Amazon is offering the KitchenAid 12-Inch Compact Convection Countertop Oven (KCO253CU) for $89.99 shipped. Matched at Best Buy as part of its Deals of the Day. Regularly $140, it fetches $130 at Home Depot right now with todays deal being the lowest price we can find. This countertop oven features five cooking functions: convection, bake, toast, broil, and warm. You can bake muffins and brownies, heat up cold pizza or cook an entire chicken with the height adjustable, reversible racks. Rated 4+ stars from nearly 550 Best Buy customers. More details below.

While it wont provide as much overall cooking space as todays lead deal, you could save significantly by opting with this Black+Decker model. The 4-slice convection toaster oven sells for $43 on Amazon and carries solid ratings from over 470 customers. Again, you wont get as much space and only a single cooking rack, but its about $45 less too.

For more kitchenware, household essentials and tool deals, head over to our Home Goods Guide.

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Grace your counter with a 12 KitchenAid Convection Oven for $90 (Reg. $140) - 9to5Toys

The Pittsburgh real estate market is slow right now, but that doesnt necessarily have to do with doldrums of winter. Jessi Dunlap, an agent with Coldwell Banker Real Estate Services, says her busiest months have been October through December for three straight years. Sellers have the advantage, with people clamoring to stake their claim on a low inventory of single-family dwellings, townhomes and condos.

Some folks will open up their options in order to have more opportunities in their specific area and budget, Dunlap says.

She finds that Ross Township properties are getting a lot of attention due to an easy commute, a highly-rated school district and lots of decent shopping, but she urges buyers to go out and explore. For around $150,000 you can get a nice piece of property in the region.

With all of the different pocket neighborhoods in Pittsburgh, its hard to narrow down to just one popular spot, she says. Each has its own unique flavor and fans to go along with it.

NORTH

236 S. Queensberry Ct. in Ross Township.

Neighborhood: 236 S. Queensberry Ct., Ross TownshipAsking price: $159,800Style: Condominium

236 S. Queensberry Ct. in Ross Township.

Description: Located in the desirable Woodbridge neighborhood, this three-bedroom end unit features a private deck overlooking a wooded area. The spacious living room also features a large sliding glass door with a Juliet balcony. Dunlap notes the condo has a nice powder room on the main floor, a game room and is easily accessible from Route 19 and I-279. A homeowners association covers all exterior maintenance, including the roof and landscaping.

13 Reserve St. in Millvale.

Neighborhood: 13 Reserve St., MillvaleAsking price: $139,900Style: Single-family

13 Reserve St. in Millvale.

Description: Millvale is booming, and homes in the neighborhood which is just across the river from Lawrenceville are scarce. This three-bedroom abode has spacious rooms with high ceilings and an abundance of natural light. Theres an updated full bathroom with new flooring and a freshly poured concrete patio and sidewalk.

1055 Geyer Rd. in Shaler.

Neighborhood: 1055 Geyer Rd., ShalerAsking price: $149,000Style: Single-family

1055 Geyer Rd. in Shaler.

Description: The interior of this three-bedroom beauty has been completely updated. The kitchen has new flooring, granite countertops, stainless steel appliances and new cabinetry, while both of the bathrooms got a makeover. Dunlap says the place is now more energy efficient with new windows, furnace and central air conditioning. Bonus: theres off-street parking.

5327 Keystone St. in Lawrenceville.

EASTNeighborhood: 5327 Keystone St., LawrencevilleAsking price: $160,000Style: Row house

5327 Keystone St. in Lawrenceville.

Description: You could live just blocks away from bustling Butler Street. This row house has a large, eat-in kitchen and master bedroom with ample closet space. The listing states: The finished third floor is a captive bedroom or a great flex space. Entertain outside on the covered rear patio that overlooks a fenced-in courtyard.

WEST

129 Baywood (#52D) in Mt. Lebanon.

Neighborhood: 129 Baywood #52D, Mt. LebanonAsking price: $149,900Style: Condominium

129 Baywood #52D in Mt. Lebanon.

Description: This townhouse-style condo has two floors and nobody living above you, boasts the listing. There are two bedrooms and a full bathroom located upstairs, while the first floor has an updated powder room. The unit is equipped with central air conditioning and has a private balcony. There are two on-site laundry rooms in the complex and youll get your own assigned parking spot. The place is with a short stroll from Mt. Lebanons shops, schools, community pool and library.

SOUTH

1640 Suburban Ave. in Beechview.

Neighborhood: 1640 Suburban Ave., BeechviewAsking price: $150,000Style: Single-family

1640 Suburban Ave. in Beechview.

Description: A large, fully-equipped and updated kitchen opens up to a patio. The outdoor area also has a deck, firepit and covered front porch. The dining room oozes charm with its coffered ceilings, large windows, original decorative fireplace and pocket doors, raves the listing. There is also a fireplace in the living room and a den. The upstairs has three bedrooms and a full bath.

743 Woodbourne Ave. in Brookline.

Neighborhood: 743 Woodbourne Ave., BrooklineAsking price: $146,975Style: Single-family

743 Woodbourne Ave. in Brookline.

Description: Brookline Boulevards shopping and entertainment district is steps away from this three-bedroom home on Woodbourne Avenue. Theres a spacious covered porch complete with a Ring doorbell system for extra security that leads into a bright family room. The home features a large fireplace and original hardwood floors both upstairs and down. Downstairs, the huge walk-out basement has a ton of potential with two additional storage spaces, a nice laundry area and a half bath. Step out into your spacious yard with a patio space and two-car off-street parking, the listing says.

Coldwell Banker Real Estate ServicesPittsburgh real estate

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What $150,000 will buy you in Pittsburgh - NEXTpittsburgh

A CRAFTY woman decided to update her tired kitchen after having the same dcor for more than a decade, spending 30 on materials from Wilkos.

She had been living with the same dark kitchen interior for the past 13 years, with black tiles and a black splashback.

3

She decided it was finally time to freshen it up, so rolled up her sleeves and got stuck into some DIY, transforming the space on a budget.

She picked up white paint and on-trend marble fablon from Wilkos,spending 30 in total.

First she painted the tiles in a bright white, and covered the countertops in the vinyl, tackling the tricky sink area in two halves.

The kitchen looks brighter and fresher after the mini-makeover, with accessories the only thing left to buy.

She shared snaps of her handiwork to Facebook group DIY On A Budget, where she said: Kitchen revamp for 30.

Might not be to everyone's taste but I like it. Just need new accessories.

Tile paint from wilkos 15.

Fablon from wilkos 5 per roll used 3 roles.

3

Thanks for all the nice comments I did like the black but been like that for 13 years fancied a change lol.

Her project has gone down well online, racking up more than 800 likes.

One person said: The white is so so so much better. Love it!

Another praised: Love the new brighter design! Countertops and backsplash are beautiful. Nice job!

3

A third commented: 30 well spent. Much betta!

Someone else thought: I wish I'd had the presence of mind to paint my old kitchen like this, I had black tiles from previous owner from floor to ceiling, this would've really brightened it up.

While this person wrote: Love it. Makes it look more wider. If that makes sense.

RED ALERT Mum in hysterics after sons try to call 999 after seeing her 'bleed out of bum'

Warning

POUT OF ORDER Horror of fillers gone wrong from rotting tissue to chunks of lip falling off

GOING GREEN Kate stuns in a 15 Zara dress and McQueen coat for Bradford visit with Wills

QUIDS IN Poundland's selling a 30-piece storage range which Mrs Hinch fans will LOVE

CLUMSY KATE? Why does Kate wear so many plasters? Duchess spotted with ANOTHER on her hand

SUDO SCREAM Toddler covers 1.6k TV in nappy cream after being left alone for 5 mins

Plus can you tell the high street homeware pieces from their designer doubles?

AndHolly Willoughby announced to fans she was releasing her own bedding collectionwith Dunelm.

Meanwhile this mum gave herhusband's tool cupboard a makeover and turned it into a beauty station for her three daughters.

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Thrifty woman revamps her kitchen for just 30 using paint and fablon from Wilko - The Sun

Over the past five to 10 years, cool greys have become a go-to colour. IMAGE: Benjamin Moore

What goes around comes around, but never in the same way

It was the dawn of a new millennium and is widely remembered for the so-called Y2K bug many feared would cause havoc in computers and computer systems as they made the transition to Jan. 1, 2000.

It was also the year in which then-unknown British actors Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson were cast in Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone. Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston tied the knot, NSYNC released No Strings Attached and the Nokia 3310 was the No. 1 selling cell phone.

In the world of dcor, shabby chic, white kitchen cabinets with black countertops, and chocolate brown dining rooms were all the rage. Karl Lohnes, editor-at-large of Style at Home magazine, walks us through the year 2000s hottest trends and how theyve evolved.

Hint: Everything that goes around comes around but never in the same way and usually in quite an opposite way, he says.

THEN: White cabinetry, dark countertopsNOW: Dark cabinetry, dark countertops

White cabinetry, black granite counters and stainless-steel appliances were the holy trinity of 00s kitchens. Todays trend: dark or black cabinetry with a dark never white countertop. Shaker-style cabinets or cabinets with raised panels were on trend in 2000, while todays cabinets feature flat fronts with no detail.

Today, white cabinets are typically paired with white countertops featuring grey veining and often elements of natural wood. Its a look thats reminiscent of the 1980s, when white cabinet doors with an oak strip across the bottom were on trend.

It was called the European kitchen and its sort of come back with upper white cabinetry usually glossy and bottom cabinets that may be done in a natural oak, says Lohnes.

When stainless-steel appliances were introduced 20 years ago, many wondered if they were merely a trend, but theyve become a classic choice. Stainless steel is still the standard but white certainly outsells everything, says Lohnes.

The trend for 2020 is black stainless steel or graphite/darker grey over the stainless steel so appliances blend into dark kitchens and dont stand out like big boxes wrapped by a cabinetry colour or tone.

THEN: Shabby chicNOW: Farmhouse chic

Shabby chic falls under the country decorating category, which is always the most popular style of decorating. It embodied a very vintage but very feminine look with ruffles on the bottoms of sofas, cabbage patch floral, white slipcovers, and pretty pinks and blues, says Lohnes.

It wasnt as dowdy as the 1980s, which was the Laura Ashley look with a lot of dried flowers and beige mixed in with pastels.

Two decades later, shabby chic has evolved to farmhouse chic, which Lohnes describes as a more masculine version of the trend with lots of wrought iron and copper and grey-toned or driftwood-coloured wood.

Its also slightly more modern, with furniture lines that are cleaner compared to the rounded and curvy lines of shabby chic. Today, there are many versions of country, including cabin, cottage and chalet.

THEN: Chocolate brownNOW: Beige and greige

In the year 2000, chocolate brown was the big buzzword in colour, Lohnes recalls. We were putting beautiful milk chocolate colours on walls, which was new and dramatic yet still warm because it was a brown tone.

A lot of wood stain became more chocolate brown, which evolved into espresso tones, which were almost black but still brown. Chocolate brown was also big in fabrics. People thought a dining room painted in chocolate brown with white trim was avant garde.

Over the past five to 10 years, cool greys became our go-to colours. For 2020, were going to see beige and greige tones come in, says Lohnes. You might choose a dark neutral colour for your walls but its not going to be warm chocolate brown and its not going to be cool grey. Its going to be a mixture of both.

Its warming up the grey and its allowing us to keep some of our grey things like carpets, couches or chairs. The wall colour will still have grey in it, but it will be like a big dollop of brown is going into it. The lightest version of that is beige, which is also returning in 2020.

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Design trends then and now - Gananoque Reporter

When you religiously watch a show or movie, it begins to infiltrate every aspect of your life. Sure, you can quote the show or decorate your apartment with memorabilia from the hit series, but do you have something themed to cook with? This is now possible, Friends fans, because of this slow cooker.

Box Lunch

Slow cookers can make meal prepping an absolute breeze and save you time, so every Friends fan needs this one to be able to cook like Monica but eat like Joey. Let's call this: The One Where You'll Want To Use All Of Our Slow Cooker Recipes.

The appliance is sold online at Box Lunch and goes for just under $60. Box Lunch is currently having a site wide promotion where you can get 25% off with the code "BLGIFTS." The slow cooker has a fun design on it that includes sayings from the show like "How you doing?" and "PIVOT!" while also displaying iconic sites like the couch, fountain, and peep hole. For the most part, the design is just black and white so it would go with just about any kitchen set up as a statement piece or a matching countertop appliance.

Unfortunately, the single pot slow cooker is sold out at the moment but thankfully there is a Friends triple slow cooker for only $10 more than the single version. This way, you can have all your Friends-loving friends over for a dinner party, and have one appliance to do all the work.

Friends Triple Slow Cooker

$69.90

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You Need This 'Friends'-Themed Slow Cooker In Your Life - Delish.com

Luxury apartments for rent: 2130 JFK Boulevard, Jersey City.

Already 50% leased, 2130 JFK Boulevard is attracting renters with its combination of brand new, convenient, and larger than life luxury. The new construction, elevator building brings 20 spectacular two-bed, two-bath units to the market, featuring condominium-level finishes and a full complement of amenities including private balconies in select residences.

2130 JFK is a modern mid-rise addition to the charming residential West Bergen neighborhood with a sleek grey brick facade. The building is also pending LEED Gold and Energy Star certification, promising a sustainable, efficient, and cost-effective luxury rental experience for all residents.

Quality is matched only by square footage in the wide open and oversized units. Floor-to-ceiling windows flood the space with natural light and frame fantastic views in every direction. Light hardwood floors run throughout and every residence has a washer/dryer as well as central air.

Kitchens are open and well-appointed with high-end stainless steel appliances. Ashy wood cabinetry, just a shade darker than the hardwood floors, creates a natural contemporary look plus a pop of white countertop. And the massive island is sure to become the homes quintessential gathering place.

Each unit has two full-size bedrooms and two full baths, both clad in a chic natural palette of tiles and finished with modern fixtures. The master bath boasts a luxurious glass-enclosed walk-in shower and the secondary bath has a bathtub/shower combo.

Beyond the bold new residences is a host of amenities rivaling any luxury building. Making it incredibly easy to never have to leave, 2130 offers a state-of-the-art fitness center on-site and a secure package room to accommodate all those online shopping deliveries.

But when its time to leave, getting around is easy, too. The West Side Avenue stop on the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail is only one block away and 2130 JFK is served by multiple bus lines along Kennedy Boulevard, which is easily accessible from all major highways. The building also offers covered parking. Pet-friendly and in perfect proximity to the neighborhoods services, 2130 JFK Boulevard is an appealing luxury opportunity and renting fast.

For more information, you may visit 2130jfk.com or contact the exclusive leasing agents from Vue Realty Group:Joe Stingone[emailprotected]201-401-3698

Tatyana Gabruska[emailprotected]646-465-4560

The rest is here:
Live Large and in Luxury at 2130 JFK Boulevard, Jersey City - Jersey Digs

Article

While designers always strive to personalize kitchens for the homeowners, the job becomes more challenging when the client desires a specialty kitchen, whether that specialty is a kosher kitchen, wheelchair accessible space or baking-focused design.

authors Kim Berndtson

For this family, the grandmother serves as the primary cook, and Susan Klimalas clients wanted to give her a beautiful new space where she could spread out and have access to all the tools she needed. Eliminating a corner pantry created a place for a new pro-style range. It also gave Klimala enough space to incorporate a much larger island that now houses a beverage center, microwave drawer, double trash pullout, seating for three and plenty of storage. Klimala also designed the space to accommodate a large sink with accessories. To the right of the built-in refrigerator, she created a shallow pantry and across from it is a baking zone that conceals larger appliances and outlets behind pocket doors.Photos: LOMA Studios

All kitchens are special to the clients for whom they were designed. However, sometimes there are clients who require designs that are above and beyond what might be considered typical. Maybe someone loves to cook or bake and they need professional-style appliances or a place to roll dough. Maybe another client has some physical challenges and needs to be able to maneuver easily throughout their kitchen. Yet another client may have special dietary considerations, such as needing to comply with kosher standards.

This month, KBDN asked designers to share specialty kitchen projects that have required extra attention to detail.

For this family, the grandmother serves as the primary cook, and Susan Klimalas clients wanted to give her a beautiful new space where she could spread out and have access to all the tools she needed. Eliminating a corner pantry created a place for a new pro-style range. It also gave Klimala enough space to incorporate a much larger island that now houses a beverage center, microwave drawer, double trash pullout, seating for three and plenty of storage. Klimala also designed the space to accommodate a large sink with accessories. To the right of the built-in refrigerator, she created a shallow pantry and across from it is a baking zone that conceals larger appliances and outlets behind pocket doors.Photos: LOMA Studios

Multi-generational accommodations

Families often gather for holidays where several generations come together in the kitchen to cook and visit with each other. But for one family where the grandmother serves as the primary cook, multi-generational get-togethers happen on a near-daily basis.

My clients are two busy working parents with two young children who are involved in many activities, says Susan Klimala, CKD, CBD, The Kitchen Studio, in Glen Ellyn, IL. Their previous kitchen was not living up to its potential, both visually and functionally, so we wanted to create a beautiful new space that took advantage of the rooms existing footprint but that also was a real workhorse in terms of functionality since the family does a ton of cooking.

Dark cabinets and countertops made the room feel dull, but the major drawback was a large corner pantry that took up a lot of floor space and made the room feel smaller than it actually was. Eliminating that pantry created a place for a new focal-point pro-style range with appropriate ventilation. It also gave Klimala enough space to incorporate a much larger island that now houses a beverage center, microwave drawer, double trash pullout, seating for three and tonsof storage.

Klimala designed the space to accommodate a large sink with accessories such as a drying rack and chopping block as well as a pro-style faucet that makes the space highly functional. To the right of the built-in refrigerator, she created a shallow pantry and across from it is a baking zone that conceals larger appliances and outlets behind pocket doors.

We also discussed at length where other key cooking items such as spices and bulk grains would be stored and we made sure to create spots for them, she continues. We included a drawer for phone charging to the left of the sink, and we placed as many drawers as possible throughout the space.

I get jazzed up about creating spaces for clients who have needs above and beyond what might be considered typical, she continues. For me, that is when I slow down and listen carefully, take careful notes, etc. An important part of any great design is to really listen to clients needs so we can come up with some creative solutions, passed through what I call the design filter, which takes a look at ideas and doing them in a way that also looks great and pays careful attention to detail. I try to also approach each project as a piece of living art that is personalized for each client. Yes, the space has to work and be practical, but it should also evoke some emotional response from the homeowner that makes them feel that space is uniquely reflective of them.

In this highly functional kosher kitchen, Rivky Ungar collaborated with decorator Sandy Sugar to incorporate a contemporary design theme via sleek, flat-panel cabinetry (by Mooza Wood Arts) in white and wood tones. Wrapping a table around one corner of the island helps save space, giving her enough room to incorporate two cooking surfaces and two sinks as well as two wall ovens, two paneled dishwashers and two microwaves.Photo: Jason Hartog

Special separation

As a designer who specializes in kosher kitchens, Rivky Ungar is well versed in their unique design challenges. Most notable is the requirement to keep dairy and meats separate during preparation and serving, which greatly influences space planning and material selections.

Any time heat is involved, there needs to be a separation of dairy and meat, says the CKD, Design it Kosher, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Oftentimes, that means finding enough space for separate sinks and dishwashers, separate cooking surfaces and ovens and even separate cutlery and pots/pans and their associated storage. Other challenges relate to material selections, including those for countertops, sinks and cooking surfaces. All need to be durable and preferably possess the ability to be koshered and returned to their original state.

Kosher kitchens can be super technical, she says. And they are also very hard working. Families are usually large and every single week there is a Sabbath meal, which is comparable in size and scope to a Thanksgiving dinner, so there is always a lot of food being prepared in kosher kitchens.

Given the heavy focus on function, aesthetics can sometimes take a backseat. However, Ungar works with clients to make each space special.

Such was the case in a recent kitchen design where she collaborated with Enid McIntosh to create three separate preparation and cooking areas, one each for dairy and meat and the third for pareve foods, which are considered neutral, such as eggs, fish, fruits and vegetables.

This client is a big baker, and she wanted a separate oven and countertop space for all of her breads, cakes and cookies, she explains.

Rivky Ungar collaborated with Enid McIntosh to create three separate preparation and cooking areas in this kosher kitchen, one each for dairy and meat and the third for pareve foods. While the ventilation hood surround, perimeter countertops and backsplashes all look like marble, they are actually porcelain. As a contrast to the light perimeter, the designer topped the island with a dark granite.Photo: RKD Photography

While the ventilation hood surround, perimeter countertops and backsplashes all look like marble, they are actually porcelain, which is a more practical surface material for kosher kitchens, given its durability and non-porous properties. As a contrast to the light perimeter, the designer topped the island with a dark granite. The kitchens three sinks are all stainless steel, also chosen for its durability and ability to be koshered. The main cooking appliance is a gas range, which Ungar complemented with two wall ovens. Two dishwashers and a built-in, full-size refrigerator and freezer are paneled.

Paneling appliances helps prevent a space from looking too much like appliance row, she says, especially if all of them are along one wall.

Even when she is more space-challenged, Ungar tries to maintain aesthetic appeal, such as in another recent kitchen design where she collaborated with decorator Sandy Sugar to incorporate a contemporary design theme via sleek, flat-panel cabinetry by Mooza Wood Arts in white and wood tones.

Wrapping a table around one corner of the island helps save space, giving her enough room to incorporate two cooking surfaces, one beneath the hood and another in the island, and two sinks, one in the island and another along the perimeter. She also included two wall ovens, two paneled dishwashers and two microwaves, which she located side-by-side for a modern look.

This kitchen, designed by Brenda Helms, is a case of less is more, where she transformed the previously overstuffed kitchen into a more appropriate galley-style design for her client, who uses a wheelchair. The only discernible ADA-compliant feature is a lowered induction cooktop with knee space below. Helms also included a pull-out pantry cabinet that gives easy access to dry goods for cooks at all heights.Photos: David Cobb photography

In the details

Brenda Helms typically works in a quantifying mode for any kitchen or bathroom she designs.

Its always important to find out what clients hope for and want to see in their spaces, says the owner/interior designer, Edmond Kitchen & Bath in Edmond, OK.

As part of that process, the designer routinely asks about special requests.

Maybe someone likes to bake bread, she says. Or maybe someone needs a space for a big blender. Most people have something they are specific about.

In the case of this kitchen redesign, it was about making the new space function better for a client who is in a wheelchair.

She is the main cook, but he wanted to be able to contribute and cook during the day, she says.

The previous kitchen was a bit overstuffed with an oversized refrigerator, a 42-tall high bar that was inaccessible to him and an island with just 30 between walkways, which proved to be a tight fit for his 29.5-wide wheelchair.

The new design is a case of less is more, highlighted with a sprinkling of thoughtful changes that elevate it from standard to specialtywithout looking too much like an ADA space, per her clients request.

To accommodate their needs, she created a galley-style kitchen where the only discernible ADA-compliant feature is a lowered induction cooktop with knee space below.

Induction cooking is very safe and he doesnt have to worry about a flame, she says.

The peninsula is accented with a table-height countertop that wraps around the end. It serves as a flexible workstation where Helms client can sit at the end and guests or other family members can sit along the backside. The sink was specified because it is easier to reach compared to a traditional undermount sink with countertop rimming in the front. An articulating faucet provides full access, even to the corners.

Along the same wall, Helms included a more appropriately sized refrigerator and a pull-out pantry cabinet that gives easy access to dry goods for cooks of all heights.

Some elements we included arent necessarily ADA specific, but they fulfill that function while being useful for everyone, she says.

Across the 55 walkway which gives him plenty of room to rotate his wheelchair between sides is the oven and microwave, both of which were located at a height that is comfortable for him to use. The sink, which offers additional protection with its apron front, was specified because it is easier to reach compared to a traditional undermount sink with countertop rimming in the front. Adding an articulating faucet provides full access, even to the corners.

The peninsula is accented with a table-height countertop that wraps around the end and along its backside.

Its a flexible workstation that is accessible to all members of the family, she says. He can sit at the end and prep food or write a grocery list while guests or other family members can sit along the backside. Every element within the space was considered for its impact on the homes occupants, whether they are in a wheelchair or not. Even the door swing on the microwave is addressed.

No compromises

Designers dont often get the opportunity to create spaces with the input of a single voice. Usually there are spouses or significant others ideas to consider, sometimes in conflict with one another, resulting in compromises. But when Michal Behar Brison renovated this kitchen for her bachelor client, there was only one opinion she had to consider.

When Michal Behar Brison renovated this kitchen for her bachelor client, he requested a clean, highly styled, open kitchen with masculine touches. Including one full-height pantry in combination with standard uppers and base cabinets satisfied his storage needs and prevented the cabinetry from overtaking the space. To give the space a bit of masculinity, Brison included walnut base cabinets for the perimeter and island, combining them with a hint of drywall above the upper cabinets painted in a masculine charcoal gray. Photos: Linda Kasian Photography

My client is a single dad who has a young teenage daughter so there was just one person making all the decisions, says the principal/founder, MBB Design Studio in Calabasas, CA.

With a single focus in mind, Brisons client requested a clean, highly styled, open kitchen with masculine touches. Additional requests were relatively minimal, such as including a coffee station and creating a simple cooking area. To accommodate this, the designer began by tearing down walls. Incorporating plenty of countertop space in the new kitchen adds to the visual openness.

The original kitchen was very closed in, with a lot of walls that were used for additional cabinetry, she says. He doesnt have a lot of small appliances or need a lot of storage space for dry goods, so we were able to remove some of the walls to achieve an open floor plan between the kitchen and family room.

Including one full-height pantry in combination with standard uppers and base cabinets satisfies his storage needs and prevents the cabinetry from overtaking the space to maintain an appropriate scale with the family room to which the kitchen adjoins. Because the kitchen is not heavily used by a large family, Brison was able to eliminate cabinet handles to provide a clean, sleek look.

A six-burner cooktop in the island and double ovens, located across from the refrigerator, address his cooking needs. The designer also included a broom closet next to the ovens for easy access.

To give the space a bit of masculinity, Brison included walnut base cabinets for the perimeter and island, combining them with classic white uppers. Adding a white subway tile backsplash further brightens the space while a hint of drywall above the upper cabinets, painted in a masculine charcoal gray, matches the interior doors.

Special times two

She loves to bake. He loves to cook. Their two young daughters love to help both parents.

However, none of it could happen efficiently in their previously dark, cramped kitchen, so Stephanie Fried, designer, Jack Rosen Custom Kitchens, in Rockville, MD, in collaboration with Kirsten Kaplan, Haus Interior Design, created a new space they could better enjoy together as a family.

While islands are often an important design element in todays kitchen, this one just wasnt wide enough to accommodate the familys cooking needs. Plus, there was air return that couldnt be moved, preventing them from opening up the wall. Yet the designers didnt want the new space to feel like a galley-style kitchen with two full walls, so they created a bumped-out peninsula, customized as a baking center.

Bumping out a portion of the wall actually makes it feel like an island, says Fried.

Painting the baking center deep blue set it off from the rest of the classic white kitchen. Adding antiqued mirrored doors gave it specialty status and reflects light from the windows, all while concealing the duct work.

Fried equipped the baking center with plenty of customized storage, including deep drawers for mixing bowls and accessories like rolling pins. A narrow cabinet serves as convenient storage for cutting boards, trays and cookie sheets while the shallow-depth pantry keeps baking ingredients within reach. Open shelves provide easy access to her cookbooks. While Fried often uses appliance lifts for heavy stand mixers, this client wanted to leave her striking red KitchenAid on display, so the designers created an alcove where it can be showcased.

A deep, 30 countertop gives her client plenty of space for rolling dough, without feeling cramped. Choosing to use quartz offers durability and minimizes maintenance.

Other essentials in her baking center include a pull-out trash, wall oven and microwave, all located directly across from the refrigerator.

Stephanie Fried needed to create a dual-purpose kitchen for her clients, one of whom loves to bake, the other of whom loves to cook. Her side features the bumped-out peninsula, which is painted deep blue. Fried equipped it with plenty of customized storage, including deep drawers for mixing bowls and accessories. His side features plenty of prep space combined with the range and sink. Fried also included deep drawers for storage and narrow pullouts for spices.Photo: Stacy Zarin Goldberg

Now she doesnt have to carry eggshells across the room, she says. And when she has a full sheet of cookies, she can just walk around the corner of the peninsula to her oven.

Since the kitchen needed to be dual purpose, Fried gave consideration to the cooking side by including plenty of prep space combined with the range and sink along the outside wall. Fried also included deep drawers for storage and narrow pullouts for spices. The refrigerator is conveniently positioned for both sides.

The designer also included a beverage center, complete with an undercounter refrigerator, at the end of the kitchen near the custom, built-in banquette. Open shelves that stretch across the window give easy access to often-used dishes and coffee mugs.

Now everyone can be in the kitchen baking and cooking together, she says. Theres plenty of space for someone tobe cooking and someone to be on the opposite side of the room baking.

Starting over

When designers at IDF Studio, including lead designer Jaclyn Christensen, CID, discussed renovating this kitchen for their clients, they discovered there was little about its previous existence that worked for the two home chefs.

Designers at IDF Studio transformed this dark, ill-functioning kitchen into a bright, welcoming and new space for their home chef clients. The resulting kitchen has an entirely new layout with warm white perimeter cabinetry that contrasts with the oversized gray-green island. To accommodate the clients passion for cooking, the designers specified top-of-the line appliances as well as a pot filler.Photo: Christopher Stark

We always love to get inside a clients head and learn about how they use their current space, says Kassin Adelman, founder/CEO of the San Francisco, CA firm. We like to find out whats working, and not working; what challenges or annoyances they face, and what improvements might make life easier. We want to understand how they plan to move about the space, which appliances and tools they use the most, then try to optimize it all for the best experience and flow.

The main objective for this remodel was to rid the room of its dark, ill-functioning design, which was best resolved by starting from scratch to create a bright, welcoming and new space for their home chef clients. The resulting kitchen has an entirely new layout with relocated doors and windows. Warm white perimeter cabinetry contrasts with the oversized gray-green island, which was designed to look more like a piece of furniture while housing ample storage for the active family.

To accommodate a passion for cooking, designers specd top-of-the line appliances, including the Wolf range.

The range offers superior heating elements and an infrared griddle, which is great for searing meats and quick-cooking stir fry, she explains. The refrigerator has advanced temperature and humidity controls to keep food fresher, longer.

Additionally, a microwave drawer saves precious countertop space. Adding a wine refrigerator keeps contents chilled and ready for the perfect meal pairings.

The designers also included a pot filler so theres less lugging around of heavy pots, she notes.

The durable quartz countertop is both practical and beautiful and complements the full-height Carrara marble backsplash. The walnut-clad range hood offers added texture and warmth.

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Above and Beyond - Kitchen and Bath Design News

Natural stone countertops and those cobalt blue cabinets you just saw on Pinterest are more than just eye candy. A minor kitchen remodel is in the top 5 most important home improvement projects, according to experts at Millionacres and elsewhere in the industry. But it isn't cheap, with the average cost of a minor kitchen remodel coming in at $22,507. So, if you're planning a remodel this year and questioning what trends have staying power versus ones that'll be outdated in a month -- then I salute you. You're being a smart shopper on an important investment.

Since interiors publications and TV shows give unreliable and often conflicting info, I like to go straight to those who work hands-on for advice on home design and improvement projects. I asked several what they were recommending to clients for 2020, and here's the best of what they said.

Small footprint housing comes with the territory of living in an urban center, and as the kitchen gains status as the center of the home, design experts are asked to help maximize the room's potential without letting it visually dominate the main living area.

"By lining the wall adjacent to a kitchen with base cabinets as well as upper cabinets, people pick up additional storage" is a tip from Suzanne Cook, owner of NYC-based Atmosphere Kitchen & Bath. Cook specializes in high-end yet functional spaces in a city where average apartments are under 900 square feet.

High-end kitchen design and product manufacturer ITALKRAFT sees the kitchen as the focal point of the home. But it's also a workspace, and some components tend to get cluttered or dirty. Thus, Alex Xakoustis, founder of ITALKRAFT, suggests "hiding" the sink with a sliding wood countertop -- that doubles as an eating area when open. He also installs sliding wood paneling that can hide cabinets to create a smoother aesthetic.

As an owner planning to rent or sell, you are likely looking for perceived value instead of the highest-quality, most expensive upgrades available. "Value engineering" is the term Cook uses to explain visual components that seem high-end but are actually affordable.

"While real wood veneers can be quite pricey, laminate manufacturers have come out with unbelievable options that look and feel like real wood without the cost," she says.

Another tip to add the instant hint of high-end: Update your hardware -- starting with the faucet.

Finally, if you have even a hope of charging medium-high rent, Cook contends you must have a dishwasher. And it's not a pricey upgrade, costing $400 to $700 on Home Depot's site to buy new, plus around $200 to install.

Experts agree that the sleek, uniform look is on its way out. A variation of textures and colors is replacing the look where everything's monochrome or perfectly matched.

"We will be seeing more bold, matte colors, such as navy blue, and book-matched wood panels in high gloss," says Xakoustis. "A mix of natural wood with colorful lacquers."

Bookmatching involves having two adjoining surfaces mirror each other so that the finished product resembles an open book.

If you want to introduce a pop of color into the kitchen, HGTV's Laurie March suggests painting just one item: the kitchen island, or maybe the lower half of the cabinets.

"And if you're going to do it, paint it blue," she says. "America's favorite color is blue for the last 5 years."

Both expert color opinions align with the Pantone Color Institute, which named Classic Blue its 2020 Color of the Year.

While wellness is important throughout the home, it makes a lot of sense to focus on it first in the room where food is prepared and eaten.

Many cleaning and home improvement substances contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which are carbon-based and can be harmful to the respiratory system and/or central nervous system. Whether you're deep-cleaning, repainting the walls, or refinishing cabinets, insist on low-VOC products. Many companies are now making paints, finishes, sealants, and cleaning products that are low-VOC.

If you're going green in your food waste practices or plastic usage, look at a kitchen remodel as a way to introduce greener elements into that space. Further to the low-VOC directive, Laurie March suggests you can actually get low-VOC flooring and pressed wood products. Also, look into natural stone countertops instead of laminate and glass storage containers instead of plastic.

Quality of light, and specifically natural light, is key to improving mood and energy. If you can't replace walls and doors with windows and glass -- because of either the expense or the home's construction -- add recessed lights and install mirrors and metallics. If you already have windows, make sure the window coverings aren't too dark or heavy.

Whether you're looking to rent out your property, working toward selling it, or just trying to beautify the space you live in, a kitchen remodel can really pay off. And even small updates can make a major difference if you don't have the budget for big ones.

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Kitchen Renovation Trends for 2020 - Motley Fool

Bold is beautiful, and kitchen designers and homeowners agree: Interest in daring kitchen color choices such as avocado green and millennial pink is on the rise. Although white remainsa fan-favorite for most homeownersaccording to the 2020 Houzz Kitchen Trends Report, searches for unique color choices are way up, and shades such as emerald and turquoise are making their rounds in high-end, custom kitchens. Going bold is risky, however, especially if designers integrate the color into countertops and cabinetry: Make a wrong move, and you could be out thousands of dollars and stuck with a bubblegum-colored countertops when you were going fora millennial pink shade.

Remember your grandmothers avocado-green kitchen? It could soon be yours. Or maybe itll be pink, mauve, emerald green or buttercup. Anything but white, because the revolt against the white kitchen has begun.

Last November, the cover of Elle Decor featured a Steven Gambrel-designed kitchen awash in a shiny turquoise even the ceiling gleamed like an iridescent underwater wonderland. On Pinterest between November 2018 and November 2019, searches for dark green cabinets jumped 367 percent, plum kitchens went up 107 percent and pink kitchen walls spiked 121 percent.

For decades now, cabinets have been relegated to white, brown or maybe black, and its been even longer since appliances were allowed to be anything but stainless steel. But the Instagram kitchen invariably a clean backdrop of basic Shaker cabinets, simple subway backsplashes and marble countertops finally has some competition.

Jenny Dina Kirschner, an interior designer in New York, recently painted the cabinets pink for a client in Long Island, giving the room a decidedly 80s vibe somewhere between mauve and millennial pink. The color picked up the pinkish tones in the Calacatta Vagli marble countertop.

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Will Bold Colors Overthrow the All-White Kitchen in 2020? - Professional Builder

Air Fryers have become a trendy option for cooking without using oils or heating up your oven. They are a great way to prepare healthy, delicious recipes easily. Dash by Storebound, a company well known for fine small appliances, has a selection of air fryers to fit all of your kitchen and food prep needs.

At Dash, they believe that the first step to a better life starts with cooking and eating real, wholesome foods. That is why they make products to help customers blend, prep, simmer, saut, and cook to achieve better health.

Dash has two excellent air fryer models. Dash's 10L Compact Air Fryer Oven air fries, bakes, broils, warms and also toasts. Its AirCrisp technology cooks with hot air for tasty and healthier fried food without using too much added oil or fat. The rotating basket automatically turns ingredients to ensure crispy, even results for your food. A baking pan and oven rack is included to cook mini-pizzas, bake pastries, and even broil tasty meat entres. The unit delivers the features of a toaster oven with the power of air frying. The 10L Compact Air Fryer Oven also has a timer and auto-shutoff function to prevent overcooking. And the size is ideal for countertops. The attractive small appliance is a great option for apartment living and dorm rooms, especially when the use of a full kitchen may not be readily available.

The Dash Compact Air Fryer comes in a variety of colors to coordinate with your home decor. You can enjoy your very favorite fried foods without any of the guilt. AirCrisp technology rapidly circulates air to cook ingredients keeping the signature crispy quality of fried foods, while eliminating the need for oil. Air frying reduces added fat by 70-80% without sacrificing flavor. Simply plug in the Dash Compact Air Fryer, set the desired time and temperature, and you're ready to air fry. The neat design of the Dash Compact Air Fryer fits on your countertop while offering an ample 1.2L capacity. The dishwasher safe parts make your Dash Compact Air Fryer especially easy to clean.

Check out just a few of the delightful recipes that you can easily prepare with a Dash's Air Fryer units.

Crispiest Air Fried Potatoes can be made in the 10L Compact Air Fryer Oven using less oil than conventional fried potatoes

Ingredients:

-1 lb red potatoes, chopped

-2 tsps olive oil

-1 tsp garlic powder

-1 tsp Italian seasoning

- tsp salt

Method: Toss red potatoes in olive oil and spices. Place in the Rotating Basket and Air Fry in the Dash 10L Compact Air Fryer at 400F for 20 minutes.

Easy Donuts can be made in the Dash Compact Air Fryer as a tasty, better for you donut treat

Ingredients:

-1 can of biscuit dough

-4 tbsp butter, melted

-1/3 cups granulated sugar

-1/2 tsp cinnamon

-4 tbsp dark brown sugar

1/2 tsp sea or kosher salt

Method: These donuts take only 5 minutes in your air fryer. Combine sugar, cinnamon, brown sugar and salt in a bowl and set aside. Preheat Air Fryer to 320 degrees, Remove the dough from the can but do not flatten and use a 1 inch ring cutter to cut a hole in the center of each biscuit. Arrange three pieces of dough in the basket at a time and air fry for 5 minutes. As each round of donuts comes out, use a pastry brush to paint butter on the entire surface of each donut. Coat each buttered donut in the sugar mix. Shake off excess and serve warm.

Try these and other recipes provided with your Air Fryers and on the Dash web site.

Dash has other products that include their Dash Rapid Cold Brew System, Dash Greek Yogurt Maker, Dash Mini-Maker Grill, Dash Rapid Egg Cooker, Dash Deluxe Ice Cream Maker and many more fine products.

For more information, please visit the company web site at https://www.bydash.com/.

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Dash

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DASH Air Fryers for Healthier Eating in the New Year with Countertop Convenience - Broadway World