Monthly Archives: August 2022

Mondays with Mike…8-29-2022 Edition 29

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Create A Closet So Organized that No Doors are Necessary!

No door needed here for this multi-function utility closet, for if there were I could sincerely recommend a barn door in its place. I note ‘multi-function’ to describe this due to the fact that painting supplies (and paint!) are quite close to the ironing supplies, which might only be steps away from the eye care products and toothpaste. While at it, I might also bring the toilet paper down to a lower level…

As I often say in these parts, www.WoodworkerExpress.com carries a handful, if not more of the products that you see here in this utility closet. If you think I’m exaggerating, then take a look at the HandiSOLUTIONS® Wall Panel that is accessorized with baskets to hold cleaning supplies and a mop + paper towels. We don’t sell the mop (…we do sell brooms!), but all the accessories holding baskets that attach to this wall panel we’ve got! The chrome Rev-A-Shelf closet baskets stowed in the lower right bays are in stock at the moment…they’re also available in oil rubbed bronze and satin nickel finishes.

Lucky for me, as you see, I’m prepared…cleanup in Aisle 3!

Cleaning supplies closet organized with slat wall and pull-out baskets
Photo Courtesy of Houzz

Mondays with Mike…8-22-2022 Edition 28

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Creating an Unexpected Space-Confessions of a Woodworker…

Confessions anyone? If you are a creative, semi-handy person then you might find this mudroom cabinet here to be a desirable and attainable project for you to take on. I can tell you firsthand that www.WoodworkerExpress.com is loaded with all the hooks, pulls and other components necessary to assemble this stylishly aeriated cabinet.

As alluded to in the beginning, this project resembles confessional. I’m guessing it might’ve been the dark wood combined with the pull and mesh wire grills that triggered me thinking that. That said, once I focused in on the 2nd door (+ the 2 jackets), I realized this indeed wasn’t a (group!) confessional, but rather a great mudroom cabinet design brought to life. Part of that great design is the installed mesh allowing the contents to always be largely obscured, aerating and nearby. On top of that, the wood tone chosen here is fundamental to helping obscure the ‘mud’ you’ll surely expect in these parts.

Speaking of confessions, I believe the floor tiles shown here in the photo are the exact same ones that are in my own home. I know that’s technically unlikely, but I’d almost agree to a substitution to just see if I’m right. However, that sounds like a whole lot of effort for me to prove a point (that I’m wrong!). I’ll also mention that you are well within your whims to design and build your own confessional….

And if you do, could we please see a photo?

Mudroom closet space complete with hooks, handles and mesh screen door inserts.
Photo Courtesy of Houzz

Mondays with Mike…8-15/2022 Edition 27

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Opposites Attract-Create Harmony with Contrast.

We’ve all heard the popular saying “Not everything in life is black and white.” However, the designer of this brilliant kitchen/mudroom combo might just beg to differ whilst offering up a substitute for us all: “Opposites attract.”

Here we can see a clear delineation between the countertop/matching matte black hardware choices and everything else here, really. Starting with the matte black hardware, we can see a fabulous and flexible assortment of chosen hardware: door handles and hinges, faucets, hooks, knobs & cup pulls. Even if the flooring here was a different color, there’s no way that the black hardware isn’t the winner in this designer’s game of what ultimately looks best.

WE (www.WoodworkerExpress.com) also has the items that hold this all together organizationally (Base Cabinet Organizers, Lazy Susans, Under sink Drip Trays, Cabinet Door Racks, etc.). When it comes to style, you also have to have substance. Behind the façade, there must be function; I don’t think you can have one without the other. Funny how this all oddly sounds a bit like our initial ‘popular saying’ about black and white. And speaking of color contrast, I do notice a seemingly glowing yellow container of some of the finest hand sanitizer I’ve come across: Lemyn. After all, it’s a kitchen/mudroom, so perhaps the hand sanitizer is the final piece that helps keep the mud at bay.

Kitchen and mudroom combo finished in shades of black and white.
Photo courtesy of Houzz

Mondays with Mike…8-8-2022 Edition 26

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‘A Kind of Blue’ is/was a classic album released in 1959 by legendary trumpeter and jazz icon, Miles Davis. The uniquely colored kitchen cabinets in front of us, could absolutely be described as featuring ‘a kind of blue’ motif. I’m not trying to equate Miles’ musical ethos to be in harmony with this particular kitchen design, but then again: Why not?

Creative freedom in the arts as well as the design world are imperative to self-expression, so why not just go for those designs that you’re dreaming of. What I’m suggesting is simply: Embrace the Bold!

Now there was a time within the last dozen years or so where I had a very navy blue kitchen . But I’ve since moved on from that to a more grayish feel. Although focused at the moment on the big, bright blue kitchen cabinets, the utensils and cookware that we rely on daily generally don’t sit on top of the counters as something to simply look at. That’s what the cabinets are for and as we see here, Base Cabinet Fillers can (and should) be a part of the storage and organizational mindset when we’re designing a kitchen. Also note the muted appeal of the stark black cabinet hardware against the plain birch cabinets. This allows the fantastic blue color to pop!

And this one makes no excuses for being bold and cartoonish in its approach…and I, for one, love it! If you are in this category as well, then head on over to check out these great Base Cabinet Fillers from Rev-A-Shelf and other great manufacturers at: www.WoodworkerExpress.com.

Harkening back to the beginning of this column, please feel free to investigate ‘A Kind of Blue’, which is considered by many to be one of THE greatest jazz records ever recorded. “Not everything has to be shiny and new, so be sure to treasure the niceties in life, some of which already exist.“

Bold blue cabinets create a big design statement, but the organizers tell the real story
Photo Courtesy of Houzz

Mondays with Mike…8-1-2022 Edition 25

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There’s Gold in That Thar Kitchen !

Ah, yes… the early stages of the search to find that elusive kitchen accessory that just doesn’t have a real home. This young chef-in-training it seems is finding out the hard way that organization is the key to nearly everything in life going smoothly…well, in the kitchen anyway. As we see here, she’s searching shoulder deep within these drawers, which we can deduce are clearly in need of some organizational inserts. For if they were equipped already, there would likely be no search, let alone a shoulder deep one. Speaking of search, www.WoodworkerExpress.com is the answer to where we find these goods, and as such, would be option 1, 2 and 3 for satisfying our kitchen design needs! Like these floating shelves, for example: responsible entirely for supporting the spice offerings available to all who enter and eat.

I’ve mentioned it before, not only because it’s rad, but because it’s bold and who doesn’t like bold from time to time…if not all the time? I’m talking about the intentional gold hardware choices on display here. Those opulent gold pulls could quite likely be causing our junior chef to have to shield her eyes from the sheen. I’ve also got a need to mention this gold-trimmed king-sized range hood that looks aesthetically like it could’ve been in service on the Titanic! It’s surely an amazing hood and yet another item that we can help you spec. out when the time comes for you to purchase your own.

There’s gold in that ‘thar kitchen!

Technically, it’s true…just look at the gold pull near the sink, the gold knob under the country sink, the golden door hinges…and for Pete’ sake: even the floor grate is golden! These folks have brought forth the bold and as a result, this kitchen area is fabulous. The inquisitive eye will find more to like in this small photo and realize that it can likely be found in spades at: www.WoodworkerExpress.com.

Kitchen with bold gold accents