Party Ready Kitchens

It’s where you cook meals and gather with family and friends. Especially in open-concept layouts like those you’ll find in every Faber Home, kitchens can be designed with entertainment in mind. So where do you start when designing the space?

  Islands and peninsulas not only create approachable areas for gathering, they also provide additional counter space and storage space. Toss a few bar stools on one side and you have a space perfect for simultaneous food prep and conversation. This allows you the space to cook and clean up while still entertaining your guests.

Tall cabinets offer lots of storage for entertaining. It’s a pain to walk to different areas of the house to retrieve platters, trays and other serving essentials. Ample cabinet space will keep everything within grasp, which is not only convenient for your party, but for cleanup afterwards.

Organizing the contents of your kitchen will also assist in hosting the perfect party. Designate areas each for food prep, cleaning and storage, and cooking. Having enough space between cabinets and tables/counter spaces will ensure easy traffic flow (because there’s nothing worse than people running into you when you’re pulling a hot pan out of the oven!).

The big game is on and you just can’t stand to miss it, yet the television is in the living room out of sight. Never fear: install a hanging television or a unit that pop up from underneath your countertop. Not only will this keep your mind at ease while everyone else gets to enjoy the occasion, but it will encourage company while you cook and dine.

If you don’t have a particularly large kitchen space, that’s still OK. Building “garages” for your appliances can free up much needed counter space. Have a clunky knife block? Why not install a drop-in knife block that becomes part of your counter. Not using your range or sink? Design countertops a couple inches higher so you can slide in a custom-fit chopping block. Workspaces can be created anywhere. Turn long drawers into pull-out counter surfaces that are perfect for buffets.

Have a unique need for your kitchen? Just ask our experienced design professionals in the Claridge Design Centre. Faber Homes will work with you to design your perfect kitchen space and get you ready to entertain.

Designing the Perfect Kitchen

You’ve been pinning ideas to your Pinterest boards for what seems like years, and you’re finally ready to put your dream kitchen together. You might know what color cabinets you want, but do you know what style? Will your ideal floor match those cabinets, and how can you select the right countertop to pull it all together?

Here’s a few things to consider when you start building your culinary space – it is, after all, where you spend most of your day!

Cabinet materials can make a huge impact on your kitchen’s look. Darker stains are much more modern, while lighter woods remain very traditional. Flat cabinet doors give a minimalist look, louvered cabinet doors give the kitchen a very distinctive appearance, and beadboard doors give a more cottage-feel to your kitchen.  Consider glass panels if you have unique China to display.

Dressing up your cabinets with unique hardware can enhance your cabinets, while sleek, traditional knobs and pulls can help to tame your design. Test out a few in the hardware section if you have a couple extra minutes – you’d be surprised how they can make or break your kitchen’s design and flow.

Have you thought about a wet bar or island in your kitchen? Islands are great for creating pathways in your home (especially in Faber’s open floor plans), storing extra items, and creating more space to craft delicious meals. Islands are also fantastic places to seat a few people for a quick dinner or a couple cocktails.

 For flooring, it’s best to choose for your family’s need. Porcelain tiles are low-maintenance and match nearly any design, while stone tiles are appealing in formal setting, Generally, the more texture, grain, decorative options and finish your selected cabinets have, the more your floor is able to aesthetically handle.

Countertops, like hardware, can enhance or tame your design. Two of three of these components should have the same tone or accent color: cabinets, flooring and countertops. Dark cabinets and light countertops should have a dark floor counterpart, for example, helping to solidify the design.

There’s a lot to consider, so get designing!

Making the Most of Your Claridge Decorating Centre Trip

It can all seem a little overwhelming: cabinet colors, cabinet height and arrangement, countertop options, flooring, hardware… The options are endless! So how can you make the most of your trip to the Claridge Decorating Centre? Faber Homes is here to help.

When working with Faber Homes to create your dream home, keep in mind that you must pick each and every odd and end in your home. Before heading to Claridge, know where your furniture will be placed and where your outlets are, so when you plan your kitchen and bathrooms, you know where you’ll need to plug everything in.

Here are few quick and easy steps to take before heading to your meeting:

Know what Claridge offers. Once you enter the Claridge Decorating Centre, you’ll notice a plethora of choices right off the bat, and the room seems to never end. It’s likely we’ve got it all, but if you’d like to come in and see our selection – please schedule a time with your sales representative.

Have a “top three” of the following:

·         Kitchen cabinets (color and style)

·         Kitchen countertops

·         Flooring (you’ll pick for your kitchen, bathrooms, laundry room and all carpeted areas)

You’ll be presented with fabulous builder’s standard options, sure to fit any family’s needs, and a wide range of upgrade. Know your upgrade budget, and which items would constitute as an upgrade to your base floor plan such as:

·         Adding another bathroom sink

·         Raising the height of your countertops

·         Adding six inches to the height of your cabinets, or adding crown molding

·         Laminate or hardwood flooring

Always remember – you are building your home for your family’s needs. Certain types of flooring and cabinets might not be the best fit if you have kids or pets, so talk to your sales representative or anyone at Claridge about your wants and needs. They’ll help you find a balance.

Do a little research. Remember, Faber Homes’ floor plans are created to be open, so while you may have different themes for each room, make sure to have an idea of how the designs will transition. Websites like Houzz, HGTV, and DIY can help you get inspired and build your perfect rooms. Bring in photos and printouts of what you you’re dreaming up, and even some photos of your furniture to help tie it all together.

Most importantly – have fun! This is the most creative part of your home building process – so enjoy it!