Monogram Innovative Refrigeration in a Size Perfect for City Living



GE Monogram offering of fully integrated refigeration
with glass, stainless, or panel ready fronts.



Here in New York we design "largely" using appliances much smaller than what you will find in a typical suburban kitchen. It's rare to use a refrigerator that is larger than 36", although I did use two 48" ranges in 2011 and come to think of the Sub Zero towers as well, it's not called for every day and they take up a combined 54" + cladding. Four and a half feet wide by 7 feet tall  is a lot of food storage even for a 5 bedroom house in the burbs!

For everyday designing we find ourselves looking for the best refrigeration solution between 24" and 30", the Liebherr at 24" offers a lot for the price of approximately $2,300.00 although the freezer is comprised of little drawer compartments, if you can work with them they are functional, but certainly not luxurious as they have no real hardware system. One very nice feature they do offer is an icemaker.

The ever popular Sub Zero at 27" has a couple of design flaws in my opinion, the freezer is only one small drawer with ice maker, you accept the size before you buy it, so that is a decision. But more importantly you can't pull the crisper drawers out when the refrigerator door is open 90 degrees. It is locked in by a permanently affixed shelf on the door. This is a real problem here in the city when we are living in tight spaces and this is a fridge that doesn't easily pop out to make drawer cleaning possible.

Convertible freezer/refrigerator drawer in GE Monogram

For about the same price as the Sub Zero, perhaps even a little less, GE Monogram offers a very thoughtfully designed refrigerator, that is not only capable of being fully integrated, it has a much roomier freezer drawer and a "tween" drawer in the mid-section that can instantly convert at any time from refrigerator to freezer and back again. It's ingenious if you ask me, and the ice maker in the tween drawer makes it a great energy saver in a busy household where people are regularly just opening the freezer compartment for ice.

The interior fresh food compartment reminds me of the pricey but beautiful Miele fridge, known for its bright well organized appearance and sturdy moving components. The Ge Monogram has heavy duty Glass shelves with aluminum trim and side lighting, and is a very well priced option for someone looking for the best in design and function.

If you are in the New York City area and want to preview the GE Monogram line, contact Paula Cecere or Corinne at the A&D Building GE Monogram Design Center located at 150 East 58th Street, 10th Floor; New York, NY 10155 (212) 223-1699

Thermador: Patented Innovative Technolgy



Recently back from my visit to the BSH design center in Arizona, I wanted to share some of the product features that are currently being rolled out. There are are so many, I think it's going to take a few posts to share what I saw and learned.

 As a designer I get asked regularly: “what’s better, a cooktop and wall oven combination or full one piece oven?” if

space and budget aren’t a concern the answer for me is very simple. I love the convenience of the two appliances. I recently learned that Thermador introduced the first wall oven and cooktop to the market in 1947. At that time they set a new standard for luxury and convenience in the kitchen. Prior to that all cooking was done on a central hub. The idea of separating the two functions offered the homeowner a multitude of benefits, being able to remote the oven outside the work triangle keeps the space cooler when you are running the oven for long periods of time, being able to have the oven at a height that is comfortable to the individual chef means greater ease when lifting heavy roasts in and out, it de-clutters the work area, as well a making it an attractive companion to a microwave, warming drawer or steam oven and allowing the space above the cooking to become available for a more powerful hood. And although now we have dual fuel ranges, it was also the earliest way to achieve an electric oven and a gas cooktop, something we can do today with dual fuel ranges as well.

This new category of appliances became a new standard homeowners strove for and created a influx of new appliance choices as many manufacturers joined in the competition for the more well to do clientele.



Thermador's Pro Range 48" with Oven,
Steam Oven and Warming Drawer



A year after they split the oven and cooktop up, Thermador introduced their Pro Range, and while the idea of professional style ranges for the home has actually boomed over the last 15 years, Thermador has found a way to sweeten the pot once again by offering a 48” Pro Range with a full oven, a warming drawer and a built in steam oven all in one. For those of you who don’t know much about me and steam cooking, we go way back. I began using a pressure cooker when my kids were small. I bought it as a lark at a Macy’s One Day Sale, it reminded of the old TV shows I grew up watching. Miraculously, I found it was a way I could very quickly whip up delicious healthy soups and stews and other things that would sneak veggies into my kids.





Well technology has taken this cooking method one step further, the steam ovens of today do a fantastic job of roasting, slow cooking, steaming, reheating, and baking, all in less time and with better results. In fact when you speak to someone who has used one, they actually suggest it takes the place of the main one for many who try one; much the way my pressure cooker replaced my regular pots for almost everything except sautéing and low simmering.



The Thermador Patented Simmer Top Left

 Simmering brings me to a recent test I was lucky to participate in, this is a key function on a stove for anyone who likes to either eat or make sauces. With my hectic schedule there are weeks my main family staple is a pot of homemade tomato sauce. Good sauce is all about the slow simmer.

I can thank my current range who shall remain nameless for death of at least 4 sauce pots in the last two years. As we all know, good pots are expensive, I have abandoned my trusty stainless and I am trying my hand at enamel right now, but the jury is out. Back to the test, recently four high end pro-style ranges got together for 90+ minutes with a small sauce pan, the lowest possible simmer setting and a cup of chocolate chips. The results were amazing and the only one that didn’t scorch the pot or harden the chocolate was the Thermador with the unique patented Star shaped burner and the simmer setting that allows you to control the flame in an on again/off again fashion automatically. There wasn’t even a question as to the performance; the Thermador burner was far superior.

The New Freedom Series of Mudular Refrigeration

Built in with Ice and Water Through the Door

True to their ingenuity Thermador is also poised to launch the Freedom Series of built-in modular refrigeration and aside from the clean flush good looks, superior high quality 115 degree hinging, attractive easy to clean well appointed interior, and they offer an 18” and a 24” full freezer with Ice and Water through the door. Now while many of us designers don’t prefer to see these little conveniences interrupting the “flow” of our design, homeowners want them. It’s a simple fact; it’s the recliner of the kitchen.

Thank you to Thermador for making this an option as well as so many other features in your product line.









Built-in Under Counter Refrigeration U-Line Introduces the 3000 Series

For almost 50 years U-line has been a leader in under counter refrigeration, a heretofore small niche area of the appliance market that has been growing steadily over the past 10 years. Traditionally consumers sought out under counter refrigeration for mainly bar and entertainment areas. Of late they have gained favor with designers and homeowners as an answer to a need for additional flexible refrigeration.

In our age of convenience, where such a variety of food and beverage choices come individually packaged for easy single-serve snacking, families gravitate towards these convenient under counter fridges to store their supplies. Designing these refrigerators to the outside of the kitchen work triangle, keeps little ones safely out of the line of traffic when it’s time to prepare meals but leaves their juices etc. accessible. Reducing the amount of time and frequency of opening the homes main refrigerator not only is more energy efficient but also keeps food stored in it fresher longer.

U-line has recently introduced it 3000 series of refrigeration, if you are considering designing one into your space you should take a look at their latest offerings. They have models available in 18” and 36”, with stainless and glass fronts as well as panel-ready to match your cabinetry. In addition to the excellent range of temperature control, the units have a USB port and key that monitors the function and history of the appliance, so in the event of a power loss, or malfunction, the data can be read to troubleshoot the appliance before a repair person were to come out.

Aesthetically, the units are truly fully integrated, when you add an overlay and a toe kick panel they appear to be a regular base cabinet.

The BIG Questions When Hiring a Contractor

Can I meet a client and see a project that was completed 5-10 years ago?

We all like to browse cutting edge technology and the latest and coolest design offerings, but that is what showrooms are for! Truthfully if you can see one or two prior completed jobs when you are considering hiring a contractor, see something that was designed and built a few years ago. This will give you a window into a few important things

• Brand and Durability of products offered
• Integrity and quality of the installation
• Ease of the process'
• Long term Client satisfaction
• How long the Contractor has really been in business*

*a few contractors, certainly not all contractors, exaggerate the longevity of their business, beware of this practice.

When you meet that client, it’s important to ask the right questions

• Was your Project completed on time and in budget?
• Were there many changes after the project began-surprises and extra work
• Were you permitted as the homeowner to supply any of your own material, tile flooring etc? Or did everything need to be purchased through the contractor?
• Did the contractor charge a premium?
• Was the job well supervised?
• Was the work continuous within reason (stopping for inspections)?
• Were there any issues after the job was completed, how were they handled
• Does the client feel like they got good value, and what they expected?
• Was the name of the Business hired 5 years ago the same as the contractor is using today?*

*again, changing a business name is a tactic used by a few contractors out there to hide from bad reviews, lawsuits, and dissatisfied customers. Do your homework and don’t fall for this.

None of this is to say that you shouldn’t hire a new business or a young contractor. Quite the contrary, it just does pay to do your homework to find out where they got their start, and if they are young, have they worked for someone in the past? Ask to speak to that contractor.

Some contracts have 50 clauses on the back, if they do, take the time to read each one. If you think you need a lawyer to review the contract, then get one or move on to another contractor. It's possible the contractor you're dealing with has been on the receiving end of a lawsuit. This may or may not have been warranted or unwarranted. Your contract should be in easy to read language. Make sure that you are protected and negotiate changes you want up front.
I grew up in the construction business, third generation after both of my grandfathers’ and my own dad. Many of the people who worked for my father went on to have their own businesses. They stayed in touch with us as a family, and when the work was getting beyond my father he took pride in handing the jobs down to his past employees, with confidence they would do a great job.

If someone hasn’t come up the ranks working on the job-sites, as an apprentice, then journeyman, then master craftsman they are more of a “marketing expert/business person”, their perspective on the business may be very different than someone who learned the business from the foundation up.

Finally always check the name of the business with the Better Business Bureau. Accreditation with this organization shows a willingness by the contractor to be openly scrutinized. This practice protects the consumer and the Contractor, and if the business you are looking into has nothing to hide, they will want to share their excellent rating.



Author’s note: Working for one of the top kitchen design showrooms in the country is an honor and a pleasure. I have shared with my employers at MCK+B what I have learned through my personal experiences in this business, and they know that while they chose me as the right person for the showroom, I chose them based on their impeccable reputation. I am never too busy to offer advice, or give the name of independent referrals within the industry. Follow me on Twitter for industry updates!

Semi-Custom vs Custom Cabinetry

Flawless Design and Installation

Lately, the question of the hour seems to be, "should I use semi-custom or custom cabinetry, what's the difference?"  I say this: To some the only difference is the company's position in the marketplace. Just because a company adds new painted and glazed finishes and many semi-custom options would the "Largest Stock Cabinet Manufacturer" in the country give up their position on top to become a smaller fish in the semi-custom market? That may seem like an overly simplistic answer,  but it brings you to the truth of the matter, which is each company should be evaluated for their product, and each kitchen for it's need.

The higher end custom companies do definitely have higher quality finishing, and attention to detail as well as allowing for full creative input from the designer, Like the kitchen above designed by Sol Kassorla of Manhattan Center for Kitchen + Bath. Even if you aren't looking for the "fancier" or "better" options, how about the attention they pay to lumber grade, and the curing of the wood, the toners used to stabilize the finish, and cabinetry that can be perfectly sized to fit high end appliances like the featured Sub Zero glass door refrigerator. These are all things that matter tremendously to the overall finished look of your kitchen.

I have seen a semi-custom cherry kitchen that looked beautiful when it was new, turn into the "Tony the Tiger" kitchen after the wood began to season and stripe. Over the first year after the kitchen was installed the contrast of the white and green wood that was mixed in the doors became overpowering. And the kitchen, which was high end semi-custom lost mush of it's visual appeal.

Beautiful Custom Rope Columns

Also to keep in mind, semi-custom companies do offer many structural modifications to their cabinetry, making them easier than ever before to customize to fit, the options vary from company to company. However, keep in mind that if your layout demands many of these modifications to properly fit the space you will be driving cost up and can end up spending as much as you would for a full custom kitchen. If from the start you are looking for things like working side entries on cabinets, meticulously engineered wainscoat panels, moldings and columns look to a designer like Steve Naphtali of  Kitchen Expressions of Short Hills who designed the kitchen on the right which was featured on HGTV.

If Old Navy jeans are okay at $39.00 dollars a pair, but you need to have the leg and the waist tailored for another $40.00, wouldn't it make sense to buy the Gap jeans that fit you perfectly for $69.00? Kitchens are more complicated than jeans so you need to do a little more homework.

Consult with designers for both types of cabinetry, see what products and services are offered and what fits your kitchen best. A kitchen is only as good as the installation, so do yourself a favor and stay away from online contractor referral schemes, talk to your friends and neighbors  to find out the best services in your area. Remember "Service Magic" is paid for by the contractor who wants your business, this not an independent referral service!

Bright Ideas in Under Cabinet Lighting

 

 Traditional Inset Kitchen with LED strip lights.

There are so many decisions to make when planning a kitchen. Some of the most important ones need to be made in the beginning, like appliances, cabinetry, under cabinet lighting. You may wonder why under cabinet lighting couldn't wait until closer to the end, especially if you're feeling overwhelmed by the choices. When properly planned for ahead of time a professional designer will customize the bottoms of the cabinets to conceal the light fixtures. If you wait until the cabinets are already  made to decide you could end up scrambling last minute for cover moldings, panels, or worse yet staring at your fixtures for the lifetime of your kitchen.

If you are already in the process and haven't addressed this yet don't wait, contact your designer and add a small molding to the order, something like a soffit crown for a traditional kitchen or a solid stock with return, a plain molding like this can be left "as is" in a contemporary kitchen or receive an applied molding to dress it up. Calculate the linear feet of exposed bottom edge and then round up to the nearest multiple of eight. If you are within two feet, add an extra length. Ultimately you want your molding produced with or as close to your cabinetry as possible to achieve the best match and allow all the materials to age together.

Next you will want to sit with a knowledgable lighting specialist, someone who can match up the necessary drivers and connectors to whichever fixtures you decide in. They should also be in the best position to show you the latest offerings in lighting. There are so many to choose from, flourescent, halogen, LED, avaialable in tones ranging from cool white, to warm, to natural daylight. Not all fixtures can be placed on dimmers, so if this is a feature you like, make sure it's compatible.  

Contemporary Kitchen in Blue
Lacquer with Figured Anigre

In a kitchen you can create visual excitement by layering your lighting as in this contemporary blue kitchen. There is LED cool white puck lighting installed in the stainless flyover panels, under the cabinets, and behind the butterfly cabinet doors.



Custom Light Shelves

If you are looking for a more subtle lighting effect, I recommend custom fabricated bottom light shelves. The ones here are a constructed as a double hulled glass with interior flourescent lights to create pleasing downward and and upward lighting, perfect for cabinets with glass doors. Here shown with backpainted white glass lift up doors. All the materials shown here were designed and are on display at Manhattan Center for Kitchen + Bath.

An Easy "Must Read" For Anyone About to Redo Their Kitchen- Kelly's Kitchen Sync

Buying a kitchen can be a daunting task, not everyone is a natural planner and with an investment this size, it's good to have the best advice. Obviously hiring a professional kitchen designer is one way to make sure you get the most out of your remodel. But not everyone can afford to hire their own consultant, and even if you can, arming yourself with information is one of the best things you can do. I have three little words, my own personal mantra, if you will, "fit, form, and function" ...they ramble through my brain daily, because without them, the most beautiful kitchen in the world is a complete waste of money.

I am a big fan of the "Dummie's" books, I own quite a few, personal finance was the one that got me started almost 20 years ago. When there is something I don't know anything about, I reach for a book.

Kelly Morisseau, CKD, noted Kitchen Designer and Blogger today has released her first book "Kelly's Kitchen Sync". In my opinion it's a "Must Read" for anyone thinking about redoing their kitchen. It's easy to read, comprehensive, and engaging, she tells it like it is without talking down to her reader.

Kelly offers practical advice on everything from lighting, to cabinet function, to layout and more. I highly recommend picking this up for professionals and layfolks alike, there's something for everyone to learn. Thanks Kelly for this great perspective on a craft I love!

Bathroom Trends

Bathrooms are the second largest single home renovation project second only that is to a kitchen. It's exciting as a designer when a bathroom comes my way that rivals a kitchen in size and complexity. It's fun exploring the new technology and being creative with the client to achieve a look that is personal to them. And it's easy to spend upwards of $50,000 on a well appointed master bath. As homeowners are considering their home longer term investments and less apt to "flip" property, they are returning to the well planned and better equipped Master ensuite.  



12"X12" Faceted Limestone



 Recently I had such an opportunity in a great loft apartment in Chelsea on the West Side. Going for a minimalist look, the entire bathroom was designed in limestone (with the exception of one accent wall), to which we applied 3 coats of stone sealer, while an adding expense and time to the project, it will protect the stone and grout joints and ensure a good finish to the project.

In a move to get away from smaller tiles and too much grout in the shower we faceted the 12" x 12" tiles towards the shower drain. This eliminated the need for a mosaic tile which would normally be used for it's ease of "grading".



Toto Washlet Toilet

We used Hangrohe Axor Starck (by famed Architect Philippe Starck) plumbing fixtures and WetStyle Cube Freestanding Soaking Tub and Wall Hung vanities. This combination of clean lined materials made for a sophisticated unfussy look. Even  though this bathroom is larger than average, the use of wall hung vanities not only opens up the space, but makes the bathroom very easy to clean.

The Toto Washlet toilet finishes the suite with self-cleaning conveniences and a heated seat.

Robern Uplift medicine cabinets set against a blue and natural mosaic variegated "fettuccine" tile and the "cherry on top" Runtal Towel Warmer make this bathroom with Manhattan skyline views the perfect, well designed, personal, sanctuary after a long day.

In addition to using larger more contemporary tile, clients are also frequently opting for taller vanities and/or wall hung vanities with height flexibility and also adding more electrical outlets for additional bathroom appliances. In this bathroom, not only did we have wall outlets and outlets in the medicine cabinets, we added them in the vanity drawers, perfect for keeping a hair dryer!


While an average bathroom renovation may fall in very reasonably around $30-40,000 premium fixtures and tile can quickly raise the bar. It's important when using these specialty materials to make sure the contractor has the skill to install everything correctly. I always recommend asking neighbors and friends for referrals of contractors who have done recent good work. Often what sets Home Center tile and high Quality Porcelain tile that you find in a premium quality showroom apart is the higher temperatures at which the tile is fired. High heat forces the air bubbles out and makes for a more durable product that will perform better over the lifetime of the project.

If you are interested in the above project, please feel free to contact me.

Avoid The Zero Point Renovation and Get Great Kitchen Results



Beautiful Simple Contemporary Kitchen by MCK+B



Recently I was visited in the showroom by someone interested in renovating their kitchen in a home they wish to sell in 2 years. I spoke to them a bit about the size of the kitchen and the look they wanted to achieve. I  gave them some literature and noticed they also had Home Depot Kitchen Brochures, including what I consider to be the nicest line HD carries which is KraftMaid.We began to discuss the budget for the project and the value of the home, which they revealed to be a $10,000.00 budget  including new appliances, in a home valued at $500,000. Granted the kitchen was tiny, it still wasn't a realistic number. A client this far off the mark, may need to explore the market more and hear similar from a few designers before they reevaluate their budget.

I attempted to explain to them  what they were proposing was a "Zero Point Renovation". This is a remodel that is so far below what the property value demands that when you go to sell your home, you get absolutely zero to negative credit from prospective buyers. In other words, you may actually get less for your home if you rip out older but nonetheless good quality materials, and put in new poor quality in it's place. When people are spending hundreds of thousands of dollars for a home they will look closely at the kitchen and bathrooms. And if you are going to live there for 2-3 years before selling it, the poor quality renovation will be truly lackluster by then.

When they asked me what is reasonable to spend on a kitchen remodel, I told them 10-15% of a homes value. Now I know there are many who believe the real number is 15-20% , but I think that a well spent 10% is plenty, and if the kitchen is small as in their case, and the appliances are going to be a nice quality GE, but not SubZero-Wolf or comparable, then realistically they could get the entire project done for 7-8% or $40,000. For that with the right design advice, I would expect them to be able to get:





Stylish Upper East Side kitchen with a view


• semi-custom cabinetry
• basic granite or Caesarstone counter tops
• Ge Profile appliances in black(possibly stainless)
• natural stone or glass tile backsplash(Susan Jablon Mosaics is a great cost effective online resource)
• under cabinet lighting
• recessed lighting in the work area
• under mount sink
• Kohler Pulldown Simplice faucet in Vibrant Stainless at under $300.00 is a bargain  
• Hardware is a great thing to save money by purchasing online (I recommend you order samples in at least the amount of the restocking fee, that way you hold them and know you like them before ordering the whole kitchen worth a risk being disappointed)

There are certain fixed costs in a kitchen remodel, namely the labor, including electrical and plumbing costs. Many times homeowners seek to save money by just cutting everything they can out of their cabinetry expenses. And while I've heard the expression "a box is a box" a few hundred times in past years, and there is  room for an argument here, but you aren't just giving up the box, it's the door, drawers, and more importantly the finish. I gave up being a field representative for a cabinet company, simply because they did business in a lower price point, and it was heartbreaking to meet with consumers disappointed and complaining about the finish of their cabinets after they were installed.  It's better to avoid this disappointment, shop, look closely at what you are buying at set your expectations appropriately.

I recommend a  balanced approached when trying to cut costs. Take advantage of some of the websites and tips I offered above as a way to get a well blended design and the most out of your renovation budget. In the end I believe you'll be more satisfied overall.

2010---What It Was---Personally

There weren’t as many 2010 chapters as I’d hoped for written in the Life and Times of this kitchen designer . But I can tell you, I lived this year to the fullest! Writing has been slow as my girls and I have adjusted into the hustle and bustle of my new New York life.

Yesterday morning I walked from 89th and Park Avenue to a new kitchen job I accepted on East 72nd at the East River. I was bundled up against the cold; it was a brisk morning with temperatures in the 20’s and a biting New York wind. The sun was just creeping up over the buildings to cast a trickle of warm sunlight down on me as a I walked past some of the most prime real estate in New York City.  I passed buildings wherein live members of my newly expanding client family. I thought to myself “how lucky am I?” I am happy and healthy, and too busy to worry about the next kitchen, there are so many right now, the city is alive with business.

I work in the nicest neighborhoods, lucky to be welcomed and wanted in New York for something I do naturally with passion and an acquired knowledge. Lately I look at the yellow line on the subway platform as my personal Yellow Brick Road...how lucky am I?

Sometimes when I’m working, clients become abruptly demanding and border on rude, sometimes they cross that border, wanting 27 technical answers from me in an instant…and I think “am I a machine?” Then reality sets in, I try never to let them down, they have come to rely on  and expect instantaneous expert advice from me, to them that is what I am, a creative machine, and my ability to provide this service and smile and never sweat, that keeps me in this position, where I want to be…so fire away I say!

Recently as the work began to pile high on my desk, I said to an architect, someone who brought me a wonderful project, Tom Hut of HS2 Architecture, “we have a lotta work to do here in a short time, let’s get the pleases, excuse me’s and the thank you’s out of the way up front, we know we mean them, but they are killing us ion time”…he agreed…and cutting to the chase has tidied up the relationship and gotten the job done. I'm on the edge of my seat to see the final product! ans at one time I thought architects only came to my showroom to steal my ideas. (Shh...I might have said it once or twice, I might have said it to you) How wrong I was, and thank you Steve Naphtali for holding my wine while I ate crow...

When I go home my kids tell me everything I don’t know…apparently the older they get the more I don’t know! It’s a great system they have to make sure my head never swells too much. This year one of my daughter’s changed her name. Imagine,  the second thing I gave her, right after life, didn’t make the cut…she doesn't like the clothes I buy her either, but I know for a fact she is mine, she had too much hair to confuse with any of the other babies in the nursery.

On my walk yesterday, I passed several designer dogs, out for their daily constitution and many wearing nicer sneakers than any ones my 12 year old has. Lucky dogs! I thought to myself how far we have come as a family this year! Kendall’s sneakers are really fine, and these cutbacks we have experienced have given us a chance to regroup and appreciate board games, long walks, and four weeks at camp with no Facebook, Wii, or texting. And I beamed with pride over them and their strength.

Just then I passed a man as I walked from the Subway at Union Square headed towards my office. He was no more than 25 years old, quite good looking, and on his feet as "shoes" he wore paper bags, folded over many times and tied to his feet with twine. He was indescribably dirty, and on the brink of losing his toenails and I did mention how cold it was, in the 20’s? I stopped and swallowed hard, and though he wasn’t begging, I turned to go find him, but he was gone in the crowd. Where was his family, how did he end up like this, and was he given too much or not enough growing up, where was the love?

I used to only donate only to established charities,  heeding the official warnings that people in the city will rob you if you give them money. After nearly a year here, I can say I have changed my thoughts on that. I am considerate of who I give money to, but I just can’t ignore daily the poverty and sadness that walks quietly among the wealthy and splendid of New York. There is suffering here, and I always think, how did this young person become this way, how can I help. There is a young man, who is often in the Columbus Circle or Lincoln Center Subway stations, he has no arms, he politely stands with a pack attached to his chest, and I cannot pass him without giving him a dollar or two if I have it. But there must be more I can do.

This year we took in a kitten, she was too young to eat on her own and was fed through a dropper. When she tried to eat from a bowl, her back legs would scoot forward and she would fold like a card face down in her milk…we would perform the daily rescue and put her back on the bottle…now she is as vigorous and resilient as they come, and I guess since no mommy ever taught her to squawk, she doesn’t make a sound, she can mew, she just doesn’t. She doesn't have sneakers, but it’s 2010, so she does have her own Facebook, you can friend her there! She’s has a few other friends,  our neighbors dog…also on Facebook.

I’ve never felt like I had less after I volunteered time, money or food to someone in need… in fact it always makes me feel like I have way more…2011 should be a year of giving back. Last week, I went home to find my daughter has joined a community group of young volunteers who will help the elderly or those in need with household chores and snow removal etc., what a gift for me to receive, that my daughter will have the spirit of volunteering! It just goes to show you are never too old or too young to make a difference, to care about a stranger as you would for someone you love.

Be rich with the spirit of giving, no contribution is too small to make a difference. Cheers to a Happy, Healthy, and Prosperous 2011! Remember to Love thy neighbor as thyself.
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Exciting Neighborhood Happenings and a 10 Year Anniversary Close to my Heart!

I suddenly feel like spring is in the air all over again! We have long talked about the end of this recession/economic slowdown...I don't want ot use the "D" word! But last week, sitting with my friend having lunch at Angelo & Maxie's on the corner of  East 19th and Park Avenue NYC, CNN reported that all data  supports the conclusion that the recession  ended in June of 2009, and we have been recovering steadily and incrementally ever since. WOW!

It was enough to make a girl go back to work and sell three new jobs...and that's exactly what happened.

Walking to the train that day, I passed through the brand new pedestrian walkway that was just plunked down clear in the middle of Broadway right  on Union Square where just a couple of weeks ago you had to watch your step as cars went whizzing around the square. This is only six blocks south of a similar arrangement of bistro tables and plantings in the shadows of the great Flatiron Building, it's  quaint, inviting, free,  and a great place to relax and read, drink a latte and soak up New York...what did they do with the cars though?

To add to the little hustle and bustle just across from the Flatiron on Broadway and 23rd a slpendid new shop "Eataly" has just opened offering all sorts of delicious ready to eat gourmet fare, flavors from all over the map and of course for New Yorkers--exotic delicious varieties of freshly brewed coffee right at the front door of the shop. Although I will say the store can get quite crowded, YUM! I can't wait till the line is short enough that I can run there at lunchtime!

And in that famous blink and you miss it New York timing, I was walking to work yesterday and realized that a previously boarded/papered up building was gleaming as I passed. It was open and un-intimate as a dress shop window, but filled with tables, and bright decor, clean, fresh, and inviting, only to look up and see it's the sister of Hill Country Barbeque Just a block away...but chicken, does that make it a sister or a cousin??? Bring it on, we needed a little more hub-ub.

Near and dear to my heart, and someone who inspired me in the early years I began specializing in kitchens 10 years ago is Steve Naphtali, acclaimed Kitchen Designer, featured on HGTV, and an attorney by trade. This weekend his company Kitchen Expressions of Short Hills is celebrating 10 Years in Business! This is an accomplishment in any market, but with tough economy that has faced New Jersey over the last three years, this is a testament to his staying power, his customer loyalty and dedication to his clients. Kitchen Expressions is a full custom shop that offers installation and contracting services, but will work with any contractor or architect the client wishes. Here's a shoutout to Steve, Richard, Annette and Leah, they are a fun creative animated team of professionals and I wish them so much more success, as we all watch for business to grow again! Stop in today and celebrate with them until 5pm.