(Sarah Reep, Design Expert)

In an effort to call attention to these findings, Merillat cabinets and Masco Cabinetry (Merillat’s parent company) teamed up with Building Women magazine for the article titled, “What today’s woman wants from her kitchen and how builders can best deliver it” for the Winter 2012 issue. The tips below serve as a handy checklist for kitchen design remodels to ensure your wants are met in your home, and especially in your kitchen.

1. Start Off on the Right Foot. First impressions are everything. Look for a designer who is professional and organized, and ready to help answer your questions.
2. Kicking Things Off. After first impressions are made and you’ve chosen a designer, set up an interview with them to determine basic things like preferences, style, taste, trends and other fundamental elements you are looking for in the design.
3. Prioritize. Then, define what the kitchen needs. Make a list of the “must-haves” and include things that will make your life easier and fit your lifestyle. Consider questions like: Would a double sink be helpful? Do I prefer to wash dishes at an island facing into the home or at a window so I can look out?
4. Build the Roadmap. Next, commit your ideas to paper to ensure all communication is clear between both parties. Tools like the Merillat Kitchen Planner and the IdeaFolio can be helpful in completing this part of the process.
5. Time to Focus. Finally, after all of the ideas and preferences are captured, narrow down the options into one solid final design plan.

Next step? Begin designing!

In February, home improvement expert Danny Lipford will start a new project to help first-time homeowners get a handle on home remodeling. The project will span six episodes of his television show, Today’s Homeowner with Danny Lipford (check your local listings) and follows his daughter, Chelsea Lipford, as she remodels her first home. Danny and Chelsea will use with these five tips to navigate the remodeling process.

1. Assess the Space

Understand exactly what you have to work with in your space, and be realistic about the changes you can make. Learn tips and tricks to take advantage of useful resources that help you visualize the space’s potential.

2. Identify Your Style

Look through magazines, blogs, store catalogs and other visual resources to find things you like and capture them in a single location like the Merillat Ideafolio. This includes furniture, accessories, cabinetry and more.

3. Determine the Scope of the Project

Consider time line, budget and design needs when beginning a project.

• Time line: As exciting as it is to start a project, keep in mind that the process takes time. You may have limited use in certain areas of your home until it’s finished.
• Budget: Set one and stick to it. Don’t be tempted to spend more than the money you’ve allotted.
• Make two lists: Make a list of “must haves” and a list of things that would be nice to eventually add. Focus on the “must haves,” and over time, add the other pieces to your design.

4. DIY vs. Professional

Certain projects can be completed on your own, but others should be left to professionals. If you aren’t an expert plumber, hire an expert to do it correctly. Hiring a designer can also be a very helpful resource, as he or she can help you figure out how to make your space work well and assist you in determining your personal style.

5. Make Time for Fun

Remember that this is an exciting time! Celebrate each step of the process, especially when the details become overwhelming. This is your house and you’re making it your own home!

Both homes include Merillat cabinets designed for ease-of-use in the kitchen, bathroom and laundry room. We installed adjustable height countertop surfaces that allow access to anyone, regardless of age, height or mobility. These include deep toekicks that better accommodate wheelchair access and height differences.

Pullout and rollout drawers and shelves eliminate the need for the homeowner to reach into the back of deep cabinets, while larger hardware made knobs and handles easier to grasp – important in designing for all needs. Our local dealer partner, Reico Kitchen & Bath, pitched in to install the cabinetry in the homes.

We’re always considering new ways to incorporate universal design, while increasing functionality and maintaining style. For more information, visit www.Merillat.com.

Go white.

Many, though certainly not all, cottage kitchens are built around white cabinets. White is traditional, looks fresh and clean, and gives you maximum flexibility for changing up accessories either seasonally or whenever the fancy strikes.

Details matter.

Plate racks, glass doors or open cabinets and shelves that show off bright dishes and heirloom treasures add color and a sense of history. Cabinets are often accented with corbels and crown molding, and hardware is more likely to be door pulls rather than knobs.

Gather around.

Even the tiniest cottage kitchens often have a breakfast nook or a couple of stools pulled up to an island or peninsula, because cottage style is all about welcoming friends and family.

Incorporate nature.

Because cottages are on the small side, cottage life often extends to the outdoors with patios and flower and vegetable gardens. Bring the outdoors in with fresh flowers, houseplants, dried herb bouquets or bowls of fruit.

Layer comfort.

Rag rugs or other floor coverings add color and warmth, as do curtains or Roman shades. Top chairs and barstools with cushions, and prop a pillow in the breakfast nook or windowseat.

That’s all it takes to start your cottage kitchen makeover! Leave a comment and let us know what you love about cottage style.

Merillat cabinetry is sold through a nationwide network of dedicated cabinetry professionals and builders. Among the factors critical to the success of a pleasing design and a flawless installation are proper measurements, detailed mechanical specifications, and construction know-how. That’s why we sell our cabinets through professionals who have the skills and tools to design, order and install cabinetry with the utmost of accuracy. They are dedicated to helping you find the right solution for your home, whether you are remodeling an entire kitchen or replacing a few parts.

So instead of selling cabinetry online, our website is dedicated to providing (free) product brochures you can download and planning tools and photo galleries that will get you thinking about what goes into a successful kitchen or bathroom remodel.

That said, we do sell a limited number of accessories online that you can use to retrofit your existing cabinetry. Our drawer organizer kit, cutting board kit, spice tray insert, Lazy Susan revolving shelf kit, vanity hamper rollout, touch-up kits, and hardware are among the items available in the Shop section of our website.

For the rest, we encourage you to use our handy Find a Dealer tool to contact a skilled professional. Thanks for asking, and keep sending the great questions our way!

The key to keeping a white kitchen vibrant and not boring is to pay attention to texture and color variation in your design. Here are a few tips:

1. White is a range, not a color.

There are hundreds of shades of white, from cool to warm. Don’t go for the exact same white on your walls, cabinets, and ceiling. Instead, select coordinating whites for added depth.

2. Focus on texture.

If your cabinets have a smooth finish, use a rustic white tile for the backsplash. If your white cabinets have more of a vintage look, play them up with sleek subway tiles. Many of Merillat’s door styles are available in Dove White and Vintage Dove White finishes, both of which are perfect for an all-white kitchen.

3. Warm it up.

Warm up all that white with a ceramic tile floor in gray, or tiles that mimic wood flooring (real wood is not recommended for kitchens and bathrooms because of the potential for water damage). Hang wooden or bamboo blinds or shades. Install a pair of floating shelves or an island end cap in a contrasting wood finish.

4. Bring in spot color.

Add pops of color with a stand mixer, vibrant cachepots with kitchen implements, window valances, rugs, dishtowels and art. Pile a bowl with apples or other seasonal fruit as a centerpiece for your island or peninsula. Put a colorful collection of dishes on display in a plate rack or cabinets with glass inserts.

Visit a certified kitchen designer to get more ideas for how to build or remodel a beautiful white kitchen!

I was recently honored to work on a very special project with Midwest Living magazine along with one of our dealers, Sunderland Brothers Company; a project that will benefit hundreds of families in need each year.

L to R: Doug Year (Sunderland Brothers), Ronald McDonald, Charlie Fiedler (Merillat Account Manager), Ron Bauer (Sunderland Brothers) and Joe Williams (Williams Remodeling) celebrate the grand opening of the Midwest Living Idea Home at the Ronald McDonald House.

As a sponsor of the 2011-2012 Midwest Living Idea Home, Merillat cabinetry provided cabinetry for the complete renovation of the Ronald McDonald House Charities® Des Moines, Iowa home.

For Merillat cabinetry this was a perfect fit.  Why? Merillat strives to make life in the kitchen easier; and if we can in anyway make life easier for these families, we consider that a privilege.

I attended the unveiling of the project at an Open House party in late August. The party was open to sponsors and local residents, and included a ribbon cutting ceremony and a tour of the completed home.

During the tour, one thing was clear, the room designs were inspired by the families living there; especially the rooms with Merillat cabinets including the media room, library, bathrooms, and of course the kitchen.

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Merillat Senior Designer Paul Radoy designed these rooms. I could see immediately how Paul’s hard work might help make the families feel as comfortable as possible and a little more like “home” during their stays.

These two kitchens mirroring each other in one space, allow more than one family a functional space to prepare meals.

This “home away from home” was especially personal for me as I had a close friend spend months at Methodist Hospital across the parking lot from the Ronald McDonald House.  My friend’s son had a brain injury in 2009 and spent over two months at Methodist.  In 2010, my friend himself was diagnosed with cancer, spending numerous weeks undergoing chemotherapy at Methodist.  They were fortunate to live in the area and could sleep in their own beds.  I was extremely proud of Merillat Cabinetry’s contribution to give families that are not from the area a place that might feel like home during their stay.

The complete transformation of the home will be featured in the March/April 2012 issue of Midwest Living.  Can’t wait that long? Watch for updates on the project at midwestliving.com/rmhc.

It’s taken months and months of hard work, but I am pleased to say The Kuppersmith Project is complete and looking better than ever!  You have been able to witness the full transformation of this 1920s Tudor style house in Mobile, Ala. on my show, Today’s Homeowner with Danny Lipford.  Now it is time to see the final reveal of the entire home, including the Merillat cabinetry and DeNova countertops used throughout the home.

As you know, at the start of the project the Kuppersmith home was a 1900-square foot home without central heating or air-conditioning, the plumbing and wiring were outdated and the kitchen and bathroom were small, outdated and needed to be completely redone.

We were lucky to work with our friends at Merillat and DeNova to provide cabinetry and countertops solutions for various rooms throughout the home.  Even though the Kuppersmith house was a huge undertaking, in fact my biggest yet, Merillat and DeNova’s integration made for quick and easy installation.  We used this cabinet + countertop combination all over the house to help simplify the remodel and make each room beautiful and more functional.

Merillat cabinetry, filled with innovative storage solutions, brings a new dimension of style and functionality to the Kuppersmith kitchen.  Some of my favorites are featured in the kitchen and include the CoreGuard™ Sink Base—there is no better way to help avoid under sink damage, plus it is durable and easy to install.  The cutting board kit and deep drawer peg board are perfect and convenient for keeping your kitchen organized while you cook. This is a family friendly kitchen that will be easier and more enjoyable to work in.

The Kuppersmith Project is a great example of how Merillat kitchens are more functional with ingenious features that make life in the kitchen easier.  Plus, the integration of Merillat cabinets with DeNova countertops lends itself to a more seamless remodeling process.  I’m speaking from experience and know that all contractors will appreciate this!

Check out my web site for more information about the Kuppersmith home.  And if you missed the unveiling of the home or any of the other Kuppersmith episodes, you’re in luck because we are re-airing the 13-part series.  Click here to find out when the shows air in your area!

Attendees couldn’t resist stopping by the booth to check out the displays and participate in activities.  In the innovation zone we featured our latest products, the CoreGuard™ Sink Base, a smart solution that helps keep the cabinetry under your sink dry and clean.  We also gave a sneak peak of two products that will be available soon: CornerStore™, a solution to bring more storage and easy accessibility to the challenging corner cabinet area, and the CoreGuard™ Vanity, like the kitchen sink base, but special for the bathroom.

Special guests drew a crowd!

Our favorite Australian chef, Curtis Stone, was in the booth cooking up an all-time favorite, spaghetti and meatballs, and his delicious vanilla pana cotta.  Not to mention, some lucky audience members were able to sample his champagne cocktail with poached strawberries. Curtis also shared his favorite Merillat cabinetry features, while demonstrating how easy it is to cook in a Merillat kitchen. Visitors were also able to get autographs and pictures.

In addition, home improvement celebrities Eric Stromer from HGTV’s Over Your Head and Cindy Dole, host of CBS radio show “Home Wizards”, were in the booth discussing Merillat’s product innovations  and one of the most important design realities today – Universal Design. Cindy and Eric explained that since more and more families are living together in multigenerational households, it is important when building a new home or remodeling that the kitchen should accommodate different ages and abilities. Merillat kitchens at the show included many examples of how products and design come together to meet these needs.

Knowledge Leadership

Before KBIS, Merillat was part of a Masco Cabinetry study to gain insight into kitchen design as it relates to current generational needs. And Merillat, along with the other Masco Cabinetry brands, was excited to release the latest findings from the study, GenShift 2011: Lifestages Redefining the Kitchen.  The study illustrates how recent social, economic and generational influences impact kitchen design. The study was well received and attracted a lot of attention as homeowners, dealers, builders and designers are all noticing shifts in kitchen living and use.  For more information or to download a copy of the complete study, visit GenShiftKitchen.com.

Casual Wine Storage

If you don’t go through a lot of wine, a corner of your dining room buffet or an accent table might be the perfect space for your stash. Avoid a cluttered look by arranging several bottles together on a silver platter or other decorative tray. For added flair, group this with a few wine glasses or a pretty bowl of corks.

Built-in Storage

If your collection is larger, Merillat offers a number of built-in wine storage options for kitchen cabinets and dining room sideboards. Built-in options are ideal since they are the most stable, can be designed for areas that would otherwise be wasted space, and blend in to surrounding cabinetry.

Freestanding Storage

But if a remodel isn’t in your near future, a freestanding wine rack may serve well temporarily. Wine racks come in a huge range of sizes and styles and can be tucked into dining room corners, set atop bookcases, or stowed inside a cabinet. The best locations will be areas out of direct light and with the most stable temperature. Avoid the top and either side of a refrigerator or other sources of heat. Laying the bottles on their sides, as most wine racks are designed to do, keeps the corks from drying out and letting air in.

Is wine storage a priority in your home? Where do you store wine currently?