Sub-Zero & Wolf Factory Tour

Last month I was privileged to be invited to visit the Sub-Zero and Wolf headquarters in Madison, Wisconsin to tour their factories and get a sneak peek at new products they are rolling out. Let me tell you-it was quite the experience and not one I will soon forget!

 

Day one began with an airplane ride directly into Madison. There were about 20 people from Atlanta and the southeast traveling together for this trip. Sub-Zero & Wolf dealers, architects, builders and designers. We had a great time learning about each other’s businesses and current projects. We checked into our hotel in downtown Madison. Madison is the capital of Wisconsin and a darling town it is. Our hotel had a view of the lake on one side and the capital building on the other. Simply beautiful! That evening we joined about 46 other dealers, architects, builders and designers from the northeast and Canada for dinner. We enjoyed a delicious dinner and wonderful conversation.

 

Day 2 started out with a bang! All 66 of us boarded a bus and traveled the short distance to the Westye Bakke Center, Sub-Zero & Wolf’s corporate headquarters, training center and spectacular showroom. Their chefs prepared an amazing breakfast for us which we enjoyed in their beautiful dining room. Next we moved into their auditorium and spent some time learning about the history and heritage of the Bakke Family and Sub-Zero and Wolf. As part of a family business, I really enjoy and appreciate all the Bakke family has done for and through their business. Then we donned our safety goggles and headsets and headed out to the Wolf factory floor. The facilities were immaculate and climate controlled. We watched as they assembled cooktops and ovens and ranges and tested every unit. Yes, I said every unit. EVERY Sub-Zero & Wolf appliance is tested before it leaves the factory. EVERY ONE. We also learned that it is not uncommon for entire families to work here because the culture and conditions are so great. That speaks volumes! That evening we wrapped up the day with the chef’s at Sub-Zero and Wolf preparing some pretty amazing appetizers and desserts in two of their large working viewing kitchens. I would like one of those in my house, please. The kitchen-and the chef!

 

Next time I will share with you about the last day and some of the amazing new products we got to see.

Outside the kitchen: Part 2

Last time we discussed owning chickens and having your own backyard coop. This week we will continue learning about what type of chickens you should own and how to feed them.

 

3. Once you have your coop selected, it's time to select the variety of chicken you want to join your family. Some hens are bred more for egg production, while some are fun to have just for the variety of eggs or feather colors. Do a little research online to see what appeals to you the most. Finding chicks to purchase locally is becoming easier and easier. A local farm, feed store or fellow chicken enthusiast is a great place to start. You can also ask farmers selling fresh eggs at your local market if they offer chicks or can recommend a good source. If you are unable to locate a nearby source for chicks, there are hatcheries that will safely ship baby chicks immediately after they hatch. The post office will get a kick out of receiving your day old chicks. I speak from experience.

 

4. To keep your hens fit and productive, feed them the best food you can, provide fresh water daily and clean the nest boxes frequently. If possible, let your chickens roam freely in a fenced yard or in a covered exercise pen that you can move around. A healthy chicken will lay, at most, one egg per day, but it is rare to have a flock that is 100 percent productive. The egg yield will depend on the individual hens, the relative health of the flock, the number of daylight hours and many other factors that can all change throughout the year.

 

Chickens are one of the easiest animals to own and require very little attention. Before you dismiss the idea of owning chickens, consider doing it for your kids or grand kids. They will thank you later. And maybe one day they will say that chickens were one of the greatest experiences of their life.

Outside the Kitchen: Part 1

One of the greatest experiences of my life has been owning chickens. Growing up, our family started out with a couple of chickens and a makeshift coop. Our brood grew to include some specialty varieties, some that laid white eggs, brown eggs and colored eggs. We enjoyed hatching chicks. One which became more of a pet, named "Chicky Baby", that would follow follow us around like a dog. And yes, we did experience butchering a chicken and dissecting it. It was the ultimate science lesson.

 

Eggs collected from free range hens are unlike any you can buy in the store. The yolk is thick and a deep yellow-orange color. The white is stiffer and less watery than a store bought egg. Eggs are an excellent source of protein and when you control the food source, you are sure to get an excellent egg that is healthy for you and free of chemicals.

 

 

Here are some important things to keep in mind when planning your own backyard flock:

 

 

1.    The first step is to call your city or county planning department to see if your zoning allows for backyard chickens. It's also a courteous idea to let your neighbors know what you are planning.

 

2. When deciding on a coop, you can choose from a fixed, permanent structure or a mobile coop. Whichever you choose, select a location that is well drained and sunny. Consider how many chickens you want to determine the appropriate size. The general rule is a minimum of 3-4 square feet per hen, inside and outside. Make sure your coop is secure so predators such as raccoons, dogs, fox and other animals cannot gain access to your hens. There are many sources online for chicken coop plans and Williams Sonoma even sells coops through their Agrarian division. The options and ideas are endless.

 

Next time we will explore the types of chickens and how to feed them. If you have any questions or comments, don't hesitate to contact me at jessica@webbercoleman.com 

The Kitchen's newest appliance

Just when you think there couldn't be anything new, technology throws you a curve ball. If you are renovating your kitchen or building a new one, you need to consider adding this newest appliance to your space. What is this new fangled appliance? It's a flat screen tv.

 

People spend more time than ever in their kitchens and they are demanding to stay in touch with the news, weather, play music and surf the Internet. A flat screen tv, whether small, under a wall cabinet, or large over a table or fireplace, is a necessary addition to today's space. Why not catch up on the news while fixing breakfast or tune into a Pandora station while entertaining or allow your kids to watch cartoons while enjoying their Saturday morning pancakes at the kitchen table. Syrup is no fun to clean out of that seagrass rug in the living room.

 

When wiring for your tv location, you will want to have electricity, cable and a telephone jack. This will allow you to be prepared for today and whatever future technology comes your way.  If mounting your tv to the wall, you will want to ensure that adequate blocking is in the wall to mount the tv to. Don't want to have a tv in your kitchen? Consider wiring for it anyway. It will be an excellent perk for resale down the road.

 

What do you think about tv's in the kitchen? Love it or hate it? Let me know your thoughts.

The National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA): Celebrating 50 Years

The NKBA is celebrating its 50th Anniversary this year, marking half a century of dedication to industry education, networking and raising the professionalism of their membership. Founded in April of 1963 by a small group of kitchen dealers, the association’s goals included education, standards and advertising and public relations.

 

Since its founding, the NKBA has developed certifications, such as “Certified Kitchen Designer”, to ensure that a kitchen specialist is a valued and recognized profession and to encourage people to make kitchen design a career. The NKBA hosts the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS) annually. This show, initially a very small gathering, has grown to be the largest professional kitchen and bath industry show in the world. In 2014, the International Builder’s Show and KBIS will host simultaneous shows in Las Vegas, NV.

Today, the NKBA is the premier association for kitchen and bath professionals, with nearly 60,000 members.

 

So why should you care about this organization? If you have had a bathroom or kitchen designed or remodeled, you may want to have consulted the NKBA. Their guidelines for these spaces are known throughout the construction and design industry to be the standard to design to. Make sure whoever you are working with is aware of and adhering to the standards.

 

Is it really that important to work with a NKBA certified designer? NKBA designers have many years of experience under their belt, have passed exams and must have annual continuing education credits. This knowledge and experience will only serve you better to ensure that your project turns out the best it can be.

Emerald: The Pantone 2013 Color of the Year

If you haven’t already heard, the Pantone 2013 color of the year is Emerald. “Lively. Radiant. Lush…A color of elegance and beauty that enhances our sense of well-being, balance and harmony.” According to Pantone, Emerald will and is already being shown across the board in clothing, interior accessories, fabrics and makeup. Do you have some emerald or green clothing items you haven’t worn in a while? Pull them out and wear them. You will be on the leading edge of color style in fashion. Maybe you are looking for a little change in your living room or bedroom. Emerald may be just the color you want to pull in to freshen up your space.

 

I’ve always wondered who gets the interesting job of choosing names for paint colors and who actually has the authority to choose the Color of the Year for the world. The entire world of fashion, automobiles and interiors takes their cue from this company. They don’t take their job lightly. Thousands of hours of research and filtering are done to determine what the color of the year will be. Pantone has been the world's color authority for nearly 50 years, providing design professionals with products and services for the colorful exploration and expression of creativity. Always a source for color inspiration, Pantone also offers paint and designer-inspired products and services for consumers.

 

Let’s keep our eyes peeled for color trends we see in fashion, interiors and automobiles to see if we can guess what the 2014 Color of the Year will be.

12 Questions to ask before signing a remodeling contract

            Are you considering remodeling your home? Have you stopped to think about some questions you should ask before signing on the dotted line? Any remodel is a big investment that you may live with for a long time and it is important that you have all the information before committing. Below are twelve questions I suggest you ask before starting.

 

1. Are you insured? (These people will be in your home, potentially dealing with electrical and plumbing items. Make sure you are protected!)

2. Are you licensed? (The state of Georgia requires that contractors doing certain work be licensed. Check the Secretary of State’s website to see if your contractor is.

 

3. Do you have any professional affiliations or certifications? (This will give you a hint about how serious they are about their business or if they are just in it for fun.)

4. May I have a list of references from past completed projects? (This is a big one! How their past clients speak of them says volumes!)

5. Ask yourself if you are comfortable with this person being in your home? (If you feel unease in your gut, maybe you need to think twice.)

 

6. Do you communicate well with the contractor? (How well the two of you communicate will directly reflect how well and to your specifications the project will be completed.)

 

7. Do they have a concrete grasp of your project and have they shown they can listen to you and your ideas? (This is your home and you need to make sure you are getting what you want.)

8. Is the price you’ve been given firm or subject to escalation? (Someone who will bait and switch you, may not be who you want to work with.)

9. What is your warranty? (If you have an issue in a couple of months, you want to know that they will back up their work.)

 

10. How long have you been in business? (This speaks to their credibility and their ability to satisfy customers over the years.)

 

11.  Do you have longstanding relationships with your sub-contractors? (If they don’t, the project may not move as quickly as it can.)

12. How many projects like this have you completed in the last year? (You may not want to be the first person they build a deck for or remodel a bathroom for…)

Best of luck on your remodeling project!