Friday, 26 August 2011

Kitchen Remodeling: Living Through The Misery

Living through any type of remodeling job is most likely going to turn your life topsy-turvy but none more so than a kitchen remodeling job. Whether you hire the job out to the professionals or you attempt it on your own the job will require much patience from the point of your family. You will need to adjust several areas of your lifestyle to get ready for the inconvenience that you are about to experience. Here is a general guide to living through your own kitchen remodeling job.

The first tip I can give you is to prepare yourself. Pretend you are going on an extended camping trip and get ready for the adventure.

• Prepare your home by setting up a small kitchen area. Use this space for a microwave, coffee pot, toaster, single burner and possibly a little electric grill. Mini fridge’s area a perfect substitute for a large fridge to house items such as milk, lunch meat and yogurt. Little items that can be used to create a meal or a snack.

• Pack up the kitchen items you will need in clear storage containers. The rest can be packed and stored.

• Purchase all things disposable. Cups, paper plates, bowls and plastic utensils that can be thrown away are a very handy thing to keep on hand. You will not have use of a sink to wash things so the more things that can be pitched or recycled the better.

• Shop often. Do not purchase large quantities of food. You will not have a space to store it. if you have a deep freezer you can prepare ahead of time for the kitchen remodel by freezing portion size meals and warming them as needed.

• Keep dry goods on hand such as peanut butter, nuts, crackers and munch able type foods for those late night snack cravings.

• Grilling is always a handy option during a project of this magnitude. You can always eat out or invite yourself to dine with friends at their home. Offer to bring the main dish. This option is a good one as long as you keep in mind that they don’t want to have you over every night no matter your situation.

• Make sure your contractor leaves the sink in place for as long as possible. It is possible to function like a normal family for the most part with a sink, mini fridge, grill and single burner.

• Make sure you take into account all the dust and noise that the construction job will create. Animals are not going to react well to this environment. It is also important to cover other belongings with sheets to prevent issues as you do put your home back together after the kitchen is complete.

• Remind yourself often that this is only a temporary situation and that your marriage is a long term commitment. Remodels are often stressful on families and can bring out the worst in us.

• Prepare for the long term. Many families and contractors do not supply a reasonable estimate in regards to the time commitment that people are actually looking at for a kitchen remodeling job.

The end result will be worth the effort. The family will be able to enjoy a newly updated space to enjoy together and your home’s value will increase. Budget for some new utensils and pots and pans that will make mom happy and trust me the whole family will be thankful to.

Sunday, 7 August 2011

How To Remodel Your Kitchen: 5 Tips

Kitchen remodeling is putting your creativity in mind to work. Do not make it look like everyone else's kitchen. Make it unique, make it stand out, unleash your true self.

Although kitchen improvement is an arduous task, it's worth the hard work. To lessen the burden, here are the things that need to be done for kitchen remodeling:

Things to do:

Select a theme.

Of course your old kitchen theme will work just fine but since you are planning for kitchen improvement, you will have the chance to make it look better.

Pick a kitchen layout

L-shape

Shaped like a letter L, containing a very flexible layout design. We can place anything in any area using this layout and the space between storage, cooking, and preparation area is close enough for an efficient work space.

U-Shaped

Layout is shaped to form a letter "U". It has adequate counter space, and an efficient working environment.

Island Option

Designed to meet modern homes because there are plenty of counter space and prevents traffic within the working area.

Galley Kitchen

Most preferred layout for smaller kitchen space. Appliances are close to one another so its perfect if only one member of the household cooks.

Tips:

1. Keep It Simple

The kitchen is designed to be a working area so avoid any clutter. Do not decorate furnish it with useless items as this will only hinder the efficiency of the kitchen.

2. Spacious and Clutter-free

Kitchen layouts are for different kitchen spaces. Choose a layout fit for your kitchen space. The Island layout looks functional and is an effective working space. But it will just be a clutter if installed on small kitchen spaces.

4. Use whatever you have

Our goal is to remodel, not to construct a new kitchen. Make use of old materials like wood, metal, plastics. etc and turn it into a new one. One good example is to repaint and fix old kitchen cabinets to use with your kitchen remodeling.

5. Hire contractors

Although it may be a good idea to do it alone, contractors still does it better. They are experienced in doing these jobs and can put your ideas into reality.

Saturday, 16 July 2011

Add Value to Your Kitchen and Home at a Low Price

Finding ideas and ways of improving the value and comfort of your home is relatively easy nowadays with dozens of home related magazines, television programmes demonstrating interior decorating and the thousands of home improvement websites.

In our towns and cities, we see an increasing array of home decoration shops, unique furniture shops and just looking in the DIY store this morning, I was amazed at the amount of home products and paints that can be purchased readily.

However, there is a slight drawback to all of this - Money. Buying comfortable or luxury home items will make us happy and feel good and of course, if you move home, you will take these items with you, including those lovely light fittings you spent out on and the beautiful garden furniture made from oak.

But what about the expensive home fittings that you need to replace but either can't afford to or just worried that this expense will be lost when you sell your house.

Of course, I am talking about replacing that poor, tired old kitchen of yours and those shabby looking windows and doors. Two of the most expensive home improvement jobs you can undertake when refurbishing your home.

Well, let me tell you a little known secret I use when refurbishing property to sell with my limited budget and limited time:-

I have my kitchen cabinet doors, drawers, end boards and kick boards Spray Painted to any colour of my choosing! Yes you did read that right, I have my kitchen cabinets spray painted.

This is such a major cost saving over replacing a perfectly normal but ugly kitchen and it is so much quicker too. Did I also say less messy!

First I choose a colour of my liking and to blend in with the house design. I then contact my local spray painting company and book the work in, advising them of my colour choice (which can be any RAL or Pantone colour). They then visit my home, remove the kitchen doors and drawers and take back to the factory for spraying. Within a few short days, they return and fit the doors and drawers and mask up the remainder of the kitchen for spraying the end boards etc.

For extra impact to my kitchen design , I also have my appliances spray painting in a matching colour to colour coordinate everything the kitchen has to offer. Bang, you now have a stunning, unique kitchen that nobody else has and at a fraction of the cost of replacement.

I do tend to colour code the walls, kitchen cabinets and appliances in different shades of the same colour just to break up the mass of colour. Next time, I aim to use different colours around the kitchen to see how this works.

So at this point, I guess the question you are asking yourself is "How long does the paint last?"

Well that is a great question. As long as you choose a professional spray painting company your paintwork will last for 10 years without fading, bubbling or minor scratches. Obviously, if you are heavy handed with the paint, it will scratch. Unlike hand painted kitchens which fade and scratch quickly, a spray painted finish is far more professional looking and much better quality.

Now for my next money saving trick...

If the property I am renovating has either aluminium or UPVC windows, doors and conservatory, I use the same spray painting company to mask up and re-spray the windows and doors, again in a colour of my choosing. This is normally a bright, clean white. But sometimes, I am a little braver and use a lovely contemporary colour to make the property really stand out.

Just be careful about requesting colours other than white. Not every home buyer likes non white windows and not many people know they can have them resprayed at a very little price.

Finally, also think about other areas of your home which could also be spray painted:-

Garage doors

Guttering

Soffits

Down Pipes

Radiators

Gates

Conservatories

Swimming Pool Covers

Weather Boards

And so on...

Good luck with your home project and I hope the above has been useful.

Monday, 27 June 2011

How to Decorate a Kitchen - 10 Top Tips

A slate back splash:

Appeared in recent years in hardware stores, the paint allows a convenient slate decor. Imagine a slate back splash at the top, where you can write shopping lists, weekly menus, sweet little words and other quotes. Paint it in front of the sink to prevent splashing.

A mirrored back splash:

We all dream of a spacious kitchen with large work plan and center island. But reality reminds us that our kitchen is often far too "itty bitty" for our liking. There is nothing like a dresser mirror that will expand the space and make the room brighter. Mirrors are readily available to fix the form of a plate 30 x 30 cm in DIY or decorating.

Letters on the wall:

They say that walls have ears. So let them express themselves with humor through large colorful letters. A word is enough to decorate the kitchen. And if you're feeling creative, feel free to make it by yourself like a hobby store that offer products in raw wood or cardboard to customize with tape, paint, etc

Colored boxes:

In a white kitchen, opt for colorful decorative elements but in small steps that do not distort the sober and clear a room with white furniture. For example, there are a series of boxes with vibrant colors over its wall elements: they catch the eye and break the sometimes too "clinical" an immaculate kitchen.

Painted furniture:

Tired of the color of your kitchen cabinets? No need to change everything so far and spending a fortune! Opt for a good stroke that will give new life to your closet. For your convenience, use a first undercoat suitable for the support that will allow the paint to better catch.

Paste stickers:

Colored or natural, figurative or abstract, the sticker is a great low cost option decoration for the kitchen. It brightens up a wall or door or closet door. However, it is advised no to overdose the stickers on walls, doors viewed and reviewed in recent years. So we use these stickers sparingly. No more than one on a wall.

Collections exhibited:

Give an air of curiosity cabinet in your kitchen by exposing the items found in flea markets and other garage sale. Use old posters and food jugs collection. This brings originality and friendliness to the living room. But beware of the household; dust will take longer than usual.

Polished concrete:

We love the fashion of polished concrete in decor. Unfortunately, achieving a work fully with this material is very expensive. Again, it is fake. For this, use the tile adhesive tinted gray and khaki work on the float. After the coating dried it varnish for a polished concrete effect.

Stencil decor:

To revamp campaign style furniture, you can opt for stencil colors. Shaped covered giants, they will find quite a place in the kitchen. The most creative of you will not hesitate to engage in drawing and cutting stencils homemade.

Hide with fabrics:

In a kitchen, the lower shelves are not always closed by a door. To hide the plumbing sub-basin or protect the dishes from dust, one can lay a beautiful fabric, thick with a rod.

Sunday, 12 June 2011

All Wood Cabinets for Quality Kitchen Remodeling for Less

Kitchen remodeling is a great investment no matter what state or region you are in. Other than considerably boosting home value and enjoying a recoup of your remodeling money, such home improvement also proves to enhance the quality of living you afford your family. However, such a venture can also be expensive. And your cabinet collection is where a good amount of the budget goes to. This article discusses how smart spending with all wood cabinets can take you a long way in achieving quality kitchen remodeling without breaking the bank.

Your cabinet collection is said to be the building blocks of kitchens. Aside from greatly contributing to the overall ambiance of kitchens, these features also work together to achieve organization in the area that results to more functionality and productivity. Especially with the multi-faceted functions of kitchens, it is crucial to plan storage carefully. And because of the busy and messy nature with always changing temperature and moisture levels, all wood cabinets would be an excellent choice for a durable and quality kitchen remodeling result.

The beauty of undertaking home improvements today is that the advancement in product engineering and manufacturing methods has paved way to achieving project success for less... but without cutting corners. When it comes to efficiently standing up to the challenge of busy kitchens, hardwood is a time-tested choice. But gone are the days when all wood cabinets are only found in high end homes. Durability is a prime reason for choosing all-wood construction. And with ready to assemble options, you can take advantage of the luxurious look and feel, and inherent strength that hardwood species provide.

When it comes to aesthetics, the luxurious touch that all wood cabinets lend kitchens is truly unbeatable. Depending on the effect that you want to achieve, you can choose from among the most popular hardwoods for fine furniture and cabinetry making. The light colored, smooth and even grains of maple create a sophisticated feel to the room. For a more dramatic impact, the course grains and beautiful patterns would be perfect. And for a luscious darkness, cherry is an ideal choice. These characters are further enriched by the amazing range of finishes that you can choose from so no matter what color combinations you will be working with, you will surely find the best matching set for your kitchen remodeling project.

Other than the given benefits of durability and beauty, RTA all wood cabinets are also available in a wide variety of sizes and types. This allows homeowners to efficiently work the cabinetry layout around the available space they have. To maximize floor space, they can opt to make more use of wall mounted types or choose space-efficient designs such as one door cabinets, pantries, corner base cabinet units, etc. There are also optional add-ons that you can order along with your all wood cabinets for better organization or a more customized look. With enough preparation and proper planning, you can get a long way in achieving quality kitchen remodeling for less.

Sunday, 29 May 2011

The Cost of Installing Granite Counter Tops

Knowing the best items for your kitchens is one step into getting the kitchen of your dreams. You have to have a clear idea of what you want. This is important if you care much about how your kitchen appears and functions. Doing this also improves the overall appearance and function rating of your house and by doing so; you would be reaping the various benefits that go with it. So what are the benefits of doing this? Let me enumerate it for you so you would have a better understanding. It is very important that you understand and fully grasp the thought or the action first before you go and do it.

1. Lifestyle - improving any part of your house will improve the way you live or your lifestyle. A good way of living is very healthy both physically and mentally. A comfortable lifestyle is very much healthy and fulfilling and it would make you do things in a much more positive way.

2. Real Estate - this is another important but secondary benefit of improving the state of your house. Once you replace the old fixtures and other areas of your house with new and updated ones, you can then sell it to a higher price in the market. This means that this is a good strategy for people who are involved in the real estate business. Before you sell it, improve it, upgrade and renovate it.

So back to kitchens . If you are planning to replace your old countertop with a new granite countertop, it is important that you learn these things first. You should know how much it costs so that you could set aside a sufficient amount of money for it. Knowing the cost of installation should save you from further financial damage.

Granite countertops are extremely pricey and most of that is contributed by the installation. granite slabs are heavy that is why professionals (plural) are needed to install it. It needs a group of pros to have it installed safely and perfectly in your kitchen. Also, the shaping of the granite is also done by the manufacturer back there in the quarry, so that's another additional fee. And don't forget the granite itself. Coarse granite could cost you around 700 dollars the most. However, for that fine and clean look, the finer granite slabs could cost you up to 1000 dollars. So choose it well.

Granite countertops are not always the perfect option if you don't have the budget for it. But for people who could afford it, it's an asset. It's a great addition to your kitchen and it would surely change the way you work in your kitchen. It also would allow you to save, as a matter of fact because granite is durable and would last for a long time with proper maintenance. So know your options and know how much it would require to have installed in your kitchen.

Monday, 16 May 2011

Kitchen Remodelling Tips and Suggestions - Get the Luxury Look

A kitchen is the hub to any home and they say that a beautiful kitchen can add huge amounts of value to your home. It is therefore not only a decision that will effect you now, but also in the long term when you come to sell your home so it is important to get it right.

These days more and more people are going for the glossy, slick kitchens in white, brown,. Black, burgundy over the more traditional wood and farm house kitchen look. This is largely due to a move towards the minimalist look, however it is not right to just go with the trend. Your kitchen needs to fit in with you and the style of your home. Kitchen designer will often give you many great ideas that you would never have thought of and there are a surprising number of kitchen styles out there. Interior design magazines are great source of ideas with the latest trends and fashions.

There are many types of flooring, the most popular in kitchens are wood and tiles. granite tiles are the preferred choice as kitchen floors can get wet which will eventually take its toll on wood flooring. Tiles will look stunning in the right kitchen and again solid natural stone tiles such as granite really do make any home look truly luxurious.

There are many types of kitchen worktops out there from laminate worktops, wood worktops, quartz worktops and granite worktops. kitchen granite worktops have always been the worktop of choice for developers and home owners due to its luxurious look and resilience to the demands of a work surface in the kitchen. Many wouldn't even consider this material due to its very expensive reputation, a reputation that is now unfounded due to direct granite suppliers now available who can save you large sums of money on granite and marble products.

Overall there are many factors to consider but it is vital that your kitchen works for you, both visually and practically. You should always b sure to make the right choices and get the right contractors in to undertake the work because not only do you have to live with it but it will also significantly affect the value of your home if and when you do decide to sell in the future. It is the overall finish and providing people with the dream kitchen that will add the value.

Friday, 6 May 2011

Kitchen Designers: Limitless Options for a Limited Space

Outstanding kitchen designers understand very well that space, especially in the kitchen, is the best decisive factor when deciding which equipment and appliances are fit to purchase and install.

Your kitchen's floor area measurement should not deter you from using your imagination and creativity. Remodeling a kitchen is undoubtedly one challenging job, but before going about the project, you must make some research in order for you to see how limitless your options are even if you have a limited space. What is important is that you have a strategic plan and design for you to be able to come up with a kitchen that exudes a homey and a harmonious feel.

Browsing the net, I have seen some fantastically designed kitchens. Indeed, you can make the most of your own kitchen's functionality and utilize every available space of your given area. I've also read that picking to buy a freestanding cooker is a brilliant option. Many new and modern kitchens that don't have enough Space can still choose to utilize freestanding cookers and this requires you to have the right dimensions and partitions of your kitchen space to enable it to accommodate this type of equipment. Outstanding kitchen designers will always find and provide a solution if you and your family are looking to have a freestanding cooker.

It's fun to do some shopping for your small new kitchen but you might find it difficult to get the types of compact appliances that you are looking to have. Today, some ingenious manufacturers can come to your rescue, since you can have some of your space-saving appliances integrated into custom-made and space-saving cabinets too in order for you to maximize your work space. By doing this, it will also allow you to put in more appliances.

We all know that kitchen clutter is one major issue that makes a tiny space even more cramped to look at when we do not know how to properly divide and utilize every space. To avoid having this, you would have to maximize your storage space like choosing to install a pantry that's big enough like the one that reaches all the way to the ceiling. This will also allow you to store and neatly keep rarely used items in the top most areas of your pantry.

Most homeowners would want to make sure that they would have a kitchen that's worth all their hard-earned money; that is why hiring a fantastic kitchen planner and builder would be the best decision even if you are just looking to renovate your kitchen. More often than not, families who have growing children find it necessary to update and upgrade the most important part of the house. Having grown up kids means more chances of bumping into each other especially when it happens that the whole family is helping out in the kitchen.

Most people make the common mistake by thinking that kitchen building and remodeling is a job that's so simple and similar to renovating any other part of the house. When it comes to building or remodeling a kitchen, know that it is required for you to consider a lot of aspects as well as understand the entire process, too. So, before you even start with your plans, why not seek valuable advices from reliable kitchen designers.