by Cornerstone Cabinet Company | Sep 18, 2024 | Uncategorized
How to design a kitchen that looks bright and airy despite a lack of direct sunlight? Kasie DiNella, founder of Mend Interiors, used a crisp, cool white — Benjamin Moore’s Chantilly Lace — on cabinetry that straddles modern and beachy in this new summer cottage-turned-primary-residence for empty nesters in Dennis. Contrast trim in a taupe-y neutral — Benjamin Moore’s Sea Pearl — adds warmth while a glossy, textured backsplash bounces around the sunlight that filters in. Using rift-sawn white oak shelves with a clear matte finish instead of upper cabinets helps, too. “They’re highly functional for daily use and encourage the homeowners to display personal items so the look can evolve with them over time,” DiNella says. Click here to continue...
by Cornerstone Cabinet Company | Sep 12, 2024 | Contractors, Homeowners, Interior Designers, Uncategorized
Choosing a kitchen countertop isn’t all about looks! Durability, maintenance and cost are all factors. If you select a favorite and it doesn’t fit your lifestyle, chances are that there is a similar style in another material that will work. However, regardless of whether it is granite or concrete, you must care for it appropriately to maintain its beauty. According to the National Kitchen and Bath Association, granite is the top choice in kitchen countertops. It is available in a wide variety of colors and no two pieces are ever exactly alike. Granite can be polished to darken and shine the stone or honed to make it soft and matte. Similar natural stone materials, like marble and limestone, are softer than granite and require more delicate use. Quartz, a combination of mineral, color, and resin, is not cheaper than natural countertops, but is a durability superstar. Hot pots, serrated knives, abrasive pads, and most stains are no match for quartz. All natural stone countertops must be sealed periodically to keep them looking great, but quartz does not require sealing. Concrete countertops are gaining popularity because they can be completely customized with pigments. Concrete is available in several different finishes: trowel (smooth), ground (sanded to expose the sand aggregate) and pressed (a tool is used to reveal marble-like veining). Extreme changes in temperature may cause concrete to warp or curl, damp sponges left on the countertop can cause discoloration, and acidic spills may mar the surface. To keep concrete countertops in shape, seal them four times per year and wax them with a paste every two to three months. Wood...
by Cornerstone Cabinet Company | Sep 11, 2024 | Uncategorized
As trends this year promote more eclectic, personality-filled spaces, can you – and should you – mix kitchen cabinet hardware? From handle styles to fixture finishes, introducing a playful mix seems like the simplest way to add interest to your scheme, but is it a designer-approved method? Kitchen cabinet hardware ideas are vast and varied, and as kitchen trends continue to change, it can be tricky to keep up with the dos and don’ts of kitchen design. But is mixing hardware the new way to add unique appeal to your design, or is it a fleeting trend to stay away from? To find out whether 2024 is the year to embrace mismatched handles or consider them a dated trend to avoid, we’ve asked kitchen designers if you should mix your kitchen cabinet hardware, or keep things uniform. Click here to continue...
by Cornerstone Cabinet Company | Sep 5, 2024 | Architects, Contractors, Homeowners, Interior Designers, Uncategorized
Make the best of your cabinets by selecting a finish that enhances your kitchen style. Painted finishes come in a wide variety of colors. Paint can be used to accent or fully cover the cabinetry. It works best for maple cabinets because the wood is smooth and uniform, but be aware that the natural grain often shows slightly through the paint. Paint finishes chip, hairline crack, and rub off in high use areas. Adding a tinted varnish to natural wood cabinets can create a look that is similar to painted cabinets, but shows more wood grain and is more durable. Staining enhances the wood pattern, but always has a slightly irregular look. Although the variations seem noticeable on individual pieces, when the cabinets are installed, the total effect is complementary and brings extra depth to the design. However, here are fewer choices in stain colors and finish types. Glaze is a finish type that has some color, but glazes are transparent or semi-transparent, so the color is lighter rather than opaque. Glazes are brushed on over paint or stain, then rubbed off by hand so the color remains in the corners, recesses, and imperfections of the wood. Glazing creates a unique look, but it can be expensive. Most cabinet manufacturers finish all of their natural cabinets with polyurethane varnish to make them harder and more corrosion-resistant. Polyurethane varnishes create a glossier appearance. Some green manufacturers now offer a water-based, ultra-violet (UV) cabinet finish that contains virtually no volatile organic compounds, and emits no toxic fumes or chemicals into the air. The look is basically the same as polyurethane and...
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 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...
