Mondays with Mike…7-25-2022 Edition 24

In general, I’m well aware that I have much more clarity when it comes to what I dislike vs. what I do like. I’m able to quickly rule things out that I deem to be ‘rubbish’ to my (not so) sophisticated aesthetic palette. That said, to my eye today’s kitchen is far from what I would deem ‘rubbish’ and in fact, it’s unbelievably awesome. And for those who know me (…in real life), that also comes with the caveat that I first and foremost love open concept design and a kitchen where folks will gather to eat, drink, and mumble. THIS is not that kitchen…the one where everyone is so happy that they somehow can become apathetic to the shame of dropping food on the(your) floor. Adding to this ease of complicity is the cat who will assuredly ‘fix things’ when the shrimp tail inevitably descends from finger towards floor.

The great grey colors lead the way here while white saves the day and keeps things bright enough – it’s a kitchen after all! The backsplash is cooler than anyone will realize right off the bat. I call it ‘Railyard Chic’, blending those various brick tones. Brilliance because of the brick, I declare! Track lighting also keeps the look here flexible and ever-changing, should you desire that…and who wouldn’t? You can’t miss the fabulous wood range hood that’s coordinated so nicely with the quite semi-sophisticated faucet/sink combo. I also appreciate the laundry closet concept which utilizes a sliding door design. It’s just a great hideaway. Do your dishes, wash and dry your clothes, all at the same time while keeping the noise confined to just one area of the home – sounds like a night time task. Needless to say, www.WoodworkerExpress.com can be front and center for you in providing help during the process of transferring a similar look and feel into YOUR kitchen. Again, a splendid kitchen design for us to appreciate…additionally confirmed by the feline who seems right at home sniffing what could possibly have been a ‘smudge’ missed by the bather, but never the cat.

Gray kitchen with a modern industrial vibe

Mondays with Mike…7-18-2022 Edition 23

Everything Old is “New” Again

If it’s a period look they’re going for…then ‘Ding’ is the sound we’ll all hear from the award tower as they chime the winning bell, I suppose. This is undoubtedly the most unique bit of ‘décor-ing’, I’ve witnessed. As I normally act when cleaning up a skillet or pan and equipped with a stainless steel sink, I‘m inclined to go for more of a ‘gentle’ mode, but that all gets thrown out the window when I’m doing my normal countertop work. As a matter of fact, I may actually consider skipping the traditional countertop wipe-downp and instead go for a light-grit sanding to remove some of those scrub-ready stains. In all seriousness, this could be a real contender for folks with small children and/or a care-free spouse/lifestyle. The use of old barn wood, iron fixtures and antiques says everything old can indeed be new again. It just needs repurposing.

Admire, if you will the fantastic incorporation of the ultra-modern floating shelves, which we see regularly in kitchen design. Don’t miss the hardware latches from a bygone era and their accompanying bin pulls. WAY back in the day, kids! Can someone please advise what I’m guessing might be a melon-squisher is exactly being used for? I thought they only used those things in the workshop, not the kitchen…and for hammering/bending/blacksmithing?!

Regardless, if rugged is your thing, we have the components on hand to get you closer to your inner John Wayne ‘sharpen your knife on the countertop’ mindset. Just look us up at: www.WoodworkerExpress.com. And remember, don’t throw anything away just yet because it could all come back into vogue at any time!

Rustic kitchen using old barn wood and iron hardware
Image courtesy of homebnc.com

Mondays with Mike…7-11-2022 Edition 22

Organize for Success

We’ve certainly got a nice closet here to look at today. For starters, I’m a pretty big fan of the gray color scheme. It’s to me, perhaps the most tranquil color to start and end with. I love its passiveness and ability to work with so many other colors. The other standout in the images is how the closet is organized. An organized closet helps you more easily find exactly what you are looking for from a sport coat to your favorite sneakers. Organizing for success saves you time, space and peace of mind knowing you can easily lay your hands on any item you are looking for.

Speaking of organization, look how the combination of both open, hanging and drawer storage works here. The open storage areas allow for the addition of cloth baskets. These make great portable storage or maybe even seasonal storage that could easily be moved elsewhere. And with some side mount slides, you can create custom drawers fit to the exact width of your closet space. And of course, every closet needs closet rods. We have a great selection of styles, lengths and finishes available.

Taking a look at the main center cabinet, I’d be curious if there might be a microwave oven parked behind the two doors? It could perhaps be a convenient addition for the hungry go-getter in a hurry? Think about it, there’s likely a TV and faucet nearby. So it’s not out of the question that this en suite might just be made ‘a bit more complete’ by having a microwave in the mix.

Finally, maybe you want to take the ultimate organizational step and hide the whole closet away! With the additional of barn doors and some large appliance pulls you have created the mac daddy of successful organized closets!

Whether it’s your kitchen, mudroom, garage, or your closet, give www.WoodworkerExpress.com a thought; we can likely help you with whatever it is you need, except for maybe cowboy boots and blue sneakers.

Grey closet with organizers
Photo courtesy of The Closet Factory Los Angeles