woodstock-kitchen-and-bath

Preparing for your Kitchen Remodel

Thu, 27 Jan 2022 18:00:46 GMT

Preparing for Your Kitchen Remodel

The kitchen is the epicenter and most used room in the home for almost everyone who lives in the Chittenden County, Vermont area. Some homeowners in Chittenden County come to our showroom armed with months of research, having scoured design magazines, home improvement television shows, the Internet and friends and family who have recently renovated. They finally make the decision to move forward. It’s both an exciting time, but also a bit overwhelming. Remodeling your kitchen is not always easy, but it is definitely worth it. After homeowners in Chittenden County, Vermont make the decision to remodel, there are certain steps we advise that they take to make the renovation process less stressful, costly and time consuming.

Creating an inspired kitchen provides an excellent opportunity to organize what currently exists in your kitchen and that process will then help define storage needs for the future. The number one regret among homeowners after they have renovated their kitchen is not investing enough in storage and organization. We recommend sorting your kitchen gear into three categories:

Items you will need to store.
Items you will need to use during the renovation.
Items you want to recycle/donate/dispose of.

The recycle/donate/dispose of option is often most important. If you no longer use and item that you once enjoyed, consider blessing someone else with it and passing it to the next person. Homeowners should determine how many sets of dishes they actually need or want. Do you really want to keep dinnerware and serving dishes that are faded, cracked or chipped? How often do you use a saucer with your coffee cup? If never is the answer, do you really need to keep saucers? If you have serving pieces or fine china, real silver and large pots and pans that are used occasionally – think turkey roasting pans – then determine if you can store those items in other rooms in the house to make more room in your kitchen for the items that you use daily.

Mugs and food storage containers are additional items that most homeowners have in abundance. Many mugs have sentimental value if they were acquired from trips, art shows, etc. Determine if they are needed or wanted in your new kitchen. Also determine how many storage containers you actually use and the right sizes.

Small appliances and cooking utensils are additional categories ripe for organization when conceiving your new kitchen. We encourage homeowners to give away the small appliances and gadgets that they don’t use or whose functionality is covered by other appliances. Again, can you bless someone else with it?

Looking toward the future and what your lifestyle is likely to be in the next three to five years and beyond can aid in the organization process. What items will you need? What items do you love and can’t part ways with and what new items will make your life that much easier and enjoyable?

After you have organized, the next step is to create a temporary kitchen in your garage, basement, utility room or other location to simplify cooking, eating and cleaning up at home during the renovation. You will minimize the expense of dining out and ordering takeout by creating a place to cook and store groceries. You may use a combination of the following to create a temporary kitchen:

Grill
Microwave
Hot plate
Camping stove
Refrigerator (If you are replacing your existing refrigerator, the renovation provides a perfect opportunity to move the fridge to the basement, garage or other location that provides additional refrigeration space).
Toaster oven
Sandwich press
Stick blender
Pressure cooker and/or slow cooker

Depending on the scope, a kitchen renovation can take several weeks to several months. Simply replacing what currently exists in the same footprint can take less time than expanding or reconfiguring space, ventilation, plumbing, electrical and structural components and systems.

Other items that can help you plan for life without your normal kitchen include things like:

Coffee maker
Electric skillet
Folding or portable tables and chairs
Temporary trash and recycling bins

Your grill, toaster oven, microwave or camping stove offer functionality comparable to an oven. A pressure cooker or slow cooker enables you to make one pot meals that can satisfy even the most finicky of palates.

While remodeling is not convenient, it is worth it for so many reasons! Go into your remodel maintaining a positive attitude and a good sense of humor. Find ways to enjoy this part of life’s journey. Many people never get to do a big remodel in their lifetime, so you are participating in an exciting experience! Remember that the inconveniences you experience during the renovation process are temporary and the reward of having a brand-new kitchen that serves as the epicenter of your home is long lasting and priceless.

If you would like guidance for designing, organizing and choosing effective storage solutions in your new inspired kitchen, this is our specialty - we would love to meet with you! We ask that you schedule an appointment to visit our showroom ( located at: 27 Park Street Essex Jct., VT 05452 ) by calling 802-878-5333 or emailing info@woodstockkitchens.com . Wishing you well!

Preparing for a Showroom Visit

Mon, 16 Apr 2018 12:17:33 GMT

Preparing for a Showroom Visit

Most of our clients spend six months or longer conducting independent research before making an appointment to come to the showroom to discuss creating the kitchen of their dreams. We value our clients’ time. That’s why we offer the following advice to prepare for a showroom visit to not only save time, but also to ensure that our clients’ wants, needs and dreams are realized.

We know that the kitchen is the epicenter of the home, but the way that the kitchen is used varies greatly from one home to the next. Before you visit the showroom, consider who will use the space and how — will you use the space to prepare meals, entertain friends and family, etc.? Listing all of the uses and users enables your designer to not only determine how to meet your functionality requirements, but also why you are making the investment to renovate your home. The list of uses also enables us to determine the types and amount of lighting that you will need for reading, TV watching, baking, cooking, entertaining or just hanging out.

The size of the space is another critical factor. It’s best if you measure the length and width and bring those figures with you to the showroom. It will enable us to determine if an island is possible (one of the most requested features in a kitchen). If space is at a premium, a peninsula might be a fall back. Another important consideration is traffic flow. Your new kitchen should make it easier to prepare meals, eat, clean up and navigate through your kitchen without bumping into things or others. If you currently bump into other family members while in the kitchen, let us know, because that will help us develop the best solution for your project.

Make another list to identify all of the things that you want to store in your kitchen and their sizes. A well-designed kitchen is an organized kitchen. Most of our clients appreciate clean, clutter-free countertops. When we know the utensils, cutlery, plates, pots, pans, books, computers, appliances, etc. that you want at your fingertips, we can recommend the right storage solutions for your project.

Think about how you want the new space to feel every time you walk into your new kitchen and use it. What are your favorite colors and styles. Do you prefer to make big bold statements or rather lean towards serene environments? We encourage our clients to create boards on Pinterest and comment on the different pictures and photographs in them. Include information and pictures of appliances, faucets, sinks, lighting fixtures, cabinets, door hardware, tile, granite, stone or other materials you would like to use in your new kitchen. Once we know your preferences, we can develop the solutions that meet your needs and budgets.

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 802.878.5333 or visit us at 27 Park Street, Essex Junction, Vermont.

A Basic Primer to Help Select Kitchen Cabinets

Thu, 01 Mar 2018 13:25:53 GMT

A Basic Primer to Help Select Kitchen Cabinets

Selecting kitchen cabinets is one of the most important decisions to make when planning a kitchen renovation. We find that there are four factors that homeowners and builders need to consider when selecting kitchen cabinets:

Budget
Quality
Functionality
Form (look)

Budget

Cabinets are the largest expense in a kitchen renovation, representing approximately 50% of the cost of a kitchen remodeling, according to industry surveys. Cabinet budgets are affectedby a number of factor. The type of drawers, finishes and options selected will affect costs. We work with every client to help assure that the budget is sufficient to minimize surprises and to help achieve their goals.

Factors Affecting Cabinet Quality

There are three types of cabinets offered from a kitchen and bath showroom:

Stock (good)
Semi-Custom (better)
Custom (best)

Stock cabinets are pre-manufactured in set sizes, usually in 3-inch increments. Stock cabinets do not have many custom features or options and come in a limited range of styles.

Semi-custom cabinets also are pre-manufactured but generally offer more sizes and options than stock counterparts.

Custom cabinets are built to order without restriction on size, features, finishes or materials.

Another factor influencing quality and price are the materials used to manufacturer kitchen cabinets. These include furniture board, medium density fiberboard (MDF), plywood, solid wood and laminate/melamine which is laid over a substrate.

Additionally, quality is influenced by the type of construction techniques used to manufacture the cabinet and the durability of the finish which we explain the differences during the selection process.

Functionality

A well-designed kitchen is an organized kitchen. A great first step to create an organized kitchen is to write down everything you like and don’t like about your existing kitchen. Most semi-custom and all custom lines provide an array of storage and organizational options for most commonly used kitchen items from food stuffs to cutlery.

Form

There are two types of cabinets: framed and frameless. Framed cabinets have a wood frame that outlines the front of the cabinet box.

Frameless cabinets don’t have a frame. Hinges and door runners attach to the inside walls of the cabinet box. There are benefits to both cabinet types. Frameless cabinets provide more storage area and generally are associated with modern design motifs. Framed cabinets are typically associated with more traditional or transitional designs.

If you would like additional guidance on the factors that influence a kitchen cabinet’s style, cost, durability and functionality, please give us a call at 802-878-5333 or visit our showroom at 27 Park Street, Essex Junction, Vermont.

Unveiled – New Showroom Kitchen

Thu, 05 Oct 2017 12:50:33 GMT

Unveiled – New Showroom Kitchen

Welcome to our new showroom kitchen packed with style and functionality! The display features frameless cabinetry made in the USA, shaker doors and drawers, lifetime-warranty soft-close hinges and glides, white marbled quartz countertops, waterfall island, AGA 48″ Mercury designer range , commercial-grade seating, champaign bronze accents, and lots of drawer organizers for dishes, tupperware, and beyond.

View all the photos

Visit the showroom to discuss creating a kitchen you love.

Countertop Color Guide

Thu, 05 Oct 2017 12:30:31 GMT

Countertop Color Guide

Caesarstone’s “Perfect Pairings Guide” helps you with your designs and color strategy to pull together your personal style. Each month they feature one of their hottest surface colors and demonstrate how it pairs with trending colors. This month they are featuring one of their new colors with delicate charcoal veining inspired by nature’s beauty – Georgian Bluffs!

Check it out at – http://www.caesarstoneus.com/newsroom/perfect-pairings-guide/#page/1

Kitchen Remodel – Essex Junction

Tue, 22 Aug 2017 12:37:55 GMT

Kitchen Remodel – Essex Junction

This 1930’s era home has a modernized kitchen true to its heritage and classic charm !

Opening up the space was on the wishlist for this couple and in taking down awkward passage ways and diving walls, the kitchen and surrounding area now has great flow. We were able to take it a step further by repurposing a former back porch into a little breakfast room that is now open to the kitchen. The doorway into the dining room was opened up and left space for an heirloom hutch.

To streamline the layout and maximize visual impact when you enter the room from the dining area, the refrigerator and stove were both relocated. This family loves to cook and counter space was important. With the heavier appliances tucked away, there is now plentiful counter space and the room feels airy and open. The soapstone provides a beautiful contrast with the versatile performance the stone provides.

A small bank of windows maintains privacy in this cozy neighborhood, while letting the sunlight pour in (on a sunny day that is!). The efficient-size island has excellent storage for mixing bowls, pots and pans, tupperware, and most importantly, the dog’s bed! The honed marble top has beautiful veining; its light tones maintain the openness of the room and match the style and period of the home. The egg pendant light with chicken wire were an exciting find!

The kitchen also includes subtle details like finished end-panels, horizontal light switches to match the subway tile, farm sink and decorative plumbing, crown molding, window casings, and tastefully-done lighting inside the glass cabinets. All these touches perfect the look. The corbels on the range hood were done to match knee-braces on the exterior. The bun feet on set of drawers next to range and sink base define these areas as furniture and pick up the little built-in details of the era.

This project was so much fun! Attention to detail on the part of the homeowner was exceptional. While staying true to it’s era, this home now has gorgeous space that is livable and functional. The pup was happy too.

View the photos

Kitchen Remodel – Underhill

Wed, 28 Jun 2017 12:44:41 GMT

Kitchen Remodel – Underhill

Home to an avid French cook and busy family, we helped maximize the use of the space, while keeping the workflow clean for entertaining. White shaker doors, frameless construction, leathered countertop finish, custom island, under-cabinet lighting, and other creative touches give this kitchen an elegant look and feel.

Bath Towel Warmers

Wed, 17 May 2017 12:56:52 GMT

Bath Towel Warmers

You know that lovely feeling of fresh, warm towels as they come out of the dryer? Wouldn’t it be nice to wrap a warm towel around yourself after a hot shower or bath?

A bath towel warmer is a simple and affordable way to upgrade your bathroom(s). Simply press a button as you step into the shower and a cozy towel will be ready whenever you decide to hop out… ahhhhh…

Requiring just 35″ x 34″ in wall space or less and drawing very little energy, you may want to take a look in your master and guest bathrooms to see if you can bring this toasty warm experience to your family and any lucky guests who pay you a visit.

Once you’ve taken your measurements, contact us if you would like to learn how to add a warm finish to your shower experience.

GEOLUXE – Pyrolythic Stone Countertops

Tue, 16 May 2017 08:17:04 GMT

GEOLUXE – Pyrolythic Stone Countertops

What if your countertop were poured just like brownie batter? With GEOLUXE Pyrolythic Stone, that’s exactly what’s happening, only it is a little warmer than what usually comes out of your oven at home.

GEOLUXE is a truly innovative countertop material with high style and performance. Any shortcomings to natural marble and quartz have been skirted by GEOLUXE, which has a natural and modern look. This recipe of 100% mineral-based materials is heated up to over 2,000 °F until it becomes, essentially, lava. It is then elegantly poured into a very nice brownie pan leaving to create one of their seven sexy patterns.

If the colors aren’t enough ( view their online gallery ), performance is where GEOLUXE begins to separate from the pack. Unlike materials that have been formed through heat and pressure, there is no buildup of energy in this material, meaning it is very strong. Here are a few highlights:

Nonporous – Resistant to stains, easy to clean and exceedingly hygienic for food prep.
Etch Resistant – Unaffected by everyday household chemicals (not the case for your sealed marble or even some quartz’s)
High Strength – Unrivaled scratch, chip and crack resistance, perfect for heavy-duty kitchen countertop use (you can cut up brownies right on the surface and it will only dull your knife blade)
Heat Resistant – The heat resistance is over 2,000 °F – also perfect for fireplace surrounds. (Pull those brownies out of the oven and set them right on it… same goes for your Le Cruset dutch oven or anything else)
UV Resistant – Save to use out doors or near windows receiving abundant natural light – wont fade over time like quartz products

And the list goes on…

There are few materials built for your home with the credentials of GEOLUXE and they will stand behind it with a 15-year warranty.

Have questions about this product or something similar? We are here to help !

Aurea Stone – Quartz Countertops

Tue, 16 May 2017 08:06:39 GMT

Aurea Stone – Quartz Countertops

We are excited to announce a partnership with Aurea Stone this week! Aurea Stone calls itself “the most realistic Match to Natural Marble” thanks to innovative manufacturing techniques.

One thing that is obvious about Aurea Stone is how bright it is. The surface doesn’t have the pixelation you see in some quartz products and as a result, the flow and elegance of its patterns is gorgeous. It has sharp, clean lines and minimal blurriness.

Aurea Stone is best known for their light colors ( view their gallery ). Another stunning feature of Aurea Stone is its translucency. The soft and subtle undertones have immense depth and color beneath the surface. While some quartz materials have a 2-dimensional appearance, Aurea Stone will actually take in light from the room and radiate. In fact, you can actually back-light this quartz (come in and shine your smartphone flashlight behind it and see for yourself).

If you are considering quartz options for you kitchen or bathroom, Aurea Stone is worth a look.

Have questions about this product or something similar? Let us know !

Find Your Perfect Colors

Wed, 03 May 2017 22:00:00 GMT

Find Your Perfect Colors

We all have colors that we gravitate toward but pulling together the colors we like in a way that flows is no easy task. The color of our surroundings have a major impact on us (…as does sunlight. Please come out Mr. Sun, Vermont needs you!).

If you haven’t tried The Color Game and want to reduce the feeling of anxiety brought on when you stand in front of a wall of color swatches at your local paint store, take a few minutes to click through the options presented to you and nail your perfect colors for walls, trim, accent areas, and home décor (furniture, pillows, window treatments, flooring). After finishing the game, you’ll have a starting point for designing your entire space around your personality, your style, and your own five senses.

The Color Game by Pittsburgh Paint

Functionality In Your Kitchen

Sun, 01 Feb 2015 23:00:00 GMT

Functionality In Your Kitchen

A crucial thing to keep in mind during the planning stages of your kitchen remodel or new construction is functionality. This is something we focus on heavily when getting to know a new client and how they use their space. You want something alluring and functional. By spending some time now to thinking through how you will interact and use your new space, you will love the end-result much more and create more value in the process.

Want to have some open wall space, perhaps with some exposed shelving? Designing in a food pantry or pull-out pantry is a great idea and will add function to the design. In the process, be sure to think about what will be stored in that pantry and factor in the proximity of the pantry to your work triangle. If you need that extra box of pasta, brown sugar, or breadcrumbs, you don’t want to take ten steps each way to retrieve it.