Kitchen Design & Renovation Clifton VA
In February 2016, I received a phone call from a lovely lady who had recently moved into her home in Clifton, Virginia with her husband and teenage son. She said she called me because she reviewed my work and client reviews online, and could tell that I...
Kitchen Design and Remodeling in Great Falls VA – Kitchen/Mudroom/Powder Room Remodel
Great Falls, Virginia Kitchen, Mudroom and Powder Room Remodel Expert Kitchen Designs recently designed a new kitchen, mudroom and powder room for a newly-purchased home in Great Falls, Virginia. Original Kitchen Cooktop and Counter Area - Before...
Latest Kitchen Storage and Design Options
My monthly perusal of kitchen remodeling and kitchen design trade magazines gives me new ideas for items and processes I can incorporate in my clients' kitchen designs. Here are four kitchen design trends, randomly picked, that I want to share with you: Sliding...
Kitchen Design Challenge: Traditional Tract House With Awkward Kitchen Footprint
How many times have you seen large upscale production type homes with high ceilings, chair rail moldings, a spacious master bedroom suite, 3-car garage, and an excess of diagonal angles wherever you look (the latter being one of my architectural pet peeves, by the way...
Amissville Colonial Home Kitchen Remodel
What to do with a “builder grade” kitchen whose footprint is awkward and poorly planned? I received such an inquiry from a retired couple, Jan and Michael late last summer, near my home office here in Amissville. This colonial style home, although located here just...
Kitchen Design Trends for 2016: The Kitchen Pantry
As promised, here is the second part of my blog about 2016 kitchen design trends. Today's topic is the evolving nature of the kitchen pantry. Pantries: Becoming More Beautiful Without The Laundry Room! Decades ago, the typical kitchen, if space permitted, allowed for...
Kitchen Design Trends for 2016: Part I
Today I Googled “latest kitchen design trends” in order to compare them to some of my own observations in the market. Coincidentally, I also just received in my inbox the latest U.S.Houzz Kitchen Trends Study. Here's a quick roundup of what today's homeowners are...
Pay Trades People Well To Ensure the Best Remodeling Outcome
When planning a kitchen remodel or other home renovation project, it is important to leave room in your budget for quality and reputable tradespeople. Over the course of my career, I have witnessed homeowners invest in the finest appliances, cabinetry, flooring, and...
A Chef-Worthy $50,000 Kitchen Remodel
I was honored to be invited to contribute to the Trulia real estate blog recently on the topic of how to get a chef-worthy kitchen on a $50,000 budget. According to Remodeling Magazine, the average cost nationally in the United States for a 200-square-foot major...
Expert Kitchen Design Tips: Keeping Cool During the Hot Remodeling Season
After nervously weathering a lull in business this past winter, I’ve been blessed with a “flash flood” of kitchen design clients over the past eight weeks. I am not alone in the “feast or famine” home improvement business cycle. Just about everyone in the home...
Kitchen Remodeling Success Tip #2: Timeframe
An important consideration in every kitchen remodeling project is your timeframe. You may have a high sense of urgency to complete your kitchen makeover as quickly as possible so as to minimize disruptions to your family's routines. However, it's important to be...
How to Set a Realistic Kitchen Remodeling Budget
When I meet with a new kitchen remodeling client, one of the first questions I always ask is, “What is your budget for your kitchen remodel?” This is a tough question for most people. You may not feel comfortable discussing money matters with your kitchen designer...
New Kitchen Storage Accessories — KBIS 2015
As we know, the point of any kitchen cabinet storage accessory is to make life easier for the end user. Unfortunately, in my opinion, some tend to be "space wasters" and a bit "gimmicky". Having said this, I am a big fan of the basics: pull out shelves, tray dividers,...
KBIS 2015 in Las Vegas Part Two —Color, Finishes and Form
As promised, here is the second article about what I learned and observed at the Las Vegas 2015 Kitchen and Bath Industry Show (KBIS) and International Building Show (IBS). Today, I touch upon my impressions regarding color, finishes, and form trends. All four at the...
Kitchen Appliance Innovations — KBIS 2015
What I Learned at the 2015 KBIS Show in Las Vegas I made it to the 2015 Kitchen and Bath Industry Show (KBIS) and International Building Show (IBS) in Las Vegas last week together with my Class A Contractor husband, Guy. The two shows, intentionally combined, offered...
Choosing the Best Color Scheme for Your Kitchen
Choosing the best color scheme for your kitchen is one of the first and most important elements that must be addressed in the course of every kitchen remodeling project. The colors you choose for your home's interior will affect your life every day. When meeting with...
Quick Low-Cost Ways to Spruce Up Your Kitchen for the Holidays
I recently had the honor of being quoted in the Chicago Tribune as part of a larger article, Last Minute Home Fixes for the Holiday. The impending arrival of holiday guests is a great motivator to spruce up your kitchen before the holiday parties begin. With that in...
From CPA to Expert Kitchen Designer: Sandra Brannock’s Career Path
As human beings, decision making is an essential skill. Unfortunately, when we enter college right out of high school, we are required to plan our future careers without the benefit of the insights we gain as we mature. Throughout my various careers I have...
Kitchen Remodeling Arlington Virginia: Tudor Home Restoration Project
Getting to Know Paul, Tom and Their "New" Old Home Last January 2014 (just before we had that wicked polar vortex descend upon us), I was asked by Commonwealth Restorations to contact Paul and Tom about their kitchen remodel. They had just purchased a neglected Tudor...
Why I Love Pennville Custom Cabinetry for Kitchens
I recently had the pleasure of participating in a video commercial for Pennville Cabinetry. You can learn why Pennville Cabinetry is my top choice for custom kitchen cabinetry when you watch the video below. I am standing in a beautiful Pennville Stanford Collection...
Reston Town Center Kitchen Makeover Part 2: When Best Laid Plans Go Awry
Before embarking on any kitchen remodeling project, I caution my clients to prepare themselves mentally for unexpected glitches because, as the Scottish Poet Robert Burns has observed, “the best laid plans of mice and men often go awry.” I have yet to see a kitchen...