Larder - What is it?

What is a Larder you ask??  Good question....I was asking myself the same thing !

A traditional Larder is a cool room or area for storing food prior to use.  Originally it was where raw meat was Larded (covered in fat) to be preserved.  Larders were commonplace in houses before the use of refrigerators.

These days a Larder is more commonly known as a Pantry.

They are available in all shapes & sizes depending on your storage needs.

Adding a free standing Larder/Pantry Cabinet in your kitchen can increase your storage capacity, be more organized, and free up some wall cabinet space for artwork or perhaps some floating shelving.

Try adding a painted Larder/Pantry for a splash of color !





The best way to maximize your kitchen space would be to have a walk-in Larder/Pantry if you have space available. Use pull out drawers and a variety of shelving to customize your pantry to fit your needs. It can be hidden behind solid doors or make it feel like part of the kitchen by using frosted sliding doors.





Do you have a Larder/Pantry?  What do you keep in it?

Share your feedback with us!

Shiny & Bright....or Not??

There are a lot of decisions that go into a kitchen or bath remodel including the finish on your new counter or vanity top.  

Should you go with a beautiful High Gloss finish or maybe a trendy just as beautiful Matte (or Honed) finish?  Decisions....Decisions !  Your countertop finish can make a big difference in how your countertop looks, feels, and performs.  But it's all a matter of personal preference.

If you have a kitchen or bath with a lot of light fixtures or is very bright you may want to consider a matte finish for your countertops (and cabinets?).  A matte finish is much less reflective and will create a soft satiny look.  It is subtler and gives your stone a more natural look.  It slightly mutes the stones natural color.  But keep in mind that a matte finish absorbs the light and makes spaces feel smaller - not larger.

If, on the other hand, your kitchen or bath is on the smaller side, you might want to consider a High Gloss finish.  A High Gloss finish will reflect the light and make spaces look and feel larger.  A polished stone brings out its luxurious color and beauty creating a highly reflective finish and highlights the colors and patterns of the stone.  It will also be less porous than a matte finish, very smooth and easier to clean, prevent stains and won't need to be resealed as often.  But because it is so reflective it can be tougher to clean, leaving streaks, smudges and will shows scratches and accentuates flaws in the stone.

A Honed (matte) finish won't show scratches and will conceal flaws and natural imperfections.  But it is also more porous, more susceptible to staining, and a little more difficult to heavily clean and maintain.  A matte finish tends to conceal messes which could lead to oil, grease and other materials building up over time requiring tougher cleaning if they are left too long.  It will also require more frequent resealing.  

But not matter what finish you decide on, you should ALWAYS seal your Granite !!

A little tip:  Using microfiber cloths to clean your matte finish countertops and cabinets won't scratch and keeps them looking clean!

Talk to your Kitchen Design expert to determine the right finish for your project !