Choices - Countertops Part 1 - Recycled Glass

Over the next few installments, Choices is going to be focussing on the work-horse of the kitchen:  the countertop.  We'll do our best to cover as many of the different materials available for your working surface, focussing primarily on how well they perform.  First up is a relatively new player in the market - recycled glass. 

Considering the attention being paid to the environment today, it is of little surprise that the variety of “green” building materials is on the rise. Whether it’s reclaimed lumber for cabinet doors, Energy-Star compliant appliances or low VOC finishes, there’s no shortage of ways to keep your kitchen “green.”

One of the fastest growing segments of this industry is recycled glass surfacing. There are several brands available: Vetrazzo, IceStone, EnviroGlass, amongst others. The make-up of each brand is essentially the same: The recycled material is crushed and combined with a binder (e.g. cement, epoxy) and then treated with various pigments and additives (e.g. hardeners, strengtheners).

Recycled glass countertops are some of the most beautiful available. Each of the websites noted above will have photos of the colours they have available.  But do yourself a favour ... go see them in person. This is a great example of a product being improved by the use of a recycled material. The depth and shine created by the segments of glass is unique in the industry, and while the colour choice at the moment is somewhat limited, time and market share will improve that.

On the downside, recycled glass does not fabricate as well as other surfaces like quartz or stone. The fabricator has to pay particular attention to edges where chunks of glass can become dislodged. Recycled glass countertops also need to be sealed, which is not a major problem, but needs to be considered when comparing it to quartz or solid surfaces.

To discuss recycled glass and other countertop materials for your project, please contact one of our designers for an appointment, or drop by the showroom.

A Gallery Remodel

Every now and then it pays to revisit things, tidy them up and make them just a little bit more useful.

Today, we present the new and improved Paradigm Kitchen Design Gallery. We've added detailed escriptions to many of our existing galleries, and categories have been applied to help you sort through all the different styles and materials we've used.. Just click on one of the categories on the right hand side of the blog to refine your search.

By searching the gallery of some of our clients' dream kitchens, we hope to help you find some of the details you're looking for to fulfill your own dream.  And be sure to check back often as we're continually updating the gallery with new projects.

The Village - Tropika

With it being the first day of Autumn, and the weather cooperating with a mood-dampening mist, our thoughts turn to things warm and comforting.  Staff lunches change from salads and fresh fruit, to soups and stews. 

Being in the middle of the Cambie Village provides us with some excellent lunch options for this time of year.  One of our favorites is Tropika at 2975 Cambie ... the opposite corner of our showroom at 14th & Cambie.  Tropika specializes in Malaysian and Thai food.  Everything from curries and Laksa (Malaysian soup) to Mee Goreng and Pad Thai.  Several lunch specials are offered for under $10, but the best way to appreciate Tropika is to get a group and order several items to share.

Our staff pick?  The Sambal Bunchies!

Design Tips - Keeping it Working

In the last Design Tips we had a look at work centres and how they related to each other.  In this installment we're going to fine tune things a little bit to keep your kitchen working at its best.

If a kitchen is a collection of work centres, and how each work centre relates to each other is important to the "flow" of the kitchen, then it's important not to put obstacles in the middle of that flow.  NKBA Guideline #4 states that a full-height, full-depth, tall obstacle (such as a tall pantry, refrigerator or wall oven cabinet) should not separate two primary work centers

The top illustration on the left shows a wall oven cabinet to the right of the cooktop.  This may be viewed as a convenient placement (keeping all the cooking centres together), but by interrupting the countertop we've interrupted the work flow. 

As will all rules, there are exceptions.  The exception for Guideline #4 comes when we recess a tall unit into the corner (lower illustration).  Done properly, such a tall unit will not interrupt the work flow and is acceptable.  The only caveat to note here is that any object placed in the corner takes up a rather large amount of wall space in each direction of the corner.  It's a great solution for the right situation, but an expert's eye is needed.

Guideline #5 seems a bit obvious at first glance, but you'd be surprised how many kitchens quite literally trample all over it.  No major traffic patterns should cross through the basic work triangle.  Think of it this way:  if the primary path to the back patio runs directly across the path between the sink and the fridge, how many times will you be interrupted by stampeding kids while preparing for a BBQ?

The illustrations shows one of the simplest ways to avoid this mistake.  An island can clearly define the footprint of the kitchen, and will nicely direct non-kitchen traffic away from the work spaces. 

Well Accessorised

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This kitchen features a classic combination of painted recessed panel cabinetry with a ‘Hoisin’ stained cherry-wood island. Fully integrated dishwasher, fridge and beverage fridge keep a nice aesthetic balance between the appliances and the cabinetry. The Sub-Zero fridge features the latest “flush inset” installation option – which provides a more integrated look. Many features in this kitchen include large pots and pans drawers, double cutlery drawers, tray storage, tall pantry storage and decorative glass display cabinetry. The engineered stone countertops are complimented by a polished marble tile backsplash.

Choices - Wood Cabinet Doors - Part 2

In the last installment of Choices, we looked at the characteristics of wood and how they can impact the look of your cabinet doors.  In this installment we'll focus on the construction techniques used in making wood doors.  While important for the structural integrity of the door, these techniques also impact the shape, and subsequently the style of your kitchen.

A typical wood door is made of two basic parts:  the frame and the panel.  A door frame is much like a picture frame in that it features 4 pieces fashioned into a rectangular shape.  The panel fills the opening of the frame.  What distinguishes one door from another is how these parts are shaped, and then put together.

There are two common methods of joining the corners of a frame.  They can be mitred or coped.  In the picture on the left you see two examples of a coped frame.  A coped frame has the horizontal piece (rail) and the vertical piece (stile) meeting at a 90 degree angle.  In the examples shown here, you also notice there is a sort of tongue and groove joint holding the pieces together.  This is known as a coped joint.  Not only does the coped joint allow for a very strong bond between the two frame pieces,it also allows for some shape (or profile) to be added to the inside corner of the frame.

In this picture we see two examples of a mitred frame.  The joints in a mitred door are equally as strong as those in the coped door, so the primary reason for selecting this door is aesthetic; mitres are considered to be more "refined" than a coped corners. In fact, the frame style on the right is refered to as a "Victorian" mitre.  However, because the mitred frame is fussier to make, and uses more material (the material cut away to make the mitre is "waste") it is typically more expensive than a coped door.

The second part of the door, the centre panel, will either be raised or flat ("recessed").  A raised panel is typically made from solid wood, and is shaped around it's edges to add detail.  The flat panel is less detailed than the raised panel.  Solid wood flat panel doors are available, but veneer is most often used. 

Which door you select is going to depend on the style you are trying to achieve.  While it is often true that a mitred door with a raised panel is used in "fancier" kitchens, don't think that a similar look can't be achieved using coped corners and flat panels.  The kitchen on the left illustrates how adding a little detail to an otherwise simple door can achieve a very sophisticated look.  Similarly, a mitred door can be used in a very unfussy, contemporary style.

To see the almost endless variations in wood cabinet doors, please contact one of our designers for an appointment, or drop by the showroom.

Choices - Wood Cabinet Doors - Part 1

In this issue of Choices, we're going to explore some of the aspects involved in the selection of wood cabinet doors. 

Wood has been a top choice in cabinet doors as long as furniture has been made.  From the cabinet maker's point of view it's versatile, easy to work with, and has the ability to take on a multitude of finishes.  From the consumer's side - the warmth of wood is a pleasing addition to any decor.  The durability and timelessness of wood also gives it some permanence in your kitchen - if done well, a wood kitchen will stand the test of "design fatigue".

Each and every piece of wood has its own unique characteristics that makes it distinct from another.  Trees are affected by the environment in which they grow.  Minerals within the soil can result in colour variations withing the wood fibre.  Grain patterns are a consequence of the amount of water a tree receives and the effects of the elements on that tree.  These natural occurrences create a natural beauty within the wood used for cabinet doors, but also make it impossible to create a kitchen that is perfectly matched in grain and in colour.

The Heart-Birch door shown above illustrates in dramatic fashion the mineral variations mentioned above.  Notice the colour variation between the frame and the centre panels, and even within the frame itself.  You'll also notice the knots in the upper panel that give this door a very rustic appeal.

The finishing process used by Paradigm Kitchen Design enhances and protects this natural beauty.  Hand-wiped stains emphasize the natural grains, and our tough catalyzed lacquer coating seals and protects against most household chemicals.  Ultraviolet inhibitors in some of our finishes slow the aging process, but cannot stop it.  Wood will change colour over time.  The degree and rate of that change will depend on the species.

The doors above are from a display in our showroom.  They're made from Black Walnut and show what natural light can do to a door over time.  The doors in the background our exposed to the light in our front window, while the dark door in the foreground is showing the backside of the door, which is "behind closed doors".  While not all colour changes are quite this extreme, they are inherent in all wood doors.

To get a full appreciation of all the species of wood available for your kitchen, it is best to come see them for yourself.  Contact one of our designers for an appointment or drop by the showroom.