Replace your cabinet door handles and door pulls. This simple and inexpensive change can make your cabinets look brand new.

Replace your facet. Facets have changed recently and now come in a variety of finishes and styles.

Add a trendy new back splash. This is a fun way to add a pop of color.

Add more lighting. Now is the time for stylish pendant lights in a color theme that complements your décor. Don’t forget about under cabinet lighting and recessed lighting. A bright kitchen seems larger.

Replace your flooring. Are you tired of hardwood, ready for marble or natural stone? This is a way to add value to your home and completely change the look of your kitchen.

Update your counter tops. While granite and marble are still popular options there are trendier choices like cement or metal in pewter, copper or stainless steel.

Upgrade your appliances. Have you been coveting a new refrigerator or cook top? Stainless is still the most popular but you may also want to check out retro appliances from the 1920’s and 1930’s that are making waves in the design world.

With a few simple modifications you can transform your kitchen into the fashionable centerpiece of your home.

Bosch dishwashers have always been leaders among consumer lists and publications.  This is the twelfth time Bosch has received a number one ranking. Clearly, if they have been on the top 12 times these dishwashers are engineered for quality.  In the categories of washing, energy use, noise, ease of use and cycle time, Bosch not only captured the number one spot, but outshined all other dishwasher brands with a total of four Bosch dishwashers receiving a place in the list of the top 11 dishwashers.

With four Bosch models in the top 11 dishwashers, you have a wide selection of features and price. Our favorite of the bunch is the Bosch 800Plus. It is the quietest dishwasher on the market in North America.  Bosch says that it operates at 39 decibels. What does that really mean? It means that this dishwasher was German engineered to be amazingly quiet, while tackling dishes using industry-low water and energy levels. Imagine running a load of dishes and still being able to carry on a conversation with guests across your kitchen. Dishwasher noise is almost completely eliminated.

If you are looking for a dishwasher that uses minimal resources to deliver perfect results the Bosch 24″ Bar Handle Dishwasher 800 series (SHX98M09UC) also received top ratings. Other Bosch dishwashers rounding out the list include the Bosch 500 series and the Bosch Ascenta dishwasher.

While you have many choices when picking a new dishwasher, we are here to make it effortless. Please contact one of our design consultants today!

This space is light and bright. Even if you would rather not have this much yellow, a kitchen like this can be an inviting space to work. The reflective floor and cabinets increase the light the room provides, making it easier to prepare food and clean up.

The kitchen surfaces are more than shiny and bright. They’re also extremely low maintenance. The flooring is solid-surface in an extremely easy to wash material. The cabinets are enameled in a finish that can stand up to the roughest scrubbing.

Notice that all of the lower cabinets are actually drawers. Inside these are movable separators that make it easy to keep everything organized. Plates, pans and utensils each have their own assigned spot. For over half the countertop space, cabinets are set back or replaced with shelves, making it easy to work and providing plenty of light from the overhead fixture. Even the two ovens are placed at the right level for easily inserting and removing hot food. This kitchen is as much about function as style.

Take a look at your kitchen or your kitchen plans. Can you borrow some ideas from this European space to make your own food preparation and clean up easier and your kitchen more inviting?

Sub-Zero made commercial products for local industries.

In the 1950’s Bud Bakke joins his father at Sub-Zero, and the first ever built-in refrigerator for the home was produced.

In the 1960’s and 1970’s Sub-Zero continued its focus on residential refrigeration products.

In the 1980’s Jim Bakke, Westye’s grandson and current President and CEO, joins the company.

In the 1980’s and 1990’s the 500 and 600 series are launched, introducing Dual Refrigeration, and later adaptive defrost and microprocessors.

In 1995 Sub-Zero introduced Integrated Refrigeration to the North American market.

In 1999 TRUE Wine Storage was released.

In March 2000 Wolf Gourmet joins the Sub-Zero family, and a 350,000 square foot manufacturing facility is built to product current and new designs.

In 2005 the PRO 48, an icon and design and quality, was introduced to the market.

In 2008 the Built-In Line replaces the 600 Series, showing the quality and innovation Sub-Zero is known for.

Today, Sub-Zero is still family owned and operated, made with the same quality and innovation, and manufactured in the United States.

Bathrooms can be more than a functional space. With the simple addition of an unexpected element, the room can suddenly draw attention.

In this bathroom, an attractive but fairly traditional space is transformed by adding an upholstered chair. The comfy shape and simple floral design tie in well with the style and colors of the bath. At the same time, a soft chair makes the room feel like a space to linger in, relaxing and inviting.

The rest of the bath complements the feeling, with soft pinks and bathroom fixtures that feel old-fashioned but not out of date. One change would make this room even more appealing – replacing the plain light curtains with a fabric that echoes the chair – possibly a soft stripe or check in those same pastels. A pattern on pattern design would work well with a room like this one.

What unexpected additions can you make to your bathrooms? Consider a small table or bench to warm up your room. If you don’t have the space, even a small footstool or large pot on the floor could add an unusual factor. Add a touch of design with an unexpected element, and make your bathroom a head-turning space.

First, the use of tumbled natural stone gives the shower a more dimensional look because the tile has texture, movement and range of color. The use of smaller tiles give you a chance to really enjoy the differences in each tile.

This shower would have been very attractive with only the use of the tumbled stone. However, we decided to take it one step further and add more decorative elements such as the liner bar (also called a listello) and the random scattering of a contrasting stone.

There are some other elements that you may not even notice that contribute to the stylish and designer look of this shower. Notice how the finish on the plumbing hardware coordinates with the accent (darker) stone tiles. Also notice how the corner shelves in the shower almost disappear into the background of the main tile (also called field tile). If these items had been brass or white, for example, they may have drawn unnecessary attention to these items and made the shower look too busy rather than perfectly coordinated!

The design used in this shower very successfully used 3 different types of tile and coordinated them all to where they blended and complimented each other – creating a classic and timeless design.

Contact us for more ideas on shower tile designs.