Cupboards Kitchen and Bath

Drinking from the Sink

nick@cupboardsonline.com (Nick @ Cupboards) — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 14:06:00 +0000

I can't decide if this is a green product or what. I suppose that a water fountain eliminates the need for a disposable cup, but what about all the water that goes down the drain?

Tapi

Works pretty easily it appears. After affixing to your faucet, simply squeeze off the udder-like bottom and viola, a vertical stream. The Tapi fountain is a product of Dreamfarm and if you can't live without one, you can buy them here.

Reminds of me of the old school versions from back in the 80's...

Remember this gem?

photo

Nifty, huh?

Flying High - Aviator Chair

nick@cupboardsonline.com (Nick @ Cupboards) — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 11:00:00 +0000

via restoration hardware

So Restoration Hardware does very little wrong in my eyes, and this Timothy Oulton chair is no different. Taking cues from the riveted aluminum bomber planes of World War II, this over-sized comfy chair would go just right in my den.

photos via restoration hardware

The description from Restoration Hardware is as follows:

"Drawing inspiration from World War II bomber planes, this chair's aerodynamic curves are hugged in riveted aluminum, while the seat and back are swathed in ribbed leather with the busted-down softness of a vintage bomber jacket. A low seat and raked back give it true flyboy swagger.

-Inspired by fighter planes, from its aluminum-wrapped curves to its padded leather seat and back
-Leather-clad wrap-around top rail
-Kiln-dried frame
-Distressed Whiskey leather has a supple broken-in hand and a burnished warmth
-Aluminum has a matte finish that's lightly distressed for a vintage look; some nicks are to be expected."

Flyboy swagger, eh? Yes, ma'am.

What's better than this awesome chair? Getting this awesome chair on sale... Check it here.

14 Sweet Facts About Sugar

nick@cupboardsonline.com (Nick @ Cupboards) — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 22:08:00 +0000

Via: Medical Coding

Friday Find - Tailgating Innovations

nick@cupboardsonline.com (Nick @ Cupboards) — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 15:05:00 +0000

With the college football season upon us and planning for our opening weekend tailgate at Auburn University tomorrow it made perfect sense to keep the Friday Find in line.

At this point, are there really words that can describe the perfection of a Tailgating Innovations set-up? Tailgating is a fine social event at football stadiums across the nation and in the South, it becomes an art. For a football nut like me, the only drawback to tailgating from sun-up til game time(which we plan to do tomorrow, with a 6pm local kickoff) is that I'll miss all the other games going on throughout the day. The Tailgating Innovations trailer prevents the hauling of one's tv to campus for the day... very nice. Featuring a 47" HDTV as the centerpiece of the tailgating luxury, the trailer also has a grill on a 180 degree swing-arm, lots of cabinet storage inside, electrical outlets, Sony surround-sound system and a pre-wired satellite system. Stock the trailer up at home and the trip to and from the game gets lots easier.

Sure would look good in orange, eh?

You can talk with the folks at Tailgating Innovations and get your tailgate set-up here. Prices start in the $12,500 range.

If you will be in the Auburn area tomorrow let us know! We'd love to meet you and I'm sure that we could find a koozie to fit your favorite tailgate beverage.

Happy Friday everyone... Football is here!

Wordless Wednesday - Toilette

nick@cupboardsonline.com (Nick @ Cupboards) — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 11:00:00 +0000

from Dan Rosenberg

Son, Were You Born in a Barn?

nick@cupboardsonline.com (Nick @ Cupboards) — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 12:04:00 +0000

If you were born and raised in or around the South, it's not unlikely that you've heard the above phrase. Still to this day I think it when someone comes in my front door and leaves it standing open- why do we not instinctively want to close the door? I know it isn't just a boy thing... I tested that out a long time ago. What's really funny, is to ask someone that has never darkened the door of a barn if they were born in one and watch the wave of shock and offense come across their face. You get to explain the saying and then next time they're out the door they don't let what little bit of cool air we still have inside outside.

I have a soft spot for barns- as a kid, I think we may have spent more time in the barns than we did in the house. There is something mysterious and adventurous about a barn as a child, and now that I'm just slightly older barns take me to a slower time where each nail and plank have a story to tell.

So that's where we are- Now how do we bring that same rustic feel in to our homes(without the varmints and weather)?

Is there anything better than a red barn door? Notice the sliding hardware at the top- each of these doors are on a sliding track, essentially an exposed pocket door. The above hardware is a Horseshoe style and as with any other kind of door, there are many different ways to accomplish the same result. The best resource for Barn Door Hardware that I've found is BarnDoor Hardware(imagine that).

Should we stick with red?

How about yellow?

Sometimes barn doors look best just as you found them. Everyone knows that I am a HUGE fan of reclaimed and repurposed items.

Other times, a traditional white or whitewash is all one needs to finish that perfect barn door and compliment the space around it.

Now, those rooms just scream, "Slow down and enjoy the moment!" Because many of us are moving toward not only a slower home but a smaller home as well, a barn-mount door may just be that designer trick to help give your space the character it's missing with a standard interior door. Because traditional interior doors eat floor square footage and pocket doors are often "lost" in the door frame, a sliding barn door offers the best of both worlds!

Lots of photo credits: One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six and Seven.

True Colors with Pennington and Bailes

nick@cupboardsonline.com (Nick @ Cupboards) — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 12:16:00 +0000

With football season right around the corner, I have already started getting out the football gear. Thursday night will kick off the football season for us, and I'm so ready I'd just about turn the grill on today.

If you live near a college campus that has a substantial "preppy" faction, you're probably familiar with Pennington and Bailes.

Pennington and Bailes is a fine clothier producing tailgate and collegiate apparel. Of course, I think they only make one really nice color combination...

Yes they do make other teams, but I try not to clutter up my post with all sorts of colors. *grin*

Besides polos and embroidered pants they make shorts for the guys, as well as lots of options for gals and even the little ones.

It really is a very high quality line of apparel that helps continue and encourage the pageantry and tradition of a big-time college football game(especially here in the South).

Since my birthday is not too far away, I think a pair of these pants will be high-high on the wish list!

You too can have these campus gems... Purchase online here.

Tennessee Orange Dream

nick@cupboardsonline.com (Nick @ Cupboards) — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 12:37:00 +0000

With football starting up next week, I have already brought out all of my orange garb and am ready to cheer on my Volunteers to a season of big wins.

Perhaps my favorite part of Tennessee athletics is the brilliant orange that paints the eastern half of the state of Tennessee each year. While it serves as a thing of beauty for me, it is an immediate indication to rivals that the opposition is among them(As a Tennessee fan in Alabama, trust me... I know all about it). The orange hue that was chosen for the university was selected by one of the first football players at Tennessee- his inspiration was a variety of American Daisy that grew abundantly on the Hill(where in the early 1900's, most of the classes were held).

The Hill

Tennessee Orange technically, is:

Spot Color: PMS 151

CMYK: 0/48/100/0

HEX: #f77f00

Lovely

On a given autumn Saturday, Neyland Stadium turns in to a big orange mix of raucus awesomeness. It's perhaps the best place in America to watch a football game, and the tailgating outside and on the river is unrivaled.

Neyland Stadium

Tennessee orange isn't limited to stadium wear- Bruce Pearl, the very animated basketball coach for the Volunteers, breaks out the orange blazer for rivalry games with Kentucky and Vanderbilt.

Bruce Pearl

Even when one's days of cheering for Tennessee have ended, you can have one last Big Orange hurrah.

Cheering for the Vols forever!

So there is my orange happiness. If you see me around this fall(especially on Saturdays) it's likely that I'll be decked out in my orange, shaker in hand cheering on the VOLS!

Saturday at Neyland

Stare at this Firefly Lighting Ad!

nick@cupboardsonline.com (Nick @ Cupboards) — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 11:30:00 +0000

Sometimes we all need a break from our work doldrums... Here is our zen moment of the day. I love smart advertising and anything that makes you look all over a single ad is genius. Loving this from Firefly Lighting- Takes me back to the days of searching for Waldo!

photos

Nick's Notes: Experience Trumps Everything

nick@cupboardsonline.com (Nick @ Cupboards) — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 11:00:00 +0000

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What in the world have I gotten myself in to? The new phenomenon sweeping the twitterverse and blogosphere is the "blog-off". What innocently started as a couple bloggers comparing opinions on a given topic has blossomed in to an exceptionally organized event(see awesome-cool button above). The given topic for today was a fairly straight forward one- "Are today's college graduates ready for the working world?"

College

So while I should play by the rules and just give me opinion, it just isn't going to happen. I'd rather talk about experience- it'll play along with the topic, and perhaps even answer the aforementioned question.

More people than not have seen "experience preferred" on a job posting. The bigger question in my mind is just exactly what is experience? Every day I experience something new; a new situation should present itself to you each and every day. There are never days where I have to make no decisions about a particular subject, not just professionally but personally. In a service industry like ours, our personal take on many things effect our professional opinions and decisions. Professional experience is always valuable. To any size business, a previously skilled employee is one that requires minimal training, saving time and money. The argument may also be made that an inexperienced worker can be trained to fit the particular system that you operate, perhaps creating an employee that will operate with less resistance.

So what is better? A fresh graduate or a seasoned veteran?

I'm honestly not sure.

A quick story and some advice and I'm done: While I was away at school, I had a friend who had never mowed a lawn. Now, I know there are plenty of people that live in urban areas that simply don't have lawns, and that's fine... he didn't. Growing up at our house, the day we could reach the pedals on the lawnmower that job became part of what we were expected to do(not always voluntarily). After I showed him how to crank a simple pushmower, you'd thought I had started the earth in motion. Let's just put it this way... I didn't cut a blade of grass that year.

Super nice guy- hadn't experienced the world yet.

*By the way, my answer to the big question? Sure, some of them are and some are not... that's why we have job interviews, ya know?

Want to read more? Check out these posts by friends of ours:

Rufus Dogg(@dogwalkblog)
Veronika Miller(@Modenus)
Paul Anater(@Paul_Anater)
Becky Shankle(@ecomod)
Bob Borson(@bobborson)
Bonnie Harris(@waxgirl333)
Tim Elmore(@timelmore)
Tamara Dalton(@tammyjdalton)
Sean Lintow, Sr.(@SLSConstruction)
Amy Good(@SplinterGirl)
Richard Holschuh(@concretedetail)
Cindy Frewenwuellner(@Urbanverse)
Tim Bogan(@TimBogan)
Hollie Holcombe(@GreenRascal)
Steve Mouzon(@stevemouzon)

Kitchen Dilemma: What do I do with the trash can?

nick@cupboardsonline.com (Nick @ Cupboards) — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 12:06:00 +0000

KraftMaid Cabinetry

A commonly addressed piece of the kitchen design puzzle is the trash can. More often than not, homeowners are concerned with major appliances that the waste bins seem to slip their minds. Obviously, having a good kitchen designer in your corner helps on keeping tabs of those seemingly forgettable but very important details.

When planning your new kitchen, advise your kitchen designer of your trashy habits... Not the swearing and the junk food, but how you throw away waste. Do you recycle? Plastic, glass, and compost? Just aluminum? What about dry waste? Yikes- didn't realize trash was such a complicated deal!

Now that you think about it... that separate bin that sits out in your kitchen with aluminum cans is an eyesore, right? Hate looking at it?

One of the primary principles of Feng Shui(if you aren't familiar, it isn't some radical design religion. It is however, a guide with some pretty basic steps to making your home a pleasant, aesthetic place to be) is to have the waste bin out of view. Pretty simple, eh? I suppose that out of view would mean in the garage or laundry room, but who wants to walk out of the room to deposit some trash?

The bin system above is perhaps my favorite- a top mount, double bin(standard 13-gallon) on a solid(you want this- think about how much you use the trashcan) dovetail platform with soft-close. KraftMaid introduced this model as part of their 2011 launch that has me in all sorts of good spirits. The addition to the standard operation is the soft-close mechanism that is so popular on the KraftMaid drawer.

A question that I get a lot is, "I've seen a trashcan cabinet with a drawer over it... Can I have that?" Sure, it's available. BUT.... (You knew there was a but) think about what you are going to have in the bottom of that cabinet and figure out what you'd want to put in a drawer that will be in the same cabinet as your kitchen waste. If you don't have trash that smells bad then go for it- personally, I like the single door, top-mount. Even brings the trash can up a bit higher so that when I am acting like an NBA pro throwing trash away I have a better chance at making the toss from downtown(wink, wink). In all seriousness, the drawer on top option is good for a place to store your trash bags and that's about it, in my opinion.

Not everyone is putting in a new kitchen right now, but there are still options to get that waste bin out of the corner. Talk with your local designer(or us, of course) about solutions that will work with your existing space.

Now, doesn't your kitchen look better without that unsightly trash/recycle bin sitting out?

Friday Find - Matali Lobby Sofa

nick@cupboardsonline.com (Nick @ Cupboards) — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 13:37:00 +0000

The orange leather and rounded edges of this lobby sofa put it squarely on my wish list. Available at Domeau and Peres, the furniture offers seating in the simplest form, leaving nothing to the imagination with its thick upholstered pad and exposed frame.

Bake-N-Blog! Guinness Chocolate Cupcakes

nick@cupboardsonline.com (Nick @ Cupboards) — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 11:00:00 +0000

About a month ago, a good friend on Twitter (Staci Edwards) suggested that we have a Bake-N-Blog with the cupcake recipes from Ming's Cupcakes. Each participant was encouraged to select their own and then give some commentary about the experience.

I selected the Guinness Chocolate Cupcake. I don't usually shy away from unique flavor combinations so it seemed like a good fit!

So there's what I was aiming for, along with Ming's recipe.

Firstly, I am not a baker. My mother is, my sister is, and both my grandmothers can make a dessert to satisfy the sweetest of sweet tooth. The fact that I can make Ghiradelli brownies from the box doesn't qualify me to bake anything(Enter rant from Paul Anater about box brownies).

While I say I'm not a baker, I do like to cook and the last time I checked, my meals turn out pretty good. I can follow a recipe and as long as the power doesn't go off and the oven go bonkers, I can manage a cupcake... I think.

The recipe(above) really is easy. Actually, it's almost startlingly easy. In no time, I had my batter ready and in the oven. Because I have no faith in my ability to tell when it was actually done, I anxiously waited the allotted 20 minutes, making sure to not open the oven door even once... no matter how much I wanted to. Mom has always done the toothpick test and because the 20 minutes is perfect timing the toothpick came out clean as a whistle. After some time on the cooling rack and throwing together the cream cheese icing, this is what I ended up with.

Not a baker... Ha!

The cupcake is a decadent, chocolaty dose of fantastic-ness. If you like dark beer, dark chocolate, dark comedy... You'll love this one. Right as you bite in to it, the lively flavor of the cream cheese is quickly dismissed by a nutty chocolate note. While these taste really good, the smell while cooking is intoxicating. I could just about make them to smell them.

So now that I'm a pro at baking I am anxious to try my next feat, a yet unnamed project. Even though I knew that I would share, the final verdict would come once the head judge(Mom) made her ruling. As of today, still haven't heard whether it was good or bad(in her eyes). The longer I've thought about it though... seems like she would've called and let me know pretty quick what she thought.

Then again... I sent them home with Dad to share with Mom. Five bucks says they never made it to the house.

*Thanks Staci for letting me play along and be part of the group... When I have a link where you can view everyone's creations, I'll post it up.

Maria Yasko- Movin' to Moomin Valley

nick@cupboardsonline.com (Nick @ Cupboards) — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 12:11:00 +0000

Just one day after a fantastic Interior Design Chat(#IntDesignerChat) on Twitter that focused entirely on color, my head is still spinning! I thought this would be a perfect time to share a VERY colorful set of designs from the very talented Russian designer, Maria Yasko.

Moomin Valley

Each day we draw inspiration from the world around us, whether it be from a colorful dessert(my favorite), books we read, flowers and trees, on and on. Yasko used the Moomin Valley series of children's books written and illustrated by Swedish author Tove Jannson.

The space is a children's recreation center and Yasko creates a space that is delightfully other-worldly. Check her use of color!

Wild, huh!?

After seeing this I did a bit more research wondering just how Yasko could transform a home... Equally impressive.

Very refreshing spaces on a day filled with color!

KraftMaid - NEW for 2011

nick@cupboardsonline.com (Nick @ Cupboards) — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 13:09:00 +0000

It's no secret that the Cupboards family is quite smitten with KraftMaid. After working with such a great company and watching their product development for years, it was no surprise that when a new product launch came around the results were stellar.

Here are a FEW of the new things in the vast KraftMaid offering. As always, we are glad to share with anyone who has some questions. Feel free to stop by the showroom and we'll give you the full offering of what's new!

This is KraftMaid's Kendrick Maple door style in the Parchment finish. Both the door style and finish are new this year. You will notice that the Kendrick door has a sweeping, curved frame door that adds a totally new dimensional effect not seen in many other door styles. The Parchment finish is the "refreshed whitewash" and is right at home in a modern farmhouse. Kendrick is available in a variety of finishes on both maple and cherry.

The distinctively modern Brockton door style(shown above in natural cherry) is a quartersawn door style available in cherry, maple and oak. By using a vertical grain veneer on a slab door, the depth of the wood grain shines.

Applied moulding doors never cease to impress, and the Harlowe door style fits the bill! An elegant and stately look, this maple(shown) or cherry door style features a five-piece drawer front and works in an traditional, or traditional with-a-twist, setting. KraftMaid has expanded the Onyx finish from accessories to cabinetry and the stunning black finish looks great paired with virtually any color palette. In the above photo, Onyx is paired with Vintage Cardinal with Onyx glaze, another new finish in the KraftMaid offering and one of six new painted with glaze finishes.

One of KraftMaid's finest attributes is their ability to listen to their dealers and then put that information to work. Fox Chase is the product of the KraftMaid dealer network asking and receiving. A classic, cost-effective cherry door style makes a grand addition to the KraftMaid line-up. Here, Fox Chase is featured in the Rye finish, a new red-toned brown stain that showcases the grain of whatever wood species one chooses.

Both cherry and maple on the new Richland door style are shown above. Also an applied moulding door, Richland adds a stepped edge profile that further defines a furniture appeal in the kitchen. The cherry above is in the Rye with Onyx Glaze finish and the maple is shown in Sage with Onyx glaze, both additions to the stain with glaze finish options.

Clean lines make the Garrison door style an instant favorite. Available on both cherry and maple, Garrison takes a traditional farmhouse feel and gives it a modern, new feel. The large outside bead of the door and drawer profile mimics the look of an inset door. New painted finishes Mushroom and Sage(shown above on Maple) add new dynamics to the KraftMaid paint line.

Coastal style isn't something just on the coast! KraftMaid's Seton door style on cherry(shown) and maple works perfect in an casual and comfy space, and we think it's perfect for the lake, too. A recessed v-groove panel on both the door and drawer takes us right to the waterfront. The Seton kitchen above is finished in Vintage Dove White and Burnished Rye, both heirloom looks.

______________________________________________________________

So there's the tip of the iceberg! We hope that you'll come by and see the tons of new cabinet options, finishes and doorstyles that KraftMaid offers. It's easy to achieve that dream kitchen or bathroom when working with the finest cabinetry available!

Friday Find - Wave by Royal Botania

nick@cupboardsonline.com (Nick @ Cupboards) — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 17:01:00 +0000

It's still summer-time for sure in East Alabama, and the Wave by Royal Botania would be a welcome sight on a Friday afternoon once 5pm rolls around.

The Wave is the product of a pair of Belgian designers who have been riding a pretty good wave of positive press after their nearly hammock/sun chair/parasol has received countless positive reviews and awards. Standing on a single base, the Wave can rotate 90 degrees around assuring the best spot in the sun. Along with black, white and cappuccino, the turquoise option is my favorite.

Can't live without it? Order one online here.

Check it out... Catch the Wave!

A Model Kitchen?

nick@cupboardsonline.com (Nick @ Cupboards) — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 12:17:00 +0000

All at once, Fido realized that two girls in cocktail dresses and four bottles of wine meant the nightly walk to the park was in serious jeopardy.

I love this advertisement. It's just one of a series for 16w21 living spaces in New York. They have a great site, and fantastic design elements in their homes... Make sure you check it out.

Great for a rush of inspiration today!

Is Small Really Realistic?

nick@cupboardsonline.com (Nick @ Cupboards) — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 11:00:00 +0000

There is a growing movement in the home/house world that is encouraging folks to downsize, to leave the McMansion behind and live in a house with less that 500 square feet.

photo

Well, for starters... no thanks.

I think the pump house(yes, we had a pump house when I was growing up... our water came from a well) in our backyard was bigger than this little cabin.

There is nothing wrong with downsizing from a home you can't maintain to one that fits you and your family better. However, living in a matchbox and seemingly sacrificing comfort isn't realistic.

As the economy has changed in recent time, we have noticed a serious change in the houses that we appoint with our kitchen and bath cabinets and accessories. Homes have shrunk- not to the miniature size, but a builder that once built 4000-6000 square feet homes has recently started a development of "cottages" in the 2000-2500 square feet range. (Speaking of cottages, a very neat article at The Daily Basics turned me on to The Cottage Company- I don't like all of their ideas on development, but the designs merit praise. With tweaking, they could work everywhere... and be hot sellers.)

Each time there is a consistent theme that runs through these homes- comfort. They all have large, open floor plans that encourages togetherness across all living areas. The kitchens are meshed with living areas, formal living and dining areas have disappeared, and no sight of craft rooms, studies or entertainment rooms. With kitchens and bathrooms being our focus, it's refreshing to see the kitchen have such a focal point in the home... not just as a work space, but a living space, too.

When you look closely, it's not a bad idea. What do you get back after shrinking a couple thousand square feet? A home with 2500 square feet is certainly easier to maintain, heat and cool, and keep tidy than one with 4500- at least to me, it is.

So is it the end of the big house? Nah, not by a long shot. Instead of keeping up with the Joneses, I think more and more people are concerned with keeping up with themselves. We are all busy... our homes should be a place for us to rest, our havens.

And everyone should know, I'm not knocking the small houses... I mean the SUPER small houses.

But if I have a choice, I'm just not interested in having a house with a license plate.

photo

My post is just one of a handful of opinions today on small living... As each posts, I'll link to them below. Please go read what they have to say and leave them a comment. Wouldn't hurt for you to leave one here either, ya know?

Veronika Miller from Modenus - A small life is good, but slow down to enjoy it

Paul Anater from Kitchen and Residential Design - Is Living Smaller the new Living Large?

Richard Holschuh from Concrete Detail - Small is Beautiful, but Relativity Rules

Rufus from DogWalkBlog - How much does it cost for you to exist one hour? Size matters.

Becky Shankle from Eco-Modernism - Is Living Smaller the new Living Large?

Sean Lintow, Sr. from SLS Construction - Building Smaller - Is it the next big thing?

Saxon Henry from Chair Chick - Living Small(and Getting Shagged!)

Cindy FrewenWuellner from Urbanverse - Living Large and Small: Trading Hummers for PUMAs ain't the Whole Story.

Friday Find - Deglon Meeting Knives

nick@cupboardsonline.com (Nick @ Cupboards) — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 11:28:00 +0000

Deglon, a French cutlery staple, has been producing quality knife works since 1921. In 2006, pairing with designer Mia Schmallenbach, Deglon offered a set of knives titled "Meeting".

One quickly sees how the set got its name- containing a pairing, carving, chef's and filleting knife, the come together as one in their block.

This set can be purchased through Fante's Kitchen Wares for a cool $950. Check their site for additional pictures, care and use. VERY cool.

There's your "Friday Find"!

Pink is for Girls(not always)

nick@cupboardsonline.com (Nick @ Cupboards) — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 14:36:00 +0000

photo

Not that I would necessarily use Lustre Creme, I am curious to know what "pink" smells like...

Anyway, the shoetub extravaganza from a couple days ago (click here) prompted me to think about princess bathrooms and girlier bathroom stuff.

Pink(like real pink) isn't always easy to pull of in a small space, just because it can be a fairly overwhelming color. Aquaplus Solutions does lots of colors in their bathroom fixtures and their pink is spot on... take a look.

Simple lines, and a pink that isn't offensive.

Don't be shy when you want to do a color in a bathroom, the limits shouldn't be the color of your walls!

There Once was a Woman who Bathed in a Shoe...

nick@cupboardsonline.com (Nick @ Cupboards) — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 11:00:00 +0000

After Debbie started her bath and gazed longingly on to the bay, she realized that had she not spent $27,000 on a gilded shoe bathtub, she could have had her very own toilet... her very own toilet.

__________________________________________________

27K... You read right. Ahh no worries, they start out at $17,000, but it's just like a car- the loaded ones that come in the good colors are ten-grand more.

Honestly... If I'm going to have a high-heel bathtub that costs $27,000, it better have wheels and take me to town.

Totally aside, I have become a StumbleUpon(shameless self-promotion, follow me here... and click that SU button at the bottom of this entry) nut, thanks to a few friends on Twitter. In my stumbling, I came across this divine disaster and immediately thought of two dynamic bloggers and foolishly asked them to blog about it. I knew that whatever they did would be gold because they are fantastic wordsmiths and know exactly how to entertain me(Yes, in my little world I imagine they write just for me).

Foolishness.

The link became viral and began eating up my Twitter friends. Today you can browse the web and see seven different takes on this lovely/horrible plumbing fixture. I'll link them all up at the bottom... Keep reading.

In the meantime, here's my favorite of the tubs, if I must have one.

Got to admit, the black looks nice. Too bad you need a 400 sq. ft. bathroom to fit it in.

And if you live in the Barbie-fun dream house... Pink should do the trick. I feel I must use the word fancy here. So there... fancy.

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And now for the absolutely unbelievable part...

That stunner of a tub is made by SICIS, the Italian Art Factory. Everything they touch is brilliant, save the aforementioned tub. Their mosaic designs are purely genius and mesmerising. When you get finished with this, just go look at the super-awesomeness.

What makes me happy, you ask? Pin-ups. It's just my thing.

All out of tile... Look closely. Amazing. Doesn't hurt that the one gal looks startlingly like Judy Garland.

Shamrock walls in the bedroom? I'd move in here... today.

Now that's a tub I'd get in... Red? Check.

The first time I saw this pool room I thought, "That is my kind of spot. Now, where's my beverage?!"

Nothing says opulence like a gold bathtub. Divine.

It's hard for me to believe... I stumble upon a drag queen shoe-tub and am linked back to one of the most amazing mosaic design houses in the world.

Goes to show, can't always judge someone by the shoes they're wearing.

Now go look and see what everyone else did and while you're at it, follow them on Twitter. It's worth it, promise. Just click on the @name and their blog to see...

@Paul_Anater - Kitchen and Residential Design

@dogwalkblog - DogWalkBlog

@ModernSauce - Modern Sauce

@AventeTile - Tile Talk

@ecomod - eco-modernism

@Alexandrafunfit - Fun and Fit

Staging Your Kitchen & Bath for Buyer Appeal

noreply@blogger.com (Ronique Gibson) — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 11:00:00 +0000

When selling your home the kitchen and bathrooms are two of the top selling points for buyers.The kitchen is the heart of the home and this room offers the most return on your investment.While the bathrooms, especially the master bath is looked at for its modern amenities, and functionality for the new home buyer.Here are some tips for staging your kitchen and bathrooms to attract the future owner’s of your home.

Declutter your kitchen: In any room of your house the amount of clutter you can remove to reveal wide open space, and vision lines the better. In the kitchen remove all magnets, flyers, etc…from the refrigerator. On the counters remove as many small appliances as possible, without the counters looking empty. A rule of thumb, only leave a few decorative items that enhance the space. If you have a great looking stainless steel toaster, leave it out if it will make the countertop area look better. Remove all items that wouldn’t ‘belong’ in the kitchen. This means mail, bills, and children’s homework and baby toys!

Make your bathroom feel like a spa: The bathroom is supposed to be a retreat area, as well as a place for bathing and renewal. Remove all items from the countertops other than 1 or 2 decorative pieces. A few guest towels in a decorative basket may be all that’s needed. In a master bathroom remove all his and hers items. You never know what opinions buyers form about your home; instead leave everything unisex and simple. Make sure mirrors, floor, tub/shower are immaculately cleaned. Any one of these items dirty can be an instant turn off.

Update as much as you can afford: Buyers are always interested in getting kitchens and bathrooms that have been updated. If your budget allows, appliances, countertops, flooring and lighting fixtures can boost your home’s worth and the appeal. If you can only afford to do minor updating consider painting walls, updating cabinet door pulls, fresh window treatments, and placing new kitchen/bath towels throughout.

Don’t forget the lighting: Often times your home will be shown in the evening hours and your kitchen/bath needs to show just as beautifully as in the daytime. Make sure current lighting is working; fixtures offer task, and ambient lighting. Consider purchasing and installing additional fixtures or lamps if the rooms have dark areas in the room. In the kitchen, under counter lighting can make the difference in your kitchen being more functional and gorgeous!

Appeal to their senses: Buying a home is an emotional experience, which is partly ruled by our senses. Clean your kitchen/bath the night before having a showing of your home. Cleaning products smell is an instant turn off when entering your home. Cookies, and warm bakery smells are the key to our wallets! De cluttering appeals to our vision, but also consider a vase of fresh flowers on the kitchen/bath countertop to further attract the eyes. Soft music playing and absence of pets and loud traffic outside should also be a focal point for staging your home. Open all blinds and window treatments to reveal views from any space in your home. The more you can make the buyer feel ‘at home’ the closer you are to a contract.

Your kitchen and bath areas can be staged to bring buyer appeal and interest. Consider using these tips when staging your home for photography, showings, and everyday use if possible. Remember, the day you leave your kitchen/bath untidy could be the day a potential buyer could be wowed by your home!

Ronique Gibson is an Associate Architect and a LEED Accredited Professional, who has been in the design industry for over 12 years. Her home design service, Stagetecture, encompasses home staging, organization, décor, DIY projects, and helping those who love their homes! Ronique enjoys writing about family solutions, and making your home the best place it can be.

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*Nick's Note: I would personally like to give a HUGE thank you to Ronique- What a helpful post to anyone looking to give their home more appeal. Hopefully she will contribute to Cupboards Blog again in the future!

Wall Covering of the Day (3)

nick@cupboardsonline.com (Nick @ Cupboards) — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 19:44:00 +0000

eleanor moonbeam on cream

My love for birds on wallpaper is endless, I even have a bird feeder that I keep full sometimes.

Nonetheless, this wall covering treat comes from Madison and Grow, an eco-friendly wallpaper that is hand-screened. They were recently spotted in the Fall Preview for West Elm. Skip over to their site and see how stunning the patterns are.

eleanor cerulean at night

Follow Madison and Grow on Twitter here.

Celebrating a Birthday!

nick@cupboardsonline.com (Nick @ Cupboards) — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 11:00:00 +0000

One of the smallest members of the Cupboards family turns 3 today... Happy Birthday to Dolly!

Friday Find - Carrara Dream

nick@cupboardsonline.com (Nick @ Cupboards) — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 12:09:00 +0000

I am really digging the "Friday Find" bit that's going on nowadays(pats myself on the back). Sometimes, there's nothing witty or interesting to say about certain things, yet they're still too cool not to share.

For those of you that are Carrara Crazies, brace yourselves.

Today's find is something else! A Cinderella Table made of a single block of Carrara Marble. Designed by Jeroen Verhoeven for the Dutch design house Demakersvan, the stunning piece of "design art" was purchased by Brad Pitt in 2008 and another is allegedly for sale with Sotheby's right now. The table is one of a set of six.

photos via Sotheby's

Pretty neat, huh? The table is made with a 7 axes CNC robot, so if you know anything about stone fabrication you know it'll do a whole lot more than put an edge on a counter top!

A couple years ago when Brad bought his, he paid £150,000(approx $233,000) for his Cinderella Table.