From Galley to Gourmet: Efficient Galley Kitchens

Having a galley kitchen does not mean that you need to sacrifice style, efficiency or dreams of gourmet bliss.  While a galley kitchen can be short on space, when laid out correctly it can meet all of your needs and exceed expectations.  Because a galley kitchen is small on space, using high end products can be accomplished at a smaller price than a larger kitchen.  Always dreamt of a farm style sink but never thought it was something you could fit into your budget?? Having a galley kitchen with a smaller space to update might be the key to your dream sink, backsplash and tiles.

Photo credit: plumbtile.com
Photo credit: plumbtile.com

USING THE TRIANGLE

The triangle (fridge, sink and range) is the most important factor in any kitchen, but more so in the galley style.  To maximize space a great trick is to use a microwave on top of the range instead of the typical hood which can be aesthetically pleasing but not a necessity when a microwave can double as a hood.  The ideal triangle will place the range and fridge on one wall with the sink being on the opposite wall.  Another way to “add” space is to choose a full range instead of a cooktop and wall ovens.  Continue reading →

Cooking Up Big Ideas for Small Kitchens

Who hasn’t been there, the dilemma of a small kitchen and how to utilize the little space that is available?  Whether it’s your first apartment or you are buying in a city where space comes at a higher price, here are some great ideas to transform the small space into a kitchen that you will love and have great pride in.

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Photo Credit: Los Angeles designer Sarah Barnard, LEED AP

Continue reading →

Kitchen Cabinets: Important Tips for Choosing New Cabinets

Oak kitchenWhen it comes to adding value to your home, put your money where your mouths are.  The 2 rooms that add or detract value most from a home are the kitchen and the bathroom.  Right now stainless steel appliances are the trend but there is no sense investing in them only to put them next to shabby cabinets in an outdated kitchen.  When renovating a kitchen, start with the cabinets first.  An older refrigerator or stove will look better surrounded by new cabinets.  Continue reading →

Let's Go Organic…in the Kitchen

Green Mondays by PlumbtileIt’s Green Monday once again!

We will never get tired of spreading awareness about our environment as well as providing our readers with the latest trends in green design.

Do you know what 2013 will bring to the world of kitchen design? Organic. That’s right, warm, earthy gourmet spaces. Mixing wood, slate, stone, and other rustic materials with industrial pieces.

Terry Mulligan of Yahoo gives us the latest trend in kitchen design:

Earthy Colors

Greens, blues, grays, browns, yellows, reds — these colors will be making a grand appearance in kitchens across the country. Whether on painted, weathered cabinets or handmade, upcycled tile, earthen colors will warm up our cooking spaces like never before. All shades are fair game, unless they glow neon. Stick to what you find in nature, and you’ll be right in style.

Organic Wood Cabinets

Instead of traditionally styled, stained, and glazed cabinets with fancy millwork, look for a more understated display of rustic wood on cabinet surfaces. Spalted maple or natural birch drawer fronts will be mixed with clean, industrial-styled cabinet doors and brushed stainless steel. And this year, austere shaker cabinets will be reinvented in many ways. It will be a welcome, yet unusual departure from the kitchens of the last 10 years.

Wood, Stone, or Tile Counters

Granite may not be the material of choice for countertops anymore. Wood and stone like slate should dominate — then add tile tops and backsplashes with a handmade look and feel. It’s all about color and textures that make you feel at home and comfortable this year.

Materials in Their Natural Form

Anywhere you can use materials in their natural form, it’s time to do so. Exposed beams on walls and ceilings will add a rural touch in some kitchens. Wood counters will sport natural, unfinished edges in their shift to a more organic style.

Rustic Floors

Rustic floors will be the rage. Reclaimed wood or polished concrete with amazing stain work will pull the other organic elements of the room together. Slate floors will also be in demand over highly polished marble or tile. Yet even in their natural form, these floors will still be a work of art. Artisans will be lending their expertise to make them part of a unique and extraordinary kitchen design statement.

At Plumbtile, the leader in all things bathroom and kitchen design related products, we have a wide array of green products from counters, faucets, and even tiles that are that are made from renewable resources that have none to minimal impact on our environment.

Let’s GO GREEN in 2013!

PlumbTile features the largest collection of premium brand names including Alno, Jado, Hansgrohe, Herbeau, Phylrich, California Faucets, KWC, Newport Brass, Toto, Ginger, Americh & Zuma Tubs, Hastings, Sugatsune, Classic Brass & more.

Happy Weekend!

Join the Contest!

We at Plumbtile are thankful to our friends and all our loyal customers online. We have extended our Photo Contest promo to give everyone the chance to participate and win. The promo is now extended up to April 15, 2013.

If you haven’t heard about the contest yet, you will be pleased to hear that we are giving out $1000 worth of kitchen and bathroom products!

The rules are very simple. You just have to go to our Facebook fan page and upload a remodeling photo (past or present), and you will get the chance to win.

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Tell all you friends! Share this article and spread the word!

Again, thank you from all of us at Plumbtile!

Beautiful Backsplash

Whether you are looking to do a complete kitchen remodel, or looking to make a fast and inexpensive update to your space, installing a beautiful backsplash should be on your renovation “to-do” list.  A backsplash can be neutral and used to enhance an exhisting design or it can be used to stand out and be the focus of the room.  Unsure where to begin when planning your backsplash update?  Talk to a design specialist at Plumbtile for some design tips and advice for your space.

Backsplash Ideas

Here are some great tile ideas by Busby-Gilbert tile to get you started:

Begin with a unique design on your backsplash, and finish off the beautiful design with a neutral ceiling tile.

Design can be found in neutral colors too.  Plumbtile offers a wide selection of tiles that come in a variety of shapes and sizes.  Check out how this distinctive neutral tile brings character to this kitchen’s backsplash.

Make your kitchen really stand out with this matchless design.  An arched stoned tile is used to enhance this vibrant blue backsplash to give the area behind the range the look and feel of an Italian pizza kitchen.

The same tile from your backsplash can be used to cover your countertop as well.  Just be sure to break up the design with decorative tiles in the backsplash pattern.  Check out this beautiful tile  backsplash and counter top in green tones.

To begin piecing together your new beautiful backsplash, talk to a design specialist and Plumbtile.

Kitchen and Bath Style Ideas From Kohler

Kohler is known for its innovation and design ideas which stem mostly from natural sources – the drama of a lotus flower can easily be turned into a faucet or showerhead in the minds of the Kohler artists.

To help us use their products in a way that suits our own needs and tastes, Kohler also presents kitchen and bath showcases to inspire our own interior design. Below is a video of one modern-yet-classic kitchen with warm and inviting colors and seamlessly integrated fixtures.

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Of course, the bathroom is not to be forgotten! While it may be one of the smallest rooms in the house, the bathroom creates quite an impact on the entire feel of your home, and really says a lot about you! You want your bathroom to send the right message and be a space that you simply love. With all of those water-consuming features, it is also more and more important to think on green alternatives. This video showcases some of Kohler’s finest ideas in the green living movement.

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There are, of course, many brands who have begun to manufacture their products to be more eco-friendly, so pairing a water-saving Kohler toilet with tile, glass, faucets, and showers from other brands to create your very own look is not a crime! Some of our favorite green companies can be found on this page to give you unlimited possibilities.