The design of a home’s kitchen can set the tone for the whole home.
One of the first choices you and your client need to do is choose the decor style for the space.
Currently, five of the most popular North American decor styles are Transitional, Contemporary, Modern, Farmhouse and Coastal.
All of these decor styles can be enhanced by the use of mouldings & millwork.
Start in the kitchen and progress through the whole home.
In this VESTA Blog, we will look at how you as a kitchen designer can get these popular looks incorporating mouldings & millwork.
Continue reading “Enhancing Popular Kitchen Decor Styles with Mouldings & Millwork”
When selecting built-in appliances for your Kitchen design projects, there is a lot to consider.
First is how the unit functions and second is how it looks.
Once you and your client have narrowed in on all the features they want in a specific appliance, you will then turn to how it looks within their design.
In today’s VESTA Blog post I will focus on how the appliance looks, specifically how it is installed into the cabinetry.
Continue reading “Specifying Standard and Flush Appliance Installations”
Naming your company is always a process.
There are so many questions to consider.
Do you name it after yourself? Do you name it after a common element in your business? Do you make up a name?
After researching the pros and cons of each of these scenarios, I decided to develop a name for my company that truly reflected my company philosophy.
Here is my story on naming my company.
Continue reading “Naming Your Design Company”
Most homeowners will request a pantry to be included in their new kitchen design.
With the variety of kitchen sizes, designers often need to get creative when planning the ideal pantry for their clients.
In this VESTA Blog post I’ll walk you through my Top 10 Pantry Solutions you can begin incorporating into your Kitchen Designs today!
Continue reading “How to Design a Pantry for any Sized Kitchen”
In the realm of interior design, kitchens hold a unique position.
They are not just functional spaces but also social hubs where families gather, friends chat over coffee, and culinary adventures unfold.
Designing a kitchen that stands the test of time requires a delicate balance between current trends and timeless elements.
It’s about balancing trends and longevity
In this VESTA Blog we will look at the key principles and strategies for creating a timeless kitchen design that combines enduring style with practicality.
Continue reading “Creating a Timeless Kitchen Design”
Once a kitchen designer has learned the basics and theories of kitchen design, the next step is to learn how to put those kitchen design concepts into practice.
The latest Cornerstone Course from VESTABUL SCHOOL OF DESIGN provides that and more.
Putting Kitchen Design Concepts Into Practice is my follow up course to A Beginners Guide to Kitchen Design and will provide you with everything you need to get started as a professional kitchen designer.
It is a course that provides practical design solutions you can easily integrate into your designs.
In this VESTA Blog post, I will provide you with an overview of what you will learn when you enroll in the Cornerstone Course, Putting Kitchen Design Concepts into Practice.
Continue reading “Putting Kitchen Design Concepts into Practice”
Today’s kitchen is a multifunctional space that caters to a wide range of cooking styles and preferences.
Some people enjoy elaborate gourmet cooking, while others prefer quick and convenient meals.
Designing a kitchen that accommodates various cooking styles is a challenging and requires the skillset of a professional kitchen designer.
In this VESTA Blog post, we will explore how kitchen design can be tailored to meet the specific needs of different cooking styles, from the passionate home chef to the busy working professional who values efficiency.
And for more tips on designing for these types of cooks, check out Vestabul School of Design’s Icon Courses.
Also, I have been playing around with AI when I get a chance, and all the images in this post were produced using AI prompts. Still some glitches but you can let me know what you think in the comments.
Continue reading “Designing Kitchens for Different Cooking Styles”
Within the kitchen industry, there has been an ongoing debate for the past several decades on whether kitchen designers should charge design fees or not.
The argument for not charging design fees because “We have always provided free design and quotes” is no longer a valid reason for this practice.
The free quote for kitchen cabinetry is a 50 year old sales strategy that no longer makes sense.
In this VESTA Blog post I will present my reasons for why true kitchen designers should be charging a design fee to their clients.
Continue reading “Why Kitchen Designers Should Charge Design Fees”
The kitchen industry is a multi billion dollar industry with many players involved in the process.
Consumers are often at a loss as to whom to hire to get the kitchen of their dreams.
Where does the consumer start when choosing their Dream Kitchen team?
Continue reading “The Dream Team for a Client’s Dream Kitchen Project”
Most Kitchens will have a least one corner to deal with in the design layout.
Coming up with a creative solution for what to do with these corners can be a challenge for the Kitchen Designer.
With homeowners wanting to maximize the square footage of their Kitchens, blanking off the corner is not a viable solution.
Read on to see multiple options for customizing the corners in your Kitchen Designs to set your designs apart.
Continue reading “Kitchen Design Corner Options”
Living in Place or Universal Design, is a type of design I specialize in and try to bring to every project I work on.
Every kitchen renovation is an investment, and ensuring that it will function to the fullest extent is an important aspect of the design process.
In this VESTA blog post I would like to share with you strategies on how to incorporate Living in Place concepts into your Kitchen designs.
Because I believe:
Continue reading “How to Develop a Living In Place Kitchen Design”Universal Design will be at its best when not labeled or defined, but truly incorporated as an essential part of all good design.
Last week I revisited the design of a Post-COVID kitchen from 2022.
I showed you my vision for how a family might design their kitchen after living through a pandemic.
The layout was not unusual but it incorporated design solutions to make the space function more efficiently for the family of 4.
What many of our clients have learned from the pandemic is that they need their Kitchens and Greatrooms to accommodate multiple individuals for a variety of activities happening simultaneously.
Check out the solutions I envisioned for my Post-COVID Kitchen family, and read on to see how I would design the greatroom and adjacent spaces for them.
Continue reading “Vestabul’s Post-COVID Kitchen & Greatroom Design Review”
Jan Rutgers