You Can Be A Kitchen Magician! (& Dash For Stash Winner Announced!)

Editor's Note:  I will be taking a couple weeks off to rejuvenate:)  See you in June!  Be sure to go to the Index by Topic for loads of posts about anything and everything!  Enjoy!  Gale

Hello!

I am certainly not a magician in the kitchen, but I do love to design for other folks who like to cook (or just look at an awesome kitchen!)  You can spend a little, or you can spend a lot, but no matter your budget something can be done.  I have some tips below the tour of some of the rooms I have designed.  I would be happy to try and answer any questions you might have.  Just post a comment!  If you are local, feel free to drop in the store with your measurements and we can take a look!

This roomy kitchen is great for entertaining, multiple cooks or just to help the kids with homework while fixing meals.
The cabinets are by Schuler (Harper Maple door style in Carriage Black w/ Heirloom Burnt Sienna Glaze,)

This is an open kitchen, office and entertainment area using Kraftmaid Durham Maple Square door style in Praline w/Onyx Glaze.

This simple design for a small space still has style with an apron sink and stainless appliances.  This is in Diamond Reflections Amhearst Maple Square in Cloud.

This owner chose to combine colors to keep kitchen light, yet match her hardwood floor.  Different colored islands are popular.  This kitchen is in Shenandoah McKinley Maple Square Coffee and Auburn w/ Auburn Maple Glaze.

This kitchen utilizes different depths and heights to make it's statment.  This is Kraftmaid Carrington Maple Praline w/ Mocha Highlights.

This family preferred the industrial look with minimal cabinets, but lots of glass.  This is Schuler  Soho Maple in Harbor Mist.

Oddly-shaped rooms provide a challenge, but it can be done in style.  This is Shenandoah in McKinley Square w/ Painted Hazelnut.

This is a to-die-for craft room, but could easily be a home office.  Designed in Shenandoah Breckinridge Cherry Spice.

Kraftmaid's new distressed cabinets!




I proved I could 10 pounds of "potatoes" in a five pound bag...

What's Hot & What's Not!

I would never suggest designing a kitchen just based on trends.  Get what works for you, your space and your budget.  However, if you plan to update and/or sell your house (or are just curious) here are some current hot items in my opinion...

In:  Square and slab doors, Mission/Shaker types 

Out: Cathedral and "fussy" door styles

In: Maple, Cherry or painted cabinets in shades of Gray, White, Ivory, Black

Out:  Oak 

In:  Stainless appliances

Out:  Bisque

In:  Just about any countertop--but quartz and granite lead the way

Out:  Real marble and butcher block (mostly due to care)

In:  Stainless bar pulls and handles

Out: Brass or fussy designs

In:  Neutral walls with one pop of color, maybe in backsplash or decorative items

Out:  Wallpaper and wallpaper borders, curtains

In:  Under-mount sinks.  Though it can be done, I am not sold that it is a good idea for laminate tops.

Updating on a Dime

You don't have to spend a lot of money and effort to perk up your current kitchen.  A fresh coat of paint is by far the cheapest way to change a look.  Changing your hardware is another option, but make sure they fit in the same holes you have!

Updating your lighting is another great way to make a change--most house are built with contractor grade boring fixtures.  Nice ones don't have to be that expensive.  

I am not a fan of those do-it-yourself cabinet and countertop kits.  I have heard some of the cabinet ones look nice, but the time/effort is intensive and the kits aren't cheap.  Laminate countertops don't have to be expensive and I would think cleaner and better looking than painting one or covering with faux granite, etc.  I have always gone by the rule if it's not real that's okay, but don't try to make it "look" real--fake always looks fake, especially close up.  

For house value and durability issues, I would always go with real materials, even if it took me forever to afford them one at a time.  Below is a chart of what you can expect when you remodel to sell.

Well, that does it for this post.  Hope it was helpful!  The "Dash For The Stash" winner is Kelly J!  She has until Monday 5/3 morning to respond with her mailing info or another name will be drawn.

Until next time,

Gale

Gale's Gallery XVIII: "Dash For The Stash" Giveaway!

Hey Crafty Friends,

I am sorting through lots of things and my craft area is the current target.  This is likely the first of several giveaways to help lighten my load and perhaps add to your stash!  Sadly, I've given lots of things away and still find stuff that someone else might find useful.  This time there is a set of never or barely used punches, stamp sets, tools, etc.  All you need to do to enter is leave a comment below.  I will draw May 1st, so check back to see if you won so you can send me your contact info!  (If prize isn't claimed in 2 days, I will draw another--- so don't forget!)

FREE TO GOOD HOME!

I hope you'll also take a moment to take a peek at some past Gale's Galleries and other non-crafty posts. (You might especially enjoy "The Getaway to Stampaway.")  The links and post descriptions are up in the right corner's "Index By Topic."  You are also cordially invited to subscribe by links on the right column and at the bottom of the page!

Below are a couple of simple Spring cards I thought I'd share...

I'm hooked on these 3-D word dies...

It's hard to see, but they sparkle:)

Enjoy!  I hope you'll subscribe and come back soon!

Good luck!

Gale

Back To The Future: "Star Trek" Revisited!

Greetings Earthlings,

Since the main TV season has ended (not that I liked many of the shows) there has been nothing on that Taylor and I both want to watch while we eat dinner.  We eat late because he doesn't get off work until 8 p.m.  I record the evening news and zip through it before he gets home because nothing in it is too appetizing, not to mention the silly amount of "personal medication" commercials that I think should be banned!  But that's a whole different post...

L to R:  Scotty,  McCoy, Chekov, Nurse Chapel, Kirk, Uhura, Spock and Sulu

Anyway, I barely remember "Star Trek" when it first came out.  It was on after my bedtime and only my older brother Jeff watched it.  But in the 70s the reruns were on after school (before or after "Speed Racer"  LOL!  I was never into "Dark Shadows.")  My younger brother Stan Jr. and I watched them all and pretty much had them memorized.  He really got into it and even watched the following series' and movies.  I watched one or two movies, but never a new series.  Nothing beats the old one in my book.

So now Taylor and I enjoy watching one a day on Netflix.  I am amazed at what useless things I remember from 35-40 years ago!  I can guess their next line or movement with good accuracy.  The high-def TV really makes the sets look fake and the copious amounts of eyeliner, shadow and lipstick is obvious,  but it adds to the fun.  Some of our other observations:

Taylor:  "The future contains no ugly women."  (Note: Whenever they shoot a woman, they switch to filters that soften them.)

Gale:  "There must have been a shortage in fabric since the women's uniforms barely cover "their business."

Taylor:  "Even though there isn't gravity, you can still be flung around the bridge."

Gale: "Yet when the Enterprise is tilted, the floors are still level."

Taylor:  "Captain Kirk always rips up the right side of his shirt when he fights."

Gale:  "They sure can do a lot with cardboard.  Boulders and computers are both made of it."

Taylor & Gale:  "No matter where they are or who/what they are talking to, the language is always English."

Gale:  "Spock changes colors nearly every episode."

Everyone in the World:  "Never go on a landing party if you are wearing a red shirt unless you are Scotty!  (Although it appears women can go on landing parties in red and survive.)"

Taylor:  "Kirk started a new acting method called 'Shatnerian.'  It's when...you space...your words...for emphasis..."

If you were wondering what the uniform colors mean:

Green/Gold- command, helm
Blue- science, medical
Red- operations, engineering, security (poor guys)

As far as I know, only Kirk, Uhura and Sulu are left from original cast (possibly Chekov, who isn't exactly original.)  Leonard Nimoy (Spock) just passed away last month at age 83.

 Here is a link to a Star Trek Crossword puzzle-- Enjoy!

Well, must get back to chores!

 Live long and prosper,

Gale

You're Invited To A Hen Party!

Happy Belated Easter! 

 I hope you enjoyed the day as we did with family and friends. So grateful the sun was out here!  After church, Easter basket hunting and a nice lunch, it was time to celebrate "the Ladies" 4th Birthday!  We made them a cake of cornbread and strawberry yogurt.  After the initial frenzy, they stopped back periodically and ate every crumb.

 

We are paying special attention to Megg as she hasn't been herself lately.  There is nothing specific as we can tell and I'm guessing it's due to her size and age.  She eats, walks around and hangs out, so for now we will keep her going.

Megg, the Ladies and I

Well, better get to finishing my taxes:(  The next post promises to be "out of this world!"

See you then!

Gale

"Of Mice And Macs" -- Remembering The Early Days of Home Computing

Many moons ago, before many of you were born, we old folks lived a simple life where mice weren't welcome in homes and MacIntoshes were apples that were eaten. That was also when I started working freelance as an advertising copywriter.  Something I've done now and again for 30 years-ish.  One of my BFFs, Carole, who is fabulous advertising art director and has always believed in me, even when I wasn't so sure, helped me get one of my first paying gigs writing ads for this barely known company called Apple Computers.  (By the way, this was several years before the internet became popular!)

I wasn't (and am not still) all that tech-saavy, but apparently nobody else was either LOL!  Along came this assignment to write an eight-page "advetorial" insert for the L.A. Times Magazine.  I was thinking I bit off more "apple" than I could chew, but it worked out and I remember how excited I was to get the check! It went on to win an "Addy" for the ad firm.  

(Blogger is free, so it's got some limitations to uploading sizes and kinds of files.  So I am only including the parts left that I wrote with the exception of the MIDI section that was on one of the pages:)

So, sit back and enjoy "the possible benefits" of home computers...


BTW, I am typing this on an iMac that by most folks' standards is a dinosaur at 8 years old with only one software upgrade.  Most computers this age are in the dump by now.  However, judging from the issues I had loading these pages, it would be less time-consuming to upgrade:)

I have a special post planned for you on Easter Sunday, so stay tuned!

Until next time!

Gale