How to Add Ambiance (And Safety) to Your Kitchen

by | Aug 6, 2020 | Contractors, Homeowners, Interior Designers, Uncategorized

Universal Design is an interior design that adapts homes to homeowners, not the other way around. The goal is to make the entire home safe and easy to use. When it comes to kitchens, here’s one design tip that adapts your kitchen to your needs plus transforms it into a dining area with ambiance. You’ll be amazed to see how one small addition to your cabinetry can make such a difference. When it comes to base cabinets, most manufacturers include an indentation to make room for your feet called the toe kick space. Typically 3 inches deep and about 3 1/2 inches high, this space allows people to stand closer to the countertop so they don’t have to lean forward. Standing closer puts less strain on the back, shoulders and arms and minimizes discomfort, posture issues and chronic pain. The addition of light to this space adds both safety and ambiance. Here’s how. First, it clearly defines the break from floor to cabinets.  Especially advantageous at night, you minimize the possibility of bumping into things. This definition also aids early morning and evening meal preparation. Another advantage is that lighting placed within the toe kick can’t cause a glare. One goal of Universal Design is to balance lighting. It doesn’t matter if you have 20/20 vision, wear glasses or have a family member with sight issues; too much light is just as dangerous as too little. Foot level lighting balances overhead lighting and the combination eliminates shadows. Finally, toe kick lighting sets the ambiance of a kitchen. The soft glow creates an atmosphere that makes your meal more relaxed…...

Smart Storage

by | Jul 16, 2020 | Homeowners, Uncategorized

Concealed customizations for kitchen necessities can make life better without ruining the clean lines of a modern design. Go to the head of the class with some genius storage ideas. Keep organized and never forget what you need at the grocery store when you add a pegboard to the inside of a cabinet. Not only is it handy for lists, it can be used for holding small kitchen tools and is an innovative way to let kids be creative without refrigerator magnets to display their artwork.  A pegboard can be purchased and sized to fit inside a cabinet door, or a thin piece of wood can be affixed to the cabinet and accessorized with various types of hardware. When searching for a storage solution to keep kitchen items both handy and neat, think retractable. Retractable drawers under the sink can keep cleaning products handy and neat. A sliding hanging rack hidden inside a cabinet can keep pots and pans easily accessible without putting them on display. Vertical shelving units for cans and jars can be created to pull out of kitchen counter spaces…. It’s especially on trend to add these sliding shelves near the refrigerator or stove. Using the side of a counter or kitchen island is also an excellent way to hide away food, glassware, towels, or utensils. Open shelving is an option here, but consider baskets or wooden boxes for twist on the traditional. Sealed plastic bins are a great choice to keep cereal and pasta fresh while displayed neatly, too. Cornerstone Cabinet Company partners with innovative companies like Hafele and Rev-A-Shelf for the best quality cabinet...