I proceeded to write paragraphs (and paragraphs) on elements that I observed that one could replicate fairly easily. I'm thrilled to have been quoted in AOL for this feature, but, unfortunately, many of my paragraphs did not make the cut. There were some good points!

BUILT IN BANQUETTE

One could buy short stock refrigerator cabinets that are 24" in depth, mount the pieces on a platform of studs, put a sturdy top on top of them, and wa-laa you have storage and seating.  Those cabinets should be somewhere between 12-15" tall depending on the structure below and above the cabinets and the height desired for the bench. Take a look at this earlier post I did on banquette seating.

COUNTERTOPS

There are GORGEOUS laminate countertops now that truly look identical to granite or other stone except for the touch. They are worth a serious look. Alternatively, in one of my own kitchens, years ago, I used granite tile and wood trim which is an excellent second choice. I loved it. 

COLOR "BLOCKS"

As we see in the image, one of the elements that makes the most impact are the sophisticated colors and shades in Lance's kitchen. Paint your cabinets an elegant, smoky color such as the green in Lance's kitchen. 

Note how the window trim, the island, the cabinetry under the curved window and the bench are dark, muted colors. Rather than feeling cluttered, it flows - this is the essence of this look. It is a close relationship of color from one material/surface to another. I would not advise matching these colors one to another...subtle differences only add interest and sophistication. Be aware of undertones in the color and assemble the colors together so you can see the nuances of one to another, but do not worry about matching. 

There are 3 color stories in this kitchen..keeping it simple. We see the browns, the green, and the yellow/gold. The yellow-gold is seen in the chairs, countertop, tile and wall color. It adds a brightness, a "life" to the space as well as a unifying warmth.

To add to the feeling of "flow" the ceiling color continues from the wall color. 

BACKSPLASH

Observing even more continuity, note the simple backsplash which coordinates with the granite. One or two shades deeper and softer than the granite, it allows the granite countertops to take center stage without competing with it. Less IS more, especially in a large kitchen. Think of this kitchen as "layers" or blocks of color, proportion, contrast and texture to understand how these pieces fit together.

First, you'll see a new look for this blog. It's actually an update that I did myself. I may continue tweaking a bit here and there, but I needed a change, and to do a big change requires time that I just do not have right now to work with a professional graphic designer. So, much like organizing the kitchen, my new post on the really great blog, Hatch, here's a small update. I'm open to constructive suggestions too!

NOTE: There is a new share button at the end of every post. Please share! :) I'd love for you to share my posts wherever and with whomever you feel it is relevant for. Sharing is a good thing.

INTERIOR DESIGN CHAT - LIVE ON TWITTER - THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 8-9pm

My great new interior designer friend, Wanda S. Horton, from North Carolina, came up with this very cool and fun idea to have a live chat, open to any questions at all on interior design (including kitchens) on Twitter. All you have to do is go here: #IDzinechat and you will see activity both from those who are asking questions and those who are answering. It's a good reason to start your own Twitter account, if you do not already have one. @tkpleslie (Leslie Carothers) on Twitter also lent her social media expertise to encourage this event to happen.

I'll be participating, so ask your kitchen questions, in 140 characters (I almost said calories-you know what's on my mind!) and I'll be on the lookout for them, and follow me on Twitter too: @susanserrackd

See you there!

A DREAM KITCHEN IN A VENTI CUP!

One day, in the middle of a million things, I suddenly had an urge to ask my Twitter friend, Franki Durbin, whose blog I've read and admired for a long time, to tell me about her dream kitchen. Franki has such a gift for spotting authentic style, so I knew she'd come up with some interesting kitchen dreams!

I love how granite countertops are in her kitchen dreams. You know, I've seen granite in kitchens for, well, 20+ years and yes, there is always the danger that a designer can tire of seeing the same fabulous design element over time. I challenge myself constantly NOT to fall into that trap, and I'm pleased that Franki is of the same mindset...smart gal!

I'd like you to go to Franki's post about her dream kitchen, because there are a number of other GREAT points and design ideas that she talks about, and I don't want to give them away here! Franki has a wonderful way with words...you'll be transported on a path of words right into the heart of that dream kitchen. Thank you for your post, Franki, and for your kind words. Your vision is truly inspirational!

I had the opportunity to learn about and examine Brizo's existing line of products a few days ago. Brizo invited a small group of us kitchen/bath bloggers (listed on my colleague Ann Porter's blog) to New York City to see their collection of existing products and to take a sneak peek at new products to be introduced this year. Part of this two day event included attendance at Jason Wu's Fall 2010 collection, part of New York Fashion Week (insert 90 exclamation points here!)

I'll just say this before I get back to the subject at hand. To attend this Jason Wu show was an incredible privilege. It is an experience, simply, like no other I have had, and living near the city, I've attended my share of events in many fabulous venues, sometimes with celebrities in attendance. But, truth be told, I felt downright patriotic (which completely surprised me) as I think back. I feel I was witness to the best in American design and the best in creative production techniques (quite frankly) which, working together (pink carpeting, pink lighting, black flowing curtains, fragrance in the air, amazing music, incredible clothing and let's not forget those super models with 7" heels) produced an atmosphere of awesome creativity as it showcased Jason Wu's very personal design expression. The show manipulated nearly every sense to the max. The creativity, the risks taken, the personal expression, are all qualities that make this country great...I felt a symbiotic convergence of these odd bedfellows (fashion and patriotism) and, thus, felt privileged to be in attendance. 

Back to reality...During these 2 days, I had a sneak peek at new products to be introduced by Brizo this year. My lips are sealed, but, some of those pieces I saw were absolutely stunning! Did I like all of Jason Wu's pieces? No. Likewise, not everything in Brizo's fashion forward collection is for me. That said, I WAS grateful to find myself in another privileged position to be encouraged to offer my comments on their products, which the creative team from Brizo, welcomed.

Jason Wu, for some strange reason, did not ask me what I thought of his collection, although I did ask him a question later in the day when he caught up with us design bloggers at the Brizo cocktail reception. I asked him about his specific vision when he designs a garment and how/if it evolves from that original vision. Answer: The garments are fit precisely to each model within the course of a few hours, so the vision is in "collaboration" with the model's body...much like Brizo's designers need to answer to the faucet engineers and my kitchen designs need to relate to the architecture of the home. Interesting how the creative process connects these disparate design disciplines.

The thread that links fashion, faucet, and kitchen design, begins with creative expression. Creative expression is often influenced by others (in this case, Wu was influenced by Irving Penn). Brizo's designers are inspired by architectural elements, nature, fashion. They wait for a design element to speak to them and the creative process begins. They are open to inspiration. I understand that philosophy; I adhere to it as well in my own work, and I'm thrilled that designers working for a major, mainstream, American corporation are given that freedom of expression, much like the way Wu finds his creative spark. That was enlightening and probably the single most important piece of information that I am coming away with, a sort of satisfaction that ideas are the thing for Brizo. I know that is so because I met and talked to the designers.

Like in kitchen, faucet, and clothing design, function and design blend, collide, and play, ultimately forming the perfect union for that piece of couture, faucet, and for the kitchen of one's dreams. I've been inspired. I'm impressed that Brizo has aligned itself with a fashion designer. THAT is inspiring. In comparison, here was a quick synopsis of a post I did on Fashion Week one year ago, a description of the feeling at that time. We're clearly moving forward. Thank you Brizo for brilliantly linking together American fashion...and fashion forward faucets and fittings. It was an eye opener and a meaningful experience.

NOTE: SHORTLY, I WILL UPLOAD IMAGES OF THE JASON WU FASHION SHOW TO MY FACEBOOK PAGE EXCLUSIVELY. ARE YOU A FAN?? LOOK FOR THE POST WITH THE DATE OF FEBRUARY 14, 2010.

Thom Filicia & Me

First, my interview for Amana with Thom Filicia on kitchen trends. An interviewer asked questions of Thom and me on a variety of topics. I don't think there is anything that I disagreed with in Thom's answers. He is quite passionate about the importance of the kitchen in today's homes. See 2010 Trends

Here are some recent ideabooks I put together and share some tips, on Houzz: 

Holding a favorite Scandinavian plate in my kitchen from the island of BornholmMy initial thinking was that I finally had an outlet to talk about, really, to share, my 20+ years of experience as a business owner and Certified Kitchen Designer in nearly ALL types of kitchen design...super luxe high end to builders' condos, all different styles and themes, and kitchens in shades of (environmentally) green. I have lots of experience to draw from, knowledge gained from many sources, hopefully presented with a helpful perspective.

KITCHEN THERAPY VIA BLOGGING

Always an intense student of human behavior (including my own ongoing navel-gazing) as well as being fascinated by the WHYS behind my clients' design decisions, in part, to make sure their decisions are authentic/organic to their needs and/or desires, much of this blog has been dedicated to highlighting potential pitfalls in the decision making process of designing one's kitchen.

Many people do a kitchen once in their lives. If not once, then at most, only a few times more. The decisions made NEED to be as right as they can be at those moments in the design process. It's a time to look in the present, as well as forward, and back, especially, as I help my clients and readers unravel habit vs. desire, as one example. This is a part I love about writing this blog and working with clients whether for a one hour session or for a year and a half project. It's easy and natural for me to "nudge", probing for answers, hopefully in positive ways. I simply love the process, and I'm good at it. I define the "still waters run deep" personality for better or worse...my kids will gladly tell you the "worse" part of my being a deep thinker. Hmm, my husband may too, for that matter.

A REAL PASSION OF MINE

At the time I started this blog, I also immediately thought, "Yes, now I can also share another passion of mine, one that is little known and rarely followed here in the US - Scandinavian kitchens! Yes, I'm completely biased, having a 100% Danish heritage as a first generation Danish-American, having visited my family in and around Copenhagen my whole life.

That said, there IS a quality to many Scandinavian kitchens that is unique, intelligent (not as much "stuff"), and just downright visually interesting - if not always beautiful in a conventional way. I've been lax and am gearing up to show you more of these great kitchens soon. I strongly believe the Scandinavian kitchen is at once classic and always fresh. 

At last count, I have close to 160 magazines from Denmark, Norway, and Sweden in my Scandinavian magazine "library" with a subscription of about 5 right now. They are all in my office, categorized by name and date. Did I tell you I'm just a bit obsessive? Let me tell you about my 200 roses from my previous garden, which we just left a year ago, not to mention the tens of thousands of rose, perennial and garden images in my hard drive. But, I digress. It's a blessing and a curse...but it is a life lived with passion, I'll tell you that! It may be why most of my posts are longer than shorter. 

WHAT'S NEXT?

Hmmm...good question! What would YOU like to learn more about from me? Please share that with me in the comments.

You can absolutely count on my continuing, and intense, observation of lifestyle trends in the home, talking about how new products make our lives delightful, all the large and small things we need to remember as we design our kitchens, and always...the meaning of life in the kitchen!

 I'll continue to (happily-cool food and people) trudge through 20+ kitchen/design events/seminars in New York City in one year, attend several design related conventions in and out of New York, scour the blogs and magazines for new insight, hang with my tweeps on Twitter and chat with fb fans (be a fan!) fly here and there for product training, and read every single press release. How lucky am I? This industry is the BEST.

And my readers? You're REALLY the best, and you feed my soul when you comment. Now, speaking of commenting, I do need to be better at responding to comments, and I will try. I read every one. I have my hand in so many things (big news on a few fronts to come) that there is always something that has to "give" somewhere. But I'll tell you this: the second I get a comment, I stop what I'm doing to read it however long or short it is. They just give me such joy during my day. I pledge to engage more with you, to reciprocate for the joy you give me.

Thank you!

Review aside, do you know what the chances are to get your college kid to return an email, let alone write about a piece of his life on his mom's blog? Reading his review (it was sent to me at 3 am-no surprise there) gave me much insight into features, benefits, and new, learned, behaviors surrounding this faucet technology. Without further ado, here is my son's manifesto comprehensive review (as well as evidence of where my college dollars have gone these past nearly four years-graduation in May 2010!) I think you will enjoy reading this as much as I did. I asked for a paragraph or two, but I couldn't edit it, it's too good!

We are a pair living in New York City, and we love to cook, which is a byproduct of our statuses as near-starving college students.  Therefore, the kitchen is a very important place to us. It's a small space, typical of kitchens found in New York's cramped urban dwellings.  We were thrilled at the opportunity to test the Delta faucet because, not only do we appreciate functional kitchen appliances, but we have a constant bone to pick with germs as well.

Our menus consist of a lot of meat, poultry, and fish, and before I met my girlfriend, cross contamination rarely, if ever, crossed my mind.  Since this realm of enlightenment, for better or for worse, every time I touch meat or fish I wash my hands immediately after.  Washing your meaty hands with a typical faucet is trickier than it sounds if you don’t want to spread any germs, as it usually involves a lot of elbows, wrists, forearms, sometimes even a foot, or a chin, in the attempt to maneuver the faucet lever higher or lower.  As you can see, this was becoming an issue.

Enter shiny new Delta faucet with removable head. The faucet head can be toggled between two different water flows; spray and regular stream, and it is nice to have both options.  There is a magnetic ring that holds the spout in place for easy removal and reattachment, although the head needs to be faced forward for it to take hold. In addition, the water pressure can go quite high which can be useful, and the temperature changes quickly between hot and cold, which means that unintentional scalding happens a lot less.

When we first started playing around with the touch feature of the faucet, we were like cave people at the dawn of time, touching and poking the object and measuring its responses.  In our studies, we found that it could be slightly temperamental, mostly when the area of the faucet being touched is wet.  This isn’t much of an issue since there is a whole lot of other area on the faucet from which the water flow can be activated and deactivated. 

Since we are dish-glove wearers when doing the dishes, it was of utmost importance that we didn’t have to de-glove to turn on and off the faucet, and thankfully we were not disappointed.  And you may ask “how do you move the faucet around then without activating it?”  It is a logical question, but the engineers at Delta have accounted for that, and designed it such that if you touch or grasp the neck and maintain the touch for a few seconds, it will not turn on or off but stay in the same mode.  This is subject to a certain amount of trial and error, however, and will most likely improve as the technology improves.

The old fashioned on and off handle is also “touchified,” which is confusing at times because you can turn the water on by touching and lifting it, although it must be in the lifted position for water to flow.  This reality takes a bit to wrap one's head around, but in the end we think it’s best to leave it lifted all the time, since it won’t turn on otherwise and it would ultimately defeat the purpose of the “touch and go” aspect of the faucet.  

An understandable concern with this, especially for city dwellers is "what happens when a cockroach (they have P.O. boxes in New York City) or rodent, or perhaps a pet, activates the faucet by accident?"  This is entirely possible since it can be sensitive to a small touch, but there is nothing to fret about because it will automatically turn itself off after four minutes (should be half that). Editor's (mom's) note: We do not have said cockroach or rodent issue-if we did, someone's head would be on a platter!

M&M Cooking TogetherSince Manhattan apartments are especially small, we are constantly in or moving around the kitchen area, so we had a lot of contact with the Delta faucet.  Besides the whole germ thing, the touch feature was very convenient just for the fact that you don’t have to reach those extra few inches and lift up the on/off handle; a quick flail of the finger or forearm is all it takes to turn the water on and let us complete our objective. 

The aesthetics of the brushed metal swan neck faucet are elegant, though I would like to see the touch on/off functionality migrate to different designs to suit a broader range of kitchen and bathroom décor.   The soap dispenser is however surprisingly boring, and it would have been nice if Delta could have taken their mission of decreasing cross contamination a step further by implementing an easy touch soap dispensing system.  Nevertheless, the faucet is the focal point of this unit, and deservedly so.  Since our use began, we have denied millions, if not billions, of pesky germs and other toxic bio hazards from inhabiting the surface of our faucet, making it one less pit-stop the little buggers can hitch a ride from.

As the designated but proud germaphobes of the family, we are happy to have this newly found sense of cleanliness and convenience in our lives.  It is a great start to something that I think will catch on for many. I now have the urge to tap every faucet I see to turn it on, which is either just muscle memory or the mark of a good product.  I think it is the latter.

Editor/mom/Susan: Thanks for the review! My personal observations, after light use over a four day period, are also positive. It was a bit confusing at the start as to what position to leave the main lever in, but it's not rocket science. You figure it out. I felt the faucet spout was too long, falling toward the front of our normal sized sink, which means it should be mounted as far back as possible. As far as the concept behind the technology, although I'm a believer (unlike my son) that exposure to germs makes for a healthy immune system (to a point, trust me) I cannot deny the benefits of its time saving (I'm very impatient) attributes. I like efficiency! 

I'm excited to debut and share information on my new kitchen software with you. It's called AutoKitchen and it's truly state of the art! The AutoKitchen representative, knowing that I am a working designer, offered to provide me with a copy of AutoKitchen software to review and to use in my practice, gratis. I already was using design software, but having recently upgraded my software and being disappointed in the quality of the renderings at the highest level of detail, I thought it a good time to take a look at all the competitors in this narrow field of kitchen design software for professional designers.

As with any product I review (in 3 years, this is my 3rd review) and as is a typical policy for many bloggers, it has to meet my own personal standards as a useful product with qualities that I feel have merit. Otherwise, I decline to review the product, which I have done once after using a particular product and twice in the case of books.

In this case, the graphics (crazy photo realism) were noticeably better than my existing program. I didn't "need" a new program. I was not looking for another program. In fact, I had just recently upgraded my existing program for a nice sum of $$. But, when I looked at this program in more detail, first, in comparison to what I was using, another very reputable program designed for the kitchen/bath industry, there is no question that I was immediately "wowed" by the super sharp graphics that AutoKitchen produces.

This program, from my perspective, IS state of the art! It's a significant enhancement to my business, an upgrade for my clients who will see their kitchen in better detail, and so, I'm extremely happy to share my thoughts on this program with those who appreciate beautifully designed graphics.

As I become more proficient with AutoKitchen (these images are from AutoKitchen's files) I'll be sharing the very cool drawings that it produces. If you are a designer and looking to make a change, I encourage you to take a look at AutoKitchen. If my existing program had been comparable, I would have had no need to a) learn a new program b) learn a new program c) learn a new program, all of which is extremely time consuming and quite honestly, always slow going at first, then takes more time to get fully up to speed, which designers understand. But, as a designer, beautiful graphics are extremely important, which trumps time spent learning a new program, for sure.

Having used my program (with regular updates) for 18 years, I did not make this change lightly; the software had to produce compelling solutions for my business. After my careful analysis of AutoKitchen and its competition over the course of two months, it does. I did not go for test drives with other software companies, but I very closely analyzed finished renderings on the companies' websites (the ultimate issue for me), talked to industry colleagues, and took a hard look at my existing software as well, which involved several sessions with the manufacturer to make completely sure that I was familiar with its top quality renderings options.

Had I not believed that AutoKitchen produces THE finest graphics in the kitchen design software industry, I would not have been interested. Why change a program I was comfortable with after 18 years to something that is second or third best? That would be a bad decision on several levels.

I can report that AutoKitchen's customer service is superb, otherwise, that would surely be a dealbreaker for me. CAD compatability is a big plus too. There is no question in my mind that the time invested is, and will be, worth it. I'm happy to share my perspective on this program. Miguel, from AutoKitchen, is a delight to work with and endlessly patient. 

For further information, call Miguel Merida. Phone: 201-568-3555 or miguel.merida@microcadsoftware.com.

Electrolux Kitchen Stories

I want to show you kitchen stories - 89 of them to be exact, courtesy of Electrolux, which is celebrating its 90th anniversary this year. SO...these 89 people with stories are all "kitchen stars", but Electrolux needs just one more to reach 90 - will that be you?

I'm crazy about this concept and find it absolutely fascinating looking at all these (real) kitchen stories from all over the world! You can be the 90th kitchen star! To enter, you must have an Electrolux appliance, even a small countertop or small vacuum appliance is ok. I don't love that requirement, but I DO love the kitchen stories! Enter or not, the kitchen stories are there to enjoy.

Susan's in the Houzz

I just started writing/editing ideabooks for Houzz on kitchen design. I certainly knew of Houzz but due to my busy world, did not focus on the site in depth until I was asked to take a look at it and to add my expertise on kitchen design as a regular ideabook (love that name) contributor. 

I think I may be addicted. I have no time to be addicted, and you may not either, but, the site:

• is too user friendly as well as beautiful
• is too much of a (truly) friendly, positive, community
• has too large of a library of great interiors to ignore
• allows you to hone in on exactly the style you're looking for
• has great information
• has ideabooks that are crazy/fun/beautiful/cool/etc.

to not immerse yourself. So, go ahead, you'll be glad you did, and don't blame me for your time lost! I do think it would only be fair for the universe to give us 2 more hours a day - life is very fast paced, more time is needed to take it all in! Here's my first ideabook... 

Here are a couple of recent posts I have written that I'd like to mention.

Small Appliances - Blog Post

This first post was written for my colleage, Kathy Barlow, of the Home Workshop blog. It's about how to deal with those migrating small appliances on our countertops. Take a look! 

Open Kitchen Floorplan - Blog Post

Another post for Decorati that I have not shared with you is an in depth look at the open kitchen floorplan - is it for you? It addresses potential issues, provides ideas for dealing with common problems and gives a fresh look at this emerging concept that many are feeling more and more comfortable with. As a realtor friend told me, "the ad that people respond to is the one that says 'open floorplan' in it." Of course, it's not for everyone, but I think it's a concept worth looking at at this moment.

I'd probably add one or two more things. I want to expand on my feeling about many of us wanting as much permanence or longevity in our design and products as we can get. I think that the recent recession, "The Big Recession" as I'm hearing it called, has truly been a wake-up call. I feel that there is a maturity, a sensible way of thinking, that has evolved. Where we can afford it, I feel we want quality. 

I feel that we want performance from the products we select over the long term. I definitely see that new clients seem to be more involved in the design process, more serious, and dedicated. They/you understand that this new kitchen truly may be a one time purchase, and it needs to be as perfect as it can be. That (importance) has been true all along, but, that call really woke us up! If you are planning a kitchen renovation in 2010, my guess is you will take it very seriously and you'll find it to be a very, very rewarding process. I hope you do!

HERE IS THE LINK FOR MY THOUGHTS ABOUT KITCHEN DESIGN IN 2010 Tell me what you think here, below, or on the Decorati comments page. 

Subject: Grass Cloth Wallpaper in the Kitchen
Message: Hello,

I'm toying with the idea of putting grass cloth wallpaper in my kitchen (but not behind any counter space or the stove) and was wondering your thoughts about this idea.  A kitchen designer we meet with suggested against it because it would retain smells from food prep.  This will be in my kitchen that is not heavily used...maybe one meal every other week.  Would you recommend grass cloth wallpaper in the kitchen?  People put fabric curtains up and sometimes have fabric covered furniture in the kitchen and would seem to be the same.

Thanks, Amanda

This is a great question, Amanda. As our kitchens become ever more integrated with surrounding living areas and/or decor, it's time to think about this question! I've been a strong advocate for some years of using soft fabrics, wall coverings that we love, as well as artwork, in the kitchen.

These decorative elements sometimes come with a "price to pay" for their inclusion in the kitchen. In my own kitchen, I have a sofa as well as good artwork, so I have lived with this issue.

Here's the answer you are NOT looking for, unfortunately. I cannot advise you specifically, as I am unaware of two things:

a. the proximity of the wallcovering to the main part of your kitchen. Even though you mention that it is not a backsplash treatment, it could well be surrounding your cabinetry, oven, and cooktop areas, and

b. whether you have adequate ventilation in the kitchen

In the end, it's really about the type of ventilation that you have in your kitchen. I'm referring to a hood or a downdraft (a poor cousin.) If your cooking ventilation is planned properly, cooking odors, fumes, and toxins are a minor issue at worst, but it depends on the proximity of the soft coverings to the cooktop or oven. "Prep" as you note, is a non issue. Cooking and moisture will affect the soft coverings. Cooking a meal once every other week makes this entire problem even more of a non issue, especially if you have adequate venting.

It IS important to understand that your fabrics in and around the kitchen, over time, may be somewhat affected by cooking odors, etc. Soft coverings in a kitchen, whether on the walls or on furniture, will also experience more wear than they would in other rooms...people leaning against or brushing against walls, frequent use of fabrics on chairs and pillows and increased general use of soft coverings.

Thinking flexibly about the durability of your soft coverings is the way to go. You may want to put "clean the fabrics" on your schedule for once a year. I happen to use and like Stanley Steemer but it's best to check with a professional fabric cleaner for more expensive fabrics and furnishings. Cleaning grasscloth is not easy or even recommended in most cases outside of using a vacuum for surface dust.

That said, you may need to reevaluate the overall durability of your grasscloth, say, 5 years down the road. Keep expectations for soft coverings flexible, again, as the durability will depend on use and ventilation issues. Small image from the book "Kitchens" by Chris Madden.