This month we’re installing two very different styled stairways on two separate projects. There are four basic parts that give a stairway its unique character: balusters, stringer bracket, handrail, and newel posts.  These four parts come together to create a unique design which is an essential part of your home’s personality. On our […]

An old flooring pattern which is making a comeback recently is round penny tiles.  In the early 1900s when the first bathrooms were being installed in homes, penny tiles were commonly installed on the floors.  They are typically 3/4″ to 1″ in diameter and come in a mosaic sheet for easy installation.  Besides […]

  Have you seen an old wooden saltbox before?  It’s a little (typically wooden) box which was used to store salt in Colonial times, often found either hung on the wall or sitting next to the fire or stove.   The saltbox home takes its name from this little salt keeper shown above.  […]

Happy New Year!  Is selling your house part of your goals for 2018?  We don’t have the hottest real estate market here in southern Illinois, but here are some tips to easily help your home stand out among the others and get it sold quick. PAINT Paint all of your interior walls a […]

A classic flooring look which can be obtained on many different budgets is Basket Weave.  Typically seen in Victorian bathrooms of the early 1900s paired with another classic, subway tile, basket weave tile looks good in a variety of utilitarian spaces both then and now.  Today you can get the timeless look of […]

Ever wonder what it’s like behind the scenes in the cabinet making process?  This week I decided to include a personal story in our Cabinet Series, which was first published HERE.  I hope you enjoy!   When deciding which manufacturer to use for our kitchen and mudroom cabinetry, we looked at many options.  […]

Have you already decked your halls, or are you still putting together your game plan (like me)?  I’ve been searching the web for inspiration and have gathered a few ideas here.   One idea is to pick one or two main colors and carry that theme throughout your home.  Below, Maria Killam used […]

Shutter:  each of a pair of hinged panels, often louvered, fixed inside or outside a window that can be closed for security or privacy or to keep out light. Before drapes and blinds came about, shutters were used to control air flow, privacy, security, and light.  Today with HVAC and modern window dressings, […]

Now that we have laid the foundation for cabinet basics in Part I, II, and III, let’s look at cabinetry through a lens of aesthetics.   Trends in cabinet design come and go.  Look at these examples below and see if you can tell in which decade they were installed.

When some cabinets makers say their product is “real wood” or “all wood” –  realize that wood can come in many different forms.  There’s solid wood, plywood, particle board, and medium density fiberboard (MDF) – all of which are made from real wood.  To help you choose which product is best for your […]