
Written by Colleen Coleman of CMC Design studio LLC
[From the 2025 Home & Garden Magazine]

Colleen Coleman is the Principal of
CMC Design Studio LLC located in Saratoga Springs. With certifications in Kitchen & Bath Design, Aging in Place and True Color Expert, her curated design extends into all areas of her field including new construction, historical and major renovations. Her passion is in designing & customizing hand-crafted cabinets for all areas of the residential market.
Your gardens must be bursting with color by now!
Whether small or large, a few potted plants or a yard full of beds, a garden can give you such pleasure. Likewise, your home’s interior awakens your sense of season with color changes from pillows, artwork or even small interchangeable knick-knacks. So, let’s get going and explore our local shops for finds I know you’ll love!
Granite & Marble Works
8 Commerce Park Drive, Wilton GraniteAndMarbleworks.com | 518-584-2800

Let’s start with Granite & Marble Works where you can source endless natural stones and porcelain for your upcoming outdoor project! Our season for outdoor fun is short, so why not enjoy every minute! Here are 3 great tips from my friend and owner of G&MW, Margaret Roohan:
1. Best materials for an uncovered outside space are leathered or honed granite and porcelain. For covered areas, there’s more options, but ask first!
2. Dark stones will get hot in the sun! Be sure your selection takes this into consideration.
3. For Cleaning, simple soap and water is best! Be sure to cover your stone with a tarp in the winter!
Whether you’re topping your outdoor kitchen or creating a pool spillway area in your pool, take it from an expert in the stone business, and be sure to visit Granite and Marble Works when sourcing stone for your next project!

Marcella's Appliance
15 Park Avenue, Clifton Park
MarcellasAppliance.com | 518-952-7700

And for your outdoor grill area, I just happened to find a red egg at Marcella’s Appliance…you heard me right…another ceramic grill worthy of any outdoor chef enthusiast’s attention, the Kamado Joe! To start, this charcoal grill offers versatility…Grill, smoke, sear, roast and more! Wish you could grill at different temperatures, now you can with the Divide & Conquer® Flexible Cooking System! This multi-level, half-rack design allows you to cook different foods at different temperatures simultaneously. Be sure to ask Marcella’s more about this unique system! The Kontrol Tower® Top Vent also ensures precise airflow for consistent temperature so your foods finish to perfection! And the thick ceramic walls retain your preferred heat for optimal cooking! It’s just the grill you’ve been looking for!!
Finishing Touches Home Decor
450 E High Street, Ballston Spa
FinishingTouchesStore.com | 518-584-1490

In Malta, be sure to stop in at Finishing Touches where you can source unique one-of-a-kind art pieces by Sandy Garbrandt, a local artist who also just so happens to decorate ice cream pies for Cookies and Cream ice cream shop! Get your order in for one of those at Finishing Touches! The two remaining art pieces are her Colorful Decoupage Horseshoe and Pen & Ink Horse CloseUp. Her attention to detail is so refined that even her decoupage is completed with each tiny piece being layered in place with a toothpick! Don’t miss out on these originals…once they’re gone… they’re gone! And if you’re a candle lover, be sure to pick up their new Saratoga Spring Candle in a ginger-orange scent. Made of 100% soy candle wax and of course…made in the USA! The silhouette jockey on front, running for the finish line, puts an exclamation on any Saratoga décor!

Finsihing Touches Copy

Horseshoe Close Up
Earl B. Feiden Appliance
1771 U.S. 9, Clifton Park | 518-383-2215
785 U.S. 9, Latham | 518-785-8555
EarlBFeiden.com


Now for some fun in the kitchen with a little garden color inspiration! A new trend we’re seeing is more buyers committing to what I would call permanent color. By this I mean investing in items with color that aren’t easily replaced. At Earl B. Feiden Appliance, you’ll find the Bluestar line available in 1000+ colors! Imagine your kitchen in a sultry green with a
48" Platinum Induction Range to match! With an industry leading matte finish cooktop, this range offers the largest cooking surface with patent-pending power indicator lights, six individual zones and two bridge functions for oversized cookware. Below, this range offers 8 cooking modes including: Bake, Convect Bake, Roast, Convect Roast, Convect, Broil, Proof and Dehydrate, plus Sabbath setting and temperature probe with enough interior room for commercial baking sheets at 18" x 26"! And to top it off, it’s been handcrafted in Pennsylvania since 1880! What are you waiting for? Call me if you need a kitchen remodel to go with your new range!

Let’s get down to it my friends!
We are in full sun mode and should take advantage of all our New York warm days. I hope to see many of you on social media posting your gardens and home décor, tag me @cmcdesignstudiollc and keep up the good work shopping local and supporting our community! See you on the sidewalk!
Until next time my friends,

Colleen Coleman of CMC Design Studio LLC
Certified Kitchen & Bath Designer
Certified Aging in Place
True Color Expert
Contributing Interior Design Editor, Saratoga Publishing
National Award Winning Designs
@cmcdesignstudiollc
“Creating Environments for Life”TM