This is a sponsored post by Anna Gibson, owner of AKG Design Studio and an award-winning, certified kitchen and bathroom designer. AKG Design Studio is a boutique design firm specializing in kitchen, bathroom designs and cabinetry sales. Contact Anna at 571-989-2541 or [email protected], and follow her work on Houzz; Pinterest; Facebook and Twitter.
Summer is here and the season of treating friends, family and the kids is upon us. There will be plenty of family visiting from out of town and kids running around, so here are a few appliances that will help you get through it all!
Beverage Center: Wine cooler or a mixed-use under counter beverage centers are great to clear space in your main fridge and lets guest and kids serve themselves from wine to soda, you can store all your drinks in there. They can be free-standing or built-in, based on your layout and space. Great spots for these are in the island, away from your prep area, or maybe convert that desk area (the empty space that no one uses) to the beverage center. It is usually far enough from your prep zone, yet still in the kitchen for easy access.
Ice maker: We all run out ice at some point! If you barbecue outside or are just hosting a cocktail party, there is always that call for extra ice. Most ice makers are made to be built into your cabinet space, kitchen/bar, but there are a few new options for countertops as well. You can even keep them outside by the grill!
Blender: Blenders allow you to make drinks for any type of party. These are ideal for mixing cocktails, non-alcoholic mocktails, milkshakes and just about any other type of drink you can imagine. Look for models that come with a frontal spout for easy serving. If you’re going to be mixing drinks with a lot of ice in them, look for a blender or drink maker with a pulse or ice-crushing function for easy blending.
Ice cream machine: You can go basic or go big with the Margaritaville brand. Since they are portable, you can use them inside or out. They even have models that will work with your car charger. So party wherever you are!
Crock pot and Instant pot: Just toss all your ingredients in and off you go the pool while dinner is cooking and no extra heat from running the oven. You can even leave it plugged in to keep the food warm while you are serving or self-serve at your party. And it’s easy to store.
There are few models out there made for parties with smaller portions for added variety (up to three different dishes).
Pizza Maker: Everyone loves pizza! While you can invest in a large built-in pizza stove in your kitchen or backyard, the awesome Breville Crispy Crust Pizza Maker sits on your countertop and lets you make restaurant-quality pizza at home. Or, use this perfect add-on — your grill!
Have a build-your-own pizza night. I can assure you all the neighborhood kids will be at your house!
Microwave drawer: Time to take down the microwave from the top of the stove and move it to under the counter. There are a few companies like Sharp and Thermador that have fantastic models. We usually install those in the island, creating easy access for kids to warm up snacks and popcorn without additional assistance or climbing over stoves. And if you don’t want little hands playing, they even have a lock feature!
What are your favorite summer hosting ideas? Share your ideas with us in the comments. We would to hear from you.
This is a sponsored post from Becky’s Pet Care, a professional pet care service in Northern Virginia.
This week’s Reston Pet of the Week is Ty, a Jack Russell Terrier.
Here is what his owner, John, had to say about him:
Ty is a Jack Russell Terrier and a New York transplant who loves chasing chasing tennis balls, foxes and digging holes in the ground near our home in South Reston.
He loves hanging out with his two human sisters, Maya and Sienna. He is an affectionate and loving dog whose owners love him. He has also never met a stranger who he hasn’t licked.
He spends his time chasing squirrels, playing with frogs and digging holes in our front and backyard. He is also a huge Michigan football fan, as evidenced by his collar.
He is 12 years old, but plays like a puppy (sometimes looks like one too when he has a haircut) and has a heart of gold.
Want your pet to be considered for the Reston Pet of the Week?
Email [email protected] with a 2-3 paragraph bio and at least 3-4 horizontally-oriented photos of your pet. Each week’s winner receives a sample of dog or cat treats from our sponsor, Becky’s Pet Care, along with $100 in Becky’s Bucks.
Becky’s Pet Care, the winner of three Angie’s List Super Service Awards and the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters’ 2013 Business of the Year, provides professional dog walking and pet sitting services in Reston and Northern Virginia.
This is a sponsored post from Eve Thompson of Reston Real Estate. For a more complete picture of home sales in your neighborhood, contact her on Reston Real Estate.
Here are some Reston homes that changed hands recently:
1558 Bennington Woods Court, 3 BR, 1.5 BA. Sale Price: $345,000.
11653 Gas Light Court, 2 BR, 2 BA. Sale Price: $250,000.
11469 Heritage Commons Way, 3 BR, 3.5 BA. Sale Price: $460,000.
10864 Hunter Gate Way, 5 BR, 3.5 BA. Sale Price: $873,000.
1310 Pavilion Club Way, 4 BR, 4 BA. Sale Price: $795,000.
12005 Taliesin Place, 2 BR, 2 BA. Sale Price: $340,000.
1151 Water Pointe Lane, 4 BR, 4.5 BA. Sale Price: $880,000.
2137 Whisper Way, 2 BR, 1.5 BA. Sale Price: $329,000.
1267 Wild Hawthorn Way, 3 BR, 4 BA. Sale Price: $470,000.
This is a sponsored post from Becky’s Pet Care, a professional pet care service in Northern Virginia.
Meet Baloo, a deaf Pitbull currently in foster care in the Reston area through City Dogs Rescue.
Here is what his foster moms have to say about him:
Meet Baloo. This gorgeous stud is a 2-year-old deaf white pit mix, but the truth of the matter is that he is 60 pounds of marshmallow. Baloo hails from Pickens County, South Carolina, where he was an unclaimed stray. His life goal is to find a family who loves the outdoors, snuggling and naps.
Baloo is an excellent house dog! He is well house-trained and loves looking out the window to see what’s going on in the world. He loves humans, getting petted, snuggling while watching movies, and is good in his crate. When he wants to go outside, he simply stands by the door and waits. Baloo rarely barks. He loves playtime — with other dogs, with space to run and sniff, with toys and, especially, chasing a laser pointer. His Achilles’ heel is toys; he is toy possessive, and should not play with other dogs and toys simultaneously. Like a true gentleman, he is patient with humans of all ages; recent months have seen him stabbed in the nose by a hoard of toddlers and the noble Baloo endured it with grace.
Many people have questions about Baloo being deaf. A common one is, “How deaf is he?” Answer: All the way deaf. Baloo makes up for it by sniffing every nook and cranny of a new space. He is also incredibly smart and very focused on his humans. He understands 11 signs: Sit, stay, lie down, paw, stop, yay, Baloo, walk, eat, play and crate. This guy is quick-to-train and loves learning new commands and signs. In his free time, Baloo likes to relax and goof off. He sometimes licks the air for no reason, gets into mischief by opening tupperware, chases his tail, stalks and pounces on spots of refracted light, and lays down frog-leg style on air vents to enjoy the breeze.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jOPS2s7EMn0
If you think you and Baloo are a match, put in an application with City Dogs Rescue. Let us know if you make him part of your home and our sponsor, Becky’s Pet Care, will send you some treats and prizes.
Want your pet to be considered for the Reston Pet of the Week?
Email [email protected] with a 2-3 paragraph bio and at least 3-4 horizontally-oriented photos of your pet. Each week’s winner receives a sample of dog or cat treats from our sponsor, Becky’s Pet Care, along with $100 in Becky’s Bucks.
Becky’s Pet Care, the winner of three Angie’s List Super Service Awards and the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters’ 2013 Business of the Year, provides professional dog walking and pet sitting services in Reston and Northern Virginia.
This is a promoted post by the Neurology Center of Fairfax.
Busy medical practice, located in Fairfax, seeks FT LPN to assist doctors in managing care of patients.
Experience preferred, IV experience a plus. Direct patient contact responsibilities. Requires strong computer skills for EMR responsibilities, ability to multitask and must have outstanding English language skills.
Job requires full and independent mobility, and ability to stand for long periods of time. Work days, Monday through Friday. Excellent salary and benefits.
Email cover letter and resume to [email protected], or fax to 703-940-1497.
This is a sponsored post from Eve Thompson of Reston Real Estate. For a more complete picture of home sales in your neighborhood, contact her on Reston Real Estate.
Here are some Reston homes that changed hands recently:
11687 Bennington Woods Road, 4 BR, 4 BA. Sale Price: $750,000.
1810 Golf View Court, 3 BR, 3.5 BA. Sale Price: $470,000.
11706 Great Owl Circle, 3 BR, 4 BA. Sale Price: $525,000.
11583 Lake Newport Road, 5 BR, 4 BA. Sale Price: $927,000.
1588 Moorings Drive, 3 BR, 3 BA. Sale Price: $337,000.
2605 Mountain Laurel Place, 4 BR, 3 BA. Sale Price: $615,000.
11478 Orchard Lane, 3 BR, 3 BA. Sale Price: $625,000.
1675 Poplar Grove Drive, 2 BR, 3 BA. Sale Price: $330,000.
11019 Villaridge Court, 2 BR, 1 BA. Sale Price: $262,000.
1516 Woodcrest Drive, 2 BR, 2 BA. Sale Price: $310,000.
1974 Winterport Cluster, 2 BR, 4 BA. Sale Price: $398,000.
This is a sponsored column by attorneys John Berry and Kimberly Berry of Berry & Berry, PLLC, an employment and labor law firm located in Plaza America that specializes in federal employee, security clearance, retirement and private sector employee matters.
By Kimberly H. Berry
Our law firm handles many different types of federal retirement issues in our representation of federal employees. One of the more common types of retirement cases that we often handle involves the representation of federal employees in the disability retirement process before various federal agencies and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). Federal employees filing for disability retirement are typically covered under the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) or the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS).
Federal employees should consider the following questions before they pursue OPM disability retirement:
How serious are the federal employee’s medical issues and are they linked to the federal employee’s position description duties?
When making a disability retirement decision, keep in mind that OPM evaluates your continued ability to work with your medical condition in the context of the duties described in your position description. If the medical disability is not deemed serious enough, or not fully supported by medical documentation and evidence, and is not sufficiently linked to your inability to “usefully and efficiently” carry out your job duties, then OPM may deny the disability retirement application.
How long is the medical disability realistically expected to last?
OPM requires that a medical disability be expected to last at least one year in duration. When considering whether to file for disability retirement, it is important for you to consider the expected duration of your medical disability. Disabilities with known shorter duration could be problematic for you in the application process.
Can a federal employee survive on a reduced annuity?
If you are considering filing for OPM disability retirement, understand that this type of retirement usually provides you with a lower monthly retirement annuity in comparison to full retirement. As a result, we recommend that you obtain benefit estimates from your human resources representative and consult with a financial advisor about the impact of a potential reduced annuity prior to filing for disability retirement.
Are there modifications to a federal employee’s current position that can be made to allow the federal employee to continue to work?
Oftentimes a federal agency will work with you to provide you with a reasonable accommodation (i.e., change in duties, hours, telework or other adjustments) that can make your current position and medical condition workable. This can often be the best solution, even if it is only a short-term solution. As a part of the disability retirement process, the federal agency is required to certify that it is unable to accommodate your disabling medical condition in your present position. The agency must also certify that it has considered you “for any vacant position in the same agency, at the same grade or pay level, and within the same commuting area, for which [you] qualified for reassignment.”
Do your medical professionals believe that you should not continue in your current position?
This is an important consideration when filing for disability retirement. In most cases, physicians will be open with their patients about whether it is a good idea to keep working in their current federal employment position. There are at least two reasons to discuss a possible filing for OPM disability retirement with your treating medical provider(s). First, your health should be of primary importance and a consideration when determining whether continuing in a job hinders or impedes your recovery. Second, physicians and their medical opinions are necessary and, in fact, crucial in the disability retirement application process with OPM. OPM will require a physician’s statement about your medical issues, and the physician’s statement can either make or break the outcome of your disability retirement application.
When considering OPM disability retirement, it is important to obtain the advice and representation of legal counsel. You can contact our law firm through www.retirementlaw.com, www.berrylegal.com, or by telephone at 703-668-0070, to schedule a consultation to discuss your individual federal employment retirement matter. Please also visit and like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/BerryBerryPllc.
This is a sponsored post by Anna Gibson, owner of AKG Design Studio and an award-winning, certified kitchen and bathroom designer. AKG Design Studio is a boutique design firm specializing in kitchen, bathroom designs and cabinetry sales. Earlier this week, AKG was honored with a first-place award for Best Kitchen Design Firm in Virginia Living’s Best of Virginia 2017 edition. Contact Anna at 571-989-2541 or [email protected], and follow her work on Houzz; Pinterest; Facebook and Twitter.
Dar and Diane moved to Reston from the far-away land of Maryland, looking for a property that would fit their budget but also leave them room to bring in their own design flair and fit their lifestyle.
They found this 1972 Reston Contemporary design, by the renowned architect Kenneth L. Bonner, who left his mark on South Reston by combining elements of natural sunlight, preserving trees, use of stone and wood inside and outside the house. Forty-four years later, the original design was no longer functional and needed some help. While big living spaces with small and enclosed kitchens were the “in” things at the time, they no longer fit in with the “super kitchens” lifestyle of today.
On the agenda was creating a layout that would fit Dar and Diane’s lifestyle. As an active young couple, the homeowners love to entertain their friends in various settings, from cocktail parties to barbecues, while on a daily basis keeping with a healthy lifestyle of home cooking and working out. We needed to provide plenty of storage space for kitchen gadgets, prep space and open flow to allow them to host their gatherings.
The problem: The kitchen was small and enclosed in a box with very little countertop space. If one person was washing dishes, the other couldn’t cook. There was not enough storage, the fridge was small and blocking the light from the patio. Two very small doors were the only access to the kitchen, cutting it off from the rest of the house flow.
The solution: The first item we investigated was removing the soffit that was weighing down on the space, not only bulky but also reducing possible storage space. The second was opening the wall between the dining room and the kitchen.
The good news was that the wall was not load-bearing. Bad news — we had some pipes that needed relocation. On the soffit front, we had even better news — there was plenty of space between the main floor and the second floor to push the HVAC system up, up and away!
Starting on the outside, we took unused closet space from the hallway to create the perfect spot for the fridge — close enough to the prep areas, yet out of the way. Moving the fridge not only allowed us to create the perfect pantry area, but we could now accommodate a much larger fridge and it no longer blocked the sun from the patio.
With those gone, we needed additional space on the main wall, so we could move the stove away from the corner. The large water heater was converted to a modern wall-mounted electric heater, and the wall was moved while still leaving enough room for the utilities and a few brooms.
Now it was time to put the room back together!
With the soffit gone, we now managed to accommodate 42-inch-high cabinets, adding storage and a sense of height to the kitchen. With the wall gone, we now have a beautiful peninsula that is a great breakfast bar but also perfect for hosting, providing a space for a great party spread.
With the stove now moved to its new location, both homeowners can work in the kitchen together. Recessed and pendants above the peninsula brought design elements and extra light to the space. A glass cabinet was added at the end of the row to break up the cabinets and allow a softer transition to the brick wall and showcase the beautiful crystal collocation of the homeowners. In the end, it created an open space beautiful and functional for the homeowners to enjoy for years to come.
What are the problems in your kitchen? Share them with us and post some pictures!
This is a sponsored post from Becky’s Pet Care, a professional pet care service in Northern Virginia.
Meet Snyder, an Abyssinian and Domestic Short Hair mix available for adoption.
Here is what his friends at Little Buddies Adoption and Humane Society have to say about him:
Snyder is just the most wonderful of cats. Even the vet commented on what a great cat he is!
He primarily looks like an Abyssinian, although he has a few tabby markings on his face and tail. Officially, he would be called a Tabyssinian.
Like most Abyssinians, Snyder likes to have company. He wants to be around people. Snyder also loves other cats. He would prefer a home where is he not left alone for long periods. Also, like most Abyssinians, Snyder is slender, but muscular. He is an active cat. Abyssinians are also known to be very smart!
Come meet this terrific young man. He is about a year old.
Are you and Snyder a match? If so, let us know and our sponsor, Becky’s Pet Care, will send you some treats and prizes.
Want your pet to be considered for the Reston Pet of the Week?
Email [email protected] with a 2-3 paragraph bio and at least 3-4 horizontally-oriented photos of your pet. Each week’s winner receives a sample of dog or cat treats from our sponsor, Becky’s Pet Care, along with $100 in Becky’s Bucks.
Becky’s Pet Care, the winner of three Angie’s List Super Service Awards and the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters’ 2013 Business of the Year, provides professional dog walking and pet sitting services in Reston and Northern Virginia.
This is a sponsored post from Eve Thompson of Reston Real Estate. For a more complete picture of home sales in your neighborhood, contact her on Reston Real Estate.
Here are some Reston homes that changed hands recently:
12160 Abington Hall Place, 3 BR, 3 BA. Sale Price: $525,000.
1943 Belmont Ridge Court, 2 BR, 2 BA. Sale Price: $342,000.
1642 Chimney House Road, 1 BR, 1 BA. Sale Price: $230,000.
2008 Colts Neck Road, 1 BR, 1 BA. Sale Price: $185,500.
10808 Crippen Vale Court, 4 BR, 3 BA. Sale Price: $769,000.
1318 Dasher Lane, 5 BR, 4 BA. Sale Price: $869,400.
1355 Lake Forest Court, 4 BR, 4 BA. Sale Price: $869,900.
11990 Market St., 3 BR, 2 BA. Sale Price: $675,000.
11700 Mossy Creek Lane, 3 BR, 4 BA. Sale Price: $425,000.
2276 Quartermaster Lane, 3 BR, 4 BA. Sale Price: $470,000.
1368 Sundial Drive, 3 BR, 4 BA. Sale Price: $485,000.
2021 Swans Neck Way, 3 BR, 4 BA. Sale Price $560,000.
This is a sponsored post from Becky’s Pet Care, a professional pet care service in Northern Virginia.
Meet Skeeter, a Bichon Frise and Cavalier King Charles Spaniel mix available for adoption.
Here is what his friends at Safe Haven Puppy Rescue have to say about him:
This little guy has it all!!!! Skeeter is the sweetest, friendliest little guy — just a WONDERFUL boy!!! He was an owner surrender and they have had him since he was a puppy. He is now 5 years old. The family purchased Skeeter from a breeder so we know his breed and age exactly. We can’t believe someone could give up their family member like this, but their circumstances changed and they are now traveling for extended periods of time so they made this decision.
The good news is that they have taken good care of Skeeter, and he is very well socialized. He LOVES children, other dogs and cats too. Skeeter hasn’t met a walking, breathing being that he does not love! He is also housetrained. Sound like the perfect doggie for you? Let us know and we’ll send an application! Skeeter’s adoption fee is $395
Email [email protected] for an application!
Are you and Skeeter a match? If so, let us know and our sponsor, Becky’s Pet Care, will send you some treats and prizes.
Want your pet to be considered for the Reston Pet of the Week?
Email [email protected] with a 2-3 paragraph bio and at least 3-4 horizontally-oriented photos of your pet. Each week’s winner receives a sample of dog or cat treats from our sponsor, Becky’s Pet Care, along with $100 in Becky’s Bucks.
Becky’s Pet Care, the winner of three Angie’s List Super Service Awards and the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters’ 2013 Business of the Year, provides professional dog walking and pet sitting services in Reston and Northern Virginia.
For families with young children, living on a cul-de-sac is great because it provides a safe place for the children to play. Perhaps that’s why the families I work with love Heather Knoll Cluster in North Reston.
Designed by Berry & Co., Heather Knoll Cluster was built in the early 1990s. It is a small community of 52 townhouses distributed among 13 buildings. Each home has a traditional brick front with fine detailing, classic cedar siding and elegant trim. The homes come in three different styles, with variations in room sizes and overall square footage. They are all two levels with a basement, three bedrooms, and two and half baths. They also each have a one-car garage — a bonus for Reston townhomes — and privacy fences separating the yards. And they have fireplaces!
Heather Knoll Cluster is located on Woodbrook Court off of Woodbrook Lane and Wiehle Avenue in the North Point area of Reston. The neighborhood is close to the Fairfax County Parkway and Route 7.
The surrounding area has wonderful walking paths and plenty of trees and nature. North Hills pool and tennis courts are about a five-minute walk, and North Point Village a 10- to 15-minute walk (depending on how fast you walk).
This is the perfect neighborhood for anyone who wants something slightly off the beaten path, but still wants to have all the amenities of Reston easily accessible.
This is a sponsored column by attorneys John Berry and Kimberly Berry of Berry & Berry, PLLC, an employment and labor law firm located in Plaza America that specializes in federal employee, security clearance, retirement, and private sector employee matters.
By Kimberly H. Berry
The following are six tips that can be helpful when an employee in Virginia is facing significant employment issues like termination, discrimination or retaliation.
- Try to Remain Calm.
It is extremely important that employees remain calm and keep their composure when facing an employment issue. As difficult as it may seem at the time, it is critical to stay calm while at work even when dealing with significant employment issues like termination, separation, or poor performance reviews. Generally, it is not helpful to argue with a supervisor over an employment issue that arises. Doing so can put an employee at risk for discipline, placement on leave, or even retaliation. In addition, employers could contact law enforcement or security if they feel the employee is irate and getting out of control.
- Avoid Using Social Media to Talk About Employment Issues.
We advise employees not to advertise their employment issues on social media (e.g., Facebook, Twitter, etc.). Almost inevitably, when employees discuss their employment issues on social media, one of their “friends” will pass it to someone who then passes it on to the supervisor who was a party to the problem compounding difficulties for the employee at work.
- Realize that Human Resources Supports Management.
A common misconception is that Human Resources is supposed to be a fair mediator of workplace disputes. This is not the case in 95 percent of employment issues. Human Resources is there to support management’s position in personnel matters. It is important to seek advice elsewhere before reaching out to Human Resources if an employee’s dispute involves a supervisor. HR generally tends to also pass on complaints by employees to supervisors and not treat them confidentially.
- Don’t Use Your Work Email Account or Computer for Employment Problems.
Employees should not use their employer’s email account to send personal or private information, especially related to their employment problems. We also recommend that employees not use work computers for drafting personal documents, storing pictures or other storage. Otherwise, the information employees store on their work computers can potentially be used against them. It is often very easy to use an employer’s email account or computer for private or workplace issues, but it can hurt an employee’s employment claims later or cause them to be terminated. The employer can potentially claim misuse of a work email account or computer. If an employer begins to suspect problems with an employee, the employer may take steps to review an employee’s email account or computer. Employers also usually archive emails for each employee.
- Don’t Talk With Co-Workers About Employment Problems.
It is important to be very careful about discussing employment problems with co-workers in the office, even if they are your friends. It is quite common for an employee to tell a co-worker about his or her employment problems with a supervisor, then the co-worker will (even inadvertently) tell another supervisor or other co-workers where it eventually makes its way back to the supervisor involved. This can result in workplace retaliation.
- If Terminated or Separated, Get Legal Advice Before Signing an Agreement.
If an employee is terminated or separated and is presented with a severance, separation, or other settlement agreement, he or she should consult with an attorney to discuss the rights that he or she may be waiving and the terms of the agreement before signing it.
If you need assistance with employment law matters in Virginia or the District of Columbia, please contact our office at 703-668-0070 or at www.berrylegal.com to schedule a consultation. Please also like and visit us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/BerryBerryPllc.
This is a sponsored post by Anna Gibson, owner of AKG Design Studio and an award-winning, certified kitchen and bathroom designer. AKG Design Studio is a boutique design firm specializing in kitchen, bathroom designs and cabinetry sales. Earlier this week, AKG was honored with a first-place award for Best Kitchen Design Firm in Virginia Living’s Best of Virginia 2017 edition. Contact Anna at 571-989-2541 or [email protected], and follow her work on Houzz; Pinterest; Facebook and Twitter.
Like fine wine and cheese, pairing countertops and tile is an art of mix and match!
But which comes first? The chicken or the egg — I mean, the countertop or the backsplash?
While most homeowners are set on their cabinets style and colors, things get a little dicey when it comes to selecting countertops and backsplash. It seems the possibilities are endless and there are insane amount of combinations and materials.
First things first, let’s have a quick look at the counters and backsplash options (really fast!)
Countertop: If you think counter, the first thing that comes to mind is granite. Yes, granite is fantastic but there are some many other options out there — wood (butcher blocks), stainless steel, concrete, recycled glass, marble, quartz, manmade quartz, Formica, Corian, and did I say recycled-paper countertops? Yes, it’s a thing!
No matter what your life style, design taste or budget, there is a counter top for you.
Backsplash: The word “tile” became so broad in recent years that we no longer just talk about ceramic. Tiles for backsplash are made from porcelain, glass, recycled glass, stainless steel, salvage wood, wallpaper (yes, it’s making a big comeback!), mirror, concrete and much more. I think you get the point! If there is a material out there, it can be made into backsplash.
So how do you pair the two? Here are four ways to choose:
Pick the countertop first: Since you can’t function without a countertop (backsplash can always wait), focus on the counters first. Consider the durability of the stone compared to your lifestyle — how often do you cook, and what other activities are taking place on the counters? After deciding on function, figure out form. Do you like big veins or clean lines? Which pattern will work with your overall design style? No matter what, after collecting a lot (we know you did!) of small samples, make sure to visit the fabricators to see the full slab, so you can see all the variations of the piece.
Pick the tile first: After running around looking for cabinets and pinning ideas galore, you know that this tile is your must-have! This is the pop of color that you need in your life, or the statement piece for your kitchen. In the case of the customer in the photo below, they fell in love with this recycled skateboard backsplash, which made the selections for the countertops revolve around the fantastic colors of the skateboard. They narrowed it down to quartz, to have a muted countertop that let the backsplash shine.
Pick the same materials: Tile countertop is an option most people avoid it, preferring not to have grout lines on the counter. However, you can run your solid surface up to the cabinets. You will no longer need to match another material and it works for a large or a smaller space alike. You can run it all the way to the cabinets, or save some cost and just go with 4 inches high and paint the rest.
Phone a friend: Still not sure what will work best for you project? Here is your last option: Hire a pro! If you just can’t make a decision to save your life, are having hard time seeing the full picture, or are just lost between slabs of countertops, it is best to hire a designer to help you chop down the selections, offer pairings that work and give you your weekends back!
Tell us: Love your countertop and backsplash combination? Please post a photo in the comments section below and share the details.
This is a sponsored post from Becky’s Pet Care, a professional pet care service in Northern Virginia.
Meet Jackie, a Boxer and Labrador Retriever mix available for adoption.
Here is what her friends at Boxer Rescue and Adoption Inc. have to say about her:
Jackie has come a long way since she came into rescue. She was so afraid of everything, but now is far more outgoing. She loves taking walks, but needs some training in walking nicely without pulling.
Jackie takes treats gently, loves attention, is crate trained and housebroken. She is a pretty girl who loves being in the yard with us and enjoys her creature comforts when inside. She has a nice soft blanket that she snuggles into.
When our volunteer first started walking her, she had her tail tucked, but now, she’s just full of enthusiasm to be out and about. She is not a fence jumper or a digger and does like other dogs. We’re not sure about cats, though. She would probably be too much for toddlers.
If you are interested in meeting Jackie or any of our other rescues, please email [email protected] for an adoption application and arrange to visit Jackie or any of our other rescues.
Are you and Jackie a match? If so, let us know and our sponsor, Becky’s Pet Care, will send you some treats and prizes.
Want your pet to be considered for the Reston Pet of the Week?
Email [email protected] with a 2-3 paragraph bio and at least 3-4 horizontally-oriented photos of your pet. Each week’s winner receives a sample of dog or cat treats from our sponsor, Becky’s Pet Care, along with $100 in Becky’s Bucks.
Becky’s Pet Care, the winner of three Angie’s List Super Service Awards and the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters’ 2013 Business of the Year, provides professional dog walking and pet sitting services in Reston and Northern Virginia.
