The kitchen is the heart of the home. The design of this space can greatly affect the functionality and feel of your living space. One of the most significant design decisions to make when planning a kitchen is whether to have an open or closed layout. In this blog post, we’ll explore the pros and cons of each design to…
Extra organization in the kitchen is one of the most requested “must haves” for their new space. Toe-kick drawers are a great way to sneak in extra storage, no matter the size of the space. In our modern basement bar project, I included a toe-kick drawer as extra hidden storage area. Admittedly, not exactly necessary for a basement bar. But,…
The classic kitchen design is timeless, fresh and simple, instead of traditional, dark, and complicated. That’s a pretty wide blanket, but so are most of the definitions out there. Instead of trying to define a style, it’s best to focus more on the elements that shape classic kitchen design. Focus on neutral cabinet colors for a classic kitchen design Although white…
It seems like almost every renovation includes some sort of bar feature. Our latest project, a townhouse basement renovation, is no different. In this project I include a built-in modern home bar. Over the next few weeks we will walk through the complete design and construction of this modern bar space. If the written word is not your cup of…
UPDATE: AS OF 2020/2021 IKEA APPLIANCES ARE NOW UNBRANDED FRIGIDAIRE (ELECTROLUX). I will continue to dig into this change and see if I can find any updated reviews in terms of reliability, function, and overall satisfaction with the new appliance lineup. As I mention below, I have not used IKEA appliances in any past renovation. This change to Frigidaire won’t…
Have you ever wandered into a tile shop and left with more questions than answers? I want to discuss one of the most common questions we receive by email; What tile should I use? This is a debate as old as the hills- porcelain vs ceramic tile. I’ve run into more than one sales person who used these terms interchangeably.…
The hidden IKEA storage cabinet hack (it really needs a better name) is a trick we have used on more than one occasion to take advantage of those odd spaces that can pop up in IKEA designs. It is no secret that we love IKEA kitchens. The vast majority of their cabinetry is built to last and the organizational options…
It is no secret that I am a big fan of IKEA kitchens. Not only do I love having a cabinetry system that I can rely on for years to come, but there is also the abundance of IKEA kitchen organization and storage options available to customize them after they are installed. I’m not sure how many times I have…
The IKEA kitchen sale comes around three or four times a year, lasting roughly a month. In general, IKEA offers up to 20% off any kitchen items including cabinets, appliances, countertops, and organizers. The kitchen event covers pretty well everything kitchen related! I have spoken to other designers and contractors from both Canada and the United States, and it seems…