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...
