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Design Choices In The Kitchen That Can Impact Your Health

One of the hottest home trends today includes a focus on designing healthier interior spaces and living environments. When embarking on a new build or checking off the items on your renovation project planner, the choices you make could have a huge impact on the overall wellness of you and your family, and this is especially true in the kitchen. Read on to learn more.

Air Quality In The Kitchen

Certain elements are known for helping to improve indoor air quality in the kitchen. Kitchen vent hoods, for example, help to improve ventilation by trapping and filtering out particles and odors when cooking. Therefore, kitchen vent hoods are an obvious must-have. But what about the harmful, hidden pollutants that come from building materials and are often overlooked? When shopping for flooring, countertops and quality cabinets for the home, look for the NSF Certified®, Greenguard Indoor Air Quality Certified® or CARB2 compliant designations. These certifications guarantee the products you choose for your renovation project planner meet strict standards for health and safety.

Why Certifications Are Important

Formaldehyde is one of the most common volatile organic compounds (VOCs) found in building materials, and its presence can lead to a number of adverse health effects. When you see the CARB2 seal on our selection of quality cabinets, you will know for sure that formaldehyde emissions are well within the safety limits. Greenguard certification helps to reduce indoor air pollution and the risk of chemical exposure through rigorous testing methods for items like flooring and countertops. NSF certification involves regular on-site inspections of manufacturing facilities and products to ensure that they meet the high standards required to maintain certification over time.

Wellness-Inspired Design Choices

In addition to using safer products and materials, today’s dream kitchens are also high on style. No longer just utilitarian, kitchen vent hoods can also add to the overall aesthetic of your space, but there are other wellness-inspired design choices to consider. Simple tweaks and additions, such as a well organized pantry and inside cabinet accessories, can help make it easier to cook healthy meals at home. Even the colors you use can have a psychological impact on appetite. According to Dwell, blue tones in the kitchen may help curb snacking while stimulating hues like yellow and red may actually make you feel more hungry.

5 Buttery Soft Pretzel Varieties To Try At Home

There’s no need to run to the mall food court when a craving for buttery soft pretzels strikes. In fact, this tasty treat is easy to make at home in your very own kitchen, with just a few kitchen pantry cabinet staples, a heavy duty stand mixer, and a little know-how. Here are some great recipes we found online to get you started.

Simply Salted Soft Pretzels

Nothing can beat a salty soft pretzel. The key is to choose a coarse or kosher salt with larger grained crystals that will adhere to the dough without melting. This recipe from The Spruce Eats makes buttery soft pretzels that are crisp on the outside and chewy on the inside, with just the right amount of salt because you control the shaker! Click here for ingredients and instructions from The Spruce Eats.

Glazed Whole Wheat Raisin Pretzels

This recipe from Well Plated starts with 100% whole wheat flour and plump, juicy raisins and can be completed start to finish in just 30 minutes, including rise-time. If you have a sweet tooth, we recommend adding a sweet vanilla glaze drizzle on top before serving. To get the recipe for Soft Whole Wheat Raisin Pretzels from Well Plated, click here, and for a quick and easy Vanilla Glaze recipe from Taste of Home, click here.

Cinnamon Sugar Pretzel Bites

Coating a buttery soft pretzel in cinnamon and sugar is surely a delicious way to go, no matter how you slice it. This Cinnamon Sugar Pretzel Bites recipe from Completely Delicious is as fun to eat as it is to make. After baking, drizzle your bites in melted butter and toss with ½ cup of granulated sugar mixed with two tablespoons of ground cinnamon from your spice rack. For the complete recipe from Completely Delicious, click here.

Pepperoni and Cheese-Stuffed Pretzels

If you prefer savory over sweet, this recipe from Tasty will surely tempt your tastebuds. Just imagine a freshly baked soft pretzel stuffed with gooey mozzarella cheese, topped with spicy pepperoni, and dipped in a zesty marinara sauce. Sounds good, doesn’t it? Click here for the Cheese-Stuffed Pizza Pretzels recipe from Tasty, and helpful video instructions.

Pretzel Dogs

Perfect for lunch or dinner, pretzel dogs are absolutely delicious and a fun twist on everyone’s favorite snack-time treat. Wrapping hotdogs in pretzel dough takes a little more time and effort than popping them in a bun, but just one bite and you’ll never look back! If you want to make Pretzel Dogs at home, click here for a great recipe from Buns In My Oven.

Buttery, homemade soft pretzels are just a few steps away. So go ahead, walk to the kitchen pantry cabinet, grab your ingredients, and get baking — and eating!

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

5 Inspired Home Office Ideas For A Multipurpose Space

Working from home is the new normal, and that means finding a space within your square footage to include a home office. With that said, not everyone has a dedicated area to devote solely to this purpose, regardless of necessity. This dilemma is the driving force behind one of the biggest trends of the new decade — designing spaces that can pull double (or sometimes triple) duty.

Smart homeowners today are seeking out creative ways to incorporate a workspace that serves their school and telecommuting needs while seamlessly blending into the home’s existing design. According to realtor.com, “Three bedrooms is no longer enough. Now it must be three bedrooms and an additional workspace, at least.” But how and where should you carve out this multipurpose space? Read on for ideas and inspiration.

Boost Your Productivity In the Bedroom

A small writing desk is all that is needed in a young child’s bedroom, but for older students and working parents, adding an area of compact, custom cabinets to an empty corner wall is a more suitable arrangement. Incorporating drawers and shelving into your desk design helps to keep work essentials organized and tidy, and it also makes it easier to stay productive and on task while studying or working from home.

Things Are Looking Up In The Hall

Finding ways to put unused spaces to work can often be easier by simply looking up. Utilizing empty, vertical walls affords extra square footage when space is tight in areas like a hallway, below a staircase, or even a walk-in closet. Turning an entryway or narrow wall between rooms is a common solution for adding a workspace, and you can maximize every inch with built-in, floor to ceiling custom cabinets.

Make The Most Of A Mudroom

If your laundry room or mudroom is on the larger size, it may just be the perfect place to toss in a home office area. Serving more than one function makes the most of this functional space, whether you are pairing a desk alongside your washer, dryer and laundry room cabinetry, or adding custom cabinets tucked away on the back wall.

Transform A Walk-In Closet

If your home has storage covered with amazing custom cabinets in nearly every room, you may have a spare closet that can be put to better use. Walk-in closets can often easily be transformed into a well-appointed home office, and best of all, they tend to be located in a quiet area away from heavy traffic.

Get Creative In The Kitchen

Last but never least, the kitchen can be an ideal spot for designing an incredible workspace, with home office cabinets added to complement kitchen cabinet finishes and styles. Best of all, kids can work and study close by at the kitchen island, which can be especially efficient when the need for help arises.

Having a separate, dedicated room for a home office is nice, but as you can see, it certainly isn’t a requirement. With a little creativity (and some custom cabinets), any spare corner or cozy nook will do! For help designing a home office in a multipurpose space, browse our fine selection of office cabinetry, and take advantage of our free room design service.

Adding A Touch Of Gold To Your Modern Kitchen Design

Today’s dream kitchens feature an eclectic mix of metals and two tone cabinets, with custom details that truly personalize a space. If you are lucky enough to have a kitchen remodel on the horizon, why not follow the rainbow to your very own pot of gold? Adding a trendy touch of gold to your kitchen design is right on point, from stylish fixtures and backsplash tile to cabinet knobs and pulls. Read on for inspiration and to learn more.

Kitchen Cabinet Hardware

Selecting elegant golden hues for your kitchen cabinet hardware is a simple way to capture the look. When shopping for cabinet knobs and pulls, stylish options include brushed gold, polished brass, satin bronze, and more. Choose a style that best suits your custom cabinets and let your distinct personality shine.

Lighting And Fixtures

Opting for luxurious gold statement lighting and other fixtures adds a unique bit of bling to a modern kitchen design. Gorgeous options include copper finished kitchen sinks and hoods, gold-tone faucets, and sleek metal pendant lights above a kitchen island that add a warm, golden glow.

Backsplash Tile

Dream kitchens always include a stunning backsplash to complement custom cabinets. Golden backsplash tile options include Akaya Copper, Venetian Glass, Aria Bianco porcelain, and textured Adella Viso Calacatta marble with iconic gold and gray veining. Determine which style suits your overall aesthetic and feel free to order a sample.

Countertops

Natural stone countertops, and manufactured materials like engineered quartz and solid surface acrylic, help to complete a modern kitchen design. Golden favorites include Crystalize Quartzite, Octave Acrylic, Santa Cecilia Granite, and our dynamic, high-contrast Depero Granite. Samples are available to see and feel each style in person before you order.

Decor

Decorative accessories afford a wonderful opportunity to add a touch of gold in the kitchen without making a major change. Window treatments in designer fabrics, table linens, area rugs, wall art, gold-plated utensils, and gold metallic stools at the kitchen island are fine examples. You can even swap out plain white dinnerware for a golden hue like Illuminating, Pantone’s Color of the Year for 2021.

As you can see, there is a treasure trove of options when it comes to adding a touch of gold in the kitchen. Which one is your favorite?

How To Pick The Perfect Sink For Every Space

Kitchen sinks, bathroom sinks, wet bar sinks, oh my! When there are so many great options for the various wet areas in your home, how can you even begin to make sense of it all? Before your head starts spinning, take a step back and read on to learn how to pick the perfect sink for every space.

Kitchen Sinks

When selecting a sink for dream kitchens, placement is key. If you are remodeling an enclosed kitchen area with a window, installing the kitchen sink below can offer natural light and maybe even a lovely view that makes washing dishes less of a chore. In a spacious open concept space, a kitchen island facing a wall with exterior windows achieves the same effect, and is therefore the most popular kitchen sink placement for builders and contractors.

Whether you opt for a single, double or triple bowl, it’s important to keep the overall style of your home in mind when shopping for kitchen sinks. A sleek quartz sink or seamless acrylic solid surface countertops with an integrated sink are hallmarks of modern kitchen design. On the other hand, a copper or stainless farmhouse sink works well in both traditional and transitional homes.

Wet Bar Sinks

A wet bar provides a convenient source of water for making ice cubes, washing limes, and rinsing glasses while entertaining. If you wish to include a sink in your bar cabinet design, size (and material) matters quite a bit. Without a doubt, a small size and low-maintenance material works best for a wet bar.

Typically, an undermount, single bowl sink is the ideal option, and stainless steel is the material of choice for several reasons. Stainless steel is durable, easy to clean, and resistant to stains when serving up cocktails and wine spritzers. The perfect size for a bar cabinet sink is 15” wide to 18” wide. House Beautiful recommends placing your wet bar sink off to one side to make conversation easier when playing bartender.

Laundry Room

A laundry room sink generally rests close to the washer and should be large and deep enough for hand washing clothing and delicates. A stainless farmhouse sink fits the bill, or if you prefer a more modern look, opt for a 24” stainless steel or quartz/acrylic sink.

If you don’t mind shelling out a few extra coins, a freestanding basin sink is a classic choice for the laundry room and can provide a touch of vintage or industrial charm, depending on the material. Similar in form and function, but bit more refined than the plastic utility sinks commonly found in a garage, this style is often made of metal or enamel-coated cast iron.

Bathroom Sinks

When pairing sinks with your bathroom cabinetry, there is a wide array of styles and installations to choose from. Vessel sinks provide an opportunity to add some artistic flair to a powder room and can complement modern bathroom vanities in a master bath. Dream bathroom options include colorful tempered glass, bamboo, porcelain, marble, granite, onyx, and cast bronze. When planning a redesign, keep in mind that bathroom sinks should be scaled to suit your bathroom cabinetry, leaving enough countertop space for morning and bedtime routines.

5 Essential Features Of A Fabulous New Kitchen in 2021

If a new kitchen is on the top of your 2021 home renovation checklist, we’ve got you covered. Scroll down for highlights on which essential features you’ll want to include in your design if you’re planning a fabulous, high-end kitchen in the new year.

1. Achieve all of your storage goals with custom cabinets.

The possibilities for personalization are practically endless with retailers like Willow Lane Cabinetry offering direct to consumer custom cabinets that you can design and shop online. Pick a style that you like and then get to work with our design team. We will draft a layout that meets all of your needs and will even create photorealistic renderings, so that you can see what your new kitchen will look like in your home. From navigating which wall cabinets are best for your space to helping you pick the perfect inside cabinet accessories, we’re here to bring your new kitchen dreams to life in 2021.

2. Make way for marble — a must in modern kitchen design.

Marble is almost synonymous with a high-end kitchen. Undeniably luxurious and relatively affordable, we are seeing an upward trend when it comes to using marble in modern kitchen design. Its veined patterns and creamy white and gray tones add interest without being overwhelming. Marble is incredibly versatile and can be used for flooring and backsplashes, but when it comes to countertops, opt for Quartzite. This durable, natural material looks like marble without the risk of etching and is heat, scratch, and stain resistant Whether used throughout the kitchen or simply as an accent, be sure to include at least a splash of marble in your new kitchen.

3. Take a trip down the dark side with kitchen cabinet finishes.

While a timeless and beautiful choice, the days when all kitchens had to be bright and white have passed. Many homeowners are showing a preference for richer, darker colors in regards to wall paint and kitchen cabinet finishes. Today, you’ll see more dark options available in cabinetry, from dark blue to gray to espresso. These deep hues can also be added to walls to create a contrast against lighter cabinets, or look to the 2021 top color picks for inspiration.

4. Pave the way for over the top organization and a pantry fit for the stars.

The pantry craze is here to stay, and you’ll want to prioritize this addition when mapping out your new kitchen. What was once just a nice-to-have has become essential in recent years, thanks to our newfound obsession with organization. There are currently over 100k #pantryorganization posts on Instagram alone! But pantries don’t just look nice when properly arranged. They also allow you to keep all of your food goods in one designated spot, freeing up plenty of extra space in your custom cabinets.

5. Give your kitchen some glitz and glamour with gold finishes.

When it comes to kitchen sinks and cabinet hardware, there is a definite shift toward warmth. For a long time, silver seemed to be the go-to when building a new kitchen, but now, there is much more diversity in this category. To achieve this desired look, opt for golden tones like bronze and copper when shopping for light fixtures, kitchen sinks, pulls, and knobs. These materials are on point and also nicely complement darker shades, or consider the trendy two tone look of mixing metals.

Tips For Tackling Dirty Dishes This Holiday Season

The holiday season is a time for joy, peace on Earth, and chaos in the kitchen. Unfortunately, dream kitchens don’t include a mess of dirty plates, glasses, utensils, and cooking implements. From baking up a storm to preparing grand holiday feasts, here are some helpful tips for tackling those dirty dishes that are an inevitable part of the celebration.

Don’t Let Dirty Dishes Pile Up

Kitchen sink sizes vary, but even extra deep, double bowl kitchen sinks are no match for a 24-pound turkey dinner with all the fixings. Instead of letting mountains of dirty dishes sit on kitchen island countertops, or leaving pots and pans to soak overnight in kitchen sinks, everyone in the family should pitch in and clean up immediately as you go. That also includes emptying the dishwasher after each cycle, as well as towel drying and putting away anything that is washed by hand.

Hand Washing Tips

Dishcloths are preferable to sponges, because they tend to harbor less bacteria (when changed frequently), and they can be easily washed in the laundry room. WebMD recommends using hot water and drying dishcloths on high heat.
For efficiency and to conserve water, fill clean kitchen sinks halfway with hot tap water and add a few drops of your favorite dish soap. Drain and repeat when the water gets cold or too dirty.
Don a good pair of dishwashing gloves to help protect hands and prevent them from becoming dry and cracked. Nobody wants dishpan hands for the holidays.
Start with glassware, plates and utensils, and leave greasy pots and pans for last. Don’t skip scrubbing high-touch areas like pot and knife handles and the outside of glasses.

Dishwasher Dos and Don’ts

Group forks, spoons, and knives separately in the utensil basket sections of your dishwasher for easy unloading.
Place dishwasher-safe plastic and delicate items like mugs and glassware on the top rack only.
If you want truly clean dishes, avoid overcrowding the dishwasher with too many items and use the correct amount of detergent as directed.
Place a sign on the dishwasher that can be flipped between “washed” and “unwashed” to let family members know the status of its contents.

In most cases, prewashing is not necessary with newer dishwashers. Instead of hand washing and running through a cycle, choose one or the other. If you stay on top of washing dishes and follow these tips throughout the holiday season, you can keep your kitchen clean and tidy just like the dream kitchens in your favorite home magazine or HGTV shows.

How To Get Your Kitchen Holiday-Ready

More than any other time of year, dream kitchens are the true heart of the home during the winter months. From prepping spectacular holiday dinners to baking cookies and pies, ‘tis the season for making sure your kitchen is clean, organized and in tip top shape. Read on to learn how to get your kitchen holiday-ready for all the extra cooking, baking, eating and gathering to come.

Keep countertops uncluttered.

A clear kitchen island and countertops are essential now more than ever, so stash away those small appliances and cooking utensils behind closed doors and drawers. Inside cabinet accessories, such as utility trays in drawers, a door mounted spice rack in tall kitchen cabinets, or a heavy duty mixer lift in a kitchen island base cabinet, can help maximize your storage space and make your kitchen more functional, organized and efficient in time for the holiday season.

Start fresh in the fridge and kitchen pantry cabinet.

Now that you’ve eaten all your Thanksgiving leftovers, it’s time to give your refrigerator a good cleaning. Take everything out one shelf or drawer at a time, wipe away drips from containers and condiments, and discard anything that is past its prime. Clean the inside of the refrigerator and regroup like items together in easy-to-access zones. Then, do the same with your kitchen pantry cabinet. Starting fresh provides space to fit the extra sugar, flour, eggs and butter needed for holiday baking, plus all the groceries and ingredients you’ll be buying for feasts to come.

Make sure your kitchen is stocked and fully functional.

Dream kitchens should always be equipped with quality cabinets and appliances — but don’t stop there. While important, a fully functional kitchen requires more than just an on-point design. When it comes to holiday cooking and baking, make sure your cabinets are fully prepped and stocked with all the necessities, like fresh spices, dinner and servingware, baking dishes and trays, and an ample assortment of cookware and utensils. Place unnecessary items on a top shelf in your tall kitchen cabinets to make room for these holiday season essentials, and make sure you have plenty of storage containers for all those Christmas cookies and other festive treats.

Gathering in the heart of the home is an important part of the season, whether it’s baking cookies or sharing a special meal together. What are your favorite tips to help get your kitchen holiday ready?

The Key To Making Confident Color Choices At Home

With so much talk of neutral color schemes, decorating with color can be an intimidating prospect for many homeowners. But even the most monochromatic interiors deserve a dynamic pop of complimentary color for personalization and added visual interest. Here, we’ll unlock the secret to making confident color choices at home, whether you want to surround yourself in color or simply want to add a favorite hue to accent neutral walls and furnishings.

Understand The Color/Mood Connection

Have you ever noticed how certain colors can affect your mood? Whether you’re designing a home office infused with energetic orange walls, a tranquil bedroom retreat in a soothing shade of green, or a timeless kitchen with dark blue Shaker cabinets, keep in mind the purpose of the room and the way colors make you feel.

Here is a quick breakdown of the attributes associated with some of the most popular color families:

Blue: Timeless, Serene, Inviting
Green: Earthy, Refreshing, Peaceful
Yellow: Warm, Cheerful, Invigorating
Orange: Inspiring, Energetic, Creative
Red: Stimulating, Passionate, Powerful
Pink: Refreshing, Sweet, Joyful
Purple: Refined, Optimistic, Soothing
Brown: Comforting, Reliable, Cozy
Gray: Calm, Reflective, Balanced

Now that you better understand the connection between color and mood, decide which hues are most liveable for the unique personalities and spaces within your home, and use basic color theory to help determine which shades are complimentary to your palette.

Take Advantage Of Online Tools

Step into any paint store and scan the wall of color swatches — we know, it’s enough to make your head spin! Before you purchase a slew of samples and turn your walls into a patchwork quilt, check out these tricks that will make choosing a paint color so much easier, or take advantage of online tools, like the Sherwin Williams ColorSnap® Visualizer. This handy tool lets you explore color options for your walls, from Exuberant Pink to Anchors Aweigh, an on point shade of gorgeous dark blue. You can even upload a photo of your room to virtually paint in the colors of your choice.

When it comes to quality cabinets for the home, the free room design tool at Willow Lane Cabinetry gives you a custom layout and photorealistic renderings, so you can see how your selection of kitchen cabinet finishes will look in your space before you make a purchase. These online tools remove the guesswork to help you feel confident about the color choices you make at home.

4 Common Kitchen Storage Dilemmas Solved

If your kitchen is two parts clutter, one part chaos, then the missing ingredient is a storage system for your custom cabinets. In our busy lives, most of us lack the time or expertise to put systems in place that will solve our storage dilemmas. But without a storage system, maintaining order in the kitchen is challenging (to say the least).

This part of the home contains a wide variety of everyday items, from silverware and dinnerware to s’mores ingredients and dog food. You need a functional way to store and separate the endless list of things that live in your kitchen. Here, you’ll find solutions to some of the most common kitchen storage dilemmas.

“I can’t find what I’m looking for!”

Most organizational gurus believe that everything needs its own place. Without a go-to spot, you end up putting things away wherever there is space. This not only leads to overcrowding your custom cabinets, but it also makes it impossible to find what you’re looking for.

Items get shoved to the back of your kitchen pantry cabinet, never to be seen again. And forget about whatever you tossed into your tall kitchen cabinets. Do you even know what’s up on those top shelves?

To stop the endless search, create sections within your kitchen that store items by category. For example, you might keep everyday dishes in an accessible spot and your more formal dinnerware on the top shelves of your tall kitchen cabinets. With this approach, you will always know which area of the kitchen to head when looking for a specific item.

“My cabinets and drawers are a total mess!”

Piling things up on your cabinet shelves and shoving them in drawers is clearly going to get messy. Kitchen items are all different shapes and sizes, so it can be difficult to organize them in a way that optimizes space and still keeps everything in reach.

Inside cabinet accessories like tray dividers, tiered cookware organizers, and Lazy Susans can calm the chaos brewing behind your cabinet doors and drawers. These cabinet organizers store items in the best way possible, whether vertical, stacked or swiveled. After organizing items with these types of accessories, you’ll find that you not only have more space, but everything is now in plain view.

“My shelves are overflowing!”

If you seem to have more stuff than storage, opening your cabinet doors could be risky business. On any given day, an avalanche of food could come pouring down on you. Instead of dodging kitchen pantry cabinet items, start utilizing hidden space like behind cabinet doors and inside base fillers.

These sneaky spots are usually forgotten but can carry some of the load for your shelves. Tall, lean items are best, such as spices, seasonings, oils and cooking sprays. Take a look at this base filler or our door mount spice rack for some inspiration on what hidden storage space might be waiting within your custom cabinets.

“I have way too much overstock!”

It’s great to have a backup box of your favorite cereal or a couple jars of your go-to pasta sauce. But when you end up with way too much of the same type of item, you risk things going bad before you have time to use them all. Overstocking also takes up valuable real estate in your kitchen pantry cabinet that could be better utilized.

Instead, keep all of your overstock in one designated cabinet or storage bin. When you run out of something on the shelves, check your “overstock bin” before adding that item to your grocery list. Limit your overstock bin to one or two backups (depending on how frequently you use that item and how much space you have to spare). Keeping all of your overstock in one place, and following this process, will make sure you never run out of your morning cereal. It will also keep your kitchen pantry cabinet in check.