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5 Tips to Make Your Bathrooms Sparkle

Your bathroom is a special sanctuary that should always be both calm and clean. It is also where you get ready to go and where get ready to go to bed, and therefore, can easily—and very quickly—become both chaotic and messy. As the centerpiece of the room, your bathroom vanity is especially important, and should be handled and cleaned with care. Here are the six best tips to let your bathroom sparkle like never before.

1. Clear Everything Off: Start by removing all the items on top of the bathroom vanity countertop, and in the shower or tub, so that you can thoroughly clean around those areas. Don’t forget the actual items as well, such as rinsing and wiping down soap pumps, cotton ball canisters, and your toothbrush holder.

2. Banish Buildup: Eliminate gunk, grime, and germs by combining distilled vinegar with dish detergent in equal parts. This dynamic duo can work wonders for every bathroom surface except stone. Otherwise, it’s best to use liquid soap with baking soda to form a paste, and scrub with a non-scratch sponge. Let the solvent soak in, and then rinse with water and buff dry.

3. Multitask: As you work, use water and leftover cleaning solution, and move out towards surrounding areas to save time and simplify your efforts. For instance, clean the shower doors after the shower base, since the hot, steamy water has loosed up the grime, and wash the sink and countertops simultaneously since they are often interconnected.

4. Get Creative: Use multi-useful tools to help you clean those extra hard to reach places. A toothbrush can come in handy for cleaning in between the grooves on a metal shower doorframe, a paint scraper can help remove gunk where the metal meets the shower, and a flat razor can scrape toothpaste and stubborn mineral spots off glass (when used carefully, of course)!

5. Stay Uncluttered: When it comes to bathroom cabinetry, it’s important to keep a clean and cleared surface. Steer clear of too many unnecessary items placed on your countertop. A beautiful and functional bathroom vanity should be free from clutter, as mess only takes up valuable space. Stick to only the basics and gather everyday items neatly in a decorative basket. Then install inside cabinet accessories to house your hairdryer, waste container, and any loose toiletries behind closed doors. Keeping things tidy makes it easier to clean up and find what you need.

Homemade natural cleaners are a great way to get the job done without harsh chemicals or toxic fumes. Ingredients like baking soda, vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, dish soap, lemon, or essential oils can work wonders on your bathroom surfaces. Create your own shower spray, sink cleanser, and glass cleaner to customize your needs.

If your current bathroom vanity is less than stellar, even after a good cleaning, don’t fret. It’s easy to replace bathroom cabinetry, and the end result will surely make all the difference. Visit Willow Lane Cabinetry for beautiful bathroom vanity ideas and inspiration.

Welcome to Willow Lane Cabinetry — the #1 place to buy affordable, semi-custom cabinets online! Let us help you create the kitchen or bath of your dreams with our 100% free kitchen design tool. We offer all wood, semi-custom bath and kitchen cabinets, fully assembled and delivered for free. Plus all the accessories you need to complete your remodel. Visit our website to see our products today!

5 Hallmarks Of A Mediterranean Kitchen

The robust flavors of Mediterranean cooking are perfect for the warmer months, with fresh dishes like grilled seafood and salads. This way of eating is healthy and right on trend, so why not add a little Mediterranean inspiration in your kitchen design as well? Take a look at these five kitchen design ideas that are marinated in Mediterranean influence.

1. Kitchen Cabinet Grandeur

There is nothing simple about the kitchen cabinets in a Mediterranean kitchen. While some modern homes may favor kitchen design ideas with clean lines and a minimalist approach, European style homes have something else in mind.

When you think of Mediterranean kitchen cabinets, you likely imagine accent features like glass doors, decorative molding, and raised door panels. Find inspiration in our Oxford Merlot Glaze and Oxford Cinnamon Glaze cabinetry. Both are part of our Oxford Collection, which features classic kitchen cabinets that can withstand generations. This collection is noted for its attention to detail, superb quality, and breathtaking finishes.

2. An Inviting Ambiance

In a Mediterranean kitchen, family comes first. It’s important that the ambiance is welcoming, and you can achieve this in many ways. Some kitchen design ideas that open up the kitchen include a skylight or large windows to bring in more natural light, adding comfortable seating like a wall bench, or decorating countertops with bowls of fruits and other “help yourself” elements. Your kitchen should easily say, “Mi casa es su casa.”

3. Earth Tones

Warm, earthy tones are hallmarks of a Mediterranean kitchen. Think deep oranges, rich reds, and toasty golden browns. These comforting colors play into the origin of this kitchen style, and also amplify the inviting ambiance that you are striving to create. There are many ways to incorporate earth tones into your kitchen. Achieve this warm color palette with your kitchen cabinets, a brick or stone wall, Italian marble countertops, or a tile backsplash. Earth tones layer nicely so you can really create a beautiful color scheme when you focus on these tones.

4. Unfinished Elements

Another way to enhance a Mediterranean theme is to leave the room a bit undone. This could be through exposed ceiling beams, antique brass hardware, open shelving, or whatever you prefer. The goal is to not make the room seem extremely modern. Part of the Mediterranean charm is its history, and you want to make it seem like there is some left in your kitchen — even if it is brand new! Unfinished elements and incorporating antiques is an easy way to accomplish this.

5. Your Own Special Touch

Since Mediterranean kitchen design ideas include so many different countries and cultures, it is important for you to know which variety speaks to you so you can focus your efforts there. You also have room to bring in something unique to your style or your own ancestry. Maybe that is hand painted tile used in a kitchen backsplash, or artwork that has been passed on for generations in your family. These unique and special additions can really take your Mediterranean kitchen theme to a level all of your own.

Welcome to Willow Lane Cabinetry — the #1 place to buy affordable, semi-custom cabinets online! Let us help you create the kitchen of your dreams with our 100% free kitchen design tool. We offer all wood, semi-custom kitchen cabinets, fully assembled and delivered for free, with standard features like soft closing doors and drawers, and 6-way adjustable steel hinges. Plus all the accessories you need to complete your new kitchen. We give you more and save you money! Visit our website to see our beautiful products today!

How To Choose A Contractor For Kitchen Cabinet Installation

Just because you order your kitchen cabinets online doesn’t mean you have to install them yourself. There are many contractors that will install the preassembled or RTA cabinets that you have purchased as a stand alone project. When choosing a contractor to do the job, here are some things to keep in mind:

Are they licensed and insured?

Installing kitchen cabinets may seem like a relatively straightforward project, but you want to make sure the company or individual you hire is licensed to do general construction. Most contractors will have their state or county license listed on their website, so it is a relatively easy find. If you don’t see it, simply ask. They should have no problem providing their license number or sending you a copy of it. The same goes for insurance, such as worker’s compensation.

Are they good at installing kitchen cabinets?

Most general contractors will not excel at every type of construction across the board. It is wise to choose someone that specializes in kitchens and has a lot of experience installing kitchen cabinets. A good way to find out what their work looks like is to view their portfolio. Most modern contractors will have these images on their website or a review site like Houzz. Social media is also a useful source to find examples of the past projects the contractor has completed.

Is the price right?

Be sure to compare prices before hiring a contractor to install your kitchen cabinets by requesting a price quote for your project. You should be able to get an estimate by sending them the custom layout and photos that we created for you.

If you haven’t utilized our free kitchen design tool yet, don’t miss out! We connect you with your own personal designer to create a custom layout, provide you with photorealistic renderings of what your cabinets will look like in your space, and an itemized list of what you’ll need and how much it costs.

This should be ample information to get a quote from any experienced general contractor.

Can they give you a guaranteed start date and timeline?

Some contractors take on more work than they can handle. That means you’ll be waiting a long time to get your project started, and possibly longer to get it completed. If they are unwilling to include a schedule with your contract, think twice about signing that deposit check. You may find yourself caught in a back-and-forth phone war with a contractor that just can’t deliver at the speed you need.

Read the reviews.

As a final precaution, it never hurts to look online for reviews. Though you shouldn’t write off a contractor completely because of a few bad reviews, you should be able to get a general sense of customer satisfaction. Google, Facebook, Yelp, and Houzz are all reliable sites that collect customer reviews. Do a few searches and see what you can find.

Also look to see if they have the Better Business Bureau stamp of approval. You can view their BBB rating online and see if they have had any complaints or conflicts in the past.

5 Ways To Add Color To Your Kitchen Without Paint

With spring finally here and summer on the horizon, it’s tempting to want to brighten up your home with color. If the idea of painting your walls sounds less appealing, or you just prefer neutral walls, here is a list of creative kitchen design ideas to add color to your kitchen without ever lifting a paintbrush or looking at swatches.

A Colorful Kitchen Island

You will often see this mix and match trend in custom kitchens. By choosing a Kitchen Island color that compliments your cabinetry, you can add a unique pop of interesting color to an otherwise monotone room. If your kitchen cannot accommodate a built in island, why not consider our space-saving Culinary Prep Kitchen Cart in red?

Kitchen Cabinet Colors

If you’re curious to see how kitchen cabinet colors will look in your space, take advantage or our free kitchen design tool. With options like Tidewater, Sage, and shades of Gray, you can create the colorful custom kitchen of your dreams. We offer free expert kitchen design for a magazine-quality look that is also affordable.

Beyond Basic Backsplash Tile

Jazz up your kitchen with vibrant, colorful backsplash tile. Our Cristezza Club Glass Tile comes in Black, Slate, Teal, Bright White, Light Olive, Light Taupe, Baby Blue, and Ruby Red, and features a simple pattern that lets the color steal the show.

Table Settings

There is no rule that specifies you should stick with stark white dinner plates only. Fiestaware made colorful dinnerware popular in the 1930s, and has had a strong resurgence in the past twenty years. And there are many other colorful options in dinnerware on the market today, from plates, bowls, and mugs, to utensils, glassware, and serving pieces.

Accessories and Small Appliances

Even an all-white kitchen can look colorful with the addition of bright accessories and small appliances. Toasters, blenders, coffee makers, and stand mixers all come in an array of hues to compliment any kitchen. Accessorize the walls with colorful paintings, and add lively window treatments, area rugs, canisters, and table linens to complete the look.

Warm And Cool Color Schemes For The Kitchen

Do you prefer fiery reds, buttery yellows, and zesty oranges? Or perhaps soothing blues, serene purples, and earthy greens are more to your liking? Where your color tastes lie will certainly be on display when you decorate your home, from temporary accessories like table linens and fabric valances, to more permanent choices like wall paint and cabinetry finishes. Here are a few of our favorite warm and cool color schemes to help inspire your kitchen redecorating or remodeling project.

Warm Color Schemes

Warm colors like reds, oranges or yellows pair nicely with toasty neutrals on the wall. Look for creamy hues with yellow undertones, such as Honied White or Chamomile by Sherwin Williams. Toasty neutrals look lovely against medium golden brown kitchen cabinets, such as our Oxford Cinnamon Glaze collection, and have a traditional or transitional appeal. When opting for a bolder color on the walls, such as Sunny Veranda Yellow, Osage Orange, or Real Red, stick with white cabinetry and clean lines for a crisp, contemporary look.

Warm color schemes have a cozy yet invigorating vibe, and add warmth to the home. In fact, pairing yellow with red has been show to actually help stimulate the appetite, making this couple a natural choice for the kitchen. And while warm colors often work well together, they can become quite dynamic when grouped with a touch of cool opposite the color wheel — think red and green, orange and blue, or yellow and purple tones.

Cool Color Schemes

Cool colors like blues, greens, and purples have a calming effect, and work extremely well in any kitchen, from the traditional to the contemporary, depending on which shade you choose. You may even decide to give your kitchen a unique and charming makeover with green kitchen cabinets, like Roosevelt Sage, or blue kitchen cabinets, like Society Shaker Tidewater.

When finding the perfect cool hue for your walls, the options are practically endless. Blues run the gamut from aqua to navy, and purple and green follow suit with their own wide range of shades. Cool colors can also be neutral, such as gray or taupe tones. And then, of course, there are the in between colors that blend two cool tones with stunning results. For example, the Sherwin Williams color Tame Teal is a fun twist of both blue and green, while Awesome Violet falls just right between blue and purple.

Once you select your paint, test a patch on the wall before you commit to a color, and make sure it compliments your cabinetry. Cool, light colors can look lovely next to dark kitchen cabinets, and likewise, darker cool tones pop against white.

Planning Your New Kitchen Layout With A Little Help From Willow Lane Cabinetry

Have you finally decided you’re ready for new kitchen cabinets, or perhaps you’re about to embark on a complete kitchen remodel? If so, you are in the right place! Willow Lane Cabinetry can help with your Do It Yourself Kitchen Remodel. We offer a free kitchen design service for all of our clients to make the process of remodeling as easy and affordable as possible. Here is how we help and what you receive with this free service:

Start Your Do It Yourself Kitchen Remodel With A Free Kitchen Design

Once you are ready for new kitchen cabinets or to start planning your remodel, visit our free kitchen design page. Here you’ll submit your name and email to notify our team you’re ready to get started! You will immediately receive a confirmation that your information has been submitted, and within 24-hours will be contacted by one of our professional designers.

In the meantime, you can start browsing our wide selection of pre-assembled kitchen cabinets. Make note of any collections or finishes that catch your eye so you can let your personal designer know what styles stand out the most.

Order Sample Doors In Your Favorite Finishes For Free

You can also begin the process by ordering sample doors of your favorite finishes. Willow Lane Cabinetry offers sample doors in every kitchen finish that they sell. They also only charge you a deposit, which is automatically credited back to you after the sample is returned. Samples of kitchen cabinets ship for free and are a great way to get a feel for the quality, wood, and finish before placing your final order.

Work With A Designer On Your New Kitchen Layout

Once the designer contacts you, you will have an opportunity to express your goals for this project and let him or her know which kitchen cabinets are your favorites. After your consultation, they will go to the drawing board to plan your new kitchen layout.

Within 48-hours they will have everything prepared for you, including:

Your Custom Layout: Based on your needs, wants and measurements, your custom layout will look great and also be functional.

Photorealistic Renderings: Are you a visual person? Willow Lane Cabinetry understands. Along with your drawings, you will receive photorealistic renderings to see exactly how your new layout will look in your space.

Itemized List: If all of the pieces and measurements make you dizzy, don’t worry. Along with your layout and photos, you will also be sent an itemized list with everything you’ll need to execute your installation and exactly what it will cost.

Ordering and installing kitchen cabinets has never been easier or more affordable. With Willow Lane Cabinetry’s free kitchen design service you can get a magazine quality, professionally designed kitchen on your budget. Achieve your Do It Yourself Kitchen Remodel with a little help from the professionals. Submit your information now and begin bringing your dream kitchen to life.

How To Host A Simple And Elegant Mother’s Day Brunch

Hosting a Mother’s Day brunch is a special way to show appreciation for the Moms in your life. Putting the event together will take some early preparation on your part, but it does not have to be stressful. From planning the menu to stocking your kitchen cupboards and setting up your spread, here is everything you need to know to host a simple and elegant Mother’s Day Brunch in your very own kitchen.

Party Of Five, Or Fifteen

Before you begin, decide how many people you wish to invite. You could host an intimate ladies lunch for your Mom, Mother-in-Law, and Grandmothers, or an extended family affair with Aunts, Uncles and Cousins. Compile your guest list in advance, and create an invitation online, or to print from your home computer. If creativity isn’t your strong suit, you can find beautiful handmade invitations on sites like Etsy.

Stock Your Kitchen Cupboards

A Mother’s Day Brunch is the perfect time to use your fine china, but if you prefer simplicity (and less dishes to clean), purchase some pretty paper plates and dress them up with chargers. Add to that some coordinating napkins, teacups, and glassware. Store everything you need for the party grouped together in your kitchen cupboards for easy set up the night before the event.

Plan Your Menu

Brunch is one of the easiest meals to host since many dishes can be prepped the night before. Popular brunch menu items include breakfast egg casseroles or quiche, finger sandwiches, fruit salad, scones, muffins, cinnamon rolls, and cakes. You will also need beverages, such as hot and iced tea, coffee, lemon water, and punch. Search sites like Pinterest for Mother’s Day Brunch recipes and inspiration. Once you have settled on a menu, make a detailed shopping list of what you will need to purchase, according to your number of guests.

Set Up The Spread

For a simple yet elegant spread, set up your buffet on your kitchen island. A kitchen island is the ideal location for a buffet, but if your space is without, a long area of countertop will do. Display your utensils on one end of the counter in a pretty jar, along with your plates and napkins, and a lovely vase of flowers to serve as décor. Arrange your food items in a pleasing display, using decorative trays, cake stands, and trivets for hot dishes. Designate a separate beverage station with glasses and, teacups, such as a portable cart. Have an ice bucket on hand for cold drinks, and carafes for hot beverages like tea and coffee. Don’t forget the cream and sugar!

Happy Mother’s Day from Willow Lane Cabinetry!

13 Smart Storage Strategies For Your Kitchen And Bath

Have you been feeling frustrated by the clutter in your kitchen and bathroom? We understand. When the cabinets, drawers and shelves have hit capacity, it can feel like your home is in a constant state of chaos. Before you start bulking up on plastic bins, read on for a few better options. There are plenty of ways to make the most of the storage space available to you without becoming the queen or king of containers. Be storage savvy with these smart kitchen cabinet and bathroom vanity hacks.

Utilize unused kitchen cabinet space for discreet storage.

Inside cabinet accessories allow you to get the most out of your kitchen cabinet space. You might think you’re limited to just the standard doors and drawers, but there are actually plenty of ways to optimize your cabinets and increase storage. Some of our favorite kitchen cabinet pull out ideas include:

Using a double pull out waste container to hide the garbage can and recycling bin.
Turning a panel or base filler into an organizer for spices, sauces and seasonings or a divider for trays, baking sheets and platters.
A heavy-duty mixer lift that turns a shelf into extra counter top space for using your mixer or other small appliance.
Utilizing your sink base with a tip-out tray that can be used to store sponges, soap, and even rings.
Swapping out your standard cabinet for a pull out base cabinet organizer with easy to access shelves.
A Lazy Susan is always a great way to make more out of that awkward, blind corner cabinet.
Adding vertical door racks for cling wrap and aluminum foil or a door mount cutting board can turn a door into extra storage.

Transform your bathroom vanity cabinets and drawers into organized storage compartments.

Like with kitchen cabinets, there are many bathroom vanity storage ideas that will help you save space. If you’re not sure how to organize your bathroom vanity, here are a few ways to go about it:

Remove a cabinet door and install slide out woven baskets, which allow you to take full advantage of vertical space and have easy access to bath towels or washcloths.
Add drawer dividers or a trimmable utility tray to keep makeup and toiletries organized.
Vertical door racks are a great place to keep your hairdryer or curling iron.
Add recessed shelving behind a mirror to keep everyday items like cotton balls, toothpaste and deodorant.
Regularly go through wall cabinets to purge expired medicines, makeup, and toiletries.
Organize underneath cabinets with clear vanity organizers that have divided canisters for keeping different size items, like hairbrushes, razors and accessories.

Now that you know our smart storage strategies, let us in on your favorite tips for how to organize your bathroom vanity and kitchen cabinets.

3 Simple Kitchen Island Buffet Ideas For Spring

Buffets are one of our favorite kitchen island trends. More casual than a traditional sit-down dinner, buffets are becoming increasingly popular because they take some of the stress out of hosting a party. If you have a kitchen island, you luckily have the perfect place to set up a buffet.

French for Sideboard, a buffet places food in a central location, allowing guests to serve themselves. And while buffets don’t require as much planning and entertaining, they still require a lot of cooking. Prepping a variety of dishes to cover your countertop is often a daunting task. Why not plan a party that is enjoyable for everyone, including the host? Here are three simple buffet ideas that are perfect for spring.

The Breakfast Bar

With Mother’s Day approaching, why not treat Mom, Mother-in-Law, and Grandmother to a lovely breakfast buffet? If you are a Mom yourself, you deserve a break as well, so keep the set up simple. Place a vase of freshly cut spring flowers on one end of your kitchen island, and set out some pretty plates and napkins. On the opposite end, place your beverages. We suggest a fruity alcohol-free punch, and a few pitchers of iced tea and lemon water.

Keep the menu simple as well, and include both sweet and savory options. Set out a platter of cinnamon rolls and scones as your sweets, fresh fruit salad, and a bunt or coffee cake. Finger sandwiches are ideal brunch fare, such as egg salad and chicken salad on mini croissants, herbed cream cheese and cucumbers on white bread squares, and sliced ham and Swiss cheese roll ups. Search Pinterest for easy egg strata recipes as well. A hot breakfast casserole will complete your menu nicely.

The Baked Potato Bar

This family-friendly option is fun and inexpensive when serving a lunch crowd. Purchase large potatoes that are uniform in size, and scrub them well. Rub them with olive oil and course salt, prick them with a fork, and place them on a rimmed baking sheet. Bake your potatoes in a 400-degree oven for an hour, or until soft. Remove them from the oven, cut across the top of each potato, and squeeze the ends together to open them slightly. Wrap your potatoes in foil to stay warm, and then place them in a basket on your kitchen island.

Set up your buffet with all the topping necessary for a delicious lunch. Basics like salt, pepper, and sour cream are a must. Then get creative with different types of shredded cheeses, fresh herbs, sliced avocado, roasted vegetables, chili, pulled pork, chicken, or brisket, crumbled bacon, pepperoni, sauces, salsas, and dressings.

The Taco Bar

Tacos are the perfect choice for a causal dinner buffet. Use festive covered baskets on one end of your kitchen island to house hard shells, soft corn, and flour tortillas. Serve a variety of seasoned meats like ground sirloin, shredded pork, and grilled chicken, plus roasted vegetables like corn, onions, peppers, and zucchini. Then add sour cream, shredded cheddar, crumbled cotija, guacamole, sliced avocado, lime wedges, jalapenos, chopped cilantro, lettuce, black beans, and a selection of salsas to finish the spread.

When you think of kitchen island ideas, setting up a buffet seems like an obvious choice. Contemporary homes have open floor plans and kitchen islands that are just right for entertaining. Buffets are no longer reserved for just weddings, and sit down dinners in the dining room are not a requirement. You’ve let go of the fancy presentation, so let go of the fancy menu as well with a simple, self-serve menu that is sure to please.

5 Ways Black Is Back In The Kitchen And Better Than Ever

Black may be a classic color choice for fashionistas, but kitchens weren’t always so convinced. In the past, the sleek, modern, statement shade has been reserved for certain styles and unique kitchen design ideas. But that was then.

Now we are witnessing a resurgence of black that’s crossing themes and designs, earning itself a place in kitchens all over. It looks like black is officially back — and it’s better than ever! Discover how to incorporate black into your kitchen with these five kitchen design ideas.

1. Kitchen Island Trends

Mixing and matching cabinetry has been one of the top kitchen island trends these past few years. By having your island and wall cabinets in two different finishes, you achieve dimension and add character to the kitchen. Using black as one of your color choices is spot on for securing this design element. For your wall cabinets, warm things up with a rich brown or create a sharp contrast with white kitchen cabinets. Black kitchen islands are unexpected, and an interesting way to incorporate this popular color into your kitchen.

2. Black Kitchen Cabinets

When you think of black kitchen cabinets, you probably picture an ultra-contemporary room that you would never want to bake cookies in. We promise, black cabinets don’t have doors to the dark side. Take a look at our Manchester Shaker Black cabinetry, for example. This stylish set brings both modern style and classic charm. Transitional kitchens, which mix traditional and modern elements, are all the rage right now. And black cabinets are right on trend for transitional kitchen design ideas.

3. Black AstraGranite Sinks

For a uniquely beautiful addition to your kitchen, consider a black AstraGranite sink from Willow Lane Cabinetry. Not familiar with AstraGranite? We suggest you get acquainted. AstraGranite is made from a granite composite material that is comprised of 80% Quartzite and 20% Acrylic. What makes these sinks so remarkable are the silver ions that kill 99% of bacteria on contact. AstraGranite sinks are also scratch and stain resistant, and can resist heat up to 550 degrees. Available in black, as well as other colors, they provide a welcome alternative to traditional kitchen sink materials.

4. Black Stainless Steel Appliances

If you’ve always been a little stainless steel shy when it comes to appliances, we can’t wait to introduce you to black stainless steel. Featuring a darker, satin-smooth finish, black stainless steel is much subtler than the standard, shiny stainless steel appliances. This shade of steel is a dazzling complement to kitchen cabinets with dark finishes, and is a bit easier on the eyes.

5. Black Knobs And Pulls

Just like with your kitchen sink and appliances, you may have thought your metal was limited to just a few finishes. Surprise again! You can actually find beautiful kitchen hardware in black. Browse our selection of cabinet knobs and pulls in these finishes: black, black nickel, brushed black nickel, and satin black nickel.