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Six super bowl party recipes from the Village Home Stores staff snack off contest including Lexy’s winning goat cheese bruschetta dip.

<p>Well, folks, the Super Bowl is fast approaching, and on Sunday, the Chiefs will battle the Eagles in New Orleans. No matter who you pick for the win, the food at any Super Bowl watch party is what&rsquo;s important right? Last week we hosted our annual Super Bowl Snack cookoff in the Village Home Stores showroom so that we could share all the recipes with you this week ahead of the big game. What&rsquo;s at stake? Well, as always with a Village staff cookoff there are bragging rights. But this cookoff comes with a prize worth aiming for. The winner gets to claim TWO hours of PTO that must be used the week after the big game. Who wouldn&rsquo;t like to show up a little late to work the day after the big game? So who won this year&rsquo;s Super Bowl staff snack off?</p>
<h2>Our 2025 Super Bowl Snack Recipe Winner is Lexy!</h2>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="winner of super bowl snack cook off lexy nordstrom with pan of goat cheese bruschetta di" src="https://d6y5eqdcxq8w3.cloudfront.net/assets/blog/brandsource_member_blogs/OART1/OART_2025-super-bowl-recipes/super-bowl-recipe-winner.JPG" /></p>
<p>We had a kitchen full of goodies to snack on for this event and Lexy took home the win with her goat cheese bruschetta dip. And now you can give some of these recipes a try in your own in your Village Home Stores kitchen. Here are all the delicious entries into our Super Bowl snack cookoff starting with the winner.</p>
<h2>Lexy&rsquo;s Goat Cheese Bruschetta Dip</h2>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="white square plate with bread and pita chip layered with bruschetta goat cheese dip and balsamic glaze" src="https://d6y5eqdcxq8w3.cloudfront.net/assets/blog/brandsource_member_blogs/OART1/OART_2025-super-bowl-recipes/goat-cheese-bruschetta-dip.jpg" /></p>
<p><strong>INGREDIENTS</strong>: <br />&bull; 16 oz. Package of Garlic and Herb Goat Cheese, softened<br />&bull; 8 oz. Package of Cream Cheese, Softened<br />&bull; As much garlic as your heart measures<br />&bull; 8 oz. Shredded Mozzarella Cheese<br />&bull; 1 Cup Plain Greek Yogurt<br />&bull; Homemade or Store-Bought Bruschetta Topping</p>
<p><strong>DIRECTIONS</strong>: Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Mix all of the ingredients well together and spread into a baking dish. Bake at 400 degrees for 30 minutes or until the edges start to brown and dip begins to bubble. Take out of oven and top with your favorite bruschetta topping and bake another 5 minutes. Drizzle with balsamic reduction glaze and serve spread on a fresh baguette or dipped with pita chips.</p>
<h2>Elizabeth&rsquo;s Chili Oil Marinated Cheese Cubes</h2>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="white square plate with small Triscuit crackers and cheese cubes with spicy marinade " src="https://d6y5eqdcxq8w3.cloudfront.net/assets/blog/brandsource_member_blogs/OART1/OART_2025-super-bowl-recipes/marinated-cheese-recipe.png" /></p>
<p><strong>INGREDIENTS</strong>: <br />&bull; 2-3 Blocks of Sharp Cheddar and/or White Cheddar Cheeses (cubed)<br />&bull; 3/4 Cup Olive Oil or similar<br />&bull; &frac12; cup Red Wine Vinegar <br />&bull; 2 Tablespoons of Chili Oil Pepper Flakes + Drizzle of oil from jar<br />&bull; 1 Shallot (minced)<br />&bull; 2 Cloves Garlic (minced)<br />&bull; Salt and pepper to taste<br />&bull; Fresh Parsley, 1 Tablespoon (chopped fine)</p>
<p><strong>DIRECTIONS</strong>: Cube up cheeses and fill up a large jar or salad bowl with a tight-fitting lid. Combine your oil, vinegar, chili oil flakes, salt, pepper, and parsley. Mince your shallot and garlic and whisk everything together to combine. Add more oil if needed. You will want enough seasoned liquid to coat all your cheese cubes when tossed in the container. Pour mixture over cheese cubes and secure lid. Shake or rotate container to coat cubes with marinade. Store in refrigerator at least 2 hours ahead of serving (can be made a full day ahead if needed). Occasionally shaking, stirring, or rotating container to mix up contents and re-coat cubes. Pour out cubes onto a serving platter, be sure to also pour over any seasoned oil from your container over platter. Serve with toothpicks for self-serving and crackers.</p>
<h2>Alexis&rsquo; Sausage Cheddar Biscuits</h2>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="white square plate with three cheddar bay sausage biscuits on it" src="https://d6y5eqdcxq8w3.cloudfront.net/assets/blog/brandsource_member_blogs/OART1/OART_2025-super-bowl-recipes/cheddar-bay-sausage-biscuit.jpg" /></p>
<p><strong>INGREDIENTS</strong>: <br />&bull; Package of Red Lobster Cheddar Bay Biscuit Mix<br />&bull; 16 oz. Roll of Pork Sausage<br />&bull; 16 oz. Bag of Shredded Sharp Cheddar Cheese</p>
<p><strong>DIRECTIONS</strong>: Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Mix the biscuit mix, sausage, and cheese together in a bowl. Roll into 1-2 inch balls and bake for 15 minutes at 425 degrees. Prepare the garlic butter mixture per the biscuit box and brush or drizzle over the top of your biscuits.</p>
<h2>Rachele&rsquo;s Fiesta Dip</h2>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="white square plate with cheese dip and tortilla chips on it" src="https://d6y5eqdcxq8w3.cloudfront.net/assets/blog/brandsource_member_blogs/OART1/OART_2025-super-bowl-recipes/fiesta-dip.jpg" /></p>
<p><strong>INGREDIENTS</strong>: <br />&bull; 16 oz. Package of Sour Cream<br />&bull; 1 Packet of Hidden Valley Fiesta Ranch Dip<br />&bull; 1 Cup Shredded Cheddar Cheese<br />&bull; 16 oz. Can of Southwest Whole Kernel Corn</p>
<p><strong>DIRECTIONS</strong>: Mix all ingredients in a medium-sized bowl. Chill for at least one hour. Serve with tortilla chips or veggies.</p>
<h2>Abby&rsquo;s Pepperoni Pizza Sliders</h2>
<p>Abby won our Super Bowl snack off last year with this recipe, so can you blame her for trying to see if lighting can strike twice?</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="white square plate with peperoni pizza slider and marinara sauce" src="https://d6y5eqdcxq8w3.cloudfront.net/assets/blog/brandsource_member_blogs/OART1/OART_2025-super-bowl-recipes/pepperoni-pizza-sliders.jpg" /></p>
<p><strong>INGREDIENTS</strong>: <br />&bull; Package of Hawaiian sweet rolls <br />&bull; Jar or can of pizza sauce<br />&bull; I bag shredded mozzarella<br />&bull; 1 package mini pepperoni<br />&bull; 1 stick unsalted butter<br />&bull; Grated parmesan <br />&bull; 2 tsp. dried oregano<br />&bull; 2 Tablespoons dried, minced onion<br />&bull; &frac34; tsp. garlic powder<br />&bull; Salt and pepper to taste<br />&bull; Fresh parsley, 1 Tablespoon chopped fine</p>
<p><strong>DIRECTIONS</strong>: Slice rolls in half to create a top and bottom slab of buns and place in a foil-lined 9 x 13 baking dish. Spread a layer of pizza sauce over bottom layer of buns. Sprinkle mozzarella layer using half of bag, add a layer of pepperoni, and another layer of remaining mozzarella cheese. Top with the top section of rolls and let rest as you prepare the butter. Melt butter and add herbs. Add 1 Tablespoon of parmesan cheese and salt and pepper to taste. Pour, spoon, or brush herb butter mixture over buns. Cover with foil and let stand as oven preheats. Preheat oven to 375. Bake covered 12-15 minutes. Garnish with parmesan cheese and parsley. Serve with warm pizza sauce on the side.</p>
<h2>Natasha&rsquo;s Pulled Pork Dip</h2>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="white plate with pulled pork dip and tortilla chips" src="https://d6y5eqdcxq8w3.cloudfront.net/assets/blog/brandsource_member_blogs/OART1/OART_2025-super-bowl-recipes/pulled-pork-dip.jpg" /></p>
<p><strong>INGREDIENTS</strong>: <br />&bull; 8 oz. Package of Cream Cheese, Softened<br />&bull; 1 Deli Package of Precooked Shredded Pulled Pork <br />&bull; 1 Bag of Shredded Cheddar Cheese<br />&bull; 1 Container of Sour Cream</p>
<p><strong>DIRECTIONS</strong>: Combine all ingredients in a crock pot and set to low to keep warm and serve. Serve with tortilla chips.</p>
<h2>Maurey&rsquo;s (Disqualified but Delicious) Pizza Order</h2>
<p>Maurey arrived at the staff snack off with a pile of pizza boxes from La Roma (a local pizza place down the street from our showroom). While we absolutely demolished all the pizza and Bella bread that he submitted to our contest, we didn&rsquo;t really know if that counted as a Super Bowl snack recipe. So, to be fair with this decision we put the question to a jury of our peers over on our Instagram stories. After further review, the ruling on the field stands. Maurey&rsquo;s entry doesn&rsquo;t count but was delicious.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="la roma pizza Geneseo Illinois being plated up" src="https://d6y5eqdcxq8w3.cloudfront.net/assets/blog/brandsource_member_blogs/OART1/OART_2025-super-bowl-recipes/la-roma-geneseo.jpg" /></p>
<p><strong>INGREDIENTS</strong>: <br />&bull; Cell Phone or Land Line<br />&bull; Confidence</p>
<p><strong>DIRECTIONS</strong>: Phone in your order to Sams La Roma Pizza in Geneseo, Illinois. Pick up your order and arrive at Village without any attempt to conceal or re-plate your entry before setting it on the island. Get absolutely roasted by your coworkers. Remain a hero anyways because, pizza.</p>
<h2>Hungry for More Game Watch Recipes?</h2>
<p>Need more game day inspiration? Curious who won last year? Check out our <a href="https://www.villagehomestores.com/blog/2024-Appetizer-Recipes"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">2024</span></a> and <a href="https://www.villagehomestores.com/blog/2023-Appetizer-Cookoff-Recipes"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">2023</span></a> Super Bowl Snack cookoffs. If you are still craving more staff-approved recipes head <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/vilghomestores/easy-recipes/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">here to our Pinterest page</span></a>. On that board, we share past featured recipes plus a lot of easy crockpot and single-dish entrees perfect for when you are doing a remodel with Village Home Stores. Ready to &ldquo;cook up&rdquo; a deal on a new kitchen design? Maybe curious about an air fry range from our Appliance department? Just reach out! You can message us right here through <a href="https://www.villagehomestores.com/contacts"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">our website</span></a> or call us at <strong>(309) 944-1344</strong>.</p>

Six Super Bowl Party Recipes for Game Day

A Bettendorf, Iowa kitchen design with accessible beige and white oak cabinetry from Village Home Stores.

<p>As the Village team prepares our booth for the Quad Cities Builders and Remodelers Home Show (Feb 14,15 and 16th, 2025), we wanted to showcase a recent project that represents kitchen design choices that we are seeing from both our new home and remodel customers. Did you know that the same expert team that can handle your start-to-finish remodel project is also home to an expert team that can help you select materials for an entire new home you are building in or around the Quad Cities? This Bettendorf kitchen is a great example of a new home kitchen design right on trend with materials and design elements that can be translated into remodel kitchens as well. Let&rsquo;s have a look around together.</p>
<h2>Accessible Beige and White Oak Kitchen</h2>
<p>We mentioned in a <a href="https://www.villagehomestores.com/blog/kitchen-bath-trends-2025"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">recent article</span></a> that off-white finishes are back in the spotlight. We even went as far as to say that the term &ldquo;Bettendorf Beige&rdquo; may be having a renaissance. Hot take right? But according to a Houzz kitchen trends study <a href="https://www.houzz.com/magazine/2025-u-s-houzz-kitchen-trends-study-stsetivw-vs~179685414"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">published last month</span></a>, 33% of kitchen projects surveyed used a white-painted cabinet&hellip; but off-white painted finishes stacked on another 14%! That is significant and the cabinet orders arriving at the Village Home Stores warehouse mirror those numbers. Many of the kitchen designs we work on include a white or off-white finish.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="accessible beige and white oak kitchen design in Bettendorf " src="https://d6y5eqdcxq8w3.cloudfront.net/assets/blog/brandsource_member_blogs/OART1/OART1_beige-and-white-oak-kitchen/OART1_bettendorf-kitchen.jpg" /></p>
<p>This Bettendorf Iowa kitchen design in an Aspen Windmiller Design Build features our Wynnbrooke Cabinet line in the Denali shaker-style door and a combination of Accessible Beige paint and White Oak with a Driftwood stain. This muted white finish paired with a stained white oak is an elevated and comfortable combination. If you come to see us at the Home Show, you may notice our booth display kitchen also includes the same Accessible Beige finish and Soapstone Metropolis quartz counters.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="kitchen design in quad cities with painted cabinets and brass lighting" src="https://d6y5eqdcxq8w3.cloudfront.net/assets/blog/brandsource_member_blogs/OART1/OART1_beige-and-white-oak-kitchen/OART1_quad-cities-kitchen-design.jpg" /></p>
<p>The kitchen is in a great room setting with an L-shaped perimeter and large kitchen island at the center. Overall, the kitchen design uses Transitional elements but the finished design does lean Traditional at times. The main player in this is the use of patina brass and satin bronze finishes. Check out the mix of metals in the image above and notice the&nbsp;warm metals used for the cabinet hardware in the image below.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="kitchen cabinet knob and handle hardware installed on painted and white oak cabinets" src="https://d6y5eqdcxq8w3.cloudfront.net/assets/blog/brandsource_member_blogs/OART1/OART1_beige-and-white-oak-kitchen/OART1_kitchen-cabinet-hardware.jpg" /></p>
<p>The cabinet hardware is from our Jeffrey Alexander line, and we used a combination of the Bellcastle series knobs and Renzo series cup pulls both in the Satin Bronze finish. These warmer metal elements are successful even alongside all of the stainless steel appliances. The balance of it all together is gorgeous. Want a proper tour? Press play below to take a full video tour of the space.</p>
<h2>Take a Video Tour of This Quad Cities Kitchen Design</h2>
<p><iframe class="dsg-block-1-youtube-video" title=“Beige & White Kitchen Tour” src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KPJ31tmg-QI" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe></p>
<p>Beautiful right? That not-quite-white cabinet finish looks incredible in the midday light that we had while filming it, and imagine the warmth of the space in the evening hours.</p>
<h2>Kitchen Island with Seating, Sink, and Storage</h2>
<p>There is new debate on whether the living room or the kitchen is the &ldquo;hub of the home&rdquo; these days. Are we spending more time gathering in the living room or around the kitchen island? In this home, the answer truly lies right in the middle: a large kitchen island that connects the kitchen space to the living room space in this open concept home.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="village home stores kitchen design with white oak island and painted white cabinets" src="https://d6y5eqdcxq8w3.cloudfront.net/assets/blog/brandsource_member_blogs/OART1/OART1_beige-and-white-oak-kitchen/OART1_village-home-stores-kitchen.jpg" /></p>
<p>There is plenty of storage on both sides of the kitchen island and a single-level design with countertop overhang leaves lots of available space for counter-height seating facing the cooking wall. All along the &ldquo;back&rdquo; overhang of the island are full-height door cabinets that open for added storage. Including storage like this allows for a space to stash away less-used items or serving ware used only for larger gatherings. We often see our clients using one of these hidden cabinets near a living room to store board games or toys that may get used often in the living room just a few steps away.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="tow images of front and back of kitchen island design in open concept kitchen" src="https://d6y5eqdcxq8w3.cloudfront.net/assets/blog/brandsource_member_blogs/OART1/OART1_beige-and-white-oak-kitchen/OART1_kitchen-island-design.jpg" /></p>
<p>The side of the island that faces the cooking wall includes the cleanup zone of the kitchen design. There is an apron front sink with a low center divider and a KitchenAid dishwasher to the right. This <a href="https://www.villagehomestores.com/product/kitchenaid-235-built-in-dishwasher-kdfe204k-520972"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">204 series dishwasher</span></a> includes a third-level utensil rack, and it is super quiet at just 39 decibels when running. Having a quiet dishwasher in a setup like this is important. A 39 dBA dishwasher means that you can confidently load up and start the dishwasher after dinner and then watch TV in the living room without the noise being an issue.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="dishwasher door in island shown open with walkway around " src="https://d6y5eqdcxq8w3.cloudfront.net/assets/blog/brandsource_member_blogs/OART1/OART1_beige-and-white-oak-kitchen/OART1_walkway-around-kitchen-island.jpg" /></p>
<p>Not only is the island large, but the layout of the kitchen also gives you room to breathe and share the space with multiple users. There is a generous four-foot walkway space between the main coking wall and the kitchen sink area. So even if someone is working at the sink, another person can comfortably work right behind them at the cooktop.</p>
<h2>Kitchen Island Pendant Lighting</h2>
<p>Lighting for a great room kitchen can make a big impact on the overall space. Working with a lighting expert at Village, we can help you select fixtures that complement each other, the space, and the needs for you using the space throughout the day. Above the large island in this home hangs a pair of patina brass pendant lights from our Troy line.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="white oak kitchen island with pendant lighting above" src="https://d6y5eqdcxq8w3.cloudfront.net/assets/blog/brandsource_member_blogs/OART1/OART1_beige-and-white-oak-kitchen/OART1_kitchen-island-lighting.jpg" /></p>
<p>Each fixture has three candle bases and a linen shade. This <a href="https://villagehomestores.xolights.com/archive-chandelier/sku-U8KM"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">&ldquo;Archive&rdquo; chandelier fixture</span></a> can be used in so many applications. Picture it in a small foyer or a home office. This same light comes in a dark bronze finish or the Patina Brass we show here. We love the fresh take on a Traditional shape and style of light. This same fixture would look right at home in one of the historical Victorian homes we have in Geneseo.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="images of new traditional lighting pendant lights with brass metal and linen shades " src="https://d6y5eqdcxq8w3.cloudfront.net/assets/blog/brandsource_member_blogs/OART1/OART1_beige-and-white-oak-kitchen/OART1_new-traditional-lighting.jpg" /></p>
<p>If you are building a new home, don&rsquo;t forget that you can bundle your purchases at Village Home Stores from multiple departments <a href="https://www.villagehomestores.com/lighting"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">to earn credit for your lighting order</span></a>. This is an offer that so many of our new home customers take advantage of. It allows you to get great pricing on the lighting you need for your home AND take a large amount off of that final invoice to thank you for your purchases in our other departments. You can shop all our lighting <a href="https://villagehomestores.xolights.com/lighting-fixtures"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">online from our website</span></a>. There you can sort by style, finish, brand, and more. But never forget, if you are working with Village Home Stores on a project, you will have access to our expert lighting team to help you find the perfect fixtures. Our lighting team knows what we have, what is new, and what may work best for your space.</p>
<h2>Black Soapstone Metropolis Quartz Counters</h2>
<p>Taking center stage in this kitchen design are dramatic black countertops surfaces with subtle white veining. Soapstone Metropolis from our MSI Q Quartz line began to get a lot of use last year and it is already on track to be a bestseller for us this year.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="dark black soapstone metropolis quartz with white veining" src="https://d6y5eqdcxq8w3.cloudfront.net/assets/blog/brandsource_member_blogs/OART1/OART1_beige-and-white-oak-kitchen/OART1_white-veining-on-black-quartz.jpg" /></p>
<h2>Built-In Side by Side Refrigerator</h2>
<p>On the shortest wall of the kitchen design is a counter depth built-in 48-inch wide KitchenAid side-by-side refrigerator in stainless steel. Every available opportunity for storage has been considered inside of this fridge/freezer unit.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="built in side by side refrigerator in white cabinet kitchen with black counters" src="https://d6y5eqdcxq8w3.cloudfront.net/assets/blog/brandsource_member_blogs/OART1/OART1_beige-and-white-oak-kitchen/OART1_builtin-side-by-side.jpg" /></p>
<p>Even the interior of the doors have adjustable shelves that can accommodate a lot of items keeping your storage visible on the shelves and inside of the doors. The unit even comes with bakeware that stores right underneath one of the shelves. This pan and baking sheet can go from the fridge to the oven and can be loaded into the dishwasher.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="side by side built in refrigerator in kitchen shown with both doors open" src="https://d6y5eqdcxq8w3.cloudfront.net/assets/blog/brandsource_member_blogs/OART1/OART1_beige-and-white-oak-kitchen/OART1_side-by-side-refrigerator.jpg" /></p>
<p>Curious about this built-in refrigeration option? Then take a quick tour of the interior and see that wood-look detail and included bakeware that comes with the unit:</p>
<p><iframe class="dsg-block-1-youtube-video" title=“KitchenAid Side-by-Side” src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_6tuk_9vwDg" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe></p>
<p>If you have any questions about this model or want to see some of the other options in our built-in refrigeration lineup, just reach out to our team. We will connect you with an appliance expert who can get in dialoge with your cabinet designer and make sure everything syncs up correctly. Right next to that refrigerator is a section of glass-door wall cabinets with countertop surface below.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="kitchen cabinets with glass doors and stainless undercounter microwave drawer" src="https://d6y5eqdcxq8w3.cloudfront.net/assets/blog/brandsource_member_blogs/OART1/OART1_beige-and-white-oak-kitchen/OART1_microwave-drawer.jpg" /></p>
<p>This zone of the kitchen is designed to look like a decorative hutch and the landing space on the counter can be staged up with a coffee bar setup. Below the countertop is a KitchenAid microwave drawer unit in stainless steel. We are super excited to be able to offer the KitchenAid badge on microwave drawers now to our customers.</p>
<h2>Curved Wood Range Hood with Insert</h2>
<p>The main focal point of this kitchen design? The back wall that is home to the cooking zone. This area includes a symmetrical cabinet layout with a curved bell-shaped range hood and a large commercial-style range below.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="images of range hood insert installed in wood range hood cabinet in kitchen" src="https://d6y5eqdcxq8w3.cloudfront.net/assets/blog/brandsource_member_blogs/OART1/OART1_beige-and-white-oak-kitchen/OART1_range-hood-insert.jpg" /></p>
<p>We partnered with Dusty at Woodsmith QC to build and finish this custom range hood for Aspen Homes. Inside of the bell-curved range hood is a Broan internal hood insert with a blower and up to 900 CFMs of ventilation power!</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="white cabinet kitchen with curved wood range hood above stainless steel commercial range" src="https://d6y5eqdcxq8w3.cloudfront.net/assets/blog/brandsource_member_blogs/OART1/OART1_beige-and-white-oak-kitchen/OART1_curved-wood-range-hood.jpg" /></p>
<p>The 48-inch wide range in this kitchen is one we have installed in many Quad Cities kitchens from Village Home Stores. The cooktop includes six gas burners and a chrome-infused griddle with edge-to-edge cooking surface. <a href="https://www.villagehomestores.com/blog/how-to-clean-kitchenaid-griddle"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Check it out in action here</span></a> when we sent Chef Keys to a Bettendorf kitchen to test out some of the features. There are two ovens below and you can even connect the appliance to your phone to access and run more options not shown on the knob controls.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="white cabinet kitchen with stainless range and utensil storage cabinet shown open" src="https://d6y5eqdcxq8w3.cloudfront.net/assets/blog/brandsource_member_blogs/OART1/OART1_beige-and-white-oak-kitchen/OART1_utensil-storage-cabinet.jpg" /></p>
<p>We are so thrilled to have supplied the cabinetry, countertops, hardware, appliances, and lighting for this entire new home. Love the look of this kitchen? See more from this design <a href="https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/accessible-beige-and-white-oak-driftwood-kitchen-in-bettendorf-iowa-pj-vj~7584371"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">here over on our Houzz page</span></a>, where we have the entire album of images posted. Are you ready to get started on your own kitchen design with our team? Your first step is just to connect with us and let us know. You can call us at (309) 944-1344 or send us a message using the chat feature on this page. You can also complete <a href="https://www.villagehomestores.com/contacts"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">this short online form</span></a> about your project and a member of our team will be in touch to discuss our process with you. Our showroom is located at 105 S State Street in downtown Geneseo, Illinois. If you live in or near the Quad Cities area, we are closer than you think. Our kitchen and bath showroom is worth the trip and appointments are recommended so we can be sure to have someone on hand to discuss your project.</p>
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Accessible Beige and White Oak Kitchen Design in Bettendorf

From not quite white cabinets, to statement lighting and more. Village Home Stores shares five trends they are forecasting for kitchen and bath design in 2025

Five Kitchen and Bath Trends in 2025

Combination cabinet kitchen design with Black perimeter cabinetry and White Oak kitchen island. Cabinetry and lighting by Village Home Stores for Advance Homes of the Quad Cities.

<p>Welcome to this handsome open-concept kitchen from Village Home Stores installed in a new Bettendorf, Iowa, home built by Advance Homes of the Quad Cities. This kitchen features our bestselling White Oak cabinetry in the &ldquo;Sand&rdquo; stain, which is used in this home as an accent color paired with black-painted cabinets.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="kitchen design by advance homes quad cities with black and white oak cabinets and seating at the island" src="https://d6y5eqdcxq8w3.cloudfront.net/assets/blog/brandsource_member_blogs/OART1/OART1_white-oak-and-black-kitchen-design/OART1_advance-homes-quad-cities_1.jpg" /></p>
<p>Combination finish kitchen designs continue to be a popular choice for our remodel and new construction customers. There are several ways you can balance the finishes out in a kitchen space.</p>
<h2>A Dual Finish Kitchen Design with White Oak and Black Paint</h2>
<p>In this open-concept kitchen, we combined black-painted cabinetry with an oak island. The main kitchen perimeter is fitted with our Koch Classic Cabinetry line in the Savannah Maple door, which has a &ldquo;Black&rdquo; paint applied.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="close up images of black painted cabinets and white oak light stained cabinets with brass handle hardware and backplates" src="https://d6y5eqdcxq8w3.cloudfront.net/assets/blog/brandsource_member_blogs/OART1/OART1_white-oak-and-black-kitchen-design/OART1_white-oak-and-black-paint_2.jpg" /></p>
<p>At the center of the design is a White Oak kitchen island from our Wynnbrooke line in the Denali door, which has been stained with " Sand.&rdquo;</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="corner of kitchen design with reeded glass pantry door and black cabinets" src="https://d6y5eqdcxq8w3.cloudfront.net/assets/blog/brandsource_member_blogs/OART1/OART1_white-oak-and-black-kitchen-design/OART1_village-home-stores_3.jpg" /></p>
<p>The finishes are balanced out in this kitchen by grounding the darker, black cabinetry on the perimeter and accenting it with a large, light wood kitchen island at the center. There is also a band of White Oak around the bottom edge of the range hood cabinet.</p>
<h2>Take a Short Video Tour of This Kitchen Design</h2>
<p>Before we spill more of the details, want to have a more proper look around? Press play below and take a short video tour of the kitchen design.</p>
<p><iframe class="dsg-block-1-youtube-video" title=“Black Painted Kitchen Design with White Oak Sand Island” src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wbkD6c9cYqA" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe></p>
<h2>Kitchen Cooking Zone and Wood Range Hood Cabinet</h2>
<p>The main wall of the kitchen that faces the living room is home to the cooking zone.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="savannah maple black painted Koch cabinets in kitchen design village home stores" src="https://d6y5eqdcxq8w3.cloudfront.net/assets/blog/brandsource_member_blogs/OART1/OART1_white-oak-and-black-kitchen-design/OART1_savannah-maple-black_4.jpg" /></p>
<p>This wall of the kitchen is symmetrical and includes the range at the center, with plenty of countertop space and cabinet storage on either side of the cooktop. The base cabinet section has two large stacks of drawers. Our customers find that storing pots, pans, lids, and even large dishware can be best in a large drawer cabinet. Above the cooktop is a wood range hood cabinet with a hood insert concealed inside.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="black painted wood hood cabinet with white oak accent banding" src="https://d6y5eqdcxq8w3.cloudfront.net/assets/blog/brandsource_member_blogs/OART1/OART1_white-oak-and-black-kitchen-design/OART1_wood-hood_5.jpg" /></p>
<p>We can order wood hood cabinets in a wide variety of sizes and styles and order them to be finished to match your kitchen cabinetry. For added interest on this wall, we ordered this hood to be taller and deeper than the surrounding wall cabinets and added that band of White Oak at the bottom. The hardware in this kitchen design is the same throughout, a Satin Brass handle from our Emtek line. Modern backplates have been added behind each handle for an elevated look.</p>
<h2>Paneled Refrigerator Surround</h2>
<p>On the other wall near the corner pantry is a section of cabinetry that includes a wide countertop landing space and the refrigerator. A microwave drawer is included on this wall and the area above it can be staged up as a beverage station or breakfast bar area.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="black painted cabinetry in Bettendorf iowa kitchen by village home stores" src="https://d6y5eqdcxq8w3.cloudfront.net/assets/blog/brandsource_member_blogs/OART1/OART1_white-oak-and-black-kitchen-design/OART1_bettendorf-kitchen_6.jpg" /></p>
<p>The refrigerator is surrounded by a deep upper cabinet and tall panels on each side. When your kitchen design includes the refrigerator in a more exposed area, and not against a wall, it is important to surround the unit. By adding a tall finished end panel on both sides of the refrigerator, the kitchen has a clear and distinct endpoint at that refrigerator. This is especially important in this great room as the fridge end faces the main living space and greets visitors as they enter the room from the front door.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="new home kitchen design with island and corner pantry " src="https://d6y5eqdcxq8w3.cloudfront.net/assets/blog/brandsource_member_blogs/OART1/OART1_white-oak-and-black-kitchen-design/OART1_new-home-kitchen-design_7.jpg" /></p>
<p>One of our favorite elements of the L-shaped layout isn&rsquo;t even from our store. The corner pantry door is also painted black to compliment the design and the glass in it is a reeded/fluted texture. The look is super chic and right on trend.</p>
<h2>Kitchen Island Design</h2>
<p>We know that the kitchen is the hub of any home, and the hub of that hub in a great-room kitchen is the island. This island layout boasts storage from every side. The kitchen island cabinetry is assembled using our Wynnbrooke Cabinetry line. This is the Denali shaker-style door in White Oak with the Sand stain applied.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="kitchen island design with large countertop and seating overhang plus storage on every side" src="https://d6y5eqdcxq8w3.cloudfront.net/assets/blog/brandsource_member_blogs/OART1/OART1_white-oak-and-black-kitchen-design/OART1_kitchen-island-design_8.jpg" /></p>
<p>There is storage accessible on every side of this large kitchen island, including a pullout wastebasket cabinet and full-height door cabinets on each end as well as at the back underneath the seating overhang. Our customers love added storage like this that faces the living room space. It can be a great place to stash toys, games, or overflow dishes and serving ware. There is an overhang for added seating on two of the ends including the length that is closest to the living room.</p>
<h2>New Home Cabinetry and Lighting</h2>
<p>We didn&rsquo;t just work with Advance Homes in the kitchen in this new construction home, we provided cabinetry and lighting throughout. The same painted black Savannah door was installed in the Primary Bathroom in a dual sink layout with linen tower at the center.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="black painted vanity cabinets in primary bathroom" src="https://d6y5eqdcxq8w3.cloudfront.net/assets/blog/brandsource_member_blogs/OART1/OART1_white-oak-and-black-kitchen-design/OART1_black-vanity-cabinets_9.jpg" /></p>
<p>We also provided lighting for this project. The sconces (above) in the Primary Bath are among some of our favorites from this home. Four sconces from our Capital Lighting line surround the mirrors, each with two lights. A soft gold finish at the center, the sconces are a Transitional style and can be installed vertically (shown above) or horizontally. The lighting above the kitchen island is also a gold and white combination.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="aged brass and linen shade pendant lights in kitchen" src="https://d6y5eqdcxq8w3.cloudfront.net/assets/blog/brandsource_member_blogs/OART1/OART1_white-oak-and-black-kitchen-design/OART1_pendant-lights_10.jpg" /></p>
<p>A pair of &ldquo;Speakeasy&rdquo; pendants from our Alora line hang above the large kitchen island. Each measures 18&rdquo; wide and has an Aged Gold metal finish with White Linen shades. Designing a kitchen with our team? We will work with your lighting salesperson at Village to make sure we select the right size, style, and quantity for your kitchen island lighting. The perfect choice for this space, these same pendants could work using a single fixture in a foyer or small stairwell. Other favorite lighting selections for this home are found at the front door.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="front entry home lighting" src="https://d6y5eqdcxq8w3.cloudfront.net/assets/blog/brandsource_member_blogs/OART1/OART1_white-oak-and-black-kitchen-design/OART1_front-entry-lighting_11.jpg" /></p>
<p>A pair of &ldquo;Meridan&rdquo; outdoor arm lanterns by Savoy House light up the stylish front stoop. We love the creative layout of windows and lighting for this first impression. A clearstory window above the front door gives you a peek at the foyer lighting waiting inside. The chandelier is from our Capital Lighting line and can be installed with Black Iron (shown) candle sleeves or a contrasting white candle sleeve to mimic a true candle look.</p>
<h2>Get Started on Your Own Project with Village Home Stores</h2>
<p>Are you ready to get started on your own project with our experts? Village Home Stores offers quality products and expert service for remodel and new build customers in Geneseo and the extended Quad Cities area. No matter the size or your budget, we would love a chance to discuss what you are working on and see if we are the right fit. Love the look of this kitchen? See more of it plus a few other spaces from this home posted here <a href="https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/black-paint-and-light-white-oak-kitchen-design-pj-vj~7611577?share=clipboard"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">on our Houzz page</span></a>.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="laundry room cabinets with bench dropzone area and denim coat on coathanger" src="https://d6y5eqdcxq8w3.cloudfront.net/assets/blog/brandsource_member_blogs/OART1/OART1_white-oak-and-black-kitchen-design/OART1_laundry-room-cabinets_12.jpg" /></p>
<p>Ready to connect and start chatting about your own project? Give us a call at (309) 944-1344, fire up the webchat here on the site, or complete <a href="https://www.villagehomestores.com/contacts"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">this short form online</span></a>. Want to see more of our projects? Find us on the social media channel of your choice. We have inspiration on <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/vilghomestores/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Pinterest</span></a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/villagehomestores/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Instagram</span></a>, <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/VillageHomeStores">Facebook</a></span>, <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@villagehomestores">TikTok</a></span>, and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/villagehomestores"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">YouTube</span></a>. You can also find us on <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/village-home-stores"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">LinkedIn</span></a>, <a href="https://www.threads.net/@villagehomestores"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Threads</span></a>, and now <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/villagehomestores.bsky.social"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Bluesky</span></a>. You can also visit us in person for inspiration. Our showroom is located at 105 S State in downtown Geneseo, Illinois. We are open M-F 9am-5pm and Saturdays from 9am-noon. Appointments are recommended if you would like to be sure to have a salesperson available, but walk-ins are always welcome to stop by and browse.</p>
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White Oak and Black Cabinet Kitchen Design

A peek at the progress at a remodel project between the before and after. Village Home Stores shares some updates from a recent remodel job site. 

<p>We share a lot of beautiful before-and-after stories here on the blog, but with a home remodel project, what happens between the before and after is a very important part of that story. Truth is these days anyone can post a photo of a finished project and say it is their work. But this isn&rsquo;t a haircut or a cupcake order, folks, it&rsquo;s your home! You are investing in your home project, so invest in a team that you can trust to get the job done right the first time. If you are considering removing walls or involving any subcontractors, you need to know that there is a plan in place, and everything will happen in sequence to get you across the finish line. And projects like the one we are sharing today are no place for you to entertain hiring someone based off an &ldquo;I know a guy&rdquo; scenario. You need a team and a process that does this work every day. </p>
<p><img alt="side by side images with demoed kitchen on left and finished bright kitchen remodel on the right" src="https://d6y5eqdcxq8w3.cloudfront.net/assets/blog/brandsource_member_blogs/OART1/OART1_village-between-before-and-after/OART1_kitchen-remodeling_01.png" /></p>
<p>We just wrapped up an entire first-floor renovation in a Geneseo, Illinois home that involved a full demo, relocation of the kitchen, and wall removals. Instead of just posting the finished space, we stopped by throughout the process to document some of the transformation for you. So, if you are curious to have a bit of a peek behind the curtain and see some of the lead-up to the finished kitchen feature, you have come to the right place. And don&rsquo;t worry, we will be sharing the finished kitchen in our next post because WOW, it turned out beautiful!</p>
<h2>A Peek at Our Process Between the Before and After</h2>
<p><img alt="side by side images of torn out dining room on left and finished kitchen with bench seat below window on right" src="https://d6y5eqdcxq8w3.cloudfront.net/assets/blog/brandsource_member_blogs/OART1/OART1_village-between-before-and-after/OART1_remodel-before-after_02.png" /></p>
<p>With this post we wanted to give you a more in-depth look into what happens between before and after in a large-scale remodel project with Village Home Stores. The remodel project management designing and estimating process at Village has many stages leading up to the point where you are reviewing detailed inclusion sheets or signing a contract with us. Hours of time and attention are given to your project long before anything is ordered or scheduled. </p>
<p><img alt="side by side of kitchen remodel torn up on left and finished on the right with painted cabinets and black stainless dishwasher" src="https://d6y5eqdcxq8w3.cloudfront.net/assets/blog/brandsource_member_blogs/OART1/OART1_village-between-before-and-after/OART1_kitchen-remodel-before-after_03.png" /></p>
<p>For this project, we converted the original dining room area into a new kitchen location. We also opened the floor plan and replaced the flooring with a new consistent material throughout. Walls came down, doorways were widened, hallways were removed, and new walls went up. </p>
<h2>Tour the Space After Demo </h2>
<p><img alt="images of kitchen remodel demo shown right after tear out and again with designer and carpenter discussing doorway" src="https://d6y5eqdcxq8w3.cloudfront.net/assets/blog/brandsource_member_blogs/OART1/OART1_village-between-before-and-after/OART1_kitchen-remodel-demo_04.png" /></p>
<p>Because the footprint of the first floor was expected to change quite a bit from the original plan, we wanted to show you the space ahead of some of those changes. We stopped by to take a quick tour of the jobsite with the designer, Angela, so she could walk us through the plan for the new first floor. Take a look: </p>
<p><iframe class="dsg-block-1-youtube-video" title=“PART 1: Geneseo Kitchen Remodel After Demo Stage” src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KPVcuBGh20Q" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe></p>
<p>We often find notes when we begin tearing out kitchen and bathroom spaces. These notes are typically from past homeowners or the crews who worked on the spaces last. Did you catch the messages we found in that video? </p>
<p><img alt="kitchen remodel demo images with hidden messages revealed on walls after tear out" src="https://d6y5eqdcxq8w3.cloudfront.net/assets/blog/brandsource_member_blogs/OART1/OART1_village-between-before-and-after/OART1_hidden-messages_05.png" /></p>
<p>We love the one about a carpenter&rsquo;s upcoming nuptials, &ldquo;he was getting pretty nervous about now, only 13 days &lsquo;till he gets married,&rdquo; and the most Midwest message ever referencing the weather, and it being a mild winter at the time the wall was being finished off. Messages like this are a great reminder that the work being done will be in use for many years to come. It is important to hire teams you trust. It also warms our hearts to know that some parts of our industry never change. We are still the type of team that connects with a home and the people and pets who live there. Each job is different from the next, and we love that about the work we do. </p>
<p><img alt="images of kitchen remodel during demo phase and with temporary wall in place" src="https://d6y5eqdcxq8w3.cloudfront.net/assets/blog/brandsource_member_blogs/OART1/OART1_village-between-before-and-after/OART1_demo-during_06.png" /></p>
<p>As you saw in the first video, we installed a long temporary support wall spanning the space. This gave subcontractors and our crews safe support as we completed removing elements of the original footprint that needed to come out, but offered support for the home. With the temporary wall in place, we could begin to build the new support system for the project before removing the temporary wall. </p>
<h2>Framed Up, Roughed in, and Ready for Install </h2>
<p><img alt="kitchen remodel shown during the rough in phase with new headers and walls built in place for the new kitchen location" src="https://d6y5eqdcxq8w3.cloudfront.net/assets/blog/brandsource_member_blogs/OART1/OART1_village-between-before-and-after/OART1_demo-during_06.png" /></p>
<p>We returned to the jobsite not long after that previous video once the new wall work was complete and the plumbers and electricians were finished up roughing in for the installation to begin. Support beams and headers are now in place, and the walls for the new location of the kitchen are all framed up. Take another quick tour of that new footprint for the kitchen and dining spaces: </p>
<p><iframe class="dsg-block-1-youtube-video" title=“Part 2: Geneseo Remodel Framed up and Ready For the New Kitchen” src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/lmJR-E_W8qg" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe></p>
<p>As you can see, for wall-work remodels like this, there are a lot of crews involved, and many times we need to allow for inspections in the schedule. Your original schedule will be set and shared within our project management app. Any changes or updates made to that schedule can be communicated with you and the other crews right within the app. Having the schedule and subcontractor information in a digital format like this can be helpful if you want to check in on things from work or even if you plan to be out of town while the work is being done. We often complete kitchen and bath remodels for &ldquo;snowbirds&rdquo; while they winter somewhere warm. The app allows us to keep them updated on the progress and give them access to information when they want it. </p>
<p><img alt="images of remodel crew and kitchen designer from village home stores discussing remodeling job at site" src="https://d6y5eqdcxq8w3.cloudfront.net/assets/blog/brandsource_member_blogs/OART1/OART1_village-between-before-and-after/OART1_during-kitchen-remodel_07.png" /></p>
<h2>Final Walkthrough Appointment</h2>
<p>In the final days of your remodel project, we will reach out to confirm a time for a final walkthrough of the work. Even though we may still have workers active on site, we can all see the finish line and we are gearing up for the job to be completed soon so you can move into the new space. </p>
<p><img alt="finished kitchen image with large island and tall pantry cabinets" src="https://d6y5eqdcxq8w3.cloudfront.net/assets/blog/brandsource_member_blogs/OART1/OART1_village-between-before-and-after/OART1_remodel-walkthrough_09.png" /></p>
<p>We stopped by again at the same job during the final walkthrough appointment to show you more in-depth what to expect at this meeting. Take a look:</p>
<p><iframe class="dsg-block-1-youtube-video" title=“Part 3: Remodel Project Management Final Walkthrough Appointment” src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8fyUtPmmdkM" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe></p>
<p>As you saw in that video, there is nothing &ldquo;final&rdquo; about the final walkthrough appointment. You will still see our team on site again, and we will be in communication to wrap up anything that was noted and recorded as warranty issues during that appointment. This meeting on site is our chance for you to communicate with your designer and project manager about anything you may have noticed or have concerns about. We are also able to give a detailed look around everywhere to check the work done by our team and any subcontractors we sent to your home. </p>
<h2>Start Your Own Remodel Story with Us</h2>
<p>Has this information made you look a little more curiously at that wall in your own kitchen you wish wasn&rsquo;t there? Have you thought about moving your kitchen, laundry, or primary suite to a whole new location in your home? We can help with that! While we can&rsquo;t promise the project will be done in two weeks&hellip; would you really want us to? We have a process in place, and we continue to adapt it and make it even better with each project we complete. We hope this peek into some of our process has helped you understand why working with our team gets you the result you want with quality work and materials that will last you for decades. </p>
<p><img alt="closeup of man in blue sleeves making notes on file folder in kitchen" src="https://d6y5eqdcxq8w3.cloudfront.net/assets/blog/brandsource_member_blogs/OART1/OART1_village-between-before-and-after/OART1_kitchen-remodel-process_10.png" /></p>
<p>If you are ready to start your own before-and-after story with Village Home Stores, your first step is just to connect with our team. We value your time, and we hope you value ours so we do recommend making an appointment to allow us to discuss your project in our showroom and answer any questions you may have about what you can expect. This first meeting helps us to really focus on the information we will need to gather and look at when we visit your home to begin the designing and estimating phase. You can reach out here using the webchat feature on our site or <a href="https://www.villagehomestores.com/contacts"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">complete this short form</span></a> for our team. You may also give us a call M-F 9am-5pm or Saturdays from 9am-noon at (309) 944-1344. Watch more of our remodel projects every week on the Village Home Show. We air Sunday mornings at 10:30am on WQAD News 8 / ABC. You can also watch our show and other video features online anytime from our <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@Villagehomestores"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">YouTube channel</span></a>. If you have a smart TV, you can stream right from the YouTube app there. We hope you found this post helpful, and we look forward to hearing about projects you are considering.</p>
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Peek at Our Kitchen Remodel Process Between the Before and After

Curious about convection and how to use it? Learn about convection types and benefits from the appliance experts at Village Home Stores. 

<p>Does your current oven have convection features that you&rsquo;ve never tried out? We&rsquo;re here to help you get comfortable with your convection settings and make your holiday meal prep much easier. We often hear from customers that they have convection ovens&hellip; but are hesitant to try using the option. We recognize that something new is always difficult to embrace, and never a great idea to do so when you need results you can count on. So, we want to challenge you to try out convection ahead of the holiday hosting season. Now is a wonderful time to get more confident with your convection settings as we enter the colder, &ldquo;cozy&rdquo; months in the Midwest and near celebrations and gatherings. For many households, these months mean big gatherings and preparing many dishes at once. If you have purchased a range, wall oven, or microwave oven with convection features, you will be so thankful to have them when you host meals on these gathering days.</p>
<p><img alt="large double oven commercial range with both oven doors open showcasing oven racks and convection fans at the back" src="https://d6y5eqdcxq8w3.cloudfront.net/assets/blog/brandsource_member_blogs/OART1/OART_cozy-with-convection/double-convection-ovens.png" style="vertical-align: middle;" /></p>
<h2>Help! My Oven Says I Have a &ldquo;Convection&rdquo; Setting but I&rsquo;ve Never Used it</h2>
<p>So you have purchased a convection oven. Congratulations you have invested in a great feature that is a classic cooking/baking method. Now, let&rsquo;s get you comfortable with using it. First of all, know that you aren&rsquo;t alone. And if you purchased your oven from Village Home Stores,&nbsp;<span style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">you<em>&nbsp;really&nbsp;</em>aren&rsquo;t</span>&nbsp;alone. Our sales team is available to you before, during, AND after delivery to your home. So, if you can&rsquo;t find your manual or need a quick pep talk on using your convection, know that we are just a phone call or email away.</p>
<h2>What Makes Convection Different?</h2>
<p>Convection ovens are used in restaurants and bakeries because they offer consistent and efficient results. When you heat up a standard/conventional oven, the element in the bottom floor of the oven heats up and sends the heat up on direction. When you use a broiler or a countertop air fryer, heat is coming from above. Convection cooking combines heating elements and the use of fans to distribute the heat consistently within the oven cavity to surround your food. Many times, a countertop air fryer or toaster oven adds a fan to help spread the heat. So, you may have used a convection oven before without realizing it.</p>
<p><img alt="pair of fruit pastries baking in oven with blue interior" src="https://d6y5eqdcxq8w3.cloudfront.net/assets/blog/brandsource_member_blogs/OART1/OART_cozy-with-convection/baking-with-convection.png" style="vertical-align: middle;" /></p>
<p>A great example of how convection works is considering a casserole or lasagna. Have you ever had one that came out with the edges totally crispy&hellip; and the center barely cooked? This can happen when heat is only coming from one source and the dish itself is heating up more consistently than the contents. Surrounding your dishes and bakeware with convection heat instead gives you even distribution for that same dish you are preparing. A fan at the back of the oven kicks on at intermittent times to help distribute the heat evenly. This helps to champion the temperature your recipe is calling for to actually be the temperature in the oven cavity.</p>

<figure class="dsg-bg-box">
  <blockquote>
"Convection is just a fancy term for an oven that keeps a consistent heat throughout the entire oven cavity using a fan. What dish couldn’t benefit from surrounding your food on all sides with the temperature it is meant to bake at? And as a bonus, preheat times are shorter!” 
  </blockquote>
  <figcaption>

</figure>
<br>
<p><img alt="closeup of oven controls with convection and no preheat mode" src="https://d6y5eqdcxq8w3.cloudfront.net/assets/blog/brandsource_member_blogs/OART1/OART_cozy-with-convection/no-preheat.png" style="vertical-align: middle;" /></p>
<p>If you need the simplest excuse to try out your convection settings here it comes: <strong>your oven preheats faster</strong>. Using a setting that is designed to distribute heat evenly throughout your oven gets your entire oven to the desired temperature faster. Some of our brands are even renaming controls and settings that use that back fan to &ldquo;No Preheat&rdquo; mode for this reason.</p>
<h2>Conventional vs. Convection What Do I Have?</h2>
<p>If you are house hunting, home sharing, or just unfamiliar with your own oven there is a quick way to spot if the oven uses conventional or convection. Take a peek at the very back wall inside the oven cavity. If it is a smooth, un-interrupted surface like the image below, you have a conventionally heated oven.</p>
<p><img alt="conventional oven interior with door open showing racks and blue interior" src="https://d6y5eqdcxq8w3.cloudfront.net/assets/blog/brandsource_member_blogs/OART1/OART_cozy-with-convection/conventional-oven.png" style="vertical-align: middle;" /></p>
<p>That means that the heat in your oven comes from a heating element that is either a visible or concealed heating coil on the floor of the oven. The heat from that element travels up from the source to heat your food. Convection cooking instead surrounds your dish (or dishes) with a consistent temperature from all directions, using a fan to move the heat around the entire oven cavity. Check out the next image and see that the very back wall of the oven has a fan built into the wall.</p>
<p><img alt="convection oven interior with racks and air fry tray showing" src="https://d6y5eqdcxq8w3.cloudfront.net/assets/blog/brandsource_member_blogs/OART1/OART_cozy-with-convection/convection-oven-air-fry.png" style="vertical-align: middle;" /></p>
<p>But just because you can spot that fan area in the back doesn&rsquo;t mean it is working for you. You do have to invite your fan-assisted convection features to the party by selecting &ldquo;Convection&rdquo; options on your controls. Some units may even call out specific convection options like &ldquo;Convect Roast&rdquo; or &ldquo;Convect Broil&rdquo; in addition to a &ldquo;Convect Bake&rdquo; option.</p>
<h2>Become a Fan of Fan Convection</h2>
<p>Once you get in the habit of using your convection features, you will become a big fan (pun intended). Baking three racks of cookies at once (instead of in three different batches) is possible with convection. Packing up your oven racks with multiple Thanksgiving side dishes and baking them all together at 350&deg; is possible with convection.</p>
<p><img alt="mother and son with oven door open shown basting a turkey in whirlpool oven" src="https://d6y5eqdcxq8w3.cloudfront.net/assets/blog/brandsource_member_blogs/OART1/OART_cozy-with-convection/turkey-in-oven.png" style="vertical-align: middle;" /></p>
<p>And if prepping the perfect bird for the gathering is your goal, convection settings will help champion that consistent heat in your oven. You can even use the very top rack for sides as you are finishing the turkey roasting.</p>
<h2>The Truth Behind &ldquo;True&rdquo; Convection</h2>
<p>So, what is the difference between fan-assisted or fan-convection and &ldquo;true&rdquo; convection ovens? More Heat. If that convection fan also includes <strong>another heat source</strong> for the oven, then you are using what we call &ldquo;true&rdquo; convection. Another common name for this is &ldquo;European&rdquo; convection. Many of the oven models we offer have an additional heating element that partners with the convection fan. It is with this category that you may be able to adjust cooking times and temperature settings.</p>
<p><img alt="kitchenaid commercial oven knob set to convection roast" src="https://d6y5eqdcxq8w3.cloudfront.net/assets/blog/brandsource_member_blogs/OART1/OART_cozy-with-convection/convect-roast.png" style="vertical-align: middle;" /></p>
<p>True convection settings can offer you the very best cooking and baking results as the added heating element partners with the convection fan. The goal is to get the entire oven cavity heated to and consistently staying at the perfect temperature you have requested. Our true convection KitchenAid models have a distinct bow-tie design for the convection fan at the back of the oven.</p>
<p><img alt="kitchenaid convection oven with bow tie back wall design" src="https://d6y5eqdcxq8w3.cloudfront.net/assets/blog/brandsource_member_blogs/OART1/OART_cozy-with-convection/convection-oven-kitchenaid.png" style="vertical-align: middle;" /></p>
<p>If you look at the image above, you will notice that instead of a circle grate in front of the convection fan, a bow-shaped form instead takes the fan convection one step further. This design helps to channel and direct the fan around your oven cavity. The bow-tie design and fan direction circulates the heated airflow around your oven for large-batch baked goods, consistently caramelized veggies, and well-browned roasts.</p>
<h2>Do I Need to Change My Temp or Time with Convection?</h2>
<p>The time and temperature adjustments seem to be the main reason why most customers are intimidated to try their convection oven features. We are here to help ease that nervousness and encourage you to get comfortable with your appliance investment. If you are just selecting a convection setting that invites the back fan to your cooking process, you will not need to worry about making any adjustments to your oven temperature or time. The only time difference you can expect is a faster preheat.</p>
<p><img alt="oven controls showing manual and auto convection options" src="https://d6y5eqdcxq8w3.cloudfront.net/assets/blog/brandsource_member_blogs/OART1/OART_cozy-with-convection/convection-options.png" style="vertical-align: middle;" /></p>
<p>You will notice on all oven settings, once you begin making selections you are walked through many steps before selecting &ldquo;start&rdquo;. This is no different when you select a convection option. True convection ovens from Village Home Stores will walk you through the steps once you select &ldquo;Convection&rdquo; on your controls, making those adjustments for you (if needed). So, if your recipe calls for 425&deg; for 30 minutes, you will enter that information. Once you select start, you may see that your temperature or time may automatically adjust slightly.</p>
<p><img alt="oven with roast and roasted beets in it" src="https://d6y5eqdcxq8w3.cloudfront.net/assets/blog/brandsource_member_blogs/OART1/OART_cozy-with-convection/village-home-stores.png" style="vertical-align: middle;" /></p>
<p>Just remember to keep an eye on the last 5-10 minutes of your normal cook/bake time. There will be a page or two in your manual dedicated to your convection settings. If you can&rsquo;t find your manual, don&rsquo;t worry. If you purchased from us, just give us a call or send us a message online, and we will find the info for you. This is also an important moment to remind you there is an oven light and a glass door for a reason. <strong>You do NOT need to open your oven up to check inside</strong>. Read that again, please. Many times, you can answer your own questions by turning on the light and peeking through the glass. Every time you open your oven door, you are disrupting that perfect, consistent heat distribution party happening inside.</p>
<h2>Take it For a Test Drive</h2>
<p>Worried about something getting over or under-cooked on your first attempt? Try it out ahead of a big gathering. We recommend test-driving a favorite dish that you are already familiar with making and using the convection fan. Casseroles or lasagnas are great candidates for convection cooking. Just remember to be available nearby during the last few minutes of cooking to keep an eye on when it is done to your liking. Plus, don&rsquo;t forget that consistent oven cavity temperature means you have the green light to bake a lot at once. I have a convection oven at home and host a large Thanksgiving meal each year. You better believe I have every inch of those racks spoken for and that convection fan rocking for that meal prep.</p>
<p><img alt="wall oven controls with settings running for covect roast using temperature probe" src="https://d6y5eqdcxq8w3.cloudfront.net/assets/blog/brandsource_member_blogs/OART1/OART_cozy-with-convection/wall-oven-convection.png" style="vertical-align: middle;" /></p>
<p>We want you to be happy with the price and the product you get from shopping locally with Village Home Stores. If you are interested in investing in a new oven and want to explore some of these options in person, please stop by and meet our expert sales team. You never need an appointment to browse our appliance showroom M-F, 9a-5p, and Saturdays from 9a-noon. We are located at 105 S State St. Geneseo, Illinois. You can also message our team and shop online with us at <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="villagehomestores.com" target="_blank">villagehomestores.com</a></span> Did you try out your convection for the first time? Tag us on social media @villagehomestores on your <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/VillageHomeStores" target="_blank">Facebook</a></span>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/villagehomestores/" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Instagram</span></a>, <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@villagehomestores" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">TikTok</span></a>, or <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5cEoPN5DoFugZ5Q7zBD32w" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">YouTube</span></a> posts. We can&rsquo;t wait to see what you are cooking in your Village kitchen.</p>

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Get Comfortable with Your Convection Oven

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Get Comfortable with Your Convection Oven

Village Homes Stores

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Hours

Connect With Us

July 4th Sale

Save up to 40% + up to $500 back*Offer Ends 7/9/25

Blog

Get Comfortable with Your Convection Oven

Location

Hours

Connect With Us

July 4^th Sale

Save up to 40% + up to $500 back^*Offer Ends 7/9/25