Listening to my dad tell stories of visiting his grandparents home on a farm in Eastern North Carolina is one of my favorite lazy day pastimes.  His vivid recollection of the personalities that peppered the visits, and the descriptions of the home conjure up the warmest, most inviting feelings.  At times I can see myself sitting with “Papa” (a country doctor) drinking lemonade on the porch as his local patients stopped by to pay him with their harvest, or making homemade biscuits for lunch with “Nena” in the farmhouse kitchen.

The image of that charming kitchen is what elicits the nostalgia every time.  You’d think – being married to a chef – that my own kitchen would be full of state of the art equipment and gadgets galore.  But, on the contrary, to us a farmhouse kitchen is much more appealing with its inviting seating and simple decorations that allow the food and company be the focus.  The simplicities of life and the warmth of a home are exemplified in the typical farmhouse kitchen…and while it may not be for everyone, when it’s up your alley it is worth doing right.

Here are a few ideas for creating a farmhouse-inspired kitchen in your home:

• A sitting area by a window always creates a warm atmosphere and say “stay a while and visit.”  Try some simple small wingbacks or an old church pew.
• Essential for dining – wooden chairs and a table.  If you can look for something distressed or roughhewn to add to the effect.  Williams Sonoma Home has a lot of options like this one.

• A wood, brick (my favorite) or parquet floor looks great with some cotton, braided rugs about.  Here’s a nice neutral from American Country Home Store.

• For lighting, go with something wrought iron with fabric shades.
• Plaid or gingham tablecloths and curtains are nice touch.  Combine with more sophisticated print – like a farmhouse print toile – to keep from going too “country.”
• Search a local antique store for plates with flowers or animal imprints…but look for subtle colors to keep the palette warm.  You can also locate great finds from Replacements.com, like this fun toile farmhouse plate line.

• Accessories – like roosters, old wooden signs, copper pots and rattan or wooden bowls, like these from Country Porch – can be hung on walls or placed around the room to complete the look.

• Use old Mason Jars for flower arrangements of hydrangeas, sunflowers and greenery to brighten a table.

Whether you want the full farmhouse effect, or just a few accents, there’s a wealth of new (and old) objects to be found.  Gather some inspiration from bookstores and the library, as well as from the treasures you’ll find while antiquing.  And be sure to search the Web and in magazines like Country Living or Southern Living.

And once you’re done – remember all the work is really about the memories you’ll create.  So invite over a few friends, bake a blueberry pie and sit back and enjoy.

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Spring is on its way! And with the leaves returning and flowers blooming, most homeowners are starting their spring-cleaning to-do lists. We’ve got ours underway…closet reorganization, yard-sale plans, power washing appointments.

Along with those typical chores comes an itch for something to brighten or refresh the home and make everything “new” again.

There’s no denying the downturn in the economy brought a return to the home…more people are eating in, entertaining casually and focusing on the spaces that mean the most. So, what better time to look around your home and make some improvements that don’t cost a lot but bring about major results?

The kitchen is considered the heartbeat of a home…it’s likely where we spend the most time together, and with guests. So, why not focus there when looking to refresh your living space? There are many new options in the market now that can make a big impact.

Lighting – Consider your lighting. Are harsh fluorescents skewing the look of the kitchen? A new chandelier combined with task lighting could be the perfect item to shed new light. To figure out the size you need, measure the length and width of the room in feet. Then add the two numbers together. The sum should equal the diameter of the chandelier—in inches.

Countertops – While most people head straight for the granite, there are other surfaces to consider when refreshing the kitchen counter….like molded linoleum tiles coated with a polyurethane finish. Here’s an example featured in a recent Country Living kitchen remodel.

Plumbing Fixtures – Faucets are one of the easiest items to replace in a kitchen, and there’s one for every style kitchen and home. Here’s one that’s great to look at, but also provides the added benefit of hot, cold and filtered water from a single source. Rhol brings this innovative, integrated faucet filtration solution to consumers via the upcoming Kitchen and Bath Industry Show. For tips for kitchen faucet shopping, take a look at this article.

Cabinet Hardware – With the easy-to-install addition of new hardware, cabinets and drawers can look brand new, and in 2010 it’s all about traditional. So, these pulls from Hickory Hardware could be perfect for a quick kitchen facelift. According to the company, you can get this little project done on a Saturday morning.

Floors – New floors require a budget, but a new rug can bring new life to a room and have a lasting impact. With kitchen traffic in mind, consider a rug that’s easily cleaned – preferably in the washing machine.

Decorative Accents – With the kitchen serving as the social center of the home, it’s not enough to just be functional anymore. Sure, the right cookware is key, even for the novice cook, but what’ll keep them in the room while you’re slaving away is the overall atmosphere. Make it warm. Make it inviting. But make it yours. Choose interesting artwork, special stoneware and unique objects that personalize the space.

With just a few additions like these, your kitchen spring spruce-up is sure to satisfy that urge for something completely new.

We should note that for some a little refresh project doesn’t always solve that itch for something new. And according to Harvard’s Leading Indicator of Remodeling Activity (LIRA), there are signs the remodeling industry is poised for renewal this spring. Good news for those in the industry! What will be the key to success, however, is how those companies market products to consumers. Americans are still watching pennies and cutting coupons…and the purchases they are making are those that bring the most value. Give them a product that will make their lives easier or more satisfying…and brings exceptional value….and they’ll buy.

PS – We will be walking the halls at the upcoming Kitchen and Bath Industry Show and looks forward to sharing even more trends, tips and tricks from Chicago’s McCormick Place.

• Essentials for a Farmhouse Kitchen

When purchasing CaesarStone countertops, consumers can expect the best in service, design, durability and selection. 

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Designers Urged to Show Value

On Sunday, John Gidding of HGTV’s Designed to Sell addressed interior designers and kitchen/bath industry members in a session entitled “Design and Inspiration.”  Gidding emphasized that designers must provide value in order to succeed in the current economy.

He advised designers and industry professional to abide by the three principles below:

1. Modify existing and prefabricated products – bargain shop at furniture floor sales and national prefabricated wholesalers.  Don’t limit your thinking by accepting pieces as they are, consider adding new fabrics, knobs or even turning a piece into something entirely different.
2. Rethink familiar materials  - Gidding recommended using butcher block for countertops and back splashes and shared examples of added plywood to these countertops for additional design elements.
3. Innovate looking forward – think about designs that are sustainable, thus proving value to the homeowner and practicing environmental good choices.

• Seeing Green – What to expect at KBIS 2010

Homeowners Incorporate Essential Luxuries into Their Homes

At the National Kitchen and Bath Industry Show this past weekend, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey and Interior Designer Carole Freehauf from This Old House held a session on “Technology and Trends.”  Thoughts were shared regarding how the economic strain is impacting homeowners and the smart decisions they are making in response to it.

As homeowners seek solace from the current economic crisis in their homes, they are focusing on incorporating essential luxuries into their spaces, including easy-to-use products and those that offer sustainability, organization and energy efficiencies.

The speakers also shared the following two findings from a recent AIA study.

1. Homeowners are seeking smart makeovers in their homes including larger pantry space, dedicated recycled centers and renewable materials. 
2. With a focus on better living, there is a decline in unnecessary products like pot fillers, wine refrigerators and warming drawers.

So, what’s next for kitchens and baths? According to these experts, homeowners can expect the kitchens and bathrooms of the future will include smarter products that make living spaces more energy efficient and create optimal organization within a space.  

• Seeing Green – What to expect at KBIS 2010

This past weekend, the city of Atlanta hosted the annual National Kitchen and Bath Industry Show (KBIS). Attendees enjoyed a plethora of innovative new products specifically designed to enhance kitchens and bathrooms.

Below are a few product and trend highlights from the show:

• Space savers – As more homeowners want to make the most of their spaces without having to undergo an expensive remodel, manufacturers are developing new products that save space and time. Compact washer and dryer units are not only more stylish, but also more efficient than ever before. Additionally, cabinetmakers introduced innovative racks, ironing stations and various organizational storage solutions.
• LED Lighting – LED lighting is being heavily promoted as an extremely energy efficient light choice as well as an ideal solution for under cabinet lighting.  LED is also showing up in unique places include sinks, tubs, faucets and showerheads – it brings a fresh design application to kitchen and bath products while also offering task lighting.
• Color Trends – Several booths revealed new color lines including muted pastels, earth tones, whites as well as bolder colors in the kitchen.
• Sustainable Products – Several innovations to sustainable living were introduced including bamboo outdoor cabinetry, WaterSense certified faucets, water saving toilets, waterless urinals, water efficient showerheads and solar water heating systems.

• Seeing Green – What to expect at KBIS 2010

The 2009 Kitchen/Bath Industry Show is right around the corner, and we are looking forward to hearing about the latest and greatest products and  trends from industry experts next week.

According to Christina Trauthwein, Editor-in-Chief, K+BB Magazine, consumers want their kitchens and baths to be a reflection of who they are while remaining conscious of their environmental impact.

Below are the six top trends that Trauthwein identified in a recent release distributed as a preview of what we can expect to see at the show.

Photo Courtesy of lightwavesconcept.com

1. Growing Appreciation of Green Products – With today’s consumers being more environmentally conscious than ever, the demand for affordable, stylish green products in on the rise.
2. Introduction of a Middle Ground – Affordable Style – Consumers no longer have to choose between the extremely high-end, expensive products or the standard offerings. Now, there appears to be a middle ground that offers stylish and functional products at reasonable prices.
3. Pop Colors – Increased focus on colors that make a statement. As we made reference to a few weeks ago, experts are predicting that color will continue to be incorporated into all types of home products, including appliances, cabinets, tile, etc.
4. Visual Blending Between Kitchen & Living Spaces – As more homeowners continue to use their kitchens as living spaces, we can expect to see more furniture-style pieces in the kitchen and concealed appliances to “mask the cold stainless-steel ambiance of the room.”
5. Automation/Technology – Consumers are continuing to demand products with advanced technology to save time on everyday chores.
6. Storage Accessories – Storage is playing a greater role in today’s kitchens because people are spending more time in this particular room of the home. 

• Seeing Green – What to expect at KBIS 2010

Defining What Today’s Trendiest Kitchens Look Like

The 2009 Top 10 Design Trends were captured in a beautiful photo gallery on HGTVpro.com earlier this week. The top trends highlighted in the gallery include:

1. Stainless steel countertops
2. Different uses for glass elements (think countertops and kitchen or bathroom back splashes)
3.  Stone hearths
4. Black and white kitchens
5. Chrome
6. Shoji screens
7. Tin ceilings (Home Intel favorite)
8. Floating cabinets
9. Floating mirrors (Home Intel favorite)
10. Resin panels

Photo Courtesy of HGTVpro.com

As can be seen in the photo gallery, several of the images showcase kitchens with clean, modern lines, orderly, uncluttered surfaces and functional workspaces, which is directly in line with what we have identified as trends for this incredibly important room of the home. Additional trends that we are seeing include:

1. Oil rubbed bronze and copper elements (Sinks, faucets, cabinet pulls)
2. Appliances in multiples (Two dishwashers, two sinks)
3. Professional-grade appliances
4. Introduction of color (appliances, sinks, walls)
5. Multi-tone cabinets/islands
6. Personalization (Homeowners want a unique look rather than a “stock product” look)
7. Task-oriented work stations (Station for prep, cooking, homework, bill paying)
8. Multiple countertop surfaces for designated work spaces
9. Bar areas complete with wine refrigeration systems
10. Water-saving features on faucets, appliances

Photo Courtesy of HGTVpro.com

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