Better Homes and Gardens - Beautiful Kitchens - Showcases Superior Woodcraft's Cabinetry

Homeowners, Diane and Vince Prestileo team up with award winning designer, Gerard Ciccarello of Convenant Kitchens and Baths in West Brook Connecticut and utilize Superior Woodcraft's custom cabinetry to create a kitchen that provides utility, beauty and harmony.

The Prestileo's wanted more than a kitchen.  They wanted a lifestyle.  The remodeling project, a home built by Vince's father, all started with an Aga stove, which is the focal point.  Ciccarello took the Prestileo's desires and turned them into reality using Superior Woodcraft custom cabientry.  Another interesting note is that older German decorative tiles were used as the backsplash.  A nice touch of complimenting the new with the old.  After reading the entire story you will realize that this is more than a mere remodeling project - it is a tribute to family, ancestry and a warm-hearted lifestyle.

To read more about this wonderful story pick up a copy of  Better Homes and Gardens Special Interest Publications, Beautiful Kitchens, Spring 2010.  This story can be read on pages 22-29.  Visit your local magazine retailer to pick up a copy.

Our thanks goes to the Prestileo's for sharing this wonderful story with the rest of us. Your story warms us during this cold winter.  We can almost smell the sweet aromas from your simmering meal and feel the warmth of your Aga stove and your hearts.  And, thanks also goes to Gerard Ciccarello whos outstanding designs bring people's dreams to life. 
   

More of Gerard Ciccarello's work can be viewed at:

Convenant Kitchens and Bath, Inc.
1871 Boston Post Road
Westbrook, CT  06498
860-399-6241
http://www.covenantkitchens.com/

Photo credits:

Jim Fiora
Jim Fiora Studio, LLC
http://www.jimfiora.com/
203.488.8687
jim@jimfiora.com

Source:
Superior Woodcraft Blog
Superior Woodcraft Inc.

Green Landscaping Has it Roots in the Soil

       
Green Landscaping is a matter of organic richness and a healthy network of microorganisms.


When you are talking about ‘green landscaping’ you are talking about things such as plant selection, water efficiency and the use of fewer resources to unify the landscape into its surroundings. But, to maintain the health of the new plant material or green landscaping it is important to have good soil quality. Healthy soil equals healthy plants. The future of sustaining green landscaping begins with our ability to imitate nature and not using short term, quick fix chemical solutions that poison the earth. With healthy soil maintenance will be reduced, water requirements reduced and the life of the plant will be increased. A healthy soil consists of soil rich in organic matter. The best organic matter is compost. Bagged compost can be purchased at most nurseries and hardware stores. However, the best compost can be found at local compost facilities. Some states even have website exchanges for compost and other materials.  See Pennsylvania Manure Trader, Pennsylvania BioMass Trader and Pennsylvania Material Trader.  The next step is to incorporate the compost into the soil. One way to do this is by using a rototiller. This process is called amending the soil. The amended soil creates a complex network of microorganisms that can be thought of as nature’s fertilizer factories. These little bugs eat the organic matter and turn it into nutrients that plants need to survive. The amended soil also provides a complete nutrient base that facilitates a symbiotic bond between the microorganisms and the plant. The plant produces sugars through photosynthesis and then sends this energy to the roots. The roots collect the nutrients and in return provide nutrients to the plant. By feeding the soil and not the plant, compost is nature’s way of installing life and fertility into the soil.

Once the soil is amended, let the planting begin!

This article was contributed by Shane Holderer of Landscape Plus LLC


Shane Holderer
Landscape Plus LLC
4734 Applebutter Road
Pipersville, Pa. 18947
215-646-1235
Landscape Plus LLC

Source:
Superior Woodcraft, Inc. Custom Cabinetry Blog
Superior Woodcraft, Inc. Website

SUPERIOR WOODCRAFT SUPPORTS CENTRAL BUCKS FAMILY YMCA

             
Superior Woodcraft donates Chopping Block Table to Central Bucks Family YMCA for Spring Gala fund raiser.

Chopping Block Table

Handcrafted by Superior Woodcraft artisans, local producer of fine custom cabinetry. One-of-a-kind table features traditional joinery with solid white oak aprons mortised into the carved columns. Additional stretcher shelf storage space below. Butcher block top of FSC-approved hard maple treated with hand-rubbed oil finish, suitable as a prep area for direct chopping. Dimensions: 28” wide, 21” deep, 36” high.  View Chopping Block table.

Spring Gala - A Night Under the Tuscan Sun

Join us March 13, 2010 in Keenan Mercedes' elegant setting and share in the warmth and ambience of the Italian countryside. Enjoy cocktails and hors d’oeuvres while browsing through a wide array of silent auction gifts. A gourmet dinner by Memorable Affairs will be followed by a live auction and dancing to music by the Slippery Band. This year’s event will be a magical evening with some surprises including the “Great Grape Escape”! For more information, contact Rachel Mauer.

Come and join us on March 13, 2010 and help support our local community and local YMCA.

View Auction items.
Event Infomation

Source:
Superior Woodcraft
Superior Woodcraft Blog

Superior Woodcraft
160 N Hamilton Street
Doylestown, PA 18901
215-348-9942

CASH FOR APPLIANCES IS HERE!

Cash for appliance clunkers has arrived!


Contact your local appliance dealer today. Funding under this program is limited, so hurry to take advantage of these savings.

Over the past few weeks, we have been repeatedly asked about the rumored “Cash for Clunkers” program which will cover the major appliance industry. One can hardly turn on the evening news without hearing yet another rumor or version of the same story. Here are the details of what we know at this point.

In August, the Federal Government approved funds to create rebate incentives for consumers to purchase Energy Star qualified appliances. In this instance, the Government set a deadline for each state to respond with whether or not they wished to participate. According to the Department of Energy, all 50 states and 6 territories turned in their initial applications. Each state now had until October 15th to submit a formal plan to the Federal Government as to how they plan to distribute the money in order to receive the funds from Washington.

The cash for appliance programs are now active. You should contact your local appliance dealer for exact incentives in your state or visit US Department of Energy

The general assumption is that the rebates will vary from $50 - $200 depending on which “tier” of Energy Star appliance is purchased and how long the rebate programs will last. Each state has crafted its own program to suit the needs of their residents.  The reality is that until the plans are made public in each state, everything thus far is pure speculation.  Funding for the program is limited and done on a first come first served basis.

The good news is that consumers need not wait until the rebate program begins to see significant savings on Energy Star appliances. Certain manufacturers, such as GE, Kitchenaid, and Frigidaire are already offering mail-in rebates for efficient appliances. Also, consumers can check with http://www.energystar.gov/ to see if there are rebates available in their area. With the current economic market, manufacturers have held off price increases this year and are offering many incentives for consumers. In addition, simply purchasing an Energy Star qualified appliance will save consumers money, as was discussed in one of our previous posts. For more information, check with http://www.aham.org/, a national appliance organization, or feel free to contact your local independent appliance dealer for details.

This article was contributed by James Bender of Bill Vandegrift, Inc.


Bill Vandegrift, Inc
450 E. Butler Ave
New Britain, PA 18901
215-345-1892

http://www.billvandegrift.com/


Source:
Superior Woodcraft, Inc. Custom Cabinetry Blog
Superior Woodcraft, Inc. Website

Superior Woodcraft Joins Design Team for Pennsylvania Eco-House, 60 Bragg Hill

      
   
Sustainably harvested wood, low VOC finishes and artisanal craftsmanship earned Superior Woodcraft a place on the Integrated Project Delivery team for the 60 Bragg Hill eco-house. The cabinetmaker’s art in creating this green home’s “heirloom kitchen” will also be the subject of an upcoming documentary.


West Chester, PA (PRWEB) February 7, 2010 -- Though ground has not yet been broken on the sustainable home slated for 60 Bragg Hill in Pennsylvania’s historic Chester County, homeowners Barney and Nancy Leonard have chosen Doylestown-based Superior Woodcraft to provide the custom cabinetry. At this early stage, the cabinetmaker’s vice president Patrick Kennedy and designer Marcy Conti have joined the Integrated Project Delivery team with the homeowners, noted “green”architect Matthew Moger and contractor Mark W. Thompson to ensure that the kitchen cabinetry will reflect the home’s aesthetic and ecological vision as well as the Leonard’s budget.

The choice of a cabinetmaker was key for the homeowners. “Kitchen cabinets are very personal,” says Barney Leonard. “You interact with them every single day. They are a very important part of our family’s daily life. Since our vision is to build this home to withstand generations of daily use, we wanted to make a thoughtful choice.” After months of interviews and factory tours, the Leonards chose Superior Woodcraft for its quality cabinetry and environmental stewardship. Superior Woodcraft’s Patrick Kennedy adds that sustainability is not new to his company. “For generations, we have used only wood from sustainably harvested forests. We emphasize finishes that are low in VOCs (volatile organic compounds) and toxins like formaldehyde. Our plywood contains no added urea formaldehyde (NAUF). And 85% of the waste created in crafting our cabinetry is recycled – we have always strived to minimize waste.”

Leonard felt Superior Woodcraft’s artisanal craftsmanship was also important. “For us, building a sustainable home means honoring the ecology of the land -- and its heritage. Bragg Hill Road’s history stretches from the Revolutionary War through generation upon generation of American farmers. We felt Superior Woodcraft’s own history of handing down time-honored skills from father to son was right for our own vision of building a home we could hand down through our own family.”

Himself a media consultant, Leonard has been so captivated by Superior Woodcraft’s “story” of delivering utility, harmony and beauty that he is working with Kennedy to use the 60 Bragg Hill project to produce a video documentary about the cabinetmaker.

Superior Woodcraft is just one partner committed to making 60 Bragg Hill into a “living classroom” for green design, sustainable construction methodologies and energy-saving technologies.

The project can be watched step by step at the 60 Bragg Hill website. http://www.60bragghill.com/

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Barney Leonard

267-297-2300

E-mail Information

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Superior Woocraft, Inc
Superior Woodcraft Blog