butler's pantry in your existing space...and even a small one can make a big difference in the feel and functionality of your new kitchen.

Products That Make Entertaining Easier

In addition to an efficient layout, a kitchen designed for entertaining can include products to make life even easier. You might consider incorporating a warming drawer or steam oven for keeping one dish warm while you prepare another, or a wine refrigerator which can be built into an island or outside counter for easy service. If you're always running out of ice, you may want a stand-alone ice maker as well.

Don't Go It Alone

Kitchen remodels, while rewarding, can be challenging to plan and construct, and kitchen technology is always changing. That's why we're here! With our creativity, experience and design know-how, we can explain your options and make recommendations you may not have even considered. We want to ensure you're getting everything you want and need from your beautiful new kitchen.

Safety Tip: Microchip Your Pets

One of the most important things you can do for your pets is to get them microchipped. In an emergency or natural disaster, first responders do not have the resources to care for and reunite pets with their families if they become separated. A lost pet with an active microchip can be easily identified by most veterinarians or shelters.

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Chris Donatelli CR, CKBR, CGBP

February 2014 Newsletter - Small Updates with Big Impact

Small Updates with Big Impact

Sooner or later, homes start to show their age. Just as there comes a time when it makes sense to replace the roof, it can also make sense to update fixtures and finishes that are no longer stylish, lack today's features, or that have simply not held up well over the years. Think of it as the solution between simply repainting rooms and doing an all-out remodel.

Right now, many of the homes built in our area in the 1980s and 1990s are in need of a freshening up. Even homes that were showcases a decade ago have started to look a little old-fashioned (and not in a good, charming way). Plus, many homes were constructed using builder-grade materials that have worn out over time.

What Makes Today's Interiors Look Old?

Materials that haven't aged well can give even the nicest home a shabby appearance. Examples we frequently see include brass-plated light fixtures that have begun to pit, cabinet doors that have warped or sagged, faucets that have begun to corrode, and door knobs where the brass plating has rubbed off exposing the dark metal underneath.

The style of fixtures and finishes can also make a once-elegant home look dowdy. Here are some examples:

• Ornate lighting fixtures look outdated compared to today's sleeker, sturdier fixtures in wrought iron or antique brushed finishes like copper or nickel.
• In bathrooms, the all-white tile that looked so fresh a decade ago now looks bland and "low end" compared to today's preference for colors, natural stone, or glass.
• Light oak kitchen cabinets and floors also date a house. Deeper finishes in colors like Espresso and Chocolate Brown are popular for floors and cabinets, with bold, bright colors used for accents.
• Wall-to-wall carpet gives a house a very dated appearance these days. Even in bedrooms, hardwood floors are more desirable for their clean, rich look. Besides bringing down the style and appeal of a home, carpet can also harbor dirt and pollen particulates causing problems for allergy sufferers or children.

The Big Impact of a “Fixture And Finish Update”

We can do something that's small-scale but high-impact by doing what we call a "Fixture and Finish Update." Instead of renovating by knocking down walls, we can go through the home replacing elements that are worn and lack the freshness of new materials and finishes and the functionality of new products.

To give you an idea of the relatively small scope of an update, our work might include things like replacing the home's lighting fixtures and giving those all-white tiled bathrooms a spa-like feel with natural stone elements. We install good-quality wood cabinets. We replace corroded faucets and worn brass-plated door knobs with handsome new levers in brushed nickel. For more contemporary-looking floors and stair rails, we refinish the oak, stain the floors and handrail a deep walnut, and paint the balusters and stair risers white.

Many homeowners have the intention of being in their homes for many more years and just want it to feel fresh and current again. Room by room, we can update a home so it does indeed look – and live – like it's brand new.

With a Fixture and Finish Update, you get much of the impact of a whole-house renovation, but with a fraction of the budget. If you'd like to explore possibilities for your own update remodel, just give us a call!

Maintenance Tip: Look for MORE Ways to Conserve Water

Even with our recent rainy weather, California is still experiencing extreme drought conditions. Since our state contains well established urban areas as well as large agricultural industry, our efforts to conserve water at home are now more important than ever. Try to reduce your water use by 20% right away with these tips:

• Fix leaks now! Repair or replace any leaking or water-wasting fixtures and appliances. (Our handyman service would be glad to help you with this!)
• Take shorter showers and turn off the water while brushing your teeth or lathering up your hands.
• Instead of running your faucet until the water is hot, install a "re-circulating pump". This unit ties your piping system together and dumps cold water from the hot side back into the cold side. Once the water is hot the connection is closed.
• Instead of flushing food scraps down the sink disposal, put them in the garbage can or compost pile.
• Rinse fruits and vegetables in a filled sink or a water-filled pan instead of washing them under a running faucet.
• Sweep driveways or sidewalks with a broom instead of hosing them down.
• Run the washing machine and dishwasher only with full loads.

For more tips and information, visit the website of Save Our Water, a statewide, water conservation program created by the California Department of Water Resources and the California Association of Water Agencies.

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Chris Donatelli CR, CKBR, CGBP