This Just In - Bamboo Panels & Countertops

We've just received a new sample box of bamboo from Teragren.  Teragren has been working with sustainable bamboo products since 1994 and today features a wide variety of countertops, veneers, panels and flooring suitable for many applications.

Of particular interest to us are the Parquet Butcher Block panels, suitable as a cutting surface (cutting on edge grain material will dammage it).  Not only is the Parquet functional, it's beautiful and would make a gorgeous feature area in any kitchen.

The panels and veneers can be used for cabinet doors and other surface applications.  The strong grain works very well with today's modern "linear" aesthetic and the durability and dimensional stability of bamboo means the material will stand the test of time.

For more information on Teragren's product line, visit their website, or contact one of our designers to view the samples in our showroom.

WIP & Gallery - Ridge Meadows Reno - Finale

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Just in time for the Christmas season, our Ridge Meadows reno is complete!  This extensive re-do kitchen involved flipping the location of the original kitchen from one end of the great room to the other.  Cabinetry is a modern take on the Arts & Crafts motif, featuring white oak doors with our own Balsamic stain.  The countertops are quartz, and the flooring is vinyl in a very realistic looking woodgrain.  New, pro-style appliances complete the kitchen that, as you can see by the decorations, is already being put through its paces.

To see the previous entries documenting this project, just click WIP in the Categories list on the right, and look for "Ridge Meadows Reno".

Choices - Countertops Part 3 - Quartz

Quartz is a relatively new kid on the block when it comes to countertops and is rapidly becoming a favourite amongst the designers here as well as many of our clients.  Quartz, or "engineered stone", is a combination of  natural quartz (approximately 93%) and epoxy resin binders and colours (approximately 7%). The resulting product has the appearance and hardness of stone but dues to the resins doesn't require sealing.

Another benefit to quartz surfacing is the consistency of the product.  Each sheet of material will have the exact same proportions of colouration which avoids the sometimes undesirable randomness of stone.  No threat of a natural mineral discolouration in the middle of your island with a quartz countertop!  When it comes to cleaning quartz, most brands simply require a mild, non-abrasive cleaner.  However you should be sure to follow the instructions provided for the specific brand you select.

Quartz surfacing behaves almost identically to stone in terms of fabrication.  So you can expect seams in your quartz countertop and integrated sinks are not possible.  Depending on the manufacturer, quartz comes in either 19mm or 30mm thick slabs, so depending on the thickness available, the front edge of your countertops may or may not have a seam in it.

Overall, expect to pay about $70-$250 per square foot.  As with all of the higher end counter surface materials, be sure to get your specific layout priced rather than going on average, or lineal-foot pricing.

We have access to most brands of quartz here at Paradigm Kitchen Design, but feature the following in our showroom:

Caesarstone
Silestone
Zodiaq

Gallery - Embracing Earth Tone

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The materials selected for this Vancouver kitchen renovation centred around the existing Terra Cotta tile flooring. The cabinetry is rift-cut white oak finished in our ‘Balsamic’ hand-wiped stain. Engineered stone countertops and glass mosaic backsplash embrace the earth-tone palette. Renovation upgrades include new halogen pot lights, relocated appliance locations and new oak and wrought iron banisters (the oak banisters finished in the same stain as the kitchen cabinetry).

WIP - Ridge Meadows Reno Part 7

We refer to them as the "short strokes"; the part of the project that that often feels like it takes the longest.  Cabinets installation is complete, countertops are installed, the flooring and painting is done.  The backsplash tiles are being installed and then the appliances will be hooked up. A quick sweep up with a broom and is sounds like we should be able to plan the house-warming party, right?

Well for many home owners, these last few items can feel like they take forever.  After weeks of having contractors in their house every day, they are eager to   put their kitchen back together and get their lives back to normal.  Unfortunately the smaller jobs that need completing don`t often take that long, and as a result get spread out over the trades peoples`schedules.  With Al`s help we've been able to keep things moving.  At this stage, sooner is always better than later.

These are the new Caesarstone countertops ... one of their new recycled collection in a colour called Chocolate Truffle.  You can also see the backsplash tile being installed, and the beautiful new Fluid sink.
Speaking of appliances ...

The microwave and dishwasher have already been put in place and hooked up.  The refrigerator just needs the plumber to connect the water line, and the range ... well the range needs about 4 strong backs to carefully put it into place.  This thing is HEAVY, so even though we had the gas fitter in to hook it up, he came alone.  He`ll be back tomorrow and we`ll bring more strong backs.

Links to other posts in this Reno:

Part 6

Washroom on the Wild Side

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This powder room can be found in the same Yaletown apartment we featured last week with the Wild Side Kitchen. High gloss black wall treatments and stone work surfaces accent the bamboo print cabinetry.  This bathroom is a bit different in that all the storage is found opposite the vanity area;  an arrangement that is not always possible unless you have a larger than normal powder room!  By placing all the cabinetry on one wall we've allowed the unique pedestal lavatory to take centre stage.

WIP - Ridge Meadows Reno Part 6

The floors are in!!

After a 3 day installation, the beautiful new floors have been installed in the kitchen, dining room and living room.  What a difference it makes!
  • Flooring makes the room look a LOT more finished.
  • Having proper flooring down greatly reduces the amount of dust that kicks up into the air.
  • The lighter flooring reflects light making the whole room brighter
  • The material is softer than the subfloor so the room sounds quieter ... until the saws start up again for the baseboards and trims.  But that's not until tomorrow.
The material we're using is Karndean flooring. It's made of part recycled PVC with high quality plasticizers. This material enables Karndean to create a textured surface that looks amazingly like a real wood or tile floor. We chose a "Tasmanian Wattle" wood floor that is very difficult to tell from the real thing.

As mentioned, base trims and painting will be completed by the weekend, and the countertops are being installed on Monday.

Links to other entries in the WIP series on the Ridge Meadows Reno:
Part 5
Part 7

On the Wild Side

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We originally featured this project on this blog a year ago, but wanted to show you what it looks like through the eyes of a professional. Marcos Armstrong has a terrific sense of style when it comes to interior photography and really captures the drama of this room in these shots.

This showstopper of a kitchen is the centerpiece of this Yaletown loft. High gloss black and Macasar Ebony veneer cabinets and a custom painted glass backsplash help set off the appliances. The quartz countertops extend into the living space for a convenient eating bar, perfect for entertaining.

WIP - Ridge Meadows Reno Part 5

Monday was an exciting day at our Ridge Meadows household.  For the home-owners, cabinet delivery day is almost always the highlight to this point of the reno.  After all the earlier mess the arrival of the cabinets is the light on the horizon.  The room is getting put back together and the plans we worked on all those weeks ago is about to become a reality.

For the designer, this is where the anxieties begin.  Did we measure everything correctly? Will the cabinets and appliances fit?  Is all the electrical and plumbing  where it needs to be?  It's not that we expect a disaster.  Far from it.  But accidents do happen from time to time, and this is typically where we discover them.  But for this reno, everything is going together nicely.
A nice shot from the living room.  You can see the opening for the fridge and microwave on the back wall.  The sink will be located beneath the window on the right (with a nice view of the mountains and the dike along the Pitt River) and the island in the middle of the room will be covered across the back with panels that will match the rest of the cabinetry.

The working side of the island showing the opening for the 48" pro-style range.  The skinny cabinet to the right of the opening is a pull-out that will hold oils and spices conveniently near the cooking area.  Pot and pan drawers are right of that.  Also, note the door panelling on the end of the island.  The tall unit that will act as a support for the raised eating bar also opens up revealing some hidden storage.

Another picture showing the inside of the kitchen.  The 3 cabinets to the right of the fridge opening are each pot and pan drawers.  Further in is a recycling centre and a food waste centre located right beside the large sink.

The installation to this point took approximately 2 days, and we expect there to be another day and a half to finish up.  The countertop manufacturer will be templating on Friday.  The next instalment on this blog will appear once the tops are in ... in about 10 days time.

To see how we arrived at this point, visit our previous post in the WIP series: Part 4

WIP - Ridge Meadows Reno Part 4

The man in the denim shirt is Al, a contractor we work with on many of our projects.  Al is screwing down the subfloor in the kitchen .  The installation of the kitchen cabinets is starting today.  The subfloor was supposed to be installed on Friday.

We're telling you this not because Al is a bad guy.  Quite the contrary.  Al is great.  We love Al.  Why?  Because Al showed up on site first thing in the morning, making sure the subfloor will be installed before the cabinets.  True, it would have been great to have the subfloor in place by Friday, but other aspects of the project got in the way and that just didn't happen.  That's the way things go sometimes.  And when that happens, you want someone like Al on your side.

While the subfloor is being installed, the cabinet installers have a chance to organize and inspect the cabinets.  Being that this is the first day of installation, not much will actually be installed.  The installers will spend the morning going over the plans with the designer, discussing installation details and potential areas of confusion.  Items such as built-in appliances and crown moulding details look good on paper, but an on site meeting with all parties involved make the installation go much smoother.

There's activity going on outside as well with the stucco contractor putting the finishing touches on the repairs around the windows.

Links to other entries in the WIP series on the Ridge Meadows Reno:

Part 3
Part 5

WIP - Ridge Meadows Reno Part 3

The rough-in work (plumbing, electrical, heating, ventilation) is complete at our Ridge-Meadows renovation, which means the drywall can begin.

This is where the new kitchen will be.  The windows have been replaced and raised to allow for the cabinetry beneath.  The wall in the middle is where the new island will be.  You can see the openings for the gas connection and the vent for the fresh air return (for the furnace) which we're going to hide beneath the range rather than leaving it out in the middle of the kitchen where it was before.  Lighting is visible in the ceiling at the moment.  Once the ceiling is painted and the light trims added they will be much more conspicuous.

This is the dining room end of the room.  The entry staircase (behind the wall on the left) was open to the main room.  By closing it off we've created a more intimate entry to the house, while increasing the size of the dining room and creating a wall on which the homeowner can place a hutch.

The drywall phase is one of the most trying in the reno experience for a couple reasons:

It marks a sort of "no-return" point in the project.  While it is true that lights and outlets can be relocated once the drywall is up, that involves bringing in the trades again, creating delays and adding costs to the job.  So, before the board goes up we go over the design to make sure everything is where it needs to be.  This pictures shows the new duct work we installed for the ventilation hood.  The location of this is critical as it needs to be perfectly centred over the range in the island.

The mess.  As careful as are, drywall dust is one of the most invasive substances known to humanity.  It will get in everything.  Even if we have the doorways sealed with plastic, the dust will find a way through.  The best solution is to empty the room.  The more valuable an item is, the greater the need to keep it away from the dust.  Electronics are especially affected by drywall dust.

The length of the drywall phase is also affected by something we have no control over:  the weather.  The mud that is used to make everything smooth takes time to dry.  That drying time is affected by both heat and moisture.  While we use fans and heaters to help things along, if the mud isn't dry it isn't dry, and cannot be sanded.  We've been lucky this week ... the weather has been pretty good.  We still needed to use some heaters to help things along, but delays were minimal.

Up next:  the cabinets!!

Links to other entries in the WIP series on the Ridge Meadows Reno:

Part 2
Part 4

Gallery - Kai Sushi

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While the majority of our work is residential, we occasionally design for commercial and retail space.  This is a brand new restaurant: Kai Sushi Bar – located at 3093 Oak Street in Vancouver.  Rift White Oak cabinetry with inlaid Bamboo panels are the main focus of the bar.  The bench seating, baseboard moulding, wall wainscot and bamboo planter box continue the rift-cut white oak theme throughout the restaurant.  Corian countertops are both beautiful and practical; a seamless fit and completely non-porous.  Table tops are made of a plastic laminate  that resembles a tatami mat and are finished with white oak edging.  The finished room is a perfect backdrop for the excellent food they serve.

WIP - Ridge Meadows Reno Part 2 / Design Tips - Clearance at Seating

Earlier this week the homeowner sent us this email:
I was thinking about the right hand side of the bay window (the side by the patio door) and was wondering if we could now fit a small cabinet there, perhaps a corner style one now that we have more room as the stairs are wider. Is this possible? What do you think?
As much as we try to anticipate every design question in advance, sometimes ideas pop up as the renovation unfolds and we have to make some design decisions on the fly.  In this situation we were able to relocate a support column making our stairs into the dining room quite a bit wider.

The area where the customer would like to add cabinets is the blank area to the left of the cabinet labelled BEA1215R.  As you can see there is definitely space available, about 5 feet to be exact.  So we can order more cabinets, right?

Courtesy of NKBA.org
Before we answer that, let's examine NKBA Kitchen Guideline #8 - Traffic Clearance at Seating.  In a seating area where no traffic passes behind a seated diner, allow a minimum 32” of clearance from the counter/table edge to any wall or other obstruction behind the seating area. If traffic passes behind the seated diner, allow at least 36” to edge past and at least 44” to walk past.

This is a wider view of the area in question that shows the island that sits in the middle of the kitchen.  Across the back is a raised eating bar, and with this family of 6 the bar will definitely be used.  The distance between the bar and wall is shown as 60".  If the guideline says we need 44" then we should be able to put cabinetry up to 16" deep along that wall.  Order more cabinets already!

Courtesy NKBA.org
Guideline #8 continues, stating that if traffic passes behind the seated diner, we need to plan a minimum of 60” to allow passage for a person in a wheelchair.  This addresses "Universal Design".  We'll deal with Universal Design in detail in another post, but for now it refers to making a room as accessible to as many people of as many abilities as possible.

In this situation, nobody in the homeowner's family is in a wheelchair.  In fact they're all very fit.  But there are 6 of them (4 active kids), and they also enjoy entertaining.  The staircase (directly behind the island) is the only access into the living room and the back patio and pool.  In other words, it's going to be a very busy staircase.

While adding cabinetry to this design would fall within the basic guidelines, the more stringent Universal Design guidelines seem to be a more prudent course of action.  In the end, it's the homeowner's decision.  But for this situation we suggested not adding cabinetry.  We'll keep you posted as to what the decision was in the end.

Note from Paradigm:  We spent some time with the client today (10/29/10) mapping out the cabinets on the floor and actually standing in the space.  With the Christmas party season fast approaching they saw this area as a potential bottleneck and decided to leave the cabinetry as planned.

Links to other entries in the WIP series on the Ridge Meadows Reno:

Part 1
Part 3

Gallery - Hotel Spa Chic

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The residents of this Dunbar area home wanted a high-end hotel spa feel to their new bathroom. From the roomy walk in shower to the luxurious finishes used throughout this reno would have you wondering, "Why go anyplace but home?"

Crema marfil sets the scene from the shower walls to the floor, vanity countertop to funky accent tile with glass. The contrast of the Hoisin stained Shaker cabinetry and streamlined chrome fixtures pulls the whole look together. Added details include a separate toilet area, continuous tile into the shower area, an over-sized rain shower head and linen towers flanking the vanity.

WIP - Ridge Meadows Reno - Part 1

There's a saying that goes:  "Misery loves company" and while we hope that any project you'd do with us wouldn't be classified as misery, we thought that we could help with the "company" part of that equation by sharing a renovation project with you in real time.  The is WIP (Work in Progress), and for the next few weeks we'll looking at a project in Ridge Meadows.

The interesting thing about this project is that we've been here before.  Paradigm did the first kitchen renovation for this client back in 2000.  At the time it was quite an extensive remodel, but 10 years and 2 (additional) children later the space didn't quite meet their needs any more.  What was needed was more room for the family, and the guests they entertain. 

The new kitchen design is an even bigger departure from the original kitchen than the first renovation.  In fact it's almost 180 degrees different since the entire kitchen is switching places with the dining room.  This means all the services have to move to the other side of a very large room!  In addition we're also removing a wall to make the new dining room even larger, and we're making the access into the living room a little wider.

This is our original renovation just after it was completed back in 2000 ... and the site of the new dining room.  The wall behind the refrigerator is the wall we're removing, which will add another 48" to the room.  All the cabinetry you see in the room has found a new home, something we try to do for every old kitchen we remove.

Here's the room now.  The black pipe you see on the right is a drain stack from the upstairs bathroom.  We knew it was there before we took out the wall, but our hope was that we were going to be able to relocate it.  However, until the drywall came off and we looked at things close up we couldn't be 100% certain we could do it.  This is a very important thing to remember when you renovate.  Plan ahead whenever possible, and when you can't you have to choose between making a design decision on the fly, or anticipating a "worst case scenario". 

For us, the worst case was not being able to remove the wall.  Would the design be possible even if the wall couldn't be removed?  For us it was and we were able to proceed without waiting.  But if it hadn't been we would have been forced to do some pre-design demolition, or to wait until the phase we're at now.  Of course the sooner you can be certain the better, but sometimes it's just not possible.

This is the wall that used to house a pantry, desk area and wall oven.  In the new design it will be home to the fridge, microwave and a long run of pot and pan drawers.  Directly opposite this wall will be the new island and the 48" professional style range. 

This is the same wall now.  We've furred out the wall to even it up from some previous framing.  You'll notice another black drain pipe to the right of the ducts.  This was relocated from it's original home on the opposite side of the room something we were able to do since we'd added some extra depth to the new wall.  We are fortunate that this kitchen also has a crawl space beneath, making the majority of the mechanical (plumbing, electrical, heating) work much simpler.

This is where the new kitchen will be.  Cabinetry and countertops will run beneath all 3 windows providing a very large work surface.  The sink will be situated beneath the middle window and the aforementioned island and range will be in the middle of this space.

Something else of note in these pictures are the pot lights in the ceiling.  Whenever we are involved with a complete renovation like this, we work out a lighting plan to go with the layout of the kitchen.  However, until the ceiling is explosed we have no idea if what we have planned will actually work with the framing in the room.  In this case, the lighting plan worked about 75% from what we had planned.  The designer and the electrician met on the job site to discuss the required changes.  These changes were then discussed with the client to be sure they met everyone's expectations.

Coming up next:  drywall, floor prep and cabinets!

Links to other entries in the WIP series on the Ridge Meadows Reno:

Part 2

The Village - Halloween Hunt 2010

The Cambie Village Merchants Association organizes many family friendly events around the holidays.  For Halloween, visitors to The Village can participate in another edition of Halloween Hunt

From noon to 3:00pm on Saturday, October 30, 2010, ghosts and goblins can pick up a treasure map at Cambie & 18th and visit Village merchants for treats and treasures (stickers & stamps).  There will be face painting, magic shows and pumpkin decorating at City Square.  In addition, The Park Theatre will be hosting a "by donation" viewing of some family-friendly cinema!

For more information check out the Cambie Village Merchants Association web site.

Gallery - Klassic Kerrisdale

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This stunning kitchen was recently installed in a new Kerrisdale home. Our recessed panel wide-rail door in our painted and stained cherry combination fits this craftsman decor beautifully. Features include 2 different colours of engineered stone countertops, integrated appliances, furniture base and posts, leaded glass doors and decorative hood fan shroud. Over-height cabinetry and tall crown moulding with matching ceiling soffit fill the space and make a grand statement. Watch for a future blog post featuring the rest of the cabinetry installed in this home!

Choices - Countertops Part 2 - Solid Surface

Next in the Choices countertop series we’re going to take a look at solid surfacing. Solid surfacing covers a wide range of products that share the following characteristics:
  • Man made
  • Non porous
  • Repairable
  • Post-formable

Probably the best known brand name of solid surfacing is Corian, which has been around for over 40 years. Today there are many others on the market: Avonite, Gibraltar, Hi-Macs, and Staron to name but a few. Colour and composition are what differentiate these manufacturers from each other, but for the end user they all behave more or less the same.

Composition is typically acrylic polymers and alumina trihydrate, but polyester and other resins are also used. Colouration comes from other minerals, pigments and even ground up bits of solid surface itself. From personal experience, we look for the acrylic based products. Most manufacturers that once used other resins are switching to acrylic as well which is a good indication of the direction to follow. Bottom line: acrylic is more colour stable and maintains its strength longer than the other resins.

What makes solid surface most appealing is the fact it’s non-porous. Many solid surfaces are acceptable for use in commercial food prep areas because they do not absorb bacteria. Non-porous also means stain resistant, so if you forgot to wipe up the red wine you spilled the night before, you don’t have to worry about it staining.

The colour of each sheet of solid surface is continuous through the thickness of the sheet giving solid surface the benefit of being repairable. A Corian rep we know tells a story about a massive fire in the bar at the Sydney Yacht Club in Australia. The Corian bartop was recovered, and although warped and burned, fabricators were able to straighten it, clean it up and re-install it as though it were brand new.

Of course, most home-owners don’t have to deal with repairs of that magnitude. But for minor scratches and abrasions, solid surface performs equally as well. A little bit of buffing will get out most minor damage, and most can be handled without professional help.

Another attractive feature of solid surface is “invisible” seaming. While it may appear that a solid surface countertop is made from one piece, or even that it was formed from a mould, the fact is there are going to be seams. However, because of the adhesives used and the nature of solid surface these seams are practically invisible to the naked eye. Invisible seams also means there’s nothing for dirt to catch on. In the case of a solid surface sink this is a real benefit; countertop messes can simply be wiped straight into the sink with no ledge to catch on.

To take advatage of the post-formability of solid surface, fabricators apply heat, bend the material into whatever shape they'd like, and allow the material to cool. A little creativity allows fabricators to bend sheets of solid surface into furniture, sinks and even lamp shades.

For more information on solid surface check out The International Solid Surface Fabricators Association web site.  As always you can also contact one of our designers for an appointment, or drop by the showroom.

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.

Extremely Entertaining

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We're really excited to show you this project ... so much so that it's fresh from the camera this morning! The doors are wrapped laminate which is a very cost-effective way to achieve a very modern aesthetic. The countertops are Caesarstone Lagos Blue, done with a 6cm edge rather than the standard 3cm thickness.

This kitchen is designed for entertaining.  The cooktop situated on a large island allows the cook to interact with guests.  The large pro-style fridge keeps all the food near that cooking area, and another nearby wine-fridge keeps thing cold and convenient near the dining and living room. There's a steam oven below the cooktop, but the double ovens are situated out of the way, allowing for more storage in the main kitchen area.

In the News: Dishwasher Safety Recall Notice

This recall notice affects dishwashers of the following brands:

Maytag, Jenn-Air, Amana, Admiral, Magic Chef, Performa by Maytag and Crosley. Only certain models are affected. To determine if you have a faulty dishwasher, locate the serial number as per the video below:



The serial numbers of the affected dishwashers are listed at the Maytag Repair Website, or you can call 1-800-544-5513.

The issue is a failure in the dishwasher's heating element which can pose a fire hazard.  If your dishwasher is affected, stop using the dishwasher, disconnect the electrical supply by shutting off the fuse or circuit breaker controlling it, and either schedule a free in-home repair, or elect to receive a rebate following the purchase of a new Maytag dishwasher.

This Just In - A Green Look at Laminate

One of the best “bangs-for-your-buck” in the cabinet department is plastic laminate. Commonly refered as "Arborite" or "Formica" (both brand names) plastic laminate is the same material used for countertops ... and more and more these days as cabinetry.  When you combine its relative low cost with the almost endless variety of colours, and then consider the popularity of the“sleek” look it’s easy to see the appeal of laminate.


One of laminate’s drawbacks has been its inability to produce a crisp corner when post-formed (or “wrapped”). The Greenlam laminates we’ve been using of late have that little problem licked. You can see in the picture the difference between a standard laminate door (left) and a Greenlam door (right). Installed, the difference is even more pronounced.

Something else of note: take a look at the ends of the doors. The regular laminate door uses a PVC edge tape that “coordinates” with the laminate. Greenlam has ABS tape that matches each laminate they offer. ABS is tougher than PVC and is widely being adopted as the edge material of choice.

And if you need more incentive to have a look at Greenlam, consider the “green” aspects this product offers. Greenlam laminates are GREENGARD certified for indoor air quality (low formaldehyde off-gassing) and will also qualify for LEED credits. The paper used in the creation of the laminate contains 40% recovered material and the factory that makes the laminate uses Bio Mass to fuel its boilers.

Contact one of our designers for more information on Greenlam and laminate kitchens.

Design Tips - Distance Between Work Centres

In this installment of Design Tips, we're going to look at  NKBA Guideline #3. Some of you may have already had a look at the pictures below and said "I know what this is about!  It's the Kitchen Triangle!!" ... and you'd be right, mostly.

The concept of the kitchen triangle has been around since 1944 where it was developed at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.  The Triangle was developed not so much with the cook in mind, but as a means to standardize, and thus reduce cost.

This doesn't mean that the Triangle is a bad thing.  In fact the Triangle is one of the best ways to to create an efficient kitchen.  But it's not the only way, and that's an important concept to keep in mind.  Your designer may create a kitchen for you that employs the Triangle, but also adds to it.

Guideline #3 is really about the workspaces in the kitchen and how they relate to each other.  In a kitchen with three work areas for example (sink, stove, fridge), the total distance between each work centre should total no more than 26 feet (9.5 metres).  Furthermore, no single distance should be less than 4 feet (1.47 metres) and no longer than 9 feet (2.74 metres).

So what about a kitchen that has more than three work centres?  What about the coffee machine?  The deep fryer or grill?  How about that second sink on the island with the extra dishwasher?  Pretty soon that triangle is starting to look like a trapezoid or hexagon. 

Relax.  The same rules still apply.  What's important here is not the shape, but the proximity of each work centre to the other.  Sometimes you may have two work centres you use together all the time ... a coffee maker and a beverage fridge (for cream, Irish or otherwise).  You'll never get 2 work centres to make a triangle, but if the two items are further apart than 9 feet ... even 4 feet ... you're going to need running to shoes for all the travelling you'll do!

Another hiccup in this rule comes when you introduce and island into the equation.  As you'll see in the drawing on the left, one of the legs of our triangle gets interupted by the island.  Think about running between the cooktop and the fridge and imagine how bruised your hip could get.

In a perfect world that island should cut into the path no more than 12" (30.5 cm).  However, it should be noted that avoiding this situation is not always possible.  We try, really we do.  But sometimes you just run out of room to work, or moving the cooktop towards the left side of the island (the simplest solution) will break some other guidelines we haven't addressed yet.  There's a lot going on in your kitchen and sometimes something's got to give. 

Illustrations (C) NKBA.org

Let the Buyer Beware

We've all seem them ... the Direct Buy ads promising us the opportunity to buy sinks, faucets, cabinetry, etc. at a "designer's rate."  The fact is, Direct Buy is a rip-off.  Think we may be biased?  Do a quick Google search.  Or better yet, we direct your attention to Consumer Reports who had a look for themselves.

To evaluate the pitch, we went undercover at two DirectBuy franchises in New York. Both gave us the same hard sell and offers of up to 70 percent off retail prices if we were to join. Only after an hour and a half of sales pitches and video testimonials from members did we learn the membership fee: $4,900 to $4,990 (plus tax) for three years and then $190 a year for seven more. Financing is available at 17.75 percent.

After the fee disclosure, we discovered that we had to sign up on the spot or never come back. We couldn’t bring DirectBuy’s “confidential” prices elsewhere to comparison shop, the representatives said, because this would likely anger retailers who might then retaliate against the manufacturers by refusing to sell their merchandise.

The fine print in the DirectBuy contract says you cannot return items, cancel orders, or terminate your membership. When we asked if, after plunking down $5,000, we could cancel and get a refund, a salesperson said, “You’ll have to check state law.” A review of New York state law revealed that the three-day cooling-off period for canceling contracts wouldn’t apply in this case.


Tacked onto the cost of merchandise—which you select from catalogs since DirectBuy has limited showrooms—are a 6 percent handling fee, shipping fees, and tax. Goods are typically shipped only to your local center, so you might pay additional fees to actually get your new stuff home.
Direct Buy is preying on the consumers' natural desire to save a buck.  The fact is, once all the fees are factored in, you're paying retail prices anyway ... assuming you don't want to try and return something.  This is certainly one situation where "if it sounds to good to be true, it probably is."  Do your research.  Ask a design professional. 

That's what we do.

Thanks to Paul at Kitchen & Residential Design for bringing this information to our attention.