With a little help

New kitchens are increasingly designed as part of a larger family living area, rather than an isolated room. Such open-plan layouts call for a much more integrated design approach, which is why professional help is invaluable.

The kitchens on these pages were designed by members of the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA). Rob Allcorn CKD of The Kitchen & Bath Studio, Johns Creek, GA designed the traditionally styled kitchen for a classic, upscale family home.

Allcorn paired cream-painted maple cabinets with a black-stained island with a distressed finish. Beaded paneling and turned legs provide an informal furniture look that helps blur the line between the kitchen and living areas.

The more contemporary kitchen, above, was designed by Shadawn Zareh CKD, ASID, of Zareh Design, Fusion Design Group, Atlanta. This kitchen, in a remodeled 1929 bungalow, was part of a major remodeling program that provided one large family living and dining area.

Barbara Shelton AKBD, allied ASID, the new NKBA Georgia chapter president, says association members have the design expertise and product knowledge needed to find solutions to design challenges, no matter how big or small.

But the NKBA is not just for designers. The association includes contractors and manufacturers who can assist in building your new kitchen or bathroom.

"Homeowners need to know they are dealing with a professional company every step of the way, especially in the current economic climate," says Shelton. "The NKBA was established to monitor standards and foster excellence in design, manufacture and installation. The association also monitors the ethics and behavior of affiliated trades."

For more information, or to receive a copy of the Kitchen & Bath Consumer Workbook, call the NKBA, phone tollfree (800) 843 6522. Website: www.nkba.org.

Story by: Trendsideas