The Refreshing Benefits of a Kitchen Redesign

Opting for a new kitchen is something people choose to do for a variety of reasons. It may be that they are approaching selling their home and feel a new kitchen would create the best impression to prospective buyers, or they might just feel it would be beneficial to improve the look and layout of this centrally important room for a more convenient space. Whatever the reasons, several benefits are created as a direct result of redesigning your kitchen, and for the most part, this makes it money well spent. So what dividends can you expect from overhauling your kitchen design?

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Freshen Up A High-Traffic Room

The kitchen is often one of the busiest rooms in the home and a focal point for family traffic throughout your home. As a result, the kitchen is very much a showpiece room in many family homes and an important bell weather for interior style. With bespoke luxury kitchens designed by Mike Taylor, and similar companies, you can freshen up this high-traffic room in your home, while also improving the overall interior look of your household. It doesn’t have to be major – even small redecorations and touch-ups can drag your room into a more stylish place, so you can get more enjoyment from your home.

Make The Most Of Your Space

Floor space is at a premium in all but the most expensive homes, and making the most of every square foot is important in terms of providing you with a comfortable home that is both stylish and practical. By redesigning the layout and positioning of your kitchen space, you can make the most of the space you have available, while also improving overall design elements in your room. With minimalist design themes in your kitchen, you can open up the room, creating a brighter space with more practical surfaces and spaces for you and your family to enjoy.

[Photo courtesy of Pixabay/ pexels.com]

Add Value to Your Home

Of course, everyone knows kitchens sell houses. And when it comes to renovating your current kitchen, you can expect to be adding value to your home, helping you seal the deal at a higher price if you’re thinking of moving on. The investment in a redeveloped kitchen can be more than paid for in the increased selling price of your home, so if you are interested in adding value, a kitchen redesign is probably one of the most effective ways to secure this benefit.

There are plenty of reasons you might consider a redesign of your current kitchen space, not least to get more utility from this most important of rooms. Whether you want to add value, spruce up an old room or just get a little more use out of your space, a kitchen redesign can be the ticket to achieving these aims.

The kitchen is the soul of a house, so it makes sense to start in that room when renovating a home. Many kitchen manufacturers offer prefabricated kitchen designs that are flat-packed and easy to install with some basic preparation and the right tools.

Thanks to our years of experience, we have put together this list of 10 tips that you may not have considered when fitting your first DIY kitchen.

Keep it Simple
At the very least, try to keep the basic layout the same for your new kitchen. This will save a lot of money because you won’t need to hire a plumber or electrician to re-route pipes or electricity to new points in the room.

If you are stuck for ideas, there are many websites that feature kitchen remodeling ideas.

Be Prepared
At the bare minimum, you will need the following tools on hand: Drill with drill bits, Hammer, Carpenter’s level, Tape measure, Step ladder, Screw driver set, Allen key set.

[Photo courtesy of Mark McCammon/pexels.com]

Set Up a Mini Kitchen
Choose another room of the house to set up the bare necessities in a mini kitchen. A hot water jug, microwave and fridge will be enough to get you through until the new kitchen is ready.

Drop Cloths
If you don’t have any dedicated drop cloths in your DIY supplies, consider using shower curtains or bedding that may be a little old and need replacing.

Removing the Old Cabinets
Take care when removing the old kitchen fittings. If you damage the walls or floor when tearing out old cabinets, this will add extra work to the project when you need to repair any holes or scrapes.

If it’s a larger kitchen and you have flooring to remove as well, consider hiring a man and van to help with the removals. There are many dedicated businesses that specialise in this service.

Choosing Paint
There’s nothing better to finish off a new room than a new coat of paint. For kitchens, pick a latex semigloss paint. This is perfect for the kitchen because you will be able to wipe off splashes and food easily.

Prepping the Room
You may be surprised how much grime has built up on the kitchen walls, so make sure to wash the walls and ceiling with a trisodium phosphate based washing solution.

Another tip is to lay down your base coat before fitting any new cabinets, and then painting the top coat carefully after everything is installed.

Locate Wall Studs
Use a wall stud locator to mark out any studs before you start installing the cabinets. Don’t rely on the previous layout when hanging cabinets, because the previous installer may have placed them without stud support.

Assembling the Cabinets
Leave any doors or other extra components out of the cabinets until after they have been hung on the wall. This will greatly reduce the weight of the unit and make the fitting much easier.

Many DIY supply stores have online guides with advice and tips for cabinet installation.

Recycle the Old Cabinets
Don’t throw out the old cabinets because they can be used in other areas of your home. They make a great storage solution for the garage or tool shed, or you could repaint them and create a play kitchen for a children’s cubby house.

If the cabinets are beyond repair, use a man and van rubbish clearance service to take away the mess.

To do the things we enjoy is our natural way to relieve stress, sometimes we found pleasure in doing simple things like going for a walk, talking with friends, watching our favorite TV show, reading a good book, cooking our favorite food and even playing games online.

When I was still working from home, and online. Things were very stressful, even when I don’t have a boss and I have my own freedom to do things I want to do, it wasn’t because of the many works I have to do back then, it was mainly because of my attitude towards work. I am workaholic and it was hard for me to stop until the things I am doing wasn’t done yet.  I woke up at nine o’clock in the morning back then and sleep at two o’clock in the morning the next day, trying to do many things I can do, or if someone ordered a WordPress theme, I will do it without stopping, until I perfected it.

Today, after many things have happened and me today working a day job, working eight (8) hours a day, I have noticed I still have the same attitude towards work, where there are times I forgot to drink water and if not of my co-workers reminding us to eat lunch, I won’t eat lunch just to finish what I am doing.  What make it a bit stressful today, is doing household chores at home after a long day at work or look after a mischievous kid, especially during the weekend when it should be my only days to relax and rest.

Just like before my only way to relieve stress is to play  games online, and recently I  came across this fun and very educational website with many cooking games that me and my niece can enjoy playing during the weekend when I am babysitting her.  Yep, she loves playing cooking in her play time, just like how she loves to play online , I even bought her food simulation toys and a cooking set, which she always misplaced every time she used them.

CulinarySchools.org aside from being an informative platform that allows you to discover all the available culinary schools and culinary trainings near your area, it also has a  useful collection of online tools such as the ingredient measurement conversion tool, body fat calculator, weight loss and workout calculator .

It also has a huge collection of smartly curated online cooking games that kids and kids alike can freely access and enjoy without downloading mobile app, because they are browser-based application,  and by playing you can learn so much about the food you are eating, how they were produced (farming), you can also learn hospitality, restaurant managements and some culinary arts technique that can be useful to you someday.

Here are the games my niece and I enjoyed the most.

Ice Cream Bar

A 20-stage timed simulation game where you have to serve the customers the exact flavor and  ingredients they have ordered, the ice cream has to be in order the way they want them, starting at the bottom and working your way up. As you progress through the game you unlock additional ice cream flavors, ice cream cones, drinks, fruits, and a juicing machine.

Can I Eat It?

Is a game for preschoolers and kindergarten students, which is perfect for my niece age.  To play the game, you have to identify whether the food is edible or not by clicking Yes or No, in  a limited time. So you have to think quick if the item shown can be eaten or not or else you have to start over.  The items that were shown includes fruits, vegetables, cheese, sausages, chocolates , arrow, socks, sticks, glass, batteries, bugs and more.

Coffee Shop

A simulation game where you learn about how to manage a coffee shop. The game starts by buying your own inventory or ingredients like cups, coffee, sugar and milk. In this game, you have the freedom to adjust the how much coffee, milk and sugar, you can put into each cup and even the price of your coffee . The demand changes as the weather changes, so it isn’t advisable to stock lots of milk when the weather is warm because it will spoil and you will loss profit, that is for sure.

Puzzle Farm

An easy puzzle game that my niece enjoyed playing because of the colorful  farm animals and other scenes from farm life.  The puzzle shows a gray scale outline of where the pieces go until they are filled in, making it ideal for students in second grade or below.

Well, these are some of the games my niece and I enjoyed playing.  Through this, I am relieving my stress and learning culinary techniques by reading helpful articles at culinaryschools.org, as well as on playing some culinary games.

How about you, how do you overcome stressful days?

When you want exceptional carving knives with razor sharp edges it can be daunting to determine which knife maker offers the best knife. Professional chefs spend a lifetime building and caring for their knife portfolio; as an amateur chef or home cook it’s hard to know what exactly makes a knife worthy and which knives will perform well over time. It’s always a good idea to begin with a known manufacturer – Kershaw brand knives for example, when choosing fine cutlery because you know a reputable manufacturer will stand behind the goods they design and make.

[Photo  courtesy of Mikhail Nilov/pexels.com]

Regardless of maker the materials and the design of any knife are what determine the quality and performance. Craftsmanship is essential – there should be no irregularities of any kind and all joints should be seamless; the connection of the bolster and the tang should be perfect. Any irregularities can harbor germs and bacteria and any loosening or wiggle room is an invitation to disaster. Should any of your current knives have such deficiencies it would be a wise idea to replace them as soon as possible for both safety and hygiene reasons.

Look for knives which are ergonomically designed to ensure a good grip and to allow for easy use – professionals who spend hours slicing, dicing and mincing food day in and day out know that hand and wrist fatigue can be a problem. It’s critical to select a knife that feels good and fits your hand nicely. The knife should be well balanced and the handle proportionate to the blade. Some folks prefer one-piece knives which are typically made of stainless steel – with a one-piece knife there is less chance of failure plus they are very hygienic and easy to keep clean.

Your kitchen is one area of your home that is used a number of times on a daily basis, by most members of the family. Whether your teenager is rushing in to grab a piece of toast before school or your preparing a family dinner, there is a great deal of foot traffic in the kitchen. If you’re lucky enough to be building your new home or are undergoing some renovations, you should create a kitchen that will last a lifetime. Your kitchen has so many different aspects that need to be considered, from your floors and countertops to your appliances and your cupboard space. Read on to discover some helpful hints on how you can create a timeless and hardwearing kitchen in your home.

Floor Coverings

As aforementioned, the kitchen is home to one of the highest volumes of foot traffic in your home. If you are creating a kitchen to last a lifetime, you should always choose a durable and hardwearing surface. Not only do your surfaces need to withstand foot traffic, but they should also be able to measure up to various spills and dropped jars. Tiling is often a popular choice for kitchen floor coverings, as it provides a durable surface, while still remaining to be aesthetically pleasing. Tiles are also easily cleaned, making it great for those accidental spills!

[Image courtesy of Mark McCammon/pexels.com]]

Bench Surfaces

While floors take a great deal of foot traffic, countertops also experience a great deal of usage. Your bench surfaces should be constructed using a durable material and quality design. Quartz kitchen bench tops are now a popular choice amongst many reputable home builders, as they offer a sleek and sophisticated appearance, while still maintaining their longevity. Your bench tops should also create a great deal of workable area within your kitchen, so be sure that the design maximises your use of space.

Timeless Appliances

Appliances are a major part of most kitchens and should be considered when designing or revamping this new area of your home. Stainless steel appliances are a great addition to any kitchen, as they provide a timeless look that won’t easily become out-dated. Choosing quality appliances will make a noticeable difference to your cooking experience, with the quality evident with use.

A Usable Space

Finally, when creating your new kitchen, you should ensure that you are designing a useable space. While you may want to add absolutely everything to you kitchen, keep in mind that you don’t want any area that is cluttered an unusable. Smart storage solutions are a great way to get the most from your kitchen, with modern options including utility towers that offer a great new way to effectively use your space.

Many homeowners, when they decide to undertake home improvement projects, tend to focus on the bathrooms and kitchens, and this is information which can be supported by statistics. According to a survey released by the American Institute of Architects, AIA, kitchens and bathrooms remain a priority as far as design and redesign of homes is concerned. And it is easy to see why. In many households, if not most, the kitchen and bathrooms are the two rooms in the house where much activity takes place, and on a daily basis. Kitchens especially are the centers of operations in most homes and homeowners will go to great lengths to ensure these spaces are fitted with features that make the operations easier.

As far as purchase of kitchen and bath features goes, sustainability concerns are forefront. Homeowners are looking to buy features that will improve energy efficiency, water conservation and generally make the home healthier. Accessibility concerns are also a priority when remodeling kitchens and bathrooms. Occupants of a home spend a substantial amount of their time accessing these spaces, and as such where there are residents with accessibility concerns (for instance, are mobility-challenged), focus tends to be given to these areas. Bar foot rails and service rails are an affordable way to add comfort and style and accessibility to a kitchen or bar area.

With the US economy improving, there is an upsurge in housing activity, with residential architects reporting solid business conditions. Many homeowners are currently able to afford home improvement projects, and when this happens, the kitchen is preferred and the bathroom comes second.

Many of the respondents polled by the AIA reported that their food storage/food preparation/kitchen areas were growing in size, thanks to remodeling projects. More homeowners are looking to increase the size of their kitchens, together with adding features that make working in the kitchen more convenient. Such features include double islands and even storage facilities.

Interestingly, many homeowners’ kitchen remodeling projects have nothing to do with cooking but rather the need to make the kitchen more adaptable to their evolving needs. For instance, many respondents said they had added a recharging area for their portable electronic devices, together with adding a computer work area.

When it comes to bathrooms, homeowners are looking to increase the sizes with the most distinguished feature preferred where baths are concerned being accessibility. For example, many people are installing large walk-in showers in their bathrooms, a trend that is expected to continue. Energy efficient LED lighting is by far the top product that is highly increasing in popularity as homeowners look to make their bathrooms more energy-efficient and healthy.

Sensor faucets have also made it to the popular list, and these are being chosen for bathrooms and kitchen as well. It is expected that the popularity of kitchens and bathrooms as far as home improvement goes will only increase in the future.  When people visit our Philadelphia apartments, the first thing they ask about are the kitchens and bathrooms, I don’t see that trend changing anytime soon,” explains Svetlana Mosyurova, Marketing Director for Post Brothers Apartments in Philadelphia.

Vintage interior design refers to the furniture, fabrics and other elements that create a nostalgic feel in a room. Generally speaking, vintage designs may draw from a number of periods, including the Victorian and Edwardian periods; the 1920s and Art Deco era; the post-WWII era and the 1950s and the psychedelic 60s and the 70s disco era. More specifically, vintage refers to design elements and style that recalls the look and feel of the 1940s and 50s.

Incorporating vintage design into a room, for example the kitchen, may begin on a small scale. Simply adding in vintage canisters, an old-fashioned bread box or advertising imagery can create a vintage 50s look in a modern kitchen. There are a great variety of furniture pieces and accessories to be found in specialty stores, antique stores and even at local sales and flea markets, to help create the look. With the addition of popular paint colors and finishes from the era and some simple window coverings, a vintage-style kitchen is easy to achieve.

[Photo courtesy of jill111/pixabay.com]

Vintage kitchen accessories and furniture

Furniture designs from the 50s made use of many, at the time, new materials; one of the most popular and iconic being chrome. A mainstay of the 50s-era diner, chrome can be used to form the base of a Formica-topped kitchen table, vinyl-covered chairs or swivel bar stools. Caned-back chairs are a slightly more formal way to go when paired with a coordinating table.

Appliances from the 50s are still to be found and some may even be in working order; however, many of the old designs for these durable metal machines have been reproduced to blend well with vintage kitchen designs, among them lever-handled refrigerators, ice boxes and Chambers cook-stoves.

Vintage 50s accessories include red and white enamelware dishes and cookware; glass milk bottles and vintage milk cans; bread boxes and vintage and reprinted art designs and advertising images.

[Photo courtesy of alluregraphicdesign/pixabay.com]

Vintage colors and finishes

The color palette in the 50s was characterized by a wide array of hues, ranging from natural stains and white to Mackinac green, a soft forest green. In addition, golden yellow, light gray, medium gray-blue, desert sand and pale mist green were also popular throughout the period. Enamel paints and finishes were widely used in 50s era kitchens, from the furniture and cabinetry, to the walls and even the floors.

Directional design was a popular and functional choice during the 50s. Using the direction in which a particular room faces as a guideline, directional design guides the choice of color to be used, based on how much natural light enters the room and its overall temperature. On account of their exposure to the sun, south and west facing kitchens tend to be described as “hot”, so cooler blues and greens are the best choice. North-facing kitchens tend to be “cold”, so choosing “warm” or “hot” colors, including yellow, orange and red, work best. East facing rooms are flexible and can pull colors from both palettes.

Vintage window dressings

Vintage 50s-era window coverings are both simple and decorative. Full window panels in gingham fabrics, with clean white tie-backs; valances featuring charming and animated motifs, such as teapots, fruit or vegetables; white curtains edged in colored bands and custom shutters painted in period colors, are all great examples of the style.

To me, summer means one thing, barbecue season! If you feel the same way, you might be thinking about setting your garden up to be the perfect place for delicious grilled meals, juicy meats, and good company. Well, there are a few changes to your garden that will go down a treat here.

Outdoor Kitchen

[Photo Courtesy Of Texas Custom Patios/flickr.com]

If you want to be truly adventurous, you could think about creating an outdoor kitchen in your backyard. This idea has proved to be very popular in places like California. Everything from the grill to the oven is outdoors, providing you the perfect, cool place to cook up some food. To get started, you’ll need to lay the foundations of your outdoor kitchen. This is particularly important if your yard is completely grass. You will need a solid surface for all the accessories and perhaps even a dining area.

Next, you should think about adding some furniture around the garden. These days, people won’t settle for the typical plastic garden furniture. Instead, they want something a little more bold and stylish. Believe it or not, you can get furniture for your garden that is just as comfortable and gorgeous as the sofas in your living room. Have a look online at some of the possibilities on offer here.

Build The Barby

[Photo Courtesy Of John Liu/flickr.com]

Alternatively, you can just settle for building a beautiful stone barbecue, perhaps in the center of your garden. Modern designs are often built like great towers to ensure that the fumes don’t hang around in the air and instead drift over the house. You can find some great guides on how to build your own stone barbecue and how big it is will depend on how adventurous you feel. You might want it to be the centerpiece of your garden. Or, you might love the idea of being able to grill a pizza in it. For that, you’re going to need one massive surface.

One thing you will certainly need if you build your own stone barbecue is a source of heat and energy. You can get a propane tank to suit this purpose. If you’re wondering where to buy propane from, again, you can find sellers online, offering tanks at reasonable prices. Just make sure that your source is safe and reliable.

A Little Lighting

[Photo Courtesy Of Jovas/pixabay.com]

Of course, it’s not just about making sure that you can make the food. You also need to set the right mood. That’s particularly important if you want to invite guest round to enjoy the fruits of your labor. You can set up some stunning lights around the edge of your garden, and this will make it look absolutely tremendous as the sun begins to set.

If you have a pool, you can even add lights under water that will make it look absolutely tremendous. If you are creative enough, you can make your garden a truly stunning place to dine.

I hope you have fun with these ideas and make the most of the barbecue season in your backyard.

Feeling bored of your home’s interior design? Make your living space a reflection of your taste and imagination. Your deepest and wildest shades of your personality should come leaping out from the walls. The lighting arrangement should be the maze that leads to the window into your soul. The decor should be your physical statement on the earth, it should bellow out with power and vigor to those who enter the room. Your home’s rooms’ style and decorating theme waltzes around your heart and without any words, encompasses all that is you.

[Photo courtesy of Ulciscor/pixabay.com]

Green as grass

A botanical dining room is something you don’t see very often; in fact it’s a little too outlandish for most. However, If you replaced the floor, with complex patterns of Aztec, or a sprouting spiral cement tile art, the room would come alive with vegetation. As green is a light color, often associated with nature, wildlife, earth and stillness, any food or any cuisine eaten in the room, won’t look out of place. Green is a neutral color; not too bright, not too dark. The chairs and table can be made out of wicker and a dried and stiffened bamboo. Sushi roll-up mats would make for great plate board at the table. The same material should be used for coasters, just to keep the table uncluttered. For when your family is dining later than they should be, you could have candlelight holders made out of a clear see-through plastic or glass. The light shade style would captivate the bliss of untamed nature if it were like a ball of twisted hay or a tumble weed. The light would peer through the many gaps as if it were free-floating, it could have the ability to spin independently from the bulb attachment. Simple, humble, and yet artistically clever.

[Photo courtesy of Mnmal/miserv.net]

Passion, flare and furiosity

If you want your creativity, and precision of taste, flavors and combinations in the kitchen to punch out with unmistakable snap, stamp your heels no further than a Mexican theme. Set the mood vividly with a rose colored wall paper or paint scheme. When sunlight peers through, the red shall transform the yellow rays into a blood red or a shimmering yellow like the sunset of the Mediterranean. For the table, nothing, but nothing, will do besides a rustic, strong and large wooden table. Preferably you should look for something that’s a little lighter, for example, like a honey color. The sauce pans, pots and frying pans should all be in a deep, thick and heavy black. Something like a cast iron material for all three would be very bold. For the utensils, you should aim for something that’s a real dark brown. Authenticity is crucial to get the proper feel of Mexico, so make sure they’re also made out of wood. On top of the shelves or somewhere where there’s free space, you could stand earthen clay pots as these are used for storage for pickled sweet red peppers. Placing flowers in the room, is simply up to you, they won’t take anything away, nor will the look out of place.

Spicing up your kitchen always breeds excitement, however unless you know the right ways to  make the most important space in your home stand out, then you’re going to have a few problems on your hands. If you follow the rules of kitchen design, then there’s no doubt that you’ll be left with a very safe and functional kitchen, as well as a cooking environment that will last for many years to come. From lighting to counter tops, there are many ways to enhance your kitchen space, and depending on the theme you want to install, you could have a brand new kitchen without breaking the bank! Let’s take a look at some of the rules of kitchen design.

The Triangle

You may not have heard of the triangle, but most kitchens implement this design technique in order to save time moving between appliances. The triangle consists of a refrigerator, a stove and a sink, and they’re kept close together to allow for convenient movement in the kitchen. Not only are these some of the most used appliances in the kitchen, but kitchen design would be completely different without the use of the triangle.

[Photo courtesy of Pixabay/pexels.com]

When it comes to the triangle itself, the sides don’t have to be the same length. As you’ve guessed, the triangle is imaginary, however keeping these core appliances within 5-8 feet of each other will dramatically increase efficiency. If you like to cook alone, or you have a small family, then the application of the triangle will be hugely beneficial. To further improve the triangle, why not move your dishwasher into the space between two of the appliances.

Assessing Your Kitchen’s Needs

Before you start a project as big as redesigning your kitchen, you have to know what you need, what you want to change, and what you want to keep. Without a solid plan of refurbishment, you may find that your original budget goes out the window, as you start to buy things that you don’t necessarily need.

The first step to redesigning your kitchen is to understand what you want to change, and why. Next, is to determine a budget for the changes you want to make, as well as the length of time it will take you to complete the refurbishment. The last thing you want is to reduce your cooking space for a longer time than necessary. Finally, after implementing the changes, you’ll need to complement your new kitchen with up to date appliances, colour and lighting, to ensure the theme lasts as long as possible. Surf online to see a great selection of the latest appliances for your kitchen!

Different Types of Lighting

Kitchen design isn’t all about the physical aspect of the space in front of you, it’s about how that space is perceived. To improve the perception of your kitchen, different types of lighting can be used to illuminate space, or create shadow. From task to decorative, accent to ambient, try out different lights in your kitchen, and in different places. For example, you’ll want your chopping area well lit, however you could have ambient lighting under cupboards to enhance the floor design.