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!

1. Understand the differences between an island and a peninsula.

An island is a freestanding workspace that is not connected to a wall, and usually sits near the center of the space. It breaks up a kitchen into work zones and offers storage, extra countertop space, and a cozy place to gather around the cook. A peninsula offers the versatility and space management of an island, but takes up less floor space because it is connected to a wall at one end.

Both islands and peninsulas can be large scale or small scale, can be installed with sinks and cooktops, and can be used for everything from rolling out pie crust and peeling vegetables to paying bills and eating breakfast.

2. Use online planning tools to visualize your options.

Merillat offers a number of planning tools designed to help you design your space. Our Work Triangle and Kitchen Layouts pages will help you think through your potential layout options in relation to the cooking, cleaning and food storage “work triangle.”  Our Island and Peninsula section includes inspirational photos showing variations on size, design style, and storage options. Our Start Your Floor Plan tool creates a sketch of your dimensions and layout that you can print. And our Step-by-Step Kitchen Planner saves all your favorite door styles and hardware, plus your input about your cooking style, whether you have pets in the kitchen and more, so you can print out a scrapbook of preferences and favorites to take to a designer.

3. Consult with a certified kitchen designer.

After you have done the research above, set up a consultation with a certified kitchen designer who can walk you through the decision process. A designer has the training to help you measure your space, make recommendations based on desires and your square footage, and help you design a space that’s both beautiful and functional.

Leave a comment and let us know if you found these tools useful in planning your dream kitchen!

6 Steps for Organizing Your Pantry for the Holidays

Turkey. Cornbread stuffing. Pumpkin pie. Thanksgiving will soon be upon us, ushering in the holiday cooking season. Which means that now is the time to get your kitchen—and especially your pantry—organized! An hour spent before the cooking flurry begins will save you many more in the weeks ahead. Follow these steps for a clean and well-organized pantry.

1. Clear the countertop closest to your pantry area of any small appliances or other items.
2. Remove the contents of your pantry cabinets and stack everything on the countertop.
3. Gently wipe down the cabinet doors first and then the insides of the cabinets. Use a damp cloth with mild soap or a cleaning product designed for wood furniture. Dry with a clean towel or rag. (See a previous blog post for more information about how to clean your Merillat cabinets.)
4. Reorganize the space by thinking about how often you reach for each item. Designate one area or shelf for baking supplies and another for soups and vegetables. A corner cabinet with Lazy Susan may be a good place for cereal and breakfast items. If space is at a premium, install a spice rack on the inside of a door. Group together any items you use only for holidays, like Christmas cookie sprinkles or cupcake liners.
5. Assess each pantry staple as you move it to its new home. Check expiration dates on spices and canned goods and toss anything old. Empty any half-full bags of pasta or flour into a canister to consolidate space and to keep them from spilling.
6. Make a shopping list of any supplies that are low or out, especially those items you’ll need for your holiday recipes. Be sure to leave room for these items in your newly organized pantry so they can be put away as soon as you return from shopping.

All that’s left to do is wipe down the countertop and take out the garbage. Your pantry is ready to tackle any cooking the holidays bring!

Just for fun: what’s an item found in your pantry only during the holidays? Leave a comment and let us know.

The survey, conducted online by Harris Interactive^®, polled 1,027 U.S. adult homeowners aged 18-65 years old about their generational influences and needs in a home.

We discovered some interesting things about homeowners across the country:

1. Pets are a priority. 22% of homeowners aged 18-65 felt that a place for feeding pets is a top-three kitchen extra, compared with only 10% who felt they needed a space for wine storage.
2. Remodeling may be the way to go. While 63% of Baby Boomer homeowners, aged 45-65, plan to stay in their current home over the next five to 10 years, 75% don’t feel that their current kitchen is universally designed to meet their needs.
3. People are staying put. Gen X homeowners, aged 35-44, are staying put and nearly half (49%) think they will spend up to a decade in their current residence.
4. The youngest generation is thinking ahead. 40% of Gen Y homeowners, aged 18-34, embrace the concept of multigenerational living and expect their parents will live with them in the future.

With this study as a guide, Merillat is continuing to help customers consider the best options for to meet their current and future needs in the kitchen.

Entering is fun and easy; here’s what you have to do:

• Go to Merillat.com and upload a photo of your current kitchen.
• Write a brief essay telling us why you need a kitchen makeover.
• Let Curtis Stone walk you through our Step-by-Step Kitchen Planner to design your Works Like a Dream kitchen!

Once you’ve completed the three steps, you’ll be entered for a chance to win one of these prizes:

• Grand Prize: $30,000 kitchen makeover, $1,500 in Curtis Stone products and a $3,000 Open House party to show everyone your new kitchen.
• First Prize: Two winners will get a $5,000 credit toward the purchase of Merillat cabinetry.
• Second Prize: Five winners will get $500 in Curtis Stone products.

Merillat is passionate about helping homeowners find a kitchen design that’s right for them. And by encouraging interaction with the Step-by-Step Kitchen Planner we hope more and more homeowners will learn the most appropriate kitchen styles, products and features for their specific lifestyle.

So what are you waiting for? Give us the chance to make your dream kitchen a reality – ENTER NOW!

Sarah Reep speaks at the Dealer Symposium

As part of that experience, Merillat designers discussed new design techniques that allow homeowners to see the intelligent and functional design of their new space. Participating designers also explored the many ways a kitchen can be designed to fit the everyday personality and way of life of clients.

With the help of a functional and innovative designer using Merillat cabinetry, you can design dream rooms for the real world. Merillat designers truly are great designers, but don’t take our word for it, meet our designers for yourself on our Facebook page and see how they’re making dream designs come to life!

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.

Eclectic Design Style

Need some help figuring out which design style fits you best? Merillat has some great tools to help point you in the right direction. Explore the Your Design Style section of our website to find the look that appeals to you most, and then view the Merillat products that will help bring that vision to life. To help you along the way, here are some high level descriptions of four popular design categories:

• Eclectic: We like to describe this style as a “free spirit” attitude. Perhaps a bit quirky and unconventional – you think its okay to color outside the lines and scream chartreuse when others insist on boring beige! This style is a celebration of colors, styles and textures combined with casual comfort. Think Dali meets Rachel Ray…
  

  Country Design Style

• Traditional: For those who are a bit more formal, the Traditional design style can range from a more relaxed, less formal interpretation to high-end, embellished sophistication, but is always elegant and timeless. If resale of your home is a consideration, adding some traditional touches is a wise choice.
• Country: If you prefer a more “rustic” aesthetic, this style exudes warmth and comfort. The Country design style is all about softening the edges of life for an inviting and “lived in” feel. For some, this looks includes traditional silhouettes adorned with turned legs and feet, patterned or floral fabrics, and often a bright coat of paint and heirloom detailing. For others, a mountain retreat is the look you’re going for, with open-grained, knotty or rough-hewn woods, and old-world accents of stone, iron and copper. Can’t you already hear the fire crackling?
  

  Modern Design Style

• Modern:  A contemporary kitchen is flexible and functional with clean, uncluttered lines. Modern doesn’t have to mean “cold”; with a simple punch of color, your modern kitchen can become warm and inviting. “Techy” kitchen gadgets and appliances are often a part of this design theme. Contemporary kitchens are very popular in lofts, modern, and city living homes.

So which design style fits you and your home best? Are you traditional to the core? Perhaps you’re a modernist with a touch of eclectic whimsy. Our maybe a casual country aesthetic is what speaks to you. We’d love to hear which style appeals to you most!

Now that you know what look you’re drawn to, you can begin planning your remodel by browsing and saving your favorite Merillat products, accessories and room images from our Inspiration Gallery to your personal IdeaFolio account. You can even start to define your kitchen floor plan within IdeaFolio so you can share your ideas with your designer when you’re ready to bring your dream kitchen to life!

Guided by chef Curtis Stone, you’ll be asked a series of questions that will help you determine your specialized needs and preferences, covering everything from kitchen layout to paint palettes. Once you’ve completed the customized planning process, you’ll be able to review your kitchen choices in a virtual rendering and a mood board that can be printed at home and shared with your local Merillat dealer.

The process is laid out in six easy-to-follow steps:

1. Getting Started. In this first section, you will be prompted to create or log in to your IdeaFolio™ account so your project can be saved, changed and shared. In this step, the planner also gathers information about you that could affect your kitchen design. For example, it asks if you are remodeling or building a new kitchen.
2. Inspiration. Here you will explore and choose the design style that fits you best. Once you have chosen a style, you will then be presented with a series of kitchen photos from which you can choose and “save” favorites, and learn about the features that make those kitchens special.
3. Door Style. In this step you will be guided through the process of choosing your favorite door style, wood species, finish and hardware for a finished look you will love.
4. Organization and Accessories. Based on answers provided about how you plan to live in your kitchen, the tool will then present a series of features designed to make life in the kitchen easier. From pull-out wastebaskets to wine racks, you can browse additional photos and videos about the features to learn more, saving your favorites to your project.
5. Planning Your Space. Next you will review major considerations you may want to discuss with your designer once you get to a Merillat showroom, such as sink and faucet types, counter top materials and appliance options, all of which can affect the kitchen layout.
6. Finishing Touches. This is where it all comes together with cabinetry accents like corbels and crown molding, paint color, flooring and counter tops.

Upon completion of the final step, you will be presented with “My Design,” a collection of your favorite products organized for easy sharing with your designer. Swatches and images are provided; including door styles, hardware, paint color, flooring and countertops.

The Kitchen Planner is designed to engage and inspire you, and make the planning, selection and purchasing process more efficient and streamlined so your dream kitchen can become a reality.

Want to learn more? Check out this video and then give the Kitchen Planner a try yourself and let us know what you think!

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.

For example, how much seating do you need to accommodate your family members? What kinds of activities are performed in your kitchen? Do you do a lot of cooking? Do your kids like to help?  Who else spends time in your kitchen? Don’t forget to consider how your needs may change over the years.

Whether accommodating little ones, hungry teens, busy parents, seniors, or physically challenged persons in your space planning, there are many ways to create an environment that works for everyone.  Here are a few ideas to help you along the way:

• If small children are a consideration, install countertops with rounded corners to prevent painful bumps and bruises.
• Incorporate a lower height area of counter space that provides easier access for children – and also seniors or physically challenged family members.
• Choose cabinets with durable finishes that will take the bumps in stride.
• Consider cabinetry options like Merillat’s SoftAction™ drawers that help slow down the moving parts as excited kids open and shut them. Self-closing concealed door hinges help prevent pinching and keep doors from hanging open.
• To help keep things clean, choose higher gloss furniture finishes that are easy to wipe off. This concept applies to walls too: “the higher the sheen, the easier it will clean.” Satin or semigloss wall paints are going to be your best bet.
• Upholster chairs with washable fabrics or slipcovers for those eventual spills. Plan on replacing in five years or so.
• Make your kitchen warm and inviting with bright, cheerful paint colors and fabrics.
• Microwave ovens, foods and dishes can be positioned at a lower level where less reaching is required.  Installing our Masterpiece® base microwave cabinet is one great way to put that appliance within easy reach.
• Carve out a comfortable niche for homework, games and just hanging out. This might also be a great spot for bill paying or plugging in a laptop.
• For toddlers you might set aside a small area for their own little table and chairs to keep them occupied and within sight while you’re cooking.
• Varnished hardwood flooring (like maple) will stand up to the abuse of an active family. Linoleum and sealed cork are other good options.
• Make the seating area in your kitchen welcoming by providing plenty of room to spread out for the whole family.
• Hang a pendant lamp over your breakfast nook or table to make a focal point that provides task lighting.
• An island or peninsula is a great way to combine informal dining with ample storage space.  Or you might invest in a rolling island to increase storage and work space.
• With so many people coming and going, you might also consider an entryway area or “drop zone” for things like keys, mail, coats, backpacks and purses. Merillat offers a number of family-friendly accessories to help you customize your space, including drop zone and entryway ensembles.

Ultimately, what you’re striving to create is a space that everyone feels comfortable in and can easily utilize on a daily basis. These are just a few ideas to help get you there.  Have additional ideas you’d like to share? We’d love to hear them!

Merillat Classic Spring Valley in Oak Cider

As the hub of the home, the emphasis on design style in today’s kitchen is greater than ever before.  With so much of our time spent in the kitchen, it’s only natural that we’ve begun to gravitate toward cabinetry that looks like furniture, and appliances that are integrated into their surroundings or make a bold design statement of their own.

For those who can afford them, high-style, high-end appliances lend a wonderful aesthetic all their own to the kitchen. From professional six-burner gas stoves to glass-front refrigerators with architectural curves to retro-modern appliances in an array of crazy colors, there are a lot of great options from which to choose.

Integrated appliances are also an option for those who want a more customized look. An integrated appliance is one that has been custom built to fit your space instead of the more conventional method of building your kitchen to accommodate standard dimension appliances. But, this kind of customization doesn’t come cheap – not only is the appliance itself expensive, but maintenance and upkeep are also costly propositions.

Rest assured there are smaller scale and less costly design solutions available.  Several creative solutions for disguising or hiding away your conventional and small appliances are described below.

Merillat Masterpiece Wall Tambour Storage

Appliance Panel Kits

Camouflage paneling that matches your cabinetry is a great way to personalize appliances whose finishes don’t match your taste, or don’t match each other. It also creates a uniform look for your kitchen, creating continuous stretches of attractive surfaces and finishes around the room.

In this photo from the Merillat Classic Spring Valley collection, you can see how paneling helps the dishwasher fit right in with the room’s design. With matching wood species and finish, the paneling creates a consistent, continuous flow around the room. Ask your designer how to best incorporate appliance panel kits into your kitchen design.

Solutions for Small Appliances

When it comes to your smaller appliances, there are a number of ways in which you can keep them out of sight and help reduce clutter. For example, you can tuck a toaster in an appliance garage or a tambour cabinet with a roll-down door, keep a mixer on a shelf that lifts up and into the open when you need it, and keep a microwave on a sturdy, dedicated, integrated shelf. You can also use curtains, screens and other decorative devices to keep smaller items out of sight.  Explore Merillat’s extensive offering of small appliance and other space-saving accessories.

Quick Fixes

Don’t have the time or budget for changes to your appliances or cabinetry? Some simple yet innovative updates can help lend a unique, customized look to your appliances. For example you might elect to paint your appliances a color that complements the rest of your kitchen decor, or swap out standard hardware for custom hardware that better matches other elements in the room. Hardware can also be removed and painted to match other hardware finishes.

We hope you have been inspired by some of these quick ideas on how to create a more integrated kitchen look.  Do you have additional ideas on interesting ways of disguising kitchen appliances? Please share them with us!