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When Hurricane Harvey struck, many families were caught off guard. One of those families were Kim and Dan Fernald, and their four kids. On August 26th, 2017, their family home in Friendswood, Texas became another victim to the devastating flooding. TSK is proud to help the Fernald family rebuild their kitchen after hurricane Harvey.

Hurricane Harvey

When all was said and done, hurricane Harvey had become one the most destructive in US history, claiming over 125 billion dollars in damage. Much of that damage came from heavy flooding caused by a prolonged and heavy downpour. When Harvey hit Texas, the Fernald family all but assumed that they would be out of danger. After all, they lived in Friendswood, a southwestern suburb of Houston. Surely they would be out of the destructive reaches of Harvey, and all of their neighbors shared the belief that Harvey would not move over Houston, and if it did, it would not hover for long. They were wrong on both fronts.

Devastating flooding

As they sat and watched from their beautiful brick home, the rain started coming in harder and heavier. Over the next four days, they watched as their city got over 50 inches of rain. Watching the water creep over their lawn and closer to the home they realized that it was too late to think about evacuating. The only thing to do was to move up to the second floor and take as many belongings as possible. When Harvey subsided, the house had taken on 26 inches of water. Relieved that they had survived the hurricane, the Fernald’s had to start assessing the damage and the next steps. Staying in the house would be unbearable, not just because of the flooding, but because it was August in Texas without electricity, and therefore, no AC!

Community to the rescue

Surrounded by water, they spent hours trying to find a solution to get to dry ground. Both cars had taken on too much water, and there was too much water in the streets to drive anyway. But, the community that they had become a part of, participating in sports, PTA meetings, and other community activities would soon come to their rescue. After a couple of hours trying to get help, a boy scout troop came by the house in canoes to take them to safety, and finally to a friends house.
When the Fernald’s were finally able to return to their home to assess the damage they feared the worst. Instead, they were met by their neighbors, friends, teachers, and many others from the community who had shown up to lend a hand. For one family, the damage seemed insurmountable, but with a whole community rallying behind them, anything is possible. Within a few days, they had torn out drywall, carpet, food, and furniture that were damaged by the flooding.
 

Rebuilding after hurricane Harvey

 

Watching the devastation caused by Harvey was hard for the victims, but also family and friends watching from around the country. Now that recovery efforts are well on their way, the whole country has been able to pitch in with donations and labor to help families, businesses, and entire cities recover and rebuild. An employee of The Kitchen Showcase is related to the Fernald’s, which means that the Fernald’s are part of the TSK family. We were happy to pitch in when the Fernald family needed help rebuilding their kitchen.
 

Rebuilding the kitchen

The old kitchen was a quaint country style kitchen with golden wood cabinets, an island, and a pop of color from the blue dining chairs. Since we were doing a complete rebuild of the kitchen we capitalized on the chance to modernize the kitchen design, make it a bit more streamlined and sophisticated, while still maintaining some warmth and rustic charm.

White Cabinets

We went with classic white cabinetry to brighten the space, making it feel clean and neat. Then we added some dimension and texture using a few styles of cabinets doors, some solid, some with glass to show off beautiful china and kitchenware. We softened the white cabinets with a charcoal brown kitchen island with natural stone countertops. The white brick backsplash on the walls gives the design cohesion with the architecture of the brick home. The finishing touch is warm dark wood floors and long wooden dining table.
 

Smart and efficient kitchen design

 

We’ve also made sure to add smart features, including storage, seating, sockets, and outlets for a modern kitchen with modern technology. When you design a kitchen, even if you like the style to be rustic you still need to add smart features that make it easy to fit into your modern lifestyle. We also made sure that the kitchen island had a lip so that it was easy and comfortable to sit in the barstools around the island.
 
The Kitchen Showcase loves to give back to our community and our extended family across the country. We are so fortunate to be in a position to give back when catastrophe strikes or when we see people in need. Without our dedicated customers who use our services to remodel, rebuild, or rethink their homes, we would not be able to give back in times of need. Stop by the Kitchen Showcase next time you are remodeling a room, a kitchen, a bathroom or an entire home.

Get Creative with the Cabinetry in Your Laundry Room

Laundry rooms are more than just the washer and dryer. You need plenty of storage to make your life easier. A little creativity can turn any’ blah’ laundry room into a great place with lots of valuable storage space. Here are some ideas to inspire a different type of cabinetry for your laundry room.

Dare to Go for a Multi-Colored Scheme

Who said laundry room cabinets have to be all the same color? Using neutral colors that complement each other add a nice touch and also make the room feel lighter, brighter and give it a contemporary feel, particularly in tiny rooms.

Take Advantage of Every Inch

Don’t throw away space just because of a weird angle. With custom laundry room cabinets you can take advantage of all that space, and give your laundry room a unique look. Instead of leaving some space between your countertop and your cabinets add some drawers or slim cabinets for more storage. Got some dead space under your sink? Create a pet nook for your beloved fur friend. Every inch counts, so make them count.

Keep Things Simple in Small Spaces

When space is an issue, try to streamline your design. Avoid having too many details on your cabinets or a lot of colors. Go for a simple style cabinet and some shelves. The simpler the design, the bigger the space will seem.

Use a Variety of Storage Types

You can mix and match storage types to come up with a combo that works for you. Try adding closed doors for your cleaning products or to store clean clothes, some open shelves for baskets, and maybe even some narrow slots. Variety adds fun to your design.

Add a Little Umph with Some Details

For bigger spaces, it is nice to add some texture to your cabinetry. Consider crown molding and trim to add some visual appeal. Little details can make a big difference in the final look of your laundry room. Fold some towels to put on your shelves, add pretty containers and accessories for a pop of color.
 
Laundry rooms don’t have to be boring. With the right design, you can turn it into a beautiful room that you will enjoy being in. All you need is the help of experts, like our design team at The Kitchen Showcase. Let’s talk and get started on your project.

Everyone wants a fabulous kitchen that fits their home’s architectural style while showcasing their personality. These three popular kitchen styles could serve as inspiration for your next project.

Three Kitchen Styles That You’ll Find Most in American Homes

Since always, the kitchen has had a privileged place in most people’s hearts, and it’s the heart of most homes. The kitchen is where most families entertain and create memories amongst themselves and their friends. It’s a special place, without a doubt, and treated like such.

Whether you’re curious or are looking for inspiration for your next kitchen remodel, these are three of the most popular kitchen styles today —outside of the traditional style.

Contemporary Style

There’s more than one good reason for contemporary kitchens to be popular. They are efficient, super stylish, clean and uncluttered. Their design makes them an excellent fit for almost any-sized kitchen. Their minimalistic qualities, along with their simplicity and clean, crisp lines, makes them look much larger than they are. If you enjoy the look of a tidy kitchen that is still liveable, this is an excellent option for you, and it will undoubtedly be something you will like to show off to your friends and family.

Transitional Style

If you can’t decide between a traditional and a contemporary kitchen, then consider a transitional style kitchen. This style perfectly blends the other two to create a classic look that is timeless and clean. It’s also an excellent fit for most architectural styles.

Farmhouse Style

Farmhouse kitchens are very trendy right now. This style is so many things: rustic, elegant, warm, charming and chic. It’s all about recreating the look and atmosphere of a traditional, family farm kitchen. Their design is modest but so beautiful and timeless. The combination of elements such as freestanding furniture, soft hues, raw materials like brick or wood, weathered metal, pops of colors and even open shelves for a modern twist, make this a style that is easy to fall in love with.

For more inspiration, visit our kitchen and bathroom design showroom in Centennial, Colorado. At The Kitchen Showcase, we can help you turn your kitchen remodeling dream into a reality. 

 

Remodeling a kitchen means looking for new and updated kitchen cabinets and storage units. You want to choose your cabinets with your kitchen in mind. Think about what will make life easier for you when you work in the kitchen, as well as, the style and the atmosphere you want to create.

What type of cabinets do you need?

There are many types of cabinets, and they all serve a purpose. Designing a kitchen with purpose will make the final product efficient and fashion forward. Be strategic in your choices. Look for cabinets that will serve a specific function and then find the exterior style that you love.

Ergonomic storage

Look for storage that is easy to use. Many homeowners are looking to drawers as the most efficient type of storage in a modern kitchen. With cabinets, you frequently have to be a contortionist to reach the stuff at the back, especially in the bottom cabinets. Drawers mean that you never have to get down on the ground to find what you need. They are simple, effective, and ergonomic. Think of all the money you’ll save on future physical therapy?

Pull out drawers in cabinets

We don’t want you to give up on traditional cabinets completely. They are beautiful and classic and come in any style. A kitchen is not complete without a few cabinets. However, when it comes to the interior of your cabinets, we’re going to point you back to the ease of drawers. Get pull out drawers inside your cabinets to make life easier for yourself. You can utilize every inch of your cabinet if you can pull the drawer out and see everything inside. That can be especially useful for organizing and storing spices, or other pantry type items.

Pull-Out Trash

While we’re at it, having a designated trash cabinet with a pullout function is going to make “taking out the trash” much simpler. And, you’re less likely to miss the can if you can pull it out and drop in the trash.

Vertical dividers

Don’t always think about storage in horizontal lines. Having a lot of cutting boards is essential in a kitchen, but they are hard to store. Typically, we end up taking up some counter space and wall space by stacking the cutting boards up against the wall. Create a designated storage space for cutting boards by having vertical dividers in a cabinet.

Corner storage

Corners have long been neglected in kitchen design. With custom storage you can utilize every odd angle and every weird space, giving yourself a bit more storage that flows flawlessly with each area in the kitchen.
The Kitchen Showcase has over 40 complete rooms that feature every type of storage and cabinet you can imagine. Check out best-in-brand products at our kitchen showroom.

How you design your cabinets on the inside is going to have a significant impact on the functionality of your kitchen, but how they look on the outside is going to have an equally significant impact on the overall look and style of your kitchen. The cabinets make up a large surface, so choosing the right finish is an essential step in kitchen design.

Best finish for your kitchen cabinets

There are a few things to consider when choosing the right finish. Do you want your kitchen cabinets to look natural? Do you want to bring some color to your kitchen? What is the decorative style of your kitchen? Do you want a finish that is matte or glossy?

Painted kitchen cabinets

If you are looking to bring some color into your kitchen, having painted kitchen cabinets will give you the most options. Painted kitchen cabinets can give your kitchen a clean and harmonious look. However, since the cabinets are going to make up such a large area of your kitchen, you may want to consider looking at some more neutral colors.

Textured Colors

You can tone down the colorful painted finish of your kitchen cabinets by using a distressed look or texturing the painted finish. If you add some texture, the color won’t be too dominating, and you won’t notice chips, cracks, and dents as much as you would with smooth and evenly painted kitchen cabinets.

Staining your kitchen cabinets

Many people choose to showcase the wood that is used for your kitchen cabinets. Allowing the natural beauty of the wood to be the star is a popular choice in the kitchen. Using a stain to finish the cabinets will give you the option to darken, or even out the color variances in natural wood. Allow the grain pattern and the small imperfections in the wood shine through the stain for classic and rustic detail.

Matte or glossy cabinet finish

Whether you stain or paint your cabinets, you’re going to want to decide if you want your kitchen cabinets to be matte, glossy, or semi-glossy. The amount of shine is going to affect the style and theme of your kitchen. A glossy finish is a more traditional choice, but a matte finish is having a moment in modern kitchen design. More gloss can help spread more light in the kitchen, but a matte finish can make the kitchen feel sleek and clean.
Come and check out over 40+ finished rooms at The Kitchen Showcase in Denver. See how the various finishes will impact the style of your kitchen.

Who would have thought that so much consideration goes into designing a simple laundry room? However, a laundry room is typically one of the smaller rooms in the home, so you have to be strategic when you plan your design. You need the laundry room to be beautiful and contemporary, but you also need it to be efficient and effective. Our designers are experts at creating and designing a contemporary laundry room that you’ll be proud to show off to the neighbors.

Creating the layout of your laundry room

As a place that must be fully functional, there are technical specifications that you need to consider when designing a laundry room. Not only do you need room for the washer and dryer, but you have to allow for room to move around and be productive in the laundry room. An effective laundry room needs to have space for you to fold and iron your laundry. You’ll also need room for the doors of the washer and dryer to open properly and for you to be able to empty and fill your machines with ease.
You may also want to have a sink and running water so that you can rinse out clothes or wash your hands, or have a space for delicates that need to be hand-washed and hung up to dry.

Storage space in the laundry room

Sometimes a laundry room can double as a linen/towel closet. When designing the laundry room, talk to your designer about all the various functions that you want your laundry room to accomplish. Once we know how you are going to be using the room, we can start to put a design together taking style and efficiency into consideration.

Custom design your laundry room

Although the laundry room is often tucked away and passed over when you give people a tour of the home, if you get the right designer, you can create a laundry room that you’ll want to show off to anyone who comes into the home. Custom cabinetry and countertops can give your laundry room a modern and bright look, making it a sleek and efficient utility space.

Custom cabinetry and countertops in Denver, Colorado

For a small laundry room, you need to be smart about your design. You can be a little creative with your design, but because the room is often small, you want to make sure the design doesn’t overpower the space. Working with light, muted colors can keep the room bright and lively. You can also add some creative handcrafted details or a burst of bright color to add personality.
Talk to a designer. We’ll help you turn your laundry room into your favorite room in the house.

Make sure that you design a kitchen that is equal part style and substance. Your kitchen can be the most stylish kitchen on the block, but if it isn’t functional, you won’t enjoy it for long. To add substance to your style, design a kitchen that flows, has smart storage, and plenty of free and clear counter space.

Important functional kitchen elements

Being able to work comfortably and effectively in your kitchen is the most critical element in a functional kitchen. When you’re ready to cook, the last thing you want to do is have to clear off the counters or cram your cooking into various empty spaces on your counters. Having clear, open counter space will bring joy, harmony, and functionality to your kitchen.

How much counter space do you need?

Having empty counter space will also open up your kitchen. If there is too much clutter from appliances and other kitchenware it can make your kitchen feel cramped. Plus, if you’ve spent money on stylish and functional countertops, you shouldn’t hide them under a bunch of stuff. Clearing counter space is going to make you feel good, and your kitchen looks good. But, how much counter space do you need?

Phases of cooking

When we cook, there are typically three stages: prep, cook, clean. You’ll need counter space for each step. Part of keeping the flow of your cooking is to have plenty of room to prep, plenty of room around the stove when you start cooking, and space for empty and dirty dishes.

Prep

First, we prep. You’re going to want a big clean area to do all of your prep work. Preferably, this counter space should be near the sink and the garbage disposal/compost so you can wash and chop in one convenient area.  You want to give yourself about 3 – 4 feet of counter space so that you can place cutting boards and utensils without knocking things off of the counter.
Having four feet of counter space will also give you enough room to keep veggies and raw meat on separate cutting boards.

Cook

Once you start cooking, you’ll want to be able to transfer your prepped food in stages. We also prepare the ingredients in stages. Some things may finish before others, and you’ll want to have counter space close to the stove so you can take cooked food off the oven and not have to carry it across the kitchen to find space.

Clean

Even a simple family dinner is going to create a bunch of dirty dishes and kitchen paraphernalia. Make sure you have counter space near the dishwasher or sink so that you can move empty, dirty dishes, and utensils out of the way. Once you transfer your prepped food to the stove and oven, you can quickly dispose of nasty stuff, keeping your other work areas clear and free.

Depth of your kitchen counters

When you are designing your kitchen and thinking about the right amount of counter space, you may be tempted to design big long and deep countertops. However, when you are working in the kitchen, you’re not going to need more depth than your arms can reach. If you can’t reach the back of your counters, you won’t use that area. So, extra depth is just going to be dysfunctional and unnecessary empty counter space.
If you like to have a big huge area, then add a kitchen island to the center of your kitchen. A kitchen island can serve many functions simultaneously. Having a big center island will allow you to be social in your kitchen, entertaining guests around the island as you prep, cook, and clean.
For more ideas on creating a kitchen with style and substance, talk to a professional kitchen design expert at The Kitchen Showcase.

Organize your kitchen inside and out. Customize your kitchen cabinets, shelves, and drawers to fit your kitchen style and to fit all of your kitchen items. The more organized your kitchen, the more you’ll enjoy spending time there.

Importance of an organized kitchen

Keeping your kitchen organized isn’t just about finding space for all of your kitchenware. It’s about creating and customizing storage spaced in the right area of the kitchen to make it more convenient. If everything is located in a custom space in the area where you need it the most, you are more likely to keep your kitchen organized, and maintain the cool, calm, and collected vibes of a neatly organized and functional kitchen.

Open shelf storage

For a large open wall, you have the opportunity to create unique and customized storage space. Open shelving is a great way to create storage space, without closing in the walls with heavy cabinets. For all of your prettiest kitchen items, open shelves give you storage and the ability to show off some of your nicest kitchenwares. Openly displaying certain items creates an exciting and personal perspective, as well as helps to generate some dimensions and texture to your kitchen.

Deep drawers

Instead of bottom cabinets, we highly recommend getting some deep and convenient drawers. It’s the perfect way to avoid losing things in the back of a cabinet. Drawers allow you to keep all the necessary items near the areas of the kitchen where you need them the most and makes organization easy. The more conveniently you can organize your kitchen, the more you will enjoy spending time there.

Drawer Organizers

You can raise the organization inside a drawer by having custom in-drawer organizational units. They will help you keep all of your kitchen tools organized and easy to find.

In-cabinet drawers

Don’t just replace cabinets with drawers, keep the cabinet and then add pull-out drawers or shelves for convenience. The pull-out shelving or cabinet drawers are particularly convenient for a large cupboard with spices or other pantry-like items. It will allow you to put things deep in the cupboard, but still be able to retrieve these items with ease.
The Kitchen Showcase has the best kitchen brands in the industry to create your dream kitchen in any style and for any budget.

Some things are staples in every kitchen, and the layout will sometimes speak for itself. It’s about creating a comfortable and functional space, first of all. Once you have the plan just right, you can start adding your personal touches to the kitchen design. A kitchen backsplash is one of the most fun and favorite ways to make your kitchen feel like home. Not just any home, but YOUR home.

Benefits to a backsplash in your kitchen

A kitchen backsplash has a functional purpose, as well as a decorative purpose. The backsplash will protect your walls from the backsplash of cooking, prepping, and washing. The material you use for your backsplash can make it easier to maintain, and more durable.

Porcelain and ceramic backsplashes

The classic kitchen backsplash is created using porcelain or ceramic tiles. The patterns, colors, and shapes are almost endless so that you can put your personal touch on your kitchen backsplash. Ceramic and porcelain are porous materials, so they will be finished and sealed before you install them to ensure that they are durable and will protect your walls.

Glass tile backsplashes

Glass tiles are another popular material for a kitchen backsplash. Glass is a nonporous material and is, therefore, a perfect choice for a kitchen. They are easy to clean and maintain. A glass tile backsplash will also remain vibrant and colorful forever, and the shine from the glass will absorb and distribute extra light in your kitchen.

Kitchen design inspiration

Numerous materials can be used to create a creative and personal backsplash. Head to our kitchen showroom to see complete kitchen designs to get inspiration for your kitchen backsplash. The backsplash is your chance to create something unique and beautiful for your kitchen.
The Kitchen Showcase is located in Centennial, Colorado. Check out over 40+ entire rooms and talk to a design expert about your kitchen remodel project.

There’s nothing more classic than a pristine white kitchen. However, white isn’t always white. There are many shades of white, making white the one color that can dominate any style of interior kitchen design.

White kitchen

White is a neutral, friendly, and clean color. In the kitchen, you want a color that will signify cleanliness, and white will do that. You also want a color that can draw in the light, opening up your kitchen and allowing you to breathe. White is also like a blank canvas, which will help inspire your creative juices. You don’t think about it often, but the kitchen is a creative space, and keeping it simple and white will give you the freedom to be more grand and creative with your cooking and baking.

White kitchen cabinets

White is universal and goes with any style. White kitchen cabinets can be modern, traditional or contemporary, but they can also go with a quaint country style kitchen.

Modern white kitchen

To modernize your white kitchen, look for cabinetry with clean, simple lines. Keeping the design elements to the bare minimum is the perfect type of minimalism that you want in a modern kitchen. To add a bit of texture, look to incorporate a few gray tones to give a little contrast to the white. Gray is the most modern of neutral colors, however, in a modern kitchen, it’s okay to make it all monochromatic and keep it white on white.

Contemporary white kitchen

A contemporary kitchen will use elements from modern minimalism but might add a few bright splashes of color. Contrasting colors and glossy surfaces are also a common sight in a contemporary kitchen. Avoid crown moldings and trim. Keep it simple.

Traditional white kitchen

The traditional kitchen will break up the white colors with other variations of neutral. A colorful backsplash by the oven and some organic elements, like a big wooden island are classic design elements in a traditional kitchen. Your kitchen cabinets should also be more intricate in design, with raised panel cabinet doors, crown moldings, and trim.

White country kitchen

Make your cabinets more rustic and elaborate in the design. Using brass, copper, and iron knobs and pulls to adorn the cabinets and drawers will bring the cute country style into your kitchen.
Explore all of your options for a beautiful white kitchen at The Kitchen Showcase in Denver. We have the best brands to match any style and any budget, and 40+ complete showrooms set up to help you get inspired.