Aanensens News and Updates
From time to time we'll share some of our new work, along with updates and news about the business.Recent Project: Colorful Children’s Bath
This shared children's bath is a sophisticated study in blue and white, and is as functional as it is beautiful. We used a pallete of all white cabinets and field tile, and dressed them up with punches of different shades of blue glass tiles and accents. Here are some of the details,
Recent Project: Tranquil Master Bath
For this bathroom, the client requested a calm, ulcluttered, spa-like master bath. So we kept the design very simple, and then let the materials we chose build a rich, warm environment that is truly relaxing to be in. Here are some of the details:
Recent Project: Timeless American White Kitchen
This project was very rewarding. We did a beautiful kitchen that honored the character of this house, but also improved the entire first floor flow of the home with a few simple moves. We relocated the door to the rear of the house, from the kitchen to a new "mudroom",which had previously just been a large closet. Then we cut in a new entrance to the living room from this mudroom, connecting all the rooms on the first floor in a circular flow. It made the whole house feel bigger and more logical.
My Own Kitchen
Below is a link to my own personal kitchen, which we remodeled about 6 years ago, and was published in HOME Magazine in May 2007. It also won the Sub Zero/Wolf kitchen design contest for New Jersey that year. At the time, I was enamored with Scandinavian Modernism and its clean lines and use of simple, yet rich materials. The overall effect is a paradox: it is simultaneously warm and rich, but also light and airy.
We've changed some things since then, updated and recovered furniture, painted the walls, etc., but the bones remain the same. The Brookhaven cabinetry looks the same as the day it was installed, the solid walnut counters have developed a faint dappled texture and patina but still look fantastic, while the crema marfil marble island is stained and water marked and will most likely need to be resurfaced (though at this point I still regard the markings as a badge of honor from all the meals I've prepared on them). The Wolf and Sub Zero appliances still look great, but I have developed a relationship with my local service company and see them grudgingly every year or two. Like a German sports sedan that is now out of warrantee, cost of ownership can be high.
Hope you enjoy, here's the article:
http://www.elledecor.com/home-remodeling/articles/wooded-bliss
Quick Tip: Kitchen Design
In a short run of cabinets with a cooking appliance in it, rather than using a free-standing range, use a cooktop and built in wall oven below.
By having the counter and cabinets run all the way across, it unifies the wall, makes it look longer and gives it a higher degree of finish. It is a more expensive proposal as you are wiring for and buying two appliances and more counter and more cabinets, but worth it I think.
This is a hand painted kitchen with concrete and hand scraped knotty pine counters, glass tiles, and Wolf appliances. There's a pullout stepstool tucked into the toekick to reach the upper storage cabinets.
Recent Project: Basement Remodel
This was a great project that involved remodeling a large basement. One room was to serve as a seating and TV watching area, with room for billiards and ping pong. An adjacent room has a full sized bar and gaming table. There is also a nook for exercise equipment, a full bath, and an area we will call “the hockey wall” (still in progress) for the kids to take slap shots at, as hard as they want. We also designed a full sized laundry room, and cleaned up utility and electrical closets.
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