Appliance Innovations You Should Know About

The 2015 Kitchen and Bath Industry Show in Las Vegas was packed with appliance manufacturers featuring their latest and greatest products.  I browsed them all and compiled a list of the most impressive new appliance features that you should pay attention to.


SIDE OPEN OVEN:  Bosch's 30 inch Benchmark Series Wall Ovens are available with side opening doors.  The ovens come in either right or left swing doors.  This is an option you should expect to see more of and one you may want to consider for your next wall oven.

The side opening door allows for easier transfer of heavy items in and out of the oven and when mounted at the appropriate height, it is accessible for those in wheelchairs.

 



SPEED MICROWAVE OVEN:  Everyone likes to save time, energy and space.  A speed microwave helps you do just that.  Instead of eating up valuable real estate in your kitchen with a built-in microwave and second convection oven, you can use a combination microwave/convection oven like the one made by Bosch.  

The ovens come in either 27 inch or 30 inch widths and the Bosch Benchmark series ovens are designed to align with one another in both vertical and horizontal configurations.  The sleek design also allows for a flush installation so the face of the appliance aligns with the face of your cabinets.

 




FRONT CONTROL 30 INCH GAS RANGES:  This may not sound exciting to many of you, but finding a 30" gas range with front mount controls has been a difficult proposition that is finally getting a little easier.  Thermador and Frigidiaire both offer 30" gas ranges with front controls.  From a design perspective, the front controls allow you to have a clean look with an uninterrupted backsplash; however, that's not the only advantage.  Front mount controls also prevent you from reaching over hot elements or pans to reach the controls.

 

  

CUSTOM PANELED REFRIGERATOR/ FREEZER COLUMNS:  More and more homeowners are realizing the advantages of having full column freezers and refrigerators as opposed to a combination refrigerator/freezer.  As these products gain in popularity so do the design options.  Appliances designed to accept custom panels have swung the design door wide open.  Refrigeration design options are limitless with the new custom panel configurations offered by Thermador's Freedom Collection.  The design below was featured at KBIS 2015 and includes custom made wood panels on the wine columns and custom made copper panels on the refrigerator and freezer columns.

 

The newly engineering hinges on the Thermador Freedom Collection refrigeration units allow them to support tremendous weight and still achieve a 115 degree swing.  This series of refrigeration columns have custom designed quartzite panels and handles.

Appliance innovations abound each and every year with a dizzying array of options, accessories and price points.  When you're ready to upgrade your appliances or design your dream kitchen space, seek the advice of a professional who can help lead the way.

 

Design & Construction Week 2015 - The Fun Stuff

You know the saying, "All work and no play, makes Johnny a dull boy"; well a dull designer isn't worth much.  So when the opportunity arises to visit Las Vegas "for work", you have to throw in a little fun.  Design & Construction Week is slammed full of new and exciting products, courses in every subject imaginable, networking opportunities galore, and just to round things out a bit, there is some fun to be found.

You may not agree, but my fun began with the flight.  Once you get through all the obstacles and actually take flight, you're treated to views like none other.  So I set out from Greenville, SC and headed for Sin City.

Along the way, I received great news from Houzz.com congratulating me on winning two awards!  I won the Best of Houzz 2015 award for Design and the Best of Houzz 2015 award for Satisfaction.  This is the third consecutive year I have won the Best of Houzz awards and it is a great feeling each and every year!

 

 Of course, who is there to greet you at the Las Vegas airport?  The slot machines...

...and neon signs!

 Surveyed the view and found fun things just waiting right outside my window

At the convention, I took advantage of selfie opportunities

Enjoyed refreshing beverages and free food

Was interviewed by Houzz TV

Met some celebrities

Nicole Curtis from Rehab Addict

Ty Pennington

Enjoyed some comedic relief

Adam Carolla & Ray Oldhafer's construction podcast "Ace on the House"

Marveled at the number of bald men involved with design and construction 

 (because sometimes you have to find fun in the mundane)

Then I boarded a plane and headed home, perhaps a little less dull than when I started!

So long Las Vegas, until next year...

The real purpose of my trip was to discover new and exciting products and materials for my clients, to find inspiration, and to teach a course on Universal Design.  My upcoming posts will highlight everything I learned, show pictures and videos of the best new products for your home, and give you a glimpse into my Universal Design course and highlights of some products to help us all live longer and more comfortably in our own homes.

Purchasing Foreclosure Properties � Some Tips To Consider

The current real estate marketing is definitely difficult to understand and we are faced with so many foreclosures that happen. If you are an investor or you want to buy a property, you need to look at foreclosures since the opportunity is definitely great. However, the process is quite complicated and you will have to consider the following for sure.

Financing

You have to be sure that you do quality for appropriate financing before buying a home after foreclosure. That is the case because you have to understand what can be afforded and being pre-qualified will always make the entire process very fast. You can buy a property as soon as you see that it is available, without a fear that someone will swoop in and take it from you.

Finding A Realtor

The realtor can help you out a lot. You want to work with someone that has a good experience in foreclosures. If possible, locate one that knows how to sell foreclosed properties and buy foreclosed properties. Such experience can bring in all that you need in order to be successful on the long run and find options that are great for you. Many of the very good realtors will bring in the possibility of saving around 30% of your budget on one purchase.

Doing A Proper Research

When you purchase foreclosure properties, it is easy to be tempted by the very first option that you find. That is definitely not a proper approach. There is a possibility that you may locate something else if your research would be a little better. Do take as much time as possible to do that and you will end up with a very good property that you will surely appreciate as a great investment.

Home Inspections

Never purchase any property without doing an inspection. It may look perfect but there are so many situations in which looks will be really deceiving. As a very simple example, without a proper inspection you cannot be sure that the property has termites or not. At the same time, we may be faced with a really major plumbing problem that would bring in huge expenses in the future. Paying for a proper home inspection before you buy a foreclosed property is something that is basically necessary.

On the whole, what is really important is being sure that you find something that is great for the reasons that you have. In order to do that with a foreclosure, both speed and patience are necessary.

Check out the 140 and 190 MIG welders by Forney Industries

 

No matter how big your project is, these welders by Forney Industries are sure to help you get the job done. The company has been making some of the most powerful and durable hardware and power tools since 1932. Check out the video of Jason from Forney walking us through what sets Forney's 140 and 190 Mig welders apart from the rest. They are great for DIY, home, auto, or your shop. Also, check out the AskForney website for tips and instructions on how to get all your home improvement goals met.

Tips on Staying Warm in the Winter

With the harsh Canadian winters, it can be difficult to stay warm no matter how hard you try. However, there are ways of staying warm even in the face of the harshest and most brutal winter weather. With temperatures dropping to as low as -40 degrees Celsius, it can be dangerous to not take proper measures to ensure that you are as warm as possible. Here are some tips on staying warm this winter season:

Bundle up

            It seems like an obvious tip, yet many people fail to properly bundle up before heading out into the snow. The best way to keep warm is to have as many layers as you possibly can, without limiting your mobility. It is a good idea to wear long johns underneath all of your clothes, or even just an undershirt, as it provides an extra layer. Make sure you always wear a long sleeved shirt, sweater, winter jacket, snow boots, scarf, gloves and a hat before heading out the door.  Winter jackets and boots can be costly, but it is well worth the money, as cheap ones will fail to keep you warm. If you do not like wearing gloves because you can not use your phone, you can rest assured because you can buy gloves that are phone screen friendly for about ten dollars at your local Walmart. 

Eat hot foods

It is important that in this season you stay away from cold foods, such as ice cream. Your body needs all the warmth it can get and that can also be done through the type of food we eat. Make sure you have a bowl of porridge for breakfast, some soup during the day and stop off at your local Tim Hortons or Second Cup to get a hot chocolate or a coffee. Other foods that help keep you warm are nuts, Brussels sprouts, sweet potatoes and many others. 

Make sure your home and car are prepared

            You do not want to wake up in the morning only to see that there is a sheet of ice on your car that prevents the windshield wipers from doing their job. The best way to avoid this is to leave them up before you go inside, especially if the weather forecast calls for snow. Before you get in your car in the morning, make sure you leave it running with the heater on high, for at least fifteen minutes before you get in. Making sure your home is properly equipped to keep you warm in the winter is crucial. You have to make sure that the windows are properly sealed and that they are not letting in any cold air or letting out any precious warm air.  Also, make sure that your furnace is working properly and if it is not, research furnace repair downingtown pa, and find the best company to do the job.

Tips on Cleaning your Home

It can be tough to maintain your home, especially if you have a full time job, but if you keep cleaning bits of it every day, you will have less cleaning to do on the weekends. If you look at it like a boring and tedious task, it will become that, but if you make it a fun task that you can get the kids involved with, it can be fun for everyone involved. Here are some tips on how to clean your home:

Cleaning your living room

            For most families, the most commonly used room of the house is the living room. Whether your kids are jumping on the couches or your pets are shedding hair all over the floor, it can be tough to clean up. After all the hard work of cleaning it, it seems that it gets messy all over again, in a matter of minutes. The best way to prevent this from happening is to get your kids to help out. Each toy they bring to the living room, must be returned to its original spot and your children need to know that. You can make a game of it by saying whoever gets the most toys back in the toy box, can have a treat. Whether you have carpets or not, it is important to clean the living room floor every day. You and your partner can take turns vacuumingit or sweeping it, that way it will not seem like too much work for either of you.

Cleaning your washroom

            The washroom can be the part of the house that nobody wants to clean, for obvious reasons. However, it is the most important place to clean in your house, as most of the germs and bacteria in your home stem from the washroom. Start by putting bleach in the toilet and letting it sit for a while before cleaning it with a toilet brush. Scrub the tiles in the shower area with a sponge and some detergent and then just mop up the floors to give it a clean look. You can even put in an air freshener in there that goes off every thirty minutes, to have it smelling fresh all the time.

 Cleaning the outside of your home

           A lot of people do not consider cleaning the outside of their home. It is good to make sure that there are not any leaves on your porch that may fly into your home and that the drains are all clean and clear from mud and leaves. If you find that your drain does in fact need cleaning, you can just look up drain cleaning West Chester pa, and get professionals to come out and clean it for you.

From Dark to Dreamy: a Modest Kitchen Makeover with Bold Results

Stained wood can add charm, warmth and richness to our homes, but it requires a certain level of balance to prevent it from becoming overwhelming, dark or oppressive.  The balance in this project had yet to be achieved, but there were elements worth saving that would help transform the space from dark to dreamy...

Stained floors, ceilings and cabinets coupled with dark red walls made the space feel tight and outdated.

While a small island formed an obstacle that interrupted the flow and function of the kitchen and didn't provide a large enough prep surface.

The dual loaded galley style kitchen with center island created a bisected space with narrow working aisles leaving the eating area underutilized and inefficient.

The existing kitchen plan had tight circulation clearances and limited work surface.  Foot traffic from the Foyer flowed directly through the working area and in front of the often used refrigerator.  It was not conducive to entertaining or accommodating for multiple cooks.  The breakfast table was not needed, but better access to the dining room was.

The new design keeps the flow of traffic outside of the kitchen working area allowing us to eliminate the cabinetry on one side of the kitchen to increase aisle clearances, provide an open area in front of the refrigerator and improve the overall function of the kitchen.  Enlarging the opening to the Dining room creates connection to this previously separated space and makes entertaining an ease.  The long island provides ample work surface and a casual dining area.

The renovated kitchen is bright and beautiful.  We preserved the stained wood floors, kept the wood ceiling and lightened it with paint, replaced the cabinetry with a balanced combination of stained and painted cabinets and upgraded the counters and appliances.  The sink and range were left in their original positions to reduce cost, but they are integrated into the new design with such skill that they appear as if they are meant to be.

The elongated island provides separation between the working and entertaining areas of the space and provides a wonderful wide work surface with under counter storage accessible from each side.

The new pantry cabinets and dry bar provide ample and efficient storage space and beautifully anchor the end of the kitchen.

The gas range frees up space previously occupied by a wall oven and has an under counter microwave conveniently located next to it.  The counter-depth refrigerator looks sleek and stylish, but it is also very functional because it doesn't protrude into the working aisle.

A prep sink located in the island with a flanking trash drawer creates the ultimate chopping and prep area.

New lighting and thoughtful details bring the space to life adding visual appeal and decorative highlights.

 New granite countertops with a radiused edge add to the beauty of the space and provide a durable work surface ideal for an active family.  

This new design provides the homeowner with a kitchen they love and an entertaining space that works for large and small groups every day of the week.  We were able to transform this dark space into a dreamy kitchen full of light and loveliness.