Interested in remodeling your kitchen? “There’s no time like the present” – this is especially true when it comes to kitchen remodeling. In terms of both aesthetics and functionality, a new kitchen design can make a world of difference!

If you want a simpler look without going too contemporary, a Shaker style kitchen may be perfect for you. The Shaker style (which first emerged in the 1700s) thrived on three aspects: simplicity, durability, and convenience. A good Shaker kitchen combines all three!

Shaker Style Kitchen Cabinets

Shaker style cabinets are popular – and not just in Shaker kitchens. Unadorned and durable, these types of cabinets match the ambiance of the kitchen. Shaker cabinets (and kitchens) are about utility, not embellishment, and your cabinets should reflect this.

Just because your Shaker style cabinets aren’t ornate doesn’t mean they can’t be beautiful. In fact, custom cabinets can work very well in Shaker kitchens! Jack Rosen offers custom cabinets with simplistic, clean-lined, Shaker-like styles that can add value to your home and authenticity to your kitchen.

Shaker Style Kitchen Countertops

Wood is one thing there’s no shortage of in a Shaker kitchen. Timber was abundant back during the Shaker movement, so the finest woods were used in kitchen design. For a truly authentic Shaker style design, consider wood countertops – butcher block is popular. Remember, you’re going for a natural look.

Shaker Style Kitchen Walls & Floors

Most often, Shaker kitchens have a more natural color scheme. Think white, beige, yellow, blue, green, etc. It’s best to stick with hardwood flooring and use a neutral color for the walls – and try not to use more than one or two different shades.

Shaker Style Kitchen Accessories

Though a Shaker kitchen shouldn’t be lavish, it can still have a few accessories to add simple elegance. As long as you stick with the more neutral colors, furnishings can range from pine chests and Shaker style baskets to ladderback chairs, industrial-like pendant lighting, chrome faucets, etc. Just be sure to keep the space clutter-free!

For simplicity and natural, earthy charm that is a bit less woodsy than rustic kitchen design, your best bet is a Shaker style kitchen. If you’re interested in a Shaker kitchen for your home in Maryland, Washington, DC, or Northern Virginia, Jack Rosen Custom Kitchens can help.

Contact our kitchen designers in Maryland today or visit our showroom in Rockville!

Are you getting ready to remodel your kitchen and looking for local designers? Before you start your project, there are several kitchen design questions to consider and things to ask your design team.

Questions to Ask Your Kitchen Designer

About the company

It’s good to get a little background on your kitchen designer before beginning. In fact, you should pick more than one design team and ask questions to find out which one would be the best fit. Be sure to ask questions like:

• How long have you been designing kitchens?
• Have you won any awards or do you have any special accomplishments?
• Can you provide work samples?
• Can you provide references or testimonials?
• Do you have a website I could visit?
• How long does the kitchen design process generally take?
• How many designs will you provide?
• How do you stay updated with new industry standards, trends, products etc.?
• Do you supply cabinetry? If so, are they eco-friendly? What materials are used?
• Do you provide estimates?
• How do you charge for your kitchen design services?

About Kitchen Design

Asking certain questions can help you get a better understanding of what you want and can help you determine your design needs. Include general kitchen design questions such as:

• What are popular kitchen design trends?
• Which features make a kitchen with timeless style?
• Would an island be suitable for my space?
• What are the best types of material for counters, flooring, etc.?
• How can I make my kitchen more eco-friendly?
• If I want to increase resale value of my home, what should I add to my kitchen?
• Should I consider a more open floor plan?
• Should I get stock cabinetry or consider custom cabinets?
• How much of my budget should I allocate for appliances, flooring, countertops, etc.?

Asking the right questions can make your whole kitchen design project go more smoothly and ensure your new space turns out exactly how you want. If you live in the Maryland, Washington, DC and Virginia area, contact Jack Rosen today!

It’s that time of year again – spring cleaning and home renovations are on many minds! A custom kitchen could be just the thing you’ve been looking for to enhance the interior of your home and perfect the functionality of your space.

As their name suggests, custom kitchens are designed with homeowners’ specific needs in mind. However, this isn’t the only thing that makes them so great! Custom kitchens offer other benefits, such as:

• Beauty: custom kitchens are very beautiful, as they often are filled with custom details and unique architecture. Adding a custom kitchen to your home is one of the best ways to enhance your interior design.
• Distinctiveness: not only will your custom kitchen fit your unique needs and match your lifestyle, but it won’t look like any other kitchen! While certainly not a necessity in kitchen design, it’s a bonus for many homeowners.
• Value: a kitchen renovation can increase the resale value of your home, which is ideal if you’re planning to put your home in the market anytime soon. A custom kitchen will make your home more appealing to potential buyers – and it will provide a fresh, new look you can enjoy in the meantime!

No matter what your custom kitchen project demands, Jack Rosen can make sure it’s completed to your full satisfaction. Our custom kitchen designers can help bring your vision to life, whether you know what you want your new kitchen to look like or you just have a couple ideas jotted down on a piece of paper!

Why Get a Custom Kitchen?

In addition to adding beauty, value and uniqueness to your home, custom kitchens satisfy a wide range of homeowner needs:

• Does your kitchen have enough workspace?
• Do you have enough storage room, enough cabinetry space, etc.?
• Does your kitchen match your lifestyle? For example, an extravagant kitchen with two sinks and double ovens isn’t optimal for a modern, on-the-go lifestyle.

No matter what your needs are, a custom kitchen is the best way to create a functional space.

People have found our website using such phrases as “Virginia custom kitchen designers,” “custom kitchens Virginia” and “custom kitchen designers in VA.” If you’re searching along these lines, look no further! Contact our Maryland, DC and Virginia custom kitchen designers today!

Are you getting ready to remodel your kitchen? Is it time for new cabinets? If you’re upgrading your kitchen, you may want to consider custom cabinets – they can add to your home in so many ways!

People have found this website using phrases like “custom cabinets Maryland,” “Maryland custom cabinetry” and “custom cabinets in MD.” If you searched for something similar, you’ve come to the right place, whether you’re deciding if you want custom cabinets or are trying to find the right type for your home!

Benefits of Custom Cabinetry

If you’re on the fence about adding custom cabinets to your home, keep in mind the benefits they offer extend beyond their beauty and elegance, including:

Custom Cabinets Add Unique Architectural Detail

If you want to liven up your home’s interior with unique architectural details, installing custom cabinets is a great way to go about it. And don’t only consider the kitchen! Though the kitchen is an obvious choice for custom cabinetry, you can add them anywhere in your home for an enhanced interior. Custom cabinets look great in:

• Kitchens
• Bathrooms
• Foyers / front halls
• Dining rooms
• Living rooms

Custom Cabinets Allow for Increased Storage Space

One of the greatest things about custom cabinets is you are virtually limitless in your options! If you need more space than traditional cabinetry offers, custom cabinets are ideal. Many people find they need more space in their kitchens for everything from appliances and food to tableware, displays and more. Custom cabinets can give you that extra needed space and enhance the beauty of your kitchen too!

Custom Cabinets Can Increase the Value of Your Home

If you’re planning to move in the near future, adding custom cabinetry to your home (the kitchen in particular) can make your home more appealing to potential buyers. Renovated kitchens add market value to your home, but if you don’t want to tear down walls and upgrade the whole space if you’re moving in a few months, even just adding new custom cabinetry can make a difference.

Custom Cabinets Have Higher Durability than Traditional Cabinets

If you’ve had to get your cabinets repaired a couple times in the last year or so, it’s probably time to replace them. If you opt for well-made custom cabinets, you can rest assured they will also be of the highest quality and last for many years.

Need Custom Cabinets in Maryland?

If you’re looking for custom cabinetry dealers in Maryland, you’ve come to the right place! Jack Rosen Custom Kitchens, an award-winning kitchen design company, offers custom cabinets from the best manufacturers in the industry, including NEFF, Elmwood and Rutt.

NEFF custom cabinets in Maryland: NEFF cabinets add elegance to any room and can truly enhance the interior of any home. NEFF handpicks each exotic veneer, so you can tell how fine the material is just by looking at the custom cabinets!

Elmwood custom cabinets in Maryland: as eco-friendly as they are durable, Elmwood custom cabinets are produced using environmentally responsible methods. These cabinets range from traditional to contemporary and are guaranteed to last for many long years.

Rutt custom cabinets in Maryland: our newest line of cabinetry, Rutt offers everything you can expect in custom cabinetry: beauty, durability and unique characteristics. Rutt custom cabinetry is handcrafted with perfect detail to complement any style of kitchen.

If you’re still on the fence about custom cabinetry and want to learn more, the kitchen designers at Jack Rosen can help you determine what’s best for you. Have you decided on a style of custom cabinetry you like? Great – contact us today to get started on your renovation project!

Simply put, we are the experts when it comes to custom cabinetry in Maryland. Visit our showroom in Rockville today to see some of the beautiful cabinets we offer!

While the kitchen is undoubtedly the heart of the home, it’s not uncommon for a family to outgrow it. If you’ve had the same kitchen design for 25 years, it’s more than likely a new kitchen design would better fit your lifestyle.

If you live in the Maryland, Washington, DC and Virginia area, Jack Rosen can help you get the kitchen you’ve always wanted! Whether you need a more contemporary kitchen to match your modern, on-the-go lifestyle or want to expand the space to accommodate more people, our Maryland kitchen remodeling experts can help.

Kitchen Remodeling Considerations

If you’re asking yourself, “Should I remodel my kitchen?” there are a few considerations to keep in mind:

How long have you been living with your kitchen design? If you’ve had the same kitchen design for 20 years, it may be time for a new one. Not only will kitchen remodeling enhance the interior of your home, but it can also increase the functionality of your space. Today’s kitchen design trends include energy efficient appliances, stainless steel, green elements (bamboo flooring, recyclable counter material, etc.), efficient pull-out trashcan drawers and more. Even a decade ago, some of these trends weren’t commonly found in most homes.

Does your kitchen have enough workspace? A kitchen remodeling project can increase workspace and countertop surfaces. If you entertain a lot, you may want an open floor plan, which facilitates more social interaction between the kitchen and other rooms. If two people cook and prepare the meals, you may want more room around the main workspace – to this purpose, a kitchen island with a second sink and extra counter space is ideal.

Do you have ample storage space? This doesn’t include just cabinetry! Although custom cabinetry provides the majority of storage space in most kitchens, there are plenty of other options available such as kitchen islands, shelving, hanging racks, etc. A lack of storage space can really reduce the efficiency of your kitchen – but kitchen remodeling, even a partial project, can easily solve this problem!

Does your kitchen match your lifestyle? If your traditional kitchen doesn’t match your modern lifestyle, a kitchen remodeling project can help. If you dine out often, an optimal kitchen design for you might include features like a breakfast bar and drawer dishwasher (meant for small loads).

Does your kitchen show signs of aging? It’s inevitable – your kitchen will eventually show signs of aging, even with regular cleaning and maintenance. If your kitchen has bumps on the floor, scratches and stains on the countertops, squeaky, broken or scuffed up cabinets or any other signs of wear and tear, it may be time for kitchen remodeling.

Are you selling your house? If you are moving in the near future, you may want to consider remodeling your kitchen before you sell. Kitchen remodeling can increase the resale value of your home – it is one of the projects with the highest return on investment.

Kitchen remodeling in Maryland, while certainly exciting, requires careful planning and preparation – and the right design. If you’re ready for a new kitchen design, contact Jack Rosen today or visit our showroom!

Out with the old and in with the new, right? It’s another new year, and if you’re planning to remodel your kitchen, you probably want to know all the kitchen design trends for 2012! If so, you’ve come to the right place – Jack Rosen specializes in kitchen design and can help bring your dream kitchen to life.

Without further ado, we give you the 2012 kitchen trends:

2012 kitchen trends: open floor plan

Open floor plans are gaining popularity with many homeowners, especially those who prefer a contemporary design and lifestyle. Open kitchen floor plans (which require tearing down the walls so the kitchen and main living area or dining room become one open space) are particularly good solutions for smaller houses. If you want your home to appear more open and spacious, this 2012 kitchen trend is perfect for you!

2012 kitchen trends: stainless steel

Since contemporary kitchens are so popular, it’s no wonder stainless steel is becoming more prevalent when it comes to both countertops and cabinetry. It’s easy to clean and exudes minimalism and modernity.

2012 kitchen trends: bright, bold colors

Bright, bold and beautiful are taking center stage when it comes to kitchen trends for 2012. Don’t be afraid to lay on the bright, fun shades like red, yellow, orange, green, etc. Just make sure you don’t go overboard.

2012 kitchen trends: efficiency

Simple is in – 2012 is all about the streamlined kitchen. Homeowners want to keep things simple, energy efficient and de-cluttered. What does this mean? Function trumps form – make sure your kitchen is efficient and that you have an ample amount of storage space.

2012 kitchen trends: green design

Green kitchen design is also becoming more popular in the kitchen and in general home remodeling. Don’t be afraid to go for the greener aspects of kitchen design – recyclable materials for your counters, bamboo flooring, etc. Learn more about green kitchen design!

Contemporary, efficient kitchens are the way to go in 2012. Contact Jack Rosen today to get started on your kitchen remodeling project in the Maryland, Washington, DC and Virginia area!

Kitchen remodeling is always exciting – especially when you have an idea you want to try out! If you want a more modern look, have you considered a minimalist (contemporary) kitchen design? They are popular right now and work well with any space – from small, square kitchens to L-shaped kitchens that don’t have ample floor space.

Minimalist Kitchen Countertops

Popular countertop materials include stainless steel, glass and wood. Remember to also take your lifestyle and needs into consideration – for instance, if you cook a lot and make a mess in your kitchen, stainless steel countertops are ideal since they’re stain-resistant and easy to clean.

A minimalist kitchen design thrives on angles and straight lines, so rounded countertops don’t complement these contemporary kitchens as well as squared-off surfaces. However, interesting shapes also work well when it comes to countertops in a minimalist kitchen.

Minimalist Kitchen Cabinets

Like your countertops, your cabinets should showcase characteristics of a contemporary space. You won’t see a lot of arched doors and circular shapes in minimalist kitchen cabinets. Whatever you have in mind in terms of color – go for it! However, if you do want to use red or bright yellow for your cabinets, be sure to contrast it with another more neutral color (white, black, gray, etc.) so it’s not completely overwhelming. In minimalist kitchen design, the saying, “less is more” rings truer than ever!

Minimalist Kitchen Walls and Floors

The walls and floors in your minimalist kitchen depend on the color of your cabinets. If you have a lot of green in your cabinets, green walls may be too much. Instead, offset the green cabinets with dark floors. You can always find green wall décor if you want to enhance the color scheme.

If you’re interested in a black and white minimalist kitchen design, black and white tiled flooring works well. Just make sure not to go overboard with the black and white theme (and professional kitchen designers can help with this!).

Minimalist Kitchen Accessories

If you’re into décor and love to dress up your walls, keep in mind minimalist kitchens aren’t supposed to look extremely ornate. This is not to say your walls should look bare and lifeless – just be sure to use wall decorations in moderation.

In a minimalist kitchen design, accessories that work well include:

• Contemporary wall hangings
• Contemporary bar stools (if you have a kitchen island or breakfast bar area)
• Stainless steel backsplash (or neutral colored mosaic)
• Modern hanging lights
• Curtains with a contemporary design

No matter what you want your contemporary kitchen to look like, Jack Rosen can help. We’ll make sure the design reflects your personal tastes and needs without going overboard – that’s what a minimalist kitchen design is all about. Call us today or visit our Rockville, Maryland showroom!

Are you planning to remodel your kitchen soon? Do you have a rough idea of what you want it to look like? If you have a pet, is your new kitchen design accommodating? More and more homeowners these days are taking their furry friends into consideration when it comes to kitchen design. They are part of the family, after all, and the new kitchen should suit them too!

Flooring in a Pet-Friendly Kitchen Design

One of the most important aspects to consider when it comes to a pet-friendly kitchen design is the flooring. The dog’s nails scratch the floor, pet urine can stain hardwood, there should be space for a water bowl – there are a countless number of factors to consider.

Although hardwood floors are extremely beautiful, especially in kitchens, they aren’t the best choice when it comes to pets, as they can get stained and scratched very easily. However, this does not mean your kitchen flooring won’t look great. Other flooring choices for pet-friendly kitchens include:

Bamboo– bamboo flooring is a fantastic choice if you have pets; it is stain resistant and can stand a lot of traffic.

Stone tile– the great thing about stone flooring is it doesn’t scratch or stain easily.

Cork– cork floors are scratch resistant and eco-friendly as well.

Vinyl– the new luxury vinyl flooring is an excellent choice for pet-friendly kitchens, as it is easy to clean and maintain and doesn’t scratch or stain very easily.

Heated floors are another option. These help your pet stay comfortable – and feel great on your feet, especially in the winter!

Beautiful, Pet-Friendly Kitchens

Kitchen designs should incorporate an area for your pet that includes the food and water bowls. You may also want to consider adding an area rug. This not only prevents scratches on your flooring, but it helps your pet stay comfortable as well.

Large pantries also make great areas for pets. While the shelves can store food and whatever you need, the floor can serve as your pet’s area, complete with a little bed and the food and water bowls.

If you don’t want a large pantry or don’t have room, pull-out drawers serve as an ideal feeding areas for your pet as well, and a lift-up door also hides the pet food when it’s time to entertain.

Just because your kitchen is designed with pets in mind doesn’t mean it won’t be as beautiful as the next! It’s very possible to have a kitchen that is attractive and pet-friendly – you just need to find the right kitchen designers. If you live in the Maryland, DC and Virginia area, look to Jack Rosen!

We have designed and remodeled kitchens for homeowners throughout the area. Visit our Rockville showroom or contact us today!

Though often overlooked by homeowners in the kitchen design process, a backsplash can truly enhance your kitchen and add beautiful, creative touches. The right kitchen backsplash can enliven your cabinets and countertops and give the room personality. Does your dream kitchen include a beautiful backsplash design?

The Maryland, Washington, DC and Virginia area kitchen designers at Jack Rosen can make sure your kitchen backsplash seamlessly complements your room and makes the right kind of statement!

Kitchen Backsplash Basics

Traditionally, kitchen backsplashes were limited to behind the cooktop and/or sink. A backsplash is a tiled area on the walls of your kitchen, usually behind prep areas (cooking range, sink, etc.). Its purpose is to not only provide protection from scratches and splashes from the sink but to also enhance the appearance of your kitchen. A backsplash can be used for aesthetic purposes!

Focal backsplashes: as the name suggests, focal backsplashes act as a focal point. The design is important. Many focal backsplashes use a featured design that is surrounded by tiles or some kind of border.

Full backslashes: these types of backsplashes can make the room appear larger. They feature a repeating pattern or some kind of image (many backsplashes display a landscape).

Kitchen Backsplash Design

There are a variety of materials to use for your kitchen backsplash, including metal, glass, marble, ceramic tile – you name it! However, many more things than material need to be considered. When it comes to backsplash design, our kitchen designers can also help you choose the right:

• Size
• Colors
• Theme

If you have a Tuscan kitchen, for instance, a natural stone or ceramic tile backsplash with yellow, red and tan shades would look good. A modern-looking metal backsplash design wouldn’t look as natural. Professional kitchen designers can ensure your backsplash design will seamlessly integrate with the overall design of your kitchen.

Learn more about backsplash designs and how Jack Rosen can help transform your kitchen into a beautiful space with the right backsplash. Visit our Rockville, MD showroom or contact us today!

Cabinets are undoubtedly one of the most important aspects of your kitchen – not only do they provide necessary storage space, but they also enhance the overall appearance of the room! So how do you choose charming cabinets for your kitchen?

How to Choose Kitchen Cabinets

Which cabinets you choose for your space depends on your personal preferences and the style of your kitchen. First things first: in terms of construction, there are two types of cabinets:

• Face-frame cabinets: solid wood frame is attached to the box
• Frameless cabinets: are more contemporary; door hinges cannot be seen

Features you should look for when choosing cabinets are:

Operation: if a company has a showroom, take advantage of it! Look carefully at the cabinets, and pay attention to how the doors and drawers open – make sure they don’t wobble or stick!

Shelving: think about what you want when it comes to storage. Do you need adjustable shelves in your cabinets? What about pull-out trays?

Drawers: high quality cabinets typically have sides at least a half-inch thick. Many cabinet drawers are dovetailed or doweled, both of which have endured for many years.

As for the style of your kitchen, keep in mind:

Craftsman or mission style cabinets complement mission style, old world, rustic kitchens, etc.

Shaker style cabinets look great in Asian kitchens as well as European-style kitchens, like Tuscan and Spanish themed kitchens.

Arts and crafts style cabinets are perfect solutions for mission style, old world or arts and crafts kitchens.

European style cabinets are usually unfaced and simple, and, as the name, suggests, usually found in European-style kitchens, from Spanish to French to Italian and more.

Do you need help choosing the right cabinets for your kitchen? Come visit our cabinet showroom in Rockville! Jack Rosen offers beautiful custom cabinetry for homeowners throughout the Maryland, Washington, DC and Virginia area and can help turn your dream kitchen into a reality.