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 !

Kitchens that will have people "Green" with envy !

With Saint Patrick's Day fast approaching I thought it might be fun to talk a little about the color GREEN and the beauty it can bring to your kitchen.

The color green is the color of life! It can give you a sense of renewal and energy.  And what better place to bring life and energy into than your kitchen!

A lot of people think of their grandparents avocado colored stoves and refrigerators when you mention using the color green in the kitchen.  But adding green to your kitchen can bring a vibrant modern look that you will love for years to come.

Your Irish eyes will be smiling every day if you go bold with jewel-toned cabinetry like emerald green.

  

Not quite that daring?  Maybe a little more warm inviting choice for you would be green/gray cabinetry.  It adds some green yet is still very neutral.

Still "green around the gills" at the thought of changing your cabinetry but still would like to add a splash of green?  How about a "Backsplash" of green?  A soft green tile adds just the right touch of green to this beautiful kitchen.

You don't have to spend a lot of "Green" to bring some green into your kitchen. Perhaps you have a "Green Thumb" and want to showcase your gardening prowess?  Adding plants and greenery to your kitchen adds color and life.

So off to "Greener Pastures" and a "Greener" Kitchen this Saint Patrick's Day !

Ins and Outs in 2020

Like Heidi Klum would say "One day you're in, the next day you're out"!

Sleek, simplistic kitchens seem to be trending to start the new decade. " Out" are ornate cabinetry and over designed kitchens.  "In" are flat panel cabinets with minimal detailing.  We are seeing less and less crown molding being used and even cabinetry without handles or pulls all in an effort to keep the kitchen looking clean and simple.




"Out" is the All White sterile looking kitchen.  "In" is adding an expected pop of color.  Popular painted cabinet colors trending in 2020 are Gray, Green and Blue.  You can also add a pop of color with a colored appliance (stove or stove hood), flooring, colored chairs and window treatments.  Also consider the ceiling as a 5th wall and don't be afraid to add a little color.  Have an island with a colored cabinet and different countertop than the rest of your kitchen.  Have fun experimenting to see what fun pop of color you can add to your kitchen to make it stand out.



On their way "out" are boring subway tile back splashes.  Trend"IN"g in 2020 are back splashes with different shapes, bold colors, glass or custom made back splashes.  Add interesting texture to your kitchen with a metal back splash or a slab of stone.  Set your kitchen apart with a back splash statement!




Hopefully we've inspired you to make some bold new choices when remodeling your "out"-dated kitchen.  Share a story or a picture of your trendy new 2020 kitchen !

Apple, Peaches, Pumpkin Pie !

Ahhh.....Fall in New England.  The air is crisp and the leaves on the trees are starting to change into vibrant hues of yellow, orange, and red making you want to go outside and explore some outdoor fall activities, followed by some indoor fun!

This time of year is a perfect time to catch a football game, try to find your way through a corn maze, go apple picking or my favorite.... Pumpkin picking !


I love visiting local farms and taking a hay ride out to their pumpkin fields where you can search for the perfect pumpkin or two or three....

Did you know there are somewhere between 42 and 45 different types of pumpkins?  There are soooo many various shapes, colors, sizes and textures it makes picking pumpkins so much fun!



Pumpkins are native to Mexico but are grown on 6 out of 7 continents.  Antarctica being the exception of course.  The name Pumpkin comes from the Greek word pepon meaning large melon.

Some pumpkins are grown for competitions and can weigh over a 1,000 lbs - now that's a lot of pumpkin for pumpkin pie !

Pumpkins are technically a fruit (because they contain seeds) and are about 90% water.  Which makes sense seeing they are a member of the squash and gourd family like melons, cucumbers and zucchini.

Pumpkins are used in a variety of cooking.  From pumpkin cakes and breads to pumpkin soup.  Ever try pumpkin creme brulee or pumpkin cheesecake.......absolutely delicious ! And of course there is no shortage of pumpkin spice this time of year for your morning cup of Joe.

But come on.....when you think of pumpkins who doesn't think of Halloween and Jack-O-Lanterns!  After your trip to pick out the perfect pumpkins, time to bring them home and have some fun carving scary or funny faces.  Carefully scoop out your pumpkin's seeds and some of the pumpkin flesh so the shell of your pumpkin is thin enough to carve easily.  Be sure to save your seeds for roasting later!   Some people get very creative when carving pumpkins and create masterpieces or some people just carve a simple cute face.  When finished carving simply put in a candle or battery operated light and voila....your very own Jack-O-Lantern.




Let us know you favorite thing to do with pumpkins this fall.....and don't forget to roast those pumpkin seeds and add some spices while roasting to give them a sweet or savory flavor.  Add them to salads, soups or just eat them up.....yummmm.

Best plants for your Kitchen

Summer time !!  What a great time of year and it has me thinking of warm sunshine and fresh flowers and veggies from my garden.  Which lead me to think about what are some of the best plants to have indoors in your Kitchen.

The first one to come to mind was an Aloe Vera plant.  One of the greatest things about the Aloe Vera plant is that it thrives on neglect and is one of the most difficult plants to kill !  In nature, the Aloe Vera plant grows in the dessert so they don't need much watering.  You only need to water them every 3 to 4 weeks.  Be sure the soil is dry at least 1 to 2 inches deep before watering and avoid over watering them or letting them sit in water at the roots.  Over watering can lead to root rot and your plant will die from the bottom up.  Which shouldn't be a problem for me because I'm lucky if I remember to water my plants every couple of weeks.

Keeping an Aloe Vera plant close to the stove will come in handy if you ever burn yourself.  The Aloe Vera plant is filled with vitamins and minerals that are great for your skin.  Just use a serrated knife to cut off a thick green leaf close to the base of the plant.  Hold the cut side down over a dish so some of the gel drips out.  Now carefully cut off the top layer of the leaf skin exposing its healing gel.  Next cut the skin on the two sides of the leaf and finish by cutting the layer of gel away from the bottom of the leaf and drop it in the dish. Use the gel to sooth and cool your burn or even to moisturize your dry hands from washing too many dishes.

I have also heard that some plants help "purify" the air quality in your house.  So what better place than your kitchen to have some air purifying plants!  Although it would take an enormous amount of plants to actually impact VOC levels in your kitchen, indoor plants can still improve your air quality.  English Ivy and Spider Plants both make great plants to put on shelves, on top of your cabinetry or hang in baskets in the window over your sink.  They also need very little attention and watering only about once a week.  Their leaves help remove odors and other pollutants in the air.

If you have a spot in your kitchen on the floor that you're looking to fill with a plant, a Snake Plant would be ideal.  They also act as air purifiers and can improve your kitchen's air quality.  They thrive in low light areas and like the Aloe Vera plant, can be neglected for weeks and need very little watering,.  Be aware though, the Snake Plant can be toxic to animals.

And finally, what blog about Kitchen plants would be complete without including Herbs!   Some popular Herbs to plant are Basil, Parsley, Sage, Rosemary, Thyme, Chives, Mint, Cilantro and of course whatever herbs you enjoy....after all it is YOUR Herb Garden!  It is helpful to be sure to label your herbs to readily and quickly identify them when you want to use them.  And there are soooooo many creative ways to display your Herb Garden.

I say take a trip to your local green house or nearby garden center and get planting indoors !!

Smart Kitchens

Technology is growing at a rapid pace and doesn't show any signs of slowing down.  Most electronics are becoming amazingly advanced - shouldn't your kitchen catch up?

Kitchen appliances like smart refrigerators, dishwashers and ovens are gaining popularity.  Why can't your countertops be smart too?

Now a days, it's nearly impossible to find anyone without a smart phone or tablet (more than likely both!).  Who wants all those unsightly cords and plugs taking up space on your beautiful new countertops?

If you are considering building new or remodeling, you might want to consider incorporating a built-in Induction Charging Station (or two) into your countertop which will allow your smartphone or tablet to receive a charge just by setting your device on top of it.

Inductive charging uses an electromagnetic field to transfer energy between a device and a charging station and can be built-in to any countertop material.  The charger is embedded seamlessly under the countertop.  The magnetic charge can pass through approx. 4mm of solid surface.

Because the charger transmits through the solid surface, it remains unseen below the countertop!

Do you think we will see this technology becoming popular in the near future?  

Please leave your thoughts and comments below.