Today the kitchen is a focal point of the house. Homes are designed with this in mind, big open plan dining room kitchens that can house grand dining tables, breakfast bars and any amount of seats for guests. It’s no surprise that most house parties end up in the kitchen! Most modern built kitchens are literally built around the user with counter tops, appliances and sink surrounding the user and as open as possible so the whole family are included in the cooking rather than the chef being excluded from the family. (more…)
A number of basic design styles apply to everything from furniture to interior and exterior home design. Here are some general guidelines for some popular design styles:
Contemporary/modern design features sleek, unadorned cabinets, plain panel doors and hardware that’s hidden or unobtrusive.
Traditional is more formal and elegant. Raised panel cabinet doors or clear glass panels separated by thin strips of wood are often seen. Rich wood finishes or painted white wood may be accented with sparkle from brass or brass-tone hardware.
Craftsman bungalow houses usually have low-pitched gable roofs with large overhangs and exposed rafters. Under the gables are often decorative beams or braces. A craftsman bungalow commonly has a generous front porch with a roof is carried on square, tapered columns. Stone or brick frequently is used for the porch’s base or columns. Masonry may also be used for a tapered chimney on one side of the house. (more…)
When Brad and Lily Unroe first saw the home, the original oak floors were hidden under carpeting; woodwork and walls had to be repainted; and the only full bath in the house needed updating.
But the couple were attracted to the home’s period details, including the moldings and the hand-carved flourishes on the staircase, and to the neighborhood, which offered a diversity of homes as well as downtown convenience.
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Arclinea San Diego, a full-service kitchen design firm and distributor of the Arclinea Collection of contemporary Italian kitchens, is pleased to announce enhancements to the company’s long-standing commitment to the design and manufacture of environmentally friendly kitchens.
Having historically utilized non-toxic paints and lacquers, free from heavy metals and low emission, Arclinea recently fully converted to a water-based finishing system. The result is an even cleaner manufacturing process that surpasses standards set by local and global environmental legislation.
“Considering that the kitchen is the heart of the home, both philosophically and practically, it is increasingly important that this living space be a healthy, ecologically intelligent one,” says Lisa Wilson-Wirth, president and owner of Arclinea San Diego. “Arclinea kitchens reflect a spirit of design that respects our living earth and the people who inhabit it — our company continues to lead the kitchen industry with its commitment to environmentally friendly materials and green manufacturing strategies.”
In addition to utilizing water-based paints and lacquers, Arclinea’s environmental commitment includes (more…)
Sometimes, markets are where you find them. And if you can find a niche in that new market, your opportunities may be boundless.
That’s been the driving force behind Geneva Cabinet Company, which has forged a new path catering to the growing second-home market in the popular resort area of Lake Geneva, located some 50 miles northwest of Chicago.
The company boasts a state-of-the-art showroom geared to a high-end clientele. And, because the location has increasingly become known for being a great community for a second home, Geneva has targeted these high-end homeowners who want to turn those homes into showplaces of modern kitchen and bath design.
“Whether it’s their first home or a second home, the goal is the same,” says Peggy Helgeson, the company’s general manager. “It is to make their space just right for them.” (more…)
