Check out this video about one of the original projects:

The new project’s blog can be found here. This is such a neat project that simply boils down design into its fundamentals and our motivations behind why we do what we do.

For further consideration:

Rural Studio 2011’s Joanne’s House

Rural Studio’s Facebook Page

WSJ Profiles latest Rural Studio $20K House

Auburn’s Rural Studio

His first three essentials are natural light, comfort, and visual texture. Natural light is by far one of the most underrated elements to producing an inviting kitchen. With the right natural light treatment you can dramatically alter the way a kitchen is perceived. To add a level of comfort he suggests incorporating soft seating, a TV, or a fireplace. Some element that relaxes the overall feel of the kitchen as a cold and solely functional setting. Lastly he likes to use a mixture woods, materials, patterns to personalize the space.

Stainless Steel is his fourth must. He enjoys it’s “organic quality” as it ages over time. I disagree somewhat with this essential. Though stainless steel can be a nice addition to the right kitchen, it is not always the right choice for some kitchens. In fact, I find stainless steel to add a clinical quality to  some kitchens.

Essentials five and six are the island and a great sink. Islands are fairly common in today’s kitchens, and is almost worthy of it’s own blog post! In fact, according to a National Home Builders Association survey 80% of home buyers consider a kitchen island desirable or essential. Sinks are part of the work triangle and as such are definitely key components in a kitchen. A great sink that is functional, well-placed, aesthetically pleasing, and durable is essential.

Essentials seven and eight are integrated refrigeration and high-performance appliances. These will accent any well thought out kitchen. I agree that placing panels on integrated refrigeration can help to hide that unseemly huge box. This is especially true in today’s age of size matters most attitude towards refrigeration.

The last three essentials: a hook, a kitchen designer, and ice cream are truly a requirement in a great kitchen design!

For further consideration:

Kitchens have become home centerpieces

11 Splashy Kitchen Trends

Top 10 Modern Kitchen Design Trends

Kitchen Cabinet Trends Marry Style, Function

Check out the whole listing of tips in the the article here.

Here is a post from OneProjectCloser about testing and resealing granite.

You will want to be somewhat careful as to where the rope lighting will be placed and its relationship to the potential for contact with water.

Check them out here.

Kitchen safety starts with good kitchen design such as proper clearances around cooking centers, positioning a visible fire extinguisher near a doorway, maintaining clearances for work aisles, keeping the work triangle out of major traffic flow patterns, etc.

I’ve been flirting around with the idea of building a dining room table and chairs to match. While researching that project I came along this series from Lowe’s Shop Class hosted by Keith Flippen. It seems to be a fairly straight forward project that would be easy to tackle.

Part 1:

Part 2:

Part 3:

Part 4:

Maybe soon I will have some pictures to post!

Check out this video on how to shorten fauxwood blinds. It also applies to most mini blinds and real wood blind installations as well.

If you were thinking something more along the lines of a roll up blind in fabric or a shade check this out:

How to shorten fabric/vinyl blinds