Irwin's Kitchen Remodeling: Our Cabinets Are Coming!

 

Irwin Weiner ASID - I want to tell you that Jay and I are very excited with our kitchen remodeling project in our Bucks County farmhouse! We've been taking videos which we'll edit and post in the coming weeks, but at this point we've cleared out the kitchen and laundry room/back entrance area altogether and turned our dining room into a large storage area. We had our last breakfast in the old kitchen on Boxing Day (December 26). Shortly afterwards, our contractor Charles and his son made short work of the demolition phase with all old countertops going out to the dumpster. The cabinets will be reused and recycled.

As I write this, I'm driving to Bucks to receive the kitchen cabinet delivery from IKEA, many boxes that we'll store in our emptied-out garage until the installation around early February. The IKEA experience we had last month was fascinating, I must say! We hit the last day of a 20% off kitchen sale, and we stocked up. We selected the off-white Ädel cabinets because of their clean lines and overall simplicity (see photos above and below). IKEA kitchen departments are efficient assembly lines like in a car wash - you follow the numbered stations and make your selections.

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Trends from Latest AD Home Design Show

 

Irwin Weiner ASID - The Architectural Digest Home Design Show isn't the sole arbiter of style trends for the home, but it's interesting each year to see who exhibits and is putting money and public relations into their product lines. Will someone new break through the noise and become a standout and a true trendsetter? The following LifeMinute.TV video shows their favorite trends including some mid-price pro ovens and a refrigerator solution from Jenn-Air, US-made shagreen furniture from Skatemoderne, fascinating stereo speakers turned into high art from TON Art (each piece combines gold and light), and indoor-outdoor furnishings from Oasiq Outdoor Furniture.

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Designer Susan Marinello Takes Us On a Sky-High Tour

 

Irwin Weiner ASID - I really do love privacy. That's why I'm a bit hesitant to jump onto the urban floor-to-ceiling glass walls trend in luxury condo and apartment living. What do you think? Is it comfortable to always be conscious of walking around your space and knowing that someone might be watching you? Just say no-no-no to walking around in your skivvies, nighties ... or the barely there. Keep those curtains or blinds drawn if you want to let it all hang out.

There are open plan fans and those who are addicted to loft living, but I'm a privacy guy myself, and there are times when you want to isolate some areas of your home off from the crowd, as in sleeping children in their bedrooms while you're having an adult party.

With that old-school kvetching aside, when open plan spaces combine function and beauty, I don't mind. And to have a simpler open plan kitchen and living room/great room space for entertaining is terrific.

I liked this video with Seattle designer Susan Marinello talking us through all the amenities of a high-rise Seattle condo, Fifteen Twenty-One Second Avenue. And there are many beautiful details; you'll even be drawn down to the decorative hardware. You'll get a strong sense of how skillful an interior designer needs to be in order to adapt to open plan spaces, window walls,

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Plan Perfect Playdates for Your Kids

Megan Gates - There’s no doubt that playdates are beneficial to kids. No matter how old your children are, playdates encourage sharing, taking turns, and socializing with others. But when it’s time for you to host the playdate, it can be challenging to know what to do! While there’s no need to throw a party-like atmosphere, a little preparation can go a long way.

There are a few things you’ll want to handle prior to the playdate to ensure that you get started on a good note. First, make sure your child puts away any toys that he or she doesn’t want to share. You may also want to place a few activities within reach for the kids, such as those that encourage them to play together. Good examples include arts and crafts, puzzles and board games. And of course, make the playdate suitable for the ages of the children. If you’re inviting a toddler, 45 minutes is adequate. Even older kids can get overtired, so limit the playdate to 2 hours or less.

One of the best places for a playdate is outside! Not only do you minimize a messy house, but being outside always seems to make kids play better. Don’t think you need to arrange an outing at the park, either. Open up the sandbox, play a round of catch or drag out the soccer nets. This fall, it's fun to

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