Kitchen Design Ideas and Layout

Thinking of remodeling or renovating your kitchen? Here are a few tips for preparation and avoiding common pitfalls.

If you have a large kitchen remodeling project you will need to set up a temporary kitchen a different part of the house. It’s important that the location you choose is convenient and have unrestricted access to water and allow you to keep foods refrigerated as well as heat foods up. It’s also a good idea to have easy access to portable cooking appliances such as a microwave, electric wok and electric frying pan. Daily life must go on and you don’t want to be eating take-out every night or running to the neighbour’s house every time you need something from the refrigerator.

Here are the Top 5 Most Common Mistakes in Kitchen Remodeling:

1. Damaging the wall as you remove old cabinets

2. Damaging bench tops, cabinets or floors you plan to re-use

3. Not shutting down utilities before starting your project

4. Allowing dust and debris to spread throughout the house

5. Not allowing enough time to complete your project

Before You Get Started

1. Box and seal everything that will not be used in your temporary kitchen. Label the boxes and store them in a different part of the house.

2. Remove anything from the kitchen that isn’t nailed or screwed down. This includes drawers, lazy susans, spice racks, wall clocks, art work, ornaments, pots and pans etc. Place a protective cover over anything that must remain in place while you are working.

3. Make arrangements for the removal of any rubbish that may accumulate during your remodeling project. If you must rent a dumpster, do so in plenty of time or have a utility on hand for removing the rubbish to the dump. If you plan to salvage the old cabinetry for a workshop or donation to a charitable cause, have a place ready for them to go as you take them out of your work area.

4. Before removing any major appliances, turn off all utilities. This can be done at the individual shut off valves for gas and water. If there are no shut off valves, you will have to turn off the main valve. The main gas valve is usually located near the gas meter. Remember that, once you turn off the gas to the whole house, ALL pilot lights will have to be relit before they will work again. Without very careful planning you may well find yourself without hot water when you’re ready to clean up after a hard day’s work.

5. Disconnect fuses or turn off circuits to the area in which you will be working. In older homes, the wiring may have been modified over the years and it may not be clear which circuits or fuses control specific areas. If you are unsure, turn off the main power or get contact an electrician. Never take a chance with electricity! In addition, tape over the breakers so they won’t be turned on inadvertently. If you plan on upgrading your electrical system and adding new outlets and fixtures, it will be necessary to dismantle all existing outlets and fixtures.

6. Remove all light bulbs. Then, dismantle each fixture by using a screwdriver to unscrew the plate and the receptacle and pull the receptacle out of the box. Put wire nuts on any exposed wires for the interim. The bare copper wire is the ground and does not need to be capped.

Kitchen remodeling can be a rewarding and satisfying experience by planning right and avoiding the pitfalls.

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Reclining chairs are the ultimate in comfort and style. Not only do they add oomph and style to the living room but at the same time they are comfortable too. Reclining chairs are designed in a specific way to provide maximum support to the lower and upper back and offer you the most comfortable sitting position.
The best part of reclining chairs is that a person can sit for hours on it without feeling even a slight discomfort.

Apart from general comfort, reclining chairs are especially beneficial to:
•    People with disabilities like arthritis as they may not feel comfortable seating on -typical chairs.  
•    Pregnant women.
•    People with very short height.

There are many types and styles of reclining chairs available in shops and online furniture stores. Each chair has its own distinct feature and reclining capacity. Some recliners have two or three reclining positions while others have infinite number of positions.

<b>Recliner with two positions</b>

A recliner that has two positions reclines to an approximately 45-degree angle. They are good and comfortable for seating purpose but not a good option in case you are thinking of having a nap on them. Such two position recline chairs are fully motorized and all the functions are controlled by using hand controls.

<b>Recliner with three-positions</b>

Three-position chairs enable you to adjust to any angle in order to provide you the maximum comfort. You can almost lie flat on them. Just like two-position chairs they too are motorized and the control for all the functions is in your hands.

<b>Recliner with infinite positions</b>

Chairs with infinite positions consist of two motors rather than just one. Unlike the two-or three-position chairs the footrest operates independently. Infinite-position chairs enable you to manipulate the footrest independently from the chair. Hence you can have your back at a 90-degree angle, and at the same time have your feet raised as well. These chairs are perfect for a sound sleep.

<b>Various styles of reclining chairs are:</b>

•    <b>Swivel Recliner Chairs</b>- A swivel recliner chair rotates through 360o and comes with a separate footstool. It is the ultimate in style as well as comfort. They are ideal for living rooms having plenty of space.  

•    <b>Reclining Armchairs</b>- A reclining chair is simple and a great way to unwind and relax after a hard day’s work.  
 
•    <b>Massage Recliner Chairs</b>- As the name suggests, massage recliners are meant to provide you relaxation by massaging your body. Massage recliners are extremely beneficial for body, health and fitness.

•    <b>Riser Recliner Chairs</b>- These chairs have the comfort of a recliner armchair combined with the electric riser reclining action. They allow you to have total control and mobility.

While buying a reclining chair the most important to keep in mind is comfort and the reclining capacity. Of course, colors and material coverings also matter. Leather reclining chair is more practical than chairs made up of other fabrics since their wear and tear rate is low and leather is also easier to clean.

You can find affordable reclining chairs online to suit your tastes, in a large choice of fabric and leather options. And not just reclining chairs but you can also find dining room chairs, reception chairs, stools and folding chairs in a wide range of variety online.

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Stainless steel is made from iron and other metals, which is strong and resists against wear and tear. It is inexpensive, long lasting and is most popular in North America. The metals used in stainless steel or iron, may produce health effects such as iron, nickel and chromium.

Ceramic pottery, enamel or glass cookware is easily cleaned and can be heated to fairly high temperatures. Ceramic is glazed; similar glazes are applied to metals to make enamelware. These glazes, a form of glass, resist wear and corrosion.

For cooking and storing food, plastic is lightweight and nearly unbreakable. Many containers have been made for use in microwave ovens, where metal cookware is not suitable.

Stainless steel cookware should be washed in hot, soapy water or a warm ammonia and water solution, thoroughly rinsed and immediately dried to avoid water spots. Use mild, stainless steel cleaners or light scouring with a plastic or stainless steel scouring pad to remove most stains; don’t use steel wool, chlorine bleach or alcohol

Cast iron cookware is usually pre-seasoned coated with unsalted fat and heated to prevent rusting, unless porcelain coated. It should be washed in warm, sudsy water and frequently treated by coating the cast iron interior surface with unsalted shortening, left until its next use, and then wiped out. To re-season, scour the pan completely, rinse and dry; then coat the inside with unsalted fat and leave in moderate oven for two hours. Remove and wipe off excess grease

To remove copper cookware discoloration, use commercial cleaner or a mixture of flour, salt, lemon juice and ammonia applied before regular washing. Wash chrome cookware with warm water and soap or detergent. Do not use abrasive cleaners.

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Since there has been a trend in recent years towards more earthy color tones for interior decorating, Native American Indian art can fit in nicely as part of home decor.  Most subjects used in Native American Indian art tend to be focused on nature whether the pieces are prints, carvings or pottery.  Colors tend to be earthy shades of browns, reds, blacks and yellows since the main raw materials are wood as in carvings from the Pacific Northwest region and clay from the Southwest.  Even painted wood carvings or pottery tend to have natural colors often found in nature such as greens and blues.  All of these colors work well with the more natural styles of interior decorating today.

The Pacific Northwest region which covers the states of Oregon, Washington, British Columbia (Canada) and the southern part of Alaska, produces some excellent Native American Indian art in the form of wood carvings.  This is not surprising since the Pacific Northwest is abundant with forests which have provided the wood as raw material for the region’s Native American Indian art.  The wood is sometimes painted in striking colors or just stained with natural looking browns.  Either way, such pieces fit in perfectly in rooms with earthy color tones.  I have seen walls of living rooms, bedrooms, office den rooms, hallways and even bathrooms enhanced with Pacific Northwest Indian art in the form of both prints and wood plaque carvings.   The Pacific Northwest Native American artists also make some of the most striking aboriginal masks in the world which are also suitable for hanging on walls.

Native American Indian art as home decor helps bring in an atmosphere of nature in the overall interior decorating of a room.  This is because of their natural colors and also their subject matters which tend to be animals such as eagles, bears, thunderbirds, killer whales and salmons.  Pacific Northwest Native art in particular gives homes in that region a local flavor.  Many homes in this part of North America have this type of artwork as part of interior decorating.   This style of Native American Indian art is still relatively unknown to many parts of North America and the rest of the world so for homes outside of the Pacific Northwest region, a nice wood carving can be seen as exotic treasure brought back from a homeowner’s travels.  Check out some examples of Pacific Northwest Indian art either in a gallery or online and imagine how a piece or two can be part of your home’s interior decorating.

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One of the most important elements in any kitchen redesign is your kitchen cabinets. This one simple part of your kitchen is one of the most important elements, and the way you decide to go with your cabinets will greatly affect the look and feel of your kitchen. You may want to even go so far as consulting a professional. Making the right choice here, perhaps as much as any other, will either make or break your kitchen.

Something that a lot of people are doing these days in their kitchens is choosing cabinets with a unique finish. The finish of your cabinet should flow seamlessly into the overall theme or design of your kitchen. The right finish can greatly enhance what you’re attempting to achieve – be it a country look, a sleek, modern look, a traditional woody look, or whatever.

An example of the right kind of look for your overall theme might be a crackled-looking finish for someone hoping to achieve a French country style. Though the look may be old, the cabinets themselves need not be, of course. You should also think about color when thinking about your finish. Though one color may look good in one type of finish, it may not be exactly what you want in another type of finish. The texture of the finish itself may change everything, so be prepared to try out different possibilities. Insisting on what you thought you wanted in the beginning may leave you unhappy in the end.

Another example of a popular trend in finishes is the sleek, modern look. In place of the traditional wood cabinets, some are using a variety of materials to achieve this modern look, including metal and plastic. Those who are interested in ultra-modern, pared-down design often find inspiration in commercial kitchens (those found in restaurants, for example). And not only do they find their inspiration there, they often find their actual appliances and materials in commercial kitchen stores and warehouses. If this is your style, be sure to check out your local restaurant supply store. Even if they don’t have exactly what you want, you’re bound to pick up a number of ideas that will suit your modern-loving fancy.

Of course, the finish and look of a cabinet isn’t all that’s involved in choosing what’s right for you. The “practical” aspect of the cabinet’s design is equally important. Modern kitchens allow for much more storage than those of kitchens in the past, and modern home-dwellers have come to expect many of these differences as a given. If you have an older home, you may be able to easily update your kitchen simply by installing some of these more modern amenities into the kitchen. Having a trash can that sits on rollers inside of a large trash bin drawer is an example of what we’ve come to expect in a modern kitchen. An older kitchen, of course, would not have such an amenity.

In general, like the trash can, the modern kitchen is built to put storage away from public view. But there is also a nice mix of old and new that many people are turning to – a design where some storage items are purposely exposed. A colorful, neatly arranged pantry that is exposed to the kitchen can make for an interesting design element. However, it should go without saying that if you choose this type of cabinetry you should make sure that you’re someone who’s willing to keep your stored items neat and tidy. If not, instead of an added design element, you end up with an eyesore.

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There is a vast selection of kitchen window treatments out there for you to choose from and all you have to do is pick one. Easier said than done though, no? It is the huge selection that makes it so hard to pick only one! If only we had more than one kitchen! The trick to choosing the best kitchen window treatments is to think outside the box. There is no reason to stick yourself with the conventional and plain window treatments, go wild and try something new, you might just like it.

When you are choosing kitchen window treatments you do not have to take into consideration the same type so things that you do when choosing other window coverings. For example, you do not usually need to worry about privacy as much as you do for say the bedroom windows. No one is going to be getting changed in the kitchen. So you can afford to be creative and you can afford to be a little different with your selections. There are no rules when it comes to the kitchen windows so enjoy the selection process and use your imagination.

Here are some of the more creative and unique kitchen window treatments for you to consider:

Grass mat style kitchen window treatments

These are gorgeous and they bring a sense of the tropics right into your kitchen. These are colorful and intriguing to the eye. They match just about nay décor and wall color and they make the entire room feel fresh and comfortable. These can come with trim or no trim depending on the look you are going for and your budget. They generally pull straight up by a simple cord pull.

Wood kitchen window treatments

These interior wood shutters give a country styled appearance to your home and they can be painted in any color that you desire. You can buy them already painted or you can sand and paint or stain them yourself. You can also use distressing techniques to create a weathered, lived in appearance to pre-painted shutters. These window treatments can open to let all of the afternoon sun in or they can stay closed to give you some relief from said sun when you are washing the dishes and the sun is blinding you. These are versatile and gorgeous every time.

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Kitchen counter tops are one of the most used items in your kitchen.   Whether you are preparing the evening meal, storing appliances, or just enjoying that first cup of coffee in the morning, kitchen countertops serve many uses.  Aside from multi-uses, kitchen countertops are an important aesthetic element of the kitchen.  There are a plethora of styles, types, edges, and materials for countertops.  Selecting the one that is right for you can prove to be a challenge.  An excellent starting point is to research online as well visit home improvement stores to determine what style, cost, and material fit your budget.

Kitchen counter tops are available in a wide selection of materials and finishes. One of the most popular materials is Formica counter tops.  These are easy to clean and maintain, not to mention easy to install and even easier on the wallet. With a wide selection of color, Formica counter tops are available to match nearly all color schemes that a kitchen may have.

Granite counter tops are another popular type of kitchen counter top. Be prepared that granite counter tops cost significantly more than the Formica counter tops.  Granite counter tops are more durable and even scratch resistant than Formica.  Slabs of granite are used for the counter top.  They are polished and generally available in a variety of edges, such as bull nose, blunt cut, or even knife edge.  As you can see, granite countertops can offer more variety in the form of looks than compared to a Formica counter top.

A third option for a counter top is the tiled counter top. Similar to tiled floor, it is laid as individual tile and arranged in a number of patterns and color schemes. Installation of this type is more time consuming and difficult than the previously mentioned counter tops. Aside from installation, tiled counter tops can easily show dirt within the grout.  It is important to seal the grout and tile after installation to help prevent the visibility of dirt and to allow for easier cleaning.

New kitchen counter tops are a great way to make a statement in your kitchen. With a wide range of pricing, materials, finishes, patterns, and more, rest assured you will be able to find a new counter top that is not only functional, but also practical. Be sure to shop around and compare prices when you are looking to make a purchase for a new kitchen counter top.  In the end you will not only save money on your purchase, but you will have a new kitchen counter top to complete your kitchen.

The permanent link to this article can be found at http://www.countertops.ez-search.us/Articles/Kitchen_Counter_Top_Materials.php

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Kitchen decorating ideas are frequently based around choosing the right colors and paying attention to the little details. Remember that the kitchen is an important part of your house, where your family will gather, and guests will frequently have a seat. This being said, decorating the kitchen should be done with comfort, friendliness, practicality, and appeal in mind.

Among the most popular easy kitchen decorating ideas is the Italian decorating style. It combines traditional and modern elements for grace and elegance, with charm and comfort. This makes it a place where people can gather in your home not only to eat and prepare food, but also just to be together.

If you are thinking of Italian kitchen decorating trends, then you will need to begin by concentrating on color. This theme needs you to create a warm feel with your color, which simply cannot be achieved with white walls. Your interior decorating kitchen will be all about warm oranges, yellows, reds, and greens. This takes away every element of starkness, replacing it with an inviting feel.

Additional kitchen decorating tips for this theme include using Italian-style pictures and pottery in the right colors to continue the style throughout the details of the room.

The next stage of your kitchen decorating is to work your space properly. Remember that space doesn’t always have to be filled. Many ideas for decorating a kitchen in the Italian style involve leaving some space untouched, removing any hint of clutter. The room should look lived in, and not be comparable to a showcase.

This will mean that your Italian kitchen decorating idea will need to use every bit of hidden storage possible to achieve the “open” look of the style. You can also use additional visible storage as long as you do it in the Italian style, such as hanging pots and pans from rails on the ceiling.

No matter the style you choose, your kitchen decorating ideas should be all about making the space work for you, while still managing to look great.

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Kitchen design ideas –

Are You Designing Your Kitchen?

A kitchen is the central headquarters for the family. Kitchen is often the showplace of the home, and yet it is required to function well for a wide variety of tasks. A well-equipped, beautifully dressed kitchen will provide both a sense of well-being and a favorite place in the home. As you plan your new kitchen, you must consider both the utility and the look factor.

Kitchen design ideas – choose the one that suits you best!
When thinking of ideas for designing your kitchen, you could either consider one- one part of the kitchen at a time or pick up a complete theme. A complete theme could be something like a design based on Feng Shui which incorporates all its principles. Feng shui concerns the art of placement and you could help you to arrange your kitchen in a way that enhances its good energy. For instance, according to Feng shui, the cook’s back should never face the kitchen entrance so you must design accordingly

Now according to the other way, you could choose a particular look for the kitchen floor, the walls, the storing place etc. this can be done in various ways depending upon the amount of money you are willing to spend, the lay out of the kitchen and your taste. Here are some specific design ideas for your kitchen –

* Kitchen floor- Your flooring choice is important as it will set the tone for the whole kitchen. The textural quality of the floor always appeals to eye and has a radical effect on how one perceives the room as a whole. For kitchens, the two most elegant floors are tiles / stones and laminated or hardwood floors. Ceramic tiles are a premium product for a kitchen and represent an impressive upgrade over any other floor. The only disadvantage is the cold feel. However if you want you can also opt for a floor heating system.
* Kitchen countertops – While choosing your countertop, select a color and texture that will compliment your cabinetry, floor or paint selection. Don’t be afraid in combining two or more countertop materials. Complimentary colors and textures on adjacent surfaces create visual interest. Also remember, it pays to select a material, which will withstand years of use without extraordinary maintenance requirements and is easily repairable should an accident occur. Granite and marble are strong options.
* Kitchen lighting – you might have a large ceiling fixture, equipped with energy-efficient fluorescent tubes that supply plenty of well-diffused general lighting. However it may leave you working in your own shadow at the sink, range, and countertops. These areas in your kitchen need supplemental task lighting. Also placing your windows is a tricky question.  

Kitchen design layout –

The perfect arrangement

Kitchen designing is very subjective, so a layout that might be perfect for one can be disastrous for another. This is primarily because the tastes, and the ways of people in terms of working habits, styles are vastly different. Thus kitchen layouts should be done according to the necessities and specifications of the prime user of the space, who has definite ideas about how he/she would like their working space to be. But apart from this subjective outlook, there are certain steps that you should follow while designing your kitchen plan or layout. Following are the stages –

Stages in kitchen design layout

Follow these simple steps in order to get your kitchen space rightly utilized with a desirable look-
1. Measure your kitchen in a detailed manner, the position of the doors, windows, electric points, drains and sinks etc.
2. Demarcate the kitchen areas into three – Storage, cooking and cleaning. Go about planning the space, keeping these three aspects in mind.
3. Make a list of the appliances that you are likely to use in the kitchen, and provide space for them according to their dimensions.
Keep these three points in mind and then design your kitchen in a style that fits in accordance to your tastes. Following are some of the stereotypical kitchen design layouts that are used –

Kitchen design layouts – Types

These are the 4 basic kitchen layouts that are generally followed while designing a kitchen –
1. Corridor layout – This is meant for a narrow kitchen, where there are two facing rows. One for storage and the other for cleaning and cooking. Make sure there is a minimum 1200mm space between the two rows.
2. L shaped layout – This is a layout, where the rows are diagonal to one another, thus forming an L shape. This gets the kitchen working space into the corner, thus giving a lot of free space to move about.
3. U shaped layout – this is the best choice for small kitchens and very convenient too.
4. Island layout - This one on the other hand is meant for large kitchens. Here the cooking hob is altogether a different box unit, while the L shaped row is meant for the sink and storage purposes.
These are the different ways in which you could plan your kitchen layout, and also make changes and alterations according to your preferences.

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The kitchen has traditionally had three main design elements, the cabinets, work space and the appliances. The cabinets are used for storage, counters are used as preparation areas and the appliances for food preparation or various other handling like refrigeration, cooking, cutting, etc. Up until after World War II, in the United States all three were provided by stand alone pieces of furniture. In big English kitchens large work tables were magnets for families as well as useful counter space.  

After World War II, when there was a boom of cookie cutter home construction in the U.S., kitchens acquired built in cabinets and counters. The kitchen became more utilitarian and was usually reserved for the woman of the home and used exclusively for cooking, while other parts of the home were designated for the actual eating and all other activities.

Modern kitchens have reverted to the older model of a more social, open and customized kitchen. Everyone ends up in the kitchen. It again seems to be the place to congregate – more often there is more than one cook and families use the space for hanging out.

One new design element that has crept into the kitchen as it (re)evolved is the kitchen island. The island seems to be bringing back the idea of the reliable work table, only now it is oh so adaptable.   

If you’re building a new kitchen or remodeling an older kitchen and considering building a kitchen island, take a moment to figure out if that is indeed what your kitchen needs. Vastly useful and attractive, in can nonetheless be inappropriate for certain kitchens.

Your kitchen needs to be big enough for an island, usually at least 13 feet wide. The size of the actual island will also depend on the overall available space. You need to make sure that there is enough room to walk between the island and cabinetry as well as open all doors (cabinets, dishwasher, compost bin, etc.). Also, if you are planning to have barstools or chairs at the island, make sure there is enough room with them there.    

Islands work best with L, U and G shaped kitchens. These shapes make for relatively enclosed kitchens and the island can help to encourage more interaction in the space without making the flow awkward.

Next, think about what you will use the island for. The island is accessible from all sides and depending on size can have many applications. For example, kids can use it as a table to do homework on while dinner is being cooked. Or, the stove top can be on the island and helpers can use it to chop and stir. If there are multiple cooks, a free standing structure like the island is convenient and will give you more space to move around and cook without getting into each others’ way. Perhaps you will use it to set up buffets that people can access while you continue to cook using the other counter space. A properly set up island can also function as an informal dining or breakfast area that is more akin to an actual table and more social than an alienating, single line countertop seating arrangement.

Depending on your needs, you can choose to put a sink or a stovetop on the island. Or you can leave it as pure counter space. It can be multi-level and custom shaped or rectangular and level. Further, you can use the block as extra storage by adding drawers and doors.

The island adds a lot of functional advantages to the kitchen, but it can also help to structure the use of the space. It works as an area where people congregate, but it also works as a border, keeping them separate from the cooks or those cleaning. By bringing people into the kitchen but keeping them separated, the kitchen island encourages a social atmosphere without letting extra people get in the way of the activity. Or if they’re helping, it gives them a separate space to work.

Finally, the island becomes a focal point in the kitchen not only functionally but also aesthetically. It is, in many ways, a large piece of immovable furniture. By placing it in the middle of the room, you are putting it in the spotlight. You can make it stand out more by using different countertop materials from the rest of the kitchen or try to blend it in by making everything match perfectly. There are many decorative elements that can be applied to the kitchen island, ranging from colors and intricate, decorative mouldings to island shapes and arrangements.

The kitchen island is a great addition if your kitchen can accommodate it. Check if you need one (or do you already have enough storage and counter space? And a table for your kids to hang out at?) and can fit it. Designing it is the fun part.

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