LED Me To The Light At The End Of The Tunnel

No I’m not that bad of a speller. I know how to spell lead, but that’s L.E.D or Light Emitting Diode. And LED lighting is, and has been, the light of choice for many kitchen designers in the past few years. Originally LED lights where used only for accent lighting in cabinets or to illuminate the area above cabinets in a room. But as technology has increased, so has the use of LED lights, as have the benefits of LED lighting!

Originally the light output of the small individual “diode” (LED lamp, or bulb) was much less than incandescent, florescent or halogen light sources. But now the diodes have a much higher Lumen output so the LED light fixtures can easily replace traditional fixtures. Oh, you may be wondering what lumen means? Lumen is a unit of measure of the power of light perceived by the human eye. And that’s as technical as we’re going to get for this Blog.

So why would we want to lead you to LED lights? Well, LED lights will last longer than traditional light sources. Typical incandescent bulbs last 1,000 to 2,000 hours, but LED lights tend to last from 25,000 to 50,000 hours. When a manufacturer says that an LED lamp will last 25,000 or 50,000 hours, what the company actually means is that at that point, the light emanating from that product will be at 70 percent the level it was when new. There seems to be no industry standard for determining at what time span the LED is only transmitting less than that 100% so the industry engineers chose 70%.

And there’s no question that LED lights will use a fraction of the power used by standard incandescent bulbs to produce the same amount of light. But some wonder if more energy is needed to produce an LED lamp or fixture than the equivalent amount for a regular light bulb? Well according to the researchers at Carnegie Mellon University, the answer is NO! LED lights cost less to manufacture and they use less energy to run.

Carnegie Mellon calculated the amount of energy needed to manufacture and then run a light source for 25,000 hours. The results: the energy needed for one of these light sources ranged from 1,500 kilowatt-hours for the standard incandescent bulbs to 320 kWh for the compact fluorescent and 280 kWh for the LED light source. You can get more information about this study by going to the University’s website at http://www.cit.cmu.edu/media/press/2009/06_09_epp_lighting.html

OK, so the lights last longer, and are actually more energy efficient. What else? LED lights are much cooler and generate virtually no heat. Anyone who’s ever stored chocolate on the bottom shelf of a cabinet with a halogen undercabinet light below will know why that’s important. Even fluorescent lights give off heat, but halogen is the worst. Many years ago my first experience with halogen lighting was trying to remove a halogen bulb that had just burned out. I knew it might be “warm” but I didn’t expect to get burned! Literally.

One complaint about LED lighting is that in the past you had to replace the whole fixture in many cases, not just the LED “lamps”. Now 25,000 hours is about 20 years, but OK it’s true that it would be more difficult to replace an entire LED fixture than an incandescent bulb. Until now!! Some LED strip light fixtures have small removable lamps. So the strip holding the lamps can stay in place and you can simply replace any lamps that have started to dim. You can even change out the lamps with different colors for the different holidays or seasons!!

Another complaint about LED lights is the upfront cost for the fixtures and lamps. The fixtures are expensive, but the cost is coming down. And when you amortize the cost over a 20 year span there is always going to be a cost savings with LED lights. You don’t have to take my word for it, go to http://eartheasy.com/live_energyeff_lighting.htm to see comparisons over a ten year span in a commercial building. So in the long run LED lights will actually cost you less money. Even over fluorescent lights.

LED lights are the wave of the future so if you’re looking for the light at the end of the tunnel you better let us LED the way for you!!

Remodel, Recondition, Mini-Maker Over, Tune-Up, Spruce-Up, Touch-up…

Call It What You Want, But Just Call Us

So what word best describes what you want to do with your kitchen? Remodel? OK, but what does that mean to you? Do you want to do a full remodeling project where all the cabinets & countertops are removed and replaced? Maybe walls are removed, or even an addition is a possibility.

Well for many people, “remodel” simply means that they want to give their kitchen a “facelift” or any of the other words used above. Sawhill has always done these types of projects, though we just simply call these projects – “Partials.”. But “partial” doesn’t mean much to most people, and many people don’t realize what a great investment these types of projects can be. Yes, even in this current economy and housing market.

So what do some of these projects involve? Let’s take a Kitchen Mini-Makeover or Kitchen Facelift for example. These could mean just some new countertops and some new cabinet knobs & hinges. Or maybe just new cabinet doors and drawer fronts, or just refinish the existing cabinets. Is that all you want done? No problem Sawhill Kitchens has the resources to get this done, and manage the project for you.

New countertops certainly make one of the biggest impacts when doing a kitchen facelift, but don’t forget about the backsplash area (the wall space between the countertops and the bottom of the upper cabinets). There are so many great possibilities to select from - ceramic tile, porcelain tile, stone, even metal. Our designers can help you select just the right product to coordinate with your countertops, cabinets, flooring and walls.

These projects can sometimes involve new flooring too, or new appliances and plumbing fixtures. Maybe you want to add an island, or modify some existing cabinets for some new appliances. How about also adding a wine rack, spice rack or even replacing a few doors with glass inserts? And don’t forget lighting. Our Sawhill designers are happy to help with design, selection process and project management of any of these projects.

Another popular service that we offer to our clients is a tune-up or reconditioning of their kitchen that maybe is only a few years old or older. Just like your car needs a tune up, so do kitchens at some point in time. Our designers can arrange to have one of our craftsmen adjust doors, and drawers, and other cabinet related adjustments or minor touch-up. We also have specialists who can come in and take care of more major touch-up or refinishing of the cabinetry. And don’t forget your countertops. Corian and other solid surfacing countertops are wonderful products, but they can scratch and even look stained. Did you know that we can have those countertops re-sanded, and “buffed-up” so they almost look new? Minor chips can sometimes be filled too!

These days natural granite and stone is the probably the most common countertop material used. These are beautiful products, but do require some maintenance. We can arrange to have those granite countertops re-sealed, and maybe re-caulk the joint at the backsplash area. Sure, you could do this yourself, just like you could probably change the oil in your car. But when’s the last time you did that? Let a professional rejuvenate those beautiful countertops!

You see there are a lot of ways to Spruce-Up your kitchen, but we’re not limited to just painting the walls or ceiling. But we can do that too! So if you need something done in your kitchen, don’t worry what to call your kitchen remodeling project, just call Sawhill and speak with one of our designers. They’ll be happy to explain how we can help. Oh, and what about repair work on appliances? We’ll be happy to just get you the telephone number of the factory authorized service agent, even if you didn’t purchase the appliance from us. That’s just another example of Sawhill’s commitment to Unrelenting Service.

Tolman Kitchen Featured in Minneapolis Star Tribune!

Check out this article about a kitchen designed by Sarah Michalowski, for one of Sawhill's Blog followers Rod Tolman. Rod and Sarah teamed up to create a beautiful and extremely functional kitchen for Rod. Congratulations to both of them for a job well done!!
http://www.startribune.com/homes/99172119.html?elr=KArksUUUoDEy3LGDiO7aiU

Vote for Your Favorite Recipe

OK, here are the finalists in our Grilling Recipe Contest. Send us a reply via Facebook, or Info@SawhillKitchens.com. And good luck to the contestants!!!

• Gwen's Entry:
  Grilled fish recipe is easy to prepare and ideal for coho and chinook salmon, catfish, and trout.
  
  Mix together the seasonings, add the fish, and allow it marinate for about eight hours and grill.
  Prep Time: 15 minutes
  Marinade time: 8 hours
  
  Cook Time: 10-12 minutes
  
  
  Ingredients:
  2-4 fish fillets
  marinade:
  1/3 cup peanut oil
  1/4 cup soy sauce (preferably those made for sashimi)
  
  3 cloves garlic, finely minced
  3 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
  3 tablespoons sesame seeds
  2 tablespoon sesame oil
  1/2 teaspoon red pepper
  1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  1/8 teaspoon ginger
  
  Preparation:
  Place fish fillets in a resealable plastic bag. Mix remaining ingredients in a small bowl and pour over fish. Seal bag and place into refrigerator for about 8 hours. Preheat grill for medium high heat. Remove fish from bag and discard marinade. Place fillets on grill and cook for 10-12 minutes, depending on thickness, turning once. Once fish flakes easily with fork, remove from heat and serve with Asian flavored vegetables and rice.
  
  

  
  
• Nicole's Entry:
  

  4 ears of sweet corn
  6 Tbs (3/4 stick) butter
  2 Tbs minced fresh parsley (or dill, basil or tarragon)... See More
  1 clove of garlic, minced
  Coarse salt and black pepper
  
  1. Set up grill for direct grilling.
  2. Fashion husk of each ear into handle and remove silk.
  3. Place butter, parsley and garlic in mixing bowl, whisk until smooth and creamy.
  4. When ready to cook, brush each ear with mixture.
  5. Grill corn until kernels are browned (8 to 12 minutes).
  6. Turn as needed and apply remaining mixture and add salt and pepper. Red pepper is also great.
  
  Bon appetit!

  
  
• Marilyn's Entry
  

  Jerk Ribs
  1tsp. allspice
  1/2 tsp nutmeg
  ...1/2 tsp cinnamon
  1/2 c. scallion... See More2 scotch bonnet peppers, or 4 jalapenos:
  use more if you like it hotter
  1/2 c white vinegar
  1/2 c. soy
  sauce 2 T. Oil 1 tsp.
  salt garlic powder, blend 2 mins, and marinate ribs with sauce for 3 hours. Grill They are to die for

  
  

• Sarah's Favorite Hamburgers
  
  Yes- I know I'm not eligible to win, but thought I'd share a recipe anyways! I don't measure when I cook, so they're a little different every time... :)
  
  1 lb ground pork (sometimes I buy flavored sausage and take it out of the casing)
  1 lb ground hamburger
  2 eggs
  1 egg yolk
  about 1/2 cup of grated Pecorino cheese
  1 package dry onion soup mix
  a generous squirt of ketchup (or spicy bbq if you want a little kick)
  a generous squirt of your favorite mustard
  a few shakes of worcestershire
  and finally, enough bread crumbs to get the mix to the right consistency- usually 3/4 to 1 cup
  
  Mush all of the above ingredients together by hand- this is the messy, but very important part! :) I usually buy fresh baked buns- the larger ones. And I'm known for making huge hamburger patties that fit the bun- I get about 5 or 6 burgers out of the above amounts and usually can only eat 1/2 a burger. The combination of pork and beef make these burgers super tender and juicy- not to mention the flavor. The Pecorino adds a wonderful salty cheesiness... My favorite topping for these burgers are mushrooms sauteed in Marsala with a little bit of salt and pepper... delicious! If you have another addition or combination, please share!!

Concrete Countertops & Sinks – Not All They’re “Cracked Up” To Be

We were asked to write a blog about out thoughts on countertops and sinks made from concrete. Now don’t let the title of this blog discourage you from using concrete. In most applications, if installed or manufactured correctly, concrete will not crack. But it can, and you need to ask your fabricator or manufacturer what their warranty policy is on stress cracks and alike.
Concrete can be a really fun material to work with because of the unique shapes and colors that our possible. Concrete is probably one of the most customizable products on the market. You can sculpt, mold, and texturize it to your personal tastes. We have a concrete countertop on display in our showroom, and people love the natural look and unique “chiseled” edge detail. So if your main goal is to use a material that’s funky, fun & different - concrete is certainly one choice.
Most people these days are also concerned with staining. The leading expert in concrete countertops and fixtures is probably Fu-Tung Cheng of Cheng Design in California. He notes on his “Concrete Exchange” website that “properly sealed concrete should not stain. However, unsealed concrete has approximately the same porosity as limestone and marble. In addition to stain susceptibility, acids (especially red wine, lemon juice, and vinegar) will etch the surface if not cleaned up right away.” We recommend getting a small sample of the concrete that will be used on your project and do some testing. Make sure the sample has been sealed, and then let things like red wine, ketchup, etc. dry on the surface and then see if it leaves a stain after cleaning. You may have to wait a day to allow the moisture from cleaning dry out.

Concrete is also used for sinks in kitchens & baths, along with other surfaces in a shower. Again, you can really create some custom curves, angles, and other shapes with concrete, but you should use caution when using concrete on the shower floor, or for well used sinks. Again, quoting the expert, Fu-Tung Cheng – “I do not recommend using concrete as a finished surface in a shower. The force of water cascading from the shower-head will quickly erode a finish layer of cement paste on the floor and reveal the rough texture of the fines (sand). Over time, the exposed layer of cement will trap dirt. This is the primary reason I personally shy away from concrete tubs and concrete vessel sinks. I don't think they stand a chance against the inevitability of water erosion and exposure to dirt and grime on a daily basis.

We concur with Cheng’s opinion. We’ve seen the same type of erosion on kitchen sinks, and bathroom vessel sinks made from concrete. A powder room sink that is not used on a daily basis might be the right spot though for a concrete sink.
Another alternative to concrete is to use products made from recycled glass & Portland cement, so you can still get your concrete fix. It's comparable to granite in strength, scratch resistance, heat resistance, durability, and care & maintenance. Recycled glass products are typically less porous than marble and concrete and equivalent to some granite. But you do have to care for it. 85% of the surface is glass, which is impervious to stain. However, acids (like red wine, lemon juice, and vinegar) will etch the matrix of the surface (the concrete area between the glass) if not cleaned up right away. And staining agents (like coffee and tea) will leave a trace if allowed to remain on the surface.

Or consider solid surface materials like Corian. There are colors available now that can give you the look of concrete, limestone, and more. Corian is a non-porous material, and can be seamed to make maintenance free joints and corners. In my opinion solid surface materials are probably the most practical material for a bathroom. They may not have the “natural” or “earthy” beauty of granite, maple or even concrete, but solid surface materials are the easiest to care for, and are probably the easiest to repair if there is a problem. Though like concrete, granite or limestone there is a high cost associate with solid surface materials.

So as you can see, concrete is not a perfect product, but there really isn’t a perfect product on the market. And yes that includes granite. All products have advantages and disadvantages, no matter what anyone tells you. Your job is to educate yourself on the differences, and determine what product will fill the majority of your needs. Concrete may not be all it’s cracked up to be, but I wouldn’t take it for granite either!

1st Annual Sawhill Recipe Contest

Send us your best summer "grilling" recipe via Facebook, Fax (612-338-3975), email (Info@SawhillKitchens.com) or post it on this Blog site! Your recipe will automatically be entered for a chance to win a Wusthof Knife Set and Spekva Cutting Board. Entries must be received by June 21st. All entries will be posted on our Blog. The winner will be chosen by all the Sawhill fans & you too can vote for your entry. Ask your friends to become a fan of Sawhill on Facebook, or a "Follower" of this Blog so they can vote for your entry too!! The winner will be announced on July 1st.

A Thank You Letter For the Plato Tour

Sarah, Susan and the Entire Plato family,

Words can't tell you what a magnificent field trip you planned for all of us. It was DELUXE all the way from the coach ride with treats. The Plato factory is amazing. It made the projects come alive for me.

They did such a nice job breaking us into groups so that everyone could see and hear at each station. I think it is great they are now labeling their various distressing techniques. It will make it easier to specify in the future.

The tour of Karl & Melissa’s home was relaxed and exciting all at once. Susan you did an excellent job integrating all the cabinet styles and "bells and whistles" that can be done with today's cabinets. The kitchen was special with the variety of styles, finishes and colors. You pulled it all together flawlessly. The homemade cooked meal served on china was a treat. Every bite was delicious.

Tangle Wood Garden's nursery is a place Jan Goldsmith would die for. It was always her dream to create through plants. I have already told her about the entire wonderful day.

Thank you again for including me in this once in a lifetime experience.

Would you please forward the Plato family's name and business email as I would like to drop them a line too? Include the wife and mother's name too as they worked so hard for us all.

Hopefully I can get a good job for us in the future and we can put into use all that I learned.

Deborah Wegener

Deborah Wegner Interiors

Grand Rapids Cabin Becomes a Home Away from Home

We'd like to share this Before & After project of a kitchen that Susan Palmquist recently completed for a client's cabin in Grand Rapids, Minnesota. The client also just shared their comments with Susan which is noted below.








Hi Susan -
Gail and I want to let you know, again, how much we like and enjoy the kitchen you designed for us. We just returned to Grand Rapids this past week and it was a pleasure to see it (not to mention that it was a pleasure not to have to move all of our stuff back into the living room and kitchen this year).
Thanks again!
John

Kennedy Home Gets Green Makeover Using Holiday Cabinets

Robin Wilson, eco-friendly home design expert and a pioneer in the green home movement, is helping spearhead a complete renovation of the private residence of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. which is being rebuilt after a flood and infestation of black mold. The original 1920s Colonial, located in Westchester County, NY was demolished and the new masonry home is scheduled for spring 2010 completion. This gold LEED certified Kennedy Green House will serve as living laboratory for designers, architects and consumers to learn about the latest in green building technologies and eco-friendly products.

Wilson, known for her ability to combine eco-friendly solutions with beautiful design, has incorporated her environmentally friendly cabinetry line, Robin Wilson Home Custom Cabinetry by Holiday Kitchens into three spaces including the kitchen, kitchenette and main laundry room. The Kennedy Green House includes maximum energy and water efficiency fixtures, low VOC paints, reclaimed building materials and durable goods with low-impact on the environment and indoor air quality.

“Our team has worked with the architects, builder and client to engage in far-reaching discussions about the best ways to ensure that the project remains on the cutting edge in terms of design, and it is quite exciting to know that my kitchen line will be in three spaces in the home. We used three different styles painted maple, bamboo and stainless steel, so that consumers can see the wide range of the RWH Custom Cabinetry line,” said Wilson.

We are excited to invite you for a full day of design exploration

in charming Plato, Minnesota!

When: May 6, 2010

• RSVP No Later Than Friday, April 30^th 2010 by calling 612.338.3991 or emailing sarah@sawhillkitchens.com

• Trade & Public Welcome

• Space is limited so let us know today!

• Comfortable Shoes Recommended

• If you’d like to drive separate, please arrive at Plato Woodwork at 10:15am (Please RSVP either way and Call/Email with any questions)

Itinerary

• 8:30-9:00am – Meet in the Internationl Market Square Lobby for Coffee & Snacks and Board the Bus

• 9:00am sharp – Bus leaves for a relaxing ride to Plato, MN (see map below)

• 10:30am – Experience a walking tour of Plato Woodwork’s fine cabinetry-making facility, and see how quality custom cabinets are made (www.platowoodwork.com)

• 12:00pm – Enjoy a picnic lunch and meet the 5^th generation of Plato Woodwork- Karl Pinske- at his home, a short bus ride away

• 12:30pm – Take a tour of Karl Pinske’s newly constructed, reclaimed timber frame home and see fine examples of Plato Woodwork’s custom capabilities

• 1:45pm – Get lost in the spring beauty of Tangletown Gardens greenhouse and grounds, a behind-the-scenes look at how beauty is created for their Minneapolis retail location (www.tangletowngardens.com)

• 2:45pm – Board the bus back to IMS to bring the day full circle

• 4:00pm – Estimated arrival time back at IMS
  

We hope you can make it to this fun-filled event!!

New EPA Law Regarding Lead & Remodeling

Are you planning a remodeling, renovation, repair or painting project on your home? Was your home built before 1978? If you answered yes to those two questions you may want to read on about how this new law will effect you, and what you should expect from the people working on your home.

Starting April 22, the EPA will require remodelers working in homes built before 1978 to follow practices designed to minimize the exposure of residents & workers to lead hazards.

I recently completed training on this law in order to become a Certified Lead Renovator. I can't possibly share all the information I learned in this 8 hour (hands on) training course, in this blog. But I thought I would share some of the key points. Or, you can click on the EPA links below to get more information.

This new law is an attempt to prevent lead poisoning in you, your family, and the people working on your home. But again the law only applies to homes built prior to 1978. However, you may still be interested if you have children under the age of 6 years old. The manufacturing of lead based paints was “outlawed” in 1978, but lead additives could still be added by painters and finishers. Lead additives help to make paint more durable and keeps it’s color, so painters liked using the lead additives.

To help prevent lead poisoning, this law outlines the steps to take in order to help prevent and contain the lead that may be in the dust created by work on your home. Dust containment is the key. The law does not address lead abatement (total removal of all lead based products), but simply the spread of the lead particles in the dust created during renovations, etc.

A Certified Lead Renovator can perform a test on some surfaces to detect the presence of lead, but most experts seem to feel you should assume there is lead present if your home was built prior to 1978. Based on that assumption, or test results, the dust created by the work needs to be contained in the work area following specific guidelines. The following are just a few of the many procedures and steps that must take place:

• An EPA brochure entitled “Renovate Right” must be given to the home owner before work begins.
• Warning signs must be posted at each doorway into the work area.
• Dust must be contained in the work area with the use of specific plastic sheeting.
• There are restriction on the type and process for sanding painted surfaces.
• When cleaning up the work area, all dust and debris must be sealed in a plastic bag before being removed from the work area.
• HEPA vacuum cleaners should be used during clean up, and wet mopping is recommended in lieu of sweeping whenever possible.
• Upon completion of the work, the Certified Lead Renovator will perform a test to ensure that the majority of the dust is not on any horizontal surfaces like flooring, countertops and window sills.

The law also establishes safe work practice for the people working on the project. This may include protective clothing, shoe covers, eye protection and even respirators. And all workers must be trained by the Certified Lead Renovator.

The test note above, and all these procedures, do not guaranty that there is no lead present, or lead dust present. But the test will help ensure that the majority of the dust caused by the renovation has been properly cleaned up. And the procedures ensure that the dust is contained in the work area, and not spread to other areas of the home. While also protecting the trades people working on your home (i.e. OSHA!).

If you are concerned about the amount of lead that may be in your home you can hire a Certified Lead Paint Inspector, or Certified Lead Risk Assessor do testing on your home before and upon completion of the work. But this is not required by law.

While this new law will add some cost to certain projects, I think the benefits of protecting you, your family and the people working on your home are worth it. Feel free to contact me if you have any other questions or concerns, or again the links are very helpful.

Sawhill Wins Award in Kitchen Design Competition!

Sawhill's co-owner Susan Palmquist, CKD, received a 2nd Place Award in the 2009 Local Sub-Zero Wolf Kitchen Design Competition co-sponsored by Roth Distributing in Minnetonka, MN.

The decision to remodel in lieu of building a new house was the foundation for this major whole home improvement project. The kitchen was one of the top priorities, and the desire of the home owners was to improve on the layout and to bring the quality and details up to their standards. The initial study resulted in the decision not to enlarge the kitchen, but to make better use of the existing space.

The building blocks for the final plan were two key decisions: 1) The door to the dining room was shifted to the left 23”. 2) The cooktop and separate ovens were combined into a large professional range. This increased the available wall space which now gives the owners more countertop and larger working surfaces. This request was high on their “wish list”. In addition, the “Hearth Hood” is placed directly across from the large see through fireplace which balances the scale in the room and adds an area of decorative detail.

The soffits were removed and the new cabinetry goes to the ceiling with a three member crown molding at the top. The doubled paneled doors on the upper cabinets keeps that scale in proportion with the lower cabinets. The contrast of the walnut on the island countertop with the softer more neutral colors on the perimeter brings your attention to the center of the room. The kitchen did not Increase in size, but now feels like a much larger room with the quality and detail that is very satisfying to the home owner.

Contact Sue if you'd like more information on this project or regarding the products featured in this beautiful kitchen!!

Our First 2010 Sawhill Sampler!!

Countertop Class!

Please join us on

February 18th from 5-6:30pm for the first in our series of 2010 Sawhill Samplers!

Come and gather information on each type of countertop material that’s out there. See the latest samples and innovations in surfacing.

Enjoy fun finger food and refreshments while you meet & greet experts who specialize in each particular area of countertops.

Bring all of your countertop questions and your friends!

Designers & Consumers Welcome

Please RSVP by February 15th

To Sarah Michalowski

By calling 612.338.3991

Or emailing

Sarah@sawhillkitchens.com

Thank you and we hope to see you at Sawhill on February 18^th!

Sawhill Custom Kitchens

International Market Square

275 Market Street, Suite 157

Minneapolis, MN 55405

Don't Sterotype Kitchens or the Cook

You can’t stereo type people any more, especially when it comes to kitchens, and who the primary cook is. The kitchen isn’t just for women, and the garage isn’t just for men. For years & years now we’ve seen most men actively involved in the kitchen design process as well as being the primary cook. I have a number of close friends and neighbors where the “man of the house” is the primary grocery shopper and the primary cook, especially when it comes to cooking gourmet meals.

I on the other hand, to a certain degree, am the old stereotype. But I have a good reason. I have a wife who runs the majority of her business out of our home so she has time at the end of her day to start dinner. While I on the other hand, am sitting in traffic on the way home to Forest Lake from Minneapolis. The truth is my wife has always been the primary gourmet cook in our family. My wife’s mother was a caterer, so cooking has always been in her blood. Her mother also instilled in her that the food is one thing, but, “it’s all about the presentation.” So our family dinners are rarely served on a paper plate, or in front of the TV.

But like some men who serve as the chef’s assistant or secondary cook, I have some specialty meals that are my signature pieces as well as being the grill master. I cook a mean Cornish Game Hen, and my signature omelets and my Cajun Breakfast are legendary in my family!

While I may have a few signatures meals, my wife on the other hand has not served the same meal twice – or so it seems. I’m exaggerating to some degree, of course, but she’s always looking for ways to improve a main entre or the side dishes. She’s her worst critic.

When we remodeled our kitchen my wife, had a list of wants and needs, including high BTU gas burners, that also incorporate a low simmer setting, a larger than standard refrigerator, and large drawers for her Dutch oven and other favorite cookware.

Though our kitchen is small, it now functions perfectly for our style of cooking and entertaining. A raised snack bar, which wraps around one of the large work counters, is a perfect spot for family or guests to sit while the cook (yes, primarily my wife) puts the finishing touches on the meal or the last appetizer. The large work counter on the other side of the snack bar is also the perfect spot for me to set up the bar and act as bartender for party guests sitting at the raised snack bar.

So, if you’re remodeling or redesigning your kitchen, make sure you get input from everyone in your family. Don’t stereotype your own family members. They may have a good idea to share. Oh and by the way. Since our kitchen is so small, many bulky kitchen items are stored in cabinets in “MY” garage. Sorry, she never cleans it, so it’s mine. And yes, I do clean the kitchen, and I do clean the dishes. So it’s “OUR” kitchen!

And don’t forget. Just because your kitchen is small, doesn’t mean you can’t turn out some great meals! Click on the links above for some recipes that may help.