A New Kind of Eat-In

Loving your eat-in style kitchen is not a bad thing, and rethinking your eat-in kitchen for the 21st Century is the smart thing to do. Having a dining or expansion space adjacent to your kitchen may help you reconfigure your space to a workspace delight. This twelve foot island/table acts as a buffer zone between the cook’s workspace and the serving space. It also allows for a family style eating experience, farmhouse style.

The original kitchen was closed off from the dining room. By opening up the wall between the two rooms in this Morristown, NJ home, our client was able to keep the eat-in kitchen feel, have proximity to her dining room table, and accommodate her growing extended family in one space.

The “Pantry”

The pantry is always top on my client’s wish lists, but not all kitchens can afford the space for a large closet within an open concept kitchen.  Creating a built-in pantry is a wonderful alternative, but instead of the typical puzzle like configurations that are seen on every Pinterest page, I tend to design a more subtle pantry experience.

This Cherry Hill, NJ renovation in a Barclay Farms rancher has large drawers by the dining area for placemats and towels. The pull out shelving in the pantry makes everything easy to see.

Appliance “Garage”

A challenge for many clients is how to get a clean kitchen look while having all the tools they need at their fingertips.  This is a practice in practicality, because no one uses every appliance every day.  Instead of choosing to keep every appliance in the kitchen, this client chose her top three – coffee maker, coffee grinder, and her Kitchen Aid mixer (heavy). This updated appliance garage is practical, with all the electric inside the cabinet.   All of my client’s other appliances either sit in a pot-drawer (toaster) or in a cabinet in the laundry room (seasonal appliances and baking tools).  Having EVERYTHING in your kitchen is not always the answer.

Streamlining the design of the appliance garage makes morning coffee a breeze.

Technology Integrated

We can’t get away from it!  Screens are now part of our everyday life.  The Jetson’s had integrated screens into every part of their home, and that is how the technology of the future is leaning.  Considering your renovation should last 20-30 years (see our budget section on kitchens), integrating screen technology into your kitchen now will avoid you having to “figure it out” in the future.  It will also add to your resale value.

This galley kitchen in a Willmette, IL condo allows the client to keep up with the news, or his favorite cooking show.

Whether you need to maximize the space in a cramped layout, open things up, or give your existing kitchen a cozier feel, our expert designers will help you convert it into your ideal food preparation or entertaining space.

The post Simple Tricks to Make Your Kitchen Work for You appeared first on The Art Of Bridget.

The top pet peeve of every designer, contractor, kitchen cabinet supplier, and all other professional service providers in my industry:  People NOT being realistic about their budget!

I’m going to get honest here, kitchens don’t cost $20,000 anymore. Maybe if you go to IKEA and plan a whole DIY kitchen, you might be able to pull it off.  I prove otherwise below, and many other blogs and articles will also bring you back to reality on this notion.  The only people I know who have time to DIY their kitchen remodels seems to be bloggers and reality TV renovators who make it sound like a walk in the park.

Yes, you can add up all the big expenditures (cabinets, flooring, fixtures), but one must also consider the labor as well as the “other” unseen materials (drywall, wires, pipes).  Design fees also come into play with these renovations as the contractors will need the proper documentation to not only build the job, but to bid on it as well.

So this week my Designer Diary is all about kitchen remodeling budgets.  Let’s get real about how much it REALLY costs!

Condo Upgrade

Before & After

Location: Sea Isle City, NJ

Scope: Gut renovation, reconfiguring the space, plumbing, electrical, laundry room/panty upgrade, flooring

Type: Condo

Overall Budget: $70,000- $100,000

Cabinet Budget: $30,000

Premium Counter Top & Backsplash Budget: $13,000

Appliance & Fixture Budget: $15,000

Flooring Budget: $3500

When updating a kitchen, taking into consideration all of the components involved may help you determine a suitable budget for your project.  If you live in or are downsizing to a condo, understand that you will probably pay a premium of 20-30% more for labor (those trips up and down the elevators, limited working hours, and size limitations add up over the course of the project).  Also, reconfiguring your major plumbing fixtures, stove, and updating your electric to meet code, will add to the overall cost of the project.

Single Home Redeux

Before & After

Location: Avalon, NJ

Scope: Renovation without reconfiguration, updating of electric to meet code

Type: Single Family Home

Overall Budget: $50,000- $70,000

Cabinet Budget: $22,000

Premium Counter Top & Backsplash Budget: $13,000

Appliance & Fixture Budget: salvaged existing

Flooring Budget: salvaged existing

Choosing to keep your existing configuration and paying off those appliances a few years in advance can take a pinch out of the renovation cost.  A big chunk of this renovation budget was spent on updating the island with a teak wood bar top and integrated columns.

IKEA (yes, we do IKEA)

Before & After

Location: Ocean City, NJ

Scope: Renovation without reconfiguration of major appliances and plumbing, update electric to meet code.

Type: Duplex

Overall Budget: $40,000- $50,000

Cabinet Budget: $15,000

Premium Counter Top & Backsplash Budget: $4500

Appliance & Fixture Budget: $7000

Flooring Budget: $1500

We can do IKEA kitchens, but in the end we find for a few dollars more our client can often upgrade to better cabinets. When you add up the IKEA cabinets, the labor to assemble them, and the customization pieces needed to create the space, as well as the ordering time (8 hours), and the “going back” time for all the things that IKEA forgot to add in, we figure our client could have less hourly fees and higher quality furnishings from other sources.  We will always advocate for better quality.

Single Home Blow Out

Location: Cherry Hill, NJ

Scope: Gut renovation with reconfiguration of entire space.

Type: Single Family Home

Overall Budget: $100,000- $130,000

Cabinet Budget: $40,000

Premium Counter Top & Backsplash Budget: $10,000

Appliance & Fixture Budget: $18,000

Flooring Budget: $5000

Fireplace Budget: $4000

Blowing out your kitchen space and creating a whole new configuration will always increase your budget.  What is not seen in this kitchen image is the 16 feet of kitchen cabinets and the pantry on the opposite wall of the enormous entertaining space.  Higher end appliances, molding details, and updates to the fireplace as a central detail in the room all add to the overall costs of this extensive remodel.  This remodel was part of a massive renovation of a 3500 square foot home from top to bottom including an enclosed 3 season room (seen in the background).  The budget number reflects the kitchen’s overall budget.

Our client was kind enough to review this process for our potential clients. Click here to see our client’s story “Where do We Start?”

As for that Sub-Zero refrigerator in your IKEA kitchen? Choose to spend that money on your cabinets instead. Considering all the labor that goes into the installation of your flooring, cabinets, countertop, and the backsplash, a Sub-Zero is a minimal expense. If you are looking for the integrated refrigerator look, then bite the bullet to spend now or put off that renovation one more year.  We never encourage our client’s to be penny wise and pound foolish. Your patience and planning will pay off in your home investment in the end!

If you are ready to get real and to plan your dream kitchen, the McMullin Design Group can help. Our expert designers are ready to talk kitchens with you. Contact us here or call (856) 673-0290 today!

The post Diary of a Designer: Girl PLEASE! Don’t Tell Me You Have a $20,000 Kitchen Budget and Want a Sub-Zero Refrigerator. appeared first on The Art Of Bridget.

Because they fit just right.

We all know that when a suit is tailored to your body it looks amazing.  The same is true for your window treatments.  Ready-made treatments are made to fit the most windows possible.  I say “fit” with a grain of salt, as sheering a fabric on a rod is not a sign of a fine treatment.  I would compare it to a “one size fits all” elastic waist band, instead.  And as all women know, elastic waist bands are the devil!

This tailored valance fits perfect between two cabinets.  The length of the treatment was scaled to accentuate the window perfectly.

Because now you can sleep without any light bleeding in.

When your home faces east you know that the sun can wake you up when you have flimsy ready-made curtains or blinds.  Every window has special needs.  A store bought treatment will never cover a slider correctly.  That is why measuring to fit makes the most sense when looking to block light.

Our client in Sea Isle City, NJ was looking for a way NOT to have her guests wake up at 6am with the sunrise.  We created these thermal black-out draperies with blue band detail that not only block out light, but they help cut down on the heat transfer from the sun as well.

Because you want it to look like an interior design magazine photo.

You love the look of a romantic drapery- tied back, full, and perfect!  But it confounds you why you cannot get that look from your internet-purchased gems.  Styling a drapery is all about fit, and if the treatment was not created for that exact purpose, then getting that look will be near impossible.  The density of the lining, the width of the panel, and the length of pole all play a role in how great that treatment will hang.

Our client in Mullica Hill, NJ had more of a traditional leaning when it came to her drapery.   Simple and solid faux silk was dressed up with a banding detail, tassel tie back, and leading edge banding detail that created a price sensitive treatment with lots of style.

Because you love THAT fabric.

I will tell you right now.  I am a fabric whore!  There- I admitted it.  I will roll around with fabrics all day long if someone lets me! Fabric is art, and once you get out of the Joann Fabric or Calico Corner state of mind, you begin to realize the endless possibilities.

My client in Chicago is a fiend for anything that reminds her of the islands.  She loves color and she loves pattern.  This tropical fabric gave her great joy!  Now every day she gets to see this great piece of fabric art with all the other wonderful textiles she has collected over the years.

Because you deserve it!

Jumping from Pottery Barn’s “plain-janes” to your own one-of-a-kind treatment is a splurge- but not one that is impractical.  Think about it, you are going to have these treatments for the next 15 to 20 years.  You want them to do what you want and to work the way you need them to work.  You want to walk into your living room, dining room, or master bedroom and LOVE your design.

This client in Paramus, New Jersey had never bought custom treatments.  She decided to splurge in her new home.  Now she says she will never go back!  She never realized the difference in the overall look and operation of the treatment.

If you are ready to set your home apart with custom window treatments, The McMullin Design Group is ready to help.  Call (856) 673-0290 or visit our Contact page to get in touch with us today.

The post Five Reasons To Order Custom Window Treatments appeared first on The Art Of Bridget.

Please, read the title again.  As a designer, I say this on every single project.  MDG’s other designers say it on every project.  And still, clients insist on picking paint first.  I am passionate about this stance, so much so that I will stake my reputation upon this absolute statement.  Unless you have an unlimited budget that allows you to have everything custom made, you should never, EVER chose your paint first.

Here are the top three reasons why this is a really bad idea:

The Cerulean Blue Speech

Remember the speech Miranda Priestly gave Andy in The Devil Wears Prada?  I remember that speech. I remember that speech every time someone decides to pick lime green or orange.  It goes something like this:

“Miranda Priestly: [Miranda and some assistants are deciding between two similar belts for an outfit. Andy sniggers because she thinks they look exactly the same] Something funny?

Andy Sachs: No. No, no. Nothing’s… You know, it’s just that both those belts look exactly the same to me. You know, I’m still learning about all this stuff and, uh…

Miranda Priestly: ‘This… stuff’? Oh. Okay. I see. You think this has nothing to do with you. You go to your closet and you select… I don’t know… that lumpy blue sweater, for instance because you’re trying to tell the world that you take yourself too seriously to care about what you put on your back. But what you don’t know is that that sweater is not just blue, it’s not turquoise. It’s not lapis. It’s actually cerulean. And you’re also blithely unaware of the fact that in 2002, Oscar de la Renta did a collection of cerulean gowns. And then I think it was Yves Saint Laurent… wasn’t it who showed cerulean military jackets? I think we need a jacket here. And then cerulean quickly showed up in the collections of eight different designers. And then it, uh, filtered down through the department stores and then trickled on down into some tragic Casual Corner where you, no doubt, fished it out of some clearance bin. However, that blue represents millions of dollars and countless jobs and it’s sort of comical how you think that you’ve made a choice that exempts you from the fashion industry when, in fact, you’re wearing the sweater that was selected for you by the people in this room from a pile of stuff.”

Miranda may not be the best at her delivery, but the concept of her speech is true in the world of interior design, too.  All of these color inspirations come from the top down, and if you have a tight or lower budget, paint should always be the last thing you pick because your price point will dictate everything from the colors that are offered to in fabrics and accessories available at your budget level.  From Homegoods to Ballard, Pottery Barn to West Elm, palettes are limited so they can be accessible to the largest clientele possible.   Dreams of the perfect Kelly Green have been thwarted because Kelly Green happens to not be in any color forecasts for the next five years.  Yes, I said color forecasts……like the weather!

How would you feel if you fell in love with these unique rugs, but you had already committed to a Forest Green room?  Sad…that would be the feeling that would best describe your disappointment.

“The Color Purple”

Ever wonder where those bloggers get their “Colors” for the next year? They usually get them from magazines, who in turn get them from the manufacturers, who in turn get them from the few companies that dictate the color forecasts for the next five years. These forecasters are tuned into the highest of high end Interior Design trends.  These are the ones that the team at MDG sees at High Point Furniture Market.  The color forecasters are the Svengali’s of the design world.  From your clothing to you homegoods, these forecasters look to the top design trends that only the tuned in public sees and then decides what color will become the big market trends.  Some make it, like the spa blue that EVERYONE has in their homes.  And many don’t, like purple.  The color forecasters have been trying for years to make purple the comeback color.  The public just ain’t buying it!

All of these amazing pillows can be the start of the perfect room.  Having a color tone and overall concept before selecting paint colors will save you time and frustration.

“No One Puts Baby in the Corner”

Why literally paint yourself into a corner?  When designing on a dime you will find that your budget can be limiting, and rethinking your design idea on the fly is a better way to approach the design.  A unique aqua piece at Homegoods is perfect, except it is not the right aqua tone due to the fact that you already painted the room.  If you had just waited a few weeks, you could have procured all the best finds from the discount retailers and then cultivated these great finds into the perfect room…..or what would have been the perfect room if you just didn’t paint first.

What is the take away of my paint rant?

Plan, take your time, and do some shopping before you commit to your paint color!  Our team brings all of the fabrics together before we pick a color.  If you are doing it on your own, we recommend you do the same.  The final result will be more pleasing overall and less frustrating.

The post Never Choose Your Paint First! appeared first on The Art Of Bridget.

The Zone of Chaos! The Magnet of Clutter! My Insanity!

These are just a few descriptions of my client’s foyers.  Their words, not mine. They lament about the old days, when there was enough room.  This is usually the days before kids.   But now, everything is out of control and they are looking for a quick fix, a furniture solution, a cubbyhole paradise.

I had a client a few years ago show me her back entry, which consisted of one door from the garage, one door from the family room, a closet under the stairs, and a top load washer and dryer.  She showed me every shoe & coat her kids owned (because they were thrown in the closet on the floor), as well as baskets of laundry piled against the only blank wall.  The room was tiny, five feet by seven feet at the most.

I suggested she get a front loading washer and dryer so we could get a counter top installed, or a stackable washer and dryer to open space up for more storage.  The answer was “no”.

I suggested we move the washer and dryer to the second floor.  Too expensive.

I proposed we move the wall of her laundry room five feet into the garage (taking one bay of the 3 car bays).  She wondered where her two kid’s ten bikes were going to get stored.  This was never going to happen.

I was out of ideas.

Then I thought of something so radical, even I paused before I proceeded.

“What if you made your kids put their shoes and coats away in their room?” I asked.

I wish I could tell you that this story ended with my client having the perfect laundry room.  It didn’t.  In the end she decided to do nothing.  The shoes still sit there to this day and every now and again, another organizational product is attempted and then abandoned.  While this was certainly the least expensive option, I am sure the frustration has not been solved.  After fifteen years helping clients realize their home’s potential, I still believe that most of the time it is not your home that needs fixing, it’s your habits.

If you are ready to take charge of your entryway or foyer, here are some quick tips to consider.

Create a Foyer When There Isn’t One

Strategically placing your furnishings can create a “foyer” when your open concept plan is foyer-less. A dedicated closet for coats may not be right at hand, so setting yourself up with an organization plan is an important part of planning your space.

Understand your Space

Many times, clients over estimate what their foyer can accommodate and still look good.  Center hall colonials are usually not the built-in-cubby-and-still-look-fabulous type of space!  It is difficult to solve storage problems when clients have a tight budget, as the best solution is usually not the cheapest.  Having realistic expectations and a proper budget for the work to be completed will help you problem solve a lot better.

Think Outside the Box

Look at the adjoining spaces in your home and consider using a portion of a space to control your foyer clutter, especially if you have a smaller home and lots of family members.  An unused formal living room could be the perfect space to create this option.

The IKEA Pax system is a great wardrobe piece that can accommodate lots of storage and help any homeowner get organized.

Create New Habits

Consider this, if you create good habits in your foyer from the get go, everyone wins in the long run.  What am I talking about?  No one needs every piece of exterior clothing saved by the front door.  Keep the most used coat for the season in the foyer and keep the rest in a secondary closet.  The youngest member of the family could have the easy chore of putting shoes away before dinner!  You’re setting the tone for good habits and teaching kids that family organization starts with everyone.

Create a Secondary Entrance

There is no reason why the kids and all their “stuff” cannot come in a secondary entrance, even if that entrance is through the garage or laundry room.  Consider this the “House Rules”.    If you get the kids “stuff” outside the main entry zone, you will be able to organize your entrance and give yourself the perfect place to welcome neighbors, friends, and family.

Great foyers don’t just happen. This hectic zone can fall into disorganized chaos within hours. Having a system in place and asking all family members to participate will keep the entry clutter & stress free.

Ready to take control of your Foyer or Entryway? The McMullin Design Group is ready to help. Contact us today by filling out the form HERE or by calling 856-673-0290.

The post How to Create Better Use of an Entry When Space is Limited appeared first on The Art Of Bridget.

I can’t say it enough – planning takes patience! That being said, like many of our clients, our Cherry Hill homeowners wanted to get moving on their brand new basement right away. They had a laundry list of “must haves” including the existing pool table left by the former owners, a TV area, a play area for the kids, storage for all of the kid’s toys, a bar area for the adults, as well as a place for the kitty litter. Not surprisingly as most “must have” lists go, our clients soon realized that their square footage and predetermined footprint didn’t exactly offer what they needed.

In a perfect world, we would always get everything we wanted. There would be no compromises. However, in the world of construction, there are always parameters that keep us boxed in. In most cases the biggest parameter is a budget, but in this case it was the 1970’s pool table. Sure, a pool table is great for teenagers, but the homeowner’s kids are still playing with dolls and the family unit needs the extra space. After MDG offered several space plans so that the owner could weigh their options regarding the function of the space, it was sadly decided that the pool table was a hindrance to the design.  Much to the husband’s dismay, this retro beauty went to a new owner.

Before: With the pool table’s clearance requirements, it was overtaking the only area available for seating.

After: No paneling, a new ceiling, and a great built-in create a home theater experience for the whole family.

Before: We had a dilemma regarding a utility closet (seen in this before picture) that was hiding the gas line. We knew moving it would exceed the budget.

After: The tall cabinet to the left was altered and the gas line remained inside the cabinet making the bar area look purposeful and planned.

After: Our creative client installed his beer bottle cap collection as a detail on his stainless steel backsplash.

Getting a game plan together prior to construction and pricing allows a project to stay on track. Imagine if our client had planned this whole basement only to realize after it was completed that the pool table wouldn’t have worked with all of the other requirements? Needless to say, sometimes you have to make sacrifices for great design, but in the end it all pays off with a beautiful, functional space that you could have never imagined before.

The only way the pool table was able to be removed from the basement was to do so when the stairway wall was demoed.  It would have been an expensive and disappointing mistake to have made.

Click here to see more of this Cherry Hill basement renovation.

We’d love to hear your thoughts on this basement transformation.

The post Planning Pays off When Creating a Fun Family Space appeared first on The Art Of Bridget.

Enhancing your home with crown moulding and ceiling detail is a great way to add value to your space.  Not many buyers complain when a house is detailed exquisitely!

Here are a few expert tips about adding a picture frame detail to your ceiling:

Ask yourself, how big is the room? A standard 12” set in from your crown moulding is usually suitable, but for an extra-large space, 18”might do the trick. In this Ventnor, New Jersey interior design project, the subtle change from Flat to Semi-Gloss on the perimeter ceiling makes the crown moulding look larger and the eight-foot ceiling look taller.

Paint the perimeter the same as the wall color to extend the height of your walls. This will make your ceiling feel larger.  You could also consider accenting the perimeter.  In this Haddonfield, New Jersey project we used a grass cloth wallcovering around the perimeter of the room.

Not sure where your ceiling begins or ends? Define visual height and get some moulding details in a vaulted ceiling by concentrating your design on the highest flat surface. This asymmetrical kitchen renovation in Cherry Hill, New Jersey was a moulding nightmare! By creating the details at the highest symmetrical point we were able create a defined ceiling.

Want to add more visual interest and value to your home by adding ceiling detail? Click here to contact us or call (856) 673-0290.

The post Enhancing Your Ceiling – Three Great Tips for Ceiling Trim Details appeared first on The Art Of Bridget.

I have many clients who are all or nothing when it comes to designing their homes. They show me images of vaulted family rooms or coffered dining spaces and once they realize they are limited to eight foot ceiling spaces or that their budget is too modest for the work proposed, they give up and do nothing with excuses like “it will feel too busy” or it will make the room “feel smaller.” Yes, this may be true if done incorrectly by a contractor who only does what the client says versus a designer who will weigh the trim options that will truly enhance a space.

A great example of “working with what you have” is a project we completed in Sea Isle City, New Jersey last year. This beach condo was your standard 1960’s concrete slab construction with ceiling below eight feet in height.  When I proposed to drop in soffits to help define rooms and carry electrical wiring throughout, my clients were not on board. They already felt their ceilings were too low and conceiving anything lower was not even up for discussion. After presenting them with conceptual drawings and explaining how important it was to introduce recessed lighting into the spaces via the soffits, they took a leap of faith and were amazed by the transformation. By adding the soffits and creating tray ceilings with bead board details, I was able to create a sense of place that defined the entrance and hallways in the home, as well as a sense of volume. The drop of the soffit enhanced the visual height of the 7’-10” ceiling height.  The husband was so taken by the transformation that he added soffits and trim detail to every room in the house!

Sea Isle City Condo Before

Sea Isle City Condo After

Sea Isle City Condo Before

Sea Isle City Condo After

Sea Isle City Condo Before

Sea Isle City Condo After

Adding soffits and crown details are just one way to enhance your ceiling.  Join me next week to see other ways to make your heavens shine.

The post Looking Up in 2016: How Ceiling Moulding can Transform your Home appeared first on The Art Of Bridget.

Many of our clients overlook the trim details in their homes until we bring up the issue.  When we show our clients pictures of the trim work we propose for their project, they usually say that they were “expecting” that the contractor would just add this stuff in.  What most homeowners don’t realize is the “standard” or the “builders grade” is usually the cheapest trim in a supply store.  Sure, most builders may have gotten away from using clam shell trim, but they have only upgraded to a one piece that has a bit more detail to it.  This is not the scaled trim that most homeowners drool over in model homes or in shelter magazines such as Elle Décor.

A great trim package will add visual impact to your home and will help it feel more updated.  It should also enhance the space, not detract from it.  The best example of this mistake is when a client selects a trim out of scale (either too big or too small) for the room.

Here are some tips and tricks to help you along in your selection process:

• You can never go wrong with a great crown and a large base. If you have an eight foot ceiling height, the standard 4.5” cove crown with a 5” baseboard will make your home feel updated and elevated.  If you can afford the 6-7” base, go for it!
• Skip the chair rail. Unless you want your home to look like a Colonial Replica or a 1980’s Country Design either paint the existing chair rail the same color and finish as the walls or remove entirely.  Chair rails make spaces feel dated.
• Picture frame boxes below a chair rail is so passé. Instead of doing what your neighbor did ten years ago, update your design to make your home unique. There are many other ways to add trim detail without repeating this tired look.
• Skip the dentil moulding! Just because you like traditional doesn’t mean you should pick the most traditional mouldings. One huge mistake I see time and time again is the overuse of gingerbread moulding such a florets, dentils, etc. These mouldings pigeon hole your look and date your space. Unless you plan to live in a museum, owning a historical home does not mean every piece of trim has to be a replica. Keeping moulding simple allows you to decorate in any fashion you see fit. Your home already has a limited buyers’ market, so don’t narrow it even more by making it an Ode to Victoria! The over the top traditional elements can come to play with other aspects of the room such as fabrics and furnishings (the things you can take with you one day).  Just remember- too much of a good thing in design usually makes it a bad thing.
• Mouldings can be modern. I have many clients who shy away from mouldings because they feel it will take away from the modern styling they like. Trim can be very simple and modern.  And the juxtaposition of detailed moulding with more modern lines helps elevate the modern styling of a space.

And don’t forget the ceiling. See next week’s blog!

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