What a fitting celebration for friends to gather and enjoy an evening learning from Ric Orlando, celebrated chef of New World Bistro Bar.


The evening began with refreshing margaritas and continued with a powerfully flavored array of Mexican street foods including:


• The best Guacamole north of the border
• Ceviche “Mixto”…not as frightening to prepare as I thought
• “Green” Chicken Tacos, the new slider
• Jicama Slaw: Jicama is a crunchy, slightly sweet root veggie native to Central America that tastes like a cross between a water chestnut and an apple. It makes amazing slaw.
• Queso Fresco
• Perfectly Mexican Black Beans
• Yellow Rice


Ric explained that since these foods are powerfully flavored with acidity, spice and herbal notes, skip the big red wines and gravitate towards those bright whites like NY Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Soave and Albarino. Of course beer, margaritas or sangria are perfect to enjoy with these dishes as well.

Special thanks to Ric, Lisa, Scott and CC’s special event planner Michele and designer Mary for organizing such a memorable evening!

For some details, as well as additional pictures, of the Grimmett’s magnificent home, visit the portfolio section of our website:
http://www.ccabinet.com/portfolio/nature-reclaimed/



Enjoy these final weeks of summer,
Ray

Senior Designer Amy Van Wie had recently finished a multi-room project for the Kuhn’s when she, and our special events coordinator Michele Weiser, thought it would be a great idea to ask Shannon and Jim if they would be willing to host a cooking event in their spectacular kitchen. The rest, as they say, is history.

Evan Levey greeted everyone and turned the evening over to Jaime who was amazing. Funny, entertaining, informative, organized…an absolute perfect instructor chef! Friends gathered around the island to watch, learn and enjoy!

The menu was a celebration of summer:

• Edamame Dumplings with a Riesling Broth
• Diver Seared Scallops with a Fennel, Arugula, Orange Salad with Cauliflower Puree
• Seasoned Filet Mignon, Heirloom Tomatoes with a Pebre Sauce, and Fingerling Potato Hash with Veal Glaze

Enjoy!
Ray

Best in Kitchen Design – Over $75,000
New Construction – Saratoga Springs, NY
Brookhaven I – Frameless Cabinetry
Door: Kitchen – Vista Plus and Pantry – Colony Recessed
Finish: Matte Eclipse on Oak and Alpine White Painted on Maple
Countertop: Kitchen – White Macaubus Quartzite and Pantry – Original  Soapstone

The design of Skyfall flows seamlessly, an organic journey that is magically connected to earth and sky. The central axis solidly anchors the design and it just unfolds from there. The sleekness of the interior selections, especially the kitchen cabinetry, has a very metropolitan feel which plays beautifully off the Cape Cod inspired lines of the exterior of the home. The coolness of the natural stone countertops in both the kitchen and pantry is warmed by the soft white pantry cabinets and rich tones of the rift cut oak kitchen cabinets. The result is an inviting sophistication…a perfect synthesis of urban chic situated in bucolic splendor.

New construction, in particular, allows homeowners to really prioritize what is important to them. Skyfall’s main kitchen, bookending the magnificent great room, is an ideal place to entertain long into the evening, necessitating an uber functional, separate chef’s pantry where all the prep work, cooking and clean-up takes place, out of sight.

Skyfall is a testament to refined elegance.

Design-Best Bathroom Design-Over $40,000
Remodel – Troy, NY
Wood-Mode 42 – Inset Cabinetry
Door: Pavilion Raised
Finish: Vintage White
Countertop: Marble
Designer: Amy Van Wie

The ultimate spa master bathroom; fluffy white towels required!
No detail was overlooked and no shortcuts were taken in creating this oasis of tranquility that is the homeowners’ favorite room in their magnificent home. The completely custom nine foot vanity includes elegant tall wall cabinets. A tailored valance spans the entire length of the piece to cover the mood enhancing task lighting. Plenty of storage drawers and cabinets keep the magnificent marble countertop clutter free. A walk-in steam shower and spa tub complete the experience

Best in Bathroom Design – Under $40,000
New Construction – Halfmoon, NY
Brookhaven I – Frameless Cabinetry
Door: Bridgeport Recessed
Finish: Java on Maple
Countertop: Carrera MarbleA spa bath with a distinctive masculine touch. Plenty of drawer storage allows countertops to remain clutter free maintaining the clean angular lines of the vanity, sinks and mirrors. Plenty of natural light enhances the dark wood and the modern details of the shaker style door and square stepped toe-kick valances add classic refinement to the serene space. The eye-catching cabinetry hardware finishes the project with a bit of fun bling.

Share

De-clutter

This was the number one suggestion from everyone. No one ever associated a Zen atmosphere with stuffed closets or messy countertops. Clutter promotes a sense of chaos that is disturbing and unsettling. But de-cluttering is work and decisions need to be made. First, adopt the purging mindset. Second, decide what your criteria and benchmarks are going to be. Some folks use the “if I have not used it in a year, it’s gone” approach. A relatively new and trendy method is asking for every object in your home: “Does this give me joy?” Third, be ruthless. It’s scientific…to create more space, stuff has to go. Full stop. Remember a simplified, clean space is a calm space.

Color

There is a proven connection between the cooler side of the color wheel and a sense of calm. So why not experiment with warm gray, heather blue or sea-glass green. Natural beiges and whites are also very effective…so go ahead…paint a wall, accessorize with new pillows or a classic wool throw or invest in new bedding.

Music

Work on a calming playlist and mix it up. Some classical mixed with new age, jazz and art/indie rock help create a meditative background.

Clean Windows and Candles

Lighting is so important when it comes to mood. Plenty of natural light cheers the soul, so as soon as it is warm enough, clean those windows. Nothing makes a house feel more ready for spring than glistening glass panes. And for those remaining long winter nights, candles are not only a hint of romance but also a source of tranquility. Avoid scented candles and stick with white…tea lights, votives, chunky pillars…there really is no room in your home that doesn’t benefit from candlelight.

Flowers

A soft fragrance does wonders to calm stress and nothing can replace the beauty of a natural floral scent. Splurge on a flat of paper whites for a more subtle fragrance or go full out with hyacinths, a true harbinger of spring.

Namaste,

Ray

September 20-21, 27-28 and October 4-5
11 AM – 5 PM

Be sure to visit
SkyFall
106 Southard Road, Saratoga Springs

a stunning modern New England home with unobstructed views of the Mohawk Valley and Adirondack Mountains and a custom kitchen, pantry, dining hutch and mud room designed by CCW

For additional information on the Showcase of Homes visit www.saratogashowcaseofhomes.com

See you at the Showcase,

Ray

First let’s talk functionality. All the steam, heat and grease around a cook-top are not very friendly towards wallpaper or wall paint. It just makes sense to install something that withstands the humidity and is easy to clean. When considering materials, remember the more porous the tile, the more difficult it is to clean. This is one reason why solid glass back-splash has become so popular. It also looks amazing!

Now for design. In my mind, the most important determining factor for the color and style of your back-splash is your counter-top. For example, if you have any granite surface, other than solid black, I would never suggest a patterned tile. The vein texture and color variation in the granite is interesting enough on its own and will fight any pattern in the back-splash. Different fabric patterns, think paisley and stripes, can work well together as long as the colors blend…not so with tile and counter-top. In most cases, I suggest steering away from patterned tile full stop. It is trendy and can easily date your kitchen. But if it is something your creative juices are insisting on, be sure to pair it with a solid color counter-top.

Probably my favorite option is glazed subway tile. Timeless, easy to clean, classic…it works with just about any style, design and counter-top.

For a more recent trend, consider metallic options. Go ahead and have fun with different shades and finishes from brushed stainless and oil-rubbed bronze, to antique brass and stamped tin.

Back-splash plays an important functional role in your kitchen but also adds a great deal to the aesthetic and design. I just love a warm tiled niche behind the cooking area.

Ray

The American Society of Landscape Architects report that fire pits are the #1 requested design feature by far…and why not? They provide a hospitable, warm gathering place to enjoy conversation and a glass of wine well beyond Labor Day. In fact they can extend the use of your backyard to Thanksgiving…even in chilly Albany!

Constructing a fire pit into your landscape can be a simple, inexpensive addition or a more complex renovation…either way grab some s’mores fixings and offer a toast to the cool nights of autumn.

Ray Roberts

A stunning curved rock wall frames the space, with natural boulders surrounding the flames

Uber cool fire table with extra warmth at additional seating

Interesting take on the traditional circular shape

Enjoy!

Ray

Check out this review on the blog: Simplified Bee:

http://www.simplifiedbee.com/2014/03/wood-mode-cabinetry.html

Happy Summer,

Laura

This was a very special project and a very special home with a magnificent open floor plan and sweeping view of Saratoga Lake. Natural stone and reclaimed wood were used to bring the beauty of the surroundings into the home and the heartwood maple of the cabinets was finished with a lightly distressed matte brown with black glaze. This spectacular kitchen/great room truly defines the casual elegance of modern family living.