Butcher block countertops can be great for kitchens both aesthetically & functionally. However, please take into consideration that if you are someone who wants a low maintenance countertop, butcher block countertops may not be the right choice for you. If you love when materials in your house age with time, butcher block might be for you - it will never look the same as it did the day it gets installed. Follow along as we discuss the pros and cons of butcher block countertops so you can decide whether they are the right choice for your kitchen.
Butcher Block Countertop Care & Maintenance
What to Know About Porcelain Countertops
New technologies are allowing kitchen countertops to constantly be evolving & changing for the better. Over the last 3-5 years, the popularity of porcelain kitchen countertops have been on the rise. Curious if porcelain countertops are right for your project? Follow along to learn more about this material.
New Showroom Display at Apuzzo Kitchens
We are very excited to announce that our showroom has recently undergone a huge renovation! If you’ve been to our showroom before, you’ll remember the two images below that were the first two displays on your left as you walked in the front door. Both of those displays were able to be repurposed into two homes in the Hudson Valley. We were able to reuse almost all the materials, which we loved and so did the homeowners (recycling win!).
Which Sink Material is Best for My Kitchen?
At Apuzzo Kitchens, we know how much your kitchen sink selection affects both the aesthetic & functionality of your kitchen. Whether you’re looking for a show-stopping statement sink, one that is both functional & durable,or anything in-between, your sink material is an important decision in the kitchen design process. Not sure which material is best for your needs? Listed below are some of the most commonly used sink materials and their benefits/shortcomings.
What is MDF and Why Should I Use it for My Kitchen Cabinets?
Kitchen cabinets with slab doors & drawers create a very modern & sleek look in a kitchen. We are starting to see this modern cabinet door style requested in more kitchens across the Hudson Valley. People are drawn to this type of cabinet not only for the modern design, but also the benefit of having flat doors makes the cabinets much easier to clean. Something that many people may not know is that in most cases, these slab doors are NOT a solid lumber door, they are actually made of MDF. Not sure what MDF is? Don’t worry, we’re about to tell you all about it!
Why the First Showroom Appointment is So Important
Life has quickly changed into being more digital-based than ever, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. While it is great to have the ability to interact with our customers through emails, FaceTime, and more, it’s still so important to have at least one face-to-face meeting (or should we say mask to mask meeting? ;)) Of course everyone’s situation is different and if you do not feel comfortable leaving your home, please do not feel obligated to come to our showroom. However, if you are willing and able to visit our showroom, this can be very beneficial to the design process and here’s why.
What Your Cabinet Door Style Preference Says About Your Design Taste
There are many pieces to the puzzle that is kitchen design, one of those pieces being cabinet door style. Although this piece may seem like a minor detail, this choice lays the foundation of what the style of your kitchen will be. If you are in the beginning stages of renovating your kitchen, it’s important to know what style you are going for and what style of door will help you achieve your vision. Follow along as we discuss three types of door styles and what your preference means for your kitchen design taste!
Fun Kitchen Add-Ons for Wine Lovers
Who doesn’t love sharing a glass of wine with friends and family after a long week? Kitchens have become a space for entertaining and making memories with friends and family, so it’s important that the appliances and fixtures within the spaces reflect the way we use it. If you are a wine lover and love to entertain your guests, below are some awesome kitchen add-ons that may be just what you need in your kitchen!
Why You Should Renovate Your Kitchen or Bathroom in 2020
2020 has been a not-so-great year to say the least. Life as we know it has drastically changed and many of our normal activities have been put on hold. However, one thing that hasn’t changed is the need to update your home’s outdated kitchen or bathroom. Although it may seem like 2020 isn’t the year to take on this kind of project, it may actually be the best time to do it and here’s why.
Which Type of Wood is Best for Your Cabinets?
Maple, Cherry, Oak, oh my! When renovating your kitchen, you may become overwhelmed with all of the decisions you have to make, one of those being the type of wood to use for your kitchen cabinets. Don’t fret, we’re here to help make that decision a little easier! Below are the top five types of wood we recommend for cabinets and some important details to know about each type of wood.
Our Favorite White Paints for Cabinetry
With so many different variations of white to choose from, it can feel overwhelming to choose one when you are going through a kitchen renovation. Many of our customers suffer from “decision overload” during the selection process, so we wanted to make this process a little easier! Listed below are the important things to keep in mind during the decision process as well as six of our favorite tried & true white paint colors.
What’s New at Apuzzo Kitchens
One of our favorites moments at the showroom is when a new box of samples arrives! We love getting to see, touch & feel the new countertops, knobs, and samples to inspire future kitchen designs (hence the #MoodBoardMondays you see every month if you follow our social media). This past month, we received 13 new quartz samples from Cambria Surfaces and we wanted to highlight a few of our favorites!
Is My Kitchen Big Enough for an Island?
One of the most popular requests on our client’s dream kitchen checklist is a kitchen island. Kitchen islands are a great addition to many kitchens, but it’s important to remember that there are certain requirements that your kitchen needs in order to properly fit an island into the design. If you are considering adding a kitchen island, below are the requirements to fit an island in your kitchen.
Top 5 Reasons to Hire a Kitchen Designer
Whether you are updating your home for resale, renovating an older home, or ready to finally have the kitchen of your dreams, a kitchen designer can help you get the results you’re looking for. Let’s face it, kitchen renovations are expensive, and you should make sure you are spending your money wisely. If you are about to start a kitchen renovation and are considering hiring a kitchen designer, here are the top 5 reasons you should follow through with it.
Why Stove Hoods are a Must-Have in Your Kitchen Design
Stove hoods, especially custom stove hoods, can create an anchor for your kitchen and be a bold design piece in your kitchen design. We personally think that the hood above your range is a great place to go bold with some personality or tie in a design feature from another part of the room. As amazing as kitchen hoods are for the design of your kitchen, they’re also a very important functional component. Kitchen hoods are not always required by code, however, if you want your kitchen to be as functional and safe as possible, we strongly encourage you to include it in your kitchen design.
Top 4 Benefits of a Kitchen Island
Who doesn’t love an island getaway? No, we’re not talking about taking a vacation to the Bahamas, we’re talking about adding an island to your kitchen! Kitchen islands are great for many reasons, which we will discuss below. However, if you have a small kitchen footprint, we do not recommend trying to force an island into your design. Many kitchens can be functional without the addition of an island, in fact, sometimes when you try to force an island to fit in your space it can create a less functional and clunky space. On the other hand, if you do have the space, we highly recommend adding an island to your kitchen. Not only will it add functionality, but it can be a place for friends and family to gather and create beautiful memories for years to come.
Tips for Surviving a Kitchen Renovation
Don’t let the home renovation shows on TV fool you, kitchen remodels are not all rainbows and sunshine. The truth is, kitchen renovations are noisy, inconvenient, and time-consuming, but there’s a reason homeowners everywhere continue to put themselves through it - after the dust clears and the contractors are finally out of your space, your new functional and beautiful kitchen makes the madness all worth it. If you are in the midst of a kitchen renovation and can’t see the light at the end of the tunnel, don’t give up hope yet! We promise that this too shall pass, and in the end, you’ll be so happy you did it. Follow these three tips to help keep your sanity and survive your kitchen renovation like a pro.
The Benefits of an Open Concept Kitchen Space
Open concept is not just a short-term trend, it’s a lifestyle and design approach that is here to stay. Whether it be for functionality, design, or just personal preference, there are many reasons why people choose to incorporate open space living areas in their homes over compartmentalization. If you want to know why so many people are knocking down their walls and opening up their homes, read about the main benefits of open concept living below.
Which Countertop Material is Best for Your Lifestyle?
At Apuzzo Kitchens, we love getting to play around with all the different and unique materials that go into a kitchen design, one of our favorites being countertop materials! Each material brings a different look and feel into a kitchen, and we love finding the ones that will speak to our client’s design palette. However, just because you are satisfied with how it looks, doesn’t mean you’ll be satisfied with all the other aspects of the countertop. It’s important to also keep in mind the durability, porosity, and cost of each countertop material choice. Countertop materials all vary in these factors and your lifestyle will determine which countertop material is right for you. Listed below are the pros and cons of three of the most common countertop materials.