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Archive for the ‘Kitchen’ Category

Some Small Kitchen Design Tips

If you have a small kitchen to design then the problem of designing a great kitchen boils down to just what you can fit and where.  There are many different cabinet designs and surface patterns that can help you provide your small kitchen design with a sense of space.

To create the small but efficient kitchen design, you need to work on three major areas of small kitchen design: storage, lighting, and appliances.

Small kitchens may seem to be a very difficult design challenge, but they can also be functional, beautiful and efficient.  Even with a small budget and building restrictions, you can find that there are many options open to you to transform your kitchen into something more ideal for your needs.

To create a more spacious look for your small kitchen design the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) recommends designing more unique storage solutions, mixing natural and ambient lighting, taking advantage of more space saving appliances, and adding personalized touches.

A small kitchen design requires creativity in coming up with storage solutions.  Some ideas to try include:

· Putting an island in the center of the kitchen that can provide freestanding storage that is also convenient from any spot in the kitchen.
· Using a galley kitchen design in which the cabinets and appliances line up on either side of a corridor can work out very well for a small kitchen space.
· Today’s appliance manufacturers have come up with more compact space-saving appliances make small kitchen design easier, such as refrigerators that are 24 inches deep instead of 30 inches deep, as well as appliances that can be hung underneath cabinets like microwaves.
· Other small kitchen design tricks to create an eating area in the kitchen include using a drop table or a small sized round table with two small chairs that can be tucked into a corner.  Or a built-in counter along the wall with chairs to provide an eating nook.

Another interesting challenge in small kitchen design is creating an illusion of space with under cabinet lighting or under the counter.  With the proper type of lighting the kitchen can be made to appear larger and more pleasing.
· The use of light colored cabinets with glass doors.
· Installing deeper counters that can accommodate more appliances and increase work space.
· Flooring tiles can be placed on a diagonal, and in a galley style kitchen hardwood flooring can be run the length of the kitchen.
· For storage you can hang up pots and pans.  This is a perfect way to free up cabinet space, and they add a certain charm and character to your small kitchen design.  The insides of cabinet doors can be used to hang up everything from utensils, oven mitts, and other miscellaneous items.

Pantry storage with units that go all the way to the ceiling with the upper cabinets to provide more space for seldom used items while making the lower cabinets more accessible with rollout shelves, lazy susans, and tilt-out bins.
· Install a large kitchen sink, since larger sinks are considered to be more practical than small sinks when it comes to cleaning pots and pans.

Remember most kitchens are small.

When you look in kitchen design magazines you naturally notice that the kitchens featured are large and so you might think your small kitchen in inadequate.  But good small kitchen design means being able to create space and incorporating ample storage facilities and being able to fit in all the necessary appliances.

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Kitchen Organization Ideas

Go through your kitchen and discard anything you don’t use, along with any food, spices or medicines kept in the kitchen that are beyond their expiration dates. Then take everything out of your cupboards and drawers, and wash the insides with warm soapy water. Rinse, let dry and replace cupboard and drawer liners with fresh, new ones.

Store pots, pans and cooking utensils near the stove, nesting the pots and pans together to conserve space. Make sure each one you choose to keep has a matching lid. Keep your dishes and silverware near your eating area or your dishwasher to shorten meal preparation or cleanup time. Plastic storage containers should be inventoried to ensure each has a matching lid and that they are free from cracks or other damage. Store them near your refrigerator to ease meal cleanup time.

Alphabetize your spices and keep them near the stove on a spice rack or in a nearby cupboard on a revolving rack. Store food items that you use on a daily in a place you can easily grab them when needed. Organize your pantry so that similar canned goods are in the same place and can be found easily when it’s time to cook meals. Make sure your children an easily reach items they use on a regular basis, and make sure items such as knives, scissors, and household chemicals are out of reach and secured in a locked cabinet. Utilize airtight food storage containers to lengthen the shelf life of your foods.

If you have small appliances on your kitchen countertop that you don’t use on a regular basis, remove them and store there in a nearby cupboard or pantry. A countertop storage cabinet for those appliances that are used on a regular basis keeps them out of site and helps reduce the countertop clutter.

 

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Restaurant Furniture in your home

There’s a certain degree of nostalgia associated with booths from old diners and tables from old soda shops. They just give the aura of ‘good old days.’ If you dare to be different, you can bring those good old days back and incorporate them into your home décor by using restaurant furniture in your home.

Think how much fun it would be to have breakfast at a diner every morning. It can happen if you put a booth in your breakfast nook or dining area. Every lunch or dinner would be like a blue plate special! Or, treat your kids and their friends to banana splits and milk shakes at tables reminiscent of an old soda shop.

So you’re willing – but how do you go about finding such treasures? You could pay someone to custom design them for you. But where’s the fun in that? You could use an on line search in your quest by using key words like “used restaurant furniture” or “restaurant furniture.” Both key words will turn up a number of results.

But the fun way to find used restaurant furniture starts with scouring the classifieds of your local newspapers.

Some actually carry a category called “Restaurant Equipment” or “Used Restaurant Equipment.” If not, search general merchandise and furniture for sale columns. Then, start looking for auctions. Your area newspapers will probably have a particular day of the week on which they run auction ads. Ask to find out when your paper runs its most of its auction ads. Look for restaurants going out of business, then read the list of items to be auctioned in the ad. If you see a piece of furniture that sounds promising, go check it out. If it is what you are looking for – or can easily become the perfect piece of furniture with minor modifications – start bidding. The auction process is fun and don’t be surprised if you get caught up in it. It’s always good to go into an auction with a budget of how much you will allow yourself to spend. Check out the items closely first before placing a big.

Otherwise, you might pay too much for a furniture item that looked good from a distance but upon closer inspection you find cracks and other damage.

If you decide to go with a restaurant look with your furniture, you have many decorating options available to you.  You could concentrate on a theme room with décor focusing on the theme, like breakfast, Coca-Cola or other brand names. Decorations ideas to accentuate your restaurant furniture might include old magazine ads for the theme product, old menus from restaurants, or labels from your favorite cans and boxes of food.

You might even create a wall border using labels from canned foods!

Whether you incorporate one piece of restaurant furniture into your home or create your entire kitchen and dining area around a room full of it, you and your guests will always enjoy the novelty. After all, who doesn’t like going out to eat?

 

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Ideas For Creating a Tuscan Kitchen Design

Tuscan kitchen design immediately conjures images of Italy and sunlight and warmth.  In fact these kinds of images are just what you need to think of when coming up with the perfect Tuscan kitchen design.

Tuscany a region in north central Italy is known as a warm place almost year round an Tuscan kitchen design should reflect this.  Tuscan kitchen designs are defined by colors such as siena, terra, and sepia.  Tuscan Kitchen design uses a lot of soft warm colors and textures.  Windows in the kitchen should provide as much natural sunlight as possible.

The Tuscan style has evolved through the centuries, influenced by Etruscan metal craft and pottery as well as the Italian Renaissance.  The Tuscan style can be seen in mosiac tiles, wrought iron gates, bridges and architecture.

Tuscan kitchen design and décor can enhance the look and feel of any kitchen.  You can add a big wooden table, open cupboards, along with ceramics, pots, pans and Tuscan-inspired dinnerware.
These items can also make great decorations when you are not using them.

Kitchen island design in the Tuscan kitchen design style has its origins from ancient Roman times.  This is the origins of the nice ornaments you will find with all tuscan kitchen design.  The Tuscan kitchen island is usually of a dark color painted on oak.  Sometimes the islands are given one coat of white paint.  Scratches are added to give the wood a more antique look.

In Tuscany families tend to eat and cook together.  A good Tuscan kitchen design should provide for adequate room for you and your family to more around the kitchen freely.

The Tuscan kitchen design style is very popular now.  One reason is that this design style be quite affordable while be stylish and providing more comfortable kitchen.  The Tuscan kitchen design style accessories include pottery, jars, and hand crafted tiles depicting grapevines and vineyards as well as grapes, tomatos, and olives.  Having these design elements just naturally goes with Tuscan meals.

Walls – Wall should be painted in a rich Tuscan color such as rich reds, intense yellows, or strong yellows.  Consider a wall treatment such as molding, or murals to create a more Tuscan feel to the walls.

Floors – Use Terra cotta or clay tiles, glazed ceramic and marble inlay in intricate patterns.  Wooden floors can be left plain with natural color and finish with a Persian rug.

Furniture – For a Tuscan kitchen design use sturdy pieces of furniture that is also strong and functional.  Kitchen tables and chairs should also be well-built and strong.

Cabinetry – Cabinetry should feature open shelves for displaying your ceramics, as well as baskets, and cooking utensils

Sink – Kitchen sink should be white ceramic to be more compatible with your Tuscan kitchen design.  You might also consider a large rectangular marble sink.

As for other Tuscan kitchen design ideas you can add racks to display copper pans.  Also wrought iron pull for drawers, and wrought iron light fixtures.  You might even want to add a brick-fired oven just like the type found in large Italian farmhouse kitchens.

By designing your kitchen with the Tuscan design style and bring in the look of old Tuscany your kitchen and home will never be quite the same.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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French Country Kitchen Design

A kitchen can be more than just about its role in function, organization and efficiency.  Kitchens need a personality and a look and feel that can liven up the senses in addition to being a functional place for the preparation of food.  The French Country Kitchen design is one of many classic kitchen design themes that you could consider.  It can provide your kitchen with a traditional look that has its roots in the hillsides of rural France.  It is a style that can fit into both rural farmhouses and in the grandest chateau.

French country kitchen design conjures up images of the Provence and the French countryside with its pastoral settings, lavender fields and rustic French farmhouses.  The French country kitchen represents country living that is uniquely French.  In designing your French country kitchen design you discover that the French country look is always very rustic, old and warm.

There are many elements that go into the French country kitchen including the use of large pieces of furniture made mainly of light colored woods and can be decorated with ornate carving.

Color & French Country Kitchen Design

Color is an important place to start the design process.  You can draw inspiration from some of the principle French impressionists like Monet and Renoir, Van Gogh.   Colors that are used in the French country kitchen style can include sunny yellow or soft gold, bright red and rust, grass green, cobalt blue and soft ocean tones.
You can decorate in the style of the French country kitchen design by using vivid colors – poppy red, sunflower yellow, bright blue, meadow green, and sunset purple.

Your walls and cabinets and large furniture can be painted in off white, ivory, light beige, and taupe. Cabinets can be painted a glossy white to brighten light-filled spaces in the kitchen or they can be left as natural wood.  These colors can provide a light, airy feel so you do not want to use strong colors here.   In fabrics such as curtains and seat cushions you might also add paisley, stripes and floral prints to your French Country Kitchen theme.

Natural Materials

Natural materials are an important element in walls, cabinetry and furniture that is used in the design of French country kitchens. The materials used in creating a rustic French country kitchen look include natural stone floors, granite counter tops and tumbled marble back splashes.  These natural materials can be used on walls and beamed ceilings, and can be rough stained or painted plaster, or wood painted in natural colors.  Floors can be made of stone or brick and covered with wool or cotton rugs, a fireplace made of stone with a heavy beam that can serve as a mantel, and wooden shutters as window coverings.

Furniture and cabinets can have a rustic or even a distressed look.  Countertops can be done in ceramic tile with tile back splashes.
Accent Pieces
In French country kitchen design you will find that tile, rustic urns, hand-painted European ceramics and pottery accents are used extensively.  Ceramic tiles and terra cotta pottery pieces are used wherever possible.  Add copper pots and a French country kitchen can can encompass many old world decorating colors.

A kitchen can be more than just about its role in function, organization and efficiency.  Kitchens need a personality and a look and feel that can liven up the senses in addition to being a functional place for the preparation of food.

The French Country Kitchen design is one of many classic kitchen design themes that you could consider.  It can provide your kitchen with a traditional look that has its roots in the hillsides of rural France.  It is a style that can fit into both rural farmhouses and grand chateaus.

The materials used in creating a rustic French country kitchen look include natural stone floors, granite counter tops and tumbled marble back splashes.

 

 

 

 

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8 Tips for Refinishing Your Kitchen Cabinets

If you’ve shopped for new kitchen cabinets recently, you know that it’s often much more economical to refinish your old cabinets than to buy new ones. Here are 8 tips that will make your kitchen cabinet refinishing a huge success.

1. If your cabinets are painted, remove the paint with a chemical stripper. If your cabinets are stained or varnished, either clean the surface well or remove most of the stain or varnish with a chemical refinisher.

2. Take the doors off your cabinets and remove the handles and hardware. It will be much easier if you lay the doors flat to work on them.

3. Check to see how much damage there is to the cabinets. If there is only minor damage, such as dark stains around the door handles, just clean these areas. Use a synthetic steel wool pad because it won’t hurt your fingers or get caught on the wood grain.

4. Dip the pad in paint thinner, mineral spirits, or turpentine, and scrub the stains. Then lightly scrub the whole surface, cleaning and dulling it so the new finish will stick.

5. Once you’ve cleaned the surface and removed the dark stains, wipe on an oil-based, clear finish such as Minwax. All clear finishes are low-odor and most are available in either glossy or satin finish. Apply several coats for a thicker finish.

6. If you find you need to redo more than just a few stained areas, use a chemical refinisher – a strong solvent cleaner that dissolves and removes part of the old varnish. Ask an expert at your local paint store to suggest a good quality refinisher.

7. When you’re using the chemical refinisher, work in small areas, and scrub the finish with a synthetic steel wool pad. The chemical refinisher will remove the finish and even out the color of the wood and stain. Rinse the pad in more refinisher when it gets clogged with dirty finish.

8. The cabinet’s surface should be smooth and evenly colored after you’ve scrubbed the whole surface. If you find it isn’t, just wipe the entire cabinet in long, overlapping strokes with clean refinisher and clean steel wool in long, overlapping strokes. Most of the stain color will remain, and the wood will be very smooth.

It’s extremely important that you wear protective clothing and make sure that your work area is well-ventilated when you’re refinishing your cabinets. And don’t forget to follow all safety precautions on the refinishing product labels.

By following the 8 tips above, you’re sure to enjoy your newly-refinished, beautiful kitchen cabinets for many years.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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