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Essential Glassware For A Home Bar

Autumn is the perfect season to start entertaining. And now that you finally have the home bar of your dreams, it’s time to plan for those Halloween cocktail parties, Thanksgiving toasts, and holiday Open Houses filled with cheer. The first step is stocking your bar cabinets with the essential glassware needed for entertaining at home. While there are many options to pick from, you really only need five (or four) basic types of glass for most any beverage.

Wine Glasses: Whether you select stemmed or stemless, wine glasses are a must when entertaining at home. Opt for clear glass (or crystal) that is elegant yet sturdy, as thinner styles tend to be fragile. If you are a serious wine connoisseur, selecting the proper glass is important, but if you are just starting out, keep one simple rule in mind —traditionally, a wider bowl is used for red wines, while a smaller bowl is used for white. With that said, we have four more essential glass styles on this list, and space is often limited in a home bar. Sometimes, it is smart just to settle for a style that is simple and all-purpose when hosting guests.

Champagne Flutes or Coupes: Celebrations often call for champagne, and a New Years Eve party wouldn’t be the same without it. There are two basic styles of champagne glasses to pick from. Flutes are tall and tapered, while coupes feature a wide, shallow bowl. Equally elegant, the choice is yours, however coupes can pull double duty for martinis and frozen drinks.

Highball Glasses: These versatile glasses are tall and wide, and are either straight or sometimes slightly flared at the top. They hold about ten to twelve ounces, and are perfect for cocktails that contain ice and a mixer or carbonated water, such as a Bloody Mary or Gin Fizz.

Old Fashioned Glasses: Short and wide, these classic glasses hold around six to ten ounces, and feature a heavy bottom. Like the Highball, Old Fashioned glasses are versatile, and are often used for on-the-rocks drinks like the Negroni, Margarita or Manhattan.

Martini Glasses: These distinct glasses have a flared bowl that tapers into a stem. They vary in size from large to small, but for home entertaining, select a middle of the road martini glass in the 6-ounce range. If your bar cabinets are on the small size, you can skip the martini glasses and champagne flutes, and stick to well-rounded coupes instead.

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!

5 Fabulous Frozen Cocktail Ideas For Late Summer

With summer nearing its end, there’s no better time to unwind with your favorite cocktail in frozen form. Whether you’re enjoying your beverage outside or in the A/C — cocktails that incorporate fresh, seasonal fruit are sure to quench your thirst! Be sure to keep your bar cabinets stocked with summer essentials, and enjoy these fabulous frozen cocktails before summer passes us by.

Piña Colada

“If you like Piña Coladas” — then whip one up today! This summer staple makes you feel like you’re on a tropical vacation in your own backyard. Simply blend rum, fresh pineapple chunks, coconut cream, and freshly squeezed lime juice with ice, and enjoy one of the greatest frozen cocktails of all time.

Frozen Margarita

A classic drink that you can easily make at home; put a spin on the traditional Frozen Margarita by adding seasonal fruit to the mix. Experiment with mango, watermelon, or strawberries, along with tequila, triple sec, freshly squeezed lime juice, and ice.

Frozen Daiquiri

The perfect adult beverage to sip by the pool, add the fresh fruit of your choice to Frozen Daiquiris. Blend strawberries, peaches, or banana with rum, lime juice, ice and simple syrup. Click here for a Simple Syrup recipe from Food & Wine.

Mojito Slushy

The ultimate summer refresher, Mojitos are made by by mixing white rum, soda water, fresh muddled mint, and freshly squeezed lime juice. For a fun twist, blend these ingredients with ice for a Mojito Slushy — a refreshing way to beat the heat.

Wine Slushy

It’s the simple things that make life sweet. This frozen adult beverage starts with your favorite wine (red or white). Just add ice and blend — what could be easier or more refreshing? The perfect cocktail for late summer get-togethers, opt for Sangria and add some fresh summer fruit, as well. Peaches pair well with white Sangria, and citrus fruits with red.

Savor the last few weeks of summer, and keep your bar cabinets stocked with everything you need to whip up these fabulous frozen cocktails when friends come to call. For a family-friendly gathering, blend up any of these beverages minus the alcohol (for the Wine Slushy, use grape juice as a substitute). Decorate glasses with summery garnishes (think fruit wedges and mint sprigs), little umbrellas, and salt/sugar rims.

5 Advantages of an Open Concept Kitchen

If you’ve been lusting over the look of an open concept kitchen but aren’t quite sure if the pros outweigh the cons of renovating, keep scrolling! We’re sharing all of the reasons we love an open concept kitchen and how this new design can improve your home and life.

Cook More, Stress Less

Being able to see your living room and dining room from behind your kitchen counter can be life changing. If you have young kids running around or teenagers doing homework at the table, you know the need to be in two places at once.

If your closed in kitchen makes meal prep stressful, an open concept kitchen could solve all of your worries. This design will allow you to cook in the kitchen and still keep your eye on your kids in the other room.

Brighten Things Up

With fewer walls, natural light is able to travel freely from one room to the next. Your home will become brighter, airier, and more open. Homeowners with this type of kitchen design also notice that their kitchen feels bigger than it did before.

If you wish your dark, small, or crowded kitchen was brighter, bigger, and more open, an open concept design could be the solution you’ve been seeking.

Be The Host With The Most

If cocktail and dinner parties are one of your favorite pastimes, an open concept kitchen will take your hosting abilities to the next level. Guests will be able to move effortlessly from one room to the other — and can even hold a conversation with someone in the kitchen while standing in the living room! Serving food and drinks also becomes more seamless with your countertop or kitchen island being accessible from both sides.

If entertaining is a top priority, this modern kitchen design will surely make you the host with the most, especially if you add in some bar cabinets!

Increase Storage And Stay Organized

In addition to making your kitchen feel more open, an open concept design also allows you to transform “dead space” into storage solutions. What once was just a wall will be converted into additional countertop and cabinet space or a freestanding kitchen island.

If you find yourself short on countertop space or desperately needing more cabinets for storage, remodeling your kitchen could solve this problem and help you stay more organized.

Bring On The Breakfast Bar

One of the best and most used features in an open concept kitchen is the breakfast bar. Since we replace one wall with extra countertop space or a kitchen island, we now have the option of keeping stools on one side to create a convenient breakfast bar. This addition is great when entertaining guests, but is also perfect for busy parents who’d rather not set the table for every meal.

If you’d love extra seating in your kitchen or want a fast, convenient way to serve breakfast on the fly, an open concept design could deliver the breakfast bar you so direly need.

Smart Storage Solutions For Cluttered Kitchen Cabinetry

Whether you have charming antique white cabinets or modern black cabinets, there is a good chance you struggle to keep those cabinets organized. Blender accessories, plastic food storage containers, and excess serving ware can takeover your cabinets quickly, making organization seem impossible. You might have the urge to throw out all of those odds and ends, but first, scroll down to see if some of these storage solutions could solve your clutter problems.

Calm your cookware chaos.

If you have more pots and pans than a professional chef, it’s time for a tiered cookware organizer. This independently operating shelf system allows you to store a variety of cookware brands and styles. The top tier is designated for lids and the bottom can accommodate your pots and pans. Constructed of a heavy-duty wire frame with bottom, side and rear mounting, this cookware organizer is both incredibly sturdy and easy to install. Plated with chrome, its finish is complementary whether you do have antique white cabinets, black cabinets or something in between.

Organize oils and spices.

If your cabinets are filled with rows of oils and spices, you probably have to take out a few bottles just to find what you’re looking for. Simplify cooking by keeping all of your oils and spices organized and accessible. You can store these items neatly in your drawers with a spice drawer insert that has multiple tiers to avoid stacking. But if you prefer to keep your oils and spices in a cabinet, opt for a base filler organizer or a spice rack that mounts to the back of a cabinet door.

Clear off your countertops.

If small appliances are stealing all of your countertop space, there are some simple storage solutions that will get your countertops back. A Lazy Susan optimizes corner cabinets and makes a great storage spot for toasters, coffee grinders, food processors and other small appliances. If you don’t want to leave your heavy-duty mixer out, hide it away with a lift that tucks back into a base cabinet.

Stop stacking serving and bake ware.

If your cookie trays, cheeseboards, and serving plates are stacked haphazardly in your kitchen cabinets and drawers, you could definitely benefit from a divider. This easy to install U-shaped divider can be screwed into your cabinets in seconds, and will make storing serving ware and bake ware so much more simple. You can even customize this cabinet accessory to suit your needs by installing two or more side by side. With a chrome finish, it is also a stylish addition to your kitchen design.

Take your trash under.

Rather than keep your trash out in your kitchen, install a pullout waste container in a base cabinet. This easy fix keeps your trash out of sight for a better smelling, more sanitary kitchen. By keeping your trash behind a cabinet door, you’ll also free up some floor space in your kitchen. To keep trash and recyclables separate, go with a double pullout waste container, so you can easily sort your waste.

3 Cabinet Details That Will Totally Transform Your Kitchen

Have you ever gasped at the sight of a gorgeous kitchen on the cover of a home magazine, been in awe of an open concept kitchen TV makeover, or felt envious of a neighbor’s kitchen remodel? Some cabinet details add an element of unmatched distinction in the home that would make anyone weak in the knees. Here are some cabinet details that have the potential to totally transform your kitchen, and get you that magazine quality, gasp-inducing, awe-inspiring, envious look you desire.

Glass Front Doors

There is no better way to add a touch of airiness and elegance in the kitchen than through the addition of glass front doors. Whether it’s aluminum-frosted glass, mullion glass, beveled or clear, a few well-placed glass front doors can take your solid wood cabinetry up a notch. Simple wow-factor aside, glass front doors also allow homeowners to beautifully showcase a treasured collection of pottery, fine china, or crystal stemware.

Built-In Storage

Built-in features are a must in any custom kitchen. Whether you opt for a built-in wine rack, built-in stemware, built-in plate storage, or all of the above, these cabinet details are sure to impress. Why? Because they are the perfect blend of style and function, of course! Add more smart storage solutions behind closed doors, and you get a perfectly organized and perfectly tidy kitchen, as seen on TV.

Solid Surface / Natural Stone Countertops

Consider countertops the icing on your cabinet cake. Just like cabinetry, countertops are an essential detail in a kitchen remodel — so make sure you choose wisely. This is not the place to cut corners. Professionally installed options like granite, quartz, quartzite, and acrylic solid surface countertops offer beauty and durability, and are most desired by homeowners (and potential buyers down the road).

Beauty is in the details, like solid wood cabinetry with a full overlay design, dovetailed drawer boxes, soft close doors and drawers with concealed hinges and full extension glides, cabinet hardware, and a fabulous finish. If you dream of a magazine quality kitchen remodel, browse Willow Lane Cabinetry’s huge selection of premium, made-to-order cabinetry and accessories, and let our designers help transform your kitchen with free layout designs, photo realistic renderings, and more.

How To Design A Home Bar That Matches Your Entertaining Style

Deciding on a design and choosing cabinets for a home bar can be overwhelming. Every home is different and every homeowner plans a party in their own unique way. With these creative ideas, you’ll be able to create the perfect bar for your home that matches your entertaining style. Let’s get the party started!

Wine And Cheese Night

For the wine connoisseur who loves a good cheese pairing, no home bar is complete without a wine rack cabinet and cooler. Put your favorite bottles on display and keep a few chilled to perfection. When choosing cabinets, don’t forget the inside cabinet accessories. Tray dividers will keep your cheese boards and serving platters organized and scratch free.

Literary Libations

If your favorite way to celebrate is with a good book and a good drink, consider this crafty way to bring your books and bar together. Either build a bar around your bookshelf or add a bookshelf to your bar. When choosing cabinets, incorporate some open shelving for your favorite fiction (or non-fiction)! If you plan to invite your book club over, make serving seamless by adding glass cabinet doors that allow guests to find exactly what they’re looking for without interrupting the discussion.

Secret Cigar Bar

The next time the boys have something to celebrate, surprise them with what’s hiding behind bar cabinet doors. Adding a humidor offers a level of sophistication and excitement to the standard home bar. Keep it stocked with your favorite cigars and make every celebration one for the books.

Closet Conversion

Not all homes have space for a bar, but that doesn’t mean a bar cart is your only option. If you’re willing to think outside of the box, you’ll probably find plenty of nooks and crannies that would work perfectly for a home bar. Converting a closet is one way to transform an already carved out space into a fun and entertaining addition to your home. Beneath a staircase is another!

Keep It Chill

If game day is usually at your place, find ways to make your home bar extra special for your favorite fans. Freezer drawers let you serve your beer in chilled glasses for that awe-factor and a mini fridge means more cold drinks and less complaints. Rather than leave extra cabinets empty, fill them with your snacks of choice, so there’s no need to run to the kitchen for more chips and salsa.

The Kitchen Crowd

If your guests tend to gather around your kitchen island rather than linger in your living or dining room, build your home bar right in the center of the party. When choosing cabinets, you might want to select the same style in a different finish (or the same finish in a different style) to keep consistency but highlight the difference. This will help your bar stand out, and lets guests know they are welcome to help themselves. While touching your grill might be out of the question, pouring a drink is more than okay.

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.

Backyard Getaway: 7 Ideas For Better Outdoor Living

You don’t have to go on a vacation to get away. In fact, you don’t even have to leave your home. With these seven outdoor kitchen trends and inspiring ideas, you can transform your backyard into your very own outdoor oasis. Add good weather and good company, and your next great escape is just a few feet away.

Design the ultimate outdoor kitchen for spring and summer days.

Go beyond your traditional barbeque with an outdoor kitchen that will make dining outdoors a culinary experience. From fully functional appliances to cabinetry for your serving ware, all you need to bring out with you is the food and drinks.

Invest in a kitchen cart that makes entertaining easy.

If an outdoor kitchen is out of the question, a kitchen cart is your next best option. One of our favorite kitchen trends, this portable party brings the drinks and snacks wherever you go. You’ll find designs in all styles and finishes at Willow Lane Cabinetry, but the Marston Butcher Block Kitchen Cart steals the show in our eyes. Put a bottle of wine on ice, and serve up some fresh salsa and chips on this natural finish kitchen cart.

Good lighting is key to keep the party going.

Don’t cut your evening short due to bad lighting. Illuminate all areas of your backyard that matter, including the dining table, pool or hot tub, and seating area. If you have space for a fire pit, this is another popular way to light things up.

Bring the indoors outside.

What makes your favorite part of the home so appealing? Is it the comfy pillows on your living room couch or the colorful artwork that hangs in your bedroom? Replicate the most-loved elements of your house outside to make your backyard feel more like home.

Build a pergola for shelter, shade, and stunning visuals.

If your home doesn’t have an overhang or awning, there are other ways to enhance your outdoor living. A pergola is the perfect combination of function and allure. While its main purpose is to provide shade and shelter, it is also a lovely addition to any backyard and makes an ideal dining area. Add some climbing plants and hanging sconces for a romantic touch that will make your backyard look like a dream.

Don’t let the last days of summer stop your soirees.

If chilly air is the only thing standing in between you and outdoor living, then outdoor heating will be your new best friend. The same way restaurants keep their patios warm when the temperature drops, you can heat up the seating area of your backyard so that you can continue to enjoy your outdoor space after summer.

Privacy guaranteed.

Create an intimate environment by building walls around your backyard. As part of your outdoor kitchen, walls can be appropriate. But if it seems cold or awkward with your layout, a fence or plants can work as well. The goal is to feel that the space is separate from your neighbors, so that you can truly relax or let loose.

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.

Outdoor Kitchens and Patios: 5 Culinary Herbs That That Naturally Repel Mosquitos

With spring officially here, you’re probably looking forward to warm days spent in the great outdoors. Of all the kitchen trends for spring and summer, an outdoor kitchen or patio is probably pretty high on the popularity list. Many homeowners consider the backyard an extension of the home — the perfect place to create an additional living and dining space. And while relaxing in the yard and enjoying a meal al fresco sounds delightful, mosquito bites are anything but. Keep your patio free of pesky insects by potting these culinary herbs that naturally repel mosquitos.

Lemon Balm

This plant is a powerful insect repellent, and has a lovely lemon scent. Since it is an invasive species, it does well when contained to a large pot on the patio. For culinary purposes, lemon balm has a delicate lemon flavor. You can use it to sweeten iced tea and homemade jam, or add this herb to salads and marinades.

Rosemary

Rosemary thrives in containers, and has a woodsy scent that keeps mosquitos and other insects away. Rosemary can be grown in containers on the patio, and can be pruned to add visual interest. As an added bonus, this herb is a great addition to homemade bread. It can also be used for seasoning meats on the grill.

Lavender

This fragrant herb is quite popular with homeowners for several reasons. Lavender has a pleasant aroma and pretty purple flowers that can add a touch of color to the patio. Best of all, bugs despise its scent. Opt for a culinary variety for your patio pots, and use a dash of lavender to infuse simple syrup for sweetening lemonade and tea. You can also grind Lavender into sugar or butter for baking, or to flavor homemade vanilla ice cream.

Basil

Basil is a handy herb to have in your patio garden, and not just for culinary use. Not only does it repel mosquitos, but it also wards off houseflies too. For the best results, plant basil in large containers by your patio door. Basil can be used to top salads or pizzas on the grill, or use it in a homemade marinara with fresh garden tomatoes.

Peppermint

This herb has a heavenly scent that homeowners love — and mosquitos hate. It is best to contain Peppermint in pots, since it can grow aggressively in a garden. Use the aromatic leaves to flavor iced tea and mojitos — perfect for sipping while relaxing in the backyard on a warm, sunny day.