Tips to Achieve the Rustic Industrial Look: Blend Rustic Cabinetry with Modern Metal Accents

Posted by: Merillat Marketing on 05/09/2013 | Permalinks | Trackbacks

 Rustic industrial design has become one of the latest trends in the industry. It’s a blend of rustic wood, layered textures and industrial metals that all utilize the look of repurposed materials. The mix of natural beauty and urban metals has added a sophisticated edge to rustic design, making it more modern and interesting than ever before.

New Merillat Masterpiece products such as Rustic Maple and Rustic Cherry wood species, Vintage Patina finishes, Forged Metal inserts, wood knobs and Statuary Bronze hardware, all have the raw material appearance that fits into this trend. When creating a space with these products, try using a transparent finish to highlight the grain of the rustic cabinetry and balance that natural beauty with modern metal accents such as inserts, hardware, faucets and light fixtures. The metal accents will instantly sharpen the space, while the cabinetry will quickly soften it. Finding the right balance is a personal choice, but it’s an easy style to play with as everything is organic and blends together seamlessly.

Cimmaron Rustic Maple Kitchen

Cimmaron Rustic Maple Kitchen in Husk Stain

 

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Use Decorative Door Inserts to Add Character & Hide Storage

Posted by: Merillat Marketing on 04/25/2013 | Permalinks | Trackbacks

 Decorative cabinet door inserts are a great way to add style to a space. While glass is always a nice option, you may also want to consider a more interesting alternative to add character and hide storage.

Many people love the look of transparent glass, but don’t want to keep their dishware organized to have it on display. Luckily, Merillat Masterpiece® is introducing a tasteful collection of decorative door insert options that conceal dishes in a stylish way. New painted wood panels, Antique Mirage Glass and Burlap Glass inserts were introduced on April 8, 2013.

When designing with these inserts, try incorporating them into the cabinets bordering the range, near the sink, or island, to highlight important areas of the room with a pop of color and interest. It’s an easy way to add personality without having to incorporate a contrasting door style or finish. When the proper balance of accents is achieved, you can accomplish a gorgeous design that’s uniquely yours. It’s a fun way to energize a space, and our new inserts allow you to do it easily.

Envy Wood Panel
New accent paint colors personalize a space and provide a custom look at a semi-custom price.

How to Pick the Best Kitchen Countertops

Posted by: Merillat Marketing on 03/12/2013 | Permalinks | Trackbacks

Choosing your new countertop can be difficult with such a wide array of materials available.  The first step in countertop selection is to determine the function of that space and countertop. Will the countertop be used for food preparation, for a gathering space (such as a kitchen island area) or for a hard-working utility room or other workspace?  In addition to style and durability, affordability is also a factor.  Use the tips below to make an informed decision!

Natural Granite

If you’re looking to bring timeless elegance into your home, you should definitely choose Natural Granite countertops. Granite countertops are amazing because of the unique beauty of natural stone–no two pieces are exactly alike.  Natural granite should be periodically resealed to maintain its appearance, and you should limit exposure to highly acidic foods and other staining substances.

Natural Granite Countertops

 

Natural Quartz

As one of the most durable and non-porous surfaces available, quartz counters are a great choice for your kitchen.  Quartz counters are extremely heat resistant, and require cleaning with only mild soap and water to retain their brilliant surfaces.  Due to their dense and non-porous composition, quartz counters are highly resistant to bacteria, making them extremely safe for your family’s health.

Natural Quartz Countertops

 

Solid Surface

Solid surface countertops offer a wide range of colors and design and the option of building in unique molded features, such as sinks, backsplashes and drain boards.  A solid surface countertop offers extremely consistent color and high durability in a non-porous surface that is resistant to bacteria and stains and easy to keep clean.  Solid Surface countertops can scratch or scorch, but most damage can be repaired by a professional.

Solid Surface Countertops

 

Ceramic Tile

Choose ceramic tile countertops allow you to create your own custom designs!  Ceramic tile is also one of the more affordable options and simplest choice for DIY-ers.  But beware, although ceramic tile countertops are beautiful, they can easily scratch or chip and grout can easily stain.

Ceramic Tile Countertops

 

Stainless Steel

Stainless Steel countertops are both beautiful and germ-resistant!  This is a great option if you are going for an industrial look in your kitchen.  Stainless Steel can show scratches, dents and fingerprints easily.  A matte finish can hide the damage better.

Stainless Steel Countertops

 

Wood

Wood countertops can be both functional and decorative and add a warm look to your kitchen.  If properly sealed, wood countertops are sanitary for chopping foods and heat-resistant.  Wood countertops require regular maintenance to maintain these properties. 

Wood Countertops

 

Laminate

Laminate is one of the most affordable countertop options.  Due to improvements in printing technology laminates can even mimic the look of stone, wood or metal without the cost.  However, laminates can be damaged by knives or hot pans and the construction of laminate countertops only allows for the use of drop-in sinks.

Laminate Countertops

 

Balance grey finishes with warm floors and gold accents

Posted by: Merillat Marketing on 02/20/2013 | Permalinks | Trackbacks

As many of you know, grey has become a trending neutral in interior design. Like blacks, browns, and taupes were over the last decade, grey has become the new neutral for 2013. On April 8th, Merillat Masterpiece® will be introducing a vast array of finishes that include many grey tones. Painted grey finishes such as Pebble Grey and Greyloft will be made available in many glaze, vintage, and new vintage patina options.

When designing with these finishes, try balancing the grey tones with warm floors and gold accents. As shown below, these new finishes pair nicely with the warm hardwoods, gold accent tiles and light fixtures. Achieving the proper balance between these warm and cool tones can give your design a sense of harmony that just feels right when you enter the room. It’s a fun and easy palette to work within, and our new products give you the tools to pull it off beautifully.

Merillat Masterpiece Temora Cherry Cabinets in New Vintage Pebble Grey Paint with Coconut Patina with Lucca Maple Cabinets in New Greyloft Paint

Be sure to come back to see all the new products coming from Merillat Masterpiece on April 8th.

 

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Summer Staples

Posted by: Merillat Marketing on 12/21/2012 | Permalinks | Trackbacks

This is the final edition of a four-week seasonal series we’re doing about our new Cotton finish and Bellingham door style; highlighting ways to make a white, bright Merillat kitchen stay fresh no matter the season! Check out the fall, winter and spring posts, too!


Summer is time for picnics, beaches, lazy days and afternoons on the water, and beach accents are perfect against your white Merillat kitchen cabinets with Cotton finish on Bellingham. Next summer, plan to bring in a little of the sun and sand to your kitchen and make it feel like a coastal escape, whether or not you live on a coast.

Fill a vase with seashells and sand, add sunny yellow accents throughout the space or update an accent wall to bring a little of the beach home.

Another option is to try a nautical themed kitchen by adding navy accents and anchors (via framed art, towels or pewter ornaments). The contrast of the navy and white cabinets are a beautiful touch, and you might not ever want to change it out again!

How do you make your kitchen feel like summer?

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Spruce Up Spring!

Posted by: Merillat Marketing on 12/20/2012 | Permalinks | Trackbacks

This is the third edition of a four-week seasonal series we’re doing about our new Cotton finish and Bellingham door style by highlighting ways to make a white, bright Merillat kitchen stay fresh no matter the season! Stay tuned for summer ideas in the coming weeks. Check out the fall and winter posts, too!

Align your white Merillat kitchen (Cotton finish on Bellingham) with the breeziness of spring and usher in a little color with pretty accents.  Put flowers, and fresh fruits and veggies from the farmer’s markets on display in big, colorful bowls.

Or be more daring! If you’re really in the mood for the kind of change spring brings, splash a new shade of paint on the wall. Consider the teal color of the table pictured here, or use cool pastels on an accent wall.

Spring is a great time for purples, yellows, greens and rose colors.

What would you do with a white kitchen for spring decorating?

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Updating White Kitchens For The Holiday Season

Posted by: Merillat Marketing on 12/13/2012 | Permalinks | Trackbacks

This is the second edition of a four-week seasonal series we’re doing about our new Cotton finish and Bellingham door style by highlighting ways to make a white, bright Merillat kitchen stay fresh no matter the season! Stay tuned for spring and summer ideas in the coming weeks. Check out last week’s post for fall ideas here!

With winter knocking at our doors, we’re dreaming about how we’ll update our white Merillat Bellingham kitchen in Cotton finish for the season. White in the kitchen is a standout trend and though it might seem most fitting during warmer months, a few little design touches make it perfect for winter, too.

  • Touches of red: To bring in a little holiday cheer; add red elements throughout the kitchen.
    • Try: Kitchen appliances (like mixers and blenders), chair slipcovers and framed art with red accents are all great choices.
  • Holiday accents: No matter which winter holiday you celebrate, bringing in tasteful seasonal décor adds a warm festive feeling.
    • Try: Glittery snowflake designs, pine tree branches in a colorful vase, pinecones and ribbon in clear tubes, and holly berries or mistletoe wreaths.
    • Try: Use metallic colors by adding a hint of sparkle with gold and silver accents. A centerpiece tube vase filled with metallic holiday ornaments or a silvery table runner plays up the shimmer of the winter season.
  • White kitchens look expensive when attention is paid to details like fabrics so try adding warm, lush textures.
    • Try: A bold off-white shag rug at the sink or under a table to accent the white, or try cowhide accents (framed or under furniture). Another option is to change out all accent towels for a bright, festive color like forest green.

What would you add to warm up a white kitchen for the holiday season?

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Fall Accents and Accessories

Posted by: Merillat Marketing on 12/06/2012 | Permalinks | Trackbacks

We are doing a four-week seasonal series about our new Cotton finish and Bellingham door style by highlighting ways to make a white, bright Merillat kitchen stay fresh no matter the season! Stay tuned for winter, spring and summer in the coming weeks.

We love decorating for fall, and with white cabinets for a backdrop like our new Cotton finish on Bellingham, we have more inspiration than ever! Here are a few things we like to add to our kitchens every year to celebrate the season:

Deep reds, golds, oranges and yellows are a perfect kitchen color palette during fall. Whether you include color with hand towels, floral arrangements, table runners, vases or appliances, these accents are sure to make your kitchen feel perfectly prepped for autumn days.

A few things to try:

  • Pumpkins and gourds are great fall accessories. Carved or not, they add a festive fall element.
  • Implement an arrangement of fall-colored spice candles on an antiqued tray.
  • If your kids bring home fall leaves in wax paper (an old grade-school tradition), try framing them in small, warm oak or walnut frames on an accent wall.

What are your favorite fall decorating traditions?

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Merillat® Introduces New Products!

Posted by: Merillat Marketing on 11/27/2012 | Permalinks | Trackbacks

This month, we’re expanding our Merillat Classic® line to include a new door style called Bellingham, a drawer front option, a new paint finish and more!

The new additions hit on major trends in home décor and kitchen renovations:

White kitchens: This growing trend serves as the perfect backdrop for future color updates and trends, accessories and furniture pieces! Our new Cotton finish pops nicely against popular wall colors and is accented easily with vases, island blocks and kitchen appliances and colorful accessories.

Form with function: Inspired by popular, modern design, the new Bellingham door style pairs great design and flexibility, creating balanced aesthetics for those who are both style- and budget-conscious.

Universal Design: Universal Design features accommodate multigenerational living with elements that fit seamlessly into kitchen plans. The new line includes a 5.5” toe kick, universal base table and universal Lazy Susan.

For more on these new products, click http://merillat.com/our-products/whats-new-classic.html. The products are available beginning November 19.

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Favorite Kitchen & Bath Trends from 2012

Posted by: Merillat Marketing on 10/19/2012 | Permalinks | Trackbacks

We’re getting excited for a new year and new trends coming up in 2013, but we also want to remember the style elements that made a strong showing in 2012. The National Kitchen and Bath Association recently recapped this year’s trends, and here are our favorites:

  • Interior Concrete: Perfect for countertops or backsplashes
  • Color Infusion Behind Glass/Glass Backsplashes: Glass adds an extra “shine” and creates a focal point
  • Suspended Lighting: Sets the tone of a space and highlights specific areas
  • Darker Finishes: Although white continues to be a popular choice, dark cabinets create a sleek and sophisticated vibe
  • Solid Surfaces: Granite and quartz are the most popular elements for this trend
  • Polished Chrome: Brushed metal begone, welcome back polished chrome & hardware

To see the full lists (there were two), check them out here and here! What trends do you think will be big in 2013? Any you hope will fade away?

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