open floor plan – Page 6 – Fully Assembled Premium Cabinetry

5 Tips For Decorating With White

Whether your decorating style is traditional or modern, white can add a fresh and airy vibe in the home. There are countless options when it comes to this versatile neutral, from the seamless beauty of an all-white bathroom, to the high-contrast drama that comes from pairing white with black in your kitchen remodel.

Some homeowners shy away from white in fear that it is too stark and sterile. But in reality, white can create a beautiful blank canvas that lets your personal style pop. Anything but basic, there are more shades of white than you could possibly imagine. They key when decorating with white is to pick the shade that compliments your home best.

Here are five tips for decorating with white, for inspiration.

Think In Layers

The biggest mistake homeowners make when decorating with white is strictly sticking to one shade. It doesn’t matter if you’re tackling a kitchen remodel or just redecorating a living room — no matter the project, you have to think in layers. Adding subtle variations in shade, such as cream, ivory, and maybe even a hint of beige, helps to add dimension to your space

Getting Warmer

A crisp white room may tend to be cold. If you opt for white walls and furniture, add warmth with hardwood floors. To keep your room light and bright, choose a natural finish, or something with a translucent stain in a white, soft brown or gray tone. Popular options include maple, oak, and hickory.

Add Texture

Including texture in your decorating is a sure-fire way to add visual interest to a white room while still keeping things neutral. Natural elements like linen throw pillows, knit blankets, burlap lampshades, bamboo table runners, canvas curtains, stone or solid surface countertops, or a chunky jute area rug, can all add texture while staying true to your light color scheme.

Wall Treatments
Another way to add texture and visual interest is by installing a decorative wall treatment in white. In a bathroom or kitchen remodel, there is no better choice than a tile backsplash. Options include beautiful Cristezza Club Glass Tile in Bright White, or Water Jet Glass Tile in Ornamental Bright White. Creamy white Shiplap is also an excellent choice for a large, empty wall in a TV room, laundry room, or home office.
Furniture Finds
When it comes to decorating, the furniture you fill your room with is just as important as the paint on your walls. Look for painted bar stools with caned seats, light seagrass chairs, sofas with washable canvas slipcovers, and, of course, white cabinetry! Regardless of the room, white is a timeless choice for cabinetry, but especially true when completing a kitchen remodel.

Welcome to Willow Lane Cabinetry — the #1 place to buy affordable, semi-custom cabinets online! Let us help you create the kitchen, home office, bar room, laundry room, TV room, or bath of your dreams with our 100% free room design tool. We offer all wood, semi-custom 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!

3 Hacks For A Pet-Friendlier Home

If it feels like you’re living in your dog’s house and not the other way around, it may be time to add some smart storage solutions to your home. Many homeowners initially neglect creating designated destinations for their pet’s belongings, but this approach can quickly cause serious clutter. You may not have predicted the amount of things your pet would need, but now that you know, it’s time to do something about it.

Just like you organize each room based on its function, you’ll want to put in place a set spot for your pet wherever they eat, sleep and bathe.

Separate pet food and human food for easy feedings morning and night.

Most pets have one or two types of food and a few varieties of treats. Rather than have them mixed in with your food in the pantry, create a designated drawer or basket to keep their food and snacks separate from your human food.

But storage solutions aren’t the only issue in the kitchen. When pets eat, it can get messy! To keep food and water spills from dirtying your kitchen floors, place their serving bowls on top of a tray to trap any messes before they spread.

Make bath time more blissful with a designated washing station or portable caddy.

Keeping your pet clean can be a full-time job, which is why many of us choose to drop our fur baby off at the groomer! But if you’re up for the task, the best way to tackle bath time is by having a wash station stocked with all of their shampoos, treatments, and grooming tools. If your laundry room can accommodate a wash station, this is really the best place to build one. Willow Lane Cabinetry can help you design a custom laundry room that includes a wash station for your furry friend, and cabinetry for storage.

If your home doesn’t have the room for a washing station, or your pet prefers to be bathed outdoors, repurposing a shower caddy for a portable grooming station is an easy alternative. Stock it up with all of the necessities so you’re never looking for a nail clipper or brush in the middle of grooming again.

Since they can’t have their own room, set up a nice nook that they’d be happy to call their own.

If your pet has stolen your side of the bed or has been sleeping on top of your shoes, you might want to consider creating a nice little nook for them to rest and relax. From pet beds to caves, there are plenty of comfortable options that your dog or cat would be just as happy to call home. Find a location in the home that they already are drawn to, for example, that sunny spot in the corner of your bedroom or living room. Set up their bed, any pet furniture, and a small bin with their favorite toys. The goal is to provide their own cozy place to go back to when it’s time for bed — or if they just some alone time.

6 Genius Tips That Help Keep Dust Under Control

Want to stop dust in its tracks? You can, with these time saving tricks for keeping your home fresh and dust-free! Start with simple storage solutions that keep those dusting tools within reach, and utilize these genius tips that help keep dust under control.

Tool Time
When it comes to dusting floors and baseboards, essential tools include a broom and/or vacuum cleaner with a hose attachment. For more intricate, specific areas like blinds, ceiling fans, or lamps, you may want to consider a feathered brush or microfiber cloth. Don’t be afraid to try new things to find out what works best for you, and the unique fixtures in your home.

Always Within Reach
Put those storage solutions to good use! Take stock of your cleaning supplies to see what you already have and what you need. For light, daily dusting and quick touch-ups, be sure to keep a dust cloth on hand and accessible in each room of the home — whether it’s the TV room, home office, bathroom, kitchen, or lint-generating laundry room.

One Room At A Time

For a thorough and efficient cleaning, start at one corner or room of the house and work around the perimeter before moving on to the next area. Choose a starting point, and continue in one direction. You’ll complete a full circle and eventually end up back where you started. This will help you keep rack what you’ve already dusted, so you aren’t cleaning things twice and taking up more time. This hack can easily be applied to a single area or the entire house.

Always Dust First
Although you may be inclined to dust last, as the final touch to a freshly cleaned home, reverse your cleaning steps and always dust first. Despite your best efforts, you can’t defy gravity, and dust will always drift downwards to the floors or surfaces below. Skip that extra step of having to clean your floors or vacuum again after dusting by getting it gone from the get-go.

Work Vertically
Begin dusting from the highest point or part of the room, and then work your way down. As we established before, once gravity kicks in, the dust will move downwards. Continue to work vertically to eliminate dust as it drifts down. This technique will definitely come in handy, and and should cut your cleaning time significantly. The law of gravity is your friend and you should use it to your advantage.

Handy Dusting Hacks

The ultimate dusting hack for blinds is to use a pair of tongs covered with a microfiber cloth. This method collects the dust better, while cleaning both the top and bottom of the blind with one swipe.
Swap store-bought sheets for flannel rags. They are cost-efficient, environmentally friendly, washable, reusable, and require little time to make.
Clean lamp shades with a quick swipe of a lint roller.
Got extra dryer sheets? Use them for baseboards to help collect dirt.
No need to spend money on special cleaners for your keyboard when a paintbrush will do nicely.
Ceiling exhaust fans or vents can be dust-free by using canned air. The pressure repels the dust away.
Secure a pillowcase to a broom to make your ceiling and crown moldings look like new.

Dust your troubles away and reducing your cleaning time with these helpful tricks. When you think outside the box and stay one step ahead, it’s easy to keep your home spotless, sparkling and dust-free!

How To Entertain With Ease By Adding A Wet Bar To Your Kitchen

One of our favorite kitchen trends is an open concept design. It makes the home feel brighter and more welcoming — and creates a seamless flow of space to entertain.

If hosting friends and family is one of your most adored pastimes, you will love an open concept design and all of the great add-ons you can incorporate. One of our personal favorites is a wet bar. Having a designated space for mixing cocktails and pouring drinks will radically change the way you entertain.

Depending on the design of your home, you can install a wet bar in the kitchen, living room or dining room. But “where” is not the only question that needs to be answered. From logistics to choosing cabinets, here are a few things to consider so that you can entertain with ease with your new wet bar:

Plumbing: You will want your wet bar to have a sink, so be sure to check with a plumber before starting your wet bar installation.

Electricity: If you’re considering adding a wine cooler, ice maker or mini fridge to your wet bar, make sure you can run electricity to the installation area.

Cabinets: When choosing cabinets for your wet bar, make sure you are selecting a design that complements those in your kitchen. While mixing and matching cabinets is one of our favorite kitchen trends, you don’t want to choose a style that clashes with what’s in your kitchen. Choose a similar style in a different finish, or a different style that falls within the same design theme (for example, modern or traditional).

Noise: Try to avoid installing your wet bar right next to another high traffic area. People tend to congregate around the bar, so if yours is right next to the television, breakfast bar, or anywhere else guests gather, you’re likely to have a noise issue. Try to spread out these party “hot spots,” so your guests can enjoy each other’s company (or the TV, if it’s game day) without too much shouting.

Size: Your wet bar can be restricted to a small corner in your kitchen or an expansive space in your living room. The size is completely dependent on your preferences, and how much of your home you can dedicate to a bar.

If you are going with a larger design, you might want to add an island or other dividing element. This will help maintain cohesiveness in the room while also creating clear distinction between the bar and the adhering room.

Storage: From traditional cabinets, to glass doors and open shelves, there are many different ways to store your barware. Don’t be afraid to think outside of the box so that your final design is as interesting and eye-catching as the rest of your home.

Inclusiveness: While a kitchen island helps to create clear lines around your wet bar, it can also encourage conversations and create inclusiveness. Making guests feel comfortable is key to throwing a successful event. But not all wet bars will have space for an island. As an alternative, install mirrors along the back wall of your wet bar (for example, where a kitchen backsplash traditionally goes). The mirrors will make the bar area feel more inclusive, even if it is in a lonely corner.

The Benefits Of Working With An Expert Room Designer

When taking on a big remodeling project in your home, wouldn’t be nice to have one-on-one design assistance every step of the way? We think so.

At Willow Lane Cabinetry, we offer a free room design service that is second to none. Our expert designers will walk you through your custom transformation, with a layout design that is both beautiful and functional, and a photorealistic 3D rendering to help you envision your new space. We also work with your unique budget to create an itemized list of what you will need and what it will cost. And in case you missed it, let us say it again — this service is free all our customers. Need we say more?

If you still need convincing, here are a few more benefits of working with an expert room designer.

Bringing Your Room To Life

Whether you’re choosing cabinets for a kitchen, bathroom, laundry room, home office, home bar, entertainment room, or all of the above, a home project is always a large undertaking — both physically and financially. Naturally, you want to do it right the first time, and get the biggest bang for your buck. Working with an expert designer can help save you money, and take the guesswork out of your room remodel.

Focusing On Quality And Value

The secret to getting that magazine-quality look is just a few clicks away, and you don’t have to spend a fortune. By shopping online with Willow Lane Cabinetry, you will get high quality products at a fraction of the cost of big box stores. Our cabinets are custom made to order, and no detail is too small. Working with an expert designer can help you choose the perfect cabinets to compliment your home and maximize your space, plus accessories like backsplash tile, hardware, countertops, kitchen sinks, and hoods, to complete the look.

Knowing That Beauty Is In The Details

Our cabinets are set apart from the rest with solid maple doorframes, all plywood boxes, and I-beam construction. A beautiful, full overlay design encompasses every cabinet, while standard features include solid hardwood, dovetailed drawer boxes with under mount, soft close, full extension glides. But that is just the beginning. Working with an expert designer can help you personalize your space with customized touches.

Having Options

When choosing cabinets, it’s nice to have options. At Willow Lane Cabinetry, you’ll find the perfect cabinets to suit your own unique style — from Shaker and raised panel, to recessed panel and slab, in a variety of durable and beautiful finishes. Once you settle on your cabinetry, an expert designer can help guide you in adding personalized touches like glass doors, decorative molding, or a built-in wine rack.

Great Design: How To Create A Cohesive Great Room Space

In the past, rooms were mostly closed off and kept completely separate from one another. This meant if you wanted a blue living room and a red kitchen, you could have a blue living room and a red kitchen.

Today, the goal is bright, open spaces and the result is often a great room. Also referred to as an open kitchen or open concept design, this style brings multiple rooms (the kitchen, living room and dining room) together. Because each room is visible from the other, cohesiveness becomes key to achieving a successful design. In other words, you’ll probably have to decide between that blue living room and red kitchen.

A great room is one of the wonders of the modern day design world, so if you find yourself seeking this style in your home, know you’re not alone. Here, we’re going to share a few tips that will help you achieve that allusive cohesiveness we mentioned before.

Cohesiveness is about complementing not matching.

One common great room design fail is mistaking cohesiveness for matching. These two terms are not one in the same. When thinking about creating cohesiveness, think about complementing elements.

For instance, when choosing cabinets in the kitchen, you don’t want to select a finish that will clash with the living room hutch only feet away — but they don’t have to be identical either. Pick a few common elements and then play with them. Maybe navy, metallic, and white wood can be found in each space, but they are all dressed up in different ways.

The spaces in your great room live in the same city but have different zip codes.

Keep this in mind when considering a theme, such as modern, country, or industrial. Each space may live in the same city (have the same theme) but they each have a different zip code (defining elements).

This analogy is to guide you, so that you don’t end up with an Old World kitchen and a super contemporary living room. You should maintain the same theme throughout all of the spaces in your great room, but don’t be afraid to color outside of the lines.

For instance, if you were choosing cabinets that have a rustic, country vibe you wouldn’t want a matte black TV stand in your living room. But it doesn’t have to be made of barn wood either.

Maybe your theme is country — but your kitchen is a little more rustic and your living room is a little more modern. That’s okay. Remember: same city, different zip codes.

Give each space a unique “wow” factor.

In many cases, homeowners fall into the matching trap because they aren’t sure how to make each room individual despite being connected. The best way to accomplish this is by allowing each space to shine in its own way.

That may be a chandelier over your kitchen island or an incredible floor to ceiling mirror in your dining room. Whatever that “wow” factor is, it’ll give each room its own individuality despite having similar features with its neighboring spaces.

5 Genius Ways To Update Your Home Office Space

If you work from home, you’re well aware of the importance a home office holds. Even when you drive to your office every day, it can be very difficult separating your work life from your personal life. When that office is just feet away from where you eat, sleep, and relax, the need for balance becomes mission critical. Here, you’ll discover how to update your home office space to a place for productivity — with storage solutions and decorating tips.

Add some cabinets.

If the other habitants of your home are famous for stashing their odds and ends in your office, it’s time to install some permanent storage solutions — and boundaries. Cabinetry is one way to rent out some of your office space without turning it into a storage unit. Your desk should be just for you, but a wall of cabinets offers more than enough space to share.

When choosing cabinets, determine how many drawers and cabinets you need, and then multiple that by two. Whether you need a filing cabinet for the decade worth of bank statements your spouse is hoarding or toy storage for your toddler, extra cabinetry can keep the arsenal of things out of sight and under control.

Follow a design that doesn’t resemble that of your home.

You want a clear distinction between your office and the rest of your home. One way to achieve that is by designing the space to be drastically different. When you walk in the room or sit down at your desk, you should actually feel as though you’re no longer in your home.

The purpose of this is to change your mindset. You want to think, “I am no longer at home, and I am now at work.” When you experience this shift in your surroundings, it’s easier to make this shift within yourself.

Out with the ordinary.

There are many office essentials, such as pens, paper, tape, and staplers. These items may seem ordinary, but they don’t have to look that way. Upgrade your office supplies and turn ordinary items into desk décor.

Acrylic desk accessories with metal accents are currently trending, and when your stapler is accented with bling it is anything but ordinary. Find supplies that you love, and that inspire you, because these necessities aren’t going anywhere.

Splurge on the stuff that matters to you and you alone.

We are all guilty of seeing something in someone else’s home and instantly assuming it is what we want. But just because something looks beautiful, doesn’t mean it will make us happy. Avoid falling in the trap of buying the big leather desk chair or fancy gold globe if it has no meaning to you. Really think about what makes you work best, and invest in those items. They will undoubtedly give you the biggest return, paying you back in endless productivity.

If you get antsy sitting in a chair all day, a standing desk may completely change the flow of your day. If you often find yourself distracted by what’s going on outside your window, hang up some heavy drapery and install some good lighting. Splurge on what you love, not what looks nice in your neighbor’s house.

Create clutter fighters.

Nothing is more of a nuisance than literally being buried in paperwork. Find a way to fight against common clutter by setting your desk up for success.

Creating storage solutions doesn’t just mean choosing cabinets that will hide everything. It’s also important to have places in arm’s reach that you can turn to. Adding a wire hanging filing basket on the side of your desk can be your go-to for clearing your desk off in a hurry. A desktop organizer that has a designated space for your pens, phone and sticky notes is a simple way to maintain order. Little things can go a long way when it comes to clutter.

Welcome to Willow Lane Cabinetry — the #1 place to buy affordable, semi-custom cabinets online! Let us help you create the kitchen, home office, bar room, laundry room, or bath of your dreams with our 100% free room design tool. We offer all wood, semi-custom 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!

Working With An Open Floor Plan

You’re probably familiar with an open floor plan or open concept kitchen. If not, it simply refers to the idea of eliminating divides between the kitchen and living room, dining room or both. Along with creating more space, encouraging bonding between families, and making entertaining a lot more enjoyable, an open floor plan also looks really cool and contemporary. If you’ve been flirting with the idea of remodeling your kitchen to incorporate an open floor plan, here are some easy solutions that will help you transition.

Choose Complementary Colors

When your kitchen and living room are one room, you have to treat them that way. The colors in your kitchen must complement those in your living room to achieve cohesiveness and avoid awkward transitions. Now, don’t construe this as meaning that your kitchen and living room have to match. That’s not necessary, and could actually have the opposite effect that you’re striving for. Instead, find a few colors in your kitchen and use those as a guide or color palette when making selections in your living room. This could mean rich brown throw pillows that accent the espresso kitchen cabinets on the other side of the room, or a soft grey area rug that picks up on the tones in your marble countertop.

Let The Walls Guide You

One of the easiest ways to make your open floor plan stick is to keep paint colors consistent throughout the kitchen and living room. When the walls that adjoin the kitchen and living room are the same color, it instantly translates that this is one “great room” and eliminates any confusion that can occur. Your eyes will lead you from the kitchen island right to the couch, without any disruption or pause. This idea also works with flooring. By maintaining the same floor material throughout the kitchen and living room, it helps to create a cohesive whole. If you have tile in the kitchen and hardwood floors in the living room, you are going to lose a lot of the luster that comes with the visual presentation of an open floor plan.

Understand that “Open” Doesn’t Have to Mean Completely Open

One common misunderstanding when it comes to open floor plans is that there can’t be any divide between the kitchen and living room. This is far from true. There are many ways to join the two rooms, while also incorporating some form of separation — The most popular and visually pleasing options being a kitchen island or the building of partial walls. A kitchen island works wonderfully because it has a clear purpose and doesn’t feel like a strictly decorative item. You get more countertop space and seating, while also creating a partial boundary between the kitchen and living room. Likewise, partial walls allow for the room to be visually one, while still creating an active border between the two areas. Couches, side tables, and other furniture can also provide less permanent options for creating a substantial but simple divide.

Now that we’ve discussed three solutions for transitioning your kitchen to an open floor plan, it’s time to get started with your remodel. Take advantage of our free kitchen design service and let us help you bring your dream kitchen to life.

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 service. 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.

Korrie Martinez is a self proclaimed DIY pro with an eye for design and a craft for finding simple solutions to homeowner’s common concerns. Her articles offer tips and trends to help The RTA Store’s customers achieve the home of their dreams on a balanced budget. Follow Korrie on Instagram and Twitter @kokonez or visit her website www.korriemartinez.com.