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Brandy Souza Promoted to Vice President of Kitchen Views

Published January 27, 2017 press release , Uncategorized 1 Comment
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Brandy Souza – Vice President of Kitchen Views at National Lumber

Mansfield, MA. Jan 27, 2017 – Continuing the tradition of promoting from within the company, National Lumber is proud to announce the promotion of Brandy Souza to Vice President of Kitchen Views. Souza will continue to report directly to the company President, Manny Pina.

Brandy began her career interning for Paul Brent, a world renowned seaside architect and artist. After her internship, she graduated with a degree in Architectural Design and Construction Technologies and began working with general contractors, designing homes and managing residential projects. She combines her technical expertise with a fine eye for design and a commitment to customer satisfaction.

Brandy has been with Kitchen Views since 2005, starting as a designer in National Lumber’s New Bedford location. In March 2014, she was promoted to General Manager of Kitchen Views. She has consistently shown strong leadership and a determined attitude to improve every situation with tact and graciousness.  Her amazing design acumen has been demonstrated through the beautiful and state-of-the-art Kitchen Views’ showrooms across New England.

Brandy is a member of the NKBA and on the editorial board for Kitchen and Bath Business Magazine. A sought after expert for her design and materials expertise, Brandy has been interviewed and quoted in articles for Boston Home Magazine, New England Home Magazine, Rhode Island Monthly, Design New England, and more. Brandy enjoys sharing her expertise through articles posted on the Kitchen Views blog. With readers and followers from around the world, homeowners are drawn to Kitchen Views at National Lumber for the product knowledge and design insight provided.

National Lumber has been serving the New England area since 1934. Now in its third generation, this family owned and operated company is led by co-CEO siblings Steven Kaitz and Margie Kaitz Seligman, and company president Manny Pina. With divisions that include Kitchen Design, Engineering, Drywall, Installed Insulation, Millwork, and Truss & Wall Panel Manufacturing, National Lumber is qualified to provide building solutions to those in New England and beyond.

Call Manny Pina at 508-339-8020 x5629 or visit national-lumber.com for more information.

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Kitchen Views Wins Best of Houzz 2017

Published January 20, 2017 Designer Spotlight , kitchen design , Kitchen Design Trends , kitchens , press release , Uncategorized Leave a Comment
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Kitchen Views in Warwick, RI has won “Best of Design” on Houzz, the leading platform for home remodeling and design. Kitchen Views was chosen by the more than 40 million monthly unique users that compromise the Houzz community from more than one million active home building, remodeling, and design industry professionals.

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This Pawtucket, RI kitchen designed by Lisa Zompa has been saved to over 5,000 ideabooks on Houzz

The Best of Houzz award helps homeowners identify popular and top-rated home professionals in every metro area featured on Houzz. The Kitchen Views at National portfolio includes some of the most popular images on Houzz 2016. Kitchen Views also maintains an active presence on the platform and answers questions from the millions of worldwide users who may wish to duplicate the popular style seen in the photos.

Private Residence - Pawtucket, RI - Kitchen

Lisa Zompa, designer at Kitchen Views Warwick, has over 12 years of experience in kitchen and bathroom design. Lisa has an interior design degree and joined Kitchen Views in early 2010 to serve the Rhode Island area. Lisa says “to be honored by Houzz for a second time is a great compliment. The Pawtucket kitchen was designed a few years ago so it is really nice to know that my designs appeal to a wide range of people and that this design has stood the test of time.”

Private Residence - Bristol, RI Kitchen and Bathroom

Lisa Zompa in a kitchen she designed for a home in Bristol, RI

Kitchen Views is proud to offer exceptional customer service, talented designers, exquisite showrooms, and quality products. For unlimited options, Kitchen Views offers multiple lines of custom cabinetry, decorative hardware, and stunning countertops.  Whether you want a traditional, contemporary, or “green” design, you will find it at Kitchen Views.

Vice President of Industry Marketing for Houzz, Liza Hausman, says “we’re so pleased to award Best of Houzz 2017 to this incredible group of talented and customer-focused professionals like Kitchen Views. Kitchen Views was singled out for recognition by our community of homeowners and design enthusiasts for help to turn their home improvement dreams into reality.”

Click here to visit Kitchen Views’ Houzz profile and see the popular and beautiful work of Lisa and Kitchen Views. Kitchen Views has six unique and stunning showrooms across New England.  Meet with our talented designers to be inspired in the planning and delighted in the results.

Kitchen Design for the Non-Cook

Published November 8, 2016 Kitchen Remodeling Advice , kitchens , Uncategorized 3 Comments
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Group of friends eating pizza together at home

Does ordering take-out sound more appealing than cooking a large meal?  Would you rather sit back and relax with a cocktail and lively conversation than worry about your roast burning right before your guests arrive?

There are still plenty of reasons to invest in your kitchen even if you do not cook. Your kitchen doesn’t need to resemble that of a world class chef to remain as the hub of activity, entertaining, and family life.  Keeping your appliances to a minimum allows you for more space to include the things you will actually use, like a wine cooler or an extra-large seating area. For the avid coffee drinker, our last post discussed coffee stations.  Whether you need just a space for your Keurig or a whole countertop for your espresso machine, read that post to get some ideas for your morning fix.

When designing a kitchen to fit your lifestyle, consider which appliances you actually use every day. Do you really need that professional grade range that looks great in the design magazine or do you actually find yourself never using more than one burner at a time?  Cutting down on the size or number of appliances is a great way to save money and space for the things that you really want.  However, be mindful of the resale value of your kitchen and don’t get too carried away when minimizing your appliances.  While you may be able to get by with only a couple of refrigerated drawers, the lack of a proper refrigerator may turn away many potential buyers.

Classic Suite, Secret Ridge

Create a lively gathering place for the adults with a wet bar.  Instead of the newly popular double oven, get a traditional stove/oven combination and use the extra space to install a wine fridge to showcase your impressive collection.   Display your barware behind glass cabinet doors and your carefully crafted cheese plate on the coordinating countertops.  For daily family life, forego a sink or cooktop in the ever popular island.  Instead, focus on making it a casual dining area or homework station with cabinets for supplies.  Expand your home’s nerve-center with a space for the children to study and mom or dad to coordinate the weekend‘s soccer games and play groups.

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Designed by Jamie Thibeault of Kitchen Views, Mansfield

Try using shelving instead of cabinetry.  The openness of the shelving allows you to display your collection of eclectic treasures or creative cocktail recipe books.  Without the enclosure of a standard cabinet, the shelves can add height and light to the space.

If you are looking to adapt your kitchen without a big remodeling project or are concerned about the resale value of a kitchen without traditional upper cabinets, simply take the doors off of your existing cabinets.  This allows you to take a test drive before committing to this innovative method of kitchen storage.  Consider painting the backs of these door-less cabinets a bright color to add a pop of fun.

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Downsize your traditional kitchen table to a small one for two and use the rest of the space for bench seating or a comfortable sofa.  Use the space as an extension of your living room in your open floor plan or as a quiet retreat when the rowdy sports fans have taken over.

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Designed by Kitchen Views, Warwick

If you are looking for more ideas on how to create a kitchen that reflects your lifestyle but still maintains functionality and resale value, talk with any of our talented Kitchen Views designers.  Do you have more thoughts on how to make a kitchen adapt for the non-cook lifestyle?  Share your ideas in the comments.

Convenient Coffee Fix: How to Create the Best Coffee Station

Published September 2, 2016 kitchen design , Uncategorized Leave a Comment
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Convenient Coffee Fix

Does caffeine get you going in the morning? Or keep you going all day and night?  The popularity of coffee isn’t new, but featuring the preparation of this liquid energy has become a focus in many kitchens. Some call it a coffee station. Some call it a necessary convenience for their morning routine. Whether you go all out with an espresso machine or just dedicated cabinet and counter space for your coffee fix, there are plenty of options to consider.

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Mug Drawers Keep Your Cups Handy and Safe

One of the must haves in a coffee station is to have coffee mugs handy. The idea of keeping them in a drawer is new, if you have drawer space available. Having a deep drawer with a nonslip liner in the bottom keeps your coffee mugs from getting chipped, something that happens all too often when put in regular cabinets or drawers. It also keeps you from having to keep your mugs on open shelves, which could lead to them falling and getting broken.

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K-Cup Storage Drawers for the Keurig Machine Lovers

Addicted to your Keurig machine, but not sure where the best place to store your K-Cups might be? If you don’t want a rack on the counter, you can have a small drawer under the counter beneath your Keurig, they actually create drawer inserts made specially for your K-Cups.  They even let you organize them by flavor and brand.

The Great Escape traditional-kitchen

If you’re more of a Nespresso person, there are special wood capsule storage units. They can be put in a drawer or even hung on a wall. The arcs built into them allow you to organize the capsules in such a way that the colors can actually create their own kind of art.

Go All the Way and Make it a Breakfast Station

If you have the space, you can just go all out and create a breakfast station. You can have a cabinet that hides away the toaster and other appliances, and perhaps even a small refrigerator for milk, juices, and breakfast items that need a fridge. You could also have storage for small plates and glasses.

Winding Down at the End of the Day

Coffee lovers can also end their day by winding down with decaf. Or perhaps you enjoy tea when you unwind. Don’t forget hot chocolate for those cold winter nights. A dedicated beverage area can be used for multiple purposes throughout the day and night.

These are just a few ideas to consider for a coffee station. Of course, this also applies to tea lovers. Perhaps you can keep a small electric burner in a cabinet along with the teapot or whatever you use to boil water. No need to use the regular stove just for breakfast.

There are plenty of more coffee station ideas on websites such as Houzz. Do you have any creative ideas on how to create the best coffee, tea,  or breakfast station for you? Let us know!

If you need help with creating a coffee or breakfast station, Kitchen Views can provide for all of your cabinetry and countertop needs. Whether you want to add a few cabinets to an unused area to create a coffee station, or incorporate it in a new kitchen, we can help you design whatever you need. Whatever you decide is a must have in your kitchen, you can always ask your kitchen designer for advice in making your daily routines more convenient.

Kitchen Views
www.kitchenviews.com

What Kind of Kitchen Does My Vacation Home Need?

Published July 16, 2016 Uncategorized 1 Comment

 

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Are you looking to upgrade your kitchen at your vacation home? Over the years, Kitchen Views has helped remodel many kitchens on Cape Cod and Martha’s Vineyard. When it comes to having a kitchen that you don’t use for most of the year, there are a few things you should keep in mind.

How often do you plan on using the kitchen? You don’t necessarily need a restaurant-quality kitchen if you’re only spending a couple months a year. If you plan on renting it out when you’re not around, you may want to invest more into it. Since many people on vacation would rather go out to eat or barbecue outdoors, the kitchen just needs to be functional with the bare essentials.

If your vacation home will eventually become your primary residence, however, then you’ll want to have a kitchen similar to that of your current home. The more full-featured your kitchen is, the better it is for your vacation home’s value, as well. When deciding how much to spend, you typically want to budget between 10 to 25 percent of your vacation home’s current value for a kitchen remodel. With a vacation home, you want to try to spend closer to 10 percent, since the kitchen isn’t used all year.

Like when budgeting with any remodel, you want to look at other homes in the neighborhood and what people expect from their kitchens. Knowing the local real estate market is just as important as it is for your regular home. Many vacation homes have smaller kitchens, so it doesn’t make sense to blow your budget on something extravagant unless the market calls for something larger.

One major kitchen design trend you can consider for a vacation home, however, is an open-concept layout. Some older vacation homes have closed-in, cramped kitchens. Knocking down a wall and making the small kitchen part of the main living space may be all you really have to do to make your vacation home kitchen much better. Knocking down that wall can allow you to put in a counter, greatly expanding prep and eating space.

If your vacation home already has a functional kitchen or kitchenette, you may not have to do much as long as it has recently updated appliances and sufficient counter space. Try not to go overboard if you don’t have to. While having the nicest kitchen in the neighborhood is a nice bragging point, it’s not the most important thing. You just want a comfortable, functional kitchen to allow you to eat in whenever you want to, while being as conservative with costs as possible.’

Kitchen Views
www.kitchenviews.com

In-Law Apartment Kitchens: Small But Functional

Published July 7, 2016 kitchen design Leave a Comment
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This kitchen designed by Lee Turner for The Wiese Company won an EM-NARI CotY award for "Best Kitchen Remodel."

This kitchen designed by Lee Turner for The Wiese Company won an EM-NARI CotY award for “Best Kitchen Remodel.” Photo © Kitchen Views

With multiple generations occupying many homes today, in-law apartments have become popular additions. They are often small, but functional. If it’s not quite functional, however, you may be looking to remodel the space to make it more so. You may be wondering what you should budget for such a remodel and what should go into it.

It’s possible you may have bought a home that already had an in-law suite. But the kitchen may be outdated when compared to the rest of the house. This is actually not all that uncommon. To be fair, in-law apartments should be as close to the style of the rest of the house as possible, especially if it is its own separate living space. But sometimes, the other kitchen becomes where all of the old appliances and many of the other useful items from the previously remodeled kitchen end up. If they are still reasonably functional, you may just need to give the space a facelift.

The major trend today with in-law apartments is to make them handicap accessible and use universal design elements. Especially with aging in-laws, you want to make sure that the kitchen is usable by everyone. Some in-law kitchens may be more like kitchenettes stacked up against one wall, with perhaps some counter space. Depending on the size of the space, this may be enough, especially if it’s easily accessible. You don’t want to put a huge island in an in-law suite kitchen. You want to maximize the available square footage and not make the kitchen take up too large of a percentage.

The other thing to keep in mind is if the in-law apartment will be used on a regular basis or only for part of the year. In-law apartments, especially when separate from the rest of the living space, can also serve later as rental space. So you want to have the best kitchen possible for the small space. Not only is an upgraded, but budget-conscious, kitchen good for your home’s value, but it makes for a pleasant experience for your guests, and potential renters, as well.

Kitchen Views
www.kitchenviews.com

Improving Your Kitchen’s Design for a Great ROI (Return on Investment)

Published July 1, 2016 kitchen design , Kitchen Remodeling Advice 9 Comments
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© Kitchen Views | Kitchen designed by Ed Nunes, Chestnut Hill, MA

by Steve Constable, Chicago Home Remodeling

When it comes to home renovations the best return on investment of any part of the home is found in the kitchen. Improving your kitchen can return 75% to 100% or more of your initial investment. But before you dig into your toolbox or head to the home improvement store it is helpful to know what design choices offer the best value for your investment. Implementing the right elements is often the difference between getting the price you want when you hit the market and having to slowly lower your asking price.

A common mistake people make when looking to revise their kitchen is focusing too much on the money spent. Having a budget is very important, but you want your money to be spent productively. Installing expensive Lazy Susans or wine racks are not smart monetary moves if your cabinets are falling apart. The first step is to evaluate the status of your space. Focus on aspects that draw the most attention: counters, cabinets, appliances and wall color.

Counters and cabinets take up the most space in your kitchen (typically 60% to 70%) and get the most use. Reach for a plate or glass, chop food or rest a dish—it’s critical your counters and cabinets are up-to-date in form and function. Homeowners typically view appliances for function first, but a strong aesthetic appeal will help your space stand out to buyers. Kitchens are the first thing realtors show prospective buyers. This is your first impression.

Are your cabinets in dire need of an update? Before you grab your sledgehammer, consider refacing the cabinets. With this the existing frame or skeleton and layout stays intact. Everything else (75% of what people see) is replaced. Adding new doors, drawers, and hardware will only run you between $2,000 and $6,000. A full tear down can cost double or even triple that amount. Of course, a new fresh coat of paint and new cabinet jewelry might be all you need to breathe new life into your cabinets. Creativity is key when you are remodeling on a tight budget. A popular, cost efficient, option is wood refinishing. You cabinets stay the same, but the urethane and stain or paint is stripped away and sanded clean. Then new layers are added. You can expect to pay between $3.30 and $3.70 per square foot on a wood refinishing job, and it’s a project for even the most novice DIYer!

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© Kitchen Views | Kitchen designed by Ed Nunes, Chestnut Hill, MA

A project you might want to leave to the experts is replacing your countertop. And you’ll be glad you left this to the pros because a new countertop offers 70% ROI or more. But it needs to be granite. People love granite for its durability and aesthetic look. Not only can you slice food right on its surface (if you do not mind scratching the polish), but you can also choose from a plethora of colors and patterns when picking it out. Be sure to have your kitchen colors locked down before picking your countertop color. You can pick a darker granite color and let it pair with lightly colored walls to be a focal point of contrast. Light colors like whites and yellows are quite in vogue these days. They are inviting, reflect plenty of natural light, and make spaces look bigger. The same cannot be said of dark or “strong” colors like deep blue or green. Use these colors as accents, but make sure they match your countertop.

Don’t worry about matching your walls with your appliances. When buying new appliances, there is one aesthetic that reigns supreme: stainless steel. Nothing is sleeker or cleaner than this metal sheathing, making it the most desirable material among homeowners. Buyers too! People want to know you home is up-to-date. Stainless steel embodies contemporary aesthetic and reliability.

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© Kitchen Views | Kitchen designed by Ed Nunes, Chestnut Hill, MA

Real estate experts agree that a kitchen remodel should cost between 5% to 10% of your home’s estimated resale value. In an average US city like Chicago this is anywhere from $12,000 to $24,000 as homes in 2016 are now selling for an average of $240,000. By applying this formula to your kitchen remodeling budget and also incorporating the right design elements into your kitchen remodel you can ensure that your house sells above the fair market value of other homes in the area.

About the Author: Steve Constable is a design and build specialist who lives in Chicago, IL. You can learn more about his company Chicago Kitchen Remodeling Inc. by visiting: http://kitchenremodelingchicago.com

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