I love the motion of the Dancing Circles bar stool from Horchow. ($599)

Breakfast on the run, snacks after school and dinner in shifts to accommodate the softball, boy scout and PTA meetings.  It’s great if everyone can sit down at the table together but often times it’s just not possible.  Bar and counter stools are some of the most useful pieces of furniture in your home.  First things first, a counter stool is the proper height for a counter and bar stool…well, for a bar!  But how to do you know which is best?  Basically you want your seat to be 12″ below your eating surface.  So here’s the the rundown on the most common measurements:

• A dining table is 30″ high and a dining chair has a seat height of 18″.
• A countertop is 36″ high and a counter stool has a seat height of 24″.
• A bar is usually about 42″ high and a bar stool has a seat height of 30″.

The Series 7 bar stool from Design Within Reach was originally designed in 1955 and remains a modern classic. It comes in 6 colors including lime green. ($677)

The Vintage Oak Wine Barrel Stool from The Wine Enthusiast are made from recycled wood making them antique, eco-friendly and unique! ($199.95)

So now that you have the basics down, it’s time to search for a super cool stool that will take things to a whole new level.  This is an opportunity to pick something really special.  Here are my guidelines:

1. Measure before you shop- Stools with arms take up a lot more space.  You want at least 6″ between stools.  A space that accommodate 3 stools with arms, can usually allow 4 stools without arms.
2. Accent-uate the positive- Consider bringing a new material into the mix with metal, bamboo or plexiglass. Please do not choose the stools that match your dining chairs!
3. Don’t let the fabric distract you- Some bar stools have slip seats so if you love the stool but the fabric is lacking, you can always replace it.
4. Looking back - Most times your are going to be admiring your new stools from behind so the back and leg design should be your priority.  If you want to simplify an already-busy kitchen design, then go backless.

The Malibu Bar and Counter Stools from Cottage and Bungalow are crisp, simple and come in 13 colors including Creme Brulee and Cherry Cobbler. ($716)

La Tour Counter Stool in Semois Red from Pierre Deux has a antique cherry finish and nailhead trim. ($450)

Shop for a your own cool stools in My Secret Database!

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Painted Solid Pine Island from Ballard Designs gives a more built-in look and also provides additional storage for cookbooks.

The kitchen is the heart and soul of your home.  It’s the place you eat, chat, laugh, cry, quibble and makeup.   It’s a hard working room so it deserves an update every now and then.  It may not be in your budget to renovate right now, but there are certainly affordable options for an exciting upgrade.  If you have an L-shaped or U-shaped kitchen, it may be the perfect opportunity to add an island.  Islands offer you much-needed countertop space as well as the opportunity to make a bold style statement.  Here are some of my favorite finds:

With its painted base and butcher block top, this little number is a great focal point and a high quality choice from Sur La Table

This affordable option from Home Decorator's collection is great for apartment living.

With its scalloped apron and distressed finish, this would the perfect addition to a Beach House or Cottage.

My Secret Shopping Tips:

• Only choose tops that are solid surface (Granite, Corian, etc) or solid wood.  Cheaper versions use wood veneers that will deteriorate quickly from moisture and cutting.  Butcher Block is the best.
• Measure your kitchen and make sure you have at least 30″ between countertops.  36″ is optimal but we all know that some kitchens just don’t allow for it.
• The island does not have to “match” your kitchen.  Select a style that is clearly complimentary.  Nothing is worse than a near miss.

Your new island is sure to make meal prep easier and your kitchen a bit more fashionable.  Enjoy!

Shop for Kitchen Islands and other cool stuff for your Kitchen in My Secret Database!

I know it and you know it.  There is something in your home that needs to be caulked; some mildew in the shower, peeling around the sink, and there’s that huge gap in the baseboard.  So after months of avoidance you pull out the huge caulk gun and pray that the 5 tubes of caulk in your garage have an ounce of moisture left in them.  Of course all five tubes are bone dry and the cyle of avoidance continues…

But alas, there is a great alternative that has just made the scene.  General Electric has just introducted Caulk Singles and never before has a boring home fix it tool had such potential to change your life.  They addressed the problems that a caulk job used to present:

• Achy hands? - This nifty little tube is easy to squeeze with one hand and has no air bubbles.
• Messy Application? - Your skill level raises from a “13-year-old girl using liquid eyeliner” to a pro in a snap.
• Leftovers? - One tube will do a sink, 2 tubes for a tub, and so on.  Just buy what you need.

I read through some of the user comments on the site and most people seem quite pleased.  There is even an artist who is using them as art supplies.  They come in white, clear and paintable finishes and are available at Lowe’s, Ace Hardware and Tru-Value for about $3.  Or you can sign up for a free sample here.  According to user comments the free sample arrives with instructions in Spanish, and that really seemed to tick people off.  Come on people, if you can take the time to come to the site and complain, you can surely find the instructions on the site!  

Have fun and let me know your experience is like with Caulk Singles! 

Some of the simplest items in our lives make things soooo much easier:  A garbage can that is easy to open when your hands are full, soap that dispenses automatically when your hands are dirty, a paper towel dispenser that knows “when to say when.”  Messy situations like these call for quick solutions.  That’s where Simple Human steps in.

I was in Bed, Bath and Beyond last week looking for a few knick-knacks.  (It’s one of those stores that I enter with the intention of buying coat hangers and exit with a new mixer, bamboo towels and a shower curtain.)  Anyway, I saw all these cool products by Simple Human and was enthralled by their sleek design and utter simplicity.  They offer new solutions to old items such as garbage cans, adjustable shower caddies, and paper towel holders.  Who knew organization could be so enticing?

Their products are durable, innovative and easy to use.  From dish racks made with high grade stainless to quiet closing trash cans with finger and stain proof finishes, I promise that you will find any excuse to buy a few of their nifty products.  Most everything comes with a 5 year warranty.  Sounds like they plan to be around for a while… and that’s a good thing.

Visit Simple Human!

Whether you cook as a profession, hobby, or out of necessity, there is no reason that you have to suffer for your supper.  Wood and tile floors are beautiful, but they can be murder on your back.  So we try different things: rugs, slippers, sneakers or takeout.  Well here’s a stylish solution for you…GelPro Mats. 

These wonderful mats help relieve back pain, foot pain and arthritis by providing you a much-needed mediator between you and the unforgiving floor.  You can use them in so many places: the kitchen, at your work bench, in your bathroom or in the laundry room.  The non-slip mat has a gel core that helps absorb shock and the outside synthetic surface is stain resistant and easy to clean.  They are available in 6 different styles/textures and a multitude of colors with one sure to coordinate with your kitchen.  There are two sizes available - single (20″x36″) or double (20″x72″) and they have a 30-day money back guarantee.  Now you too can cook in comfort!

Visit Gel Pro on My Design Secrets!

Are you ready for a burst of design genius in the kitchen?  Well, if you have glass fronts on your kitchen cabinets, then you are in luck.  Bendheim Cabinet Glass opens up whole new world with beautiful and unusual glass inserts that are sure to make your kitchen a showplace.  The company has been working in the specialty glass business since 1927 and in the past had only worked with designers and architects.  Now they also work directly with homeowners, giving you access to an unbelievable assortment of glass with something sure to strike your fancy.

Bendheim carries seven types of glass such as Colored, Etched or Mouth Blown as well as five styles including Contemporary, Retro and Traditional.  They also clearly indicated which styles are available; Tempered (breaks in many small pieces on impact) or Laminated (plastic layer in the glass that keeps the glass fragments together).  You can choose Seeded Glass to go with your Farmhouse cabinets or mix it up a bit with a Contemporary patten for your Shaker style kitchen.  You have so many options.

Bendheim gives you specific step-by-step directions on how to measure for the glass and you can order samples online.  They import and stock everything in their New Jersey warehouse and carefully pack it so it arrives to you intact and in a timely manner.   They also have some cool videos to show you how the glass is made.  Have fun browsing, it is going to be hard to pick just one!

Visit Bendheim Cabinet Glass and shop for Kitchen furnishings in My Secret Database!

Designers have long known the benefits of high quality leather. It’s durable, long lasting and beautiful. A very cutting edge company called York Street Studio is finding new places for leather in your home. The company is making leather panels and tiles for walls and floors and they are gorgeous. They are water resistant, easy to install and easy to maintain. You can use them in the kitchen, office, or just about anywhere you please. Take a look at the selection offered on their website. You’ll be amazed!

Renovating your kitchen? Well here is a cool way to add some fun to your project. Elmira Stove Works has put a unique twist on some old favorites. They manufacture unbelievable reproduction appliances from two different eras.

Glass Knob in Sapphire with Polished Chrome Base $16.33

Paint an old dresser off-white and add these beautiful knobs for a fresh twist!

Decorative knobs are not just for kitchen cabinets anymore. Knobs on bi-fold doors and dressers are often over-looked as a place to add a bit of personalization and freshen things up. Breathe some new life into a a tired old dresser: sand it, paint it and add some new knobs! We also have cabinets in the laundry room and home office. Lighten up the mood and let your personality shine through with these fun options.

Camisole Knob (Antique Matte Silver) $7.60

This is a cute knob for the laundry room!

Sand Dollar Cabinet Knob (Antique Brass) $18.70

If you daydream of vacations by the sea while in your home office, these sand dollar knobs will bring a smile to your face.

The Kohler Prologue kitchen sink with work surface on right and storage drawer system is really sleek looking and you can order it with the work surface on the left or right. It also comes with a custom cutting board and colander.

When embarking on a total or partial renovation in your kitchen, one of the most important items is your kitchen sink. This is the workhorse of the kitchen. A bad selection could cause regrets for years and it is not easily changed after countertops have been cut.

Here is a quick review of the options I feel are best for the kitchen:

Stainless steel is an excellent option and the one I personally prefer but it also depends on the style of your kitchen. It is very durable and it won’t rust, stain, fade, chip or crack. You want to buy an 18 or 20 gauge stainless and in this case, a lower number is better. 18 gauge is thicker than 20. If it is 18/10, then is has a ration of 18% chrome and 10% nickel. 18/10 will not rust and will maintain its appearance much longer and is thicker. The thicker the gauge, the less apt the sink is to dent, bow or make noise. A good stainless steel sink does acquire some scratches along the way but it results in a nice patina. Also, look for a sink with an undercoating, it will be much quieter.

Enamel coated cast iron sinks are very attractive and can be ordered in a variety of colors. You do run the risk of chips or cracks over time. They are very heavy and usually require a support if they are being undermounted. Lighter colors can also stain from wine or berries if they are not rinsed out in a timely manner.

The Clarity™ undercounter kitchen sink from Kohler is a beautiful cast iron sink that comes in many colors.

Solid Surface sinks are made out of the countertop materials such as Corian. They give a nice seamless appearance. They can also stain but they scratches can be buffed out and they are heat resistant.

A few last tips:

• I would recommend that any sink be undermounted for a cleaner appearance and you will not have grime build up on the lip on top of the counter.
• Many people like the double bowl sinks but make sure one bowl is large enough to clean a roasting pan if you cook a lot.
• Did you know you can clean stainless with a little olive oil on a rag or towel? That way you can avoid using the expensive chemical stainless cleaners.
• Double sinks sometimes come with the option of a custom sized dish rack. Make sure you install the disposal on the opposite side.