Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Better Does Not Always Mean Bigger

    
In scenic Cheyenne, Wyoming Christine Connell longed to transform her home. She was inspired by a series of books - The Not So Big House series by Sarah Susanka – which embraces better houses not bigger houses. To achieve her dream she hired architect Curtis Marwitz of Silver Run Architects and the entire first floor was redesigned to capture the “not so big” style but he also worked with the client to “bring openness to the house, [and] embrace a contemporary Wyoming craftsman sensibility” he says. The before and after transformation is inspiring!



So here are 10 things to think about when you are redesigning your kitchen:

1) Kitchen cabinet style and design is critical: Redesign kitchen cabinets to better utilize space, create display shelves for precious knickknack to avoid clutter and reinforce the style of the home with the overall cabinet design.

2) Use larger tiles and wide plank floors: the large tiles and Carlisle 7” Wide Plank White Oak  flooring to minimize seams and complement the open look – small styles and narrow boards make a room especially a large look way too busy

3) Don’t be confined: Remove the overhead kitchen cabinets to open the kitchen up to the other rooms and make the kitchen bigger – creating more space without an addition!

4) Utilize your space: Put your overhead pace to good use around the perimeter not in the middle of the room

5) Don’t underestimate the island: Maximize the island with storage space and tucked in seating area for stools so it doesn’t intrude on walk ways and living areas

6) Adjust the traffic pattern for your kitchen: Shift the island and open a new hallway outside the kitchen, to both accommodate the larger design and avoid a main walkway through your kitchen – to keep it cleaner and with less clutter.

7) Location, Location, Location: You may not need new appliances, just reorganize their location to make the kitchen more functional to how you work in it.

8) Complement don’t match: Complement the darker cabinets with light tile and wood floors, trying to match colors can be challenging and often unsuccessful.

9) Use Architectural Details to define not walls: Notice how the beams and tile/wood floor design define the kitchen area but still create an open concept. Notice how the arts & crafts “paneling” design highlight the hall and dining room entrance.

10) Add a little color: open spaces are best created with lighter colors, as seen here with the light walls and floors, and medium toned wood. But color like in the prairie green island can add just the right splash

You can see how you can do a lot with the space you have and make a big difference. There were no big additions here to make rooms bigger, just careful forethought into space planning and function.
 

 
See more photos of the project at the Silver Run Architects Facebook page. And if you are looking for more info on the Not So Big House series by Sarah Susanka visit her website  - Not So Big House

This article was contributed by Shanon Sterrett of Carlisle Wide Plank Floors.



Carlisle Wide Plank Floors

Since 1966 Carlisle has been proudly hand-crafting the finest and most versatile Hardwood, Reclaimed and Pine wide plank flooring from the highest quality timbers in the world in beautiful New Hampshire while offering the best design consultations, expertise and service in the industry.

Carlisle Wide Plank Floor Locations:

New York City,  Washington, DC , Chicago, IL, Denver, CO and Stoddard, NH
(800) 595-9663
http://www.wideplankflooring.com/

Superior Woodcraft is a local custom cabinet maker from Doylestown, Pa - the heart of Bucks County.


Source:
Superior Woodcraft, Inc.
Superior Woodcraft Blog
  
  

Monday, February 20, 2012

Bucks County Business & Economic Development Groups Join Locavore~Buy Local Event

  
Sonia Smith, Program Administrator for the County of Bucks Business and Development Department and Robert Cormack, Executive Director of the Bucks County Economic Development Corporation (BCEDC) will participate in the third Buy Local – Bucks County Locavore event.

The business networking and local food and beverage sampling event will take place Thursday, February 23, from 5 pm to 8 pm at Superior Woodcraft, 160 North Hamilton Street, Doylestown, PA 18901. The gathering is sponsored by the Doylestown Business and Community Alliance and host Superior Woodcraft.


Sonia Smith says, “The goal of the event is to raise awareness of local businesses, local farms, and local foods; and to encourage cooperation among businesses throughout the Bucks County community.”


Robert Cormack adds, “The importance of attending this event is to strengthen our local economy by encouraging business-to-business and business-to-consumer commerce through connection building, regional promotion, and services that promote and protect their interests.”


  

ABOUT:

The County of Bucks Business Development Department provides business start-up assistance and helps companies sustain, expand or enter the Bucks County market. Free services include resource provision, workshop education and networking opportunities.

For more information about the county’s Business Development programs and offerings, please visit the official county website, http://www.buckscounty.org/  or contact Sonia Smith, program administrator, at 215-345-3839 or srsmith@co.bucks.pa.us

The mission of the Bucks County Economic Development Corporation (BCEDC) is to create a strong and vital economic base through the preservation and creation of job opportunities for Bucks County residents. Please visit BCEDC website, http://www.bcedc.com/  or contact Robert Cormack, executive director at 215-348-9031.
 
   


Superior Woodcraft is a local custom cabinet maker from Doylestown, Pa - the heart of Bucks County.


Source:
Superior Woodcraft, Inc.
Superior Woodcraft Blog
 

Friday, February 17, 2012

Locavore ~ Buy Local - A Bucks County Business Community Event - Feb 23

  
Join Superior Woodcraft, Inc., nationally-recognized custom cabinetmaker, in conjunction with the Doylestown Business and Community Alliance (DBCA), for a  themed event, Locavore - Buy Local~A Bucks County Business Community Event.  The event promotes the importance and power of locally owned independent businesses, local farms and local foods.

Bill Brunelle, project manager for Independent We Stand, “Superior Woodcraft has long recognized the importance and benefits of supporting locally owned businesses and farms. The best part is they don’t just recognize it, they do it. We are proud to be associated with them and encourage everyone to support this important informational event.” Learn more about the event.






Superior Woodcraft is a local custom cabinet maker from Doylestown, Pa - the heart of Bucks County.





Source:
Superior Woodcraft, Inc.
Superior Woodcraft Blog

  

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Organizations Travel to Go Local

  
Independent We Stand of Virginia Beach, Virginia will be traveling on Febrauary 23rd to support the 3rd Bucks County Locavore~Buy Local Networking Event. Stihl USA of Virginia Beach will also accompany Independent We Stand at the event. The Locavore~Buy Local Event is sponsored by the Doylestown Business and Community Alliance and Superior Woodcraft of Doylestown, Pa.

Bill Brunelle of Independent We Stand says, “The Locavore ~ Buy Local Event is important because it will help educate Doylestown consumers about the importance and strong economic benefits of supporting locally owned businesses. Independent We Stand is honored to be a part of this event. It’s businesses like Superior Woodcraft and all the other locally owned businesses in Doylestown that inspire us to do what we do.”

Learn more about the 3rd Bucks County Locavore~Buy Local Event

Independent We Stand is a movement of independently-owned local businesses across the country dedicated to educating their communities about the importance — and the benefits — of 'buying local.'

Superior Woodcraft is a local custom cabinet maker from Doylestown, Pa - the heart of Bucks County.




Source:
Superior Woodcraft, Inc.
Superior Woodcraft Blog

Sunday, February 12, 2012

Crème de la Crème for Locavore ~ Buy Local Event

 
OwowCow Creamery of Ottsville, Pa and maker of small batch premium ice cream, is joining other locavores  on February 23rd to promote the local community and economy.




Here is what John Fezzuoglio, OwowCow’s founder and ice cream maker, has to say about the event –

The 2012 Locavore~Buy Local Event is yet another indicator of how passionate our community is in innovating ways of bring people together. Local, small family farms need and have earned our support. The vibrant emergence of local businesses which help to sustain agricultural enterprise, open space and the singular beauty of Bucks County is an inspiration to me. “


OwowCow Creamery crafts small batch ice cream made from local sourced cream, eggs, honey, berries fruits and herbs. All of our flavoring ingredients are natural and organic. Inspired by traditional European gelato artisans we likewise amplify and articulate our matrix of natural flavorings. Unlike traditional gelato our flavors emerge from a richer cream base.

On average we locally source 60-70% of our ingredients. Our plan for the near future is to expand our refrigeration storage capacity. This will enable us to dramatically increase the use, selection and nature of locally grown produce for year round use.

Our main operational difference is our in-house cream base production. This allows us to select fresh local eggs as our emulsifier instead of mono diglycerides; likewise, we us local honey in place of high glucose corn syrup. These artificial ingredients and many others are commonly used in industrial manufacturing of commercial ice cream base.


Come and join the mooovement by attending the Bucks County Business Community Event - Business Card Exchange. Meet John and our other great locavores who bring utterly amazing tastes to our community.  (It was too tempting; I just couldn't resist)


OwowCow has two locations:

OwowCow Creamery, Inc.
4105 Durham Rd
Ottsville, PA 18942
610-847-7070

AND

OwowCow Creamery, Inc.
At Carousel Village
591 Durham Rd, (Rt.413)
Wrightstown, Pa. 18940
215-598-3248


Superior Woodcraft is a local custom cabinet maker from Doylestown, Pa - the heart of Bucks County.

Source:
Superior Woodcraft, Inc.
Superior Woodcraft Blog

Friday, February 10, 2012

Go Local Rally

  
The Go Local Rally was created due to the overwhelming response to the Locavore ‐ Buy Local A Bucks County Business Community Event. Many people have been contacting us to express their support for this event that promotes independent local companies and buying locally produced foods. Many of these folks do not live in the local Bucks County area and cannot personally attend. Their number one comment is, “I wish there was such an event in my hometown.”  Hearing the need we created the Go Local Rally so everyone can participate in a Locavore- Buy Local event on Thursday, February 23rd. Here is how you can participate in the Go Local Rally.


On Thursday February 23rd Go Local by:

to show support for independently owned businesses and local food producers

Shop at a local independent store

Buy something that is custom made from a local artisan or craftsmen

Dine at a local restaurant that provides locally sourced foods

Buy locally produced beverages

Buy locally produced foods to prepare at home for dinner

Share the experience with your friends and family

Have fun and enjoy discovering the bounties in your own backyard

Make the event a ritual and try to discover something new and local on a regular basis



The Go Local Rally is a great way to enrich and strengthen your community while having an enjoyable time with those who are closest to you.

HALFTIME IS OVER GET INTO THE GAME



Superior Woodcraft is a local custom cabinet maker from Doylestown, Pa - the heart of Bucks County.


Source:
Superior Woodcraft, Inc.
Superior Woodcraft Blog





A Locavore Kitchen

   
Much is often made about the European habit of eating healthy and their affinity for good food. We celebrate French bakeries, Italian pastas and sauces, Belgian seafood, and so on. When we think of having a great meal, we presume that means we must go out to a gourmet restaurant specializing in these types of fare. But why are the European menus assumed better than ours?

One of the main staples in the European diet is the habit of shopping at local, independent food markets. Rather than a trip to the supermarket for flash frozen produce that traveled for days in a trailer, the European cook prefers to stop by the local market for a fresh tomato, loaf of bread, or block of cheese. In America, we have a name for this type of shopping choice – LOCAVORE.

This Locavore movement is growing quickly and encourages people to shop for locally grown produce, farm-raised meats, etc. The best part of this movement is that we can all be better cooks in our own homes simply by choosing to by fresher food from a local vendor. Imagine if the next time your family asked for pasta you were able to get out the blender and make the sauce from a tomato picked yesterday, or roasted a chicken raised just around the corner from your home.

While we often talk with our customers about the importance of a quality appliance in preparing your meals, the ingredients we use are just as important. The best part of the Locavore concept is that you do not need a single new recipe. Every step in your cooking is the same, except for the shopping. But the reward of the fresher flavors is well worth the small effort.

Consider these 10 reasons to eat locally the next time you plan your shopping trip and taste the difference.

Eating local means more for the local economy

Locally grown produce is fresher

Locally grown fruits and vegetables have longer to ripen

Local food just plain tastes better
 
Buying local food keeps us in touch with the seasons

Eating local is better for air quality and pollution than eating organic

 
Eating local protects us from bio-terrorism

Local food translates to more variety

Supporting local providers supports responsible land development

Buying locally grown food is fodder for a wonderful story





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/

Superior Woodcraft is a local custom cabinet maker from Doylestown, Pa - the heart of Bucks County.

Source:
Superior Woodcraft, Inc.
Superior Woodcraft Blog


Wednesday, February 8, 2012

February is a Great Month To...

   
ORGANIZE YOUR CLOSETS!

Yes, you’ve run out of excuses. The holidays are over, you are back on track with nutrition and exercise and the nights are still very long. There is not much going on this month. You actually have time to get organized. There is much research and anecdotal evidence that a disorganized environment creates a disorganized, stressed-out mind.

So, let’s look at ways you can do this without too much energy or money.

Step one: Get passed your own resistance. If you are one who is loathe to deal with the mess, there is something behind your procrastinating. Do you find it difficult to let go of things because you spent money on them? Is it difficult to set aside time to deal with disorganization? Do you argue with your spouse over space in the closet/how to store things? Or maybe you don’t have the actual items you need to sort and store your stuff. Take a few moments to look inside and determine what is beneath your resistance. There is a deeper reason we put these types of things forever at the bottom of our to do list.

Step two: Purge. Let’s say we are dealing with the entry way closet. Chances are, there is a bin full of things you don’t use often or at all. The kids may have outgrown the in line skates. Perhaps the container of sidewalk chalk and bubbles can find a new home. Take stock of what you still use and need, and donate the rest. The same goes for your walk in closet. You did so well with your New Years resolutions that you could let go of some of the bigger sized clothing hanging around.

Step three: Get the right tools. Places like The Container Store and Ikea have great systems to help you organize your treasured and useful items. Most people can DIY it or, if you like, hire some help. Full fledged closet systems are a wonderful splurge if you can afford it. But like the old saying goes “A place for everything and everything in it’s place.” Having items sorted by style or use can save you time in addition to creating a peaceful, soothing environment. From putting away laundry to getting ready in the morning, storing like items together where they are easy to see will make life easier and less stressful.

Then you will have time to throw parties, ones at which your guest will inevitably spy on you by looking in closets. And you won’t even be embarrassed.

This article was submitted by Kathryn Robbins of Kat Robbins Interiors.

Kat Robbins Interiors
610-291-4220
Wayne, PA 19087

Superior Woodcraft is a local custom cabinet maker from Doylestown, Pa - the heart of Bucks County.

Source:
Superior Woodcraft, Inc.
Superior Woodcraft Blog

Friday, February 3, 2012

Shop Local - Buy American Made

   
At Carlisle Wide Plank Floors and Superior Woodcraft we pride ourselves on being “Made in America”. This is a respected characteristic of our businesses and sometimes its one of the reasons people choose to do business with us. People love the idea that we are contributing to the economy; not just in how we craft our floors, but 98% of all Carlisle floors are made from material procured from Sawyers in the United States as well.

Lately it seems there has been a lot of buzz to rejuvenate a support “Made in America” mentality. In March 2011 Diane Sawyer and ABC News did a great week long special on “Made in America”. And a report by Working America is even more eye opening to the epidemic.

This has motivated many consumers to questions the product they buy and do more research.
It has also motivated companies like Apple to promote their “Designed in America” features just as much as the “Made in China” features. And, Vice President Joe Biden made a recent appearance in Rochester, NH to speak about “America Coming Back” as in its manufacturing glory days.

So whether you are politically motivated or you just want to support your local businesses and invest in your community, there are a lot of great reasons why buying local and buying American made can be so rewarding!


• Create Jobs - For every $3.33 each you spend on American Made products it creates 10,000 jobs

• Help Keep Jobs – once a job goes overseas it rarely comes back, let’s keep jobs here for today and future generations

• Product Safety/Quality - US Standards for worker and product safety, product quality are much more strict than other nations

• Wages/Child Labor - US standards for wages and child labor ensures that no one is taken advantage of

• National Debt - Reduce our debt in general but also to other countries – let’s create our own wealth

• The Environment - You have a lower carbon footprint because of reduced shipping, and the US has strict regulations for manufacturing and businesses


Want to do more research and buy American Made, start here.



This article was contributed by Shanon Sterrett of Carlisle Wide Plank Floors.  Proudly making the highest quality, custom wide plank floors in Pine, Hardwood, and Reclaimed since 1966 in New Hampshire.


Carlisle Wide Plank Floors
1676 Route 9
Stoddard, NH 03464
800-595-9663
http://www.wideplankflooring.com/

Locations in Chicago, New York, Denver, Washington, DC and West Hollywood, CA

Superior Woodcraft is a local custom cabinet maker from Doylestown, Pa - the heart of Bucks County.


Source:
Superior Woodcraft, Inc.
Superior Woodcraft Blog