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Posts Tagged ‘cabinets’

This weekend my partner and I began to shop for a new kitchen for our family home. Like many homes, I’m sure, our lives and daily activities largely revolve around this one room – hence why such thought was put in to purchasing a new one!

Despite seeing some sunshine, moonlight and good times, our current 1970s style kitchen is unlikely to boogie without a much needed hip-replacement… or new cabinetry at least!

As an avid cook, I really do demand a lot from my kitchen, so I thought I might share some thoughts about what I believe a good kitchen should entail, and gain valuable feedback, before I decide to splurge a vast sum of cash on a new one.

First and foremost, my kitchen has to be practical and considerately designed to cater for my laziness when cooking. Unfortunately, if the Rosemary and Thyme aren’t easily to hand when roasting a chicken on a Sunday, I tend to go without. I like to have all of my equipment, herbs and seasonings within arm’s reach – much like a garden shed, in that respect. A revolving spice rack, useful revolving storage compartments and neatly organised cabinetry therefore greatly appeals to me.

As a father with a young child, I also need it to be hard-wearing. Really hard-wearing in fact. Although it pains me to say, I’ve learned that if you want your kitchen to be a room that the whole family can enjoy, you can’t be too finicky about it. My daughter loves to help her mum bake cakes and brownies; our current kitchen carpet is a testament to that! So having cabinetry that’s easy to clean, and preferably slam-proof, is almost essential.

Lastly, colour plays an essential role in the kitchen design and is a great tool for altering the mood. The kitchen is the first place we all visit in the morning and the first place we retreat to when finishing work in the evenings. For that reason, the colour needs to be bold, energising and able to lighten spirits even in the gloomy wintry days. I find brightly painted walls or cabinets ought to do the trick.

So with a combination of practical – anti-slam – bold coloured cabinetry, hard-wearing surfaces, useful rotating storage and quality spot lighting, I think I may have finally sussed the uncertainty of what makes a good kitchen. Now all that’s left is to pay for it.

Ian is a muppet currently investigating kitchen design and designer kitchens

Have you ever been hungry at home, walked into your kitchen, and suddenly felt uninspired to cook? If you dread using your kitchen, whether your appliances are outdated, the space is poorly laid out, or it is just plain ugly, it may be time to make a change for the better. Perhaps what you need is a kitchen remodel. Yes, it can be done and will definitely improve the look and feel of your kitchen. But before embarking on this project, there are certain things you need to know to prepare yourself for the possible challenges that come with completing a kitchen remodel.

For the best results with the least surprises, it is important to start your project with a good plan. Know beforehand what changes you want to see in your kitchen. If you are unsure, collect photos of kitchens that you like and consult an expert. It may help to work around a theme, as it will keep the style consistent throughout the kitchen. Many websites offer image galleries and there are a number of books dedicated to remodeling. Once you have a look in mind and a detailed plan, you are ready to get started.

The following is a list of things you will need to consider before tackling your kitchen remodel:

Space management – Know the size as well as the shape of your kitchen. Keep in mind the classic “kitchen triangle” to make sure your layout is optimal in both design and function. The three points of the triangle are the refrigerator, sink and the stove/oven. You should be able to maneuver between the three without any hassle.
Countertops and Cabinets – Choose the material and design that you feel comfortable with. There are plenty of cabinet and countertop options in a wide price range. Researching the benefits of each material you are considering will help to narrow down your selections. Of course this choice may depend on the theme you have chosen.
Faucets and Sink – Many people now prefer designer sinks for their kitchen. You may visit showrooms to see the latest available. Make sure you choose a sink you can easily use by being mindful of the size and depth of the sink and the features, height clearance and maneuverability of the faucet.
Kitchen Appliances – They should be accessible for easy use and most new appliances have energy efficient features. When choosing appliances, their size and color should compliment each other and also be consistent with the theme chosen.
Kitchen Walls and Floor – The material, pattern if any, and color of the walls and floor should remain true to the overall theme of the kitchen. The best materials for kitchen flooring are non-porous and durable, as they will hold up better with daily use and food spills.
Lighting – As with any workspace, there should be generous lighting in the kitchen. Having lights over each work zone – particularly the stove and sink – will make a big difference when you are using the space.
Financing – When tackling any remodeling project, the budget may have the biggest say as to how much can be done. This should be considered during the planning stage. It is best to consult a contractor if you are planning a kitchen remodel. Many offer a free estimate and can give you an idea of how much each part of the project will cost and what can honestly be accomplished based on your budget. The worst thing you can do is begin a project you can’t afford to finish, so make realistic plans based on your financing and stick to them!

A kitchen remodel may take several weeks and as such, you must be prepared to have a makeshift kitchen to use for the duration of the remodel. It is also important that house rules are made clear before the remodel, for both the workers and your family. The workers should be informed of areas that are off-limits to them and your family, especially children, should know to stay out of work areas. The workers should be respectful of your home and always clean up after themselves at the end of each workday.

You should be involved in the project as much as possible and never hesitate to ask any questions you have for the contractors. If you start with a good plan, stick to your budget, and communicate with the contractor, your kitchen remodel will be a great success.

Robert Wood has extensive experience in creating custom new homes, home remodels, Kitchen Remodels, commercial construction and is the owner of Generation Homes, a well-established California construction company. Robert helps walk home owners through every aspect of a home construction or home renovation project, to ensure peace of mind and satisfaction in craftsmanship.

Remodelling or redesigning a smaller kitchen can be a bit of a design challenge but with the right tips and tricks you can turn your small kitchen into an efficient and stylish area meeting your budget and your needs. Even with limited budget options you can transform your small kitchen into a stylish yet practical area.

When thinking about the design of your kitchen and which areas to fill with counters, fridges and freezers, it’s often to use kitchen design software, which is a computer-aided software that will help you plan out your kitchen to the exact dimensions. The software allows you to see what pieces of furniture will go best where and enabling you to alter your furniture choices around, with a simple click of a mouse, until you work out how you can best maximise space in your kitchen.

The software allows you to rearrange furniture with the click of a mouse to discover the best ways to maximise space in your kitchen. If you aren’t happy with where a cabinet is placed, you can quickly and easily edit it until you think it’s in the right place. This allows the kitchen owner to feel confident knowing their kitchen is going to be built exactly how they planned it. The likelihood of having to rearrange furniture during the fitting is low because the software is so precise, this saves the customer and labourer time and money. The software will also help to maximise space in a small kitchen.

You will need to find space-saving furniture for your kitchen – there are clever pieces of kitchen furniture available for smaller kitchens, including pull-out cupboards and cabinets and deeper counters to store all of your appliances on.

As well as furniture choice, you’ll also need to consider the lighting in your room, lighting creates the illusion of more space so must be carefully considered within small kitchens. Make use of large windows or even consider having a larger window fitted just to make sure extra light reaches your kitchen to make it look larger. Under-cabinet lighting is always a good idea for smaller kitchens, which are probably lacking in natural light anyway. Adding small pedant lights under cabinets and in dark corner will brighten these areas up creating the illusion of more space. The same goes for in-cabinet lighting, it can make a kitchen look very stylish and will help the insides of your cabinet reflecting on the glassware.

Try to de-clutter and keep worktops clear, make sure everything has a storage space so the kitchen isn’t filled with appliances making it look cluttered and small.

Building ovens, sinks and stoves on top of or into counter tops and cabinets is a brilliant way of saving space and being practical.

The decor and colour schemes you choose for your kitchen can help brighten up the room and give the illusion it’s larger. Choose lighter colours to give the room a bigger feel – white does this brilliantly. You can liven up white with boldly-coloured accessories and loud prints.

Micheal Richards is writing on behalf of Nexus Design Software, specialists in interior design software including kitchen design software.

Kitchens are a very important part of every home. Some people dream of having their perfect kitchen and if they were ever given the opportunity to remodel their kitchen, they would never refuse the offer. A good cookhouse is one that looks good, while being spacious, well ventilated, having durable fixtures, fittings and flooring, is easy to be cleaned, has space to store utensils and features necessary gadgets that you will need while working in the cookhouse. Lighting is very important n every cookhouse, so a lot of thought has to go into that as well if you ever go into kitchen remodeling for your home. Before you start with kitchen remodeling, you need to protect your house from all the dust that will fly around from the work. Use plastic to cover the doorways of your house to keep it sealed from dust. Protect your utensils from the dust as well. Use storage boxes to store your utensils for a period of time until the kitchen remodeling is done with. Read the rest of this entry »

There are plenty of reasons why you might want to remodel your kitchen including: not enough space to cook, you don’t like the decor, you would like to add new appliances but don’t have the space, etc. The possibilities when remodeling your kitchen are virtually limitless. You can do a complete renovation, changing the kitchen’s entire layout and appearance, or you can go for something a bit simpler like getting new counter tops or cabinets. I’ve compiled a little list below detailing some of the things you may want to do before going ahead with your kitchen renovation. Read the rest of this entry »

Do you have a large, ugly unfinished basement? Have you ever thought about maybe doing something with that space? Finishing your basement allows you to have an extra room in your house and have a more valuable house at that.

Finishing your basement can drastically increase the value. Instead of having a three bedroom, two story house you now have a four bedroom, three story house. Do you know what that does for your resale value? Aside from living more comfortably yourself, you are creating a much more desirable place for the next home owners if you are planning on selling. I don’t know about you, but to me this seems like a great investment. You get a better price per square foot of your home. Resale is going to be easy. Read the rest of this entry »

For homeowners with a small frustrating kitchen, kitchen remodeling is the solution to increasing the kitchen space in general and increasing the cooking space in particular. Without extensive remodeling of the kitchen, there are many simple ways of increasing cooking space. All it takes is creativity! First, one should not think in terms of barriers. Things like walls, cabinets, tables and other appliances should not hinders one’s creativity of creating cooking space from what little is available. More lighting and the use of brighter paints in the kitchen can completely alter the look and bring about an illusion of more space in the kitchen. Read the rest of this entry »

So, you are sitting in your kitchen now and looking at the same cabinets and fixtures that probably came with the house. Whether you have lived in your home for ten, twenty, or even more years, you know your tastes have changed over time. What appeared fashionable back when the home was built may look completed outdated now, and unfortunately too worn to be considered vintage. When you come into your kitchen you want to be inspired to cook and entertain, and enjoy wonderful meals at home. A remodel of the space can be helpful, but is this an undertaking you should do yourself, or should you hire a contractor?

Do it yourself projects, some may argue, can save you money initial as far as labor goes. However, if you are not particularly skilled in home improvement – and a kitchen remodel requires a fair amount of work – you might find the improvements you make now need more improvement should things break down. If you plan on a complete overhaul of your kitchen, replacing certain appliances in addition to cabinets and counters, you may want to consider bringing in a professional to assess the job. Read the rest of this entry »

Bathroom cabinets are a great way to expand your bathroom’s storage capacity. If you’ve got a lot of bathroom accessories, hygiene and beauty supplies, cleaning equipment and pampering products, cabinets can help you organise your storage and hide unsightly items out of the way.

Cabinets come in many shapes, sizes and designs. With open shelving, cupboards and drawers on offer, you can choose a combination of storage styles that suits both your needs and your aesthetic preferences. Read the rest of this entry »

For those on a tight budget, considering which furniture to have inside the house is a big issue. There are some items that you can live without while there are also others that will be necessary for your everyday activities. For your bathroom, you may ask yourself if there is a need to have a vanity cabinet. Well, here are a few reasons why a bathroom cabinet can be considered a good addition inside your home.

To remove clutter. If you do not have a vanity cabinet in your bathroom, the most likely set up is that you will need a lot of shelves to store your bathroom products. And this means that your bathroom will be teeming with shelves in almost every corner. To have the storage space that you need, the vanity set can be the answer that you are looking for. Remember that these furniture items have several spaces underneath that can serve as bathroom cabinets. In there, you will be able to keep essential but rarely used items. On top of the furniture, you can set commonly used products for your convenience. Read the rest of this entry »