Kitchens, Laundry Rooms & Mud Rooms: Family-focused Zones

As a husband, dad and homeowner that is always looking for ways to make my home better and have it be a place that can always run more efficiently and in a time-saving fashion - I'm excited to share some thoughts on some products that I think every family-focused home should know about.  At the same time, I'm a designer - so I also have my eye on the marriage of good design and products that can give you more time at the end of the day for the more important things in life = time with your family!

I'm in Chicago this week, where the exciting Kitchen and Bath Show takes place every year.  I love learning more about new products that can make my own family home life better - but I also like being able to share what I see with you.

So here is something new for kitchens that is worth knowing about.  First off, I love to cook.  I enjoy the prep and the process of cooking for my family and friends.  However, I do not enjoy the clean up part as much.  So I was thrilled to learn about Whirlpool's new AQUALIFT range.  Think of it, a range that has a self-cleaning cycle that uses water and low heat to clean the oven.  That means no more toxins being released into the air every time you clean your oven - which was always something I would put off doing.  Plus, the range-top for these new ranges uses "induction" technology to transfer heat quickly and efficiently to what you are cooking.  Saving you time and money at the end of the day!  This is all a very good thing in my world.

For those of you that are renovating, I love that Whirlpool has also created wall ovens that are designed to fit into any space with their new FIT System.  So if you have a limited amount of space on your wall or cabinet areas to install a new wall oven - you now have products that will work with you and allow you to be more creative with your kitchen updates.

Check out them out for yourself here:  WHIRLPOOL

Another area that many homeowners write to me about is the laundry room.  They want products that are stylish - yet will serve their family well by saving them some money on their energy bills.  I am seeing this across the board with homeowners that are redesigning their homes - they want products and appliances that will have a focus on saving them money on energy costs and also those that will be more eco-friendly too.

I was thrilled to learn more about about Maytag's new Bravos XL - which takes all of what is important for today's modern family home and makes it easily a reality.  This streamlined washer and dryer collection - not only looks great - but is all designed around COLD WATER WASH CYCLES.  The great part is that it performs just like a warm water washer to remove stains and clean your family's clothes - but saves energy = good for your bills and for the environment!

I'm beginning a Laundry Room Makeover next week when I return from Chicago - and this new series will be a part of it.

Check them out here:  MAYTAG

To end today's posting, I am focusing in on an areas of the family home that can become a "catch-all" spaces - the garage or the mud room.  Your family comes home and there is always stuff that gathers in these spaces - sports equipment, shoes, coats....STUFF!  Every family home can be more organized and I'm always looking out for products and solutions that have an eye on that.  Gladiator has long-been a favorite of mine.  Their products are designed to make garages not only look stylish but also be well-organized.  Hence, a place for everything!

I felt it was important to mention this new Storage Bench because I think it can offer up a creative way for families to organize a mud room or garage area to be more efficient easily as part of their everyday routine.  I also like how its industrial style offers up a nice look that can blend well into various home styles.

I'm presently planning out a garage makeover and I'm so thrilled to be able to incorporate Gladiator products into it.  At the same time, for my own home, I know how the garage can easily become a place that you put things into to deal with later.  Yet, after awhile, those things add up and it becomes a zone that needs to be organized.  The right storage solutions can create a space that works for you and your family everyday.  I'm all for that!

Check them out:  GLADIATOR


More to come - so stay tuned - but these are a few things that are starting this Designer Dad's week off right...All about making our homes better now...