by Cornerstone Cabinet Company | Nov 21, 2024 | Homeowners, Interior Designers
When it comes to dressing up your kitchen, you’d be surprised at how important your cabinet hardware is. Often seen as a small detail, hardware has a huge impact on the overall picture. So how do you make the most of it? One option is to go large. Another factor is to choose hardware that’s timeless. C and D-shaped hardware give you both, plus another advantage… ease of use. Starting with large hardware, designers have long understood the effect of placing large handles on cabinet doors and drawers. Both C and D-shaped hardware come in different lengths and depending on the size of your cabinets, feel free to go as big as 7-8 inches from end to end. Going long creates a ‘designer look’ with a relatively small investment. This hardware is also timeless. While cup pulls and knobs may customize a current look, just like complicated patterns in floors and walls; they tend not to stand the test of time. With C and D-shaped hardware, you have multiple styles and metal types to create your current custom look plus adapt to future changes and upgrades. The benefit least talked about but most important is the ease of use. If you haven’t heard about Universal Design - you will in the future. Our aging population is demanding it, yet it’s not just for seniors. People with mobility issues, especially arthritis (which inflicts over 50 million today) need to have easy access to stored items. And even if you and your family are in perfect health; think about times when your hands are wet, greasy or soapy. The ability to...
by Cornerstone Cabinet Company | Nov 7, 2024 | Contractors, Interior Designers
Soft-Close Doors And Drawers Remember the days when home offices were considered an addition – yet now they’re standard? Well, get ready for the next ‘upgrade’ to be expected…soft-close doors and drawers. With just a gentle nudge, the soft close mechanism takes over and gently closes the drawer or cabinet the rest of the way. They’ve been around awhile and provide a great way to impress your guests. But once you experience the serenity of soft-close doors and drawers, you’ll wonder how you lived without them. This is especially true for bathrooms located near bedrooms. And the benefits spread throughout the house… More Than One Reason To Have Your Cabinets Close Softly Not only in the bathroom, but in kitchens and home offices – soft-closing drawers and doors are Whether concentrating on home business or just getting away from the noise of civilization, the reduced speed of soft-close cabinetry eliminates those jarring sounds when someone slams a cabinet shut. Sometimes a hard close can break fragile items. At the very least, soft closes keep contents from flying around so everything stays better organized and easy to find. Often energetic kids are the most prone to slamming things shut and getting their fingers caught in the process. Soft-close drawers prevent both kids and adults from getting pinched, especially with full overlay cabinets that butt up to each other and to the underside of counters. When properly installed, they put less stress on hinges, drawer stops and rails. Over time, this lessens the need for maintenance and extends the life of the cabinets. Better Now Than Later Re-modeling is an investment...
by Cornerstone Cabinet Company | Oct 31, 2024 | Homeowners, Interior Designers
Different materials customize Farmhouse Sinks In “Farmhouse sinks gain popularity“, we mentioned how this sink is a great way to create a custom kitchen look and feel. Now let’s talk about how to customize the sink itself. Once the province of white porcelain and fireclay, farmhouse sinks are currently as unique as your cabinets, island and appliances. Starting with the traditional materials, here’s a list of other options with some pros and cons of each. Fireclay and Porcelain Sinks Heating and curing clay above 1,800 degrees Fahrenheit produces Fireclay. This treatment makes a surface that’s hard, durable, and dense. In fact, the density often requires a professional installer to modify the surrounding counter and cabinets to support the extra weight. However, the high heat is what gives Fireclay its high shine and ability to resist scratches and chips. Porcelain, also a ceramic material, is heated to high temperatures, but not as high as fireclay. Similar in looks, it’s more prone to chipping and discoloration. It’s also a little less costly. Copper Copper adds an elegant touch and with time, develops a beautiful patina. If you want that aged look immediately, buy a hammered sink where the manufacturer applied a colored patina. Stainless Steel A more contemporary look that’s affordable is Stainless Steel. Cooks like its durability and how easy it is to maintain and clean. Modern Style You can find a number of variations including different sizes, colors, and mountings. Although traditionally installed as an under mount, it’s possible to get a top-mounted version that eliminates the risk of water finding its way down the sides of the sink....
by Cornerstone Cabinet Company | Oct 24, 2024 | Homeowners, Interior Designers
When it comes to kitchen design, islands add style, personality, function; and come in multiple configurations. Is the client’s kitchen big enough for a stand-alone island, or will it only accommodate a peninsula? Do they want it built-in, or mobile? So many choices can confuse homeowners making it crucial to ask them questions before anything goes on paper. What Clients Need (Or Just Want) From Their Kitchen Island The number one issue is function. Is the emphasis on food preparation, socialization, or a combination of the two? Will it house appliances? Sinks, under-counter refrigerators, and stove tops influence placement of other appliances to maximize activity flow and efficiency. If a sink is embedded in the island, there needs to be room for a dishwasher on either side. If it’s the stove, they’ll need either a top mount or down-draft vent. The amount of food preparation influences the amount of storage needed. What and how many utensils need to be nearby and easily accessed? A number of factors determine counter-top height - starting with seating and what types of bar stools are desired. Is this a place to snack, or will it replace the kitchen or dining room table? Do they prefer one or multiple counter-top heights? Since kitchens are not static, traffic flow needs to be adequate. Architect Thomas Ahmann suggests three feet on either end and at least 42 inches on the working sides. Another consideration is passage when cabinet or appliance doors are open. How should it be lit? Pendant lighting is popular but some feel pendants interfere with the view. If the island has a stove, anything...
by Cornerstone Cabinet Company | Oct 17, 2024 | Architects, Contractors, Homeowners, Interior Designers
Several of our blogs talk about how the kitchen is the heart of the home. More and more families want to encourage interaction using multiple islands, banquette seating and more space. This means taking down non-supportive walls and removing big over-the-island hoods. It utilizes cabinets designed to both maximize storage and integrate with the rest of the home. Nearly half of current remodel projects make kitchens more open to adjacent spaces and it requires more thought to how finishes and materials for the added rooms work together. Again, cabinetry is the key to function and appearance. We discussed changes in cabinetry in Remodeling trends for kitchen islands in 2020. One way is to contrast island cabinets with perimeter cabinets using different shades of one color; or a different color altogether. Another is to make cabinets more colorful as stated in the latest styles and color for kitchen cabinetry. Kitchen lighting is also seeing a change. While recessed lights are still popular; pendant lighting along with under-cabinet and toe-kick lighting works together to create a warmer atmosphere. This combination eliminates glare and shadows. And don’t forget the rooms the kitchen opens up to. Whether a dining room, living room or great room, it takes more planning to pull the entire area together. One way is to have square and rectangular cutout shelves in the adjacent room echo the shapes of the kitchen cabinet panels. Another small but important detail is hardware. Matching - or better yet – using complementary finishes for door and drawer handles throughout is a great way to pull the rooms together. Because open kitchens are more...
by Cornerstone Cabinet Company | Oct 10, 2024 | Homeowners, Interior Designers, Uncategorized
Did you know the trend towards gray interiors started in Scandinavia? It wasn’t until about eleven years ago when the color caught on in the United States. Rather than become passé, the popularity of gray continues to rise. According to Andrea Magno of Benjamin Moore, gray interiors are evolving and they’re seeing an increase of gray on cabinetry and trims. But picking the best shade of gray for your home can be tricky. Since grays have undertones of blue, purple or green, you’ll want the shade that’s compatible with the surrounding tiles, furnishings and fabrics. For instance, there’s a big difference between cool and warm grays. Cool grays are better for modern interiors while warm grays work better in traditional homes. There’s also a middle ground often referred to as French grays. Traditionally trims around gray are lighter shades of gray or whites. Now we’re seeing more trims in the same or even a darker gray. Laurie Pressman, vice president of the Pantone Color Institute agrees. She sees gray with gray trim as a trend and feels people should give more grays a chance. If you’re ready for gray walls, cabinets or trims, it’s best to get samples of your three favorite grays and paint a poster board with each one. Check them out over a period of one day (or more) to see how they appear in varying degrees of light. This way you get it right the first...
