by Cornerstone Cabinet Company | Sep 25, 2024 | Uncategorized
Creating a timeless kitchen requires the right features, which might leave you wondering, are glass-fronted kitchen cabinets still on trend? While they certainly fit the aesthetic of traditional style, are they still the go-to, or is there a different design that feels more up-to-date and current? There are a lot of kitchen cabinet ideas to consider when designing a kitchen, and the style you choose will impact the feel and aesthetic of your scheme. While opting for cabinets that complement your interior design style is key, you don’t want to end up with a space that feels dated. So, are glass-fronted kitchen cabinets still on trend? We’ve turned to interior designers and kitchen experts to find out whether there’s still a place in kitchen design for this classic cabinet style, and how to make it feel stylish and elevated. Click here to continue...
by Cornerstone Cabinet Company | Sep 18, 2024 | Uncategorized
How to design a kitchen that looks bright and airy despite a lack of direct sunlight? Kasie DiNella, founder of Mend Interiors, used a crisp, cool white — Benjamin Moore’s Chantilly Lace — on cabinetry that straddles modern and beachy in this new summer cottage-turned-primary-residence for empty nesters in Dennis. Contrast trim in a taupe-y neutral — Benjamin Moore’s Sea Pearl — adds warmth while a glossy, textured backsplash bounces around the sunlight that filters in. Using rift-sawn white oak shelves with a clear matte finish instead of upper cabinets helps, too. “They’re highly functional for daily use and encourage the homeowners to display personal items so the look can evolve with them over time,” DiNella says. Click here to continue...
by Cornerstone Cabinet Company | Sep 12, 2024 | Contractors, Homeowners, Interior Designers, Uncategorized
Choosing a kitchen countertop isn’t all about looks! Durability, maintenance and cost are all factors. If you select a favorite and it doesn’t fit your lifestyle, chances are that there is a similar style in another material that will work. However, regardless of whether it is granite or concrete, you must care for it appropriately to maintain its beauty. According to the National Kitchen and Bath Association, granite is the top choice in kitchen countertops. It is available in a wide variety of colors and no two pieces are ever exactly alike. Granite can be polished to darken and shine the stone or honed to make it soft and matte. Similar natural stone materials, like marble and limestone, are softer than granite and require more delicate use. Quartz, a combination of mineral, color, and resin, is not cheaper than natural countertops, but is a durability superstar. Hot pots, serrated knives, abrasive pads, and most stains are no match for quartz. All natural stone countertops must be sealed periodically to keep them looking great, but quartz does not require sealing. Concrete countertops are gaining popularity because they can be completely customized with pigments. Concrete is available in several different finishes: trowel (smooth), ground (sanded to expose the sand aggregate) and pressed (a tool is used to reveal marble-like veining). Extreme changes in temperature may cause concrete to warp or curl, damp sponges left on the countertop can cause discoloration, and acidic spills may mar the surface. To keep concrete countertops in shape, seal them four times per year and wax them with a paste every two to three months. Wood...
by Cornerstone Cabinet Company | Sep 11, 2024 | Uncategorized
As trends this year promote more eclectic, personality-filled spaces, can you – and should you – mix kitchen cabinet hardware? From handle styles to fixture finishes, introducing a playful mix seems like the simplest way to add interest to your scheme, but is it a designer-approved method? Kitchen cabinet hardware ideas are vast and varied, and as kitchen trends continue to change, it can be tricky to keep up with the dos and don’ts of kitchen design. But is mixing hardware the new way to add unique appeal to your design, or is it a fleeting trend to stay away from? To find out whether 2024 is the year to embrace mismatched handles or consider them a dated trend to avoid, we’ve asked kitchen designers if you should mix your kitchen cabinet hardware, or keep things uniform. Click here to continue...
by Cornerstone Cabinet Company | Sep 5, 2024 | Architects, Contractors, Homeowners, Interior Designers, Uncategorized
Make the best of your cabinets by selecting a finish that enhances your kitchen style. Painted finishes come in a wide variety of colors. Paint can be used to accent or fully cover the cabinetry. It works best for maple cabinets because the wood is smooth and uniform, but be aware that the natural grain often shows slightly through the paint. Paint finishes chip, hairline crack, and rub off in high use areas. Adding a tinted varnish to natural wood cabinets can create a look that is similar to painted cabinets, but shows more wood grain and is more durable. Staining enhances the wood pattern, but always has a slightly irregular look. Although the variations seem noticeable on individual pieces, when the cabinets are installed, the total effect is complementary and brings extra depth to the design. However, here are fewer choices in stain colors and finish types. Glaze is a finish type that has some color, but glazes are transparent or semi-transparent, so the color is lighter rather than opaque. Glazes are brushed on over paint or stain, then rubbed off by hand so the color remains in the corners, recesses, and imperfections of the wood. Glazing creates a unique look, but it can be expensive. Most cabinet manufacturers finish all of their natural cabinets with polyurethane varnish to make them harder and more corrosion-resistant. Polyurethane varnishes create a glossier appearance. Some green manufacturers now offer a water-based, ultra-violet (UV) cabinet finish that contains virtually no volatile organic compounds, and emits no toxic fumes or chemicals into the air. The look is basically the same as polyurethane and...
by Cornerstone Cabinet Company | Sep 4, 2024 | Uncategorized
Before Nicole Arruda, the creative behind Nicole Alexandra Design Studio, could get her hands on this New Providence, New Jersey, kitchen renovation, she called a pro organizer for backup. “I saw mugs and K-Cups and coffee beans on the counter. I was like, ‘We need a home for that,’” recalls Arruda. (Her clients were expecting their first baby at the time, so they got a hall pass for having a lot of stuff.) Right away, the designer could see the real problems: The fridge was in an awkward location, the cabinets weren’t maximizing storage, and the peninsula cut off the area from the adjacent living room. Not to mention, the powder room around the corner was dated and narrow with a way-too-long shower in the middle of it. Consolidating things allowed Arruda to step back in with a clear mind. Click here to continue...
by Cornerstone Cabinet Company | Aug 29, 2024 | Homeowners
Kitchens continue to evolve as the center point of homes. Since it’s where families tend to gather, Universal Design makes it easy and inviting. Let’s start with your cabinets. Probably one of the easiest ways to make cabinets look great is to use C and D-shaped hardware. Larger is better and this hardware not only looks great but simplifies opening doors and drawers. “Push-door” cabinets offer another alternative. To open the door, all you have to do is press it. The door opens about an inch so you can reach behind it to fully open it with your fingers. It’s done with a spring-loaded push latch and is ideal for that clean cabinet look. Instead of placing dishes on shelves, think about drawers. Drawers are great for heavier items - like dinner plates. Drawers pull out all the way and come with pegs to keep dishes separate from each other. Other options include: Plate racks which place frequently used items at a convenient reach level. Foot activated roll-out bins for trash and recycling. Hands free and no bending! Lazy susans in corner cabinets which bring previously hard to reach items to the front for easy access. Roll out shelves that take advantage of small spaces while making items like spices, canned goods, etc. Induction stove tops are safer because they heat pans with a magnetic field. Burners don’t get hot until you place a pot or pan on them. You control how much heat you need while cooking and once the pan comes off the burner, it cools off immediately. Traditional oven doors open from the top, requiring the...
by Cornerstone Cabinet Company | Aug 28, 2024 | Uncategorized
Kitchen islands have long been hailed for providing cooks with essential prep, cooking, serving, and storage space. But in recent years, islands have morphed beyond their original purpose and into the family hub—a do-it-all space for eating, scrolling, gathering, tackling school work, and maybe even remote work. Everyone wants a seat at the kitchen island. So it comes as no surprise that this communal staple ranks among the highest on the wish lists of luxury homebuyers, according to a recent survey. Islands tied for the number two spot, just behind double bathroom vanities. Click here to continue...
by Cornerstone Cabinet Company | Aug 22, 2024 | Homeowners, Interior Designers
Even in grand homes with a large master bath, there is likely a guest bathroom or a powder room with minimal square footage. Cramped bathrooms can feel open and airy with the right layout and well-proportioned vanity choices. The best vanities for small baths make a statement without compromising storage needs. Consider a floating vanity to make the room feel bigger by providing more visual space underneath. (A raised style makes the floor easier to clean, too!) Perhaps add a tall open towel shelf over the toilet to allow more personal items and cleaning products to be stashed in the vanity cabinetry. Choosing a vessel sink can add a few inches to counter-top spaces. Building the lighting right into the vanity and mirror also gives off plenty of lumens for tasks without the need for an additional light fixture to ruin sleek, magnifying lines. A corner vanity can be another chic solution to a small bathroom challenge. In any case, it is important to balance small vanity surface area above with ample drawer room below because hinged cabinets may not have enough available space to fully open the doors. If you must try to squeeze in a double vanity, try one long, narrow sink with faucets mounted at each end. One large mirror above the double vanity is a great aid to give the illusion of a bigger, brighter space. Also consider making the double vanity multi-level so that one side of the counter is low enough for kids to use easily without the need for a step-stool. A small bathroom doesn’t have to be claustrophobic. Consult the design...
by Cornerstone Cabinet Company | Aug 21, 2024 | Uncategorized
When you step into a kitchen, it takes just one look at the cabinets for you to decide whether or not the space is dated - oftentimes you can even guess when it was last renovated. Just like everything in interior design, kitchen cabinet color trends are changing all the time. You should always, first and foremost, choose what you love, but if you’re stuck between a few directions, renovating a rental property, or just love design, it’s helpful to have a reference. Consider this yours, thanks to a handful of kitchen design experts I had the pleasure of chatting with. Click here to continue...
