Quantifying Taste...

A person's design aesthetic or "taste" is closely tied to emotion and translating those feelings into words becomes challenging when there are so many unfettered artful details bouncing around the imagination.  Add in memories and past experiences in spaces that one might want to re-create and communication really becomes murky. The first task in the process of creating or renovating a space often occurs well before the actual design work has begun; and that is simply defining what the finished space should look and feel like and then successfully communicating the concept to the designer.  When approaching any project, it is critical that everyone involved—clients, designers, and craftspeople—are working off the same vision and toward the same goal.   And that is why, of all the tools at our disposal today, one of the most critical is an item that you cannot buy at any hardware store.  In fact, you cannot buy it at all; it is free, on-line, and available to everyone...

Houzz.com is a social media website designed specifically around interior design that offers a virtually endless reservoir of home-improvement and design inspirations.   One of Houzz.com’s benefits is that it helps close the conceptual gap between creative collaborators.  No matter what space you're creating or renovating, Houzz.com presents a wide range of styles, many with subtle shades of differences.  Houzz.com provides endless inspiration and the virtual cork board on which to save, compare, live with, and share your ideas.  It would not be an exaggeration to describe Houzz.com as the Pinterest for interior design—only with Houzz.com’s single-subject purpose, you won’t be distracted by myriad other pretty pictures, click on a diverting link, and wind up admiring shoes for twenty minutes.  With tools like Houzz.com you can take your time honing in on the exact look that serves all your needs, as well as giving your designer a crystal clear concept of what you envision.  This makes budgeting much easier, and virtually guarantees that what you envision is what you will get. 

Join me on Houzz.com

There is a lot at stake in a remodeling job, financially as well as emotionally.  That is why Jason Landau  and his team at Amazing Spaces L.L.C. accentuates the value of collaboration with their clients, and one reason their clients love working with them.   Jason enthusiastically recommends checking out Houzz.com early in the design and interior space planning process.  Follow Jason's profile on Houzz.com to see firsthand his dazzling aesthetic and design contributions; you will quickly understand how easy and rewarding collaboration can be.  For more information visit the Amazing Spaces website at www.amazingspacesllc.com or phone Jason at 914-239-3725.

Open A New Window For Your Kitchen Remodel

If you are remodeling an older home, you may be faced with an often-seen relic of the past—a dark kitchen. Kitchens used to be smaller than is the fashion now and all-important wall space was used for cabinets, not “wasted” on windows. But today’s larger kitchen designs allow for the inclusion of all types of windows. Selecting the right ones can mean your kitchen remodeling project can go from purely practical to a light-filled space you’ll love. Here, with a little help from our friends at Andersen Windows, are some ideas to transform your kitchen from mundane to magic:

Cozy Nook

Casement windows that crank outwards are often installed over kitchen countertops because reaching over to lift a double-hung can be awkward. This kitchen features 400 Series Casement windows with pine interior, surrounded in oak trim. The look is completed with Frank Lloyd Wright Colonade art glass and stone-color Metro hardware. These windows feature a natural wood interior (pine is available), low maintenance exteriors, and a nearly invisible TruScene insect screen is optional.

Sunny Space

Use windows to convert a dark corner into a comfortable built-in nook for casual dining and a well-lit workspace. This room features 400 Series Picture windows with pre-finished white interiors, painted white trim and a custom grille pattern. Windows can be used as a single window or in combinations. High performance glass provides exceptional energy efficiency and a variety of grille options are available.

Rustic Retreat

Take advantage of a great view by making windows a center point of a room. Flexiframe triangles and a 30-degree Casement Angle Bay unit compliment a 400 Series Frenchwood Gliding patio door with natural pine interior.  These doors feature solid wood construction (your choice of oak, maples or pine interiors) and eight styles of hardware with 12 different finishes are available.

Cottage Comfort

If the kitchen is the center of the home, consider making windows the center of the kitchen. 400 Series transom units sit above 400 Series Casement windows with Estate hardware and specified equal-lit grilles. Pre-finished white interiors and painted white trim finish the combination. The larger glass area of these windows let in more light and the vinyl cladding protects the sash from rain.

Executive Elegance

The layout of a kitchen is critical, making window placement even more important. This kitchen features three 400 Series Tilt-Wash Double-Hung windows with pre-finished white interiors, bright brass Estate hardware and specified equal lite grille patterns. These traditional windows feature convenient tilt-in cleaning.

Trendy & Homey

Many kitchens blend easily into a dining room and living room, with windows and patio doors fully integrated into the overall look and feel of the space. These rooms showcase 200 Series products and feature 200 Series Tilt-Wash Double-Hung windows with pine interiors, stone-colored metro hardware, and colonial grille patterns in top sash only. The windows have Low-E or dual pane insulating glass, pine interiors and low-maintenance exteriors.

Some general things to remember about your window selection:

Windows may be custom, semi-custom, or stock, but they're all constructed to fit snugly in the window opening provided. You can choose from aluminum, vinyl, wood, aluminum over wood, and vinyl over wood, depending on your needs and budget. Whatever material you prefer, the best news about double- or triple-pane windows is that separate storm windows are a thing of the past.

·      Aluminum is the most economical material but may conduct cold, heat, and moisture. It's maintenance free, but if you elect to paint it, it requires yearly maintenance like any other painted outdoor surface on your home.

·      Vinyl is also maintenance free and cannot usually be painted successfully, but it comes in a range of popular trim colors as well as in white.

·      Wood, the classic window frame material, is still favored for many high-end and historic homes.

 

More common than double-hungs are casement windows, which are actually an older, simpler style than double-hungs. Casement windows are hinged on the side and can swing in or out to provide complete ventilation. They usually operate with crank handles, making them easy to operate, even when placed above counters and sinks. Your designer will make sure your casements are hinged to swing outward, or will allow space in front of the window for opening them.

Windows may be placed high in the wall and shelving installed beneath to hide an unattractive view while still letting in light.

Decorative windows are available in many shapes and sizes, but among the most pleasing is the half-round, sometimes called Palladian after the classic architect Palladio, who popularized them. Half-round windows can be positioned above doors, above other windows, or in shallow wall spaces to bring in more light and create architectural interest. Quarter-round and elliptical versions are also available and many high-end manufacturers now include art glass windows (stained glass or decoratively grilled) in their product lines. We’ll learn more about those in a future article.

To help you see the design options for your new kitchen windows, it is best to call on the experienced eye of a kitchen designer like Jason Landau of Amazing Spaces, LLC. Trained as an architect with an artist’s eye for using light, Jason can help you choose the perfect windows to brighten your new space. Visit www.amazingspacesllc.com or call 914-239-3725.

A Look Into Your Kitchen's Future

Part of our job at Amazing Spaces, LLC is to keep you abreast of the latest and greatest in kitchen technology—sometimes (like now) even giving you a glimpse into the future. Here, let us introduce you to Thermador's Freedom Induction Cooktop and Thermador's Star Speed Dishwasher. Both will bring your kitchen into the 21st century at light speed.

Called “the techie chef's dream” by Wired Magazine and “the world's sexiest stove” by Forbes, Thermador's Freedom Induction Cooktop is the first full-surface induction appliance with the flexibility of a natural-mapping user interface that intelligently recognizes cookware size, shape and position to deliver heat without boundaries. You read that right—the Freedom cooktop knows what pots and pans you are using and where they are on the cooking surface.

You can put your cookware anywhere on the cooking surface, and use any shaped pits and pans--including specially-shaped cookware such as griddles and oval-shaped pans. The natural-mapping user interface even lets you move your cookware around during the cooking process, which is helpful if you add and remove different dishes during meal preparation — like making sauces, boiling water, and sautéing. There are no limits on where to place the cookware.

And just when you thought it couldn't get any cooler...The Thermador Freedom Induction Cooktop surface is made from transparent ceramic glass, allowing for the integration of the color touchscreen. Besides just showing you the position of all your cookware on the cooktop's surface, the touchscreen performs live updates as cookware is moved to a different position, giving you an intuitive cooking experience.

With more than 30 international patents, the Thermador Freedom Induction Cooktop is built with 48 individual three-inch induction heating elements below the surface of the appliance. That gives you 63-percent more effective cooking area on the surface than those old-fashioned (predefined) elements. The Freedom Induction Cooktop also offers all of the benefits of traditional induction technology: instantaneous and precise temperature control (making it as responsive as gas); safer cooking (as the surface stays cool to the touch); and easier cleaning with its smooth and flush surface.

Here, at a glance, are some of the highlights of this exciting new cooktop:

• A 6.5-inch, full-color touchscreen display that recognizes pot shape, size, and controls power setting and cooking time.
• The surface area has the largest cooking surface there is(it can accommodate a 21-inch x 13-inch pan).
• A range of 4,600-watt maximum power output with Boost feature and 15-watt minimum power output.

The Thermador Freedom Induction Cooktop will be available July 2012 with a MSRP of $4,949.

But, as we all know, our culinary masterpieces sometimes dirty a lot of dishes, so when it comes to cleaning up your creations, Thermador has also stepped things up by introducing the Star-Sapphire dishwasher.

Along with featuring the Thermador-exclusive adjustable Flexible Chef’s Tool Drawer (for all those spatulas, whisks and favorite spoons), Sapphire Glow™ Light (to light the interior and another subtle floor light which, since the unit is so quiet, is the only indication the dishwasher is in use), and Flexible Folding Tines to accommodate a variety of cookware sizes (the rack height also adjusts to clean even your tallest baking racks).

The Star-Sapphire steps up to include the industry’s largest wine glass capacity (18 glasses), smooth glide racks, a Time Remaining PowerBeam®, and StarSpeed™, the industry's fastest full-wash hot water (it preheats the water ahead of time and the full cycle clocks in at 20 minutes) meaning you shouldn't run out of serving dishes or wine glasses in mid-dinner party.

Star-Sapphire is available at an MSRP of $2,199.

Amazing Spaces, LLC is happy to design a kitchen to accommodate these Thermador appliances and head designer Jason Landau is well-versed in specs needed to add these--and any other luxury brand appliance-- to your dream kitchen. For more information on these appliances,visit www.thermador.com and to discuss building a new or remodeling your existing kitchen, please give Jason or Susie a call at Amazing Spaces, LLC at 914-239-3725.

Success Story: Let There Be Light

Amazing Spaces, LLC brightens up a 20-year old kitchen and brings a little beauty to utilitarian spaces in a 20-year-old Colonial.

It was all about the light. When Jason Landau of Amazing Spaces, LLC met with his new clients, Maude & Don Delaski, the couple knew that parts of their 20-year old Colonial home need remodeling. Though they would eventually have a ground floor Powder Room and Laundry room redone, it was the dark kitchen that was the catalyst for the whole project.

“The kitchen abutted a covered deck which made the whole space very dark,” recalls Maude. “Everything was outdated and worn out.”

The home was certainly well-used as the family once numbered five. As the kids grew and left home, the number of residents dropped to three (and two canine family members) but on holidays that number could swell to 22 or more. The Delaskis needed room for all and space for more than just one person to do the cooking.

A realtor friend recommended Jason Landau of Amazing Spaces, LLC who met with the Delaskis, took some measurements and immediately began seeing in his mind how more light could be let into the kitchen, as well as ways it could become much more user-friendly for the cooks and helpers.

"Where there was once more cabinetry, I opened the space to a wall of windows and vaulted the ceiling of the 12-foot-deep covered porch,” says Landau. The family likes to grill out and eat in nice weather, so I added more light by installing skylights in the porch's roof”.

“Jason hit the nail right on the head,” says Maude. “He had a vision right away about how to improve the kitchen. He went back to his office, drew up the layout, and off we went. We changed virtually nothing from his original plans.”

“In the original layout, one-third of the kitchen was wasted,” Landau says. “I decided to separate the kitchen into two very functional sides-- one with everything the cook would need (the range, ovens, prep sink and part of the island ) and the other for everyone not doing the cooking (with a main sink, small appliances, Miele paneled dishwasher, and lots of counter space). The two areas would meet in the middle with both sharing access to the 42-inch paneled SubZero refrigerator.

The Delaskis chose a 48-inch Wolf range with six burners and a griddle (which they use much more often than they thought they would, with grilled chicken being a particular favorite).

“I refer to my former stove the 'play stove' after I saw my new one,” says Maude.

The Delaskis also chose beaded inset paint and glazed maple cabinetry named Yellow Flicker from Levant, complete with mesh doors beneath the sink to add an upscale country feel.

“We looked at lots of styles and colors in kitchen magazine,” says Maude, they found Jason a very reassuring presence. They largely followed his lead and only had one wrong choice that was quickly corrected after Maude sat straight up in bed one night and realized she couldn't live with the metal- accented tile she had picked when Landau took her tile shopping. “I chose something more toned down and now love the backsplash of Crema Marfil tumbled marble set in both subway and herringbone patterns.”

Another change came about when the finish on the island's Bronzite granite didn't suit the piece of granite they selected, so Landau suggested changing from a leathering finish to a polished surface and the resultant surface is stunning.

Recessed lights add extra wattage to the alabaster lights provided by the shaded pendants above the countertops and islands. The countertops elsewhere in the kitchen are Yellow River granite and the rich oak flooring gives the whole space an even warmer feel.

“The kitchen is a huge upgrade,” says Maude. “Now the kitchen is elegant and professional. It not only makes cooking more fun, it makes the whole house more desirable for when we decide to sell.”

“The Delaski's kitchen project came out great, in my opinion,” says Landau. “It is now the perfect example of how a good kitchen design can accommodate multiple people all making use of the space simultaneously.”

But Landau wasn't done yet. Amazing Spaces, LLC redesigned the existing Powder Room. Landau had installed a marble counter, an antiqued ivory buffet-style vanity (to complement the wood molding), a lovely blush patterned wall covering and hanging from the darkly-accented ceiling, a jewel-like chandelier.

“Amazing Spaces, LLC created a beautiful little room,”says Maude, who also particularly appreciated that Landau moved the room's door out of the center of the sight-line of the home's front door.

“It makes for more privacy and a nicer view when you enter the home,” explains Landau. 

The new laundry room replaced the previous one's builder cabinets, slop sink and an old washer and dryer with a stackable washer and dryer, washed blue cabinetry, a light marble counter (over which hang very useful clothing rods) and multi-tonal tile which reflects all the room's colors, making the room gorgeous as well as useful.

To complete all the projects took six months, but not only was all the dust contained, with the floors washed every night, but an entire mini-kitchen was created for the family's use during the renovation.

“It was worth every penny and every minute,” says Maude. “We had a crowd over at Thanksgiving and my husband Don and I worked side-by-side in the new kitchen. Even the guest sitting at the table just off the kitchen pitched in to help. It was fun and everyone admired all the changes.”

“The work Amazing Spaces, LLC did for the Delaskis was a true pleasure,” says Landau. “They were very open to making changes and I'm very glad they are delighted with the outcome.”


Let Amazing Spaces, LLC help remake your kitchen or bath. Please call Jason or Susie today at 914- 239-3725 or visit us at www.amazingspacesllc.com. We look forward to working with you.

Countertops: Which type is best for your kitchen?

Next to cabinetry, perhaps the biggest design statement in your kitchen is your countertops. But besides being beautiful, you need the surface of your counters to be easy to clean, resistant to stains and long lasting. Here is some information about the different materials available to help you make an informed choice:

·      Granite: Always popular, granite is elegant, durable and resists heat, making it the first choice of many homeowners. Since it is a natural rock, the colors and pattern won't be consistent, but granite does come in a rainbow of colors and the natural pitting or inconsistencies in the rock itself make your countertop truly one-of-a-kind. You'll need to seal your granite countertops once a year.

·      Quartz: If you'd like more consistency in the color and texture of your countertop, Quartz is a very hard material that gives the look of natural stone, but has more consistency. It, too, comes in a range of colors and has a scratch resistant surface. Since it is non-porous, quartz doesn't need sealing annually.

·      Glass: This material is not porous and is therefore a good choice for homeowners concerned with hygiene. Glass also shows less fingerprints and dust, but it can scratch, so consider choosing textured glass for your countertop. A range of colors is available and glass’ ability to both reflect and filter light makes for many dramatic options.

·      Marble is the most regal of materials (reflected in its price) and like all things royal, takes more tending. Marble is more susceptible to staining and, as it is more porous than granite, needs to be sealed more often. The edges may also chip and crack, so be sure to choose a less fragile piece (be guided here by your kitchen designer’s advice) for use as a countertop.

·      Metal: Easy to clean, sanitary and heat resistant, metal counters (stainless steel, zinc or copper) are also very durable and can give either an ultra modern or rustic look to your kitchen. Metal counters do have some disadvantages: they will scratch when used as a cutting board and show fingerprints, dents, and water spotting. Using a textured or brushed surface helps hide these flaws. Also metal can be noisy, so it needs to be properly insulated when installed.

·      Concrete: Since concrete is scratch and heat resistant, it is a very durable material (that does required periodic sealing). Concrete also has the benefit of being able to be formed into any shape, since the concrete is poured into a custom mold, usually on site. Inlays and tinting can make concrete even more distinctive.

·      Corian: Countertops of Corian look like stone, but this material has a consistent color and pattern and can be molded in almost any shape. Stain resistant and easy to clean, it is heat resistant but don't put pots straight from the stove on it. Corian may also be scratched so use caution when cutting (shallow scratches can sometimes be removed with mild abrasive).

·      Wood: Butcher Block (usually made of maple) is not the only option for a wood countertop—others include cherry, teak, bamboo and mahogany. Each has its own characteristics, but the width of board (wide, medium or end-grain planks) and the thickness of the countertenor you choose will affect the price. Also finishing the countertop must be taken into consideration. Polyurethane, while durable, isn't the best choice for food prep and other choices, like sealer vs. mineral oil must be discussed with your contractor (and will be the topic of a future article here). Bear in mind that all wood tops will require re-sanding and resealing regularly.

·      Slate: a scratch and heat resistant, non-porous stone, slate needs no sealing, but mineral oil should be used for protection. Slate comes in a limited range of colors (black, purple, red, gray brown and greens) but when a matt honed finish is used, slate displays its own muted beauty.

·      Soapstone: This material is stain-resistant, but needs regular maintenance with mineral oil. Sort of a cross between marble and granite, Soapstone is softer than both and comes in smaller slabs, meaning you may end up with more seams in your kitchen. The smooth surface is smooth and its color palette is limited to blacks, greens and grays.

·      Ceramic Tile: Though ceramic tiles comes in many colors, textures, patterns and price points, as a countertop material it has drawbacks: tiles can crack or chip, the surface isn't smooth, grout lines need cleaning and sealing, and can often stain.

When choosing the perfect countertops for your new kitchen installation, it is best to consult an expert. Jason Landau of Amazing Spaces, LLC is an award-winning kitchen designer who can help you make an informed choice. Give him a call at 914-239-3725 or visit the Amazing Spaces, LLC website at www.amazingspacesllc.com to see a portfolio of their work.

Caring For Your Fine Wood Cabinetry

With spring cleaning just around the corner, thoughts often turn to giving your home a thorough scrubbing, but in the case of your fine wood cabinetry, you need to exercise some caution. Just like your elegant dining room table or those heirloom chairs handed down from your Grandmother, your fine wood kitchen cabinetry also deserves your loving touch.

Wood reacts to light, temperature and humidity, and all three must be addressed to extend the life of your cabinetry:

·       Sunlight’s effect: While wood gradually mellows into a richer shade with exposure to normal daylight, avoid excessive direct sunlight, which can fade the wood dramatically.

·       Setting the temperature: Wood cabinetry is best maintained at a room temperature of 70 degrees.

·       Controlling humidity: The wood products used in fine cabinetry is based on furniture industry standards. Such standards dictate that the wood be conditioned to a 5-8% moisture content in the wood. The humidity in the kitchen itself should be maintained at between 25-55% to be a compatible environment for wood cabinetry. As humidity increases, wood gains moisture and expands. If the humidity decreases, it contracts. Such expansion and contraction can, over time, become visible at the joints of the cabinets and frames. (These stresses are more visible on painted finishes.) Normal stresses that happen in a properly humid environment are a natural characteristic of the wood and not considered a defect. But humidity higher than 55% can cause wood failure—meaning cracks, splits, and separation at the joints—causing door expansion (meaning the door will rub against the frame when opened or closed). Humidity lower than 25% can cause problems of its own from wood's shrinkage, which may create cracks.

How to clean your wood cabinetry:

·      To avoid scratching, never use abrasive cleansers or pads on cabinet surfaces. They can cause scratches.

·      Always keep cabinet surfaces dry and free from standing liquids.

·      Use environmentally safe cleaners like Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day, Method, Seventh Generation, Caldera or Ecover at a ratio of two cups water to two teaspoons of soap. Don't use strong soaps, detergents or liquid wax cleaners.

·      You can experiment with a quality wood wax, but try it on an inside surface first to see the effect. Many people never use anything but soap and water on their wood cabinetry.

·      Stained finishes: Remove the dirt and grease using mild soapy water, a soft cloth and light pressure. Avoid rubbing too vigorously. Rinse immediately with a clean cloth and dry with a clean soft cloth.

·      Painted or Matte Finishes: Never use wax on these surfaces. Wipe with soft cloth and mild soapy water solution. Rinse immediately and never let water stand on cabinetry.

·      Metallic Inserts: Don't use anything abrasive (pads or cleaners) as you can permanently damage the insert's surface. Also avoid acids, solvents and ammonia-based cleaners as you may etch the surface of the metal.

·      Hinges: Keep the hinges lubricated with white lithium spray grease. As hinges may loosen over time, you may need to tighten the screw to restore them to perfect working order (remove the hinge cap on frameless cabinets to access the hinge screws).

For more questions about caring for your fine wood cabinetry or to choose new cabinetry to install, please contact kitchen designer, Jason Landau at Amazing Spaces, LLC. Jason's decades of experience with choosing, installing and caring for fine wood cabinetry will help you protect your investment for years to come. Visit www.amazingspacesllc.com or phone 914-239-3725.

Tying Together Rooms With Color

Boxy little rooms, all decorated separately, is dated design. Today's savvy homeowner wants sight lines to and continuous flow between rooms. Such a flow creates harmony, but carving out a connection between rooms in the open floor plans favored these days can be a challenge. The key is vision and to see “The Big Picture” and for this you may need the help of a professional kitchen designer, like Jason Landau of Amazing Spaces, LLC. One of the ways Landau creates a harmonious flow between rooms is by the clever use of color.

Landau's training in architecture prepared him to see how seemingly disparate elements can come together to create a seamless whole. Landau keeps in mind that light, texture, shape, scale, pattern, and color are all elements of successful design, but balance must be heeded above all. A kitchen design should have energy, but not be too kinetic or disruptive. The design should flow as naturally as a creek over pebbles.

First the designer will help you consider the space. What rooms will you be able to see from the kitchen? What portions of other rooms? Then try to see, with the help of your designer, all these spaces as connected, not separate entities. It's like looking at a whole mountain range instead of only one dramatic peak.

Then choose five paint colors you like without considering which paint would go where in your final design. A color palette may suggest itself by your choices or you might want to discard two of the colors that don't seem to work with the others. If you find the colors all in the same family of hues, say blues/greys/silvers, start to envision how they might work in the various spaces:

• Make use of a color wheel where shades are grouped into schemes and color combinations are suggested.
• Colors can carry through to more than one room or act as background colors or accents.
• Molding, baseboards, wainscots and window frames may be the only use of one color or perhaps the ceilings may share this color.
• Try blending color or using a lightly colored glaze to complement a darker wall color in the connecting room.
• Blending glazes can “suggest” a color in a hallway, blossoming into a brighter shade of that same color in the room the hallway opens into—creating a flow from one space to another.
• Varying the intensity of the paint application or adding texture suggests movement while maintaining a harmonious whole.
• Take artwork and furnishings into consideration. Focal points for each can be create by contrasting colors or brightness around the piece and then used in nearby rooms in larger areas as a tie-in.
• Tiles may be used—both as a backsplash in the kitchen and with a center decorative band that carries throughout the adjoining rooms.
• Trying a sample of various colors painted on small sections of your walls may help you visualize how the scheme will come together.

It is said that the eye “carries the color” from room to room as you walk through the house. Make sure that the colors your family and guests carry are soothing, inviting, or invigorating, creating a positive subliminal message: Your environment is a warm and welcoming one.

For harmonious kitchen design and space planning, call Jason Landau at Amazing Spaces, LLC at 

914-239-3725 or visit www.amazingspacesllc.com.