How to organize a kitchen when you downsize

In the 2022 Houzz Kitchen Trends Study , some results came as no surprise: white kitchen cabinets and stainless steel appliances are still the go-to choices. But some of the trends uncovered in this study reflect radical shifts in how we use our kitchens—including the decline of open-concept kitchens. Houzz surveyed more than 2,300 U.S. homeowners who had either completed a kitchen remodel over the past 12 months or were planning to start one within the next three months at the end of July 2021. Renovating in the midst of the pandemic, these homeowners had their sights set on spacious kitchen islands for work-from-home and plenty of cabinet organizers to help them contain the clutter. Here's what the study revealed about some of the top kitchen remodeling trends of 2022.  RELATED : 7 Mistakes Everyone Makes When Painting Their Kitchen Cabinets Splurge-Worthy Countertops Not only was an upgraded kitchen countertop the most popular feature in kitchen remodels—91 percent of homeowners updated the counters—but 35 percent reported that they "splurged" on their countertop choice, or spent more than they originally planned. Although engineered quartz is still the top material for kitchen counters (42 percent), it fell nine points since 2021 (51 percent). Quartzite, which is natural, porous stone (not engineered stone like quartz), has gained 2 percentage points in 2022. Kitchen Islands Are Getting Longer In fact, according to the Houzz survey participants, nearly two out of five kitchen islands are more than 7 feet long (whoa!). Homeowners are using all that extra space to not only cook and bake, but also work from home—20 percent report they now work from their kitchen island. The space below the counter is being used for extra storage, with 78 percent adding cabinets with closed doors. Shaker-Style Cabinets From 2021 to 2022, Shaker-style kitchen cabinets jumped 8 points, with 64 percent of home remodelers now opting for this mainstay of transitional home decor style. The second-most popular style, flat-panel cabinets, trails way behind with 17 percent. Open-Layout Kitchens Lose Ground As many home decor experts have been predicting since the start of the pandemic, open concept floor plans are falling out of favor. Over the past two years, work-from-home and remote schooling have made many families wish they had one more wall or door, and just a little more privacy. The study results reflect that shift, with only 38 percent of homeowners opening up their kitchen to other rooms in 2022, compared to 46 percent in 2020. Vinyl Flooring Becomes More Popular When it comes to kitchen flooring, hardwood is still the top choice (25 percent), but vinyl is gaining traction, soaring from 14 percent in 2020 to 23 percent in 2022. Vinyl is now even more popular than ceramic or porcelain tile (19 percent). Not only is vinyl water-resistant and affordable, but the softer feel underfoot may make it attractive to remodelers that want a comfortable home. Specialty Organizing Cabinets Are on the Rise Specialty cabinet and drawer organizers are becoming increasingly popular in almost every single category as homeowners search for custom solutions to kitchen clutter . Cabinets designed to hold cookie trays (51 percent) and drawers with pull-out waste or recycling bins (63 percent) landed the top spots. Appliances Go High-Tech More than one-third of homeowners reported that they added a new kitchen appliance with high-tech features. Number one on the list: appliances with wireless and smartphone controls (26 percent). Now you can control the oven temp and cooking time from your phone, without getting up from the sofa. Or use an app to see inside your fridge the next time you're at the grocery store and can't remember if you need to buy milk.

Home design trends are eternally changing, but it’s hard to deny that the impact of the ongoing pandemic has helped to shape the way people see their spaces like never before. Although 2021 and the year prior were marked by a desire for functional multi-use interiors, home gyms and activity-friendly spaces, and fully stocked home bars for all those Zoom happy hours, it seems 2022 is slated to bring big changes when it comes to personal expression within the home. The pros at The Plan Collection dished on their forecast for design trends in the year ahead, and you might be surprised at some of the HGTV-approved features that seem to be on their way out. Spoiler alert: Instead of clean lines, the year ahead is all about curves, and the totally white kitchen might be seeing its final frontier… at least for now. The pandemic is still influencing trends, albeit in a slightly different way, as Laurel Vernazza, home design expert with The Plan Collection, told Apartment Therapy in a statement. “It makes sense as people have gone from having to be home to wanting to be at home in an environment that expresses their personalities and individual tastes. Since no one could travel, homeowners had to bring those experiences into their homes.” As for how that will translate heading into the new year, it seems that maximalism is in, which means homeowners will look to design features and accessories that stand out among the homes of their neighbors and loved ones.

When lumber is cut from logs, it is typically cut in one of three ways: quarter sawn, rift sawn or plain sawn. Each type of lumber is dependent on how the log is oriented and cut at the sawmill.  The result is a particular orientation of the growth rings on the end grain of the board and is what defines the type of lumber. The type of cut also determines the figure in a piece of wood and the wood’s mechanical properties. Want to dig a little deeper? These graphics will help…

Portland ME was a nice day trip only because the city is all but shut down. Everything we wanted to see was closed! Hope we get another chance to see it.

There are so many new items we've added to our lineup in the last few months. FLOATING SHELVES WINE RACKS WOOD HOODS SCHWINN CABINET PULLS, KNOBS & HANDLES LITE SHELF UNDER COUNTER LIGHTING INSET CABINETRY BY BISHOP FRAMELESS CABINETS AND SO MUCH MORE. iF YOU NEED SOMETHING SPECIFIC, PLEASE ASK

Last year we visited Newport RI to see the many mansions of the super rich of early 20th century. This year we went to Spain to visit the great cities of the 11th -14th century, Cordova, Toledo, Granada & Seville. What is timeless to both is the attention to detail, the blending of color, design and function. Surrounding both were lush green manicured gardens, beautiful flowers and flowing water. These features not only display wealth and culture but provide peace and serenity for all who enter!

For those seeking a departure from stainless steel and chrome in the kitchen, California Faucets Kitchen Collection comes in an array of black finishes for a modern look. Premium black-hued finishes include: Matte Black; Carbon (PVD), a unique take on matte black with more depth of color; and Black Nickel (PVD), a finish that blends the gleam of nickel with shades of black. These and all of California Faucets’ artisan finishes are produced by hand at the company’s Huntington Beach, CA factory

Lets get realistic about remodeling your kitchen. Here is a chart provided by HomeAdvisors.com