AIDP Decorating Open House

The Kleppinger Design Staff would like to thank all of the AIDP designers that participated in our Decorating Open House. They truly created a winter wonderland right here in our showroom. The decorations will remain up through the holidays so if you missed the open house and need some inspiration for the holidays, feel free to stop by our showroom for a visit. Information on the AIDP designers can be found on our AIDP webpage as well as in our showroom. AIDP member and photographer Bob Narod was kind enough to photograph the displays for us. Some of the images can be seen below. For more information on any of the decorations please contact Kleppinger Design Group or the AIDP designers. Click on any of the images below to enlarge.

Thanks again to Linda Bassert, Dianne Gensinger, Sue Rosenbaum, Marilyn Jenkinson, Toni Korby, Bonnie Heebner, and Bob Narod.

Save, Save, Save!

I’ve been learning about some methods to Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and SAVE money, energy and time right in the kitchen!

SAVE MONEY (It’s yours. You worked for it. Now keep some.)

Who wouldn’t want to waste less time and money? How about making less of a mess of our planet at the same time? We do the same things over and over because they are habits. What if we did some things just a bit differently? I know most of us have been recycling glass, plastic, metal and paper for quite some time. For some, that requires paying a trash company to haul it away for us. I recently learned that my refuse company had been charging me almost twice what another charges! (this after 10 years of paying enormous fees) After more inquiring, I further reduced this monthly fee by asking if they could stop by my house only once a week. The answer was yes. I now throw all the recyling together in one huge rolling bin, and all the trash in another identical one, and they are both picked up once a week. When I designed my kitchen, I placed a rollout trash/recycling bin next to my sink. It’s easy now to rinse the bottles and cans and toss them in. When it’s full, it gets dumped in the bin outside. No drips on the floor!

I’m Irish, and am always looking for ways to keep from having to buy stuff and more stuff. I have been washing disposable sponges in my dishwasher for years. As soon as they get grungy, I toss them into the top rack and run them thru. A quick squeeze when they come out and they smell like new. We have been even washing out our zip lock plastic bags. This may seem extreme, but some of those freezer bags are expensive, and if I only use them once, I’m spending my hard earned cash wastefully. Why not give them a sudsy rinse while you’re washing something else? The trick can be getting them dry though. Look at this cute little rack.

Parents, Kids, and Pets, Oh My!

When re-designing a kitchen space for a family, everyone who lives in the house and their needs must be considered. When I meet clients for the first time, I find out how many adults and kids there are, and also if they have pets. Some tell me “no pets yet“, but they are thinking about getting a dog. (Some tell me 3 cats, 2 dogs, a parakeet, a lizard, and 2 snakes!) I have a good reason for wanting to know about the pets because of their specific requirements. Can the floor material hold up to sandy dog feet? Where will you bathe the dog? Their food and feeding is also a household issue that must be addressed. If it’s a big dog, or several dogs, often the food is stored in huge bags in the pantry, a closet, or the laundry room. I often find boxes and bags of it in the old knee hole of the original kitchen desk (where no one has sat, apparently, since 1976).

Since we are starting from scratch, we can prepare a specific spot to feed the pets, store their food and hair care products, and even be sure to plan a great washing area for them. I try to also think about other items like the leashes. Can they go somewhere near the door without being in full view? Let’s make this easier, ok?

The floor material is critical. The enemy of a new wood floor is not water, food, or even the dog’s nails. It’s the grit that comes in from outside. That grit, carried onto the floor, begins to get spread around on your feet, the bottoms of chair legs, etc. It acts like sandpaper on your new floor. This doesn’t mean you can’t have wood floors, but if you do you will have to stop the grit from getting in. (or else vacuum and mop every day.) Most of us have a rug of some sort in the foyer and garage entry. If you come in the house with the dog through the garage, a space can be set up out there for wiping the dog’s feet before entering the house. Ideally, there is also a laundry tub nearby to make this easier and more efficient. A mud room would be the ideal place, if you have one. (see My Mud)

A feeding station needs to have a mat of some sort to catch the drips, (which in the case of Great Danes is considerable.) This mat should be water resistant, but can also be pretty. You will want the colors to coordinate with your new cabinets, countertops, and other accent accessories. Bargain rugs are available from lots of outlet type stores. Home Goods, T J Max, and Bed Bath, & Beyond come to mind. (look in the “Beyond” department!) Since these colorful rugs are usually inexpensive, they can be replaced as they get ratty without too much guilt. We also have to be certain to locate this station where it will not impede the daily traffic of your busy kitchen