The number of available kitchen countertop materials today is greater and more diverse than ever. Your choices for a countertop includestone wood paper glass quartz concrete solid surface laminates.How to choose?  Quartz When interviewed, Craig Teitsma of Craig Allen Designs said: “In my years as a kitchen designer, quartz is by far the most popular countertop material I’ve had homeowners ask for. It’s also the one I mention when clients ask me for my…

  Swapping out kitchen cabinet hardware can make an immediate impact in a room. From sleek and modern to classic and ornate, door and drawer hardware pulls together a room’s overall design and adds the crowning touch to a newly remodeled kitchen.  The details in a new kitchen, such as the cabinet hardware, make a huge difference in achieving a certain look or style. To understand the impact that hardware can have, it’s helpful to look at it as an accessory, like a piece of…

Millions of American households include at least one pet. I’ll confess – I have a four-legged family member; most likely your family has one, too.  As pet owners, we don’t simply welcome pets into our homes for the unconditional love they give us. We want to return their affection by buying them things. Lots and of lots of things. The American Pet Products Association reports that Americans spent $72.56 billion on their pets in 2018, with total spending expected to go up even…

Some homeowners considering a kitchen remodel ask me if they can do some of the work themselves to save money. They tell me they’ve watched HGTV and have seen how easy it is to knock out walls and lay down a hardwood floor. Here’s my advice. Those make-over shows make everyone feel as if they’re only a couple of power tools away from being home renovation experts, but don’t be fooled. There’s a reason building and construction jobs are considered “skilled labor”. I tell them…

Kitchen cabinets are constantly exposed to dirt, grease, cooking fumes and fingerprints. Grease from cooking or cooking sprays, condensation from temperature changes or from steam, dirt particles in the air, and bacteria from hands and food can stain and eventually damage your beautiful cabinet exteriors.  It’s important to protect your investment by properly caring for them.  Make Your Own Cabinet-friendly Cleanser To make your own environmentally-safe and cabinet-friendly…