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The New Normal for Your Home

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The design process is evolving and adapting to our need for protection from the Covid-19 pandemic.  Kitchens are often the gateway to our homes, so this is the place to be most diligent about cleanliness in order to safeguard our well-being.  While we don’t want our homes to reflect sterile clinical environments, there are some changes we can make to help control the spread of virus and bacteria.  Many of these ideas are not new, but they are most suitable for today’s challenges.

Landing Zone & Sanitation Station

Designate a drop zone at the entry point of your home.  Whether at the front door or the mudroom, it will serve as a landing pad for items waiting to be disinfected.  It should have an easy to clean, non porous surface, something that will not be harmed by disinfecting liquids and sprays.  Shoes, keys, face masks, phone and credit cards can sit here while waiting for treatment.  Keep sanitizing wipes and disinfectant spray right here, along with a means for disposal.  If there is a window for natural sunlight and ventilation, all the better.

Non-Porous Countertops

As luck would have it, quartz materials have grown in popularity the last few years.  Beautiful and nonporous, these materials are ready to support your mission for clean and easy-to-maintain surfaces.  Any sleek smooth design will eliminate crevices for germs to breed.   There are even some products with  antimicrobial properties baked in.  See some of our options here.

Copper Magic

Copper is making a comeback with it’s ability to kill bacteria on contact and viruses within hours.  It has long been a respected material in hospitals and medical environments.   Now is the time for this lovely living finish to make an appearance in your home.  We absolutely love this demonstration by Native Trails showing the healing properties of copper.   Many believe copper also has spiritual powers.  Either way, taking care of germs is good enough for us.

Touchless Faucets

The touchless faucet has been elevated from novelty to necessity.  The germ protection capabilities are easy to see, but it also saves water.  This model by Kohler even has temperature memory that will return to your last setting.

 

Versatile & Multifunctional Spaces

Plato Cabinetry, Interior Design by Judy Bethel

Without a doubt this virus has taught us the importance of being able to adapt our homes and accommodate unexpected change.  Working from home, e-learning and at-home workouts can co-exist in the same space with some advanced planning.  We know this can be tough, but let’s try to enjoy the togetherness for now.   We will be returning to the normal pace of the life soon.

Although no one action can guarantee that we will remain virus-free, it doesn’t hurt to arm your home with the tools that can increase your ability to clean and sanitize, now and in the future.

Explore more of our beautifully designed cabinetry here!

And call us when you need inspiration for storage in every room of your home!

201 Geneva National Ave S

Lake Geneva, WI

262-245-9600

 

 

 

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Healthy Kitchen, Healthy You!

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Creating a kitchen for wellness is the modern way to introduce a lifestyle that cares for you and your family. A fresh approach to design can encourage new healthful habits. Our designers at Geneva Cabinet Company, LLC are your cabinet concierges with the expertise you need to make it happen.  Follow these tips for a design that will lead you to a healthier home.

Banish the Harmful

As any healthy body knows, it’s what’s inside that counts. The material used in the composition of cabinetry as well as the finishing process is a key factor to product safety.   That is why the cabinets from Geneva Cabinet Company are made in the USA to the highest standards. Our products meet or surpass regulatory requirements for low VOC (volatile organic compounds) so you can breath easy.  You can read about the commitment to the environment by our manufacturers here for Plato Woodwork, Inc, here for Shiloh Cabinetry, and here for Medallion Cabinetry.

Keep it Clean

The right finishes will help you keep your kitchen clean.  Non-porous countertop favorites like Quartz will inhibit the spread of bacteria.  We like taking the backsplash up the wall to provide a fully washable surface.  Read more about countertop options here.  Keep in mind that adding windows in lieu of upper cabinets will let the natural germ fighting power of sunlight pour in.

Visualize Vitality

You will make healthier choices if they are out in the open.   To aid in this pursuit Geneva Cabinet Company is designing kitchens with snack stations and open shelving to display delicious still life arrangements of fruits and veggies. Glass door refrigeration is growing in popularity with its visual cues to more nutritious options and refrigerator drawers are being placed at the point of use for easy-to-reach healthy treats.

display healthy food in the open

Engage the Senses

With the focus on real foods, indoor growing rooms and countertop herb gardens are nurturing features. Terra Trellis has elevated the design of indoor gardens with their delightful grow boxes and expert indoor gardening videos are on board to help us cultivate our inner green thumb.  Engaging the sense of smell and touch with fresh herbs is known to spark interest in more healthy recipes.

terra trellis

Preserved to Perfection

A focus on freshness comes with the need for food preservation systems to maintains taste, texture and nutrients.  Sub Zero is one of our favorites as a pioneer in multiple evaporator and air purifying systems. Refrigeration with separate zones will maximum freshness with controlled humidity to reduce the moisture that accelerates food deterioration.  There is also a renewed interest in kitchens with areas of bulk cold storage and compact individual refrigerator units.  Think of canned goods, beverages, wine and snacks all maintained at the proper temperature for maximum shelf-life.

food preservation sub zero

The Joy of Cooking

In the era of grocery and meal kit delivery, there is more time for the pure pleasure of cooking. Convection, steam and induction methods are speeding up the process with superior taste and nutrition.  Technology adds novelty to the experience with voice controlled faucets and programmable appliances. The kitchen plan can encourage cooking efforts of multiple-generations in the household as they work together re-creating traditional family recipes.

display healthy food in the open

Touchy Feely

While we are tuned-in to the visual appearance of a kitchen, the tactile experience is just as valuable to well-being.  There is nothing as satisfying as drawer glides that operate smoothly and the secure fit of a well made cabinet door.  Substantial hardware with a solid accessible grip offers ease of operation.  In this kitchen we use knobs and pulls from Emtek in the classic Ribbon & Reed design.

easy and accessible healthy snacks

To see more healthy living designs stop in to our state-of-the-art showroom.  We are open to the public and have endless inspiration for cabinetry design in every room of your home.

262-245-9600

201 Geneva National Ave. S.

Lake Geneva, WI 53147

Others who contributed to the success of this project

Lowell Custom Homes

Plato Woodwork, Inc.

JC Plumbing & Heating

Bella Tile & Stone

Carrera Extra Marble from Levantina Stone Center & Fabricated by Old World Stone

Wolf Range and SubZero Refrigeration

Emtek Hardware

 

Photography by Shanna Wolf S.Photography and Styling

 

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