Kitchen DIY Guides

Common Kitchen Mistakes (And How to Avoid Them)

kspearbecker — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 20:14:00 GMT

The kitchen island will function as a much more effective gathering point if the overall kitchen design accounts for some key factors. Photo courtesy of KraftMaid Cabinetry.

A beautiful kitchen island is the focal point of the kitchen. It's often the place where the family gathers to talk about their day, do homework, chat with friends, and eat snacks or casual meals. This very important kitchen essential can be many things:

food prep center
cooking center
cleanup center
storage center

Usually the island is a combination of work centers. Unfortunately, and all too often, not enough planning goes into the island design and the family ends up with an island that is ill-designed and more of a hindrance than a help. A great deal of care, thought and planning must to go into the design of this workhorse of the kitchen.

Let's look at some of the most common kitchen island design mistakes and how to avoid them.

Improper size. The island needs to be the right size for the kitchen and for its intended use. If the island is too small it won't be functional. If it’s too large traffic flow will be a problem. The National Kitchen and Bath Association recommends at least 42 inches of clearance from your island to the nearest countertop. Sometimes, if the kitchen is large enough, two islands work better than one large island. This improves traffic flow.

Not enough storage. Always allow enough storage for the jobs being done. And don't forget to make this organized storage: pull out shelves in cabinets, sectioned drawers for knives and other utensils and spice drawers.

Bad seating. If there will be seating at the island you will either lose storage space or you need to store things in this area that you do not use often. Also, you need to plan for a comfortable counter height in the seating areas. Counters for seating should be 42 inches high for 30 inch tall stools. The NKBA recommends 24 inches of width per person. Also, allow 18 inches of counter top overhang for leg and knee room.

Island impedes work triangle. Sometimes an island will stand between the points in the work triangle, which is an imaginary line running from the sink, range and refrigerator. This will impede traffic flow to these main places, making work in the kitchen much more difficult. Make one of these points a part of the island.

No real function. For the island to be useful it needs something to do. Assign it a task. If it will be a cook center give it a cooktop, storage for pots, pans, utensils, oils and spices. If it will also be a food prep center add a sink, chopping block, knives, possibly refrigerated crisper drawers. Equip it with all the things it will need to do the job it is assigned to do. It should have at least one major function.

Discussing your needs with your kitchen design professional will avoid these and other design pitfalls and give you the island of your dreams.

Winning Color Combinations For Your Kitchen

jgoldberg — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 19:20:00 GMT

Winning Color Combinations For Your Kitchen

Once upon a time, years before I became a kitchen designer and learned the information I’m about to share with you, I bought a condo with honey oak kitchen cabinets. I wasn’t a big fan of their color or busy wood grain pattern, but I didn’t want to invest the time or money to change them.

Happily, they looked so much prettier against the sage green I chose for the walls than they did against the builder white. The soft, cool paint color also complimented the white tile countertops and appliances.

The lessons I learned in my pre-designer days were twofold: one, the right paint color can offset negative features in a room, and, two, paint is far less expensive than remodeling! For those of you who are planning a kitchen update, here are some cabinetry-countertop-flooring-paint combinations that can work well for your project. I’ve selected the most popular cabinetry species and finishes as starting points.

The natural maples, grey tops, steel-framed glass doors and wood floors are all brightened by the bright green walls. Photo courtesy of Behr Paint.

Winning Color Schemes For Maple Cabinets

The most popular stains for maple cabinets are a pale gold natural, darker ash or light cinnamon. As it’s a close-grained wood, maple has very little grain pattern. This gives you a ton of versatility in flooring, paint and countertop combinations. Here are a few options to get you started.

Classic combinations: Dark gold and rich tan cabinets work well with dark countertops such as black, brown and dark green. You can choose a more patterned wood floor like oak or cherry in the same color family as the cabinets, or a tile in the same color family. If you’re choosing a natural stone for the tops, it will likely have gold or tan markings in the darker base color. Go with markings that tie into the color in the cabinets and flooring. If you’re going with dark green tops, a soft light green can work on the walls. If you opt for black or brown, a rich red will also work well.

Contemporary combinations: The palest gold-toned natural maple cabinets are often chosen for modern kitchens. These work well with grey tops and a dark slate or slate-look tile floor with some grey to tie back to the tops. You could also opt for a bamboo floor in the same tones, but a shade or two darker than the cabinets. This floor-cabinet combination would work very well with a single-tone quartz or concrete countertop in white, grey or cream. A dark neutral paint that ties into the slate floor, a brown that ties in with the bamboo accents or a charcoal paint that compliments the grey tops would pair well with these contemporary kitchens. You could also opt for a warm, vivid bright like orange to contrast with the neutral greys and creams.

Winning Color Schemes For Cherry Cabinets

Cherry is one of the most popular wood species on the market today, and ranges from natural, with a strawberry blond finish, to a deep ruby red to brown-toned cinnamon and chocolate finishes.

Cherry Kitchen: The soft creams and greys in the countertops, walls and floors let the dark chocolate cabinets star in this kitchen. Photo courtesy of Behr Paint.

Cinnamon and chocolate are the two I specify most often.

Classic combinations: Cinnamon and chocolate-finished cherries work beautifully with natural stone tops in pale golds and creams for an elegant look. A light tile or stone floor that picks up on the gold or cream tones in the tops will look great with this combination. Because cherry tends to have strong grain patterns, I generally don’t love wood floors with it, as the pattern in the cabinets and wood floor can get too busy together. Soft denim, quiet aqua or sage, even a gentle banana pudding-colored paint will work well with this traditional kitchen.

Contemporary combinations: I’m seeing a strong trend toward ultra dark chocolate cherries paired with monochromatic white, sand or cream-colored quartz tops. A creamy tile or similarly-colored stained concrete or terrazzo floor would compliment this contemporary look. You could also go with a natural maple floor as the ultra-dark cabinet stains neutralize the strong grain pattern and the maple floors aren’t terribly busy either. Pale blue, green or café-au-lait walls will look good with these modern kitchens. You could also splash on a vivid bright like lime green or turquoise if you want a happy retro feel.

Winning Color Schemes For White Cabinets

White cabinets run the gamut from builder-grade thermofoil to high gloss European lacquers. The most common whites you’ll find are painted maples, which happen to be my personal favorite.

Black tops and watery blue and green paints pair perfectly with white cabinets. Photo courtesy of Behr Paint.

Classic Combinations: I adore white cabinets with black stone tops and mid-toned or dark-stained wood floors. White marble tops with white cabinets and lighter wood or stone floors are another great traditional combination. Chose a floor that shares tones with the counters, e.g., grey stone with white and grey marble tops. Light blues are a real winning paint choice for traditional and transitional white kitchens.

Contemporary Combinations: High-gloss lacquer finishes in white give a sharp, contemporary look to a kitchen. When going modern, you can go bold with an orange quartz or multi-colored recycled glass top or go sleek with pale grey or white. If you’re opting for a vibrant top, choose a neutral paint that will stand strong against it –e.g., battleship grey will hold its own against orange counters. If you’re opting for a light, neutral top like white or grey, you can get sassy with your paint. Think orange or turquoise. Remember, it’s affordable to change if you tire of the color in a few years.

Easy Tip For Combining Colors In a Kitchen

If you’re not terribly confident with colors, consult the world’s most experienced designer, Mother Nature. Consider the combinations you see in foliage and flowers, sea, sand and sky, forest, mountain and meadow, cloud and snow. If colors combine beautifully in a national park, or in the garden just beyond your kitchen window, chances are they’ll combine beautifully in your home, too.

New Kitchen Cabinet Options: Three Basic Choices

pmrockza — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 17:26:00 GMT

New Kitchen Cabinet Options: Three Basic Choices

Custom cabinet solutions can include blind or "magic" corner swing outs and rollout drawers for maximizing the space. Photo courtesy of PK Surroundings.

When renovating a kitchen and considering new cabinets, consumers have various options. There are three types of new kitchen cabinets: custom, semicustom and stock. The choice may ultimately be determined by budget, as custom cabinets are often the most expensive and stock usually cost the least.

In opting to buy new kitchen cabinets, a homeowner is usually also investing in a whole new look that includes counters, wall treatments, flooring, appliances and electrical wiring and fixtures. Cabinets are typically the biggest part of the renovation budget, averaging about 65% of the total cost.

Generally, custom cabinets provide homeowners with the most choices, as buyers can decide on every element of each cabinet. Semicustom models allow for some choice but those who are renovating must buy these in specified dimensions. Stock cabinets are premade and although they will offer some variety, the manufacturer dictates any choices the buyer may have.

Buying Custom Kitchen Cabinets

One thing is certain, custom kitchen cabinets offer buyers variety. Gerry Snapke, who provides consumers with professionally drawn AutoCAD kitchen plans at CadKitchenPlans.com, notes, “In the kitchen cabinet business, custom is perhaps the most over-worked word there is. It is about as cliché as the term sale is in the car business. Still, with kitchen cabinets it is legitimate term. Custom is thought by many to be the pinnacle and costliest path for a new kitchen – remember, you do get what you pay for – when well designed custom kitchen cabinets are at the best of the best.”

The reason for this has to do with the fact that buyers can decide to be as specific as they want to be with dimensions, as high end as they’d like to with materials and as intricate as they desire with designs. Because cabinets are built according to specific dimensions kitchen space can be used to its fullest.

Craig Parker, whose website The Best Cabinet Site offers consumers a range of choices for custom, semicustom and stock cabinets and a lot of professional advice, says, “One of the most used features of custom cabinets is dimensional changes. Getting a 28 3/8” wide cabinet means a filler strip is not necessary, making better use of the space in the kitchen.”

Because each cabinet is made to order, custom items will usually take the longest to procure. You are, after all, working towards the effective use of every inch of cabinet space in your kitchen.

The Semicustom Route

Semicustom kitchen cabinets vary a lot. It’s hard to tell exactly how much choice a buyer will be afforded since it depends a lot on each individual manufacturer.

“Semicustom is a wishy-washy term,” Parker notes. “Some manufacturers say they’re semicustom, but don’t allow much in the way of modifications to their existing cabinets. On the other end of the spectrum, there are some semicustom manufacturers that allow so many mods, you’d think they were a custom line.” According to Parker, a strength in semicustom cabinets is that they “allow you to get the most out of a kitchen designed with run of the mill stuff and allow for some altered pieces that you can’t live without.” As far as cost is concerned, he concludes, “Just like in custom though, generally the more semicustom a manufacturer’s line is, the more expensive it is.”

Overall, semicustom kitchen cabinets are created according to buyer specifications, but they come in predetermined sizes. There aren’t as many choices in finishes and hardware as with custom cabinets but there’s still a good range of options.

As far as layout and installation are concerned, there may be the need to use spacers to ensure a proper fit. Because of this, kitchens often end up with at least some wasted space.

Purchasing Stock

This clever dry-fit drawer serves as a footstool to ensure you can reach that high, hard-to-reach kitchen shelf. Photo courtesy of PK Surroundings.

Stock cabinets are generally the least expensive. They are made ahead of time and you purchase them with the finish and hardware intact. These offer the least number of options in style, finish, hardware and size.

“Don’t be deceived by the name,” says Snapke. “Stock cabinets are not on a shelf in a store waiting for you to take them home. In my experience, I’ve seen that cabinet manufacturers build their product as the order comes in. They don’t fill warehouses with finished cabinets. Imagine the huge warehouse it would take to fit every size cabinet in every style? With stock cabinets for the kitchen what you see in the catalog is what you’re going to end up with.”

Limitations include:

Cabinet size
Door styles
Cabinet shapes
Hardware
Types of finishes

Although some people don’t think they need a plan when buying from stock, this is actually a time when a good layout that’s done to scale is extremely important. Working with a professional who can help utilize kitchen space in a resourceful manner is very important.

What Defines Quality?

Does the term custom define quality and the word stock define a poor grade of product? According to Parker, the terms are not exclusive when it comes to identifying products of high or low quality. “Some stock lines cost more than custom lines,” he says. “This is because of the difference in quality. There are some good stock lines out there. The cabinets are built like tanks and hold together for many years. And then there are custom cabinets that are just complete junk.”

The question is how can you identify quality when it comes to kitchen cabinets? Here are a few guidelines. Look for:

Finishes that are complete and even.
A several step finishing process.
Hand selected wood elements.
All wood construction.
Dovetail joints on drawers.
Under mount soft closing glides.
Quality hardware.

The consumer should be, generally speaking, concerned with all-around quality construction.

Some wonder if a framed or unframed cabinet is best? A framed cabinet, which has a framed facade against which the door rests when closed, are common in the U.S., while unframed cabinets, in which the door simply closes flush against the rim of the cabinet, are more popular in Europe.

The answer is neither is better. Framed cabinets have a certain finished look and may be a bit more stable, while those that are unframed actually offer more storage space and, if built properly, will still be firm and solid.

Your Process

It’s advised that no matter which of the three options you choose that you don’t go it alone. Consider u tilizing a professional designer certified by the National Kitchen Bath Association (NKBA). In short, utilize someone who knows kitchens inside out.

In kitchen renovation, not only can the room’s present ground plan change, but also the entire look and feel of the kitchen may be transformed. The space needs to be laid out properly, be stylistically united and function efficiently. This is a major investment that will define how you cook and eat for the next 15 to 20 years.

Choosing a Ceramic Tile Floor for Your Kitchen

pmrockza — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 01:46:00 GMT

Choosing a Ceramic Tile Floor for Your Kitchen

When choosing a ceramic tile floor for your kitchen there are numerous variables to consider, including cost, design and durability. In this article, readers will discover how to weigh certain factors when determining what type of ceramic tile floor they should select for their kitchen.

Ceramic Tile Kitchen Floors Are Popular for a Reason

They are distinctive, tough and good-looking. They offer variety in terms of design and cost and are durable. When installed properly, they instantly upgrade your kitchen. The fact is ceramic tile kitchen floors are a step above vinyl and linoleum when it comes to finish, texture and design choices.

This article will investigate some of the variables you should consider when choosing a ceramic floor for your kitchen. A floor’s cost, life expectancy and design need to be weighed prior to making your choice. With these aspects in order, you’ll be able to choose a kitchen floor that conforms to your budget and meets your needs.

Ceramic Tile Floor Cost

Remember to figure installation costs into the equation when determining the price of the floor

As it is with other types of flooring, ceramic tiles vary considerably in price. Tile prices differ depending on their durability rating and design. If you’re considering specially designed tiles, the cost can start at $10.00 and go to $20.00 per 12-inch-square tile. Ceramic floor tiles that are more common, but still look great and can really redefine your kitchen floor and the entire room, range in price from $1.00 to $3.00 per 12-inch-square tile.

Smaller tiles, which come in either four- or six-inch squares and may be used for borders and to refine designs, range from $0.10 to $0.60 per tile. Again, as it is with larger tiles, custom or specially designed pieces will cost from 10 to 20 times more.

Tile prices usually do not include the cost of installation. To get a real price, you’ll want to include that in the cost of the floor. That is, unless you are installing the floor yourself. If that is the case, you’ll still need to figure in the price of any tools and materials connected with the process.

Professional tile installation rates vary, ranging from $4.50 to $7.50 per square foot. Factors that influence cost include the complexity of the floor regarding the pattern and how much tile cutting is involved. Also, installation costs can vary depending on where you live and the experience of the installer. Before hiring someone be sure to check references and ask to see examples of their work. Get written estimates from at least three contractors.

Some tile installers will have a minimum fee they charge no matter what the size of the floor may be. As an example, if a contractor whose fee is $6.00 per square foot charges a minimum of $300.00 and your kitchen floor measures 48-square feet, you’ll have to pay $300.00 and not the product of $6.00 x 48-square-feet or $288.00.

Floor Durability

As it is with other types of flooring, ceramic tiles for the kitchen floor are given a durability rating, which starts at I and goes up to V. Floors with higher ratings stand up to wear and tear better than those on the lower end of the scale. It’s suggested that because of the abuse and traffic kitchen floors see that consumers choose tiles that are rated from III to V.

Overall, ceramic tile kitchen floors tend to be easy to maintain, and they stand up well to traffic and mishaps. Although tiles are naturally porous when they are made, a glaze is applied to protect them. This glaze makes them water resistant, protects them from mishaps caused by falling objects and aids in helping to lessen the effect of wear from foot traffic. An additional attribute of this floor is its ability to resist fire.

However, ceramic kitchen floor tiles are not invincible. A heavy falling object, such as a dropped cast iron frying pan, may chip or crack tiles. Damage may also occur if a very heavy object is placed on and sits on the tile for a long period of time. Finally, the grout -- the material placed between the tiles that helps to secure, finish and keep the tiles evenly spaced -- may deteriorate, compromising the installation.

Periodically check your floor for damage and have it repaired. This will help maintain the integrity of the floor, and it can also negate more costly bills resulting from the original damage being exacerbated due to a lack of care.

Choosing the Look

All elements, including kitchen tile, are included in this Southwester-style kitchen.

Of course, for most consumers the look of their ceramic tile kitchen floor is extremely important. One of the major reasons people choose tile has to do with the upscale styling it exudes. You’ll find a variety and range of textures, colors and shades from which you may choose.

If you’re just putting in a new floor and leaving all of the other kitchen elements the same, you’ll want to be sure to coordinate appropriately. Of course, if you’re changing the entire look, feel and style of your kitchen, you’ll need to make appropriate choices concerning your tile. Settle on the overall look of your kitchen first and choose all other elements before selecting your floor. Where ceramic tile is concerned, there are so many options available that you won’t have a problem finding something that will match and coordinate nicely with the other elements such as your appliances, fixtures and cabinets.

When it comes to making a choice, you may decide to go with a unified, fairly simple look for the majority of your floor space and then highlight with a patterned border. Or perhaps you’d like to alternate two or three vivid colors or various subtle shades and textures. Natural, opulent, trendy and classic looks are all options.

When choosing colors and patterns, be sure to consider that:

Light colored tile will help brighten a dark kitchen.
Larger areas are best for complex patterns.
In a small area, keep the central tiled area simple, adding accents with a few small interspersed tiles or a patterned border.
Tile is easier to clean than grout. A dark colored grout is preferable.
If you go with something trendy, it may be out of date fairly quickly. If you want something that will endure stylistically consider a classic or natural tile.

There will certainly be other considerations when it comes to choosing the ceramic tile that’s best for your kitchen. Never choose blindly. Be sure to see samples of actual colors and designs to ensure that you’re making the right choice.

An Impressive and Long Lasting Upgrade

A quality tile kitchen floor that’s properly installed will bring together all the other elements in your kitchen, creating a stylistic foundation. Plus, tile is easy to clean, resistant to spills and wont harbor dust mites. Enjoy the new look of your durable and tasteful new ceramic tile kitchen floor.

How to Refinish Your Kitchen Cabinets on a Dime

pmrockza — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 13:15:00 GMT

How to Refinish Your Kitchen Cabinets on a Dime

If you can’t remodel your kitchen, sprucing up cabinets can make a difference. Photo courtesy of Photosphobos.

For those who are interested in giving their kitchen cabinets a facelift without dolling out thousands for extensive plastic surgery, the best choice may be refinishing.

Refinishing costs much less than buying and having new cabinets installed. Refinishing is also less expensive than refacing, in which you keep the structural elements of the cabinets and replace the veneer, doors and hardware.

If refinishing sounds like the best option for your kitchen, read on to make sure your cabinets are a candidate for this procedure.

Are Your Cabinets Candidates for Refinishing?

For refinishing to be an option, the cabinets in question need to be structurally sound and in good working order. Also, the cabinets must have solid wood surfaces. If your cabinets have some sort of veneer, the process won’t work.

The other thing to be aware of is lead paint. If your cabinets were installed and finished prior to 1978, there is the chance they could be coated with paint that contains lead. If that’s the case, you’ll need a professional to do the work, as specific hazardous waste protocols as outlined by the EPA must be followed. This can turn what might have been a simple and inexpensive project into a complex and costly one. In this situation you may want to reconsider scrapping the old and buying new.

Expert Advice

Although you may be refinishing your cabinets yourself, it’s still helpful to get advice from a professional. As a Certified Kitchen Designer and Allied Member of the American Society of Interior Designers, Janice Page understands the various options people have when it comes to creating a “new look” in their kitchen. Page, who with Debbie Karpiak is co-owner of the kitchen, bath, interior design and remodeling company PK Surroundings in Exeter, NH, notes that if someone wants to create a fresh look without the expense of remodeling, then refinishing their kitchen cabinets is the way to go—as long as they are structurally sound.

“But,” Page warns, “if you’re unhappy with your layout and the lack of modern day amenities, repainting will not solve those problems. What it will do is give you a bit of a positive boost when it comes to how you perceive your kitchen. A little bit of paint can go a long way. Refinishing may be the way to go until you can afford to remodel.”

Page advises prior to refinishing that the homeowner work with a professional who understands color and design. “A professional can ensure that you’re making the right choice when it comes to color and can also help you choose appropriate new hardware. Also,” Page adds, “a professional can advise regarding adding a cost effective, decorative element, such as a tasteful backsplash, that can help create a new, refreshing look and feel.”

Basic Tools and Materials

The supplies needed for the job are fairly basic and straightforward. Some materials—like the sanders—might be best rented or borrowed if not already owned. If you are planning to rent in order to save money, you should carefully plan when you’ll need those tools to ensure their availability on job day.

Here are the tools you’ll need to do the job.

Flat- and Phillips-head screwdrivers
Medium-sized drill and drill bits
Random-orbit sander with 100-grit sandpaper
Vibrating sander with fine-grit sandpaper
Sanding block and 60-grit sandpaper
Putty knife
Paintbrush
Paint bucket
Aluminum foil
Large plastic sheet
Drop cloths
Cleanup cloths
Safety glasses
Dust mask
Paint respirator

Along with the tools above, you’ll also require the following materials,

New hinges and handles
Wood putty
Oil-based primer
Oil-based paint
Paint thinner, mineral spirits or other solvents for cleanup

Note, although you are refinishing your kitchen cabinets “on a dime,” you should not penny pinch when it comes to buying your primer, paint and brushes. Go with quality materials, as they will make a difference.

The Process

There are three basic parts to the refinishing process. These are:

Removing hardware, doors, drawers and preparing surfaces.
Applying the new finish.
Installing new hardware and reassembling cabinets and drawers

Preparing Cabinets

The initial aspect of the refinishing process has to do with preparing the cabinets to be refinished. There are the 10 steps.

Assemble all materials and tools.
Hang plastic sheets over doorways and cover appliances to protect from sanding dust.
Disassemble hinges, handles and doors from cabinets. Take out drawers.
Dust mask and safety glasses in place.
Remove the old finish with 100-grit sandpaper on a random-orbit sander.
Create a smooth finish by using fine-grit sandpaper on a vibrating sander.
Carefully sand those difficult-to-get-corners, grooves and other tight areas with 60-grit sandpaper on a sanding block. Keep the angles clean and unrounded.
Using the wood putty and putty knife fill in any cracks, chips, indentations, etc. Also, take a moment to check and see if you’ll be using the existing holes for hinges and pulls (handles). If not, then fill these in too.
Allow the putty to dry and then sand it smooth by hand.
Wipe down all surfaces with a damp cloth, making sure all dust and other such matter is cleaned up. You want the surfaces to be free of any foreign material before applying the primer. Allow the surfaces to dry.

Paint Application

Brighten your kitchen and outlook by refinishing cabinets. Photo courtesy of Unteroffizier.

If you have never worked with oil-based paint before, there are a few important details to know. This type of paint is difficult to clean up when spilled or splattered. You’ll need to have a solvent on hand to clean brushes. It’s a good idea to line your paint bucket with aluminum foil, as this will aid in cleanup.

Additionally, oil based paints have a strong odor. You’ll want to work in a well-ventilated area. A quality paint respirator is recommended. Finally, this type of paint, which is preferred over latex due to the fact that the finish is glossier and tougher, takes 12 to 48 hours to dry.

The application of a primer/sealer is beneficial to prevent any stains from showing through. It also prevents the surface from soaking up your primary paint, allowing for easier application. Apply to cabinet backs first and then front surfaces and doors. Use smooth, long even strokes.
Once the primer has dried, it’s time to apply the finish paint. Once again, use long, even strokes and make sure the finish is even. You don’t want any unsightly pools, drips or smudges. Always work from the inside to the outside and from back to front.
Allow to thoroughly dry.

Installation and Reassembly

Once all surfaces are dry and you’re sure all surfaces are evenly and thoroughly coated, it’s time to reassemble the cabinets. This may include installing new hardware. If you are using different hardware, you may have to carefully drill new holes.

When aligning hinges, use a square to carefully draw a line on the door that will allow you to install them properly. If using self-aligning hinges, there’s no need to do this. Hinges are typically placed 2 inches below the top and 2 inches above the bottom of each door.
You may need to mark and drill pilot holes to secure hinges. Pilot holes must be drilled carefully and should be just deep enough to allow the screws holding the hinges to catch. Once holes are drilled, secure the hinges.
Finally, the handles or pulls must be installed. Once again, make sure they are properly aligned and drill pilot holes if needed. Secure pulls.
Secure the doors to the cabinets and replace the drawers.

Cabinet Refinishing Cost

How much it will cost to refinish your kitchen cabinets depends on how many cabinets you have, if you decide to invest in new hardware and whether you perform the duties yourself or hire someone else. An average kitchen with new hardware and refinished cabinets will cost between $200 and $400. Skip the hardware and you could be looking as low as $100-200. That’s a far cry from the $6,000 to $9,000 you can easily spend resurfacing and the $15,000 and up you might pay for new cabinets.

Total Preparation

Refinishing your kitchen cabinets is a straightforward process, but it does take planning, time and patience. This is not a two-hour job. If you enjoy do-it-yourself projects that involve painting and some basic wood working skills then this is the perfect activity for you. Working with a professional who knows how to properly coordinate colors, choose hardware and suggest additional elements can make a big difference. In the end you’ll be spending a few hundred dollars and a few days to make your cabinets look like a million bucks.

Kitchen Backsplashes Go Glamorous

kqueen — Sun, 21 Aug 2011 21:15:00 GMT

Kitchen Backsplashes Go Glamorous

Ceramic tile remains a mainstay for kitchen backsplashes. New trends feature contrasting decorative tiles, in this case creating a focal point behind the stove.

A few years ago, a kitchen backsplash served a simple purpose—to keep grease and water splashing and staining the walls behind the stove and sink—the same reason your grandmother wore an apron over her Sunday dress.

“Backsplashes used to be real utilitarian,” says Jeff Dorn, senior vice president for Kitchen Tune-Up, based in Aberdeen, S.D. “You just put a four-inch backsplash behind the stove and sink and it kept grease and water off the walls. It had a purpose.”

With today’s backsplashes, cleanup remains easy. But don’t limit your backsplash to utilitarian chores. Even if you eat all your meals from takeout containers, a backsplash adds glamour to your kitchen. Imagine a stylish evening gown that’s stain resistant too. Or backsplash as art.

Backsplash As Focal Point

“Because we don’t use our kitchens like we used to, backsplashes have become a design feature,” Dorn said.

Instead of a conventional four-inch backsplash, take the backsplash up six inches, eight inches or all the up to the ceiling, Dorn said. “You can fill the entire area between the countertop and the upper cabinets with backsplash,” he said.

In terms of affordability, laminate is the least expensive followed by ceramic tile, glass tile, concrete, granite and quartz composite, Dorn said.

The best time to consider replacing your backsplash is when you get new countertops. But the counters and backsplash needn’t be from the same materials, Dorn said.

“Unless you have a laminate countertop with a built-in backsplash, today’s backsplashes tend to be of a different material than the countertop—a complementary material,” he said. “Typically people do a countertop and then do something unusual with the backsplash. Think outside the box a little bit with different options.”

Ceramic tile continues to be a popular choice. New trends in ceramic tile include tile with paintings, Dorn said. These can be used as accents or to create a focal point. You can get murals, different sizes of tile and decorated tiles with coordinating plain tiles. Look for a glazed tile, as opposed to porous, for easy cleanup.

Glass, often called glass tile, is another popular choice. Options include glass squares attached to mesh for easier installation. Some feature staggered sizes for an appealing look, Dorn said.

You’ll see recycled metals including aluminum and tin as green options, Dorn said. Slate and sandstone are other popular options.

Stainless steel is appealing because of its reflective qualities.

“I’ve seen kitchens with a stainless steel backsplash and black countertops,” Dorn said. “It has almost a retro look.”

Horizontal ceramic tile of varying lengths and colors create a distinctive pattern and look for this kitchen.

Granite used to be limited to the very wealthy, Dorn said. But especially in parts of the country where granite prices have come down, “I could easily make the argument that granite is the best value for your money because of resale,” Dorn said. “Everyone wants granite. You add a lot of value in resale.” Granite does stain and has to be resealed, he said.

Dark colored granite is more popular and costs more than light granite, he said.

Quartz is a better material overall, he said, because it’s totally impervious. But granite is still the better value.

Laminate is an affordable option for backsplashes and new laminates are designed to look like tile, granite, stone, wood and other solid surfaces, said Hugh Parker, owner of Virginia Maid Kitchens in Newport News, Va. Manufacturers take a picture of the solid surface and use it to create a look-alike laminate, Parker said.

Installation Requires Water Proof Backing

Backsplashes aren’t something you’ll change out easily or often. You’ll likely have to remove the wallboard and install waterproof sheetrock, WonderBoard or a similar product on the wall where the backsplash will go, Dorn said.

Laminate backsplashes can be glued or screwed into the wall, Parker said. A laminate backsplash will be easier to remove later if it’s put onto a backing first as opposed to glued directly to the wall, he said.

The results will be worth the effort as your kitchen ends up both cleaner and more appealing.

Enhance Your Kitchen With a New Backsplash

jgoldberg — Sat, 20 Aug 2011 21:17:00 GMT

Enhance Your Kitchen With a New Backsplash

Give your backsplash some bling with metallic tiles like these from Porcelanosa Mosaico Acero.

The wall space between your countertop and wall cabinets can become a terrific focal point for your kitchen, adding updated style to your home without a major investment. Here are eight ideas – and some pro tips – for creating a great backsplash look for your kitchen.

Many homes have a four-inch kitchen backsplash made of the same material as their countertop. The wall between the counter material and the cabinets above is painted the same color as the rest of the room. This is the most common combination in kitchens created by tract home builders. Most remodeled kitchens, on the other hand, have a full-height custom backsplash. The good news is, you don’t have to completely remodel your kitchen to add this feature to your home.

Practical pointers to consider when planning a backsplash change

Like most kitchen updates, changing your backsplash will likely add related projects to your timetable and budget. You should consider these before finalizing your plans, hiring any professionals or buying any materials.

If you're going to change your countertops, do that before you change your backsplash. Otherwise, they may get damaged during the top removal.
Do you have a decorative range hood that may need to be temporarily removed during the installation? How long will it need to be down, and how will you prepare meals in the interim?
If you don’t currently have lights under your wall cabinets, this can be an excellent time to add them. Have the wiring work done before you install the backsplash. You wouldn’t want to have to rip into it afterward, or miss the opportunity to add this upgrade.
If you’re planning a tile backsplash, consider the grout color as part of the design, and as a potential maintenance issue. Consult with your tile installer about any non-staining materials and sealers that may be available in your area.
Factor in any required maintenance for your selected backsplash material. Will it need to be periodically sealed, like marble or granite? If so, how often is this required, how much time will it take, and who will be doing it, a household member or a professional?
If you are planning a decorative accent for your backsplash, be sure you've got the right amount of space for it. You're going to need enough room not just for the design element itself, in most cases, but for field tile above and below to frame it. Usually, a range hood will accommodate this scale. An over-the-range microwave typically won't. Plan accordingly for the best results.
Be sure to take your outlets and switches into account when planning the backsplash design. You don’t want a key accent interrupted by a switch plate.

Layered resin, like this Varia Ecoresin from 3Form, creates natural drama.

Now that you’ve thought through the planning process for your backsplash, here are some ideas that can add great style to your kitchen.

Tile is a popular backsplash choice

Tile is one of the most common and versatile choices for kitchen backsplashes. It offers choices for contemporary and traditional spaces, and makes it easy to customize a look with some creative design.

Tile isn’t always stone, ceramic or porcelain either. Glass tiles have become a popular design choice in recent years and metal tiles create modern looks around the country. Many projects combine materials for a more custom look. Your options are broader than ever before and limited only by budget and imagination.

Tin tiles create unusual, low-maintenance backsplashes

Not just for ceilings anymore, tin tiles like these from the American Tin Ceiling Company, can create a stylish, low-maintenance backsplash.

You’ve seen tin tiles on the ceilings of historic homes. They add texture, drama and a subtle sparkle to a room. They can also create a beautiful, unique backsplash. Many are sized perfectly for a standard 18 inch backsplash height, too, minimizing the waste involved in many surfacing projects. There are also options beyond silver in today’s tin tiles. They’re now also available in bronze, copper, gold and non-metallic finishes to increase your design flexibility. One of their best features is cleanability. Being able to easily wipe splashes off of the surface behind your cooktop is a great benefit for busy home cooks.

Painted backsplashes are affordable and easy to create

Paint has long been a designer’s best friend. It can completely change the look of a room both quickly and affordably. Taken a step further, paint can create a reasonably-priced decorative backsplash for your kitchen. Using kitchen-friendly paint, it can also be extremely low-maintenance. Just wipe off spills and splashes on a scrubbable paint

A decorative painting professional like KJ Decorative Finishes can create a custom painted backsplash for your kitchen.

surface and your cooktop area will always look great. Unless you’re artistic and knowledgeable about paints, though, you’re going to want to hire a decorative painting professional to do the job for you. The results can be customized to your space, taste and budget and since you’re not having a whole room done or hard-to-reach area, it won’t necessarily be an expensive project.

More ideas for your kitchen backsplash

Backsplashes can also be made from stainless steel sheets, professionally-installed. The steel will add a soft reflection, modern, industrial style and little maintenance. An often-DIY backsplash can be made from beadboard panels cut to fit. They work best in traditional, country and transitional kitchens. A carpenter would be a good resource for this project if you’re not handy yourself.

Colored glass or resin sheets are newer ways to cover your backsplash. Both can be lit from behind with LED lights for modern drama. The resin sheets often sandwich decorative elements like vines or leaves for added impact. These, too, are professionally-installed projects.

Increase Your Kitchen Storage

jgoldberg — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 22:46:00 GMT

How To Increase Your Kitchen Storage

One of the reasons homeowners redo their kitchens is to increase their storage capacity. However, you don’t have to invest in a full-scale remodel to get these improvements in your home. Here are some simple, affordable ways to store more in the kitchen space you currently have.

Kitchen Storage Strategies

Before you start planning and budgeting storage increases, take some time to analyze your true storage needs. It’s quite possible that some of the items you’re storing in your kitchen cabinets are not being regularly used and can move elsewhere in your home. Examples include holiday dishes, which can move to a dining room cabinet, and rarely used small appliances, which can shift to the garage or a storage room. If you own older kitchen tools you have since replace but not thrown out, they can be donated to charity or tossed out if they’re not in good working order. You may free up an entire cabinet or two just by sorting in this way.

Next, move lesser-used kitchen items to harder-to-reach cabinets, like the ones above your refrigerator and microwave. Your primary cabinets – those near the sink, refrigerator and range or cooktop – should hold equipment used to prepare and clean up daily meals.

You’ve prioritized. You’ve culled. You’ve reorganized. Now you’re ready to make optimum use of your kitchen space.

Cabinet Accessories Are Storage Enhancers

Some homes have half shelves in the middle of their base cabinets. This is robbing you of about 25 percent of that cabinet’s storage potential, as well as making items stored on that half shelf hard to reach. Replace them with roll-out trays to get full-depth storage

Roll-out trays, like these from Rev-A-Shelf, can increase the storage capacity of your existing cabinets.

potential. Roll-outs are great for cabinet bottoms, too, as they make items in the back more accessible, especially for older users.

If you have a blind corner cabinet next to a range or dishwasher, chances are you’re not getting good use out of the two feet in back. A swing-out accessory in place of a standard shelf will put that storage capacity in much easier reach, giving you an extra cabinet worth of useful storage.

Here are some other cabinet accessories that can increase your storage capacity:

Tray dividers allow you to store flat items like baking sheets, cutting boards and pizza stones vertically and conveniently in otherwise useless narrow cabinets.

Tiered cutlery dividers increase drawer storage by up to 50 percent by giving you an extra layer of space. Some shallow drawers won’t accommodate them; be sure to check measurements and specifications before you purchase one.

Tilt-out trays add some useful storage for sponges, Brillo pads and the like to an otherwise dead area between your false cabinet fronts and your sink.

Door-mounted racks can hold cleaning supplies in the cabinet below your sink or spices near your range.

Untapped Kitchen Storage Potential

There are several areas in your kitchen for storage potential that are not always considered. One is the wall space between your countertops and upper cabinets. This is prime territory for a backsplash organizer system. These typically include a mounting rail and an array of components you can select, depending on your storage needs. Popular choices include knife holders, spice trays, paper towel holders and cooking utensil holders.

Another area to consider for bonus, untapped kitchen storage is the room’s ceiling. If you have an island or peninsula, consider hanging a pot rack above it. Many of them can hold an entire set of pots and pans, freeing one or two cabinets for other storage needs and making it quicker and easier to find the item you need.

Last, but definitely not least, is the space between your wall cabinets and ceiling. Some kitchens have soffits filling this space, rendering it unusable. Others have a foot or more of storage potential. This is a great spot for those lesser-used items that are moving out of your prime kitchen cabinets. They’ll still be nearby, within reach on a step ladder, but they’re no longer taking room away from those tools you need on a daily basis. For many homeowners, that could be a fondue pot, popcorn or ice cream maker. You know best which of your kitchen gear gets used every day and which can tuck out of reach for the most part.

A set of evenly-sized, identical baskets, boxes or bins can hold these items in an attractive, organized presentation atop your cabinets. Choose holders that fit your kitchen’s overall style and décor, as well as the best size for your space and storage needs.

Furnishing Extra Kitchen Storage

Add storage capacity with a furniture island, like this Belle Foret model on HomeClick.com

Some kitchens are short on cabinets, but not extra floor space. There are various possibilities to consider for using empty floor space, depending on your kitchen layout.

Eat-in kitchens can gain storage potential with a banquette seating solution. Banquettes can feature front drawers or cushion-hidden lifting tops to access hidden storage within. With either configuration , you’re gaining storage space for lesser-used kitchen items.
Small kitchens can benefit from a moveable kitchen cart. A cart can provide extra capacity along with an added worktop. These can roll out of the work zones when it’s not in use. A stationary furniture island or armoire can provide extra storage in kitchens wide enough to accommodate them.

Final Kitchen Storage Thoughts

Planning is key to successful storage enhancement. Start with sorting and prioritizing. Follow up with accurate measurements and style consideration so that what you choose will fit into your space. The end result will be a better-organized, better-looking, harder-working and more resale-friendly kitchen.

10 Tips for an Organized Kitchen

mflietner — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 22:37:00 GMT

10 Tips for an Organized Kitchen

The kitchen may be the heart of your home but it could need emergency care. Consider these tips to restore its function.

Plan for Paper

“The kids bring home their drawings. The mail is brought in. Magazines arrive. Where does all of this paper go? The first stop is often the kitchen counter,” says Kate S. Brown, CPO ®, owner of Impact Organizing LLC, Sarasota, Fla. She suggests designating a kitchen “inbox,” a kitchen drawer or decorative box matching kitchen décor as the one-stop paper drop until it can be sorted and handled. “Your box needs to be big enough to handle the job – at least 10 by 13 inches and at least 5 inches deep,” says Brown. Throw a catalog on top to keep your private papers private when neighbors drop in. Don’t want to decorate a box? Find a canvas type for about $14 or a black wire basket for $22.

Wrangle Recycling

More focus on recycling can mean more kitchen chaos if you’re not careful. Rinsing out a beer bottle and leaving it in the sink or draining a milk carton and leaving it on the counter leads to cluttered preparation areas, and clutter is contagious. Brown suggests creating a recycling “outbox.” It’s a designated container placed under the sink, on a pantry shelf, or behind the door of a base cabinet for bottles and cans destined for later delivery to larger bins. A plastic sweater box (about $9) is the perfect size, and it’s easy to wipe out.

Keep Dishware Low

Many people store plates and bowls above the counter -- tough to keep organized for those with physical disabilities or children. Molly McCabe, AKBD, CGP, a professional kitchen and bath designer and owner of A Kitchen That Works™, Bainbridge, Island, Wash., suggests storing crockery below the counter in drawers. “It’s more ergonomic to lift up rather than

A peg board and dowels set by Rev-A-Shelf keep dishes safely separated in this kitchen drawer.
© A Kitchen That Works

down,” she says. A pegboard and dowel system will fit dish configurations while preventing dishes from bumping, especially if someone slams the drawer closed, says McCabe. (A peg board with dowels set by Rev-A-Shelf lists from $63 to $99 depending on size. The boards can be cut to size if necessary.) An inexpensive alternative: plastic tubs that have lost their lids. Situate these dish drawers next to the dishwasher and the organizational tasks get even easier. It’s important, though, says McCabe, that drawer runners are of good quality so they are not overloaded.

End Utensil Frustration

Not only organization but safety play into this Molly McCabe tip. “I really like drawer inserts. A typical kitchen tool drawer is a jumble. While digging through the mess, you might be impaled by a two-pronged fork or tongs pop open, get stuck and prevent you from being able to open the drawer or come flying out like a jack-in-the-box.” Drawer inserts for knives can help declutter the counter, keep children safe and protect their sharp edges. Inserts come in assorted shapes and sizes. Probably the only hard-to-store item would be a pizza wheel, says McCabe. Inserts range from $1.50 for simple plastic inserts to $50 for off-the-shelf wood inserts.

Rethink Shelving

Most kitchen cabinets come with three shelves and lots of holes to adjust them. It may seem an obvious solution, says Laura Leist, but one many fail to see. Leist, owner of Eliminate Chaos LLC , Mill Creek, Wash., and president of the board of the National Association of Professional Organizers, suggests moving shelves up or down and getting extra shelves to help better organize items. “Put items used most frequently at the bottom. Whatever the tallest item is on that bottom shelf, adjust the next higher shelf directly above it,” says Leist.

Better Utilize Shelf Space

“Often we move into a house and items land where they land. We never give any thought to going back to better utilize the space,” says Leist. Take her example for tea lovers and use it for similar items. “Your tea boxes clutter shelf space. Take a selection of teas from their boxes. Put them in a tea organizer on the lower shelf or, if the organizer is pretty enough, on the counter. Put the tea boxes into a bin on a top shelf so they can be easily pulled down without having to get out a step stool. Replenish the organizer as needed.” T ea organizers range in price from $15 for an acrylic box to $99 for handpainted wood.

Group Small Items

Most of us enjoy protein bars, granola bars, other snacks. Get rid of individual boxes and group small items into a bin. “Put the bin on the top shelf. When looking for those items, grab the bin. You won’t have to dig around in the back of shelves,” says Leist. “If you have an open wire shelf pantry, those bins work there too. Plastic bins ($3-$9), bamboo products (about $17), even sweater boxes (about $6) can work. Use containers and it will be better organized and visually more pleasing.”

Give Items a Turn

Turntables, used singly or in pairs, can keep items in sight and eliminate having to dig back into cupboards.
©2011 Eliminate Chaos

Leist loves turntables as an organizational tool. “You can use them for more than just spices or condiments. They run in sizes from nine to about 22 inches and can be used singly or even in pairs.” Leist has found good use for them in storing items in space above the refrigerator and in corner cabinets under the sink, areas typically difficult to access. “China, extra pitchers, vases, something you are not using often are great items for turntables. Keep your best kitchen real estate – your counters – for your most frequently used items.” Turntables vary from $5 for a 9-inch to $26 for a 21-inch.

Put Pantry to Better Use

An over-the-door organizer and large totes for bulky items on the floor can control the clutter of a pantry. © Kathy Morgan, Space Transitions LLC

In many homes, pantry space is out of control, says Kathy Morgan of Space Transitions LLC, a remodeling company in Columbus, Ohio, that focuses on home organization. “It’s typically just a big two-foot-deep space with wire shelves. “Food easily gets lost and it’s not easy to keep the floor clean.” Morgan suggests getting large clear totes (about $10) for bulkier items such as cat or dog food or large bags of chips. “Set the bins on the floor. When you need to clean, it’s much easier to take out the bins than it is to get down on hands and knees to clear crumbs and other things that have fallen out of packages.”

Save Time and Food

“So much money is wasted in food that is thrown away,” says Space Transitions’ Morgan. Her solution saves money and time. “When you buy anything that has containers inside a container – instant oatmeal packets, granola bars, mini candy bars -- take them out and put them either in an over-the-door pocket hanger (around $30) or clear containers with snap-on lids ($5-$10). Keep the items easily visible and, when you make a grocery list, you know what you have and aren’t fooled by empty snack boxes still on the shelf.”

5 Kitchen Design Trends

mflietner — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 18:44:00 GMT

5 Kitchen Design Trends

The National Kitchen and Bath Association’s 2011 Design Competition revealed several overriding kitchen design trends. Let’s focus on five.

Glass Shines On

According to the NKBA, glass is shining and glimmering in today’s kitchens.

A glass tile backsplash in sage green draws the outside landscape into this kitchen designed by Kirsti Wolfe Designs.
©Paula Watts Photography

Kirsti Wolfe of Kirsti Wolfe Designs (www.kirstiwolfedesigns.com) in Bend, Ore., says glass can give a lighter visual appearance and create more images of depth than other solid surfaces. Even in kitchen lighting, glass can illuminate with fun and interesting colors.

Wolfe likes to incorporate glass into her kitchen designs for contemporary, modern or transitional homes. It might be at the owner’s suggestion or she may offer glass options for countertops, backsplashes, lighting or other architectural elements.

For one client, she used a glass tile backsplash in sage green to invite the colors of trees and landscaping inside. Illuminated mica glass in a hood design drew the eye up to that architectural element. For another client, Wolfe used glass in slab form on the backsplash.

“There are so many glass options: hand blown, recycled or made specifically for a particular home. Specialty glass artists make it fun for the client and the designer to imagine endless designs.”

Pantries to Walk In and More

As the NKBA found, more open wall space and fewer kitchen wall cabinets are

creating a need for large separate pantries.

It’s becoming a popular trend among clients of Shiela Off, CMKBD, of Signature Woodworks LLC (www.signaturewoodworksllc.com), Gig Harbor, WA.

Think outside the norm for these pantries. “Rather than simply using the square footage for food and dish storage, clients use this space as a multifunctional room,” says Off.

Off notes that the new pantry has become preparation or clean-up areas separate from the main kitchen. Because of that, it features a second refrigerator/freezer, sink and dishwasher as well as extra countertop workspace. During entertaining, it can be closed off.

The pantry becomes a convenient landing spot for mail and a great message center/phone charging area. By using similar materials, the space can be blended into the kitchen design, says Off.

Focus On the Floors

Even when using a pre-finished flooring, by selecting out same size pieces, subtle inlay patterns can add interest and define a space in an otherwise simple black walnut flooring.
© Mark Allen-Schag

“The kitchen focus has turned to inlaid flooring as overall cabinetry design has taken a more simplified feel,” says Mark Allen, CKD, of Allen Cabinetry & The Counter Top Shop (www.allencabinetry.com) in Mansfield, Ohio.

Flooring inlays can add interest and detail without being too complex. Simply changing the direction of a stock tile or board in a border or pattern can compliment the shapes and lines of the room and cabinetry and define a room.

“Any flooring accents I use are always to balance another feature,” says Allen. “If there are a lot of curves and rounds, I like to balance with squares and angles on the flooring. It makes the design more pleasing and balanced. If there is a lot of wood, I want to balance it with natural stone. You don’t want to create a big wood box of wood on wood or too much stone on stone.”

Use flooring patterns or inlays only when appropriate, says Allen, who has designed inlays in tile, wood, glass, stone, metal, and natural sisal bordered with wood. “Some spaces are just too small. A busy floor can make the room feel even smaller. Contemporary rooms want simple lines and shapes. Inlays don’t traditionally play a part. When I have used them, it’s been a stripe of contrasting color, but always in the same materials, or simply offsetting the joints to break up the monotony.”

A Dash of Color

Jennifer Gilmer, CKD, of Jennifer Gilmer Kitchen & Bath, Ltd. (www.jennifergilmerkitchens.com) in Chevy Chase, MD., has seen a growing trend of splashes of color in paint, tile or back-painted glass.

How do you choose a color? Client preference, colors in the rest of the house, a piece of artwork or a light fixture to be used in the

A strong carrot orange gives a fresh and refined look to this contemporary kitchen by Jennifer Gilmer Kitchen and Bath, Ltd.
© Bob Narod

kitchen, you name it, says Gilmer. Once it’s determined, however, put the color together with the other materials going in the kitchen. Many times, the color will have to be changed if the countertop conflicts.

When choosing a strong accent color, says Gilmer, remember how it blends with the colors in the rest of the house. Make sure it’s

not used in too many areas. Use a strong color in small doses and in areas that can be changed through the years. Backsplashes are an easy area to change later at little expense compared to strong-colored cabinets. Make sure that the color doesn’t take over as the only focal point.

Color can be used in any kitchen, she says, but a traditional kitchen usually equates to “conservative” and bold colors may not work as well. But, again, on the backsplash, some color can be very complimentary. In a contemporary kitchen, it’s more about composition of colors and shapes, so a designer can have more fun with bold or bright colors. Bold colors, when a bit offset rather than perfectly centered, are more pleasing.

“Because a color can get dated or you can grow tired of it, use it where it can easily be changed with the taste or trends. Remember the days of black and mauve or avocado and harvest gold? Colors need to be updated because they can date a room,” says Gilmer.

A Tasty Trend

It’s a movement that almost seems a natural for the kitchen: cabinetry in dark chocolate, strong espresso, black coffee. Yum!

Melissa Nierman, interior designer for Rutt of Los Altos (www.ruttoflosaltos.com), Los Altos, Calif., says this more edible palette of mid to dark browns in residential cabinetry has become increasingly popular.

Why? “It’s neutral and calming. People like the way it makes them feel,” she says.

Unlike cherry or oak, it can work in both contemporary and transitional spaces. Being neutral, it goes with many colors. It can easily be changed up. Spike it with blue, orange, pink, tan or taupe in paint or accessories, says Nierman.

Kitchen Layout Basics

pmrockza — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 22:06:00 GMT

Kitchen Layout Basics

This kitchen layout accounted for the amazing view so the homeowner can enjoy the ocean while cooking. Photo courtesy of PK Surroundings, Exeter, NH

Efficient use of your kitchen space starts with the layout. A poor layout makes meal prep, cooking and cleanup extremely frustrating. Additionally, there are some spaces that are simply not conducive to kitchen work. Narrow rooms, low ceilings or even spaces that are oversized can serve as impediments when attempted to function effectively in the kitchen.

If you’re building a new kitchen or remodeling an old one, the ideas and tips in this article will serve as a solid foundation for the design of your space. In conceiving the plan for your kitchen it’s important to consider how the counters, sinks, cabinets and appliances will function as a collaborative unit.

The Kitchen Work Triangle

A successful kitchen layout is based on the work triangle. This is the foundation on which successful cooking arenas are built. Like every triangle, this one has three points. They are the refrigerator, sink and cooking area. The cooking area includes a range or stovetop and oven, plus microwave, toaster oven, bread maker, etc.

The triangle works in the following manner. Food items that are taken from the refrigerator are prepared near the sink and then taken to the cooking area. Once they are done cooking, they may be brought over to the sink area to drain off liquids and prepare for serving while the pots and pans will be left in that area to be cleaned. Leftovers are then brought from that space to the refrigerator.

Kitchen counters connect these points and cabinets and drawers are used under and above the counters, making space easy to access and kitchen utensils and tools handy. The three points need to be separated by space—but not too big a space. The minimum is four feet and the maximum is nine. The perimeter of the triangle should not be less than 12-feet and no larger than 26-feet. The center of the triangle is meant to be open, allowing for the direct and easy movement of traffic.

Janice Page, co-owner of the kitchen, bath, interior design and remodeling company PK Surroundings in Exeter, NH, observes, “It’s essential that the center of the triangle remain open, allowing the person who’s cooking to move freely from station to station. As an example, the standard amount of clearance needed for people to pass-by one another between a counter and a sink, an open appliance or another counter is 42 inches.”

If done properly, the work triangle is a model of efficiency, aiding in food prep, cooking and cleanup.

The Conversion Factor

This homeowner needed some special solutions for their in-house commercial cookie business. Plenty of pantry space, a commercial range and generous counter space are now on-hand. Photo courtesy of PK Surroundings, Exeter, NH

With a basic layout set and a work triangle established, it’s time to consider how to utilize cabinet and counter space. In order to create a kitchen layout that functions in an optimum manner, you’ll need to consider the conversion factor. Disregarding this concept can lead to a lot of wasted time in the kitchen.

The conversion factor relates to the amount of time one spends in the kitchen clearing spaces of clutter in order to prep and cook food. The goal is to have counters that don’t have any type of conversion factor— they are clear and clean all the time. If you’ve ever worked in a kitchen where you always have to bus items before you can cook, you know how frustrating this can be.

Here are several tips that will allow you to work in a kitchen that has a very low conversion factor.

Plan a small appliance space on a counter where these items can exist and function without being moved.
Small appliances that are used occasionally should be stored in a kitchen cabinet that’s easy to access.
Have your microwave built-in above the stove.
Use two sinks—one for prep and one for cleanup. This will allow for simultaneous use.
The dishwasher and sink should be separated by no more than three feet. This will allow for the easy transfer of dishes.
Trashcans should be in proximity to the sink but should not impede the efficacy of the work triangle. If using a built-in compactor locate it near the sink. Recyclables may be stored under the sink.
P lace your garbage next to the prep sink and your dishwasher next to the cleanup sink.
The storage area for dishes and pots and pans should be fairly close to the dishwasher. Pots and pans need to be kept near the prep area.
Spice racks, knife blocks and canister sets should be handy and placed along the counter walls in the food preparation area.
Once the dishes are done put them away. Don’t place them on the counter.
Don’t dump your mail, laptop, hat and jacket, books, keys or anything else on the counter.

One common layout mistake is to leave inadequate clearance for open doors or drawers. “As an example, it’s not uncommon,” notes Page, “to find kitchens where the appliance doors are opposite or too close to one another and when opened the two doors hit. You not only can’t pass by, but you’re unable to open both simultaneously. Basically, it comes down to planning accordingly.”

Clear and Clean Cabinet Access

Accessibility of your cabinets is another vital kitchen layout consideration. Too often kitchen cabinets are too far away, too high or too deep to access, making it bothersome, difficult and sometimes impossible to retrieve certain items.

Once again, this challenge is overcome in the kitchen layout design process. First, you need to think about the three points of your work triangle and what items are best accessed from which cabinets or drawers. Determine the best place to locate ingredients, cookware, flatware, dishes, etc. Make sure you have enough space in these areas to comfortably accommodate your needs.

There’s nothing more frustrating for a cook than having to go from one end of the kitchen to another to retrieve an essential utensil. If you go with a drop-top stove, you’ll be able to store cooking utensils in drawers directly under the stove. If you decide to buy a range, then make sure there are plenty of drawers on either side to store these items.

Pots and pans should be easily accessed from the food preparation area. Large pull out drawers are much more handy than static shelves, which require you to bend down and reach into them for access. When you have to make a lot of effort to reach for a small appliance or a pan then chances are you’ll be less inclined to use it. Make everything as easy to get to as you possibly can. For corner cabinet spaces the lazy-susan is a much revered solution.

Starting Out

Refrigerator and oversized freezer built-ins provide additional cold storage for this kitchen. No, that’s not an extra large cupboard. That’s a built-in refrigerator and extra-tall freezer that offer the necessary cold storage required by a home-based cookie business. Photo courtesy of PK Surroundings, Exeter, NH

When beginning the kitchen layout process it is a good idea to hire a kitchen designer who has been certified by the National Kitchen and Bath Association. These are knowledgeable professionals who can help ensure that you use your space effectively and spend your money wisely. It’s true that you may save some money by trying to design the space yourself or by simply having a contractor offer some ideas , b ut a certified designer is trained to help you get the most out of your kitchen.

“When I work with someone, it’s important that I get to know their lifestyle and how they use their kitchen,” says Page. “Once I see how they function in the kitchen, I can start to work with them to design a kitchen that will serve their needs. ”

Hiring an experienced professional can often be worth the additional cost. “Working with someone who understands both kitchen and interior design gives the consumer an extra edge when it comes to color coordination, utilization of space and style considerations,” adds Page.

The kitchen layout is not something that can be changed around like furniture in the den. It’s important to get it right the first time. Knowledge of kitchen layout basics

will help ensure the construction or remodel of a kitchen that guarantees efficiency each and every time you prep a meal, cook, clean your dishes and put your cookware away. A well-designed kitchen that has as its foundation the work triangle and utilizes all other spaces properly will be a joy to use on a daily basis.

Make Your Small Kitchen Look (and Work) Larger

jgoldberg — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 15:08:00 GMT

Make Your Small Kitchen Look (and Work) Larger

You look at kitchen magazines and wish your space was as well-equipped and spacious as the ones in their glossy pages. There’s good news for you. While your kitchen may be much smaller than you’d like, there are proven ways to make it look—and work—much larger than it is.

Maximize Your Storage Capacity

A pot rack, like this Dorado by Kenroy Home available on HomeClick, can increase your kitchen’s storage and style potential.

One of the most common complaints I hear from homeowners is that they don’t have enough space for everything they need to store in their kitchen. There are three common reasons for this problem.

First, there are too many items that don’t need to be stored in the kitchen work zones. If you’re not using an item at least once a week, it can move to a less important spot in the kitchen or to another storage location in your home or garage. (Possible spots in the kitchen for less-used items include the hard-to-reach cabinets above the fridge, microwave or double oven.)

Second, the storage space you have isn’t well-suited to your needs. For example, standard drawer-over-door base cabinets with half shelves in the middle miss out on 25 percent of their storage capacity. The best solution is to install a roll-out tray in place of that half shelf. I also like to see roll-outs installed on the bottom shelf to make it easier to get at items in the back.

Third, you’re not using all of your available kitchen storage opportunities. Take, for example, the backsplash space between your countertop and wall cabinets. There is a ton of room there to store items in easy, convenient reach, and some great storage solutions designed for backsplash installation. Examples include utensil holders, knife racks and spice holders. These will all free up cabinet space for other items.

Even small kitchens typically have untapped wall and ceiling space that can be used for additional storage. Install a pot rack in an empty space and you can free up that cabinet space for other needs.

Another way to increase your kitchen storage is to install accessories on the inside backs of your cabinet doors. For example, you can find storage racks for the cabinet below your sink that will put dish soap, scrubbing pads and other cleaning tools within a door swing’s reach. Gain back drawer and shelf space in other cabinets by moving canned goods and food wrap boxes to an organizer installed on the back of a pantry door.

Baskets can add both storage and style to your kitchen. If you have at least eight inches between the tops of your wall cabinets and your ceiling, you can increase your kitchen storage in attractive containers. They don’t have to be beachy-looking wicker or seagrass either. Find sleek leather baskets for contemporary kitchens, or galvanized steel models for rustic ones. Fit both your storage and style needs in one great set. Keep in mind, though, that these storage holders are intended for off-season, holiday and occasional use items, as they’ll be stored out of easy, daily reach.

Simplify Your Style

Declutter with style using a built-in coffee system, like the Benevuto Coffee Machine by Bosch, available on HomeClick

The above tips will add storage to your kitchen without compromising its style. There are other ways to enhance the spaciousness of your kitchen, too. Compact kitchens tend to look even smaller when there are too many colors and patterns crossing them.

Minimizing color and pattern contrasts will make them appear more spacious. Examples of this would include using a monotone countertop, like a gray engineered stone, rather than a busy granite, or using a painted cabinet or simply-stained maple, rather than busy oak, cherry, hickory or glazed cabinets.

Glass cabinet fronts can make a small kitchen look larger, too. Open shelving can also make a small kitchen feel larger. Reserve it for pretty dishes and glasses, but only if you don’t live in a seismically active area of the country!

The last style tip I’ll offer is a free one: Declutter. Overloaded countertops can make your kitchen look cramped. Clearing them is one of the first tips most real estate agents will share with home sellers. Larger kitchens are just more appealing to home buyers, as they are to homeowners and apartment dwellers!

You can achieve an uncluttered look by reducing the number of items that sit out on your tops, as noted above, for a free instant style upgrade. Or you can hide them inside an appliance garage. Or build them into the walls or cabinetry for the most upscale look of all.

Bright Ideas

Improve your kitchen’s lighting for a brighter, more spacious look! This Carte 4-Light Pendant with LED bulbs, available on HomeClick, can help.

Finally, kitchens look better—and bigger—with great lighting. The era of the single ceiling fixture is thankfully over. Today’s kitchens have multiple layers of light.

These layers include natural light from windows and patio doors, ceiling lights, under-wall cabinet lights, pendants over islands or peninsulas, chandeliers over tables, even sometimes toekick or accent lighting above the cabinets. This layered approach to lighting makes working in the space easier and safer. It also makes the space feel larger and more open. (How often do you hear the words cramped and dark together?)

Final Thoughts

You don’t have to tackle all of these tips at once. Many, like finding baskets, installing organizers and decluttering cabinets can be small weekend projects. Do them one at a time to see your kitchen improve season by season. That’s what I and many other designers do in our own homes.