I was in a showroom last week talking with kitchen designers about kitchen layouts that are popular in our area.
Where I live, the market is dominated by new construction and we all agreed the one-wall with island layout or galley kitchen is seen over and over again.
The L-shaped with island used to be the most popular, but there seems to have been a shift as of late.
There are a few reasons why I believe the one-wall with island layout is so popular in new construction.
In this post I’ll go over the reasons why builder’s pick that layout so often, and then using a case study will show you how you, as the kitchen designer, can add some excitement to this layout.
Continue reading “Adding Interest to the One-Wall with Island Kitchen”
It is that time of the year again!
All the interior design trends for 2023 are getting posted.
Every year I do my research early January and put together what I feel will be trending in Kitchen design for the upcoming year.
I then attend KBIS (The Kitchen & Bath Industry Show) to see if the show’s displays agree with me.
Also, starting last year I stopped by the Designer Discussions podcast to talk about KBIS trends and this year I’ll be with them again the first week of February.
I feel 2023 is going to be the beginning of a direction change for kitchen design overall, so let’s jump in and see if you agree.
Continue reading “Top 2023 Kitchen Design Trends”
Attending a design tradeshow is often a highlight for a person working in the Kitchen & Bath Industry.
The Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS) is running from January 31st through February 2nd and is back in Las Vegas this year.
I have my flights book and my hotel reserved and can’t wait to check it out!
I know many of you will be attending and this blog outlines how to get the most out of attending KBIS or any other design trade show.
Read on to get my top tips for a successful tradeshow experience.
Continue reading “How to Plan Your Trip to KBIS”
This fall I instructed the certification program for Interior Decorating at the local college.
During my lectures I tried to sprinkle in tips for the students on running a design business.
One of them was the importance of collecting inspirational images to inspire both themselves and their future clients.
It got me thinking about how important my process for collecting inspiration has been for my design career.
In todays post I will outline how my Vestabul Design inspiration library has evolved over the years and why I believe it is important
Continue reading “How to Build your Inspiration Library as a Kitchen & Bath Designer”
Experimenting with different cuisines became a past time for many people in the last couple of years.
Even though the ability to go out to a restaurant is no longer restricted, many people are using their new found cooking skills and even expanding their repertoire.
Many cooks also discovered there are many condiments available in the marketplace to help them achieve resturant worthy meals at home.
This trend means the storage of condiments in the Kitchen is more important than ever.
Read on to see my top 10 condiment storage ideas for Kitchen Designers.
Continue reading “The Top 10 Condiment Storage Ideas for Kitchen Designers”
Many designers new to kitchen design, will want to dive into designing their client’s space as soon as possible.
There is a lot to be said for enthusiasm, but you really need to sit back and formulate a plan.Â
That plan begins with asking your client some questions.
There are many questions that you may want to ask, such as:
- What cabinet style do you want?
- What finish do you want for your countertop?
- Do you want a pro style range?
But, these questions so early on in the process may not be the best way to start. Â
In this post I want to explore the 5 questions every kitchen designer needs to ask before they embark on designing their client’s dream kitchen.
Continue reading “Questions You Must Ask Your Kitchen Design Client”
New skills and knowledge are needed to start a career in Kitchen design, or to continue to the top of the Kitchen design profession.
I developed the online school, Vestabul School of Design, to help people passionate about the Kitchen industry.
Courses are offered under these categories:
Icon courses focus on a variety of topics you can implement immediately with your clients.
They are quick learnings that can be viewed in one sitting or whenever you have a few spare minutes, since they are presented in 3 to 5 minute video modules.
You will return to them often to catch all the tips!
Continue reading “Vestabul School of Design’s Icon Courses”
Last week I posted about an appliance display I visited at the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show earlier this year.
G.E. Appliances showcased their premium brand, Monogram through displays of 3 unique lifestyle displays.
They were:
- Villa Monogram Farm
- Villa Monogram Mountain
- Villa Monogram Beach
Each of these displays highlighted great design ideas the Kitchen designer would want to incorporate into their designs.
And in my opinion, these appliance manufacturer’s displays will be influencing Kitchen Design in the future.
Read on to see additional displays and highlights from that booth.
Continue reading “The Influence of Appliance Manufacturers on Kitchen Design: Part 2”
While putting the finishing touches on my FREE Appliance workshop, which you can register for at the end of this blog, I came across the pics I took at the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS) earlier this year.
It got me thinking about the influence on overall Kitchen design that appliance manufactures have.
Having attended several design tradeshows over the years , KBIS 2022 stands out for me as a show that appliance manufactures really shined.
The approach to Kitchen design in one of the appliance manufactures booths really broke the boundaries of “contemporary” Kitchen design.
Let’s have a look!
Continue reading “The Influence of Appliance Manufacturers on Kitchen Design”
In my last VESTA Blog post, I outlined the process of how I chose the appliances for the townhomes at a heritage site renovation called the Willows.
The inspiration for the design of these units came from a trip I had taken to the EuroCucina show in Milan, Italy.
Using images I snapped at that show, I presented my design direction to the developers and received approval for the look and feel of the project’s interiors.
The next step was to develop the layout of the spaces, specifically the Kitchens.
With this accomplished, it was time to begin specifying the specific products for each unit.
Continue reading “Case Study: Appliances at the Willow Project Part 2”
The Willow project was a renovation of a heritage site that converted a church site into 3 town homes, a garden suite and two coach houses.
It was a very rewarding project that won the Western Canada Design Excellent award for a “Living in Place Kitchen” and placed in the “Large Contemporary Kitchen “ and the “Large Bathroom” categories.
A very important part of this mini-multi was the appliances choices.
In the next 2 VESTA Blogs, I will walk you through how the appliances were specified for this project to show you my process.
Let’s start with the townhouses.
Continue reading “Case Study: Appliances at the Willow Project”
Appliances are a large part of any Kitchen design, and as a professional Kitchen Designer you are in the best position to help your clients choose the best ones for their project.
With the almost infinite choices available to your clients, you need to help them sort through the options to meet their cooking, storing and cleaning needs, their investment figure, and their decor style.
This VESTA Blog will walk you through a case study on choosing appliances for a mid-priced Kitchen renovation.
Continue reading “Case Study: Choosing Appliances for a Mid-Priced Kitchen Renovation”
Jan Rutgers
