Touchless faucets will turn more than a few heads of customers. And not a moment too soon as many homeowners recognize that handling raw meat, chicken and fish in a kitchen can easily transmit bacteria and germs from surface to surface.  Several of the new touchless faucets integrate with personal digital assistants and can be activate through apps with voice commands. ​

Most homeowners want to have an abundance of seating in their new kitchens to entertain friends and family and to use the kitchen for additional purposes such as preparing meals, cleaning up, doing homework, bill paying, reading, relaxing and working from home. That why islands have become so popular. They serve multiple functions in addition to serving as a focal point.
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A great kitchen must not only look out of this world, but it also must incorporate the best functionality that meets your needs. There is a vast array of storage and organizational tools ranging from drawer and cabinet organizers to pull out drawers and pantries that provide a place for all of your kitchen utensils, small appliances, plates and glassware, cookware and pots and pans.

What elements are necessary to make your dream kitchen a reality? Find out by calling us at (800) 693-4545 or visit our showrooms and meet a designer who's ready to start your project with you.

​The Kitchen & Bath Industry Show is the largest kitchen and bath design event in North America. KBIS reflects the trends that will influence kitchen design in the future and also demonstrates new technology that may enhance anyone’s lifestyle. Trends ranged from customizable faucets to bold-colored appliances and everything in between. It was hard not to be impressed by the continued technological connectivity and integration of kitchen appliances and bathroom fixtures.

One appliance manufacturer has incorporated sou vide cooking capabilities into a standard 36-inch range. Another manufacturer featured a dual fuel range that combines induction burners with gas countertops on the stove top and a dual oven cavity that enables home cooks to roast a giant turkey on one side and cook vegetables on the other. There are now ovens that allow you to cook by function, food or recipe and can even convert the stars of HGTVs "Worst Cooks In America" into gourmet chefs. Don't worry if you don't know how to cook or don't like to, there are ovens that ask you to dial in the attributes of what you want to cook, and you can set it and then forget it.

Some refrigerators allow you to check their contents from your smartphone while at the grocery store or any other place. Others feature computers that enable you to store recipes, make grocery lists or order via your home assistant. Zoned refrigeration continues to evolve and allows you to store foodstuffs and beverages at the perfect temperatures. Another trend is the growth of beverage stations. Whether you want a built-in coffee station or a wine dispenser, there is an appliance that can meet your needs.
Appliances finishes showed many pops of color. What we did not see a lot of was traditional stainless steel. Colorful hues dominated at the 2019 KBIS along with black stainless.

Storage solutions continue to evolve not only for the kitchen but also for the bathroom. We saw many shallow upper cabinets designed for the bath that can be recessed into the wall to avoid having to dedicate countertop space for storage. Another bath trend was the use of two to three different tiles in the bath, combining small-scale mosaics with 4 by 6-inch wall tiles and 12 by 24-inch floor tiles.

The ability to customize fixtures such as faucets and tubs is becoming much easier. We saw more air massage tubs than jetted tubs. At KBIS, we saw a few head-turning bathroom faucets. The first, a 3-D printed faucet from DXV by American Standard. The Blade is printed from stainless steel then hand finished. Water flow is activated by a sensor that turns on and off as a user approaches or leaves. Water flows from a circular opening in the edge of the faucet. Axor unveiled its MyEdition Customizable Cover Plates. You can select from six cover plates made from leather, wood, two types of marble and mirrored or black glass for the sink and tub faucets.

​We know that many of our blog readers will make New Year’s resolutions to either improve their health, lose weight or both. There are numerous reasons to make weight loss resolutions. Losing weight makes you healthier, gives you more energy and helps to reduce fat and build muscle. If you subscribe to a particular diet or simply elect to eat healthier, there are certain kitchen tools that can help guide the way and make dieting easier.
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One of the first appliances that people turn to when starting a diet is a blender. We prefer blenders with high-torque motors that can quickly and easily convert solids into liquids to create healthy shakes, smoothies and other drinks that the entire family can enjoy.  ​Emersion or hand blenders enable you to mix, chop, whisk and blend, at the stove, countertop or anywhere else in the kitchen that you prepare meals. If you don't already have a hand blender, look for one with multiple speeds.

A food processor can slice, dice and chop foods in a matter of seconds. Food processors are great for making healthier snacks and appetizers such as fresh hummus or homemade granola.  An air fryer gives you the taste and crunch of fried foods using approximately 75 percent less oil than a conventional fryer. An air fryer is a convection oven that circulates hot air around food to cook.  Air fryers come in a variety of sizes. The largest of which can cook a meal for a family of four looking to reduce fat and calories.

Another cool gadget for dieting is a spiralizer that takes vegetables such as zucchini, squash and carrots and turns them into spaghetti.  Cooking beef, duck and chicken in a rotisserie convection toaster oven will help reduce fat and calories.  A slow cooker prepares food as its name implies slowly. Slow cooking preserves nutrients in food thereby making your meals healthier, tastier and easier to digest.  A good quality kitchen scale can help with portion control. Portions are based on weight and not size. To get in the habit of eating the right portions, you need to weigh your food.
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A brand new kitchen will make meal preparation easier and more enjoyable. We can help with that as well. Please call us at (800) 693-4545 or visit the largest kitchen and bath showrooms in the area at 2537 Papermill Road, Winchester, VA 22601 to determine how a new kitchen for your home can help you live a healthier and happier lifestyle.

​4. A Well Designed Kitchen Is An Organized Kitchen
One secret to designing a great kitchen is to account for your storage needs and desires in the initial planning phases. A storage plan will consider how often you cook, entertain and hold gatherings. A great kitchen must not only look out of this world, it also must incorporate the best functionality that meets your needs. An almost endless array of options is available to store cookware, food, utensils, countertop appliances (blenders, mixers, etc.), recycling containers and so on.
Specifying two-tiered drawers can maximize space in deep drawers. A top layer may be used for cutlery, below is a second drawer for dishes and below that is another drawer for pots and pans. These drawers within drawers slide individually with the top-drawer housing items used most often.
5. Choose a Pull-Out Pantry
Compared to traditional drawer and cabinet storage, pull-out pantries make it far easier to find what you are looking. If your pantry is wider than 16 inches, consider roll-out shelves as an alternative because the weight of the pantry may not be manageable.
6. Avoid Buyers’ Remorse
Space permitting, opt to install recycling and trash bins in a cabinet or drawer as opposed to leaving the them on floor of your new kitchen. This will contributes to a cleaner, more clutter-free and enjoyable space.

Brass and gold are extremely popular, but in a new way. No longer is brass or gold limited to a bright yellow. Instead, manufacturers are offering softer and warmer tones of both brass and gold. We often recommend pairing these finishes with white and dark wood cabinets and surfaces. There is a blank palate that you can work with when you gravitate to brass and gold finished hardware. Selecting a gold finish enables you to make a unique design statement. Another reason why gold is so popular at the moment is that it enables our clients to elevate a design scheme with color.

We find that more and more of our clients want to remain in their homes for longer periods of time. They are looking to upgrade and improve their homes to be able to age in pace or accommodate the needs of other family members living with them. Beautiful cabinet and door hardware that is easy to grasp, pull, open and close serve both a functional and aesthetic need, especially for our clients who have limited mobility or are living with aging parents. The good news is that there are numerous options available that enable our clients to make distinctive design statements while simultaneously enjoying their home for many years to come.
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Modern design has become increasingly popular trend. According to a study by Houzz.com, contemporary design was the second most popular design motif behind transitional. Contemporary hardware is characterized by clean lines and minimal adornment. Many contemporary pulls and knobs are finished in stainless steel.

Two toned finishes are also increasingly popular with our clients. Clients who mix and match finishes are best served if they select finishes with similar color temperatures. An example would be to pair an oil-rubbed bronze with a brushed gold.

Black is back in a new way. When clients select black, white or grey cabinet finishes, black hardware complements and contrasts those colors beautifully. Matte black finishes pair remarkably well in contemporary settings.

The industrial look is another hot trend in kitchen and bath design characterized by exposed brick, wooden beams and concrete floors and countertops.
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If you are interested in replacing existing hardware in your home to improve the look and functionality  give us a call at (800) 693-4545 or visit our showroom at 2537 Papermill Road, Winchester, VA to begin planning the space of your dreams.

​Let us know what you like and would like to change about your existing space. It may be too small for your needs. If so, we can look to open up the kitchen to create more space and to make it appear more spacious. Adding windows or doors that allow natural light can change the look and feel of a room. Experienced designers know how to work with client preferences, keeping the functionality and look that you enjoy while developing solutions to eliminate your dislikes.

Don’t be afraid to have a budget in mind. We know that most clients are reticent to talk about budgets up front. Sometimes budgets are realistic and other times they are not. What you see on home improvement shows on television rarely compare to the real world because on TV they don’t account for labor and labor is typically 50 percent of the cost of a new kitchen or bath. Sharing your budget with our designers helps to set the tone, will save time and avoid having to change course midstream if the unexpected occurs.

Also consider how involved you want to be in your project. Do you want to be part involved in every detail or would you prefer to rely on your designer to develop solutions for your review and approval? Either option is fine, but to help your designer save you time and energy communicate this information up front.

If you need additional advice on how to prepare for your new kitchen or bath renovation, please give us a call at (800) 693-4545 or visit us at 2537 Papermill Road, Winchester, VA 22601.

​1. Know the dimensions of your clothes. This is a big one, whether you’re planning to store clothes via hanging racks or shelves. You and your designer want to make sure you’re getting the best possible storage solution for your clothing.

One thing to be aware of is the width of your clothes. The depth of your closet cabinets and panels will range from 14 inches to 24 inches. Most clothing items, including shirts, blouses, jackets and coats, will fit inside a 24-inch-deep area. Anything with less depth won’t always fit your clothing, which means your shirts and blouses will protrude. Plan accordingly, especially if you have an island.

You and your designer will base your new closet around the types of clothing you have. Here are a few clothing dimensions you should know:

• Folded sweaters and shirts require 9 to 15 inches of linear space each.
• Coats can require up to 68 inches of vertical space.
• Pants and jeans require up to 50 inches of vertical space (about half of that when folded).
• Skirts require up to 45 inches of vertical space.​2

​2. Include the right amount of double- and single-hang sections. Evaluate your wardrobe and take inventory of what you own. Do you have more blouses than dresses? Do you own any large winter coats and jackets? Whether to include more double hangs or single hangs will hinge on your clothing collection. Shirts, blouses and slacks belong on double hangs, while dresses and long coats and jackets normally need single hangs. 

If you have a lot of dresses and evening gowns, tally them up so you know how much single-hang space you need. If you don’t have many (or any at all), use only double-hang sections. This will help you maximize your storage space.

Men’s closet spaces normally don’t require many, if any, single-hang sections (exceptions are for hunting gear or long coats). Adding more double-hang sections will better accommodate a wardrobe composed of mostly dress shirts and slacks.

​5. Make the shoes fit. If you’re including a shoe rack, saving space is just one part of the challenge. The other? Making sure your shelves and cubbies are big enough to comfortably store your shoe collection. 

A pair of women’s shoes generally measures anywhere from 5½ to 10 inches wide, while a men’s pair is 6½ to 10½ inches wide. There should be enough linear space to house the pairs you own (or at least the pairs you wear often). The best rule of thumb is to allow 7 to 12 inches of space per pair.

If you own boots, ensure that some of your shelves and cubbies are high enough to fit them. Ankle-high boots normally start at 3 inches high, while midcalf and knee-high boots can range from 9 to 17 inches high.

6. Find room for a bench. If you have the luxury of a space like this, a place to sit provides a nice spot to put on your shoes, button up your shirts and so forth. 

The easiest and perhaps most affordable option is a free-standing bench. You can place it next to your island or along an unused wall in your closet.

Built-in benches are a natural fit below windows, especially higher windows. Include a drawer to add a little extra storage space.