Susan Serra Associates, Inc.
Welcome! I'm Susan Serra, CKD, CAPS and member of NKBA & USGBC. Designing functional, comfortable and social kitchens...Ready to start the journey to a truly personal kitchen? I'll get you there... www.susanserraassociates.com
Information
Founded:
1991
 
Susan Serra Associates, Inc.
Yesterday, just outside of Chicago, I attended a multi-brand appliance event, hosted by Sears. It was quite an eye opening experience, as Sears appliances, quite honestly, have not been on the radar in my business...
Pamela Rodriguez
Pamela Rodriguez
What a wonderful opportunity! I saw the post on Twitter by @SearsBlueCrewHA: "Betsy Owens, VP Kenmore, is talking about the re-launch of Kenmore." I've high expetations. I grew up with Kenmore appliances.. my folks knew they were actually made by other companies, but you couldn't beat Sears' service that was an added bonus and occasionally the ... Read Moreextra bells and whistles added into the Kenmore version. You could count on them to be there. What fascinating times we are in... Sears is taking the lead in blending cutting edge technology with good, old-fashioned customer care.
Thu at 7:05am
Susan Serra Associates, Inc.
Susan Serra Associates, Inc.
Pam, you're so right, we are in fascinating times! We were told that Kenmore is in 1 out of 2 homes in the US! I could hardly wrap my brain around that number. You're right...the trust factor is everything, and from what I saw, they seem to take that factor very, very seriously, as they should!
Thu at 8:40am
Susan Serra Associates, Inc.
Finally! Just what Long Island and metro New York needs: in-person, unbiased, professional kitchen design consulting services. Although the emphasis on the page talks about kitchen design phone consultations, local in-person consultations are available as well....
Susan Serra Associates, Inc.
I've been offering kitchen design consulting services informally and have not devoted a special page on my blog to this service until now.  I am very pleased to formally introduce the One Hour Phone Consultation!...
Susan Serra Associates, Inc.
The results are in! Thank you for taking the survey! The topic of the kitchen floorplan survey was spur of the moment for me. I had just finished a marathon session designing my own kitchen (in a dreamlike state as it is at least a year or two off)...
Michael Young
Michael Young
I think it's well done Susan. I'm happy to see that you chose to make interpretations revolving around whether or not the choices made were a function of aesthetics, convenience, or creating an enhanced social space.

I see, or at least I think I see, a divergence between those who might think in terms of creating an architectural dream space from "scratch" as opposed to those who would think in terms of modifying the environment they already have.

Solely for fun, I wanted to tell you that my "dream" kitchen is one that is partially "sunken" in relation to the rest of its surroundings but wholly exposed nonetheless -- open to everything--but still defined, still cozy, still personal, still a defined gathering space by virtue of its lower level--but with lines of sight to all the surrounding spaces preserved nonetheless.... Read More

Obviously, that's an arrangement that begins with an empty lot and an architect at hand... still it's fun to dream. :)
October 29 at 1:07am
Susan Serra Associates, Inc.
Susan Serra Associates, Inc.
Michael, thanks for your point of view. You're right...a kitchen has always been a social place, in Mad Men days, at least for other women to congregate in and it grew in importance from there.

I think I see the same thing...almost those who "dare to dream", lol, toward the ultimate open space and those who may want more space than they have now.

I'm going to do more polls. I really like doing polls. Interesting about the sunken concept. And, it's another good point...to think in terms of a division between spaces that is not really a division but feels as if it is. That's a great concept, and something that is incorporated into my own plan. I like that. ... Read More

Do you like to cook?
October 29 at 1:55am
Angie
Angie
Susan, wow, GREAT summary/essay. I like how you've distinguished your analysis between design professionals and homeowners. Moreso, I love the overall trend analysis vis a vis cultural/political/social climate.
October 29 at 7:54pm
Susan Serra Associates, Inc.

Susan Serra Associates, Inc.
Here's a super fantastic productivity alert that I'd like to pass along, and I think you will find it very useful. It's called Evernote. Whether you want to save a handwritten text note, snapshot, web clip (bookmark) or voice note, I'm finding Evernote to be a very powerful collector of data, and it's a breeze to use. ...

Lifehacker, http://lifehacker.com/5041631/expand-your-brain-with-evernote one of my favorite sites, does a great job at clearly explaining many of its uses. NOTE: (no pun intended) To make use of the more powerful (and there are many) uses for Evernote, you'll need to take a little time and click around on their site, view some videos, look at their blog, things like that. I promise delightful surprises along the way if you can put in 30-60 minutes. I started using it right away, every day, all day, then revisited it a week or so later to learn more about its features and I'm glad I did.

Here are some great uses for your kitchen design project (not to mention my client projects for my own office use), one can, of course, create tags, even separate "notebooks" for, say, different rooms in the house, or by material, or by allied professional, or, of course, to add multiple tags to any one piece of data.

The "power" of Evernote can also be seen in its mobile applications...when you're at the stone yard and you want to take an image of a stone. Using Evernote's mobile application, it will immediately upload it to Evernote on the web, to your account. In the future, you'll have that record in your mobile phone, on your web account, and offline too, if you download Evernote's application. Everything syncs.

Have a handwritten note? Take a picture of it and I think I read that the text on the note is searchable PLUS you can map where the note was written! That's crazy stuff, isn't it?

Evernote is a visible bookmarked link on my browser menu, and I use it A LOT! I hope this has been useful. Let me know if you're using it too, and how you use it. Fantastic app to organize design projects!
Read More

Source: www.evernote.com
Welcome to your notable world. Use Evernote to save your ideas, things you see, and things you like. Then find them all on any computer or device you use. For free.
Marcy Feld
Marcy Feld
This looks amazing- I' going to try it!
October 28 at 9:35am
Susan Serra Associates, Inc.
Susan Serra Associates, Inc.
Oh, you'll love it, I promise. It's not so "pretty" but I'm finding it so useful!
November 1 at 4:48pm
Susan Serra Associates, Inc.
Just a few little things... PLEASE take this survey: Kitchen Floorplan: Open Or Closed? It's seemingly a simple question, but the results are fascinating as the votes are coming in. I'll share them with you shortly. Please cast your vote...
Susan Serra Associates, Inc.

Susan Serra Associates, Inc. Take this survey...it will reveal very interesting information on what we want now in our kitchens and living spaces. I'll post the results soon!

Susan Serra Associates, Inc.

Susan Serra Associates, Inc.
Take a look at a modern Danish kitchen as Oprah tours Denmark in search of seeing how people live. You see a bit of the kitchen at the start, then close to the one minute mark and two minute mark. I think we can get some interesting insight into the management and control of our "stuff". Oprah later had a roundtable di...scussion with several women, talking about how happiness (in Denmark) is achieved by its citizens by having a conscious and constant balance of daily life between work, home/family, and creativity. It is a reminder to me, what about you?Read More

Source: www.oprah.com
Watch as Oprah tours a typical home in Copenhagen, Denmark. See how most Danish families live simply in little spaces.
Tricia Healy Mitchell
Tricia Healy Mitchell
Susan, thanks for directing us to these clips. I have always admired the Danes simplicity with a focus on quality. The apartment is beautiful for sure but lacked a bit of warmth for my taste. I am baffled as to why anyone would have a bathroom that didn't have privacy. The simple kitchen seemed to have everything anyone would need and put an exclamation point on 'less is more'. I wish we could have seen their downstairs space too.
October 25 at 6:39am
Susan Serra Associates, Inc.
Susan Serra Associates, Inc.
I agree...that open bathroom was a first for me, but I have to say, I'm not entirely surprised, given my own experience of Danes' liberal mores, most of which I see as healthy in mind and spirit. My thinking is that, although the space itself was minimalist, warmth comes from the expansive views of buildings which are hundreds of years old, but I'd still want to see a painting or two somewhere!
October 25 at 7:08am
Susan Serra Associates, Inc.
You know that saying, that a lawyer who represents himself has a fool for a client? I can relate, especially when I see the notice for the fall Kitchn Cure. I've meant to do this before, and I'd really like to get into it this time...
Susan Serra Associates, Inc.
A couple of days ago I went to an event hosted by Thermador at their showroom in Dumbo, Brooklyn, which, if you haven't been to either the showroom or Dumbo, I can tell you that they are both great destinations (well, you can go to Dumbo without going to the showroom, but you can't go to the...
Susan Serra Associates, Inc.
c/o The Maidstone, located in bucolic East Hampton, is a Swedish design tour de force. For design addicts and design junkies, it is a destination, a lesson in color, in light, in an eclectic historical and modern Swedish design...
Susan Serra Associates, Inc.
I'm a bit lax on telling you about some new (or if not new, then cool) products. Here are a few interesting ones. But, first, within this section is a product which I was asked to personally review...
Susan Serra Associates, Inc.
I'm pleased to show you a blogging buddy's kitchen. The kitchen is Tricia's from Avolli, the online store for Swedish antique furniture. Gorgeous stuff, all different price points, and some of my favorite things are the antique rag rugs. Just love them...
Kristen Lamberis Shellenbarger
Kristen Lamberis Shellenbarger
SO interesting. I'm in the middle of a design where the window would work perfect for their downdraft cooktop, however, I was told by their builder that it isn't code? I should maybe look into that more closely. I think it looks amazing! :)
October 5 at 3:41pm
Susan Serra Associates, Inc.
Susan Serra Associates, Inc.
I would check with the building department myself if I were you. I'm still not totally comfortable with this situation, given the woodwork so nearby. But, there are also many hearth type installations with cooktops where the woodwork mantels come down right next to, or very nearby the cooktops. Doesn't mean it should be done, but this was a very interesting installation to hear about first hand.
October 5 at 4:50pm
Susan Serra Associates, Inc.
I had an eventful past couple of days, being immersed in GE Monogram appliances via invitation to GE Monogram's headquarters in Louisville, Kentucky. Louisville (Loo-uh-vuhl or Loo-ee-vuhl or Loo-ee-vill) is a great place to visit!...
Jenny Sligh
Jenny Sligh
Congratulations on attending the training. It's a wonderful time! So much to learn and great food! It's even better when after using all the equipment you can guide your clients on their Monogram selection.
October 2 at 11:01am
Susan Serra Associates, Inc.
Susan Serra Associates, Inc.
Hi Jenny, OMG, using the equipment was so much fun. Between the killer range and the induction cooktop, it was very, very fun and informative!
October 5 at 4:48pm
Susan Serra Associates, Inc.

Susan Serra Associates, Inc. White kitchens are classic, modern, traditional, and very much desired. Here is my latest post on Decorati.com on white kitchens...you know you love them! http://access.decorati.com/2009/09/20/white-kitchens-a-philosophy/#more-7106

Source: access.decorati.com
Susan Serra Associates, Inc.
Susan Serra Associates, Inc.
Thank you so much, dreams do come true!
September 28 at 1:31pm