Eclectic kitchen for an eclectic customer

The cabinetry was custom made by Crystal: four different styles of frameless Quest cabinets with two unique laminate finishes, brushed aluminum and a beautiful grey alder. Sort of 30's Art Deco meets Las Vegas. Glass tile, stainless appliances, mulberry-color quartz countertops, alabastrino floor tile.

MiaGreen Show February 25 and 26

Alberto and I manned the Kitchen & Bath Specialists' booth at the MiaGREEN trade show at the Miami Beach Convention Center on February 25 and 26. The show exceeded our expectations - our booth was very busy and there is a lot of follow-up to do. The Crystal Cabinet Works banner stand was the most attractive thing at the whole fair and there was a lot of interest in the recycled materials we showed for countertops.

Featured in the Keynoter

From the Keynoter online: keysnet.com

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Kitchen & Bath Specialists, Tavernier Posted - Monday, November 02, 2009 03:23 PM EST Kitchen & Bath Specialists’ owner Doe Winslow says her Tavernier-based firm can cater to homeowners’ growing interest in eco-friendly products. The company does kitchen and bath design work and sells a variety of related products, such as cabinetry, countertops, lighting, tile, plumbing and hardware. The eco-friendly emphasis has been with Kitchen & Bath since its beginning in 2003, Winslow says, but the company has continued to expand its offerings to meet demand. Kitchen & Bath carries a line of products made from recycled glass and paper that are also low in volatile organic compounds said to degrade indoor air quality. The recycled products can be used for countertops, tables, bathroom vanities, bartops and flooring. On the cabinet side of the business, the company carries lines that are low-VOC and come from renewable wood sources. The company also sells low-flow and dual-flush toilets and other water-efficient products. Kitchen & Bath Specialists works with outside contractors to do the installations. Winslow says every job is catered to meet customers’ desires. Her philosophy: “A kitchen or bath for every budget.” Winslow credits the company’s five hard-working employees for its success. She’s optimistic that her business will grow as the economy in the Keys improves. Kitchen & Bath Specialists is at 88511 Overseas Highway, Suite 12, Tavernier. It’s open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday and by appointment. Call 852-4302, e-mail kitchenandbath@ terranova.net or visit www.kbspecialists.com online.

And there's our photo above the desk at Crystal's customer service.

Crystal is thoroughly green.

Crystal always valued conservation but now they have made a huge commitment relevant to the USGBC's LEED program. I am really proud to be a Crystal dealer, more than ever, and am going to be thinking of new ways to sell and promote their products.

Crystal Cabinet Works in Princeton, Minnesota

I just got back from Minnesota where I visited the Crystal plant with several other dealers. Great people: very hospitable and organized. Fine attention to detail. Superior workmanship. And all their prices just came down.

Antique white cabinets with a contrasting island

In this photo, the backsplash tile is going in and the mouldings underneath the wall cabinets haven't been installed yet. This was one of the nicest customers we've ever worked with - she was very actively involved in the design process and was good at communicating her vision for the final look. She used her own installer and even though we prefer to use our own millwork contractors, he was a nice guy and did a good job.

A nice team effort between K&BS and Island Installs

Here's a quick photo of a quiet, calm kitchen we did in Venetian Shores. Those are KraftMaid cabinets along the walls with a Stanisci custom range hood cover finished to match. The island was DeWils Custom Cabinetry in a contrasting finish. The countertops are rainforest green and the backsplash behind the range is a harlequin ceramic tile with light green accent dots. Installation (and photo) by Greg LeNoir of Island Installs, LLC. The installation was challenging but the customer was happy with the outcome.

Crystal Promotion! Free upgrade to inset!

Crystal is offering a free upgrade to inset for orders they receive between May 18 - July 31, 2009.

Crystal Cabinet Works - unlimited door styles

The most important thing to understand about Crystal Cabinet Works is that they can and will do anything. That's their specialty. They make and sell more truly custom cabinetry than any other cabinet company on the continent. There are custom cabinet companies and then there are custom cabinet companies. Crystal does have a standard line of finishes, species and styles but, by special request, you can create your own finish formula and sheen; you can request exotic wood species or little-known surfacing or insert products; and you can design your own door style. In fact, Crystal's most popular door style is the "custom" door - one that the customer has designed. Crystal is the ultimate custom cabinet company.

Paula was a passenger in a flying inflatable boat and took this picture of the store!

One of our vendors is in harm's way

Great guys - we call them the surfer dudes - they're in the path of the Santa Barbara fires today. We wish them well.

I love Etsy.com

I was on the web searching for new sources of handmade tile so that I can offer my customers something unique and handmade. Etsy came back with more than 42,000 results. I love Etsy.

Amberly's at K/BIS in Atlanta!

It's a smaller than usual show this year. Many of the conglomerates like MASCO chose to forego the show. Click here for the exhibitor list.

Set your budget!

Here's some information that you may wish to consider as you decide about your remodel. Remodeling magazine issued their "CostvsValue" report for 2008-09 recently. In the Southeast region, the average cost for a mid-range major kitchen remodel is $53,236. The average cost in the same region for an upscale kitchen is $106,506. These figures are slightly lower than the national average. They define a Major Kitchen Remodel as follows:

Update an outmoded 200-square-foot kitchen with a functional layout of 30 linear feet of semi-custom wood cabinets, including a 3-by-5-foot island; laminate countertops; and standard double-tub stainless-steel sink with standard single-lever faucet. Include energy-efficient wall oven, cooktop, ventilation system, built-in microwave, dishwasher, garbage disposal, and custom lighting. Add new resilient flooring. Finish with painted walls, trim, and ceiling.

www.nytimes.com on 4-25-09

Here's an interesting article: the New York Times has noticed that homeowners have noticed that prices to remodel are down. It's reassuring to see that people are being more careful with their homes and their money but still going forward.

More T4 3000K glow in the art display casework

It is a particular challenge to devise the cabinetry that will display the art of a renowned artist. The homeowners told us that at first they hated this piece but after living with it for awhile, it became their favorite. Whew. That's his rooster sculpture on top.

More warm white fluorescents in the Robern medicine cabinets

T4 3000K fluorescents hidden but accessible for easy relamping

Carle job: Lighting test in one of the built-in bookcases

Carle job: The architect's palette for the casework

Carle job: The homeowner observing the architect and the contractor

The architect, Luis Pons, kneeling at the left and the contractor, John Gilbert, kneeling at the right, both had exacting standards: Luis was about the aesthetic and John was about delivering superior workmanship. Our job was to render Luis' ideas into detailed shop drawings and install built-in casework as well as some freestanding furniture pieces throughout the house. The secret to our success was Greg LeNoir who literally brought all the pieces together. More photos coming up.

Color renderings take longer but are available

Lighting plans

My friend Linda Caden, ASID got me interested in reflected ceiling plans and I went forward with the American Lighting Association's residential lighting training course. "The 45-unit, 780-page manual is the only training manual that encompasses every aspect of the residential lighting industry, including industry trends, technology and technical developments." The course was great - I learned so much from it. The only disappointment was not being able to sit for the final exam and actually receive the designation "Lighting Specialist." They let me buy the $300 manual ("available only to members") and told me before I started the four-month process that I would be allowed to take the exam, but then said no later. No hard feelings towards the ALA. Their membership fee is just too steep. But the manual was worth it. Lots of product knowledge was gained.

KraftMaid on Plantation Key: Huntington - Maple - Pewter Glaze

A small wet bar using KraftMaid cabinetry, Fior de Pezco marble, tiles and deco tiles handmade in California, Britannium handles, a round Kohler stainless steel sink and Kohler's HiRise spray faucet with hot/cold valve. Those are 15" Scotsman appliances under counter. A small refrigerator to the left and an icemaker on the right. They hum a little too loud but they work well. Each has a flush panel from KraftMaid on the front to soften the look a little.

Crystal on Plantation Key: El paso door style, Maple wood species, Salem finish with Van Dyke Brown highlights

This is one of my personal favorite kitchens. I think because of the huge before-and-after difference. The lighting is good; there's no wasted space; the granite is gorgeous; and the customer chose a ConServ "green" refrigerator. Using a tile backsplash that's the same color as the wall paint helps an open plan kitchen to literally blend into the room. Close up, the backsplash tile has a subtle, horizontal texture but from a distance, as in this photograph, the tile reads as one color.

Crystal in Tavernier: natural walnut and mustard-colored alder on custom doors and built-in furniture (and the architect put our work on his website!)

What a great job this was. The customers were lovely, wonderful people from Connecticut with a dreamy, visionary architect from Venezuela. They hired one of the best local contractors, who we worked for, to remodel the entire house inside and out. Walnut and alder in every room. A quirky, challenging, architectural aesthetic.

Crystal in Key Largo: LYPTUS wood, Regent door style, Blackstone finish

These are QUEST cabinets from Crystal Cabinet Works. All plywood, frameless construction, made in Minnesota, a Western hemisphere answer to bamboo. "The eucalyptus plantations supplying the lumber mill are owned and managed by Aracruz, Weyerhaeuser’s joint venture partner in the Aracruz Produtos de Madeira (APM) S.A. mill. The plantations are a mosaic of eucalyptus and native tropical forest which were previously agricultural and grazing lands. Over 25% of these plantations are managed as permanent native forest where sensitive slopes and areas near water are maintained in natural habitat. Original species native to the area over 100 years ago have been reintroduced into this ecosystem. The Aracruz plantations are certified to Brazil’s national sustainable forestry standard, Cerflor. This standard has been endorsed by the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC), a European based international organization that endorses credible sustainable forestry programs. Eucalyptus trees grow quickly and may be harvested within 14 –16 years of planting. Lyptus® forests are 11 times more productive on a per hectare per year basis when compared to a temperate forest, which may take 80 to 100 years or more to mature. Lyptus forests also produce 30 times the volume of lumber per hectare per year when compared to an unmanaged temperate forest. Like Weyerhaeuser mills in the United States, the APM mill uses virtually every portion of the log, converting it to lumber and other usable by-products; residuals are used as bio-energy for the kiln drying operations." [Some information about LYPTUS from www.lyptus.com]

K&BS Terms for cabinets are 10/40/50

Click on the text to the left for a close-up view of the terms we publish on all of our estimates.

Lee Risher Construction Inc.

If a customer wants to use their own contractor, we're fine with that. But if you want us to install for you, this is who we turn to first.

KraftMaid in Islamorada: master bath vanity in Courtney - Cherry - Kaffe finish.

We also did the countertop and backsplash in black absolute granite, the carrara marble tile on the floors and walls, the frameless glass shower enclosure, the freestanding tub, the custom spa shower and all the plumbing fixtures.

KraftMaid on Upper Matecumbe Key: Putnam - Maple - Vanilla Bean with Brookfield - Cherry - Kaffe for the island.

In this photo, it's hard to see the beautiful natural stone countertop we installed with two undermount sinks. That's not marble on the backsplash, though. It's capiz shell tile: very pearlescent and lovely. This was a contractor's spec house and while we didn't agree with the too-small sink under the window, we loved the dramatic height of the kitchen, the moulding details and the subtle palette.

KraftMaid on Lower Matecumbe Key: Brookfield - Bisque Glaze - Maple

This was an architect-designed kitchen for an oceanfront rental property. We sold and installed the cabinetry for the homeowners' contractor.

KraftMaid in Key Largo: Sedona - Cherry - Honey Spice

This kitchen was designed by a licensed interior designer working for a local contractor: we tweaked the cabinet details with her and sold the hammered copper farm sinks and faucets for the two islands. We also found the exotic CARNIVALE natural stone for the countertops which, combined with the honey spice cherry, gave the homeowner the exact look he wanted.

Emily: our student intern after hours

Emily Ludwick from Montana State University

Our 2008 summer intern. She was helpful and a great pleasure to have around.

A brand new DeWils kitchen on Plantation Key

KraftMaid in Tavernier: Bridgewater Cathedral - Dove White - Maple.

Before and after. This was a very nice customer: she and her husband wanted more color and light in their open plan living area. She picked a Silestone countertop; glass mosaic tile for the backsplash; and some bold colors in her art glass pendants and wall paint. There's Lee Risher in the middle of the installation.

Your own private island - decorative and traditional Mediterranean as interpreted by American kitchen designers

I've had several comments on this drawing: one said it looked like a bier. Another said it looked like it belonged in Dracula's kitchen. If you know me, you know that I love that kind of irreverent humor but as for this island, here's what I have to say: everyone is entitled to their own taste. This island was installed in one of our kitchens in Islamorada and the customer loves it. That's the most important thing. Whether or not I would have it in my own home is not relevant. My job is to achieve something like the "Vulcan mind meld" with the client so that I can give them what they want. Or as one of our designers says all the time, "I can't see it from my house."

Paula's distinctive go-measure-mobile

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WaterSense

Update on KraftMaid's business ...

Our KraftMaid sales rep visited us recently and shared interesting information about the market. In August 2006 I wrote in this blog that KraftMaid did 90% of their business with Home Depot or Lowe's. Not any more. Independent dealers are now well over 50% of KraftMaid's business. I don't know if that means Home Depot and Lowe's are selling less or independent dealers are selling more or some of both. But cabinet sales are down all over the United States and home center locations and dealerships are closing. All brands, including some sold locally, are noticeably affected by the recession. KraftMaid is still the #1 brand in cabinetry in the USA and they're strong. It still represents an excellent price/value for the semi-custom end of the market: but KraftMaid is not perfect. They make more mistakes than our other lines; they make their cabinets faster; they don't look at them as thoroughly before they put them on the truck. But they have done a fantastic job in creating a line of styles and finishes that offers something that almost everyone will like. And their prices and leadtimes are consistently good. As ever, our estimates are free. Just ask us. We're here, slower than last year, but still here and still working hard.

"An excellent rating."

That's what the Better Business Bureau of South Florida says about us.

Our favorite Ocean Reef Club customer.

We think of you often Darlene and miss you. Thank you for everything.

Click on this photo for a larger view. It's an outdoor kitchen that we worked on.

Another view of the office...

Mile Marker 88.5 oceanside Plantation Key

Our storefront. We're between City Hall Cafe and Forest Tek Lumber directly across the street from the Futura Yacht Club. There is parking and access from the Overseas Highway and the Old Highway.

Custom bamboo cabinets for a kitchen in Marathon. This was a green customer so we not only used bamboo exteriors but the cabinet boxes were made with NAF (no added formaldehyde) plywood from a certified source. Check out the link below for more information about Crystal Cabinets' Green-Core product. http://www.crystalcabinets.com/Cabinetry/GreenCore/GreenCore.pdf

DeWils Custom Cabinetry

DeWils Custom Cabinetry has been family owned and operated since 1959. When you choose DeWils, you are buying a high-quality product dedicated to environmental responsibility, which is why we here at Kitchen & Bath Specialists take pride in selling DeWils, and believe DeWils Custom Cabinetry will be the perfect addition to any room in your home. DeWils Cabinetry builds three very distinct and different lines; Horizons, Expressions, and Designers. Below is a quick overview of the three cabinet lines DeWils make, but please stop into our showroom to see samples of DeWils craftsmanship and to learn more about this excellent company. Horizons:

DeWils Horizons line is a truly European frameless cabinet, which means the cabinet has no face frame attached to the front of the cabinet box. This way of building a cabinet has been used for centuries around the world, but has recently become popular in the United States. Come into our showroom and I can show you Horizons many benefits.

Expressions:

DeWils Expressions line is framed cabinetry with an inset door style. This means that the door is inset into the face frame for a flush, furniture like finished cabinet installation. Designers: DeWils Designers line is framed cabinetry with a full overlay door style. This means the cabinet door rests on top of the face frame. This type of cabinetry is what most people are accustomed to seeing in the United States. Come into Kitchen & Bath Specialists to view the three different lines DeWils offers and to see the many door styles and finishes to choice from!