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...
