There were a number of goals to this space. We need to create a study that could accommodate
both her and him, provide lots of storage and allows him views out the back of the house towards
the water even when privacy is needed.
The study was designed with built ins flanking each of the shorter walls while leaving space in the center for a desk for him. On the side walls we created a desk area for her, lots of file drawers and storage for all the items they have. This was finished with light rail and bullet lighting to provide undercabinet lighting for the countertops.
The ceiling was lined in stain grade v-groove wood boards in a barrel so we added Wellborn
crown to each wall run and hid ambient lighting behind it to illuminate onto the ceiling. The rich,
Sable finish offered a nice contrast to the knotty cedar on the ceiling and let the cabinets stand
out. The client wanted a desk to match the cabinets so a freestanding desk was created with base
cabinets and a Wellborn wainscot panel. We finished off the desk top with a Wellborn top and
applied the edge molding in the field giving the whole room a cohesive look.
The wonderful thing about the kitchens & baths of today is that whatever your budget there are fashion forward options within every price range. From Cabinetry to Appliances, Countertops to Flooring, Plumbing to Lighting – there is something out there to fit your budget and style.
The first thing to consider before ever spending money is to know how much you have to spend – plain and simple.
This doesn’t mean that you don’t create those dream files or ideabooks with everything you love, but it is your gauge for all involved to know exactly how much can be spent on what, who and why – no matter how small or big the job.
Guidelines for a Kitchen Budget: Home Value x 15% = My Budget
Cabinets
36%
Countertops
14%
Appliances
12%
Installation
11%
Interior Design
6%
Hardware/Fixtures
6%
Flooring
6%
Lighting
5%
Other
4%
* 2002 Design Trends Survey Update for NKBA by Sovereign Marketing Research, Fifth Avenue, New York
Tools to help you set a budget range and planning!
We’re not talking about personality here – we’re talking about the shelves in your closets and storage spaces. 🙂
When people show me closet spaces – they often feel compelled to “use every inch”. So whether the closet is 24” deep (standard depth for a reach-in closet) or 38” deep (space left over that a builder turns in to a closet), they want shelves that are as deep as the closet itself. Bad idea.
“Big Black Hole”
Extremely deep shelving is not only more expensive, but it creates what I refer to as “the big, black hole”.
If you want to remember it with a rhyme – deep shelving “increases cost and things get lost”.
Here a couple rules of thumb:
-The deeper the shelf – the farther apart the shelves should be spaced.
-Small items work best on shallow shelves. An ultimate luxury is being able to see every item that’s on your shelves. So if we’re talking about your pantry, let’s avoid having 37 cans of tomato soup with expiration dates from 2007 hidden behind today’s juice box purchases. Think: open door – look at shelf – find needed item – grab and go. Closets aren’t gardens – we don’t want digging.
Remember this rhyme about deep shelving – “increases cost and things get lost”
-Larger items can work on deeper shelves – things like pillows and blankets or furniture cushions. But be aware – the deeper the shelf – the greater the propensity for the client to overload the shelf. The added weight could be a service call waiting to happen – so reinforce those deep shelves whenever possible.
So here’s to making your closet designs more effective. And if you’d like to keep learning more, join me in the platform of your choice so we can connect!
What’s that you say? You don’t have a platform of choice? Oh my! Check out some insights on any of mine and get rolling. You’re “burnin’ daylight” as Dr. Phil would say.
By merging a unique background of custom storage design and marketing, I’m able to share great, industry specific tips to help you with your business, whether that’s designed solutions or social media marketing guidance. I’ve been designing closets for over a decade and serve as a judge for our industry “Top Shelf” Design Awards. I’m also a member of the first graduating class of Registered Storage Designers through the Association of Closet and Storage Professionals. I love teaching and sharing – in person and online – and look forward to connecting with you, so join me on any (or all) of my social profiles.
Teaching You Social Media Best Practices
And if you’re looking to go deeper in to closet design – I’ve got your solution. I’ve created the FIRST EVER INDEPENDENT closet design course – ON LINE!
If you’re wanting to learn about closet design, or become better at closet design – this the opportunity for you to make that happen!
Shoe storage – and the location of shoe storage – is always at the top of a clients’ list when it comes to designing their closet space.
So here’s what I recommend after figuring out where to store over 5000 pair of shoes (it’s really closer to a million, but who’s counting?) during my career as a closet designer:
While it’s true that we (women) may decide on the shoes we want to wear and then build our outfit around that, the shoes are typically the last clothing item we put on.
So I design from the perspective of last on – first off (because shoe’s are typically the first item of clothing we remove when we get home). That translates to having some shoe storage close to the entrance of a closet space so it’s easy to put those shoes back where they belong (instead of kicking them off on the floor and having them be in the way).
One of my favorite ways to do this is to use a configuration called “Half and Half” (coffee, anyone?). That is a short hang rod with shelving above it.
First of all, as a woman of great height (61” in all), I love being able to easily see and reach the items I wear the most. It’s that 80/20 rule. This section often becomes “command central” because the garments and shoes that you grab most of the time live in this section for easy access.
If the return wall is too shallow in a walk in closet to allow for hanging right by the door – then use a full column of shelving and it can be used for either all shoes – or shoes and folded items that are worn most frequently.
So here’s to making your closet designs more effective. And if you’d like to keep learning more, join me in the platform of your choice so we can connect!
What’s that you say? You don’t have a platform of choice? Oh my! Check out some insights on any of mine and get rolling. You’re “burnin’ daylight” as Dr. Phil would say.
By merging a unique background of custom storage design and marketing, I’m able to share great, industry specific tips to help you with your business, whether that’s designed solutions or social media marketing guidance. I’ve been designing closets for over a decade and serve as a judge for our industry “Top Shelf” Design Awards. I’m also a member of the first graduating class of Registered Storage Designers through the Association of Closet and Storage Professionals. I love teaching and sharing – in person and online – and look forward to connecting with you, so join me on any (or all) of my social profiles.
The closet consultation conversation often begins with the client saying: “And I’d like some shelves for shoes on the bottom”. If you’ve designed a dozen or more closets – you’ve heard this request from a client.
Maybe it’s time for a change!
Just because you were raised with storing your shoes on the floor underneath the single hanging rod that existed inside your reach-in closet DOES NOT mean it’s the best practice to employ today.
And just because you see it advertised that way does not make it a good idea either.
Typical hanging garments average 24” in depth. That means when they are hanging on a hanger inside your closet, they occupy about two feet of space.
I’m willing to bet that NOT ONE of you reading this has feet that are 24”. I don’t even think Shaquille O’Neal has feet that big.
Wow!
So what that means is that if you put shelving underneath hanging, you’ve got to clear your clothing out of the way to be able to see what’s on that shelf. You’re looking down into the darkness to find your black shoes.
Makes perfect sense….Right?
Makes sense to me.
Make finding your shoes as difficult as possible.
How about the opposite?
Bring your shoes into the light.
Best practice in the closet industry is to bring those shoes into the light (pretty high minded of us isn’t it, outwardly worshiping shoes in such as a way as to allow them prime location in our closet space).
Yes, you can put 24” deep shelves below your hanging, but if you do that, those shelves should be pull out shelves or you’ll never remember the items that get pushed to the back on this deep of a down low shelf.
If you want drawers under hanging – that’s an option but standard industry drawers are 14” and 16” deep – so your hanging will “hang out” (and not in a cool way) over the standard drawers and block your access. It’s also a bit more difficult for people who are petite to reach that higher rod – so it’s not a design practice I ever put in to play.
So you either put shelving above a short hang rod or do an entire column (or stack or section) of shelves to accommodate any items you would normally store on shelves – be it jeans, t-shirts and yes – even shoes.
Use Shelving to create areas for T-shirts, jeans and linens. It’s up to you!
And how do you keep learning these wonderful insights and tips so your designs become more effective and your sales increase?
Join me in the platform of your choice so we can connect!
What’s that you say? You don’t have a platform of choice? Oh my! Check out some insights on any of mine and get rolling. You’re “burnin’ daylight” as Dr. Phil would say.
By merging a unique background of custom storage design and marketing, I’m able to share great, industry specific tips to help you with your business, whether that’s designed solutions or social media marketing guidance. I’ve been designing closets for over a decade and serve as a judge for our industry “Top Shelf” Design Awards. I’m also a member of the first graduating class of Registered Storage Designers through the Association of Closet and Storage Professionals. I love teaching and sharing – in person and online – and look forward to connecting with you, so join me on any (or all) of my social profiles.
Teaching You Social Media Best PracticesOfficial Website for Butchko & Company
The color has been surfacing as an increasingly talked-about color in home finishes lately. And I have a few ideas why.
To its credit, grey gives a softer-than-white contrast from the bold power choices of turquoise and yellow that are trending as popular in home decor and maybe we’re looking for calmer, relaxing hues to surround our family’s hearth.
While some designers say ‘grey is the new white,’ it’s not exactly taking over white in market share or popularity. But it’s a hue that might be perfect as a backdrop for your next remodeling project.
As a Family Owned and American Made company for over 52 years, Wellborn Cabinet is proud to announce its partnership with Southern Living and This Old House on the All American Cottage.
Inspired by the nationwide groundswell of interest in American-made products, Southern Living and This Old House are joining forces with Wellborn Cabinet, Cabinets & Tops of the Upstate and Dillard-Jones Builders to construct an All-American Cottage.
Located in the quintessential southern community of Verdae in Greenville, South Carolina, The All-American Cottage will be a stunning showcase and testimony to the ingenuity and quality craftsmanship of products made in the U.S.A.
We are excited to share with you an interview and the photo tour that is currently on Southern Living’s Website. Enjoy!
MEET THE BUILDER – WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO BUILD ALL-AMERICAN?
As a former manufacturing guy, I’ve seen first-hand the results of taking a raw material to a finished product that is sold on the open market. Manufacturing means jobs, and a lot of them. After almost a decade in the custom home building industry, I have seen a decline in U.S. construction jobs–a lot of it due to the use of materials and products made somewhere other than the United States. When I saw the news coverage on Montana home builder Anders Lewendal and his commitment to build a home with materials made in the USA, I was inspired to try it myself, especially after reading that the use of just 5% of USA-made materials in the construction of a new home means 220,000 jobs.
WHAT’S THE INSPIRATION BEHIND THE DESIGN?
Our goal was to create smaller open floor plans with a strong focus on outdoor living areas. We have done this, in part, by taking cues from what we see as emerging new trends in plan design. Our designs include a focus on a spa-like master shower and no tub, and casual dining instead of formal rooms.
WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE FEATURES THAT MAKE THIS COTTAGE SPECIAL?
This home has great windows bringing in as much light as possible into the main living spaces. A variety of outdoor living areas expand the living space and 10′ ceilings in the main level help create an even larger feel.
All-American Photo Tour
Detail in the Details
In true All-American style, the Cottage features board-and-batten style shutters from Southern Traditions Window Fashions of Greenville, SC and custom made locally in Fountain Inn, SC. Adding to the authenticity and true southern touch of the shutters is the hand crafted shutter hinges and holdbacks by The Heirloom Companies of Campobello, SC.
Crisp and Clean
The alley-style master bathroom beams an expansive walk-in shower and neutral colored cabinets and countertops that connect together for a crisp and clean feel. Cabinets are made and sourced in the USA by Wellborn Cabinet of Ashland, AL and Corian Counterops.
Subtle but Impactful
The interior of the All American Cottage features LP SmartSide panels, one of the fastest growing brands of interior and exterior siding in America.
You truly have to see this wall treatment in person – it is simple style.
From mountain to rock to countertops, the crisp granite pairs nicely with the subway style tiling and Wellborn Cabinets of the Kitchen. Sourced from a fittingly named city, the countertops were procured from Stone Mountain Ga and installed by Carolina Foothills Studio of Travelers Rest, SC.
Every Detail in the Kitchen is lovely.All-American Kitchen
The kitchen of the All American Cottage features Monterey Style Maple cabinets in Glacier Pewter Finish provided by Wellborn Cabinet, Inc. of Ashland, Alabama and Made In USA stainless appliances from Dacor.
Again, we are truly proud to be part of a great All-American project and working with such great companies and sponsors!
