Is butcher block in the kitchen a good idea?

Is butcher block in the kitchen a good idea? A lot of people would be concerned that wood is high maintenance. Others would argue that wood bring warmth into the kitchen.  They would both be right. Yes, it is true that wood does require maintenance, but you can seal with a oils. Just be aware that not all oils are food safe, so make sure you get one that is.

I'm not a big fan of using butcher block on all my kitchen counters, but I am a big fan of using butcher block on an island. They gives you the best of both worlds. The warmth of wood, but in a smaller area, where it's easier to maintain.

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How about using just a portion of your counter top as a butcher block? What a great idea. Easier to clean and maintain a small area.

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Butcher block are beautiful, and they do bring warmth into a kitchen. Especially in today kitchen where there is so much cold stone, (granite or quartz) being used. As far as maintenance goes, you can use oil, (like tung oil or raw linseed oil) to maintain it, and you should have no problems. In the event that you do have stubborn stains that won't come out, you can simply sand it down, bringing back the beauty of the wood!!

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At Abella Home Staging & Redesign, we believe any home can be beautifully transformed. We believe in delivering a custom-made look, but without the custom-made price tag!! Call us and let's get started today!!

Color in the Kitchen!

Color in the kitchen? Why yes please!! Todays kitchen have a lot more color, then they have in the past few years. Do you remember the 50's when colored appliance were all the rage? Since then, color in the kitchen have all but phased out. But I'm starting to see the return of color in the kitchen.

 elledecor.com

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Don't want to invest in major (color appliance) purchase? Afraid it may be outdated in a few years? Then how about using smaller appliances? 

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There is so much to choose from!! Anyone of these appliances can add so much color into your kitchen, without making a huge commitment. Tired of the color? Switch it out to another color. Yes, it's true, it will be an expense to switch out your coffee pot, toaster, or blender,  but hey it's a lot less expensive then switching out your stove!! 

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At Abella Home Staging & Redesign, we believe any home can be beautifully transformed. We believe in delivering a custom-made look, but without the custom-made price tag!! Call us and let's get started today!!

Is it wood? Or is it something else?

Is it wood? Or is it something else? Wood flooring has been around for a very long time. But unfortunately, wood flooring was not always possible. Wood does not do well on concrete. It can also be very pricey. But today, there are so many wood-like products. You can have the look of wood, without the problem wood flooring can create.

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Vinyl Flooring - Great for mud rooms, or any room that has a high traffic area. Easy to install. They have strips of adhesive that attaches to one another.

Procida Tiles

Ceramic or Porcelain Tiles - These tiles look so real, it's hard to tell the difference. They even have hand-scrap wood tiles. Great for kitchens and bathrooms.

Lumber Liquidators

Engineered Wood Floors - They are resistant to higher moisture levels. They can be glued down, and can be applied over concrete slabs.  There is a layer of real wood on the surface. Once installed, it's nearly impossible to differentiate between engineered and the "real thing". That's what makes them so popular. They are also less expensive then real wood flooring.

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Laminate Floors - Relatively easy to install. They can be use over concrete slabs. Less expensive then wood, but they are made of recycled wood fiber, so if they get wet, they will expand. Laminate floors have come a long way since their introduction. The quality is much better. Nowadays they have a much more realistic "wood" look to them.

Armstrong 

Wood Flooring - Wood, nothing beats the real thing. Otherwise, why would they try so hard to replicate it? What is it they say, imitation is the best form of flattery. Wood must be very flattered indeed!!

With all the different types of "wood" flooring there is, it's easy to find the look of "wood" flooring, in the selection you like, and at the the price that you want to pay!!

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Kitchen, Mix and Match Materials for a Global Chic look!

Kitchen these days are all about mixing different materials, styles and colors. Global chic is all the rage these days!! You can achieve this look, in many different ways.

Different Colors

Different Countertops

Different Cabinets

Different Metal Finishes

Different Styles: Contemporary/Rustic

Most of these kitchens tend to be white. White being a neutral color, helps unify the kitchen. Even the different colored kitchen, uses white countertops to pull the look together. Adding dark wood to your kitchen, will create a more contrast look. Don't be afraid to mix and match your materials!! The key here is to combine materials that you love and that feels right for your kitchen.

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Need help designing your space? Contact Abella Home Staging & Redesign and let us help you get started!

Rust-oleum Kitchen Cabinet Transformation

Rust-oleum Cabinet Transformation is one of the best ideas out there for updating your kitchen. My clients are always looking for ways to update their kitchen. This is the product I recommend most of the time. It's inexpensive and you can do it yourself! I have personally used this product and was very pleased with the outcome.

Comes in a Light Kit  and a Dark Kit. Both have many colors to choose from.

This is a picture of my cabinet doors before I painted them. As you can see, they had oxidize and turned a yellowish color. Yuk! Not happy with that.

I took down the doors, but left everything inside the cabinet. That made it very easy!!

I taped all around the cabinets. The first step was to clean them. The kit has everything you need. You must wait a few hours before you can start to paint. It took two paint coats, and I finished with a glaze coat, which is optional. The glaze coat gives it a more antique look. Not really noticeable with the dark color.

It took about 3 days to finish the project, but the transformation was worth it!! I love the way it turned out and it has held up nicely!!

Contemporary Rustic Kitchen Cabinets

Contemporary rustic kitchen cabinets are coming in strong. I'm starting to see a lot of this. Mixing old with contemporary is a very hot trend these day, especially in the kitchen. This is one trend that I have fallen in love with. Mixing the look of traditional, contemporary, rustic, all in one kitchen.

Ratebei

Julanda Kruse

Griege Design

Mark Hickman Homes

I love the look and feel that you get from mixing many design elements together. I know I said this before, but I'll say it again, "What's old, is new again!"

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Getting Organized in the kitchen!!

Getting organized in the kitchen can be a daunting task. But there are some rules that you can apply that will make the process easier. I recently tackled a kitchen for a client of mine. Here is how it went.

1. First, take stock of what you have.  This will come in handy when you are shopping for items and it's a great way to inventory. Taking pictures will help with the process!!

2. Empty out all the cupboards. You may need to set up tables to put your items on. This is the perfect time to give your cabinets a good cleaning.

3. Discard what you don't want. There may even be expired items that need to be thrown away.

4. Put like item with like items. For example, all the Tubberware lids with Tubberware lids, etc.

5. Think about adding rollout shelves. You can purchase them from Home Depot or the Container Store.

6. Take your time putting it back together.  You may even need to tweak it a bit once it's done.

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And remember if the task seem overly daunting, hiring a professional like Abella Home Staging & Redesign, may be the best route for you!!

Wall paper is it making a comeback?

Is wallpaper making a comeback? Wall paper was very popular in the early 1900's but since then it has hit hard times. Just recently in the past, wallpaper was synonymous with chintz-loving grandma or high-end designers. But with the internet, homeowners are re-discovering wallpaper once again.Wallpaper can dress up a room or hide imperfections on walls. As a decorator, I love using wallpaper. And as a home stager, I have at times, recommend using paint-able wallpaper to hide the flaws on the walls. So what should you know before you go out and buy wallpaper?

• What are the cost? Retails brand can run from $25 to $250 a roll. Designers can cost up to $500 a roll.

• Should you hire a professional or do-it-yourself?  If your walls aren't plumb or the paper is high-end, you may want to consider hiring a professional. Professional charge anywhere from $30-60 a roll. Not counting the cost of the roll or the removal of old wallpaper.

Once the decision to wallpaper your room is made, the next decision is, what type of wallpaper should you use? Plain paper? Vinyl? Metallic? Non-woven? Embossed? Or Grasscloth?

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• Paper- Can be coated or non-coated. Non-coated makes stripping more difficult to remove.Usually coated with thin vinyl or acrylic film for better stain removal.

Chic Tip

• Vinyl- Durable sheets of rubbery plastic, laminated to paper or nonwoven backing. Stands up to scrubbing, scrapes and splashes.

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• Metallic-Metallized films and foils are laminated to either paper or nonwoven backing. Metallic can add sheen and piazza to any space but they tend to highlight flaws so be careful!

DIY Network

• Embossed-Raised patterns pressed into vinyl or paper. Great at hiding flaws in the walls. Some may even be paint-able!

Decorator Best

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  Grasscloth-This is wallpaper made of strips of real grass woven into sheets. Backed by either paper, fabric or nonwoven materials. It gives a natural element into any room. Delicate, best used in low traffic areas.

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• Non-woven- Easy to hang and strip. Made of synthetic and paper fibers glued and pressed together.

Which wallpaer can be used where?

• Kitchen- Vinyls stand up to the grease and moisture. Great for easy clean-ups.
• Bathrooms- Nonwovens and vinyls. An ideal room to use bold prints, since the room tends to be smaller it won't overwhelm the room.
• Entry Hall- Embossed vinyls, hides bumps and scuffs. And nonwoven, which are easy to remove should the wallpaper became damaged.
• Dining Room- You can use just about any wallpaper here. Use the wallpaper above a chair rail.
• Bedroom- Grasscloth is perfect for the bedroom since it is a low-traffic area. Plus it gives it a serene effect.

Now that you are armed with all this information, go out and explore the world of wallpaper and see what you can do to a room!!  And if you're not sure how to proceed, you can always hire a decorator!!

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