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5 Reasons Why We Love Gray Kitchen Cabinets

If you have been following design trends, there’s a good chance you’re familiar with the rising popularity of gray kitchen cabinets. You also may be wondering why this cabinet finish has become a favorite of designers and homeowners alike and if you should incorporate this new fashion into your home. The short answer is, yes! Stunning, versatile, and modern — gray kitchen cabinets are here to stay. We’d love to share all of the reasons why we love them, but for now we’ll start with just five.

Gray is the new neutral.

For some time, our idea of a neutral cabinet finish was pretty limited to some variation of white or beige. With the emergence of this new finish also comes a new neutral. Gray provides an interesting alternative to our classic cabinet options. By being both understated and dynamic, we love its neutrality and ability to be bold.

Gray is versatile, complementing a variety of kitchen themes.

You wouldn’t put slick, black cabinets in a traditional kitchen. Many finishes are very specific and usually work well with only certain styles. Gray is one of the exceptions. Whether you have a contemporary or transitional open concept kitchen, or an ultra quaint country theme, gray can gel itself with your unique style and kitchen design.

Take a look at Willow Lane Cabinetry’s Midtown Light Gray Shaker cabinets to see this modern finish shaking up a classic style perfectly.

Gray is great for mixing and matching cabinets.

One trend we love is mixing and matching cabinets. This design works especially well in an open concept kitchen, where you can do your wall cabinets one color and your island another. You can also do one wall of cabinets in a different finish and create an accent wall. Gray allows you to dive into this trend by mixing well with many other finishes.

See how we unexpectedly mixed and matched the Midtown Painted Grey Shaker here.

Gray kitchen cabinets bring out the beauty of stone.

If you love stone countertops like we do, then you will love how gray cabinets provide the perfect complement to their unique beauty. From natural granite to engineered quartz, the splendid shades of gray found in stone countertops is really brought to life beside cabinets with a gray finish.

Find inspiration for your kitchen design with these examples of our Union Gray cabinets with stone countertops.

Gray and stainless steel are the perfect pair.

Whether you dream of a modern design or a kitchen with an industrial feel, stainless steel appliances deliver that sleek look. The shimmer and shine of stainless steel is made only more appealing next to gray cabinets. From lighter shades to deep dark finishes, there are so many possibilities when pairing gray cabinets and stainless steel.

Browse the brilliance of this perfect pair with our Roosevelt Dove Gray cabinets or the Providence Slate Gray cabinets.

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 solid 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!

How To Impress Your Sweetheart With A Home Cooked Meal On Valentine’s Day

While eating dinner at a fancy restaurant is nice, anybody can make a reservation. If you truly want to impress your sweetheart, why not make a home cooked meal? Whether you have a small galley or large open concept kitchen, you can show how much you care with a romantic evening at home. Here are a few tips for planning and preparing the perfect Valentine’s Day dinner — made with love.

Tip 1: Search Your Heart

You know your Valentine better than anyone. Before you begin, search your heart to determine what he or she would love. What are her favorite foods? Even if it’s something as simple as burgers, incorporate that into the menu — with a gourmet twist. Does he love spending quality time with you? If so, plan a meal you can cook together. Does she love surprises? Have a romantic dinner for two waiting when she gets home from work.

Tip 2: Set The Mood

Valentine’s Day is a special occasion; so bring a bit of romantic ambiance to your dining room or open concept kitchen. Now is the perfect time to pull out the good China dishes and crystal wine glasses you received as a wedding gift. Show you care by setting the table properly, complete with cloth napkins, tapered candles, and a vase of fresh flowers. For a detailed guide on table setting etiquette from Emily Post, click here.

Tip 3: Plan The Menu

If you cook dinner on a nightly basis, steer clear of the meals in your regular rotation, and whip up something new and exciting for Valentine’s Day. Start with your significant other’s favorite meal, and make it fancy. For example, simple spaghetti and meatballs can become spicy Pappardelle with Bolognese Sauce, while steak can become surf and turf, with filet mignon and broiled lobster tails. Even a traditional cheeseburger can be made special with unique toppings. Swap raw white onions for pickled red onions, iceberg lettuce for arugula, and American cheese for Gouda or Gorgonzola.

Tip 4: Don’t Forget Dessert

A Valentine’s Day dinner isn’t complete without a decadent dessert for two. Don’t cheat by buying a store-bought confection. Baking a homemade sweet for your sweetheart is the icing on the cake — the perfect happy ending to the lovey meal you have prepared. If you’re not a natural baker, keep things simple. Search online for easy and traditional Valentine’s Day dessert recipes, such as Chocolate Mousse or heart shaped Strawberry Shortcake. You may also want to consider stocking your bar cabinets for a special nightcap cocktail.

Planning and preparing a Valentine’s Day dinner is a thoughtful gesture that takes time and effort. When you follow these helpful tips, your Valentine will surely be impressed — and feel loved.

How To Build A Better Home Bar

Is your bar sitting in a dark corner, collecting dust? It might be time for a makeover. From sleek bar cabinets to integrated technology, here are a few ways you can build a better bar in your home.

Step 1: Seek some assistance.

Build a bar that you and your guests will love by working with one of Willow Lane Cabinetry’s complimentary designers. From choosing which bar cabinets will look best in your open concept kitchen to sending you photorealistic renderings of your finished design, our team will be by your side every step of the way. To get started, just fill out this form.

Step 2: Make it your own.

One of our customers was a huge a wine lover — but you would’ve never known it by her home bar. It lacked the features and functionality to enhance her wine drinking experience, so it went completely unused. When remodeling her kitchen, she was concerned this would happen again. We recommended installing a wine cooler and hanging a few wall-mounted wine glass racks. Her abandoned home bar is now her favorite part of her open concept kitchen. A few small touches can turn a basic home bar into something truly special.

Step 3: Step outside of the kitchen.

Your kitchen isn’t the only place to install a bar. The TV room, dining room, and backyard are just a few other options. Sometimes the place that makes the most sense isn’t the most common. Don’t be afraid to think outside of the box and step outside of the kitchen with your bar design.

Step 4: Add some seating.

One reason a home bar gets banished is lack of seating. If you find yourself making a drink in the kitchen and heading straight for the couch or dining room table, it might be time to expand the area around your home bar. From a simple high-top table to a comfy side chair, the possibilities are really endless. See if some seating can increase the foot traffic to your home bar. Not only will this make your bar more appealing to you — but your guests as well. A home bar can be a great asset when entertaining. Seating can make this part of your home more welcoming and will increase your hosting clout.

Step 5: Make your home bar more like your favorite bar.

What’s your favorite bar like? Some may describe a quaint hotel lounge where the seats are made of velvet and the whiskey is served over ice. Others may rave about the sports memorabilia hung from the walls in their hometown pub where they played darts in college. Rather than just build a basic bar, think of memories and establishments that have personal meaning to you. It is so easy to bring parts of your favorite bar into your home and create something that has true meaning and character.

Interior Design Tips For Adding Visual Warmth To A Cold Bathroom

It’s the middle of winter and your cozy bathroom suddenly reminds you of the chilly outdoors. Whether it’s a lack of color, cold tile, or an overall yearning for summer, you’ve decided it’s definitely time to heat things up. Read on to discover five interior design tips that will help you add visual warmth to a cold bathroom.

Swap out some of those white and bright elements. When it’s summer, the idea of a monotonously white bathroom seems sunny. Crisp, clean, all-white bathroom cabinets? Yes, please! But when the temperature drops to freezing, your color scheme might start resembling a snowstorm more than a day at the beach.

If your color scheme is giving you icy vibes, switch out some of the white elements, so that your bathroom can transition more seamlessly with the seasons. For instance, white vanities can be replaced with ivory, gray or khaki bathroom cabinets to maintain that neutral look but gain a little warmth.

Welcome in the color.

If your bathroom is lacking color, that could be the cause of its cold demeanor. The easiest way to change that is by adding color to the walls with paint, wallpaper or a backsplash. This quick addition can have a great impact on the overall feel of the room, and help you add some much needed warmth. Click here to learn about the top interior paint colors of 2019.

Add a big, fluffy rug to offset the overwhelming amount of tile.

If your floors aren’t heated, the thought of tile might put a chill down your spine. This time of year, walking barefoot in your bathroom just isn’t an option. To keep feet warm and add some cozy layers to your bathroom, consider adding a large rug to the room. When we think of bathroom carpets, we tend to gravitate towards the standard bathroom mat. While functional when exiting the shower and bath or standing at the sink, they don’t provide much in terms of visual warmth. Replace individual bathroom mats with one larger rug that runs down the center of your bathroom floor.

Incorporate natural accents to melt away any frostiness.

If your bathroom feels icy and distant rather than warm and inviting, Mother Nature can give your bathroom some heart. From solid wood cabinetry with a natural finish to natural stone flooring and countertops, there are plenty of permanent additions you can incorporate into your bathroom.

Greenery can also bring down the chill factor in a cold bathroom. Consider using potted plants as décor, hanging eucalyptus in the shower, or creating a living accent wall. If fresh plants are too high maintenance for you, good artificial alternatives can create the same visual effect without the extra work.

Rethink bathroom lighting.

Bathroom lighting doesn’t have to be over the top and bright as can be. If your bathroom lighting is harsh and drastic, grab inspiration from your living and dining room. In these rooms, we tend to rely on subtler lighting in the form of chandeliers and pendants. These varieties of lighting have a softer effect and can also make the room feel more like home. A few well-placed candles can also help you create a warmer ambiance.

Shared Spaces: How To Design A Home Office Built For Two

What could be better than having your own home office space? How about sharing that space with someone you love? When it comes to dual working arrangements, being in close proximity doesn’t have to mean being too close for comfort. Here, we’ll discuss how to design a home office built for two, complete with enough office cabinets and functional features to keep you both productive and organized.

Office Cabinets Galore

When designing a home office to share, having enough storage space is vital. Office cabinets help to cut down on desk clutter, and should allow each of you to stay better organized and on task. Select a solid wood cabinetry style and finish that compliments the rest of your home. And be sure to add functional touches, like open shelving for Wi-Fi routers, paper and printers, and other necessities. If square footage is tight, install wall cabinets that take advantage of the vertical real estate you have.

Dynamic Desk Duos

If you have two open walls, adding a desk to your office cabinet design is a smart way to save space — whether it’s side-by-side in an L shape, or across from each other on opposite walls. Another option would be to purchase a table and place it in the center of the room with facing chairs. Make sure the table is deep enough to accommodate two computers, task lamps, and anything else you both might need to get the job done. Take available space into consideration, as well as work styles, before making a decision. Side by side, or facing desks, encourage interaction and collaboration of ideas, while placing desks on opposite walls allows for more privacy.

A Matching Set

The last thing you and your working partner wants is to fight over who gets the comfortable chair. Mismatched furniture also disrupts the overall aesthetic of the room, creating visual clutter that will only add to the tension. When shopping for chairs, select a comfortable style you can both agree upon and buy two. Here are a few features to look for:

Ergonomical design
Lower back support
Head support
Armrests
Height adjustable (to fit individual proportions)

Working from home has its perks, but it certainly can get lonely. If the thought of spending time working alongside a loved one sounds ideal, sharing a home office may just make the workday a little brighter — as long as you design a comfortable space with both your needs in mind. Take advantage of Willow Lane Cabinetry’s free room design service, and let us help you design a beautiful home office built for two.

5 Cabinetry Collections That Will Warm Up Your Home This Winter

The holiday season has come and gone, and a new year has just begun. If you’re suddenly feeling the winter chill, perhaps it’s time to make a change for the better? Willow Lane Cabinetry offers a large selection of fully assembled, premium solid wood cabinetry, from bright Aspen White bathroom vanity cabinets to Regency Espresso kitchen cabinets. With that said, here are a few of our favorite cabinetry collections to warm up your home this winter

Legacy Teaberry

The unique finish of our Legacy Teaberry solid wood cabinetry makes this a standout choice, and the ideal addition to any home — from traditional to contemporary. Its deep, dark finish will enhance the beauty of your kitchen, laundry room or bath, and provide that coveted warmth and sophistication you’re craving. These cabinets feature a full overlay design and soft close drawer glides, with solid maple doors and drawers.

Tuscan Walnut

Our Tuscan Walnut cabinetry showcases classic detailing and a rich glazed finish. These cabinets will make an elegant addition to your home while still making it feel warm and cozy — whether it’s your kitchen, home office or TV room. Beautifully crafted with plywood box construction and solid birch, no detail is too small, including dovetailed drawers with full extension glides that can support up to 50 pounds, and recessed panels doors with a stylish beveled doorframe.

Midtown Walnut Shaker

The clean lines of our Midtown Walnut Shaker collection have a contemporary feel, while the warm pecan stain offers a touch of the traditional. Perfect for transitional home designs, the Midtown Walnut Shaker collection is just right —not too dark and not too light, but oh so inviting. Plywood box construction ensures that quality is something you never need to worry about!

Oxford Merlot Glaze

The Oxford Merlot Glaze collection features a rich Sherwin Williams finish and raised door panels in a traditional style. Crafted from solid birch with dovetailed drawers and concealed soft-close hinges, these cabinets are classic choice that will last for generations. Whether it’s a bar room or bathroom, further enhance your space with features like glass doors, decorative moldings and elegant accessories to tie everything together.

Regency Espresso

If you love espresso kitchen cabinets, our Regency Espresso collection offers rich style in an extremely affordable kitchen. Well-crafted with a price that can’t be beat, these cabinets are known for being economical but glamorous at the same time! Let our expert designers help you create a custom layout with 3D renderings that work within your budget.

5 Style Ideas For A Sophisticated TV Room

You don’t have to sacrifice comfort to have a stylish and sophisticated TV room. We tend to think of the TV room as a family room or rec room, an area of the home that lacks cohesiveness and order. That doesn’t have to be so. By implementing a few of these style ideas and organization hacks you can create a space that’s as eye catching as it is comfortable.

Install an entertainment center to bring order to your technological madness.

There’s a lot more in a TV room that just a TV these days. If your home is like most homes, you have more gadgets than you know what to do with. Cable boxes, DVD players, game consoles, Wi-Fi routers… and Alexa. Even the best TV stand would get overwhelmed with the modern madness that is technology. Simplify your clutter by installing a custom entertainment center from Willow Lane Cabinetry. Featuring solid wood cabinetry and the perfect amount of shelves and spaces to accommodate all of your things, you’ll no longer have to apologize for the mess.

Turn your favorite reading material into stylish décor.

If your coffee table is stacked with magazines and books, it’s time to take things to the wall. With a few fashionable bookends, your favorite reading material can transform into stylish décor on your shelves. Balance books with other pieces like picture frames, pottery, plants, signs or word décor, and art. By blending the things you actually use with things that look pretty, you can create stylish shelves that also keep you organized.

Functional furniture can elevate the look of a room and make clean up a breeze.

Place a console table behind your couch or a buffet table along a wall to give the room more structure. Having a few empty drawers on hand also helps when you need to do a quick sweep of the room and there’s more than a few toys on the floor. Ottomans that double as storage are another functional furniture solution that works great in TV rooms.

Add additional seating to accommodate guests and make the room more “grown up.”

It’s incredible what two accent chairs can do for a TV room. It suddenly becomes a place for adults and no longer just a casual spot for kids. Add some accent chairs to your TV room that complement the color scheme but are still comfortable to sit in. Remember, the goal is sophisticated not stuffy, so you never want to add something to the TV room that you don’t see yourself regularly using.

Wall art makes a statement. What do your walls say?

If your TV room has a lot of family photos, wall art could make the space feel a little more refined. Find some pieces that complement the finish of your solid wood cabinetry and help carry the theme of the room. If you like the look of family photos in the TV room, a custom gallery wall could have a similar affect in making the room look more elegant.

The Top Interior Paint Colors Of 2019

With the New Year comes new interior design trends and stunning paint colors to update any room. If you dream of designing an open concept kitchen, master bath, or home office that’s right on point, read on to see what the paint experts are predicting as the top interior colors for 2019.

Metropolitan by Benjamin Moore

This stylish, serene, soft gray epitomizes modern sophistication, with cool undertones and just a hint of beige. Metropolitan, Benjamin Moore’s 2019 Color of the Year, is neutral enough to compliment any solid wood cabinetry finish, from rich brown Cobblestone in an open concept kitchen to creamy Roosevelt white in a home office. Other color trends for 2019 by Benjamin Moore include a palette of Soft Fern, Kona, Black Pepper, Hale Navy, and Hunter Green.

Cavern Clay by Sherwin Williams

The Sherwin Williams Color of the Year for 2019 is Cavern Clay, a warm terracotta hue that creates a contemporary ascetic in the home. Inspired by both the American Southwest and Mid-Century Modern style, this earthy interior color is warm and inviting, casual yet refined. Use it in the TV room, or pair it with a natural stone backsplash, dark cabinetry, and a copper kitchen sink for an open concept kitchen that wows.

Blueprint by Behr

Perfect for traditional, transitional, and contemporary homes, Behr’s Color of the Year for 2019 is a gorgeous, versatile blue that works equally well in a TV room, bathroom, or bedroom. Soothing and down to earth, Blueprint was inspired and named after the blueprints used by architects when designing homes. The anchor in a trends palette that includes earth tones, pastels, and jewel tones, Blueprint would look stunning paired with medium brown or crisp white solid wood cabinetry.

Metropolis Lilac by Valspar

Why pick one color when you can pick one for each month of the year? Valspar starts off 2019 with Metropolis Lilac in January, an immersive and bold purple tone that is sure to energize any space, from your laundry room to your dining room. Eleven more vibrant and exciting colors follow consecutively, including and Angelic Blue, Spring Squash, Blushing Bride, and Orange Slice.

Garden Patch By Dutch Boy

Dutch Boy’s Color of the Year for 2019 is Garden Patch, a nostalgic green hue inspired by nature. Warm, calming and botanical, Garden Patch an add a pop of soft, neutral color to any room design, and looks lovely with most any solid wood cabinetry or flooring finish from light to dark.

How To Host A Fabulous Fondue Party

Whether as part of an appetizer spread, main course, or dessert, fondue can be a delicious addition to a dinner party. It also creates a fun atmosphere and encourages your guests to interact and socialize. For your next holiday party or New Year’s Eve celebration, choose fondue for a night of food, fun and festivities.

Here are some tips for hosting your first fondue party.

Set up a buffet style or traditional fondue serving area.

If you have an open concept kitchen, you can use your kitchen island or extra countertop space to create a fabulous fondue station. Larger kitchen carts with bar cabinets, portable islands, or a buffet table will also work. This is the ideal set up if you want guests to be able to grab, dip, and go. Take this approach for cocktail parties where you’ll only serve appetizers, or for a dessert station.

For smaller guest lists, you can set your fondue pot on your dining room or coffee table for a more intimate setting.

Find the perfect pot for your fondue party.

There are a variety of fondue sets and pots out there, so purchase the style that suits your needs. You’ll find larger models with ten or more pieces, as well as simple sets that mostly just consist of one average sized pot. The main factor in your decision will be how many fondue courses you plan to offer and how many guests will be in attendance.

Which set you select will also have to do with where you’ll be serving your fondue. There are electric styles that need to be plugged in as well as wireless varieties that use a tea light candle. This is why it’s best to designate your serving station before purchasing your equipment.

Put together your menu.

There are so many possibilities with fondue. For an appetizer, indulge guests with a decadent cheese dip. As the main course, sliced meat, shrimp, or vegetables can be cooked in seasoned water. And for dessert, a warm bowl of chocolate smells as good as it tastes.

Decide if fondue will be one course or three and then plan your menu from there.

Everyone loves cheese as a starter and this is definitely the most well known way to fondue. The traditional combination of Emmentaler and Gruyère cheese is a classic that everyone can enjoy. Serve with bread, soft pretzels, or raw vegetables. For a twist, make a beer and cheese mixture that creates a decadent and delicious appetizer.

For your main course, heat up some water, oil and seasonings that will complement your protein choice, or use a flavorful vegetable broth. Guests can cook their favorites exactly how they like it. Just be sure to include a guide with the recommended cooking time for each option on display.

When it’s time for dessert, chocolate is the way to go. You can do either milk or dark chocolate and pair with anything from pound cake to fresh fruit. For an upgrade to a childhood favorite, let guests dip marshmallows into the chocolate and sandwich their creation between two pieces of grahams cracker. This adult version of the S’more is sure to be a hit that your guests will remember.

7 Home Trends Of the Past Making A Comeback In 2019

As the year is coming to a close, we’re feeling nostalgic for some of our favorite interior design trends of the past. Thankfully, these seven are back in style and right on point for 2019.

Shag Rugs

No longer a wall-to-wall relic of the 1970s, today’s shag is ideal for area rugs in the dining or TV room. Shag has a deep pile and is named for it’s uniquely shaggy appearance. Thanks to its rising popularity, shag area rugs can be found in a variety of colors and patterns to fit any décor.

Tulip Tables

You will get a sentimental feeling when you see Tulip Tables gracing magazine covers in the New Year. One of the most iconic designs of the Modernist movement of the mid 20^th century, this kitchen classic features a flower-like pedestal base, with a thin, round or oval top. The slim profile makes Tulip Tables a nice choice for small kitchens with a contemporary or transitional aesthetic.

Wet Bars

Once relegated to finished basements, the wet bar is fast becoming a stunning addition to an open concept kitchen designed for entertaining. These gorgeous bar cabinets should coordinate with your kitchen cabinetry, and feature a sink for rinsing out glasses and preparing mixed drinks for guests.

Shearling / Sherpa

Oh so cozy and perfect for the cold winter months, Shearling (along with it’s synthetic counterpart Sherpa) has been seeing a resurgence as of late. Whether you choose faux or the real deal, this soft material can be found in throw blankets and even upholstered furniture pieces.

Wicker / Rattan

Popular in the 1980s and 90s, wicker and rattan furniture is back on the radar and fresher than ever. Rather than the charming county or Victorian-revival set you once owned, wicker can be found in clean-lined, contemporary accent pieces, such as dining chairs or hall tables.

Mirrors

Mirrors have always been a staple of interior décor, but in 2019, expect to see mirrored furniture pop back on the scene, along with unique statement mirrors in retro styles and shapes, such as the sunburst or windowpane.

Gold / Copper

Stainless steel has dominated the open concept kitchen for a long time, but in 2019, warmer metals will be stealing the show. From 1960’s-inspired gold-tone pendant lights and pulls, to copper kitchen sinks, mixing both warm and cool metals will be right on trend, and will give your kitchen an elegant new look for the New Year.