Archive for the ‘Kitchen Trends’ Category
Posted by: Merillat Marketing on 02/09/2012 | Permalinks | Trackbacks
Today’s homeowner demographic has shifted across gender lines, according to a recent survey by the National Association of Realtors. In what may be a surprising statistic for some, “20 percent of all home buyers are single women” (Building Women, Winter 2012).
(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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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?
- 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.
- 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!
Tags: kitchen remodeling, professional women in building, Remodeling tips, Women homeowners
Posted by: Merillat Marketing on 12/19/2011 | Permalinks | Trackbacks
What makes cottage kitchens so charming? Is it the relaxed feel? The cozy sense of space? The invoked memories of cookies in the oven or a big pot of soup on the stove? Whatever it is, the cottage look never goes out of style, and it’s not as hard to achieve as you might think. Here are a few tips for getting the cottage kitchen look.
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.
Tags: cabinets, Cottage Kitchen, Design, kitchen, kitchen planning, White cabinets, White Kitchen
Posted by: Merillat Marketing on 11/28/2011 | Permalinks | Trackbacks
White kitchens are popular again, and why not? They look fresh and are easy to keep clean. They’re the perfect backdrop for colorful dinnerware or linens. And they’re easy to update anytime a new decorating idea takes your fancy.
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!
Tags: cabinets, Door Styles, Kitchen Design, Kitchen Trends, merillat cabinets, merillat kitchen, Merillat White, White Kitchen, White Kitchen Cabinets
Posted by: Paul Radoy - Senior Designer on 09/16/2011 | Permalinks | Trackbacks
We are excited to announce the expansion of Merillat Masterpiece®, our premier line of semi-custom cabinetry, giving homeowners new design possibilities to create intelligently beautiful kitchens. Introducing four new door styles, 24 new finish, paint and glaze options, and even more new accessories and hardware options to make your kitchen a masterpiece!
We have taken the latest styles and trends and put a Merillat twist on them. Our new door styles reflect the emerging design trends toward Heritage, Modern Farmhouse and Soft Modern decorating styles. These three trends come to life in the Merillat Masterpiece line and are customizable to fit every homeowner’s needs.
Merillat Masterpiece® Temora™ door style with a Cherry Kaffe finish.
Heritage
A Heritage style home is one where homeowners enjoy the finer things in life and might choose to entertain guests with fine food and wine. Embellished with details, the home is classically elegant and tailored. Heritage door styles commonly have heavy frames and molding, mitered corners and raised panels that can be accentuated with a luxurious glaze and other finishes to create a traditional, high-end look
Perfect for a Heritage style home, the new Merillat MasterpieceTemora™ door style offers a “flat edge” on the stiles and rails. Notice the clean and elegant lines here that give this traditional look a modern twist.
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Tags: Breland, cabinets, Gallina, Heritage, kitchen, Lucca, Masterpiece, merillat, merillat masterpiece, Modern Farmhouse, Soft Modern, Temora
Posted by: Paul Radoy - Senior Designer on 03/31/2011 | Permalinks | Trackbacks
Peg dividers for drawers can be customized so you can fit your pots and pans however you like.
If cooking is a hassle for you, it may be time to do some reorganizing. Curtis Stone, star of the reality cooking show “Take Home Chef,” thinks that a beautiful, well-organized kitchen can make a world of difference to home cooks.
Chef Curtis Stone
“When I was doing ‘Take Home Chef’ and cooking in all these different houses,” says Stone, “I was thinking, why is it so difficult to cook in people’s homes? It was so easy in a professional kitchen. Well, one of the main differences between a professional kitchen and residential kitchen is organization. But with the right organizational features, cooking can be fun and relaxing.”
Get in the Zone
According to Paul Radoy, manager of design services for Merillat, the best way to approach kitchen organization and storage is to look at the room in sections. “All kitchens have a cooking zone and a cleanup zone,” he says. “And some kitchens may have an island or pantry. Each of these areas lends themselves to various storage opportunities.”
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Tags: curtis stone, kitchen functionality, kitchen organization, kitchen planning, merillat cabinetry, merillat cabinets
Posted by: Merillat Marketing on 09/08/2010 | Permalinks | Trackbacks
Traditional Design Style
Identifying your design style is an important first step in any kitchen remodel or new construction. Are you drawn to sleek modern design, or a relaxed and rustic country aesthetic? Are your tastes more eclectic than traditional? Or maybe you prefer some combination of these looks.
Another consideration is the style of the other rooms in your home, and whether you want your kitchen design to stand apart from or blend seamlessly with adjacent rooms. Some design experts say your style should be consistent throughout your home, while others believe the kitchen is a great place to make a statement.
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Tags: contemporary, contemporary kitchen, country, country aesthetic, country design style, design style, eclectic, eclectic design style, Ideafolio, inspiration gallery, kitchen, Kitchen Design, kitchen remodel, merillat, merillat cabinets, modern, modern design, modern design style, traditional, traditional design style
Posted by: Merillat Marketing on 07/29/2010 | Permalinks | Trackbacks
Merillat Masterpiece Fairlane in Maple Burnished Praline
If your family is like most, your kitchen is more than just another room. These days, life happens in the kitchen. The kitchen is the hub of your home, the center of all the day’s activities. And even if you have a showcase dining room, you may actually eat most meals in the kitchen.
With your family’s busy schedule, things tend to overlap. Cooking, homework, bill paying, small talk…it’s all going on across the kitchen counter or at the kitchen table. The eat-in kitchen is the new normal, and when renovating your space you need to design accordingly to make it as family friendly as possible.
To begin, put some thought into how you want your kitchen to function – your lifestyle will dictate the design. Ask yourself what will help make your space operate efficiently and comfortably. Consider all of the ways in which you currently use your kitchen, where your children or other family members hang out, and then develop your solutions around these factors.
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Tags: eat-in kitchen, fairlane, family friendly kitchen, Kitchen Design, merillat, merillat cabinets, merillat masterpiece, self-closing concealed door hinges, softaction drawers, space planning
Posted by: Merillat Marketing on 04/07/2010 | Permalinks | Trackbacks
Movie Sets, Famous Chefs & Celebrity Athletes Inspiring Kitchen Design Trends Across the Country
"It's Complicated" Movie Set; Photo Credit: www.thekitchendesigner.org
The kitchens of celebrities, movie sets and famous chefs are influencing our design and style trend choices in many areas of the home, but especially in the kitchen. In this post, Sphere Trending, a trend spotting and design forecasting firm located in Waterford, Michigan, points out some noteworthy kitchens recently featured in film, television and magazines that have generated quite a buzz for their design appeal.
The recent film, “It’s Complicated”, centered around the eclectic and comfortable kitchen of the main character / bakery owner played by Meryl Streep. Designed by Beth Rubino, the kitchen captured the essence of the casual, “cleaned-up coastal” style currently experiencing an up-trend in home and kitchen design. The open shelving, curtained fronts, warm finishes and beachy color palette quickly made headlines on blogs and in design magazines as a trend to watch inspiring many to seek out ways to recreate the movie set kitchen’s relaxed style and comfortably chic look in homes across the country.
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Tags: celebrity kitchens, design enthusiast, home design inspiration, Kitchen Design, kitchen design trends, merillat
Posted by: Merillat Marketing on 03/29/2010 | Permalinks | Trackbacks
Jo Omar's Funky Backsplashes
In today’s constantly changing, 24/7 world, you can read a new blog, pick up a new magazine or book to find new inspirational photos or to learn about new technology in products designed specifically for the kitchen and bath. How can you choose what is right for you? Here are a few suggestions from Sphere Trending, a trend spotting and design forecasting firm located in Waterford, Michigan.
If it’s individuality and style that you’re craving, a custom backsplash may be just the thing you’re looking for. Individually designed and created by Jo Omar for your kitchen or bathroom each “Funky Splashback” is hand painted and sized to each specific project. An alternative to ordinary tile, these unique designs are an innovative, one-of-a-kind alternative for your kitchen or bathroom.
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Tags: antonio lupi, custom backsplash, delta faucet, International Builders' Show, jo omar, Kitchen Design, merillat, merillat cabinets, proximity sensing technology, teka cm38
Posted by: Merillat Marketing on 03/26/2010 | Permalinks | Trackbacks
The kitchen is, by far, the most important room in your house. It is the “hub” of most family interaction and entertainment and the design of your kitchen should reflect your unique lifestyle. Whether you are planning for your new kitchen, or redesigning/remodeling an old one, the style is important not only to the immediate user (you) but also to possible future users, such as growing children, aging parents or the next homeowner. There are so many ways to approach the design for any of these purposes, but first and foremost you should take the time to learn and appreciate your own design desires and preferences. Merillat’s Your Design Style guide will help you decide what design style best defines your preferences.
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Tags: cabinetry finish, design style, Kitchen Design, kitchen planning, merillat, merillat cabinets
