Archive for the 'Kitchen Remodeling' Category

Aug 18 2010

Transform Your Kitchen Without Ripping-off Your Budget

If you want to update your kitchen to give it a modern new look, it can end up costing you a fortune. Updates like counter tops, cabinetry and flooring tend to be very expensive, yet they add the most to your home’s value. How about giving your kitchen a facelift and completely transforming the look without spending an exorbitant amount of money?

Many families spend the majority of their time in the kitchen and dining areas. It’s possible to achieve that warm and appealing kitchen you want without investing a ton of money. Here are several easy ways to refresh your kitchen’s décor while sticking to your budget.

Refresh Your Cabinets
For many people, buying all new cabinets is out of the question. Fortunately, it’s possible to make them look brand-new yourself. One option is to paint them an entirely different color. Or you might sand them down a bit and stain them a different shade. With a protective coat of polyurethane, you’ll have some sparkling, shiny new cabinets. Add some new hardware, and your cabinets will have a completely different look.

Add an Island
If you have space in your kitchen, adding an island will dramatically change the appearance of things. An island can add some much-needed counter space to your kitchen and can also serve to break up the room. If you want to hang a wrought-iron pot rack overhead, this is the perfect place.

Freshen Up Your Appliances
It can put a real strain on your bank account if you try to buy all new appliances. If you feel that your stove, refrigerator and/or dishwasher are looking a bit outdated, they can be painted as well. They make a special type of appliance paint that can be used for this purpose. If rust spots are starting to develop on any appliance, there is a special product that stops the rusting process that you can purchase as well. Just be sure to apply the rust solution before you paint your appliances.

Perk Up the Walls
When it comes to your walls, anything is possible. They can be painted or you can add wallpaper or paneling. Use bright, energizing colors like orange, peach, and green that lend a botanical appearance to things. Hang pictures of natural elements such as fruits, flowers, and herbs on large wall spaces. By transforming your walls, you can really bring a dull kitchen to life.

Don’t Forget the Floor
Are you unhappy with the flooring you have? This can be updated as well. Although many people don’t realize this, old linoleum can actually be painted. Start by lightly sanding the surface of the linoleum, as this will help the new paint adhere. After this thorough cleaning, next apply an oil-based primer. Once everything is dry, you’ll be ready to paint!

Consider creating your own design by using stencil patterns or even painting a “rug” on the floor. This is a great way to get creative and use your imagination. Apply about three layers of paint and then wait for them to thoroughly dry. Finish things off by applying three coats of durable polyurethane to protect your new floor and make it shine.

You can create a beautiful new kitchen without blowing your budget by following these few easy steps. Although you can spend tens of thousands of dollars completely remodeling a kitchen, you can keep it to just a few hundred by doing it yourself.

About the Author…
For over 40 years Leon Tuberman has helped people with their furniture and interior decorating needs. He is the owner and operator of popular furniture store in Los Angeles. They carry a large selection of USA made solid oak furniture for your home office, dining room and bedroom. Are you searching for a dining room set for your kitchen and dining room or wooden filing cabinets for your home office then they probably have everything you need.

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Aug 03 2010

Undermount Corner Kitchen Sink – The Advantages it Can Give to Your Kitchen

At this modern day and age, every family likes a kitchen sink that is really chic in its look and promotes convenience for easy working and moving around the kitchen. The undermount corner kitchen sink is the one that is perfect for you who needs a good fuse of comfort and style. It is made different from other kitchen platform types since it is placed below the counter and its rim is not at all present from above.


The undermount corner kitchen sink is also known as the recessed sink. They can be made out of a variety of materials like granite and coppers, being the most popular ones in the market today. But the stainless steel material is what stands out above these all. They are easy to maintain and it gives out a shiny surface that can really make any kitchen look elegant.


The undermount corner kitchen sink offers a lot of benefits like the proper accommodation of numerous utensils for washing all at the same time. They are also great space savers making it perfect as well for small types of kitchen. Most of these are done with some undercoating that helps lessen the sound made when washing. Since its plumbing is not visible above, the not so pleasant sight of the drain pipes are not seen.
Finally, what is best about such types of sink is that they can really last and stay long with you for a long time and is very resistant to any kind of dents or scratches.

That is what I can tell you about corner kitchen sink, there is more in-depth knowledge at http://thebestkitchens.com.

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Jul 26 2010

Kitchen Renovation – The Ultimate Symbol of Your Family’s Lifestyle

Kitchen renovations are normally put into two categories – the renovation of an existing kitchen or the total rebuilding of a new kitchen out of an old one.


The latter is usually more expensive, as it will include all alterations, electrical work and plumbing fixtures. Although a complete renovation may mean completely changing your existing kitchen, as long as you don’t need to demolish that part of your house, you should still be able to keep the costs within your budget.


It’s surprisingly reassuring to know that the design you choose for your kitchen will make a big difference to your everyday kitchen activities, not to mention your entire home life.


Renovations always provide a fresh new feeling and a new perspective, and this is especially to true for a boring or outdated kitchen. With a new kitchen, you might find yourself doing more cooking and staying longer in the heart of your home.


Kitchen manufacturers and stores carry a very wide range of kitchen styles at different price ranges, hence the importance of a well thought of plan and design. A good plan will help you come up with a realistic budget.


During the planning stage, you can actually make a choice whether to scale your budget up or down as you go. With a total renovation bear in mind that you will also have to replace all the fixtures, and that the finishing will take up a large chunk of your costs.


Most homeowners feel proud and happy when they have renovations done. Your new kitchen will become a living space you want to show off with pride, if not a primary entertaining area in its own right.


Maybe you are considering having your kitchen equipped with a cooking station island, so you can show off your cooking skills. With this in mind, it may be practical to consider remodeling your kitchen to a more open plan style, to allow the features to flow into a lounge or dining room. This will also allow you to think of some creative ways to entertain guests while preparing meals.


There will no doubt be many other interesting ideas you might think of to make your kitchen stand out, have character and functionality.


Your kitchen can be so much more than just a place to prepare, cook, serve, and eat meals. Modern kitchens should be the ultimate symbol of you and your family’s lifestyle, yet provide maximum functionality and efficiency.


When planning a renovation think of what the kitchen’s true purpose is:




  • How will the kitchen be used and by whom?
  • How much time do you typically spend each time for preparing meals?
  • What type of meals does your family enjoy?
  • How are your meals prepared?
  • Do you frequently enjoy grilled or baked meals?


Answering these questions may also help you decide whether there is a need for a breakfast bar or dining nook, or even a space for a formal dining place so you and your family can enjoy the meal together.


It could be that you consider allotting some space for a small kitchen office or desk area so you can still check and continue your work while waiting for your baked dish or simmering your pot roast.


Ideas like these, that on the surface may seem trivial, are actually what functionality is all about. They should never be overlooked when making your kitchen renovation plan.

John Cunningham


Award winning kitchen designer will assist you to design and build the kitchen of your dreams that will still look amazing in 10 years time. Visit http://www.sunshinecoastkitchen.com.au to see their modern kitchen designs.

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Mar 21 2010

Replacing a Washer – Easier Than You Think

The kitchen is the de facto nerve centre of every home, particularly if you have a family of food lovers. However this frequent use means you need to pay extra attention to cleaning and maintaining your fittings and fixtures. In this article, we will look at some general maintenance tips to keep your plumbing working at it’s best. The kitchen sink is on of the things in your house that is most likely to need repairs and maintenance. Washers will wear out with use, and drains will get blocked. Fortunately, the kitchen sink is also the easiest thing to fix once you know a few basics!

Washers are very easy to fix. You will need the following supplies: Plumbers tape, Pipe wrench or spanner set replacement washers. Start by locating and turning off the mains water supply to your home. If in an apartment, you may need to consult your landlord before disconnecting your neighbors water while they are having a hot shower! Once you have turned off the mains water, remove the top of the tap fitting. How you do this will depend on the type of tap, but usually you need to lever up the small insert on top of the tap. This will reveal a screw that you can undo to remove the tap. Other taps have a large hexagonal fitting at the base – these can be simply unscrewed with your pipe wrench. Once removed, you should be able to identify the washer. These usually look like a white plastic shaft, with a flat section on the end of the shaft and a rubber ring. Make sure you match up with the correct model of washer. Replace the washer and reassemble the tap, and you are good to go!

Blocked drains are another common kitchen problem. These are often caused by food scraps accumulating in the U bend of the sink. Of course, the best solution to this is to use a drain guard to stop debris getting washed down the drain. However if you have an existing problem, there are a couple of things you can do about it.

First, try to flush the blockage through. A plunger will work surprisingly well on it’s own, and a drain cleaning solution can also help to break down the blockage if it is organic matter. If this doesn’t work, you will need to remove the U bend under the sink. Place a basin underneath (you don’t want to forget this step) and unscrew the large PVC nuts holding the U bend in place. Now you can simply empty out the U bend into your basin. Replace the pipe and secure the nuts firmly, and test the sink by running some water through with the basin still in place.

Basic plumbing such as changing a washer can be done easily by the home handyman. For more complex jobs, such as installing new sinks or converting a standard dual tap to a wall mount kitchen faucet, you might find a professional will save you a lot of time and do a neater job too.

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Mar 20 2010

Professional Kitchen Design Ideas

While cooking and preparing food may be low on some people’s list of priorities, for others these activities will completely dominate the kitchen design ideas: full-time cooks and caterers may only really feel at ease in a room that has been devoted to working with food rather than dining and entertaining.

Professional kitchen design ideas are planned as workplaces, taking into account the exacting regulations of commercial hygiene standards. And it is worth noting that if you will be producing food for public consumption in your kitchen, the same constraints will apply, even in what you would consider your domestic environment.

This hard-edged, industrial-looking style of kitchen may appear intimidating if you do not cook regularly for vast numbers of people, but a meticulous consideration of efficient ergonomics achieves an unexpected degree of comfort which can be very attractive. An uninterrupted run of work surfaces allows the cook to move around the kitchen at speed; in stainless steel, the preferred surface of professional cooks, it will be extremely hard-wearing and resistant to excessive heat and both acid and alkaline stains.

The worktop may also include a large built-in hardwood chopping board, with a pull-out waste-disposal drawer beneath into which to scoop vegetable peelings, and perhaps a slab of cool, smooth marble as well, traditionally the best surface for rolling pastry. Otherwise a freestanding central work station with all-round access may include both cooking rings and a sink for washing fruit and vegetables. The height of all these worktops needs to be carefully calculated because at the wrong height they will make preparing and cooking food unnecessarily tiring.

Most professional cooks prefer to have access to both gas and electricity for cooking. They need bigger ovens to accommodate larger trays and baking sheets and often their stovetops have integrated charcoal barbecues, grills and griddles. Cooking on a large scale generates a huge amount of heat so an extractor hood that more than covers the gas or electric rings reduces heat and steam to maintain a pleasant working atmosphere.

Task-specific lighting is important, so that delicate jobs like filleting and icing can be undertaken without having to fight with your shadow: halogen spots provide glare-free illumination for the front of worktops and some extractor hoods incorporate a good light. Meanwhile rows of spots above the counters offer flexibility and efficiency.

Regularly used pans and utensils are always within reach – either hanging above or immediately beneath the stove. Industrial units, with adjustable shelves and frames, from which utensils may be hung, provide strong, flexible storage; they can either be fitted or freestanding.

Open shelves above worktops display more equipment, which may have been chosen for its stackability, while tall, deep shelves at lower levels are used as dry food cupboards for catering-size jars, cans and more weighty items. Many cooks prefer wide drawers so all the contents are visible from above, and can be easily removed and replaced. Razor-sharp knives – a cook’s most precious equipment – are carefully protected in a knife rack or felt-lined drawer.

One or even two dishwashers are essential rather than a luxury here, and they need to take a wide range of items: pots and pans as well as the standard dinner service.

A professional kitchen requires professional level appliances, and that includes industrial capacity modern ceiling fans. Check out the range of hunter ceiling fans – they’re not just for show you know.

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Mar 19 2010

Space Efficiency in Small Kitchen Design

Every kitchen is different. Every family, every workspace, and every location is going to have a specific set of considerations that influence what exactly you can do with the space. Now, when it comes to rooms that are small, but still have to be very functional, such as an apartment kitchen, it all comes down to space conservation. The efficient use of the available space is going to be what separates a great kitchen from one that is almost completely unusable. After all, what good is a kitchen if there is no room for any food?

When you are actually trying to find ways to make the most of your limited space, there are several different ways that you can go about it. Modern kitchen appliances are frequently built with the efficient use of space in mind, and so they perform additional tasks that they may not traditionally be known for. For example, it is very possible these days to find an oven that not only also provides the ability to steam your food, but includes an actual grill built into the stovetop between the burners, letting you do a great deal more with the same limited amount of space.

While it is important for small kitchens to include multitasking options whenever possible, you should not neglect to include all the storage space you are going to need. While you may already be making sure that you have enough storage space to hold your food, you also need to be sure that there is enough room to put away any small appliances that you will not regularly use, as well as all of your pots and pans. Look at every surface and space as a potential storage area in order to make the best use of your space.

Every kitchen has its own particular considerations that need to be taken into account when you start working on it, and this is especially true with small kitchens. The kitchen is a working area, and things need to be laid out efficiently if you want to be able to work happily and comfortably within it. In addition to making sure that you have space to work and that things are tucked out of the way, you need to maximize your storage options whenever possible. A little extra time in the design process is well worth not having to run to the other side of the house whenever you need something.

Small kitchen remodeling is never easy. Still, there are ways to remodel a small kitchen without a huge budget and a lot of extra space.

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Mar 14 2010

Granite Kitchen Sink Maintenance Tip

Granite is the name that will cross our mind when it comes to durable and easy maintenance for the kitchen sink. This type of sink is becoming popular option by homeowners because it adds beauty of your kitchen. It can withstand daily pressures like denting, cutting and staining. Apart from its durability, granite type of sink is scratch resistant. It has a wide variety of colors and some of these colors are in demand. Before using them, there are some instructions to follow.


When cleaning the sink, it is recommended to do it every day rather than every week. Make sure that the kitchen sink is clean and dry every after use. To minimize more cleanups, rinse it and then towel it dry. Make sure that in the sink there is no standing water. This may be the reason for mineral deposits to build up. For the removal of mineral deposits in the water supply, use vinegar solution in washing it. Afterward, flush the surface of the sink with water.


To remove the stains from it, use a dish washing liquid solution with damp cloth dip in it. Instead of using cloth, unwanted stains can be removed using an abrasive pad. But if there are marks and stains that have fed in the bowl, use water and bleach solution. Mixing the two liquids will help remove the stains in the bowl by soaking it overnight. Drain the solution in the morning and rinse it using water. To remove the metal residue in the kitchen sink, try to use a soft nylon brush with liquid soap. Scrub the whole part in circular way.


Try to avoid dropping of sharp, pointed objects into the granite sink because it will damage the surface. It is also important not to use metal scouring pads because they will leave on the surface of the sink some metal residues. There are other metals that can cause stain on it. These include cast iron or steel type of kitchenware.


If these objects are left for quite some time, it can make some markings on the sink. After every use, make sure that all rubber mats, cleaning pads, or wet sponges are removed from the sink. These will surely contribute to discolorations and staining of its surface.


It is important to keep away those products that contain chlorinated solvents away from it. These products can also cause discolorations of the kitchen sink. And lastly, do not use the sink as a cutting surface.

Brent Archer has experience in dealing with home kitchen sinks and recently created some informational websites.


He provides valuable information on the popular stainless steel apron sink and the reliable stainless steel farmhouse sink. Either one of these sinks can be a great asset to your home kitchen.

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Feb 15 2010

Learn How to Add Color to Your Kitchen

If you’re like most families, you probably spend quite a bit of time in the kitchen. So why not make it more interesting by adding some color to the room? Maybe you don’t want a drab and dreary kitchen, but you don’t know quite how to add the right touch. Try some of these simple ways to add color to your kitchen, and make your look go from boring to beautiful.

Add Color by Dressing Up Your Table
If you’re looking for an easy way to add color to your kitchen, try dressing up your kitchen table. You might add a colorful tablecloth or placemats, as well as some colorful dishware. Add flowers in a vase or basket to the center of your wood dining table to add some instant color to the room. You want to try to find colors that complement your kitchen décor but add interest at the same time.

Add Color with a Backsplash
You don’t have to have a boring kitchen backsplash. Although you can always keep it simple with a neutral-colored tile or laminate, why not choose a colorful backsplash instead? You should be able to find tile and laminates for your backsplash in a variety of different colors. If you want a totally unique look, try arranging colored glass that’s been broken up in a random pattern on the wall. In this way, you can work some color into the décor and end up with a personalized, one-of-a-kind backsplash.

Paint an Accent Wall a Different Color
If your kitchen is painted a neutral color, then paint an accent wall to incorporate some color into the décor. You’ll want to choose a wall that’s not completely covered with cabinets or appliances. You’ll want the accent color to work well with the décor of your kitchen. For a more subtle look, go with a matching color. But if you want the wall to really stand out, pick a color that’s complementary.

Take the Doors Off the Cabinets
When you take the doors off your kitchen cabinets, you can display all your colorful dishes and other tableware. If you have neutral dishes, add some pop by painting the insides of the cabinets a contrasting color. This doesn’t mean you need to take every cabinet door off. But choose a couple of prominent cabinets about the countertops to be your “color cabinets.”

Use Window Treatments to Add Interest
Another great option is to utilize the window area in your kitchen to add color. For your valance or drapes, choose a color that will really stand out in the décor. A black-and-white kitchen, for instance, would benefit greatly from some red or purple window treatments.

You don’t need to redecorate the entire room in order to add color to your kitchen. Use what you already have and build some color into it, adding your own touches here and there around the room.

About the Author…
Leon Tuberman has been part of the furniture and interior decorating  business for 40 years. He owns and operates his family owned furniture store. They carry a large selection of American made solid oak furniture for your living room, bedroom and dining furniture. Whether you’re looking for a dining table for your dining room or a love seat for your family room  then they have everything you need.

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Jan 01 2010

Tricks For Small Kitchens – 20 Ways to Find Pantry Storage Space

Cabinet manufacturers have responded to consumer demand for pantry storage in small spaces and kitchens. In addition, closet manufacturers have identified the market as a cross-product user of their clever storage innovations. Finally, the small kitchen owner is getting the attention they deserve. Purchased organizers are not the only way to maximize your pantry cabinet space.

Here are some great ideas for creating more pantry storage in a small kitchen:

  1. Re-organize to make a smarter pantry. Taller items on pantry shelves in back, shorter in front. Use baskets for bulky items and containers to corral small, misc. items.
  2. Adjust height of shelves to match the size of the pantry item and maximize the efficiency of your pantry storage space.
  3. Consider moving food items to drawers. More items can be stored in a drawer; label tops for quick identification.
  4. Install roll-out pantry drawers for easier access. Because you can see more, you can store more.
  5. Reclaim a closet.
  6. Reclaim storage between studs of wall.
  7. Take out the kitchen soffits to move infrequently used items above kitchen cabinets; make new pantry cabinet space below.
  8. Delegate pantry food storage outside of the kitchen: under the living room couch or out in the garage.
  9. Tuck pantry food items inside decorative furnishings, like a crock.
  10. Think on a smaller scale: consider a mini-version of a walk-in pantry.
  11. Take 12″ out of hallway width for pantry shelves.
  12. Recycle wooden crates from wine, mount to walls as a shelf (can get free from wine stores or superstores).
  13. Make a skinny box on wheels next to empty space next to your refrigerator (same height) that can wheel out.
  14. Use over-the-door racks for extra storage on closet doors. For very narrow doors, take a hanging shoe pouch for over-doors and cut to fit.
  15. Purchase an antique or used furniture cabinet at a garage sale or flea market and refit the furniture for pantry use.
  16. Hanging up items is an alternative to using cabinet space.
  17. Install pantry shelving in kitchen where spices and staples can be stored out in the open.
  18. Hang pots up on a pot rack to free space up inside cabinets for pantry goods or keep inside oven when not in use.
  19. Put utensils in utensil caddies on the countertop to free up additional pantry space inside cabinets – flatware can be stored also in a decorative container on the table.
  20. Take a lesson from closet clothing storage experts and copy their unique storage ideas or even utilize their products for your food storage needs.

If you are looking for more kitchen pantry ideas, Everything Pantry can help. From deciding on what kitchen cabinet will fit best into your design plan, to choosing a pantry door or the best organizer, we cover a broad range of topics.

Fascinated with kitchen pantries? Renee Matt maintains Everything Pantry, an informational site for kitchen enthusiasts and dreamers at http://www.EverythingPantry.com From the historical butler’s pantry to modern pantry cabinets, we share our fondness for pantries with others. Visit us for more kitchen pantry information such as pantry storage, organization, and kitchen pantry design tips.

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Dec 31 2009

Popular Popular Granite Color Patterns

The great appeal of granite for kitchen counter tops comes from it’s many variations in patterns, shades, and colors of the stone. The industry has standardized the colors and patterns of stones with names that make it easy for us to refer to when ordering or comparing.

Absolute Black is a sheen that is glossy black. The color tone does not change over the entire stone. It is highly polished to mirror like brightness and possesses a beautiful stark quality that makes it stand out. Absolute black granite is one of the biggest selling types of decorative granite. It is mined primarily from Australia, South Africa, India and Sweden.

Azule this are actually many different types of this granite. The name can vary depending on which country the granite came from. So far as decorative granite, Azule is the second most popular in the world.

As the name suggests azule granites usually take on a blueish shade, with marking patterns in gray, white, black or tones of blue. Azule comes from mostly from Spain and Brazil.

White the white granite has many different shades of white. Names can vary for this granite too depending on the country of origin. For example Big white flower is a white granite from Guandong China. It consists mainly of white, gray, and black markings. While a variation on white, Bianco is more ivory shade in color. This granite is mined mostly in Italy or Brazil.

Copper or Gold these metallic colors makes them very attractive for some installations. They can be mined through out the world, and are usually intermixed with marks of white black or gray. South America is large source of these granites, although the can be mined anywhere in the world.

Green shades these shades of granite are probably the most variable when it comes to accompanying colors. Most of the other colors discussed vary little in the accompanying colors, but not when it comes to green. Gray and rose colors accompany Indian Forest green, while blue and aqua colors can be found in Norwegian Perl green. While Verde Bahia has cold mixed in and comes from Brazil, Olive green has sold block stripes with the green and comes from South Africa.

Rose red shaded granites are a good choice too. Normal red and crimson are popular. Rose shaded granite, tends to be more rare than most other colors of. Shades can range from lavender to pink in base and accompanying colors are usually soft and soothing like white or a light pale shade of gold. Rose granite can sometimes be found with clashing colors such as a dark gray which contrasts with the light rose colors. Rose granites are primarily from China and Brazil.

Scott Hares wrote granite countertop colors for kitchen remodeling pictures – A first hand account and informational resource for anyone considering a new kitchen remodeling project.

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