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!

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!

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.”

The Cooking Zone

Food preparation and cooking are the primary functions of a kitchen, which is why keeping cooking items organized and within easy reach is key. The National Association of Professional Organizers recommends observing the flow of activity in your kitchen and organizing around it. Stone agrees, saying, “I believe the kitchen should be designed for the way you live.” Whether you’re installing new cabinets or working with your existing units, try to optimize your space by creating specified storage areas.

• Group objects by purpose and dedicate specific storage areas for them. Having all the bakeware together  or all the pots and pans together lets you get to what you need quickly and efficiently.
• Store pots and pans as close to the stove as possible.
• Keep utensils where you can reach them easily while cooking. A utensil hanging system on the backsplash,  or a pull-down knife rack under the wall cabinet next to the cooktop keeps you from digging through  drawers.

“Now I know almost everyone has a pots and pans cabinet, and most of them are a mess,” says Stone. “Well, Merillat has come up with an ingen- ious solution. Peg dividers for drawers can be customized to neatly fit all your pots and pans as you like them. It’s not one-size-fits-all, so it can be nicely organized.”

Awkward items can be stored on a Lazy Susan or a swing-out base cabinet, both of which take advantage of a tricky blind corner situation. The swing-out base cabinet allows full access to the entire cabinet with its two adjustable roll-out trays.

The Pantry Zone

If you’re tired of hunting through a dozen canned goods to find the one you really need, or if you end up buying items you didn’t know you already had, then it’s time to reorganize the pantry.

Turn a tight fit into plenty of storage with a swing-out system.

Group similar food items together, the way you see them on grocery store shelves. Keep canned goods on one shelf, breakfast foods on another, baking ingredients on another. If you don’t have a lot of built-in storage space, look for ways to maximize what you do have.

• Individual turntables are great for organizing and storing spices and  smaller pantry items. They can be put inside cabinets or on your  counter to give you easy access.
• Stacking platforms can go in taller shelf spaces to eliminate wasted  space.
• Pullout shelves or baskets can utilize even more space in a  cupboard.

The Cleanup Zone

Stone says that organizing the cleanup zone can minimize clutter and make cleanup easier. From the location of the sink and dishwasher to various organizational accessories, any cleanup zone can shine. Things like a tilt-out sink tray, which keeps soaps and sponges out of sight, an under sink tote and a base waste basket help keep things well organized. Also, a cutting board kit close to the sink makes for easy cleanup during food prep.

“From a chef’s perspective, and from a home cook’s perspective,” says Stone, “when you’re working in a kitchen that makes sense, it makes the whole cooking experience much easier — and more fun.”

For more on the latest kitchen storage solutions, visit www.merillat.com.

Now in its third year, this program recognizes builders for excellence in green building. The chosen winners will be those that best illustrate sustainable building practices that can be replicated by other builders. More specifically, a successful project is one that incorporates green building practices in an efficient and affordable way that allows the builder to remain competitive in this challenging economic climate.

Although I can only speculate on what I think will be highlights of the competition, I’m certain I will be wowed by some of the designs and solutions the contestants have crafted, and I hope to share those insights once the competition is said and done.Working as an architect for Merillat Cabinetry will certainly inform my perspective as a judge. All of our processes, from procurement to end product, are carefully thought out and executed with an emphasis on sustainability and quality. And, thanks to a growing interest in environmentally conscious living, design and building, I expect to see thoughtful methods incorporated into the details of these high-performance homes as well.

With a personal and professional emphasis on solid design and sustainable practices, I’m embracing this opportunity and the information I’ve yet to learn. Be sure to watch this blog for an update late in October outlining winning projects and contest highlights!

Merillat's Satellite Media Tour with Curtis Stone

You may have seen renowned chef Curtis Stone on your favorite morning TV news show earlier this month talking about the functional innovation of Merillat cabinetry.  The interviews took place at a studio in Los Angeles and were broadcast through satellite to news morning shows across the country in top markets like LA, Sacramento, Denver and San Antonio.

I was in the studio during the interviews and it was quite exciting!  We began the day at 3 a.m. PST (yes that is 3 a.m.!) with the first set of interviews airing in the east coast and we finished up at about 8 a.m. That’s after completing 25 TV and radio interviews that reached 8.9 million viewers! Be sure to check out our video summary of all interviews.

During the interviews, Curtis made a crab mozzarella salad, while demonstrating different functional features of the kitchen and discussed how these features can make life in the kitchen easier.  He highlighted great Merillat kitchen features such as the pull-out spice rack, cutting board kit, deep drawer peg divider, double base waste basket and recycle bin, and even SoftAction drawers. I mean, who better to illustrate kitchen functionality than a professional chef?

We’d love for you to share what makes life in your kitchen easier. Share your stories, tips or even recipes with our blog readers.

Your kitchen cabinets will be the most visible and functional part of your kitchen providing both storage and style. Given its prominence, it’s no wonder that kitchen design experts advise spending 50 percent of your design budget on your cabinetry. Kitchen cabinets and drawers should have the durability to withstand not only the kitchen’s heat, mess, bumps and scratches, but also the act of frequent opening and closing.

The materials your cabinets are made of will affect its durability and longevity, so consider your options carefully before making a selection. Durable wood cabinets including birch, cherry, hickory, maple, oak, and pine, are popular choices, as is long lasting and affordable laminate. To ensure the long life of your new kitchen, it is best not to cut corners in cabinet construction.

The materials used in the construction of Merillat cabinetry, like those listed above, are made to stand up to the harsh treatment they receive, resisting scratches, bumps, stains, bangs and dents. And they look great too! A beautiful array of finishes, multiple glazing options and top-of-the-line technology are all incorporated in our cabinetry products.