Like fashion, kitchen design goes through trends in color, materials and style. For years the big trend in kitchen design has been beautiful wood cabinets, granite counter tops and traditional styling.  We’ve seen white return as a popular kitchen cabinet and backsplash color. And now we are seeing black and dark grays becoming popular choices for cabinets.  These dark colors create a dramatic space that can work in most style kitchen designs, from farmhouse to contemporary, traditional to modern.

Dark colored cabinets are trending to black, a range of grays, and deep navy. Dark chocolate brown is also being seen. What kind of countertops can work in a dark, dramatic kitchen? That depends on your own style.  Some dark cabinets are being paired with dark granite and marble, soapstone and even cement counters.  Others are using lighter granite, quartz and white marble to balance the deep color.

Floors throughout the home are going darker, as seen in the ebonized wood floor trend.  Kitchens are seeing this trend as well.  Dark wood floors, slate and other dark floor materials work well with the dramatic cabinet colors. A colorful runner or rug can incorporate color into the design as well as provide a comfortable surface underfoot.

When going dark in the kitchen, lighting is even more important.  Under cabinet and task lighting will provide enough light to work and highlight the drama of the room. Metal hardware will stand out against dark cabinets like the perfect piece of jewelry against a little black dress.

When we think about seasonal decorating, we usually think of the seasonal holiday colors; red, white and blue for summer; foliage colors for fall and so forth. For winter decorating, think outside of the typical red and green for Christmas or blue and white of Chanukah for inspiration. Winter white is a warm white that is less yellow than cream, but lighter than a beige.

Taking a cue from fashion, winter white is a terrific choice for richer tones of white that work well with the deeper tones typical of winter: deep green, crimson, and jewel tones. Or you can create a winter white wonderland and layer this rich neutral with other neutrals and textures. Like the picture, mixing in different textures in the form of textiles, pillows and throws can make a monochrome palette interesting and far from bland. Thick throws inspired by winter sweaters and knit covered pillows in winter white create a cozy feeling that is perfect for a bedroom or a room with a fireplace.

Winter white accessories are also easier to live with than crisp, pure decorator’s white. Soft, warm whites on walls and trim can give a nice hint of color to a room. If you are afraid of white carpet, wood floors with a winter white area rug might be the answer. You could choose a light or white washed wood floor to keep the space monochrome. A dark floor in a winter white room would be much more dramatic.

Whether you chose to paint or just add a few accessories, consider using winter white for a seasonal color that is sophisticated and subtle.

When you work from home, it’s smart to set up your own location for basic office supplies. You can buy a simple two-door cabinet like this one, or add shelves and doors to a closet so that you’re able to recreate this type of storage space.

Before you set up your cabinet, choose a location with hard even flooring like the one in this photo, and then use a level and shims to make sure that the cabinet is even. This will keep the doors from falling closed or open and keep your supplies in place.

It makes sense to limit your choices so that you don’t have to use up too much space. Think of your office basics. To start, what do you need for your computer and printer? You may want to buy a case of paper because it’s less expensive than buying it by the 500-sheet ream. Ink in an ink-jet printer often runs out without warning, so it’s a good idea to have an extra set of color and black and white ink cartridges.

Make a list of supplies that you use regularly, and those that could cause trouble or inconvenience if you ran out of them unexpectedly. Add to that list those items that are less expensive if bought in bulk. Now you have a good start.

To avoid unnecessary clutter, look for a few boxes or containers to hold things such as paper clips, staples, pens and other small items. Don’t overcrowd the shelves so that you can keep track of materials easily. If you want, place a small clipboard or notepad on the inside of one door to write down a shopping list when you use up your extra supplies or start running low.

While a cabinet like this may take some time and effort to set up, your office supplies will then be permanently under control with very little additional effort on your part.

Ready for a little more personality in your home office or bedroom? How about thinking outside the shelf when determining how to store books?

This zigzag approach actually holds quite a few volumes while adding a touch of design daring to your home. This style can be found on the Internet or easily built if you’re handy.

Want even more of a design feel? How about sorting the books by color on each shelf? Combining red, green, blue and black covers would increase the sculptural feel. Some designers also cover books in white or brown paper to keep them looking clean and simple. Of course, this turns them into accessories rather than functional objects.

By choosing a light color for the shelves, furniture and walls, this homeowner chose to have the furnishings almost fade into the background and the accessories and books stand out. If your accessories are more functional than attractive, using a brightly colored or black set of shelves and dresser or buffet would put the accessories in the background. This might be a better choice in a commercial application such as an office.

Shelves like these have only become possible since the development of shelf holders that become invisible once the shelves are installed. This clean approach allows the shelves themselves to become part of a clean and contemporary look.

Don’t choose the simplest or most standard options when you decorate your home. Even something as simple as a bookshelf can become a statement of your personality if you look outside the standard in your home’s design.

Does this photo appeal to you? The sight of a variety of silver picture frames or boxes creates a mood of another time. If you have a corner of your home – possibly a small side table – that would benefit from a touch of the old fashioned, look out for an old silver piece or two to set the mood.

Some large cities such as New York have stores completely devoted to old silver. The front has all the pricey products, beautifully polished and behind glass. But if you move to the back the shelves are piled high with less expensive items, often tarnished almost black.

If you’re not close to an old large city, look for silver at antique and thrift shops and antique festivals. Dusty stores with tarnished silver are your best choice for finding a bargain.

Bring a polishing cloth to enable you to look for a sterling sign. If you don’t know how to find it ask the salesperson. Every sterling piece has that symbol.

Silver plate is fine for your purpose. Use your polishing cloth to make sure it’s still thick enough to shine up without showing base metal underneath. Would you like a frame like one of these? Maybe a serving spoon or two? How about a silver plate to showcase holiday cookies? Take your time finding the right choice for you – the search is half the fun.

When you bring it home don’t make the mistake of using liquid or paste polishes – you will lose the patina that old silver carries. A polishing cloth will let the carved bits retain their darkness so that you can really appreciate the details.

You may have a modern house with tile or stone floors or a more traditional home with carpeting or wood, but in either case, one or two pieces of old silver can add sparkle and personality during the holidays or at any time.

This time of the year, many people are faced with a pile of gifts to wrap. For some, this is a fun part of the holidays. For others, it can feel like seasonal torture. Here are some tips to make wrapping gifts more enjoyable.

Use the proper tools:

Choose sturdy wrapping paper. Paper that rips easily is hard to arrange on a package without tearing it.

Scissors are fine, but you may want to grab a gift wrap cutter at your local card or discount store. These cutters, a little larger than a pen, allow you to cut your paper quickly.

Pick up a tape dispenser like the one in the photo for your wrapping efforts. Unlike the smaller, disposable home-use dispensers, this one allows you to pull and cut a piece of tape with one hand. That way you can hold the spot to be taped closed while getting the tape ready at the same time. It’s a little thing, but when you’re wrapping many gifts it makes a difference.

Choose a style:

Like your home, your wrapping paper look can be uniquely yours. If you buy a set of 3-6 rolls, they are generally color-coded to match. If you want, just select one type of wrapping paper and ribbon so that all the presents that come from you have the same look.

Keep ribbon easy:

If you buy a 1 inch or wider wired ribbon – available at very reasonable prices at many warehouse stores – you can just tie it around a package with a standard bow (like the one you use to tie sneakers) and it will look lovely. If you want, look for small decorations or inexpensive ornaments to tie in with the bow to add charm.

Just follow these suggestions and maybe your wrapping efforts will be easier this year, and remember, if you really are all thumbs about wrapping, there are always gift bags!

Like a conductor about to start a symphony, this little girl knows exactly what she expects from her stuffed animal menagerie. She also knows what she wants in a bedroom and her parents were able to meet her goals while managing to keep the space tidy and functional for her as she grows up.

To start, the wood floor matches the honey pine of the bed and bookshelf and desk unit. With those choices for flooring and furniture, her color and style preferences can change at a minimal cost for redecorating. Everything is light enough to be rearranged at a moment’s notice.

The windows also have wood blinds to match the flooring. At the moment, they’re not visible behind the flowered paper Japanese fans with flowers in her current favorite color: purple. Instead of the curtains that would get in the way of various favorite bears, her parents painted the window frame purple – adding an extra splash of the dark purple on the walls, creating a curtain effect.

The bedspread’s neutral charcoal can take lots of abuse and goes in the washer and dryer with no trouble. When she is ready for a change, paint and accessories can re-create the room to her liking.

If you want your children to make their own decisions for their rooms, build a good basic structure and then let them have their way. They will be happy with their choices, and when it’s time for a new look, the process will be easy and inexpensive.

Most homes move from the entryway to the living room, or possibly a great room space. This home, in contrast, sets the dining room as the center of the home, and it works well for entertaining and family time.

The stone floor runs throughout the first level of the home, providing an easy elegance to support the sturdy carved dining table and leather chairs. Rustic wood is prevalent in the space, which works well with the variegated stone.

Archways define the space while providing connections between the rooms. Color also plays an important role. Notice that the maroon stripes in the dining room area rug match the leather color on the chairs at the counter in the kitchen. Further connection comes from having those chairs in the same style as the ones in the dining room.

From an entertaining standpoint, it would be easy to use the two consoles in the dining room as buffet tables, providing plenty of space to sit in the dining room and kitchen. The open feeling and many arches encourage movement while still providing places for smaller gatherings of people.

The chandelier’s candle-like style provides the feeling of candles without any of the maintenance and wax-drip issues. This home could be dressed up for the holidays or provide a nice background for a simple family gathering. And with the dining room in the center of the home, it invites people to sit at the table and enjoy every event.

Who would have ever thought that the world’s largest crane would make an appearance in Chandler, Arizona? Just a mile from Fulton Ranch the crane (and its operators too) are hard at work on construction of the new Intel facility otherwise known as Fab 45.

Intel Corp’s $5 billion investment in a new facility not only brings thousands of factory and construction jobs to the area but also higher wage and higher skill positions. When the facility opens in 2013 the factory will be the most advanced high-volume semiconductor manufacturing facility in the world.

Since many of our homeowners are working on this project we thought you may want to see pictures of what they are creating AND of course pictures of the largest crane in the world.

Isn’t it FAB(45)ulous?

Are you having a big family gathering for Thanksgiving? Well, now is the time to lay out your plans for the day.

One way to make your holiday feel more like family time is to bring family members into the cooking process. Instead of one or two people spending all their time in the kitchen, how about involving more family members in all steps of dinner preparation?

To start, consider asking some people to bring something. It may be that Aunt Marguerite makes the best cranberry sauce, or Cousin Rita has a wonderful hand with pie pastry. Don’t hog all the glory or take on all the work.

Even if someone is not a cook, they can help. For example, this husband is doing the heavy lifting on the turkey to make basting so much easier. Chores such as setting the table, polishing the silver, or ironing napkins can be handed out to various family members.

Be sure to make any children part of the preparation as well as the festivities. Stirring dressing, reading a recipe or even chopping celery if the child is old enough makes them feel like an important part of the holiday plans. And at dinner, it gives them the opportunity to say, “I helped,” when compliments are given.

Be sure to give family members and friends who pitched in lots of credit and compliments on the big day – then they’re so much more likely to help again next year!