Tips on Selecting a Kitchen Sink

December 12, 2011 at 11:15 am

Ever think how much you use your kitchen sink? Probably a bunch! If you’re planning to remodel, build or replace a tired, dated sink, take a glimpse at these tips. Sink prices vary—buy quality and it will last for years.

Porcher London Farm sink

Apron-front or farmhouse sinks add to a cottage look.

Size & Configurations: Tons of styles. Max basin depth is nine inches but seven to eight is the norm. Double sinks are the most popular.  Oodles of choices in basin size, depth and shapes.  Snazzy corner and three basin models often fit-the-bill for a funky space. Farm or apron sinks look fab and are super for washing large pots.

Finishes: More choices than I have shoes…almost! Stainless remains hot. Others include cast iron, vitreous china, composite granite or quartz, copper, brass, fireclay and solid surface (sink and countertop are one piece). FYI—the lower the stainless gauge number, the thicker which helps reduce scratching & noise.

Installation: Drop-in sinks are used with any counter surface. Undermounted sinks work with all surfaces except laminate.

Dual basin stainless sink

Double basin sinks are available in lots of configurations.

Accessories: You know glam accessories enhance everything! Drainers, racks, colanders, cutting boards and scrubber drain holders that dock to the side are all cool features.

Elkay Docking sink

Sink accessories range from cutting boards, colanders & in-sink holders.

BTW…If replacing a sink, make sure the depth will not interfere with existing plumbing and disposal unit. Also, that the counter top hole is the same size and faucet holes are in the correct position. Yikes! Modern Supply’s consultants know this stuff and are ready to help. Come on by…..

Tell ‘em Millie sent you!
Drop me a line at: millie@modernsupplyco.com
Millie
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Lighting adds Sparkle!

December 1, 2011 at 10:55 am
Lighting adds sparkle

Updated lighting is an easy way to freshen up your home.

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Tips on Choosing Kitchen Paint Colors

November 29, 2011 at 12:37 pm

Hot and spicy or warm and delish? What’s your fav kitchen color? There are zillions of paint colors and paint is your easiest decorating tool.

Pain colors

Paint color reflects your style.

Bunches of super smart folks study the psychology of color and how it affects us. Color sways mood, our appetite and energy levels. It’s one of the first things you notice and pulls together furniture, accessories and cabinetry.

What ambiance fits your style? Relaxing, energizing or sassy? Trendy or timeless? Start by building around the color and style of cabinetry, countertops, flooring and appliance finish.

2011 kitchen paint trends lean toward shades of gray, yellow, red, blue and purple. Takes SASS to go with shades of purple!  A dark plum is a good choice for the less feisty.

StarMark Nutmeg-gold paint

Golden tones & nutmeg cabinets create a cozy feel.

Grays are totally flexible and create a super sleek, contemporary look, industrial flair or a calm, timeless look. Like a beloved pair of black slacks, gray jives with everything!

Reds are always vogue and a powerful color that shouts-out energy, passion and stimulates the appetite. There are oodles of red shades.

Yellow is cheery and a great choice for small spaces or areas needing reflective light. Gold tones create a rich, warm Tuscan feel. Chianti anyone?

Blue is America’s fav color and essentially timeless. Shades of blue come and go. Goodbye country blue and mauve; may you never return!  The color of the sky and sea, blue suggests a feeling of spaciousness, height and depth.

StarMark Cappuccino-bright green

A bright cheery green adds a contemporary touch.

Green, ah, the color of nature. Green is a soothing color great for an earthy, shabby chic or touch of country feel. Lime greens and brighter shades add p’zazz!

White and Black – nuthin’ to be said here. They totally go with everything!

Select washable paint that stands up to water splashes, grease, stains and kitchen yuch. Remember, paint is like a bad haircut; it can always be changed! 

 Happy painting!
Black & White Kitchen
Classic beauty of black & white
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Kitchen Remodel? Start Here!

November 14, 2011 at 12:37 pm
StarMark Mix of Cherry with White Island

Add pizazz by mixing cabinetry finishes like cherry cabinets with a white island from StarMark.

Have you been dreaming about a new kitchen and now you’re ready to take the plunge? Congrats! A kitchen remodel is the improvement project that increases your home’s value the most.

Where, oh where, do you start? Here are a couple of tips.

* Establish a budget
* Make a list of your top must-haves
* Clip photos of things you like

Got it together? Now it’s time to see an expert…that would be me or one of my Modern Supply design peeps. We can help:

KraftMaid Maple Cardinal Red

Urban chic maple cabinets in a bold cardinal red from KraftMaid.

* Define your space
* Explain your options
* Select the right products
* Help with details
* Measure your space
* Design your kitchen
* Suggest alternative design options
* Work within your budget
* Coordinate delivery with contractor

Presto! Your glam-tastic kitchen is installed and ready for years of enjoyment. So DSOBT (don’t stress out big time) over your kitchen remodel! Come on in and…

Tell ‘em Millie sent you!Millie

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Modern Supply Wins WIT Marketing Award

October 27, 2011 at 10:04 am

Out-of-the-Box Marketing Concepts Appeal to Retail Consumers

Modern Supply Company, a kitchen, bath, lighting and HVAC distributor, has been selected as the overall winner for WIT & Company’s WHAM (WIT Honors Achievements in Marketing) marketing award for 2010 innovative marketing initiatives. WIT is a national member-owned organization of approximately one hundred independent plumbing, heating and cooling wholesale distributors. Modern Supply submitted entries in six categories including advertising & brand awareness for the creation of their fictional spokesperson Modern’s Millie.

Pace Robinson & Dottie Ramsey receive the WIT marketing award
Morris Cregger, WIT President; Pace Robinson, Modern Supply CEO; Sabrina Hawthorne, WIT Marketing Coordinator; Dottie Ramsey, Modern Supply President/COO

“We’re very excited to receive the WHAM Marketing award and to be recognized among our peers,” states Pace Robinson, Modern Supply CEO. “Modern Supply has implemented marketing programs that are unique to our industry. Our fictional spokesperson Modern’s Millie, was created to soften our wholesale image and better relate to today’s consumer market. We continue to expand our marketing efforts and incorporate Millie in most all aspects.”

“For all their hard work re-inventing their company’s brand in 2010 and beyond, Modern Supply definitely deserved to win this award,” Sabrina Hawthorne, WIT Marketing Coordinator, comments. “Their branding strategy is unique and creative… for this industry and overall.  When they introduced Millie to their market, they successfully implemented several out-of-the-box endeavors.  Congratulations, Modern Supply!”

The announcement was made at WIT’s 2011 Fall Networking Meeting in Indianapolis, Indiana. The award included a professional photography and video shoot of Modern Supply’s Knoxville showroom and staff and was revealed at the meeting. View the video.

For updates – including product news and current trends – visit Modern Supply’s website, www.modernsupplyshowroom.com, as well as YouTube, Facebook and Twitter.

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The Three Types of Lighting

October 19, 2011 at 2:08 pm

Tips for Lighting Your Home

Lighting is important in any space—it creates mood, ambiance and pizazz. Updating tired, drab lighting fixtures – or just the globes or shades – can spruce up your space with a snazzy new look and doesn’t have to cost big bucks.

Ambient lighting

Chandeliers add beauty & ambient lighting.

Lighting should reflect your lifestyle and how you use the space. The three basic types to consider are ambient (general lighting), task, & accent.

Ambient, or general lighting, provides overall area illumination and is a must-have for a good lighting plan. It should provide brightness without glare. You gotta’ be able to see to walk around safely in your stilettos or flops! Chandeliers, ceiling or wall-mounted fixtures, recessed or track lighting are good choices for ambient light.

 Task Lighting helps you to perform specific tasks such as applying flawless make-up. It needs to be free of glare and shadows but bright enough to nip eye strain. Pendant, under cabinet, floor and table lamps are excellent for task lighting.

Pendant lighting

Pendant lights add a pop of color & task lighting.

 Accent lighting is a design touch that adds drama by drawing the eye to your sazzytreasures. Artwork, sculptures or wall textures pop with accent lighting. Accent lighting should have at least three times the light as the general surrounding light.

 Modern Supply’s lighting consultants know their stuff and are ready to help you select super swanky fixtures to light up your world. Stop in and see for yourself!

Tell ‘em Millie sent you!
Millie

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Shower Design Trends

October 10, 2011 at 9:44 am

Happy National Kitchen and Bath month!! As an EPA WaterSense Partner, Modern Supply is tickled pink to participate in their water efficient bathroom mini-makeover promo. Nothing like a good make-over!

EPA WaterSense Partner

Yikes, those gov guys can provide some shocking numbers! Did you know that every American uses an average of 100 gallons of water a day? About 17 percent is from showering. Here’s what my design peeps are seeing in shower design trends.

Folks are opting to remain in their present home and update. They’re also thinking “down-the-road” and what they’ll need to comfortably age in place but still have their dream shower today. Larger showers with all the perks are hot…and the sky’s the limit!

American Standard FloWise Water Saving HS

Use up to 40% less water with American Standard's FloWise

Spa-like showers are a retreat from daily stress. You can have a drenching water experience with water-saving overhead showerheads, handheld shower and body sprays without sacrificing performance. Next up? Digital products to control water warm-up modes and temperatures.

Showers are easy to access—no matter your age.  Depending on your needs, accessories can be added such as benches, shelves and grab bars. Shower enclosures are chic again with lots of styles and funky configurations to fit most any design. Clear glass doors open up a space making it appear larger.

Custom Shower

A stylin' custom shower using Delta products

Imagine your dream shower and visit our showroom to see some of our terrific options. Our design consultants will be de-lighted to help!

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Modern Supply Adds KraftMaid to Their Cabinetry Lines

September 26, 2011 at 11:41 am

Modern Supply Company, a kitchen, bath and lighting distributor, has added KraftMaid to their line of cabinetry vendors. KraftMaid, with more than 40 years of experience, is one of the largest and most recognized brands of cabinetry for the home. KraftMaid Design Centers have been installed in Modern Supply’s Knoxville and Johnson City, Tennessee showrooms for selecting styles and finishes.KraftMaid Cabinetry

“We’re excited to add KraftMaid to our cabinetry mix,” states Pace Robinson, Modern Supply CEO. “KraftMaid is known for their quality and has established name recognition through their aggressive advertising. They offer 100% built-to-order cabinets without steep prices and extended lead times.”

KraftMaid Bath

Cabinetry adds storage & beauty to your bath.

KraftMaid kitchen

KraftMaid Maple Cabinets in Sage with Cocoa Glaze

KraftMaid’s collection of over 100 door styles and more than 45 furniture-quality finishes is backed by a limited lifetime warranty. Based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, KraftMaid is manufactured by Masco Cabinetry and assembled in the United States. More about KraftMaid.

For more info on KraftMaid: 865.966.4567 Knoxville; 423.928.0302 or email: millie@modernsupplyco.com

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Patience — the Key to Remodeling

September 12, 2011 at 2:04 pm

Modern Supply Client Spotlight

If you’re planning a remodeling project, patience is key. Remodeling can be stressful and full of surprises. Focusing on your completed vision makes it all worthwhile. Modern Supply’s clients, Pete & Hiral Lloyd-Jones, can testify to the challenges of living through a kitchen remodeling project.

The Lloyd-Jones’ 1970’s kitchen needed an update−especially the dated appliances. The project evolved from updating appliances to a complete remodel when they discovered the built-in oven size was no longer available.

Hiral commented, “I had a vision of my dream kitchen.” She considered their lifestyle, likes and dislikes of the existing kitchen, budget and future resell value when developing her design.  After doing on-line research and talking with Modern Supply’s designer, Debbie Johnson, design objectives included:

- Lighten the kitchen
- Mix a cozy, county style with contemporary elements
- Create a warm, earthy feel
- Improve space functionality
- Maximize budget by doing some work themselves

Country kitchen remodel

A mix of country & contemporary for a cozy kitchen feel.

Cabinetry is a kitchen’s focal point and the foundation of a remodel. “I was tired of dark wood and paint. I wanted a lighter finish, to add color and incorporate unique elements,” Hiral said.  A maple wood finished in vanilla cream with a caramel glaze detailing was perfect. For a cozy earthy touch, a second finish of mossy green was incorporated. Granite countertops in peacock green—a dark, rich color—pulled the two finishes together. A backsplash of white subway tiles with dark green accents continued to complement the cabinetry and granite.

Hiral enjoys cooking. A farmhouse sink accommodates large pots while providing another element of subtle country charm. A pull-down stainless steel faucet provided movement flexibility, height and a clean, uncluttered look.
Pete took on the task of researching appliances. “I looked for the best value in quality, features and price,” Pete said. “This resulted in selecting different appliance brands that best suited our needs. We chose the clean look of stainless steel.”
StarMark Mossy Green cabinet

The open doors & shelving adds a unique touch.

Earthy, brown slate flooring complete with a cable heating system complements the overall design while increasing winter comfort. Lighting included a mix of new recessed and pendants. Oil rubbed bronze pendant lights inserted a classic touch.

Pete & Hiral share advice for homeowners considering a remodeling project. “The best advice is to have patience,” Hiral says. “A remodel doesn’t happen overnight and can be stressful for everyone. Be prepared for dust—it was everywhere. Expect the unexpected. You don’t know what lies behind the wall or under the flooring. Also, purchase the best quality cabinetry your budget will allow. Features like dovetail joints make a difference.”

Porcher Farm Sink

Lovin' this Porcher Farm Sink!

Pete adds, “If you’re trying to stretch the budget, choose the projects you undertake carefully. Make sure you’re up for the task. We removed the old tile, painted and laid the heating cables ourselves. I also sold our old cabinetry on-line.”

 Would they do anything differently? Hiral states, “I

Kitchen remodel with Pete & Hiral Lloyd-Jones

View HGTV videos on the Lloyd-Jones' kitchen remodel

love all of my choices and would not change anything. We enjoy the kitchen and spend more time in it. It’s rewarding to see our friends reaction when they see the kitchen for the first time.”

HGTVremodels.com did a series of 4 videos with the home owners & Modern Supply. View videos 

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Welcome to Millie’s blog!

August 10, 2011 at 11:39 am

I’m Modern’s Millie, a kitchen & bath fashionista for Modern Supply, kitchen, bath & lighting showrooms, in Knoxville, TN as well as Johnson City and Chattanooga, TN.  Our showrooms are chock full of products for your fab-tab-u-lous kitchen or bath update, remodel or new construction project.

My co-workers and I want to share our years of expertise and  what we’re seeing for kitchen, bath and lighting trends, products, tips and other fun stuff.  Enjoy and share with your besties!  Comments welcome.

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