Kitchens

Wolf's new Contemporary gas cooktop

This month’s featured product: Wolf’s new Contemporary gas cooktop

Please allow me to introduce to you the hottest (no pun intended) appliance that are a must-have item for many of my clients’ kitchens. The initial draw to the new Wolf CG365C/S contemporary gas cooktop is the sleek European design. The illuminated controls are separate from the unit (which allows for more available top cooking service) and installed on the face of the cabinet. The knob illumination allows for one to see if a burner is on. The knobs are also available in red– should that be your preference. However, the sleekest part of this cooktop is not the knob location but how we can take a cooktop and make it flush with the counter. This application only enhances a true minimalistic design.

Once we get past the design and look at the performance, we see why this cooktop is truly a cook’s dream. There are 5 burners with the middle burner being Wolf’s most powerful burner yet on a gas cooktop. The middle burner is 20,000 BTU’S and delivers faster boils and restaurant-quality sears. The lower tier of the of the Wolf dual-stack burner also goes to the opposite extreme and can offer only a breadth of a flame, which is ideal for gentle simmering and melting of fine chocolates etc.

From a designer’s perspective, the only drawback to this unit is that it cannot be down drafted, and must have a hood above.

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A Designer’s New Best Friend:

LED Lights

I have always been a firm believer in the “Murphy’s Law” theory when it comes to the location of recessed lights in a kitchen & bath remodeling project. Just when you need a can located on center in the most critical of situations then there will always be an obstruction in the way. Whether it be a joist or even heating or plumbing obstructions. Led lighting has come thru again for me. As a designer, I now have cans available to me that are only ½” thick (this is the thickness of drywall). I can now locate the lighting throughout the project wherever I desire. Some of the critical locations that this really helps me is centering the can over a sink or centering on a table location etc. I recently completed a family room with beams and I needed to center the lights between the beams and it turned out wonderfully!

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The Transformation Of The Kitchen Sink- Introducing The Galley Workstation.

How the Galley Workstation Improves Kitchens

A very exciting new concept has arrived in the area of kitchen sinks. This concept was created by an award-winning kitchen designer whose vision was to create a sink area where one can handle all tasks at hand. With the galley workstation one can now prep, cook, serve, entertain, and clean up, all in one central workstation. Not only is this sink a functional workstation but it is also smart and stylish. Some of the accessories include a chef’s block in bamboo, a knife block, a stainless-steel wash and serve basin, a upper tier garnish board, a condiment board for serving, and last but certainly not least is a sink cover. This will allow you to cover your sink for added counter space when necessary. The Galley Workstation comes in many different widths and can accommodate 2 cooks at once.

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What’s Trending in Kitchens:

2017 Kitchen Trends

This past month the NKBA (National Kitchen & Bath Association) unveiled the results of what the trends are as we enter into 2017. What I find interesting is that the results mirror my business over the past year and the direction my clients are headed as they venture into a new kitchen in 2017. The most interesting trend is that the Contemporary kitchen has become the #2 most popular style, only behind the ever popular Transitional style. The LEICHT brand of cabinets within the Hall Design Group has become my #1 seller. I see the reason for this shift is the millennials are becoming a major factor in the marketplace. They are looking for simple clean lines. Some other trends that are interesting include quartz becoming the leading countertop choice and trending up. Granite is now at the point of trending down. Induction cooking has become really popular and trending up. I also see the steam oven becoming a mainstay in the kitchen and people are loving what it brings to the cooking seen. White and gray are the dominate color schemes within the kitchen. A trend that is still on the horizon but worth watching is the “industrial” look. We are starting to see increasingly more metal. Both in cabinetry and other parts to the kitchen.

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Featured Kitchen by the Hall Design Group

Nestled in the Chagrin Valley lives a young family. When they approached me and asked me to work on their project I was excited to have the opportunity. This was a project where we truly wanted to bring the outdoors in and really take advantage of the view. To make this happen we basically removed most of the interior 1st floor walls. Also on the top of the husbands wish list was a flip up window over the sink that brings one working in the kitchen area out to the pool area when the children are in the pool or also when entertaining. One can pull up a bar stool from the outside while enjoying the pool and converse with the chef at the same time. Other areas that were important to this young couple and incorporated into the space include the following, a dining table overlooking the lake, a large island for prep, a family area for entertaining, a bar, booth style seating for informal eating and a nook for someone to grab a book and get away. One other element that really adds to the space was the selection of both natural materials along with some unique material and finishes.

 

A view of the kitchen designed by Hall Design Group on Sugarbush Lane, Chagrin Falls, Friday, Jan. 27, 2017. (Photograph by Peggy Turbett Photography)

A view of the kitchen designed by Hall Design Group on Sugarbush Lane, Chagrin Falls, Friday, Jan. 27, 2017. (Photograph by Peggy Turbett Photography)

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Back From Germany!

What an amazing trip to Germany! I was able to spend 2 full days at Leicht’s world headquarters and am excited to pass along all of the new and cutting edge items that I have never seen in my 30 plus years in the industry . I would like to start off with a new program by Leicht called the Valais program. The door is uniquely new to the industry. It is an oak veneered front with different plank widths and visibly staggered plank thicknesses, horizontally arranged. Every single front is uniquely crafted. The horizontal plank arrangement is irregular-with staggered plank alignment between cabinets.
Leicht description truly says it all “The oak surface is characterful and dignified with its expressive relief structure which is excitingly contrasted with the precise contours of fronts and worktop. The material mix too is inspiring: structured red wood with its warm tonality stands in deliberate contrast to the matt lacquer in cool carbon grey.”

NARI Home Show

Here We Go Again

Well it’s that time again. Show season is right around the corner and I will be giving several presentations over the next 3 months. Please see the schedule for the first show listed below. This is the 2017 NARI show at the I-X center. I am always so excited during the show season because it gives me the opportunity to educate the public. I offer a wide range of topics throughout the show days. When you come to listen also remember to stop by my booth to say hello. This is a good time for me to discuss remodeling needs with the general public and also a time to catch up with some old friends ( previous clients J ).

Thursday, January 19th

12:30 PM             25 Design Tips to a Perfect Kitchen

3:30 PM               Where Do I Begin

5:30 PM               25 Tips Toward that Perfect Kitchen

 

Friday, January 20th

12:30 PM             25 Tips Toward that Perfect Kitchen

3:30 PM               Selecting Cabinetry That’s Right for You

6:30 PM               25 Tips Toward that Perfect Kitchen

 

Saturday, January 21st

11:30 AM             25 Design Tips to a Perfect Kitchen

3:30 PM               25 Design Tips to a Perfect Kitchen

5:30 PM               Where Do I Begin

 

Sunday, January 22nd

11:30 AM             25 Design Tips to a Perfect Kitchen

1:30 PM               Selecting Cabinetry That’s Right for You

3:30 PM               25 Design Tips to a Perfect Kitchen

 

Time to catch up with some previous clients.

grilled shrimp lemon aioli tarts

Holiday Cooking Class

I would like to give a big shout out to Chef Brian Kabb for a terrific evening out at The Western Reserve School of Cooking this past week. If you ever have the opportunity you should take one of Brian’s classes. The evening was filled with not only with the makings of delicious food but also great company. During the evening we focused on Holiday appetizers. Chicken Satay with peanut sauce, Bacon wrapped water chestnuts, Grilled shrimp with lemon aioli in mini tarts, Cheese stuffed figs wrapped in prosciutto (MY FAVORITE J) and last but not least Spanakopita. Should anyone wish for the recipes for the Holidays please do not hesitate to contact me.

 

Bacon wrapped water chestnuts

grilled shrimp lemon aioli tarts

Grilled shrimp lemon aioli tarts

Ad for Webinars

Webinars: Another Exciting Educational Tool Presented by the Hall Design Group

Throughout the years, I have gathered a collection of educational tools to guide the kitchen & bath consumer through the challenging task of remodeling. These tools have included many seminars, classes, design guides and pricing guides. The Hall Design Group is now proud to present a new and valuable Kitchen& Bath tool to further educate you so you can have a good understanding of the decision-making process. Now you can enjoy letting me assist you in the comfort of your own home. I have put together a collection of webinars that cover the many topics needed to successfully create the Kitchen & Bath of your dreams. Some of the topics include understanding design styles, finding the right appliance package for you, understanding and selecting the right cabinetry for your kitchen or bath, countertops, designing one’s kitchen, and lighting the space. Visit The Hall Design Group website to see a detailed explanation of each webinar including the schedule. You can also register at the same time.