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kitchen

Basement Renovations

U Shaped Kitchen Design Ideas

Looking for the right layout can be a challenge when you are unfamiliar with what options are available to you. Usually, a certain type of space has a particular fitting kind of design that can really bring out the best in that space. If your goal with your new home is to have a kitchen that saves space and lets you get the job done faster, you might want to try U shaped kitchen designs. This particular design, based on the name alone gives you more storage and work space without consuming a lot from the floor area.
Unlike other too spacious designs that require you to move across one point of the room to the other, the U shaped kitchen designs allows you to do all the things that you need to without any hassles. You no longer have to ask for someone to bring a piece of equipment from across the room since everything is within reach.
If you are concerned regarding the minimal storage with U shaped kitchen, do not panic! This particular design can give you all the storage you need in the form of overhead cupboards as well as under the counter top storage room. With this particular design, you no longer have to worry about any space going to waste.
Another advantage that a U shaped kitchen design brings is the fact that this type of layout is much easier to insert into any home. Unlike most kitchen renovation ideas that ask for a bigger space in terms of floor area, this layout only requires minimal space to work with. This means that a lot less amount of raw materials will be needed during the construction phase.
Note that by lessening the amount of raw materials to be used during the construction process would mean that you do not need to shell out as much money as your kitchen renovation contractor will be using less material. You can save up on raw materials and invest in other kitchen accents or equipment. When you save up on those materials, you can allocate a better budget for the flooring or the walls and even the lighting fixtures.
Ultimately, the designs to use in your kitchen would depend on your taste. But if what you are looking for are designs that fuse form, function and efficiency effectively, consider using U shaped kitchen designs in order to get the best and successfully meet all of your required standards.…

Renovation House

Kitchen Make-Over

The most sought-after or should I say the most popular place in the house is the kitchen. This is where everything starts, from small talks, family matters, day-to-day planning activities to the most important thing… foods are likely to happen here. It is also the very first place to go when we wake up in the morning. I don’t know why it should that be but I know it’s always been.
So being the most sought-after place in the house, it also acquires the most attention of the owners so much so that it is the most renovated place in the new captivating design trends in kitchen cabinets, fixtures, accessories, counter top designs, and kitchen utensil designs, many homeowners are willing to spend in renovating their kitchen in order to squeeze-in that dream kitchen look. A lot of to do list will always comes out in the mind of the owners upon seeing new market trends in the market today.
But any homeowner, one should take into consideration the two major factors in the renovation process such as designs and affordability. In the design process you have to make decisions what fits most to your personality. Homeowners can search in the market the vast array of designs. In this aspect you must bear in mind that good designs need not to be expensive! Of course if you want long lasting kitchen furniture go with the solid wood cabinet designs and marble counter tops. They’re pricey but they should not be very expensive compared to processed wood or reconstituted marble-like counter tops, but you’ve got more value of your money.
But the best approached in kitchen renovations and at the same time saving effort and money is replacing cabinet doors and drawer fronts. This is a little bit costly but not as pricey as replacing the entire cabinets. Replacing cabinet doors and drawer fronts can be done by using the same material as the original one or maybe something entirely different as the budget permits. Choices range from solid wood or wood-like laminates which are easily accessible in the markets today. Cabinet doors and drawer fronts designs will set the tone of the entire kitchen area, so choosing design style as flat panels, raised panels or recessed panels much be taken into considerations. Choices can be thick, thin, grooved, straight edged and curved ones and most importantly either of these can be matched, mixed and cross-matched as long as they complimented each other. Furthermore, it is also best to change the hinges and handles, not that it is necessary but also to compliment the doors and drawer fronts designs and styles.
This kitchen renovation approach, however minimal can set the mood of the whole kitchen area in particular from traditional look to modern or European look.
And most of all don’t decide hastily. Talk to the experts it will save you a lot!…

Kitchen Remodel

Great Kitchen Renovation on a Tight Budget

The very first component that most homeowners think about when planning for a kitchen renovation is the kitchen countertop. This is the heart of the kitchen. Without a great looking countertop, no kitchen is complete. I would suggest you take a look at concrete countertops. This is a new and emerging style of countertop. It is made of designer colored concrete and only second to granite in terms of toughness. It will give your kitchen a very unique and stylish theme.
The next most important thing is the kitchen cabinets. Make sure that the color and theme of your kitchen cabinets and your concrete counter top has a single theme. I would suggest buying prefabricated kitchen cabinets then hire a carpenter to alter it to match your kitchen theme because building a kitchen cabinet set from scratch is very costly and time consuming. This will only require us to spend for paint, cabinet handles and miscellaneous materials to match the cabinet with our theme.
Lastly, we need to select matching tiles to complete our great looking kitchen. For this purpose, it is better to use large sixty by sixty ceramic tiles for the floor and smaller ceramic tiles around the kitchen sink and countertop. This way, it would be easier to clean the larger tiles for any spills and stains in the future. Use small tiles sparingly and only in tight spaces around the countertop corners because they will be harder to clean than large tiles.
For the walls, I would suggest using a wallpaper instead of paint because oil evaporating from our cooking will stick to the walls and it will be next to impossible to remove them without damaging the wall surface. With a wall paper, you can just rip it off your wall and replace it anytime it becomes dirty.…

Bathroom Renovations

Installing Custom Kitchen Cabinets Is an Art

The biggest expense you are going to face in the renovation of the kitchen is replacing your cabinets. It is not unusual at all to spend $10-20,000 on custom cabinets for a remodeling project and you want to protect your investment by making sure that the cabinets are installed properly. Most of the top end manufacturers will not even let you install them yourself, even if you wanted to. To qualify for the guarantee that comes with the cabinets they must be professionally installed.
Since you are spending so much on the cabinets to begin with, now is not the time to scrimp and try and save a buck. The good news is that whatever you spend now rebuilding the kitchen you will be paid back when you go to sell the home. Research shows that nearly 100% of the cost of a kitchen remodel can be recovered because it increases the value of your home. You are even more likely to increase the property value when you choose high end materials like custom cabinetry.
Since custom cabinets are being built specifically for your kitchen, it is going to be a very tight fit and that is why professional installation is so important. There are also considerations for working around the plumbing going to the sink and the vents for the stove. The process is not as simple as finding the studs in the wall and hanging up a couple of cabinets like you do to get extra storage space in the garage. The actual frames for the cabinets have to assembled in your home and then the doors and drawers are added later.
Custom cabinets will create an ultra modern look that is very trendy. The current style is for flat fronts with very little ornamentation. Sleek is the in term and that is the look that your installer will be going for. They can also be very creative in coming up with unique ways to utilize the space you have in your kitchen in the most efficient manner. A large food pantry is a nice addition with slide out shelves. They can also build special plate racks into the design or an under the counter wine rack.
Another classy addition that a skilled carpenter can add is crown molding which will finish off the cabinets in style. Moldings that run across the top of the cabinets are very popular and create a nice space for plants or vases. They can also use the molding to frame a kitchen window or door to match the wooden cabinets. There also creative ways which installers are building a casing for refrigerators and stoves which makes them look like they are part of the cabinets. Since the cabinets are being custom made just for your space there should be no gaps or openings. Want a wide screen television in the kitchen? Ask the cabinet maker to design a stowaway cabinet for it so it can be hidden away while entertaining.…

Basement Renovations

Luxury Kitchen Renovation

Budget is the number one concern of people, who needs to go through kitchen renovation, surviving a kitchen renovation, is not that easy. But it can be bearable if you plan ahead of time with regards to financial aspect of this situation. There are ways you can do to stay away from stress while you are spending for your home renovation kitchen. With these simple steps you will be able to go through everything you need in no sweat:
1. You need to start by simply estimating the cost of a luxury kitchen design. You need to come up with a renovation budget so you won’t be shocked when the paying time comes. This is also the right time to decide on luxury kitchen ideas. You need to decide on paint colour, appliances, lightning and others. This will make things easier for your contractor when they start the renovation.
2. Work hand in hand with your contractor so you can be sure your luxury kitchen ideas will be met. You also need to discuss with them the timeline of the renovation. You need to do this so you will approximately know how much money you will pay them for the task. You need to take into account some unforeseen issue that may arise, add a cushion to your timeline to prevent it.
3. Instruct your contractor of things they need to do to prevent spreading of dusts and debris from spreading all over your house. This can be easily done by sealing the area where they will work on.
4. Temporarily, you can make an improvised kitchen near your bathroom or anywhere where there is a sink. You need it the most in washing plates and food. You can also ask the contractor to help you in moving your ice box in a safer area.
5. You can buy disposable plates, spoons and forks, paper towels and other things you’ll need to lessen washing dirty kitchen utensils. This will help you minimize the agony you need to face while the renovation is going on.
6. If your kitchen renovation will also last for a week. You can take your kids to a nearby relative or friend’s house to spend the day while your luxury kitchen design is going on. This will help them feel relieved of the stressful construction going on at your house.
Starting a home renovation for your kitchen is not that easy. There are lots of things to consider. You need to make a research first so you will be able to come up with a good budget that won’t sacrifice your idea of a perfect kitchen. Deciding on how much you can spend is very important. You also need to decide what to start first and what can be done next time will be very helpful to you. This will make your budget worthy in the long run. Some people prefer to do it themselves to save money. This can also be possible but it’s hard to do it perfectly especially if you are not really familiar with certain things about home renovations.…

Home Repair

Designing a White Kitchen

More often than not, you would choose a white kitchen renovation if you are a person who yearns for spotless and sleek design for your home space. Many homemakers now are choosing to cheer up their kitchens by designing it focusing on white as a binding theme. White is a very versatile choice of color. The best reason why white is often used because it projects a larger kitchen compared to the actual size. If your kitchen now is small, painting the walls white and getting white items can make your room feel larger.
Most of your times with your family and friends are spent in the kitchen, so the bright and clean tone of white can help you and your family or friends to have a comfortable and relaxing environment. This will project bright mood and will definitely make your day.
You can start working on your white kitchen by painting the walls with white paint. Never choose glossy white since it could be over reflective of natural light. Choose opaque white since this can blend easily with most furniture and accessories. Painting the walls with white paint is easy, but if you don’t have the time you can hire services for the paint job during your kitchen renovation. It is okay to add other color shades other than white just make certain that they are only for accent and will not dominate the primary color for your kitchen.
After the paint job, more kitchen renovation ideas you should consider are kitchen appliances, furniture and accessories that are white in color or could complement white. White kitchen furniture can project a remarkable change regardless of the quantity of natural light in your kitchen. White cabinets are great since they can complement with kitchen counters with vibrant colors. White basically provides a breathable, well ventilated and clean tone to any room so why not use this color for the busiest part of your home?
Aside from this, white furniture can also complement any color of white accessories. White can also highlight the natural splendor of any wood furniture. There are also interior designers who choose solid wood furniture with soft curves and finish to complement with your white kitchen.
If you prefer white for your kitchen, be certain to choose the kind of finish. Common finishes are painted or stained and either opaque or glossy. White kitchen furniture are part of essentials department for many manufacturers so you can easily find and buy a new one if you like to have a bright and breathable kitchen.…

Renovation Contractor

Flair After Flaw With Before And After Kitchen Tales

If one is brave enough to write in to a reality show paying homage to ugly kitchens, there is a high possibility of scoring a free kitchen renovation in the event one’s nook is able to boost ratings for the show. Man’s obsession with the unappealing and unattractive never fails to draw in the crowds despite the gloominess of the subject. Perhaps the sight of others worse off than oneself brings a skip to one’s step. Whether it is due to one’s ominous nature or just bad taste, before and after kitchen tales never fail in the home network.
Able to portray comedy and tragedy within the same script, this certainly makes the producer’s life much easier as he or she gets double value for one price. Many a time, the core question going through the minds of the crew and audiences is why or how a household can subject its kitchen to such a state. Mismatch of colors and patterns are the norm, easily fixed with a fresh coat or tiles so as not to add further visual torment to its residents and visitors. Fixtures, on the other hand, pose more a challenge as it may not be a simple matter of shifting things around. As pieces on a chess board have a place, so do appliances in a kitchen. Those plugged into permanent spots test the designer in finishing the project within the span of time allowed by the show. Whether it is a makeover within a day or a week, the expert never fails to literally flip the kitchen around without breaking a sweat.
Other than the entertainment arena, real-life situations are overflowing with before and after kitchen makeovers. These tend to focus on the more serious nature of things by detailing work done as well as materials and tools used. Coupled with actual timelines, this allows interested individuals to count the costs before embarking on such a project. Many an expert advises that kitchen renovation works need to be carefully worked out as some take on more than they can handle. Contractors of the less scrupulous nature are ever willing to make promises in hopes of securing jobs. When the truth is revealed, the home owner is left with ashes of promises.
If the kitchen only needs a mini makeover, perhaps a fresh coat of paint suffices. Recruit willing family and friends to help out. By having more hands to make work lighter, savings can be channeled to a party to celebrate a new beginning.…