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Dream Kitchen Design Tips For An Open Concept Townhouse Or Condo

What is one feature that all of your dream kitchens have in common? For many homeowners, especially those in a townhouse or condo, it’s an open concept kitchen. This layout joins the kitchen with one or more adjoining rooms (typically the dining room and/or the living room) so that there are less walls and more openness. By renovating your kitchen to feature an open concept floor plan, your townhouse or condo will feel larger and brighter. Here are some tips for designing your new open concept kitchen or optimizing the one you already have.

Choose a color scheme that works in multiple rooms.

When deciding on what colors you want in your open concept kitchen, many experts will suggest a monochromatic color scheme. This is a safe option for those of us that haven’t quite mastered the color wheel yet. Choose a color you love and let that hue lead all of the choices you make, from your custom cabinets to flooring.

What’s also fantastic about a monochromatic color scheme is that it leaves a lot of room to experiment with prints and patterns. By incorporating interesting prints and eye-catching patterns into each room, you can break up your color scheme and create some natural divide that gives each space a bit of its own personality.

Browse kitchen cabinet designs for an open concept townhouse or condo.

In an open concept kitchen, your custom cabinets are on display in a much bigger way. When browsing kitchen cabinet designs, remember that they will likely be in plain view from multiple vantage points. Because of this, it’s advisable to choose a more minimal style such as Shaker cabinets in a muted color like white or grey. This approach will ensure your cabinets blend in rather than stand out.

Kitchen cabinet designs that feature a sleek construction and neutral finish can also help to make your space feel larger. This can be a great asset if your townhouse or condo is on the smaller side.

Create divides while maintaining consistency.

While making choices for your kitchen remodel, try to keep some consistency. It’s important that each room feels somewhat separate but still part of a larger vision. There are plenty of ways to seamlessly create divides while maintaining consistency in your open concept kitchen.

One of our favorite tips is to paint the walls in each room a different color, or two steps up or down the color swatch if you’re sticking with a monochromatic color scheme, but keep the trim the same. This creates a continuous movement, while still breaking up the space.

Another idea is to put a large area rug in your dining area or living room. This will mark off the space and form natural borders between the rooms without being abrupt. Even better, choose a rug that is within your color scheme but features a unique pattern not found in its neighboring spaces.

Find the right furniture for your theme.

One of the most important pieces of furniture in an open concept design is the kitchen island. This functional furniture carves out your kitchen while also allowing you to make the most of your design. From the extra storage to spacious countertop space, an exceptional kitchen island is key to a great open concept design. If you have children or love to entertain, you can also put bar stools along your kitchen island to increase seating.

If your open concept kitchen connects with your dining room, opt for a more casual style. You should avoid formal furniture that will make your dining room feel out of place. Incorporating a bench or opting for mismatched chairs is an easy way to make your dining room feel more relaxed.

Another piece of furniture worth highlighting is the sofa table. This can align perfectly behind your couch and is popular in many interior designs, but it is especially helpful when creating natural navigation through an open concept floor plan.

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, 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!

4 Cheerful Kitchen Design Trends For Spring And Summer

If your idea of a dream kitchen includes light and airy all wood cabinetry, cheerful color schemes, earthy elements and unexpected touches, here are some of our favorite 2020 kitchen design trends that perfectly suit the spring and summer seasons.

Tropical Colors

This on point color palette makes your home feel like paradise. Tropical colors such as pineapple yellow, turquoise blue, coral pink, orange sherbert, and lush lime green give off a permanent vacation-vibe no matter where you live. For tropical interior design inspiration from House Beautiful, click here.

From walls and small appliances to designer fabrics and decor, vibrant tropical colors pop in the kitchen when paired with high-end kitchen cabinets in a crisp white finish. Other complimentary elements for this spring and summer kitchen design trend include marble backsplash tile, natural stone countertops, and decorative pulls.

Natural Elements

In the spring and summer months, we long to spend as much time as possible in the great outdoors. Incorporating natural elements, like the aforementioned granite and quartzite countertops, helps to bring a bit of organic beauty into the kitchen.

Other on-trend, earthy details include reclaimed natural wood tables, copper sinks, stoneware canisters, woven seagrass baskets, burlap and bamboo table runners, linen window treatments, galvanized metal bar stools, glass light fixtures, marble tile flooring, all wood cabinetry, and natural fiber area rugs, like sisal and jute. And don’t forget houseplants!

Open Shelving

Open shelves in the kitchen allow you to showcase beloved items, such as a collection of heirloom pottery pieces or etched crystal stemware. Glass front doors on all wood cabinetry add a touch of airiness and help to reflect sunlight around the room — perfect for the spring and summer seasons. Or add a reclaimed barnwood plank with iron brackets to marry the open shelving trend with natural elements.

Ceiling Treatments

There is no rule that says a ceiling has to be white. Whether you opt for weathered wood paneling, a colorful splash of paint, or wallpaper in a lovely botanical pattern, including the ceiling in your high-end kitchen design is an unexpected way to elevate your space this spring and summer. For more ways to add beautiful style to a boring white ceiling from Willow Lane Cabinetry, click here.

How To Turn A Bonus Room Into A Teen Hangout

Does your home have a bonus room that is currently unused? Whether your kids have outgrown their old playroom or you have a finished basement waiting to be repurposed, turning a bonus room into a teen hangout is a fabulous idea. You’ll love that they have a safe place to hang out at home, and they’ll relish in the privacy of their exclusive space. Here’s what to include on your renovation project plan when transforming a bonus room into a teen hangout.

Opt for a flooring material that is durable and easy to maintain.

You might as well hang a “NO CARPET” sign on the door of a teen hangout, because it won’t last a week. Whether it’s dirty shoes or spilled soda, floors are bound to get messy. (Sidenote: Apply the same principle to couches and make sure you’re choosing functional fabrics that are spill and stain resistant!)

There are a lot of flooring materials to choose from other than carpet. Tile and vinyl floors are both great options that come in a variety of different colors and styles. These materials are both super durable and easy to clean, so they will definitely hold strong against a pack of teenagers.

Build the ultimate entertainment center with all wood cabinetry.

Your renovation project plan is not complete without the installation of an awesome entertainment center. If you have teenage children, you know how they are when it comes to technology. Whether they are binge watching their favorite show or playing video games, life tends to be centered around screens. (Let’s not even get started with the phones!)

Ensure everyone is happy by building a custom entertainment center with all wood cabinetry that will showcase that big screen TV and also provide ample cabinet storage for their games and electronics. The more storage, the better. If there’s not a place to put it behind closed cabinet doors, you know where it will end up.

Include not-seated activities like table sports.

You don’t want any rough housing, but you also don’t want your kids sitting in front of the television every minute they’re at home. Table sports like pool, foosball, and ping pong are the perfect compromise. They encourage teens to get off the couch without things getting too rambunctious.

Table sports are a great addition to a teen hangout or TV room because they provide hours of entertainment for your family and their friends. They also double as pretty cool decor that helps give the room the right vibe.

Keep teens out of the kitchen with a mini fridge and snack station.

If your bonus room has the right layout for it, definitely consider installing some bar cabinets to house water, soda and snacks. We love our teens (and their dozens of friends) — but preparing dinner with kids running in and out of the kitchen can be a challenge.

A few simple bar cabinets with a mini fridge and snack station is the perfect solution. Include a mix of items of after school favorites like yogurt and trail mix plus some classic movie staples like popcorn and candy. Just don’t forget to install a pull out waste container in one of the base cabinets to collect all of the trash and recycling that will accumulate!

Smart Lighting Solutions For Every Room In The Home

Lighting should not be overlooked. While this is one home improvement that may seem pretty straightforward, it actually takes a lot of thought and planning to achieve optimal lighting in each room.

Would you want the same bright lights from your bathroom in your bedroom, or a beautiful house plant that casts a horrible shadow over your favorite chair? We think not. Here are some smart solutions for your top lighting concerns.

Lack of lighting in work stations.

Do you find yourself squinting when writing at your desk or while chopping veggies at the countertop of your custom cabinets? This is a result of poor task lighting. Task lighting adds an extra layer of light in work areas, so that you can see clearly.

In your home office, task lighting can be as simple as a small desk lamp. But in the kitchen, you’ll need more than a plug-in solution. Installing under-cabinet lighting below your custom cabinets is the best way to illuminate your kitchen countertops. If you’ve never had under cabinet lighting before, you’re missing out. This tiny home improvement will completely change the way you feel about prepping food in your kitchen!

Too many shadows.

Is there a room in your house that seems to be draped with shadows? While completely shadow-free lighting is hard to achieve, you can get pretty close by layering the room with different types of lighting. We just talked about task lighting, now let’s move the conversation to ambient and accent lighting.

Ambient lighting is your first layer and this simply refers to ceiling lights. It’s necessary, but on its own it will create a room filled with shadows. That’s why accent lighting is so important. Accent lighting helps to highlight certain parts of a room and eliminate the shadows that furniture and decor can create. You can use floor lamps, recessed lighting, and wall sconces to achieve accent lighting in different areas throughout the home.

Lighting rooms that have multiple functions.

When a room’s layout and function are always the same, like in a dining room for example, lighting choices can be easier. But when a room is used for different activities, such as in a family room, maintaining good lighting through these shifts can be a challenge. The room might serve as a playspace or after school hangout and also be used for watching TV or reading at night.

Track lighting can help you combat a room that’s purpose is always changing — or that is used by different family members at different times of the day. Track lighting is a smart choice, because it provides ambient, accent, and task lighting in one. Since each light is movable, you can swivel or rotate light to focus on different areas of the room as your activities change.

Another smart solution for multi-use rooms is dimmable lights. This feature allows you to easily soften the lighting as you wind down in the evening or to set the mood for a specific event like Friday movie night.

Tips For Designing A Functional And Efficient Galley Kitchen

If you live in the city, there’s a good chance your home has a galley kitchen. This layout is popular when square footage is scarce, but just because architects love it doesn’t mean homeowners do.

Having a galley kitchen can bring upon a lot of frustration — most commonly, the lack of work flow and storage options. So how do you maximize the space in your galley kitchen to make it more functional and efficient? Here are a few tips for you to try.

Take advantage of vertical space by installing custom cabinets that will meet your storage needs.

In a galley kitchen, every inch of your walls should be utilized. This often means extending your all wood cabinetry upwards to the ceiling, so that no wall space is visible. Some homeowners choose to install custom cabinets that completely cover their galley kitchen. Thanks to sleek, modern designs like Shaker or slab cabinets, this approach can actually be quite stylish while also solving your small-kitchen storage issues. To see what your new all wood cabinetry will look like in your home, try out our free design services. One of our experts will prepare a free custom layout and photorealistic renderings for you that bring your design to life.

Evolve your galley kitchen into an open concept floor plan with a kitchen island.

A big complaint of those with a galley kitchen is that the room feels very small and closed in. You can alleviate this crampedness by replacing one of the runs with a kitchen island. This is a great option when doing so opens the kitchen up to your living room or dining room. It instantly makes the kitchen appear larger and more spacious, while also allowing for more social gatherings. Depending on what appliances will live on your island, you can also add stools to the opposing side to create a comfortable breakfast bar.

Stagger appliances so that they aren’t side by side or facing each other.

When there’s too many cooks in a galley kitchen, prepping meals can be troublesome. You can avoid bumping into your sous chef by spacing out appliances from one another. Stagger your refrigerator, oven, kitchen sink, and dishwasher so that appliances don’t mirror each other. This placement is much more conducive for families or couples that enjoy cooking together.

Extend your kitchen outwards to create more space.

If you still find yourself stuck in a small kitchen after adding vertical storage, you might want to consider extending your layout horizontally. With an open-ended galley kitchen, it is often possible to extend your cabinets and countertop outwards. Many homeowners are willing to forego a little wall space in the adjoining room in order to increase the size of their kitchen.

Use inside cabinet accessories to make the most of your storage.

We can all benefit from a little more organization, no matter what style or size kitchen we have. In a galley kitchen, inside cabinet accessories are especially beneficial, because they help you to take advantage of every inch and corner of your cabinets. Some of our personal favorites include base filler organizers and a Lazy Susan in a corner cabinet.

4 Basic Knives Everyone Should Keep In Their Kitchen

Without a doubt, knives are the most important tool in your kitchen arsenal. Whether you’re an avid foodie or a novice home chef, here are the basic knives everyone should keep in their kitchen. Be sure to store these essentials safely within a knife block, conveniently located inside a drawer of your custom cabinets and close to all the cooking action!

Bread Knife

Bread lovers, rejoice! As the name implies, a bread knife is the ideal tool for cutting bagels and baguettes and slicing loaves of bread. This specialty knife is long and has a serrated edge that can cut through the crusty outer layer of a loaf of bread or sandwich without damaging the soft inside. Unlike straight-edged knives, a bread knife can also be used to cut through delicate tomatoes and tough melons alike.

Paring Knife

This essential kitchen knife is small but mighty. Perfect for delicate tasks that need a precise hand, a paring knife is the perfect tool for deveining fresh shrimp, removing the tops of strawberries, peeling and paring fruit, and intricately removing seeds from jalapeno peppers and lemons. Look for an all-purpose paring knife that is around three and a half inches in length and has a comfortable, durable handle.

Carving Knife

A carving knife (also known as a kitchen knife) is a home staple, especially around holidays. This large knife is used to carve and slice meats, such as ham, poultry, beef, and pork. It’s extra-long length and ultra thin blade allows you to make precise, thinly sliced cuts of meat. Look for a strong steel carving knife with a narrow edge. A tapered, sharp point is best for cutting through bone or fileting, while a rounded tip is a good choice for slicing and serving tender turkey and roasts.

Chef’s Knife

This kitchen mainstay is perhaps the most important knife on this list, thanks to its ample size and versatility. According to Good Housekeeping, “if you invest in one cooking tool, this should be it.” A chef’s knife is indispensable and can be used for slicing meat, dicing vegetables, and even finely mincing fresh herbs. A chef’s knife needs to be super sharp and durable. When shopping, test how it feels in your hand before you buy.

Of course, this is just a sample of the many knives available for home cooks to try. In addition to a drawer knife block for your custom cabinets, invest in a quality sharpener to keep your knives cutting with ease, whether it’s a simple steel honing rod or a top of the line electrical model.

Top Trending Ways To Design A More Productive Home Office In 2020

Working from home can be full of distractions. Have you ever been sitting at your desk, ready to knock out your “To Do” list, and then somehow found yourself in the laundry room folding clothes?

It happens to the best of us. Even with the greatest intentions, maintaining productivity in a home office is not always as simple as it sounds. If you’re ready to make 2020 the year you finally focus on those goals, try incorporating these three design trends into your home office.

Get creative with your location.

Today, we’re seeing home offices that step outside of the traditional mold. Not only are they more inspiring, but they are also more imaginative.

Where does this new vibe originate from? It might be because work is no longer regarded as a boring or necessary task. People are pursuing passion projects and turning them into full time jobs. There is more interest and excitement around the work we do and as a result, home offices have become more inspiring than functional.

When deciding where to set up your desk, homeowners are choosing the room with the great light and high ceilings. The goal is to find a space that invites you and inspires you to do great work.

And when lofty rooms are unavailable, that’s when the imagination kicks in. From corner nooks to closets, innovative offices are popping up in the most unexpected places. Don’t let size deter you from designing an office in your home. No matter how much square footage you have to work with, it’s enough. In fact, our design team loves a challenge and is seasoned in making big dreams come true in small spaces.

Maintain minimalism with custom cabinets that fulfill all of your home office needs.

It doesn’t matter if your home office is large or small. Clutter doesn’t discriminate. Strategic storage choices are crucial if you want to maintain productivity in your home office. You know what they say, “Cluttered desk, cluttered mind.”

The minimalist trend is aesthetically pleasing but it can also have a deeper effect. Organization can positively impact your mental health and allow you to feel more calm and focused. Utilize vertical space by installing custom cabinets in your home office. Office cabinetry can be used to organize your books, files and folders, but it is also great for discreetly storing printers, cable boxes, and other office equipment.

Since our all wood cabinetry comes in a wide range of colors and finishes, it is also easy to achieve that clean, monochromatic look that we all lust after right now. Less breaks in your design creates a sleek, modern style while also minimizing distractions in the room.

Pick the perfect paint color for you and your mood.

You’ve probably heard of color symbolism or psychology, and that different colors have different meanings. For example, red is commonly associated with love and feelings of intensity and passion while blue is considered calming and serene.

Knowing the power different colors possess can be extremely helpful when designing your home office. To decide which color will best support your productivity, think of what’s missing in your work life. Do you feel unmotivated and lacking energy? Are you uninspired to create? Or is your work very detail orientated and you have trouble focusing?

Once you address what’s missing, you can fill the gap by painting your home office a color that specifically evokes the emotion you need. Whether it’s energy, motivation, or focus, pick the perfect paint color for you and your mood.

5 Universal Elements Of A Contemporary Kitchen

Each kitchen theme is defined by specific elements, and contemporary kitchens are no different. This particular theme represents the different styles that gained popularity during the second half of the 20th century. Since inspiration was borrowed from so many different time periods, it can be difficult to pinpoint what exactly is contemporary design. Let’s learn some of the universal elements that characterize contemporary kitchens, so that you have a clear vision when you design your own kitchen.

Neutral Foundation

While it is very common to find splashes of bold color in contemporary kitchens, the color scheme tends to be predominantly neutral overall. Think all white except for a red backsplash along the countertops or a blue chandelier hanging above the kitchen island. The incorporation of color is meant to have an artistic significance rather than be dominant in the color scheme. Contemporary color schemes tend to include very muted shades, including white, cream, taupe, gray, and brown. This creates the perfect neutral foundation to build upon.

Full Overlay Cabinets

Contemporary kitchen cabinets appear seamless. To achieve this uninterrupted look, very little or none of the door frame will be visible. Slab front or Shaker style are the most popular contemporary kitchen cabinets because they offer that simple, clean look. Some homeowners opt to eliminate hardware to accomplish true minimalism, but that’s up to your personal preference.

Natural Inspiration

Natural elements are prevalent in contemporary kitchens, and they can be incorporated in a variety of ways. From stone countertops on your modern kitchen island to water-resistant, wood-look ceramic flooring, there are many materials found in nature that fit perfectly into contemporary design. This is also true for kitchen fabrics, such as your window curtains or upholstery. When possible, opt for natural fabrics and accessories, like cotton, wool, jute, sisal, and silk.

Geometric Shapes and Interesting Lines

Geometric shapes are a major element within contemporary design. Since this style became popular in the 1970s, it is not surprising to find some Art Deco inspiration present. You’ll also notice the use of both straight and curved lines. Imagine an arched entryway followed by a kitchen layout full of straight, horizontal lines. To achieve this imbalance in a beautiful way, set your sights on a few eye-catching elements such as a round, modern kitchen island or a hexagon Carrara marble backsplash. Then keep the rest of the lines in the room straight and clean.

Bright Light

A contemporary room is filled with bright, natural light. If you can achieve this with windows or a skylight, you’ll be ahead of the game. However, sometimes you must rely on artificial lighting to mimic the sun’s presence. This is best accomplished with great ambient lighting from recessed lighting, track lighting, and wall-mounted fixtures. Accent and task lighting will complement your ambient lighting and bring attention to key areas like your modern kitchen island or a breathtaking piece of art. Your lighting is also an excellent way to include more geometric forms into your contemporary design. Elect shapely fixtures such as squares, diamonds, triangles, or rectangles. These lighting fixtures will help to define your kitchen’s theme as well as light up the room.

How To Make Homemade Trail Mix Without Leaving Your Kitchen

Homemade trail mix is one of those great grab and go snack ideas that not only satisfies your hunger, but also satisfies your taste buds! The perfect blend of crunchy, chewy, salty, and sweet ingredients, homemade trail mix is healthy and easy to make — right in your very own kitchen!

As an added bonus, homemade trail mix is easier on the wallet than store-bought varieties. All you need are a few simple ingredients that you probably already have in your kitchen pantry cabinet. So go ahead, get creative! Once you know how to make homemade trail mix, you can whip up a batch for those marathon holiday shopping trips and another for gifting!

Ingredients

Homemade trail mix is designed to be eaten by the handful, so think small when shopping or raiding your kitchen pantry cabinet. Common ingredients for homemade trail mix include:

Nuts (Walnuts, Almonds, Pecans, Cashews, Pistachios, Macadamia Nuts)
Seeds (Roasted Pumpkin Seeds, Sunflower Seeds)
Peanuts (Spanish, Dry Roasted, Candied)
Breakfast Cereal (Granola, Flakes, O’s)
Chocolate Chips (White, Semi-Sweet, Milk Chocolate)
Carob Chips
Butterscotch Chips
Peanut Butter Chips
Mini Marshmallows
M&Ms
Shredded Coconut
Banana Chips
Raisins and Other Dried Fruit (Apples, Cranberries, Apricots, Blueberries, Papaya, Pineapple)
Crystalized Ginger
Candied Orange Peel
Rye Chips
Cheese Crackers (bite-sized)
Pretzels (mini pretzels, pretzel sticks)
Wasabi Peas
Popcorn

Instructions

Nothing could be easier than making homemade trail mix. Simply spread out the all ingredient packages across your kitchen island countertop, scoop out each individual ingredient into a large mixing bowl, and gently combine all the ingredients with a wooden spoon or rubber spatula.

Depending on the ingredients you choose (sweet or savory), you can also season your homemade trail mix with spices from your door mounted spice rack or wood spice tray, like sea salt, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, curry powder, or Cayenne pepper.

Homemade trail mix will keep for up to a month when stored properly in Mason jars (for gifting) or an airtight container (for your enjoyment). If you’re making a large batch, it’s best to keep your trail mix in the refrigerator instead of in the kitchen pantry cabinet. Small batches can be bagged into individual portions for grab and go snacking during the busy holiday season.

5 Wonderful Ways To Fill Your Home With Gratitude

Whether your home has beautiful new kitchen cabinets or you are still adding to your “Dream Kitchens” Pinterest board, you probably have a lot to be thankful for. Here are five wonderful ways to fill your home with gratitude this holiday season and beyond.

Host a party.

‘Tis the season for entertaining, and there is no nicer way to show gratitude for your friends and neighbors than by inviting them into your home. From taking the time to make a delicious, home-cooked meal, to hosting a holiday open house or cocktail party, your guests will surely feel your warm welcome, and in turn, will be grateful for you as well.

Add family photos.

Whether it’s a collection of framed photos on the open shelves of your TV room cabinetry or a gallery wall in your home’s entryway, a home should have pictures of the people (and pets) you love most. Family photos add a personal touch to your space like nothing else can. They tell your story and keep cherished memories close to your heart.

Fill your home with a favorite fragrance.

Scents can instantly lift your spirits and make you nostalgic for treasured moments in your life. From your grandmother’s freshly baked apple pie and your mother’s favorite flowers, to the fresh Christmas tree in your childhood home, you can recapture those aromas with scented candles, reed diffusers, or the real thing.

Keep your home clean and well-organized.

According to Psychology Today, clutter can negatively affect your mood and your well-being. With that said, a clean home is a happier home, so take the time to stay on top of the mess. Consider adding space-saving accessories to your new kitchen cabinets for better organization, and install custom cabinetry for storage that cuts down on the clutter.

Write it down or share what you are thankful for.

Consider keeping a journal on your bedside table to write down what you are grateful for at the end of the day. It could be something big, like the roof over your head, or something small, like having lunch with your best friend or hearing a kind word from a stranger. If you have children, go around the dinner table and take turns sharing what you are thankful for as a family. There is no better way to fill your home with gratitude.