Sacramento Kitchen Design Blog
A Blog About Kitchen & Bath Design, Remodeling and This & That in Sacramento – by MrsNicolette
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Our Contemporary Kitchen wins 1st Place!
March 1, 2012
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Nar Fine Carpentry is proud to announce that our “Davis Contemporary” Kitchen has won our local NKBA California Capital Chapter’s 2011 Design Competition Award for 1st Place Large Kitchen. This kitchen has also won a CotY (Contractor of the Year) award with our local NARI Chapter. But we are very excited as this is our first award with NKBA, National Kitchen and Bath Association. I have posted about this kitchen before in an article title “That’s Hot!!! This Davis Kitchen Does Contemporary” as it is one of our “showstoppers”. After being professionally photographed by Fred Donham, it displays how beautiful the woods and colors work together.
View of Anegre Paneled Soffit
Not only are we proud of our kitchen, but we are also proud members of the NKBA, National Kitchen and Bath Association. The NKBA is dedicated to the advancement of the Kitchen and Bath Industry through education, certification and continually following new trends and products and ultimately help consumers create safe, energy efficient and functional spaces . Nar Fine Carpentry attends our local California Capital Chapter meetings and courses.
Nicolette & Nar at the Sac NKBA Awards Gala
Not only are the NKBA awards judged on aesthetic quality, but also Safety & Ergonomics, Elements and Principles of Design, Design Planning (which includes NKBA 31 Kitchen Planning Guidelines), Creativity and Presentation. Put these all together, and you get beautiful kitchens and happy clients!
We also want to congratulate all of the other Sacramento Design Award Winners. One of whom, is a designer that we work with frequently, Janice Stone Thomas, who also won 1st Place for Open Plan Kitchen. We are very proud to have provided our Crystal Cabinetry for her project. Bravo!
Nar Fine Carpentry’s Kitchen uses Custom Cabinetry by Crystal Cabinets, featuring Anegre & Maple wood, slate tile and Seafoam Granite. Nicolette Patton, AKBD and Nar Bustamante collaborated on the design and also did the remodel from start to finish.
Kitchen view with Buffet
Cooktop & Bar Sink View
Island & Refrigerator View
Buffet & Pantries
Made in the U.S.A.
September 21, 2011
With so many reasons to buy American made products, it seems crazy that more businesses are not selling more American made items. From baby toys to cars, Americans want to support their country, while carrying the peace of mind that these products are built under stringent regulations and conditions.
Recently, I had a wonderful couple in my showroom that insisted on buying American. Great! We offer many wonderful home products that are made here. Here are some that I love!
Crystal Cabinets, made in good old Minnesota. A family owned business since 1947, these craftsmen are the best at premium cabinetry and fine furniture, or should I say craftswomen. Many of the employees making the cabinetry are women. Crystal treats every order as a custom art project, going as far as laying out all products to make sure they match. You can be assured that your purchase from Crystal is supporting its local community while you receive a superior product!
Crystal Factory Tour
Cambria Countertops
Cambria Quartz Surfaces. The ONLY quartz company made in the USA. Also a family owned company, and also made in Minnesota. Cambria prides themselves in making quartz products to mimic natural stone. My readers already know that I prefer quartz over granite, and with Cambria’s colors, you will find the natural veining of granite. Check them out!
Enkeboll Designs, Fine Architectural Woodcarvings. Over 50 years experience in woodcarving for the Kitchen, Bath or anywhere in your home. These carvings are produced in California using North American hardwoods and sustainable practices. For a classical or traditional elements, Enkeboll provides numerous unique options for the home. And for the more modern home, Enkeboll introduces their new Tribeca Collection to inspire a cleaner and more contemporary aesthetic.
Enkeboll at KBIS 2011
Renewal by Andersen
Renewal by Andersen. Custom built windows and patio doors used for replacements to fit existing dimensions and finishes. While the Anderson Corporation is now global, they started out a small Wisconsin company in the early 1900′s. Renewal by Anderson is made in Minnesota since 1995, but draws on Andersen’s reputation for quality and durability as well as beauty.
Raw Urth Designs. Hand Forged Range Hoods, Countertops, Backsplashes, Shelving, and Fireplace surrounds. Based in Colorado, this husband and wife team began designing items for their own home, and a company was born. The design and craftsmanship are impeccable! Raw Urth’s got it going on! With finishes from Copper, Zinc, Bronze and Steel, with different patinas and treatments offered, I could go wild choosing one of these for a client! One thing is for sure, any product from this company will become a focal point!
Raw Urth Hood
Raw Urth Hood
One should feel very patriotic putting any of these products made in the USA in their homes. It is way of saying thank you to fellow American employees and to ensure you receive premium products. Go USA!!!
That’s Hot!!! This Davis Kitchen Does Contemporary
August 17, 2011
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Kitchen View
Bar View
Well it had been a long time coming for this remodel. Like many remodels, it can seem like years between the planning stage and the actual demo, and another year until completion. The timeline for this remodel was no different. These Davis homeowners approached Nar Bustamante, owner of Nar Fine Carpentry, in 2009, for assistance with their kitchen remodel. They came with kitchen plans already in hand, but were disappointed with the proposed design and were in need of a different approach. Nar, a remodeler, and designer at heart, took this opportunity and hit the ground running.
Cooktop with Fireplace in Background
It isn’t often that you find clients with contemporary desires here in Sacramento, most of our clients have a traditional or craftsman lean. We are seeing a shift in the past 2 years towards contemporary, but people are still afraid to take the plunge and be totally committed. This project was perfect because we both spoke contemporary, not the cold, stark look, but warm contemporary, the kind that is comfortable (and livable).
-Nicolette Patton, AKBD
Tip-Up Door for Coffee Maker
Nar worked on materials selection, while I worked on space planning and cabinet layout. It was the first true collaboration that Nar and I had done together. And it truly turned out to be one of the most amazing kitchens that I have ever seen (if I do say so myself! pat pat). So here we are at the end of completion, and the end of 2011. These Davis clients finally got their dream kitchen, and will have those dream holiday dinners and parties. Another job well done by the team at Nar Fine Carpentry of Sacramento!
Top View of Kitchen- See Fireplace behind
Inside the Kitchen:
Cabinets: Crystal Cabinet Works Figured Anigre & Custom Stained Maple with Aluminum Door & Glass accents
Countertops: Seafoam Granite
Flooring: Sand on Site Oak
Backsplash & Fireplace: Slate tiles
Lighting: All LED cans & pendants
Wuhoo for Bamboo!!!
February 16, 2011
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Kitchen
These clients were not afraid of using Bamboo to the max! This Sacramento remodel received Bamboo cabinets on top of their Bamboo flooring, and it turned out beautiful! Here is the perfect example of how using the same wood in different colors and plank size can work for this home’s advantage.
Countertop Detail
Hall Bath
- Master Bath
- Bamboo Ply Door Edge
- Hallway
- Kitchen
Rift v. Quarter Sawn Lumber
February 10, 2011
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Recently, a client was interested in our White Oak cabinets. I had trouble explaining the difference between the different cuts offered, so I did a little research and here is what I found…
Both cabinet companies that we carry, Columbia & Crystal, offer White Oak in different cuts from the tree; Rift Sawn and Quarter Sawn. While these cuts are very similar, they look very different. A Rift Sawn cut creates a very straight grain, while a Quarter Sawn cut creates a more wavy pattern with exotic looking flecks. The flecking of the Quarter Sawn cut is due to the cut crossing the woods pith rays that radiate from the center of the tree where the sap runs through. In both cuts, the log is quartered and cut toward the center. In a Quarter Sawn cut, the log is quartered and cut perpendicular to its growth rings on an angle of 75 to 90 degrees. In a Rift Sawn cut, the wood is also cut perpendicular to its growth rings, but is slightly offset and uses an angle between 45 to 70 degrees. Offsetting the log, reduces flecking and also yields more boards, whereas the Quarter Sawn cut produces more waste. For this reason, Quarter Sawn is more expensive, while Rift sawn is less expensive and more readily available.
Quarter Sawn
Rift Sawn
A New Contemporary Look from Crystal Cabinets
February 9, 2010
Crystal Cabinet Works New Aluminum "Accent" Finger Pull
Crystal Cabinets now offers their “Accent” Finger Pull option in Brushed Aluminum -a great option for the Contemporary style minded consumer. Offered in any type of wood and stain, and can be different than the Doorstyle, and now in aluminum. This is a super sleek look that goes well in Contemporary or Transitional style kitchens.
Must Love Color Variation
January 21, 2010
This photo demonstrates the variation of color that exists within the same tree. Taken at the Crystal Cabinet Manufacturing Plant, these are trim strips cut from the same log of an Alder tree. Trees develop different coloring based on the minerals, weather and region of where they live and grow. An Eastern Maple has different coloring than that of a Pacific Maple, and some woods will have a larger variation than others. So next time you are looking at a piece of furniture or a cabinet door, look a little deeper to appreciate its natural beauty, because wood is just as unique and extraordinary as a snowflake, a star, or a child.
Bang-for-your-buck! Sacramento
January 13, 2010
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HGTV aired an episode of “Bang For Your Buck Kitchens” of Sacramento in 2009. One of the kitchens featured was a kitchen designed and owned by Paul Almond & Pam Whitehead of Sage Architecture. Their kitchen remodel encompassed a joint kitchen and living space that totaled $80,000. 
As architects, Paul and Pam have a sleek-contemporary design style that transferred accordingly to their own home. They used horizontal emphasis to create a larger feeling space for their smaller Sacramento home. Owner, Nar Bustamante of Nar Fine Carpentry had the pleasure of installing the cabinetry purchased for the home. The cabinets are from Crystal Cabinets in a slab veneer door style in Lyptus wood with a “Blackstone” charcoal finish. Paul & Pam combined their dark cabinetry with a light Caesarstone countertop in a honed finish and 3cm thickness. They also used three-quarter height cabinetry to house their oven and microwave, which is a great feature to include when using a darker finished cabinetry so the darker finish does not swallow up the space.
The program took 3 kitchen remodels in Sacramento and compared which remodel would receive the greatest return for the money spent. unfortunately Pam & Paul’s Crystal kitchen did not win the title of biggest bang-for-your-buck. The host reasoned that because Sacramento’s general design veers toward the traditional style, Paul & Pam’s remodel would be a hard sell to the average Sacramento home buyer. True or not, the kitchen remodel was a success, as it has left Paul & Pam’s life in their home more enriched, convenient and aesthetically pleasing.
If you would like more information on the cabinetry that Paul & Pam have, or talk with their expert cabinet installer, please contact us at Nar Fine Carpentry or call (916) 944-0906.
Photo courtesy of HGTV
by Nicolette Patton
The Corner Drawer System
December 14, 2009
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When the corner drawer system came out a few years ago, I put it in the first kitchen I could. It was perfect, my clients didn’t like the standard Lazy Susan, so it was a perfect opportunity to use the corner drawers. If you haven’t seen these in person, you are certainly missing out. 
The coolest one that I have seen was from Columbia Cabinets from Canada. The drawer fronts actually close in on each other in order for the drawers to open. They also utilize the back corner of the drawer (some companies only use a square back drawer box). Now this may seem like an odd shape that creates some dead space… BUT what corner cabinet isn’t an odd shape? You can always find stuff to fill these corner spaces, and since they are drawers, they have much better visibility and accessibility.
The corner drawer system comes in a 3 or 4 drawer stack.
Remember, if you are in the Sacramento Area and need help with a kitchen project, contact us at Nar Fine Carpentry.
by Nicolette Patton
Cabinet Compromise
November 15, 2009
My husband came in to the showroom yesterday and chose from our wall of Columbia Cabinet doors his favorite. It was a knotty alder, distressed, slat panel, shaker style door. 
And I thought… how could I have married this man and never realized that he had such bad taste? I mean, I like the door, but not for my own kitchen. This got me thinking, when it is my time to re-do my kitchen, how am I going to come to an agreement on style with my husband?
I help my clients through this predicament everyday, but of course I don’t know what goes on when they get home. My father always told me that he thought many marital problems begin when a couple is doing a remodel. I never really thought anything of it, until the slat panel door incident with my husband.
It is all about compromise! Remodels are not easy, so sit down with your partner and discuss style, colors, and materials prior to shopping. Buy some kitchen and home magazines. Make a scrapbook of ideas and compare these with your partner to understand why they are partial to certain characteristics. A few magazines later you will start to see clearly what your partner’s design style is.
So maybe my husband is a bit rustic and I am a contemporary. And my other client likes traditional, while her husband likes contemporary. 
The good news is, there is always a way to incorporate or compromise with both styles. Keep an open mind, and always keep your partner involved and don’t let one style or opinions take control of your design. You and your partner will be enjoying the kitchen for years to come!
by Nicolette Patton
we do kitchens!
