Clean Air in your Kitchen

Proper kitchen ventilation is the key to removing cooking smoke and odors from any home.

Keep these tips in mind when planning your kitchen design:

1.       Vent the hood outdoors whenever possible so smoke and odors can be practically eliminated from the home.  Proper ventilation will also protect your cabinets and lighting from damage over time from particulates in the air from smoke and steam.  Keep in mind that recirculation fans reticulate up to 70% of particulates back into the house.

2.      Select a range hood that is appropriate for the cooking appliance.  The minimum size should be equal in width and cover at least the depth of one and a half burners.  When trying to figure out the CFM (cubic feet per minute) air flow of your hood, consult a professional.  Let them know how frequently you cook and if you use one burner at a time or tend to have all going at once.  Finally they should know the specifications of your range to make an educated recommendation.

3.      Install a duct that is equal or greater to the size of the duct connector on the hood.

4.      Consider convenience features that make meal preparation easier such as lighting, timers and remote controls.

By Patrick Nielsen

Summarized from K+BB Magazine

How to care for your stained and painted cabinetry finishes

Whether its your high traffic kitchen or a wall unit tucked in a corner, proper maintenance prolongs the life of your cabinetry.  Customers should always ask their cabinetry maker how to care for their woodwork.  Generally we recommend the following steps to ensure that the luster, color and surface texture keeps that smooth factory finish for as long as possible.

REMOVE DUST - Dust buildup is made of small airborne particles that may scratch or dull your finished surface if not removed properly.  Simply wipe the surface with a damp cloth on a consistent basis.

CLEAN - Fingerprints, cooking fumes, smoke residue, etc., accumulates on any surface.  These contaminants will not harm your surface, but they should be periodically removed to maintain the finish.  Just wipe the surface with a damp cloth and mild detergent.  Avoid the use of ammonia based products or silicone oils, which are found in common multi-surface cleaners.  They may damage the finish if used over a long period of time. 

WHAT TO AVOID
Factory finishes are generally durable and resistant to most household spills.  However, spills should be wiped up promptly to avoid potential problems.  Excessive prolonged exposure to direct sunlight, high temperatures and high humidity can cause damage to both the finish and the wood itself.

Following these simple steps will keep your finished product looking like new for many years.

A Kitchen for the Entire Family

Kid SpaceYou may have a top-of-the-line playroom, but kids, especially little ones, want to be where their parents are. That's why it's often a good idea to include a "kid's cabinet" or cubbie space in your design. An easy-to-reach set of base cabinets can make it a snap for kids to access (and, hopefully, clean-up) their crayons and paper.  Additionally, you can keep items that there for easy access like snacks and paper-ware for them to serve themselves.

It's an all-too-familiar medley: "I'm hungry" meets "what's for dinner?" meets the endless open and close of the refrigerator door. Give kids a bit of autonomy and accessibility with a designated area for them to prepare meals or snacks. A breakfast area, for example, could allow for access to cereal, plastic bowls and spoons. Rather than grapple with milk set on a high shelf, a refrigerator drawer installed in an island provides easy access.

The microwave is a safe and simple way to get your child excited about simple meal and snack preparation, from making popcorn to heating up oatmeal in the morning. It allows them to sidestep the need to use the oven …so don't do something as unsafe as installing a microwave over a range. Sharp recently introduced a microwave drawer that can be installed into an island. A user-friendly interior control panel makes it simple for the kids to heat up mac 'n cheese—and eliminates bending and reaching for mom and dad as well.

One smart pairing is a higher island that features a raised counter top for the adults to work on, with a lowered second tier that's kid height but still close to the action. But be careful not to get the little ones too close to it all—it's best not to install a cook top on an island if you have young children, as they can grab for a hot pan.

Impact of Proper Lighting in a Space

Let There Be Light
by Michael Lichtenstein of  The Lighting Gallery
http://www.thelighting-gallery.com/

A well designed lighting plan will ensure the room is properly lit, adds visual interest to the space, provides flexibility to respond to different lighting needs and even saves the home owner money by eliminating unnecessary fixtures.  There are two key components to the design and implementation of an effective lighting plan - using the design technique known as Light Layering...

By using multiple sources of light you ensure the room will be properly illuminated; create visual interest within the space; provide flexibility to create multiple lighting moods of looks and eliminate unnecessary fixtures.

Task Lighting - helps you preform specific tasks.  Optimal fixtures include recessed, track and under cabinet lighting.

Accent/Architectural Lighting - adds drama to the room by bringing attention to a specific decorative or architectural detail.

Ambient (general) Lighting - provides general illumination to the area filling in the shadows left from the other two layers.  This is accomplished with ceiling or wall mounted fixtures.

It is critical to begin discussions about the lighting plan during the initial design conversations.  By incorporating your lighitng plan into the overall design concept you will ensure that the various design elements support each other.

The Psychology of Color

Color is a powerful influence on our daily lives.  By understanding the psychology of color, which identifies the psychological effects individual colors have on our minds and bodies, we can design rooms that foster health, well-being and prosperity.  While perceptions of color are somewhat subjective, there are some color effects that have universal meaning.

Colors in the red area of the color spectrum are known as warm colors and include red, orange and yellow. These warm colors evoke emotions ranging from feelings of warmth and comfort to feelings of anger and hostility. Colors on the blue side of the spectrum are known as cool colors and include blue, purple and green. These colors are often described as calm, but can also call to mind feelings of sadness or indifference. 

In addition to understanding color meanings, it helps with mixing and matching colors to know the relationship of colors on the spectrum.  The quickest way of familiarizing yourself with the mixing and matching of colors is to use a color wheel.  Most come with general explanations for the different combinations of colors that are typical; adjacent, harmonizing, contrasting, and complementary colors. 

Commercial and Community Projects

Over the years we have worked on various types of spaces.  The most important thing to remember in these cases is to maintain a balance between functional and aesthetics.  Consideration for the end users and creating an appealing focal point is moot if the materials and finishes are not durable.  Whether an Office Space, Conference Room, Public Library or Community Center we utilize materials that are easy to maintain and last a long time.  Whithin those perameters it is easy to create a beautife design.

I have put together a clip of our more recent Commercial & Community projects. Take a look ... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afoevAQj9nQ&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL

I would love to hear your thoughts!

Tips for your Home Library

If you have built up a collection of books over the years a home library can help you organize your books. 

It will make it easier to find books and make reading fun and relaxing within the comforts of your home.  When designing a home library one must consider the space, style of shelves and types of books you have. You will most likely want to work within a space you already have by adding a wall unit that is aesthetically pleasing and functional as a good organization system.  If your space is small, matching the finish of the library unit with your wall finish will visually minimize it.

Built-in bookshelves can provide floor-to-ceiling storage and free up the maximum amount of floor space.  Closed cabinets with glass panels would be preferable if your collection includes antique books that you want to preserve.  Think about adding a couple of drawers for notepads and pens you might need if you will be taking notes or doing work in this space as well.  Maximize your capacity by decorating the bookshelves with personal items, such as photographs and souvenirs which can break up the rows of books visually.  This also allows room to expand as your collection grows!