2014 Kitchen Trend: Open Shelving, Glass-Front Cabinets

Kitchen cabinets used to be a place to tuck away dishes and hide boxes behind solid doors. But this year, the latest kitchen trend is open shelving, according to the Zillow Digs Home Design Trend Report for 2014. If you don’t want to be left out, here are some tips from Kerrie Kelly, the principal designer and owner of Kerrie Kelly Design Lab in Sacramento.

Match your kitchen style

The glass-front cabinets aren’t just for modern spaces; they work well in any kitchen style. According to Kelly, you should focus on using only one or two materials and be creative in your installation with whatever materials you choose. Painted cabinets with glass fronts and statement knobs would look great in traditional or country-style kitchen, while sleek, flat-front cabinets will make a contemporary space stand out.

Display kitchen items

Aside from picking cabinets to match your kitchen, choose accessories and kitchenware that will go with the overall look. Since glass-front cabinets will showcase your items, Kelly suggests you curate statement pieces and let your collection grow with you and your space. Try spices, olive oil, cookbooks, and glass jars filled with oatmeal or dried fruits.

Try experimenting with DIY shelving

Updating your cabinets to match these trends could be an easy do-it-yourself project that can be done over the weekend and provides great versatility. Kelly recommends removing doors on one of your cabinets, and painting or adding wallpaper inside the open-shelf walls to create a unique touch.

Add the look elsewhere

Open shelving is not exclusive for the kitchen; you can have this throughout the entire home especially in the bathroom vanities. Kelly reminds homeowners to get creative with shelving units and try incorporating vintage pieces with sleek colors for a chic storage solution in any living space.

Would you try this out in your own kitchen? We’d love to know!

New Year’s Resolutions for Your Home

At this point, you’re probably exercising daily and eating lots of fruits and vegetables as part of your New Year’s resolutions. But did you know you can resolve to keep your home in shape, too? 

Here are some resolutions to welcome a brand new year:

• Cut down energy use. Start by sealing and insulating your HVAC ductwork and make sure you maintain the system and change furnace filters regularly.

• Conserve water. Reducing water consumption can also add to your energy savings. Get a low-flow showerhead and toilet so you won’t have to flush away a huge amount of money on water costs.

• This is also the perfect time to get organized and stash some of your old stuff. Clean your shelves and utilize under-space storage.

• If you have a spare time, use your DIY skills to do routine maintenance and repairs such as caulking windows and doors, cleaning gutters, or mowing the lawn. Learn something new and invest in a hobby, like gardening and get your kids involved as well. You can teach them how to plant. This will allow you to spend more time with them while doing home improvement projects.

• If your resolutions include having a beautiful kitchen this year, consider remodeling to improve the value of your home. Come up with a plan and think of the areas to be remodeled. Take a look around your kitchen: Do you need to update your appliances, replace your countertop or worn-out cabinets and flooring? Once you have listed the things to add in your remodeling project, check your budget and hire a professional to do the job.

We hope you have a beautiful, efficient, and clean home this year. What are your home improvement resolutions and how will you achieve them? Share it with us!

Big Ideas for Small Baths

Home baths these days have nearly doubled in size, although some still keep their old 5- by 8-feet home bathrooms due to lack of space for remodeling. If you have a small bath, don’t fret as the makeover possibilities are just as enticing for your space. With the right colors, chic fixtures, décor, and glamorous finishes you can create the illusion of a roomy bath even without a big budget.

Maximize the corner. Put unused space into work by adding corner storage unit or shelving. You'll be surprised to see that you have just the right storage and more space to store the essentials, with no room left over for clutter.

Downsize the toilet. Replace your old toilet with a compact elongated model. Aside from the familiar comfort it gives, newer toilets use less water making them friendlier to the environment.

Use solid colors. Instead of busy patterns, go for light, natural tones. You’ll eventually notice the open, spacious feel. For a more creative look, play with textures and keep prints to a minimum. The powder room is a better choice to showcase your style.

Look for a bathtub designed for small spaces. Open up sight lines and make your bathroom look bigger with a lower-walled model bathtub. It’s perfect for either taking a shower or a pleasant dip.

Opt for a smaller faucet. Some faucets may just be too large for the sink. You’ll be happier with a space-saving, single-hole faucet.

Streamline the shower. A sliding shower door or screen come well-recommended for small bathrooms as it doesn't require space for door clearance. The clear glass creates an illusion of size and stretches the visual length of any bathroom.

Downsize the vanity. A wall-mounted sink is a real space saver and makes your bath look like there’s an added square footage. The best part about it is that you don’t even have to compromise your style. Add an extra dash of elegance by changing your standard mirror with a decorative frame that complements the style of your vanity.

Adjust your view. Keep this light and airy. Hang your cabinet at a more comfortable height to avoid unnecessary bending. Use niche shelving and a mirrored medicine cabinet to replace bulky furniture if necessary.

Choose the right countertop. Save on expensive cabinetry and give your bath an unrivaled, classic look by splurging on a marble countertop. It gives room for towels and toiletries under the sink. You can also use simple cotton skirting instead of traditional doors.

Just because a bathroom is small doesn’t mean it has to be short in style. Remodeling a bathroom, no matter what the size, doesn't have to limit your creativity. Use your imagination to transform your confined bathroom into a serene master bath.

Get a free quote for your countertop of choice and gain inspiration for remodeling your bath. Contact Milan Stoneworks today!

Call us today at 503.232.6206 - or visit our website to view our portfolio: www.MilanStoneworks.com

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8 Popular Countertop Materials for the Kitchen

With so many options to choose from, picking out a kitchen counter is no easy feat. This area influences many kitchen palettes so it’s very important to choose something that fits your budget and style.

We've gathered some popular stone kitchen countertop materials to help you find what suits you best:

Marble. There’s nothing like the classic look of marble kitchen counter. It’s always in style and offers more variety like no other. To get the luxurious look, use it on an island or inset at a baking center. It is known more for the patina it develops. However, it's a softer stone than granite and can stain and scratch easily. Typically, the cost ranges from $70 to $100 per square foot.

Granite. This natural stone has unique grains, colors and customizable finishes. It defines elegance, holds up to heat, looks permanent and substantial, and has a high value to homeowners. Known for its durability, it can cost for as low as $50 per square foot installed depending on slabs and difficult installations. Although it has the second highest hardness rating after diamonds, some stones absorb stains if not sealed and can crack if not properly installed.

Solid surface. Solid surface countertops are custom-made to your specifications. Solid surface has the ability to emulate just about any look. It comes in different patterns, seamless, and stain resistant. Depending on the manufacturer, prices range from $50 to $100 per square foot.

Soapstone. Having a smooth feel and dark gray color, soapstone is used in laboratories because of its resistance to stains, chemicals and bacteria. It can be a natural choice for kitchen countertop and sink material and is often seen in historic and homes. Ranging at $80 to $100 per square foot installed, this might be on the more expensive side, but it can be a lifetime investment.

Engineered Quartz. This engineered product is composed of quartz particles, resin and pigments creating a tough, nonporous material that resist scratches. It is easy to maintain without the annual sealing required by natural stone. and is available in a larger range of colors which is perfect for any home. A safe bet for green homes but get ready to pay up since it costs around $95 to $105 per square foot installed.

Tile. Ceramic tile is durable and easy to clean. Add affordability to that and you've got a really good choice for your kitchen. It can be installed one section at a time and can be done by most resourceful homeowners with DIY prowess. Maintenance can be difficult as it can chip or crack easily and grout lines become stained.

Eco-friendly materials. With all the materials out there – from salvaged wood to Bio-Glass and bamboo, a little research is all that's required today to give your kitchen an eco-friendly look. With these countertop materials, high style meets sustainable living.

Concrete. If you want a countertop with unusual shape, concrete may be a good choice as they cast right in your kitchen. Pigments, stains and dyes can give concrete counters a unique color and visual texture. With the right sealer, it can be worth the cost at least $100 to $150 per square foot installed. Make sure to give your kitchen an individual look and freestanding designs as it can look somewhat industrial.

Contact Milan Stoneworks today to discover the pros and cons of each countertop material and help you make the right choice for your kitchen.

Milan Stoneworks - Fabricating and Installing Eco-Friendly Quartz

As a naturally occurring material, quartz is a very Eco-friendly a material chosen for countertops mostly because of its strength, durability and low maintenance.

Only a few other materials found on the Earth are considered harder than quartz. But like anything used in building projects, quartz has advantages and disadvantages.

Quartz is a heavy material that is extremely scratch-resistant and resistant to stain, mold and bacteria growth. Unlike many other materials, quartz is also extremely low maintenance making it the perfect material for kitchen and bathroom remodels.

At Milan Stoneworks, we care about the environment while at the same time caring for installing only the best products in your home. These are a few examples of quartz products that we are proud to carry:

CaesarStone Quartz
Comprised of 93% natural quartz, with its stain, scratch, and heat-resistant properties, CaesarStone is the ideal choice for care-free countertops.

CaesarStone introduces the first of its kind lifetime warranty - the only warranty that covers your surface for as long as you own your home.

Staron Quartz Surfaces
Staron® quartz is a non-porous product. It is highly resistant to bacterial growth and stains such as red wine, cooking oil, and other spills. Thus, making the product virtually maintenance free, since, it doesn't require sealing or periodic polishing.

PentalQuartz
Achieve a look to last forever with PentalQuartz. Its timeless beauty is suitable for every room in your home- from kitchen countertops and bathroom vanities to bar tops and tub surrounds. PentaQuartz will complement your home décor for years to come.

PentalQuartz is easy to care for and requires little maintenance. Highly heat, stain, and scratch resistant, PentalQuartz is designed to withstand whatever life throws its way.

PentalQuartz is naturally nonpourus which prevents mold and other microbes from growing, without harmful chemical treatments.

Ask us to view samples. We can also show you how we've used quartz in projects with other customers so you can get ideas on the possibilities!
503.232.6206 or www.milanstoneworks.com