by Cornerstone Cabinet Company | Jun 27, 2024 | Homeowners, Interior Designers
The trend towards large kitchens continues to grow. More than simply meal preparation, modern kitchens now have specialized food and drink preparation stations. Even more important, kitchens are the focal point for more friends and family interaction. All of these features require more countertop space which leads to larger kitchen islands. If this describes your home, think in terms of having two kitchen islands instead of one. With the right layout and configuration, dividing one large island into two improves traffic function and flow. When it comes to function, two islands divide the work stations so that food preparation and clean up are more efficient. For example, set up one island exclusively for food preparation. The other island houses the sink and dishwasher for clean up. Or divide islands to separate the work station while the second island is a bistro style for others to eat and socialize. And there’s no reason why the islands have to match. Contrast them with one open underneath and the other lined with cabinets to organize and store kitchen items in one place. You may host events where one island is needed to create an elongated buffet. Sometimes an extra large work area is necessary. Consider a drop leaf that connects one to the other. The biggest advantage to two islands is to facilitate traffic control, especially in busy kitchens. One big island forces traffic around it. Two smaller islands create an additional route for everyone to move about. It also shortens steps from one side to another. Dividing a big island into two is one way to transform your kitchen. Before you...
by Cornerstone Cabinet Company | Jun 26, 2024 | Uncategorized
Maybe you’ve found the house you want to grow old in. Perhaps you foresee your elderly parents moving in with you one day. Or maybe you require wheelchair accessibility. When you’re designing a kitchen with these needs in mind, the following 10 tips will help make it safer and easier to...
by Cornerstone Cabinet Company | Jun 20, 2024 | Homeowners
Once you’ve decided a Farmhouse Sink fits your kitchen style, you now have a number of options to customize this critical area. Previously in our article - “Farmhouse sinks gain popularity” - we discussed the characteristics that differentiate Farmhouse Sinks from modern ones. We included additional features to consider before you purchase. “Different materials customize Farmhouse sinks” reviews a number of options of materials to choose from – including the pros and cons of each. Now let’s look at the options for placing hardware: Is there a best location? The three ways to mount hardware are on the sink itself, the surrounding deck, and on the wall. As the name suggests, sink mounted hardware has holes drilled into the sink itself. The type of hardware, either single or double handed, determines the number of holes needed. Single handed faucets with the water temperature and pressure in one assembly only require one hole. Double handed faucets with the water controls separated from the faucet need three. If you add an additional faucet (maybe one for filtered water) it can go up to four. But suppose you fall in love with a collector’s sink that already has holes? Or want to change the faucet style in the future without giving up the sink? If your change requires fewer holes, you can use an escutcheon plate (deck plate at the base) to cover the one(s) you no longer need. Deck-mounted faucets put the hardware in the countertop surrounding the sink - a style well suited to contemporary kitchens. With this option, be careful of how water, dirt, and grime accumulate...
by Cornerstone Cabinet Company | Jun 13, 2024 | Uncategorized
Developed in the early 1900s, the kitchen triangle places three traditional work areas: the sink, the refrigerator and the stove in a triangular configuration. The suggested distance between each leg of the triangle measures between four and nine feet. The sum total of all three should be between 13 and 26 feet. By placing these three elements relatively close to each other, the design gives the cook easy access to each appliance and makes meal preparation more efficient. Not everyone agrees. First, they say the kitchen is no longer limited to three key appliances. For example, the microwave is a standard appliance that often substitutes for the oven which in turn may be separate from the range. Second, it’s not unusual these days for the kitchen to be used by multiple cooks attending to individual dietary needs. Along with that, kitchens are often where social gatherings take place, kids do homework, and adults attend to home office needs. There’s no arguing that the triangle is effective in limiting the amount of steps needed to prepare a meal. However, if you’re looking to remodel your kitchen to accommodate more than one cook or to use as a multi-use room, review the placement of your major appliances first. Before you remodel, let Cornerstone help you determine the optimum design for your family’s...
by Cornerstone Cabinet Company | Jun 6, 2024 | Homeowners, Interior Designers
When we think about lighting, both inside and outside our homes, usually the goal is to use lighting that makes everything look good. What’s more important is to make it even. Since the kitchen tends to be a busy area where much socialization takes place, even lighting is particularly important. Universal Design seeks to eliminate shadows and glare, both of which tend to interfere with sight and can put you a little off balance. It does this by incorporating three kinds of lighting. Direct lighting is the overhead lights that illuminate large areas. Task lighting is found beneath cabinets and is very specific. Accent lighting is in various locations and the most subtle of the three. Depending on how you use your lights means you can make your kitchen daylight bright, soft and romantic…or some combination in between. The goal is to avoid shadows that hide an open cabinet door or countertop that sticks out. Just like shadows, glare is just as dangerous because it also overwhelms the eye and impairs vision. Even lighting is the best way to create the atmosphere you want and still be safe. For direct lighting you’ll need overhead lights like pendants and/or recessed ceiling lights. Task lighting includes lights mounted under the counter to fully illuminate food preparation. Accent lighting comes from either wall sconces or the rising popularity of cabinet toe-kick lighting - both of which complement the other two. Toe-kick lights also delineate the juncture of cabinets to the floor. Dimmer switches are the best way to adjust the amount of lighting for different activities. While toe-kick lighting is usually on...
by Cornerstone Cabinet Company | Jun 5, 2024 | Uncategorized
In this article, we look back at the network star’s most fan-favored makeovers. Though her projects often involved multiple areas of the house, our article will focus on her kitchen designs. We re-watched the episodes, read all the comments, and counted all thumbs-ups and hearts to narrow down the selection to the 10 best ones. Feel free to check the detailed ranking methodology provided at the end of the article. Do you have a personal favorite from Christina Hall’s kitchen designs? Read on to see if it got onto our list! Click here to continue...
by Cornerstone Cabinet Company | May 30, 2024 | Homeowners, Interior Designers
When it comes to corner-placed cabinetry, the best way to maximize your storage capacity is to install Lazy Susans. Not taking advantage of them will waste precious space and force you to search through the items in front to get what you want which is stored behind. Lazy Susans make access to foods and kitchen utensils safer by bringing the items you need more often within easy reach. Consider them the smart spin on cabinet storage. You can customize your Lazy Susans by choosing one, two and three shelf configurations. They can also be ordered in various diameters to hold small to large appliances. Even small items like spice bottles are easier to separate and organize. No longer just plastic, the selection of materials varies from wood to polystyrene to wire chrome. The next consideration is to choose from the configurations that range from full circle and D-shaped to half-moon and kidney shapes. It depends on what fits best for each cabinet configuration. Deciding how much you want to spend and how visible you want them to be will guide your selection also. Obviously Lazy Susans aren’t lazy, but if being able to reach whatever we need easily makes us “lazy” - so be it. Lazy Susans make kitchen tasks safer and allow us to indulge in all the kitchen gadgets we want without the guilt of where to store...
by Cornerstone Cabinet Company | May 29, 2024 | Uncategorized
There’s general lighting, which usually refers to the big wired-in light in the ceiling. Then there’s accent lighting or decorative lighting, designed more for ambience and fun than real function. And there’s task lighting, ideal for prepping ingredients, reading cookbooks and cleaning up properly. Task lighting is a popular addition to modern kitchens, especially. Typically installed to the underside of cupboards and cabinets, they shine in areas where the big light can’t get to, heightening visibility and making it much easier - not to mention safer - to do jobs like dicing ingredients, prepping marinades and cleaning up thoroughly afterwards. Click here to continue...
by Cornerstone Cabinet Company | May 23, 2024 | Architects, Contractors, Interior Designers
As stated in our previous blog about Shaker cabinets, the trend in cabinet design continues to lean towards beauty, simplicity, and functionality – a perfect formula for this style. Around since the 1800’s, the Shaker profile stays true to its generations-old simplicity. Not surprisingly, it’s as popular as ever today. But what if your client doesn’t follow the crowd? Not everybody wants the same as everyone else. Therefore, we adapt these cabinets to fit modern tastes with some twists. Whether your clients prefer country, contemporary, even an industrial look – the squared off shape easily adjusts to changes using different cuts, finishes and hardware. It starts with the characteristics and styles of the cabinetry itself. Shaker cabinets offer a number of options. Due to the frame and panel profile (also known as rail and style construction), pure Shaker style cabinetry is very plain. Adding a slight beveled finish keeps the cabinets simple, yet gives them an elegant touch. Larger units can be divided into sections with pieces known as mid-rails, mid-stiles…or strips of wood or metal known as muntins. Some clients need lots of storage and using rows of big drawers maximizes storage space. For added flourish, we can include design features such as beaded or raised panels. How to differentiate Shaker cabinets with finishes. Before the introduction of various finishes, cabinet craftsmen relied on the quality of wood…like maple, birch and chestnut. The various characteristics of the grain defined the cabinet’s beauty. In addition, we offer woods like cherry and walnut for an even richer look. When it comes to an antique or simply unique version, we can...
by Cornerstone Cabinet Company | May 22, 2024 | Uncategorized
Many people think a laundry room is just that — a laundry room. For this reason, activities in the space, including sorting, washing, and folding clothes, can seem like a stressful chore. However, an aesthetic environment is a recipe for motivation, and your laundry room shouldn’t be any different. Joanna Gaines of “Fixer Upper,” is a big fan of elegant and functional laundry rooms. On her Magnolia blog, Joanna explains how she’s married function and aesthetics in the space saying, “The beautiful materials and soft colors come together to create a laundry room that makes work a joy.” Read...
