End grain is the grain that appears at the end of a piece of wood rather than on the face of the piece of wood. I recently read in Woodsmith.com…

“End grain naturally looks a little different than face grain. And it also acts differently, too. The reason is simple. The end of a board is made up of open pores that work like a bunch of straws. Whatever is put on the face grain of the board won’t be absorbed very quickly. But any liquid (like stain or glue) applied to the open pores of the end grain will be pulled deeply into the wood. 

So end grain creates a real problem when applying stain. The open pores suck up stain like a kid at a soda fountain. And the deeper the stain gets pulled into the wood, the darker the color will be at the surface. The result is that the ends are noticeably darker than the face of the piece.” 

Not only does end grain usually appear darker, you will also notice that end grain, especially after staining, typically does not feel as smooth to the touch. Even though it has been thoroughly sanded prior to staining, end grain will (depending on the wood species) feel less smooth than the face board. 

You will notice this most on the top edge of doors and on the side edges of drawers – when they are constructed from solid wood and not veneers. From our perspective – this adds to the beauty of your cabinets being made from solid natural woods. If this is objectionable to you – choose less natural materials such as veneers or laminates.

While sleek and simple styles continue to dominate the decorative hardware market, consumers are also demanding offerings that allow them to personalize their spaces while better accessing hidden corners and hard-to-reach areas.

Additionally, the green trend continues to play a role in design trends, with a growing interest in natural materials such as bamboo and glass.

Below are some of the hottest trends in decorative and functional hardware.

• Style wise, sleek and simply styles continue to dominate the decorative hardware market, with gimmicky hardware of the past being replaced with more classic, enduring designs.
• While hardware is less ornate than in years past, the desire for something rare or unusual is on the rise, as consumers increasingly use hardware to personalize their spaces. For that reason, custom pieces are gaining in popularity.
• In decorative hardware, polished chrome, satin nickel and polished nickel continue to be strong sellers, while gold tones and muted dark bronzes are also gaining in popularity. There's also an upsurge in using polished finishes to create a more formal feeling in the home.
• The interest in all things green has led to a growth in demand for hardware made from natural materials, such as leather, bamboo and glass.
• A growing trend toward simpler, knob-less cabinetry in the kitchen had increased interest in everything from touch latches to elaborate electronically operated drawer systems. In functional hardware, there's a growing expectation among homeowners that cabinetry will include elements such as soft-close.
• With more consumers working within the existing footprint of their kitchen rather than expanding, there's a greater need for hardware that maximizes access to hidden corners, upper and base cabinets and otherwise difficult-to-get-to storage spaces.

This article was provided by Kitchen & Bath Design News
www.kitchenbathdesign.com

It’s been 14 years since the first wave of Baby Boomers turned 50, and suffice it to say their world has changed. The retirement lifestyle many are anticipating now, on the eve of their 64th birthdays, is somewhat different from the one they envisioned back then.

For starters, the chronology of retirement has shifted, and many boomers say they now plan to keep working well into their 60s, if not 70s, according to a recent survey conducted by Harris Interactive for Pulte/Del Webb, the preliminary findings of which were previewed at the International Builders’ Show in Las Vegas in January. 

The study, which polled Boomers in two specific age groups--those turning 50 this year, and those turning 64--found that the average anticipated retirement age has been extended by about four years. Whereas a majority of 50-year-olds polled in 1996 said they planned to retire at 63, those turning 50 today said they expect to retire around age 67.

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Some shifts in direction emerge; other trends continue

Posted: January 14th, 2010 11:21 AM GMT-05:00

HACKETTSTOWN, NJ -- January 12, 2010 -- The results are in from a recent survey of designers conducted by the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) to reveal the key design trends for 2010. The results of the NKBA 2010 Kitchen & Bath Design Trends Survey confirmed the continuation of a number of existing trends in the marketplace, but also uncovered others that indicate shifts in the direction that kitchen and bath style will take this year. Below are 2010’s seven kitchen trends and four bath trends.

KITCHENS
1. Traditional is the New Contemporary
Traditional will continue as the most popular kitchen design style in 2010, with contemporary following closely behind, while the Shaker style is seeing a surprisingly strong resurgence. Shades of whites and off-whites will be the most common kitchen colors in 2010, while brown, beige, and bone hues will also be popular.

2. Cherry on Top
Cherry will remain the most popular wood for kitchen cabinetry, followed closely by maple, while alder increases in use. As for the finishes placed on those cabinets, medium natural, dark natural, glazed, and white painted will all be common. Other colors of painted cabinetry and light natural finishes are in decline, however, as are distressed finishes.

3. Floored by Tile
Ceramic and porcelain tile, as well as natural stone tile, remain popular kitchen flooring options, but hardwood will dominate the kitchen landscape more than ever in 2010. For countertops, granite continues to be the most popular option, but quartz will nearly catch up in popularity. For backsplashes, ceramic or porcelain tile and glass will serve as the primary materials.

4. Flexible Faucets
Standard kitchen faucets will become less standard in 2010 in favor of more convenient models. Pull-out faucets continue to increase their market dominance, while pot filler faucets will also become more prevalent. Kitchen faucets will most often be finished in brushed nickel, followed by stainless steel, satin nickel, and—surprisingly—polished chrome.

5. Undercounter Refrigeration
French door and freezer-bottom are the two most popular styles of refrigerators, and side-by-side refrigerators remain a popular option. A surprising trend is the extent to which undercounter refrigerator drawers are being used in the latest kitchen designs. Perhaps even more surprising is that undercounter wine refrigerators have been recently specified by half of kitchen designers.

6. A Range of Cooking Options
The tried-and-true range continues to serve as the workhorse for cooking, although the combination of a cooktop and wall oven is beginning to overtake it. Gas will maintain its position as the most popular type of cooktop over electric, although induction cooking continues to gain in popularity due to its energy efficiency.

7. Dishwasher-in-a-Drawer
Standard dishwashers, with the traditional door that pulls from the top down, will once again be easily the most common type in 2010. However, an increasing number of dishwasher drawers will be installed in kitchens this year for their convenience and their ability to wash small loads of dishes in each drawer, thereby saving water and electricity.

BATHROOMS
1. In With the Old, Out with the New
Traditional will be the most popular design style in bathrooms in 2010, as contemporary designs will be a distant second, followed by the Shaker style as an even more distant third. Beiges and bones will be the most common colors used in bathrooms, followed by whites and off-whites, and then by browns, indicating a somewhat subdued color palette this year.

2. Ceramic and Granite
Ceramic and porcelain tile will be the dominant flooring materials in bathrooms this year, while natural stone will continue to prove popular as well. Though increasingly popular in kitchens, hardwood flooring won’t become common in bathrooms in 2010. For vanity tops, granite will remain king, with quartz and marble also proving popular options.

3. Simple Fixtures
Perhaps more than ever, the most common color for fixtures will be white. Bisque and off-white will be the only other fixture colors at all common in new or remodeled bathroom. For sinks, simple undermount models will be most popular, followed by integrated sink tops, drop-in sinks, vessel sinks, and pedestal sinks.

4. A Nickel for Every Finish
Faucet finishes in the bathroom are similar to those used in current kitchen designs, with brushed nickel continuing to lead the way in 2010. Polished chrome and satin nickel will also be incorporated into many bathrooms, just as they had been throughout 2009. These faucet finishes will be followed by bronze and stainless steel.

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