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3 Home Bar Brewing Tips For Beginners

You finally have an amazing home bar and have been brushing up on your mixology skills. Now is the time to take it to the next level by brewing your own beer. Before you begin, you will need to stock your bar cabinets with the necessary tools and provisions, and you will need to know a few things that will set you on the right path. Here are a few home bar brewing tips for beginners to help encourage and inspire your journey.

Learn the tools of the trade from the beer making veterans.

The American Homebrewers Association (AHA) offers simple steps to help you master the homebrewing process, including tutorials with topics that include small batch brewing and using specialty grains. You’ll also find some great homebrew recipes to try that include the four main ingredients in making beer — malt, hops, yeast and water. Here are the tools they recommend adding to your bar cabinets in order to brew at home:

Fermenter
Airlock & Bung
Brew Pot
Siphon/Tubing
Hydrometer
Unscented Dish Soap
Homebrew Sanitizers

You will also need a large liquid measuring cup, a strainer, spoons, and a calibrated thermometer that can withstand high temperatures. For more details on each of these items, click here.

Do your research before diving in.

According to Popular Mechanics, most people spend around $200 on homebrewing equipment and ingredients. Nothing too fancy, but still quite an investment. In their recent article, How to Make Beer at Home, they go in-depth on the process, from sanitizing everything and creating a starter wort, to making the mash and adding the grain. They also discuss the boil, cooling and pitching, and bottling your brew, as well as what to do if your first batch fails. It’s an insightful resource, but there are others as well. Before diving in head first, take the time to research, and connect with other homebrewers through online forums, groups and conventions.

Be Patient and stick with it.

Even with tried and true recipes, a wealth of research, and all the right equipment, there is always a learning curve when attempting to master a new skill or task. Homebrewing takes practice and mistakes will be made when trying to keep consistent temperatures and the occasional boil over. This is par for the course and even happens to experienced, professional brewers. Don’t get frustrated and don’t give up. Instead, be patient and stick with it. Once you sip your first success, you will be glad you did.

Know that you have some tips to get started, we are sure you will soon be on your way to inventing your own signature craft beer, whether it’s an ale, weizen, IPA, lager, shandy or porter. You may even want to try your hand at hard cider! Why not make the most of your home bar and give it a go? Cheers!

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!

9 Interior Home Improvement Projects To Complete This Summer

Most of us will be spending more time at home this summer — making it the perfect time for some DIY home improvements. From finally carving out that private home office where you can peacefully work from home, to color coordinating the custom cabinets in your kitchen in true celebrity style, there are plenty of easy and affordable ways to make your home the best place to be.

Create a dedicated home office.

With many jobs going remote, more of us are working from home than ever before. And while not every home can dedicate a full room to a home office, most of us have some space we can spare. Whether it’s a corner in the living room or a nook in the kitchen, carve out somewhere that you can designate as solely a workstation.

Add built-in storage.

It’s amazing what a few custom cabinets in the laundry room, bathroom, or TV room can do. Notoriously messy spaces are suddenly spic and span with the simple addition of built-in storage. Choose from a broad selection of traditional, transitional and contemporary cabinets. We have the perfect style and finish to create storage solutions in every room of your home.

Replace carpet with tile or laminate flooring.

Between foot traffic, food stains and beverage spills, keeping wall-to-wall carpeting clean can seem like an impossible task — especially when kids or pets come into the picture. Tile or laminate flooring is an affordable, durable replacement for carpet and comes in a wide variety of gorgeous styles. This simple swap will make maintaining your floors hassle-free for years to come.

Add a backsplash in the kitchen or bath.

Enjoy a pop of bright color or a clean, modern look by installing a backsplash in the kitchen or bath. This tiny tweak in your existing design can have a huge impact on the room’s overall aesthetic. It is also functional, keeping walls safe from common splash areas like the sink or stove. Impervious to water damage, tile can also be used for other wet areas, such as a bathroom accent wall or shower surround.

Upgrade your closet.

A closet system can help you transform your current closet into an organized dream. From a built in hamper to custom shoe shelves, ready to assemble closet designs from Willow Lane Cabinetry are a foolproof way to upgrade your closet and give every item in your wardrobe a place to call home.

Paint your interior walls.

A fresh coat of paint on the walls can instantly make any room in your home feel brand new. Rather than go with a classic neutral, explore some more vibrant shades. The weather is warmer and nature is in full bloom. Grab some inspiration from the great outdoors and bring a splash of bright color indoors.

Organize your kitchen with inside cabinet accessories.

Take control of your custom cabinets by adding a few inside cabinet accessories. These simple additions make organization much easier and allow you to find your favorite kitchen essentials in seconds. From tray dividers to base filler spice racks, we have everything you need to start designing your own celebrity-style kitchen right at home.

Add a home bar.

Elevate your at-home happy hour with a home bar for mixing summer cocktails. Bar cabinets can be incorporated into your kitchen, dining room, living room or outdoor living space. Once you pick the perfect place to add your bar cabinets, contact our design team to help you get started with your custom home bar design.

Tile your back patio.

Summertime means more time outdoors, so why not spruce up your back patio with some beautiful tile? It’s likely going to be the spot for sun bathing, reading, or watching your kids immerse themselves with their favorite water toys. Let’s make your outdoor space a little more aesthetically pleasing. Browse Willow Lane Cabinetry’s diverse selection of outdoor-suitable flooring, and give your patio a much needed facelift this summer.

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!

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!

5 Champagne Cocktails To Ring In The New Year At Home

While lavish parties and fancy clothes are standard components of a New Year’s Eve celebration, there are other just as traditional ways to ring in the new year that are much more mellow. — like watching the ball drop in New York City, from the warm comfort of your TV room.

If you’re planning to cheer 2020 from your sofa, make sure you have plenty of champagne in your wine storage cabinet and the ingredients needed for one of these delicious champagne cocktails.

#5. Vodka Champagne

Let’s start super simple. Everyone has a bottle of vodka behind one of their bar cabinet doors, right? Great. That means you have everything you need to whip up this two-ingredient champagne cocktail.

If you want to be a little more creative, swap traditional vodka for a flavored variety (lemon or vanilla works nicely). You can also add a little simple syrup or drop in a sugar cube to sweeten the deal.

#4. French 75

This classic drink has been around since World War I. Can you believe it? This champagne cocktail has really stood the test of time. Like most classics, the ingredients here are pretty straightforward.

A French 75 requires gin, fresh lemon juice, simple syrup, brut champagne, and a lemon for garnish. Shake the ingredients over ice and then strain into your glass.

Like most champagne cocktails, a French 75 is best served cold, so make sure to keep your champagne bottles in a refrigerated wine storage cabinet and serve in a chilled glass. Don’t forget the twisted lemon garnish! Use a paring knife to slice a thin, spiral peel.

#3. Classic Champagne Cocktail

This is another great champagne cocktail that only needs a few key ingredients: bitters, champagne, sugar cubes, and lemon (again for a garnish).

The secret to the classic champagne cocktail is a sugar cube soaked in bitters. This tiny touch packs serious flavor and brings out the different notes in the champagne. Like a French 75, you can also garnish this cocktail with a slice of lemon.

#2. Champagne Punch

You might be spoiled by all of these easy champagne recipes. Fair warning, this one’s a bit more complex. But if you’re staying in, why not do something a little special?

To prepare a champagne punch, you’ll need a bottle of champagne, club soda, and slices of fresh fruits like oranges, pineapples, and strawberries. In many ways, a champagne punch is much like a sangria. You are just swapping the red wine for champagne.

The liquors you will need are likely in your bar cabinet: brandy and cointreau. Add 1 ½ ounce of each. Serve this colorful mixture in a large punch bowl or pitcher and enjoy all night long.

#1. Death in the Afternoon

Ernest Hemingway was not just a great writer. He also knew how to make a strong drink. His champagne cocktail creation mixes the bubbly treat with absinthe.

But if you do start drinking this cocktail in the afternoon, there’s a good chance you’ll fall asleep far too early to say, “Happy New Year!”

5 Dad-Approved Home Improvements For Father’s Day

When making your summer home renovation checklist, don’t forget dear old Dad! Whether it’s bar cabinets, a TV room man cave, or a gourmet kitchen, steadfast and dependable Willow Lane Cabinetry is here for you with a huge selection of quality products and our free room design service! In honor of Father’s Day, here are five of our favorite Dad-approved home improvement projects.

Ultimate Grill Station

If your Dad is the “Grill Master” of the house, no doubt he will appreciate a grill upgrade for Father’s Day. First, research the best gas grills and grilling accessories. Then, create the ultimate grill station for Dad with a shiny new grill. Finish your new outdoor kitchen by installing frost and water-resistant tile flooring on the back porch.

TV Room Man Cave

If your Dad is a major movie buff or sports fan, be sure to add a TV room man cave to your home renovation checklist. All you need is a big, comfy sofa, a footrest, and a large-screen television nestled between all wood cabinetry. Don’t forget the remote control! This Dad-approved home improvement project is something everyone can cheer for!

Garage Upgrade

If the garage is your Dad’s domain, he will surely approve of this home improvement project. Garage upgrades include an easy to clean epoxy or tile floor, a fresh coat of paint, and pegboard for hanging all of Dad’s tools. Of course, no garage upgrade would be complete with installing all wood cabinetry for added storage.

Home Bar

If the special man in your life is as solid and reliable as all wood cabinetry, why not give him the gift of home bar cabinets? The perfect place to unwind with a Rusty Nail featuring his favorite scotch or a classic Negroni made with top shelf gin, a home bar is the ultimate way to give a toast to Dad and show him how much you appreciate everything he does for the family.

Gourmet Kitchen

If the #1 guy in your life loves to cook for the family, it’s time to give him the gourmet kitchen he deserves, complete with high-end appliances, natural stone countertops, and all wood cabinetry. Let Willow Lane Cabinetry’s team of designers help you bring Dad’s dream kitchen to life with a custom layout, photorealistic renderings, and an itemized list of what you’ll need and what it will cost. Because nothing is too good for dear old Dad!

Happy Father’s Day from Willow Lane Cabinetry!

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 you need to complete your remodel. Visit our website to see our products today!