Kitchens

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Three Helpful Hints for Remodeling a Kitchen or Bath

January 20, 2012 in Baths, Design Trends, Kitchens by Mary | 2 comments

Decorative MaterialsWhile remodeling a kitchen or bathroom can be a daunting task, a few easy steps can simplify the process. Tile and stone impresaria Margot Hampleman, owner and founder of Decorative Materials, shares her 20+ years of experience with Colorado Homes and Lifestyles.

Find Direction
One of the most important things when revamping a space is to discover what resonates with you. How? Read and rip. Grab a pile of home décor publications and rip out images that appeal to you. Look at materials, layouts, appliances, overall design, design blogs and books. Collect images that inspire you and use them to help give life to the ideas that drive you. Once you have compiled a nice collection of images, scan through them to find a theme. This will help down the road when it comes to meeting with a designer and communicating your vision.

Decorative MaterialsNeeds and Wants
Consider your absolute need from the space as well as what you would just love to have. Is there a certain feeling or function you would like to gain from the space that it did not previously have? Setting up budget parameters as well as the upkeep and maintenance you are willing to put into the space will also help determine exactly what can be done and what might have to give when push comes to shove.

Decorative MaterialsHire a Professional
Many people are hesitant to hire a professional kitchen designer, but trust us, we’ve seen it all, and it is worth every penny. Interview a few designers and find one who shares your ideas and taste, someone who understands the way you live and the space you are dreaming about. Many projects around your house can easily be tackled on your own, but when it comes to kitchens and bathrooms, it is best to trust a professional who can share tricks of the trade and ensure you get the space of your dreams.

When trying to discern whether or not professional help is needed consider this: The most important rooms to bring in professional help are bathrooms and kitchens. There are many technical and stylistic considerations in these rooms, and a design professional will streamline your needs and vision. A design professional will save time and more importantly, money. A designer will take into account your inspirations and needs and hone in on your style and make suggestions you might not have thought of yourself. Your designer will show you things you’ll love but may not have been able to see, find, or buy on your own.

So pull your ideas together and find a designer whose vision overlaps with yours. Visit their favorite showrooms to see the widest variety of surfaces for your home. Our design consultants know the extensive selection of inventory inside and out, and are ready to show you samples, discuss care and maintenance, budget, lead time, and design with you and your designer.

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Have you reserved your copy of The Little Orange Book?

January 5, 2012 in Architecture, Art, Baths, CH&L magazine, Fabrics and textiles, Kitchens, Landscape Design, Remodeling by Caroline | 1 comment

If you’re anything like us, the start of a new year brings thoughts of remodeling projects: a brand-new kitchen, a finished basement, perhaps even a whole-home renovation. The good news: We can help with your upcoming home project!

Next month, in partnership with Hutter + Eurobath, we’ll be publishing The Little Orange Book. This handy directory will be your go-to guide for the best remodeling pros in your area, as well as the Colorado showrooms you’ll want to visit for all the finishing touches. In its pages, find loads of resource information in the following categories:

Architects
Interior Designers
Building Materials
Custom Builders/Remodelers
Flooring & Hard Surfaces
Home Decor
Kitchen & Bath
Landscape/Exteriors

You won’t want to start your next project without CH&L‘s The Little Orange Book. Click here to reserve your copy, or stay tuned for a list of local retailers. (CH&L subscribers will receive their copy for free in the mail.)

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On Our Minds: Five stylish design finds

October 10, 2011 in Design Trends, Home furnishings, Kitchens, Products We Love by Caroline | No comments

Clockwise, from top left:

Farmhouse Sink Redux

Concrete has become a go-to material for those looking for modern, eco-friendly countertops. Now Waterworks is using a sustainable concrete material to reinterpret the farmhouse apron sink: Made from post-industrial waste materials, the charcoal bar sink is available with or without a drain board. waterworks.com

For the Love of Food and Art

Stylish, high-tech range hoods have been all the rage for several years, but Italian manufacturer Futuro Futuro, known for its innovative, high-end hoods, has upped the ante with The Murano Collection. These designer hoods feature a wraparound, illuminated glass cover infused with unique patterns, such as “Autumn,” pictured above. futurofuturo.com

Smith on Style

Legendary designer Michael S. Smith—the man who transformed the Obama White House—is sharing his genius with the rest of us in his new book, Michael S. Smith Kitchens and Baths. Readers will get an in-depth look at Smith’s process through three case studies—Beach, City/Urban and Country—and dozens of spectacular examples. rizzoliusa.com

Kitchen Couture

After years of collecting vintage 20th-century aprons, Helena Steele decided it was high time to refashion the garment as a hostess must-have. Along with her daughter, Claire, Helena started Jessie Steele (named for her grandmother), an apron design company offering retro yet modern pieces in graphic, colorful fabrics. jessiesteele.com

Pretty Chill

Elevate your wine to an art form while keeping it cool with The Element Wine Chiller by Snowmass-based ceramic artist Michael Wisner, whose works have appeared in museums throughout the country, including the Smithsonian. Limited edition set: $400 for the chiller and four coasters. michaelwisnerpottery.com

 


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Show Us Your Kitchen!

April 14, 2011 in Contests, Kitchens by Kelli | No comments

It’s that time of the year again: We’re on the hunt for our next Kitchen of the Year—that stunning space that beautifully melds form with function, a smart layout with stylish looks.

Whether your space is cute and kitschy or sleek and sharp, we’d love to see it. This is our chance to discover the latest in Colorado kitchen design, and while we’re only able to choose one winner, we love the opportunity to pore over lots of fresh spaces. Occasionally, we even come across a space we want to save for a later issue (so take heart: even if your space doesn’t win, you might still see it in the pages of CH&L).

So show us your kitchen! Whether you’re a homeowner, interior designer, architect or builder, we want to see your favorite spaces. The winning kitchen will be featured in the September/October 2011 issue of CH&L. The June 1st deadline is quickly approaching, so be sure to gather some photos (scouting shots will do) and send them our way.

For complete contest rules and to learn how to enter, click here. And turn to these kitchens for inspiration:

 

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2010 was spectacular, wouldn’t you agree?

January 6, 2011 in Architecture, CH&L magazine, Home furnishings, Kitchens by Caroline | 2 comments

It should come as no surprise that we love to look at pictures of beautiful homes. And fortunately, we get to do a lot of that. But we must admit: sometimes we pick favorites–those spaces that stick with us, for whatever reason…the way the light shines in, that piece of furniture we can’t get off our minds, the way pieces work together just right. Here are some of our favorite spaces from the past year–and why we love them. (And click on the links to see more photos from these homes.)

“I love the mish-mash of materials and items here: wood countertops, the black-and-white checkered skirt, the old farm table. I also love the open shelving–it’s a great way to display pretty dishes and cookware as art.” –Emily Kaiser, Advertising Art Production Manager

“I love the calm of this space, which to me, hinges on the art above the couch that takes me on a late summer stroll someplace far away. I could certainly cozy up on the couch there and read a book on a lazy afternoon.” –EK

“My favorite spaces from the past year are from our Kitchen Issue. I just love the red kitchen!” –Nancy Brown, Advertising Account Executive

“I am absolutely mesmerized by this kitchen. I can imagine cooking Sunday dinners in a warm bath of sunshine while surrounded by those views, and I think there’s no place in the house I’d rather be. –Jacque Edwards, Advertising Account Executive

“One of my favorites was a house designed by Jeff Elliott that ran in our January/February issue. My favorite image from the home was featured on our cover.” –Jennifer Williams, Publisher

And now for my favorites. I couldn’t pick just one.

From the graphic draperies to the glitzy chandelier and contemporary art–this space shouts sophistication. But it also looks homey and livable, too.

The mix in this dining room is almost too-good-to-be-true: the bright colors, mix of patterns, cheery feel. It could have gone “circus,” but the homeowner managed to reign it in just enough. And the result is brilliant, I think.

I give the designer and homeowner kudos for the sheer boldness of this living space. The sleek, spare drama of the indoors matches the drama outside (airplanes coming and going and mountain peaks in the distance).

Do you have a favorite image or space from the past year of CH&L? If so, do share!

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