Basics of a Contemporary Kitchen

Start with a minimalist approach, deciding on the basic theme and design elements you will use to create your own unique contemporary kitchen design. Choose the elements you want to incorporate, deciding on geometric patterns that will be repeated, straight lines or curves that carry throughout the space, and the materials you will use for cabinetry, appliances, flooring, etc.

Often an asymmetrical balance will be used in the modern kitchen décor. Cabinets and trim should be understated and not adorned with too many embellishments. While modern designs often make use of manufactured materials and finishes such as steel, plastic, linoleum, chrome, molded plywood, laminate, acrylic, concrete, and glass, you can also soften and warm the modern kitchen design aesthetic with natural materials such as granite, slate, stone, and wood.

The mix of natural and man-made materials is a very personal choice and depends on how “industrial” a look you wish to achieve versus a more natural kitchen space that may be more appropriate in the home.

The Elements of Contemporary Kitchen Design

You have an abundant variety of design elements available when planning a contemporary kitchen. Typical contemporary kitchen design elements include:

• Frameless cabinets with simple hardware and European hinges.
• Translucent or frosted glass panels or cabinet door inserts.
• Bold, geometric angles and lines.
• Man-made surfaces in either monochromatic or vibrant colors.
• Strong overall ambient lighting and adjustable task lighting, such as track or recessed down lights.
• Use of metallic finishes such as stainless steel, copper, or chrome.
• Countertops and cabinetry can incorporate sweeping curves.
• Soften the feel of your modern kitchen with natural, grainy woods with such as maple, cherry, birch, or ash.

Contemporary Kitchen Inspiration

Today’s contemporary kitchen designs often emphasize universal design principles and eco-friendly materials. Universal design focuses on user-friendly function and utility, making for a kitchen that serves the daily needs of the household, while also providing a comfortable, inviting space in which to entertain guests. Universal design principles call for a kitchen space that is flexible, intuitive to use, prevents accidents, and helps ease food preparation and clean up.

Follow these universal design ideas when planning your contemporary kitchen:

• Plan ahead for plenty of storage, using conveniences such as pullout shelves, sliding drawers, or spinning lazy susans to maximize space and keep your kitchen well-organized.
• Select easy-to-clean surfaces such as an electric glass cooktops, smooth countertop surfaces and stainless steel appliances.
• Consider installing two sinks; a large primary sink and a secondary sink for washing vegetables, serving beverages, etc. Select single-lever faucets that make it easy to control flow and water temperature.
• Select functional, modern-style cabinet and drawer pulls such as stainless pulls on cabinet doors and stainless steel bars on drawers.
• Install under-cabinet task lighting to make food preparation easier.

The Eco-Friendly Contemporary Kitchen

The trend in contemporary interior design is toward more ecologically-conscious materials that emphasize energy efficiency and recycled materials. The kitchen space is one of the most energy-dependent spaces in your homes, so you can really make a difference and help alleviate energy use by applying green design principles.

Green design applications in the contemporary kitchen can include:

• Install Energy Star® appliances, induction cooking technology and surfaces that will be easy to clean and maintain.
• Choose cabinet and flooring materials such as reclaimed wood, rapidly renewable sources like bamboo or sustainable hardwoods.
• Use materials and paints that have low-VOC emissions.
• Plan ahead for efficient recycling of paper, plastic, metal, glass and organic kitchen waste materials!

Contemporary Kitchen Themes and Styles

As with modern music, within today’s modern kitchen design realm, you have many “sub-genres” from which to select. Here’s a rundown on some of the more popular contemporary kitchen designs:

• Contemporary Curves – While modern kitchens often incorporate linear design elements, curves can also be used; a curved island, window wall, arches over doorways or other “curvatures” can make excellent design repeats.
• Contemporary Contrast – You can create contrasts by mixing materials; for instance by using a natural stone flooring material and stainless steel appliances, natural wood cabinets with frosted glass inserts or black appliances with granite countertops.
• Chic Contemporary – Modern design often de-emphasizes the space itself, turning the focus instead on art within the space. While we may not think of a refrigerator or kitchen range as art, you can make almost any element in your kitchen a centerpiece; it could be an artful backsplash, a picture window over the sink, a large piece of modern art on the wall in the nook …. really anything you want to make the focal point!
• Casual Contemporary Casual – Many homeowners want a modern kitchen but may be afraid of making it too industrial for the home. You can soften your contemporary kitchen design by adding glass pendant lights over the island, going with natural wood cabinets instead of laminate; basically your contemporary kitchen doesn’t have to follow the pure modern design aesthetic!
• Retro Contemporary Kitchen – Modern is now retro! You can buy bar stools and kitchen appliances inspired by the modern designers such as Eames, Wright and others and give your kitchen the retro contemporary look. Glass, chrome and laminate surfaces will characterize the retro look.
• Contemporary Clean Lines – Contemporary style is best recognized by sleek, uncluttered lines and smooth surfaces. Stainless steel, glass and concrete exemplify the types of materials that modern designs often incorporate, but you can also mix hardwoods and natural stone. If the lines follow modern design principles, your kitchen will still feel contemporary.
• Contemporary and Earthy – You can blend the clean lines of modern design with warmer, softer elements to give you contemporary kitchen a more down-to-earth feeling. Materials such as exotic woods or bamboo, etched copper, natural stone, and stainless steel can be mixed to give you kitchen an earthy contemporary look.
• Black and White and Contemporary – For a bold look, you might want to consider an all black and white color scheme to achieve an ultra-modern looking kitchen. Add small accents of color to draw the eye to specific elements in your back and white design or mix warm wood tones to subtly temper the high contrast.
• Traditional Contemporary – If you have a historic Victorian or other period-style home in need of a kitchen update and want to keep it in the proper style without sacrificing the form and function of a contemporary kitchen, try slate countertops and flooring with wood cabinetry. Keep the lines simple and forego too many embellishments to keep it modern and consider transitions that separate your modern kitchen from adjoining spaces that may follow a more formal, traditional style of design.

Contemporary Kitchen Elements and Materials

Once you have the basic style in mind for your contemporary kitchen, you’ll want to select specific elements and materials to incorporate. Remember that uncluttered and clean is what you want to achieve. Here are a few ideas to consider:

• Contemporary Kitchen Island – An island in your contemporary kitchen is the essence of the modern design rule that “form follows function’. If space allows, incorporating an island will not only add storage and countertop space, but with the addition of bar stools it helps make the kitchen a more inviting place to entertain and will often be the focal point of a modern kitchen.
• Contemporary Backsplash – If you choose an overhead range hood and vent system, the backsplash can make a great focal point. Use something like glass or ceramic tile with a geometric pattern to accent your contemporary kitchen. Many styles of range hood are available these days that look like modern sculptures, with clean modern straight- or curved-lined designs and finishes such as stainless steel or copper.
• Contemporary Cabinets – From white laminate to maple, you can choose almost any material for cabinetry. The lines and absence of embellishments are what will set your contemporary kitchen apart from more traditional designs. Frameless frames and plain pulls, often metal, predominate.
• Contemporary Kitchen Countertops – Choose something different and unique; stainless steel or concrete might give your kitchen a super-contemporary look. Or you can stick with slate or granite for a less industrial look. You could even choose glass for a bar countertop on one side of a kitchen island.
• Contemporary Windows – Translucent glass blocks are one way to bring natural light into a contemporary kitchen space; especially if the window has an undesirable view! Try to select window coverings with clean lines; shades or blinds without curtains for instance. The more natural light you can bring into the kitchen the better.
• Contemporary Stainless Steel – Stainless steel appliances, fixtures, and hardware are always popular in the contemporary kitchen, lending the look of a restaurant kitchen. Stainless steel is easy to maintain and the highly reflective surfaces brighten the space.

Stone is the biggest countertop trend these days, although there are plenty of other options available if stone doesn’t suit your style or budget.

You’ve got so many choices, both stone and non-stone, that the process of selecting a countertop that meets your needs can be daunting.

Follow these helpful tips in choosing the right material and style for your kitchen.

Countertop Material Choices

• Ceramic tile – Ceramic tile can be one of the most cost-effective options, particularly if you select a mass-produced design and install it yourself. You can incorporate some custom or decorative tiles for a unique and stylish look. However, ceramic countertops can turn out uneven, and grout requires constant cleaning to remove stains.
• Concrete – Concrete can be a beautiful option, and it’s particularly good for hard-to-fit counters because it can be molded to fit right in your kitchen. However, having this kind of custom work done can start to get expensive, and most versions will require sealing.
• Copper – Copper is a beautiful choice, and it only gets more attractive as it ages. However, it takes a lot of maintenance to keep it looking great, so use it sparingly. It’s also one of the more expensive options.
• Engineered stone – Engineered stone kitchen counters are generally more expensive than granite, and it’s a little less likely to scratch. You get the look of stone without the upkeep. It also comes in an amazing range of colors, textures and patterns to match most kitchen designs and themes..
• Granite – Granite is the most popular countertop choice, but it’s also one of the most expensive. Granite kitchen countertops are resistant to scratches, heat, and stains; adds elegance to the most hum-drum kitchen; and comes in a variety of colors and grains to suit any decor. It wears well, so it won’t need to be replaced as quickly as other options. However, in order to maintain it, you’ll need to seal it periodically.
• Laminate – Laminates are inexpensive and easy to maintain, but they’re nearly impossible to repair. If the countertop chips, you’re stuck with it. They do come in a wide range of colors to suit any kitchen decoration scheme.
• Marble – Marble kitchen countertops aren’t particularly common because of the sheer cost involved and the risk of stains. Marble is also easily scratched, so it’s advisable to limit its use to the bathroom or a kitchen island.
• Solid surface – These countertops are obviously solid, meaning that any scratches or nicks can easily be sanded out. They’re stain-resistant but not heat-resistant. Solid surface is another countertop choice with a wide color selection. Some examples of solid surface options are Corian and Avonite.
• Stainless steel – Custom-made steel can make a great decorative statement, and it has the added advantages of durability and heat-resistance. However, these countertops can be really loud to work on, and they’re not the most cost-effective option.
• Wood – Hardwoods like oak and maple make lovely countertops. Although they’re not scratch-resistant, it’s easy to oil and seal scratches as they appear. However, wood is one of the few countertop materials that is not water-resistant, and it’s not stain-resistant either.

In order to select the right kitchen countertop surface, consider how much time you want to spend on maintenance and cleaning and weigh that against the look that you want. Also consider mixing and matching surfaces.

If you like a more expensive and difficult to maintain surface, use it on an island or smaller countertop and choose another surface for the larger kitchen counters. Use this handy table to find the best countertop for you:

Design Options

Depending on the surface you select, you may need to choose edging. Laminate in particular has many different edging options to choose from. You can select a straight edge, which is a 90-degree corner with a separate edge piece or a waterfall, where the edge is rounded and a single strip of laminate is bent to cover the entire thing.

You can also add molding to laminate or practically any other finish. Wood or solid surface molding can be painted to suit any décor and adds finish to the countertops.

It also has the extra benefit of slowing spills depending on the style of molding. Depending on your kitchen, you may be able to select a standard countertop, which obviously will translate into a cost-savings for you.

Custom versions can be more expensive, but they may be your only option if you have your heart set on an unusual kitchen counter layout or choose a sink with an atypical shape.

Any of the above surfaces can be used to create a custom countertop, although some surfaces like stainless steel and copper have their limits and may not be suitable for all custom work.

Depending on how crazy you get design-wise, you may also need to spring for professional installation, so make sure to factor that into your costs.

From the perspective of kitchen function, granite offers durability and resistance to chipping or scratching.

And from the perspective of kitchen design and form, with thousands of colors, textures and patterns, every kitchen granite countertop is completely unique!

At one time, granite was used only in very high end custom homes; a sign of elegance and expensive “designer-only” decadence. But thanks to increased production and supply, prices have come down. People now recognize granite as a good value in kitchen countertop materials that adds to the overall value of the home.

Thus, granite has become the countertop material of choice in a wide range of kitchen styles, from country to modern, ornate Victorian to elegant Tuscan or nearly any theme you choose for your kitchen.

Granite is extremely durable, strong, chip and scratch resistant; you can cut and dice, roll out cookie or bread dough, and set your hot pots down without fear.

Since natural stone is a porous material, a special sealant is required, but granite absorbs less than many other types of stone and resealing is needed only once a year or less, depending on the specific granite and sealant used.

You can use granite tiles to cut materials costs versus choosing the more expensive slabs countertops; but the seamless surface of countertops cut from solid granite slabs really sets off any kitchen décor with natural beauty and easy-to-clean surfaces.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Granite Countertops

Advantages and Benefits:

• Second highest only to diamond in hardness!
• Durable natural material, resistant to scratching and chipping
• Withstands high temperatures, perfect for handling hot pots and pans
• You can select your granite slabs from a range of some 3000 colors
• Feels and looks solid and substantive
• Improved sealers are very low maintenance
• Adds value to your kitchen and home’s overall appeal and value

Disadvantages and Negatives:

• Expense higher than other countertop materials such as ceramic tile and laminates
• May crack if installed improperly or overly stressed
• Can require maintenance
• Absorbs stains unless properly sealed
• Can dull knife blades if you cut on it!

Unique Characteristics of Granite

Granite comes out of the earth’s core as liquid magma, where extreme heat and pressure forge quartz, mica, feldspar and other minerals into a very dense structure.

Over a period of millions of years, additional heat and pressure continue to alter the stone, creating the amazing variety of colors and patterns!

Granite’s innate ability to stand up against constant abuse is impressive; extremely scratch and chip resistant; fine for setting down hot pots and pans, and repelling bacteria and stains with normal use and care.

Since granite is naturally porous, the stone can absorb stains, but once sealed, is easy to maintain. Regular cleaning and maintenance it is not a great concern and certainly not as much hassle as some people mistakenly believe.

Every Countertop is Unique!

Perhaps the greatest virtue of granite is that no two countertops are the same. You can mix multiple colors, textures and even other materials to add interest and contrast to your countertops.

Colors and patterns should, of course, be chosen to match the overall color scheme of the kitchen. Visiting showrooms and looking for the right stone colors and patterns to use in your kitchen is one of the best parts of using granite; hunting for your “perfect” countertop slabs is about as fun as shopping gets in my book!

Pattern and Movement

Granite varies to at the extreme ends of a pattern scale, from tight grains, high contrast and repeated patterns, to swirls and movement without repetition.

The surface patterns of granite countertops often have a flecked or pebbled appearance that varies in size and shape pattern, dependent on the particular combination of quartz, crystals and minerals in the stone.
Patterns can be highly structured, with a fairly uniform appearance or may change continually and with no repetition, which is referred to as "movement" in the granite.

Granite Countertop Color Schemes
Granite exists in hundreds of colors, from earthy browns and reds, to a range of greens and blues to monotone blacks, grays and whites.

To brighten things, go with lighter colors and less dense patterns. Some granite will have flecks of metallic that produce a wonderful sparkle when lit correctly with accent lights. With all the colors of the rainbow and then some, you are sure to find a pattern that complements any kitchen color scheme.

Granite with darker colors or monotone blacks, grays and white will look great in your modern kitchen, providing strong contrast and geometric shapes. If you have clear finished cedar cabinets, the darker colors can be especially important to achieving enough contrast in your countertop design.

Use care and consult your kitchen designer if you are considering mixing different granite patterns together or with other materials in your kitchen countertops; the wrong choice of movement and grain can cause the different surfaces to clash.

Kitchen Granite Countertop Installation

Care must be used in properly laying out and cutting granite slabs for use in kitchen countertops. The goal is to create as seamless a look as possible, so selecting the proper size slabs and making cuts along concealed lines is critical. This is not a do-it-yourself job; use only a reputable installer and purchase your materials from a shop that stands behind its granite countertop materials.

When using granite tiles, use larger sizes for ease of cleaning and maintenance. Choose a tile grout that either matches the primary color of your tiles or else choose something that creates natural contrast; a neutral white or off white grout often works best if you want to create contrast without having grout lines distract the eye from the natural beauty of the granite tiles If you have tile setting skills and the tools, installing a granite tile countertop will not be an overly difficult do-it-yourself project.

Add decorative touches such as rounded bull nosed edges, decorative borders and inlay patterns and the creative possibilities to create kitchen granite countertops that are “uniquely your own” can be literally endless!

What was popular in the 90’s (light maple or oak cabinetry, lots of granite, ornate crown molding and other trim) can seem stale if you walk into a kitchen showroom or 21st century designer show house!

Modern or country styles have become very popular recently, with sleek appliances, bold accent colors and cleaner lines that simplify and un-clutter the look in today’s designer kitchens.

Cabinetry looks more like handcrafted furniture, with materials and textures showing more variety in kitchen designs, adding interest and bringing focus to a center piece island or backsplash for example.

The kitchen you designed even a few years ago could seem dated already and you might want to consider a minor facelift.

And, if your home was built in the 70’s or 80’s you are probably thinking about a complete makeover for your kitchen remodeling project.

From the traditional country farmhouse style kitchen, to an ultra-modern, ultra-sleek kitchen, you have options galore when it comes to every thing from the kitchen sink to designer lighting, kitchen island shapes. There is a dizzying array of kitchen design ideas to consider.

Since the kitchen plays an important role in our daily lives and the resale value of your home, you want to love and enjoy your kitchen, but you also should consider what will appeal potential buyers in case you sell your home down the road.

So, if you want to learn the latest trends in kitchen design, kitchen sinks, appliances, colors and kitchen furniture, then read on.

Trend #1 – A Kitchen for the Entire Family

One trend that has remained popular over the past 20 years or so has been larger, more open kitchen designs with adjoining dining and great room or family room spaces.

The modern floor plan is not likely to be so chopped up into small spaces as older floor plans once did. This helps take maximum advantage of the available square footage. The kitchen and great room area has become the hub of family activities and entertaining friends.

This trend is only logical since today’s busy family life demands juggling food preparation and meal times to meet the hectic schedules of work, school, sports and so many daily activities. Often, meal preparation and eating time offers a rare opportunity for the family to spend time together, so nobody wants to be slaving away alone in the kitchen.

Cooking and kitchen duties are often a shared responsibility in today’s family, so amenities like a well planned Kitchen Island with a larger sink and dedicated work stations for food prep, cooking, baking, and clean up are popular.

Designed to accommodate more than one person working in the kitchen, today’s kitchen design must be more fluid in terms of traffic patterns and space planning, whereas older, smaller kitchens were often designed to be most efficient for a single chef.

Trend # 2 – Cabinetry that Looks Like Fine Furniture

Furniture-style cabinets continue to be a hot kitchen design trend, according to data published by the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA).

Kitchen islands in particular no longer have to blend in with other cabinets; they may have legs, feet, decorative moldings, unique drawer and cabinet pulls and other design elements that make them more pieces of fine furniture than mere kitchen cabinets.

Specific cabinets may be left open or use glass-fronted doors to add interest and introduce additional design elements into the kitchen cabinetry.

Cabinet frames and doors are also being made with higher quality hardwoods and darker, richer natural finishes that bring out the natural beauty and grain of the wood. Greater emphasis on craftsmanship and attention to detail is expected.

Hardwood cabinets with natural finishes can go toward a more formal look, or may have clean, simple lines in a more modern style. Maple continues to be popular, but woods like cherry, walnut or alder are increasingly being used in upscale designer kitchens.

These materials and finishes offer versatility, and can be decorated with corbels, on-lays, and moldings for a formal look, or built with clean, sleek lines for a modern kitchen decor.

Trend #3 – More Stylish Professional Grade Appliances

As we have become more contentious about eating healthy and preparing ever more exotic cuisine at home, the trend toward commercial or professional grade appliances has continued.

However, these days the built-in Sub Zero fridge will be more likely to feature custom door fronts to blend in with the rest of the cabinetry than to sport a huge face of stainless steel!

Range hoods also can get a designer look, with copper or other antiqued metal finishes giving them more character than the traditional commercial grade stainless steel finish.

In a more modern kitchen design, where stainless steel fits in nicely, a splash of highlight color can be nice in your over-the-range hood, dishwasher or other appliances.

For a truly bold theme like a retro kitchen, you can even find appliances in bold colors like fire engine red, electric blue or spa yellow!

Trend #4 – Kitchen Storage and Organization

Pull outs, tilt outs, rotating racks, you name it; kitchen organization is a huge part of kitchen design these days.

For people who love to cook, utensils and specialty cooking items need to be easily accessible and easy to locate. So setting up separate stations for prep, baking, etc. is the best way to organize the kitchen for efficiency.

Cabinet and drawer dividers keep things in their place. Racks to hang pots and pans from, a tilt out spice rack will be near the range and another for sponges and scrubbers by the sink.

A pull out center for storing recyclables and trash is a must have these days, with easy to clean plastic bins and lids to prevent unwanted odors.

If space allows, a walk-in pantry is a great way to keep food and other important kitchen supplies organized and out of site. In smaller kitchens, a full-size pantry or block of larger cabinets will work fine.

A butcher block built into the island for food prep or a slap of marble for rolling out bread dough adds functionality and a nice design element to help break things up rather than all counter tops being alike.

Trend #5 – Unique Kitchen Sink and Faucet Applications

Under-mounted sinks are very fashionable these days, featuring a smoother, cleaner look that blends especially well in a modern design decor. The bowl is installed underneath the counter top, with no rim showing above. Cleaning the counter top is much easier since there is no lip to collect food crumbs and grime.

Various sink shapes are available these days. Using an asymmetrical, oval or rounded sink can make a very unique look, some with a large main bowl and adjoining smaller bowl for rinsing fruits or vegetables. In many cases, a second sink will be installed for this purpose at the prep station.

And then there are faucet choices. You’ll find a faucet with the style, finish and features that meet your needs and matches your kitchen design, regardless whether you select modern, country, retro or any theme.

Other Kitchen Design Trends:

Countertops – natural stone like granite, limestone and marble are still the most popular material for counter tops. Using different materials for specific work areas is very popular today. For example a butcher’s block surface for food prep on your Kitchen Island adds contract and added utility.

Themes – ever more elaborate, unique and complete kitchen design themes are being created. Instead of just country style, now we may have a French country or Tuscan Style kitchen. Instead of just “modern decor”, now you see more complete themes such as a 1950s retro or ultra-modern themed kitchens.

Appliances – commercial grade appliances are hot; especially kitchen ranges, built in refrigerators and ovens with convection microwave and warming drawer options.

Cabinet Doors – door thicknesses are going from 3/4-inch to 1-inch and overall higher cabinet quality is in higher demand. Hardwood cabinetry that looks like fine furniture is the real trend in styles.

Organization and Utility – specialized work stations are expected in today’s Kitchen design;  multi-level islands, full-size pantries, cabinet pull outs and tilt outs are no longer considered “nice to have” but more an essential component of kitchen design that works!

You can use soapstone either to give the kitchen a look that is unique from the same old granite and marble countertops so many kitchen have or mixing it with other materials in a kitchen design.

A custom soapstone sink is truly a work of art and a throwback to earlier times that is quite unique compared to the stainless sinks we see in so many kitchens today.

Origins of Soapstone

Quarried like granite or marble, soapstone is a metamorphic rock composed of 40-50% talc and 40-50% magnetite. The surface is smooth and feels like hard soap, which is where it gets its name.

Stain resistant and reasonably hard, although easier to cut and shape, soapstone can be used in your kitchen for countertops, sinks and backsplashes.

The highest quality soapstone is generally quarried in Brazil, although it may also come from Finland or India. Since it is inert, acids and alkali do not etch soapstone, unlike many other types of stone.

It is also dense and non-porous, which made it historically popular for use with woodstoves since it withstands heat and thermal shock quite well.

Soapstone Characteristics

There are two common varieties of soapstone; artistic soapstone, which is too soft for most construction-related uses and tends to be used more in sculpture and architectural grade, which is the type used for many construction projects. In fact, the ancient statues of sphinx found in Egypt are made of soapstone and have withstood the elements for thousands of years.

Other benefits owing to the inert nature of soapstone include resistance to stains, water and the fact that it does not absorb chemicals or germs, offering good kitchen hygiene.

Downsides to soapstone include the need for regular maintenance by applying mineral oil and a tendency for the surfaces to darken and in some cases crack with time and use; it is definitely a softer stone than granite or marble, so you may not want to use it in areas prone to heavy abuse.

Common Uses of Soapstone in the Home

• Countertops
• Kitchen and bathroom sinks
• Bath tubs and showers
• Kitchen islands and backsplashes
• Fireplaces and pizza ovens

Soapstone Kitchen Design Ideas

For a traditional and classic look in your kitchen, a custom soapstone sink and matching countertops will look fabulous and people are sure to comment on the unique look of the sink.

For modern convenience, you could also use an undercounted sink in stainless steel or an enamel finish to provide contrast and variation between your soapstone countertop and the sink.

If your kitchen floor plan includes two sinks, you could also use a custom soapstone sink for the main one and stainless steel for the smaller vegetable cleaning or kitchen island sink.

For a unique decorative kitchen backsplash, try using a field of soapstone with contrasting ceramic, granite or marble inlay tiles for a decorative design.

Soapstone Countertop and Sink Maintenance Tips

Caring for and maintaining soapstone is quite simple since virtually nothing penetrates the surface. You have several maintenance options, depending on preference:

• Let the natural patina of your soapstone mature over time, doing nothing more than keep the surface clean
• Apply mineral oil periodically, approximately ever four to six weeks, wiping off the excess after application. This will keep finish of your soapstone countertops lustrous and the color will not change as dramatically with time.
• Apply a stone sealer to your soapstone. Since the stone is inert, nothing will penetrate the surface anyway, so sealers have less effect than with marble and granite, which sealers are designed to penetrate. However, depending on the sealer, it can be used to alter the color of your soapstone and will keep it looking dark and lustrous for several years without the need to apply mineral oil. Other sealers will leave the natural color but still provide the benefit of not needing mineral oil.
• If your soapstone is scratched, you can use sandpaper to repair it; for deep scratches start with rough sandpaper like 80 grit and work your way up to 220 and finally to 300 to 400 grit until the surface matches your original soapstone finish. For less severe scratches you can typically just use the smoother 300 or 400 grit sandpaper to polish the surface and remove the scratch.

If you’d like a new look for your kitchen but don’t have the funds to undertake a full remodeling project, consider replacing your window treatments.

Window curtains are one of the easiest ways to increase design interest at a reasonable price.

They’re also easy to install; no confusing measurements or weeks of waiting for their delivery required. Consider the following when selecting window curtains for your home.

Selecting a Kitchen Curtain

Before you begin shopping, consider exactly what you need from a kitchen curtain. Obviously, you want a curtain that won’t be a fire-hazard, won’t break the bank, and will increase the visual appeal of the room, but it’s also important to think about how and when your family uses the kitchen.

If you’re home a lot during the daytime, you may want a window treatment that allows a lot of natural light to enter the room. If you live on a busy street, you might want to make sure that passersby can’t see you when you pad into the kitchen for a midnight snack.

If you take the time to think through these issues in advance, you’ll end up with a better fit when it comes to selecting your window curtains.

Whatever style you select, make sure that your window curtains are kitchen appropriate. Your kitchen is hot, humid, and unless you’re a devotee of take-out, it’s probably busy.

Make sure that your curtains will hold up well under these conditions. And if your windows are close to your stove, make sure that your curtains will be far enough away that they won’t catch on fire.

Kitchen Curtain Styles

Once you’ve figured out your basic needs, it’s time to select a style that suits your kitchen. Generally, you’ll be able to find the material you want in the style you like. For example, if you have a country kitchen, you’ll find country curtains in tab-top, café, and tieback styles.

And if you’re having problems finding the right combination for you, don’t forget to look at vintage curtains, particularly if you’re looking for a more traditional look.

The first step, though, is to select the type of curtain that you like. The following is a list of the most common types of curtains that you’d see in a kitchen:

• Panel Curtain – The panel curtain is probably the most common type that you’ll see in a kitchen. These curtains have a pocket at the top where the rod goes, and they slide back and forth on the rod. You can use one panel to cover narrow windows, or try two panels and tie them back on either side with decorative tiebacks to easily let in the light during the day. Panel curtains also look very nice with decorative valances or finials.
• Café Curtain – The café curtain covers only the bottom half of the window to maintain privacy without fully blocking the light. Generally, they look lopsided without a coordinating valance. Most café curtains are stationary; they’re too short to be pulled or tied back.
• Tab Top Curtain – The tab top curtain has fabric loops at the top which are threaded onto the rod. They can come in longer panels or shorter café styles. Tab tops are some of the easiest curtains to make; all you need to do is hem the panel and sew loops of ribbon to the top. There are also tie top versions that knot above the rod and make for a great casual style.
• Valance Only – Who says you have to have a curtain? If privacy isn’t an issue, consider a longer valance with some dangling embellishments and leave the bottom half of the window open to let in the light.

It’s durable, easy to maintain, and waterproof. Mass manufactured tile is also one of the most affordable surfaces you can buy, and if you’re craving a more custom look, you can purchase a few accent tiles at a reasonable price.

Tiling a kitchen backsplash is an attractive wall treatment that holds up well to kitchen heat and humidity, and it’s an easy do it yourself project that can be accomplished easily in one weekend.

Follow these steps to make your kitchen backsplash a success.

Selecting Tile for Your Kitchen Backsplash

Generally, most people will select ceramic tiles, but there are some other options if you’re looking for a different look. You could always try a pressed tin version if you like the look of tile but want a different finish.

If you find a floor tile that you absolutely love, but can’t afford to cover an entire floor, consider using that for the backsplash. But really, the patterns and colors available in ceramic can suit any kitchen.

When it comes to selecting colors, the sky’s the limit. Sure, you can have plain white tiles if that’s what you really want, but it’s easier than you think to install a row of accent tiles in one of your kitchen colors or create a checkerboard pattern.

Some tile manufacturers offer mosaic patterns and even murals. If the idea of a mural scares you, try looking for one of the pre-assembled ones. You just fit it into place. These are available in a variety of patterns and styles, including Tuscan kitchen design.

The size of the individual tiles is also important. Large tiles offer an easy way to cover a large area with fewer grout joints. Small tiles require more grouting, but most styles have lugs or spacers built into the sides to create automatic joints to make the installation a little easier.

Easy Steps to Install Your Backsplash

Follow these simple steps to install your kitchen backsplash. With a project like this, thorough planning is the key to success.

1. Mark off the area to be tiled and find the center of the area. Whenever you tile, you should start from the center and work your way out. Use a level to make a horizontal line across the entire area. Don’t just install the tiles in a line along the cabinets or other kitchen surfaces; they might not be level.
2. Have someone help you hold up a row of tiles along the line to make sure that it fits and looks good. You should also put up one column of vertical tiles to check out the layout. If you’ll need to install a tiny tile fragment at the end of a row or column, shift your center point a little and try again.
3. Shut off the power for the area, remove any wall plates, and pull out appliances that might get in the way. Cover the counters with drop cloths or heavy paper.
4. Starting at your center point (or adjusted center point), apply thin set mortar to the wall and to the tile with a notched trowel. You can choose to apply mortar to the entire area of a wall and then insert the tiles, but you’ll have to work fast so that it doesn’t dry. If you’re new to tiling, it’s better to start with smaller areas in case of problems. Push the tile into place with a slight twisting motion.
5. If your tile requires the use of spacers, place them between the tiles to insure that the tiles are evenly spaced.
6. After installing a few tiles, take a 2×4 wrapped in a scrap of carpet, rest it against the installed tiles, and tap it lightly with a rubber mallet to make sure that the tile lies flat.
7. Work along the horizontal line to install a complete row of tile. Periodically use your level to check to make sure that the row remains level. Continue to work in horizontal rows.
8. You may need to trim the tiles at the top, bottom, and each side to make them fit. The easiest way to do this is to use a tile cutter. The cutter will score the tile, and then the extra pieces just snap off.
9. Allow the mortar to dry as recommended on the package. Usually you’ll have to wait about 24 hours.
10. Use a rubber grout float to apply the grout at a 45 degree angle. Don’t go over the same area more than once or twice; repeated passes will actually pull the grout out.
11. Wipe the excess grout off the tiles with a damp sponge and then let the grout cure. Once it’s completely cured, wipe the tiles down one more time to remove any leftover grout film.
12. Caulk around the backsplash and smooth the bead with a wet finger. Reinstall the electrical plates and push the appliances back into place.

Enjoy your new backsplash!

They generally account for about half of the kitchen remodeling budget, so you want to make sure that you’re getting the best quality for your money.

Furthermore, choosing the right cabinet can make or break the overall design of your kitchen and make a difference between a beautiful, easy to use room and an aggravating mess.

Whatever style you ultimately choose, the key to kitchen cabinet success is to select a brand certified by the Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Association.

These cabinets are subjected to common kitchen traumas like high heat and vinegar spills, and they hold up the best.

Selecting the Right Cabinets for Your Kitchen

The first step in cabinet selection is to determine what kind of cabinets you’d like (and what you can afford!).

You have three options depending on your budget and needs:

1. Custom – Custom cabinets are made to exactly suit your needs in terms of style, material, and layout. If you have an oddly shaped kitchen or want fancy pull-out drawers to store your small appliances, custom cabinets might be the best choice for you. However, they’re the most expensive option and take time to fabricate.
2. Semi-custom – Semi-custom cabinets allow you to change the look of your cabinets, with more materials and colors available in comparison to stock units. Most lines will also offer a few accessories like deeper drawers or pull-out shelves, but these options are generally limited.
3. Stock – Stock cabinets are the least expensive and have the fastest delivery time, since they just need to be shipped from the warehouse. However, you get fewer style and finish options.

Wood is the most common cabinet material, with lighter and darker finishes to suit any color scheme, but don’t overlook other options. Stainless steel and laminate cabinets are also popular, and they help to create a sleek look.

Whatever material you choose, make sure to get a high-quality, sturdy material. You don’t want to trust the safety of your prized heirloom china to a few sheets of particleboard.

Next, you will need to select the style of cabinets that best fits your decor. Traditional style cabinets have visible trim and suit more traditional styles like country and Tuscan kitchen designs.

Frameless European cabinets are also becoming increasingly popular. These cabinets have long lines suitable for simple, modern styles; only the kitchen cabinet doors are visible from the front. You can also select kitchen cabinet hardware to better coordinate with your room.

Simple Steps to Install Your Cabinets

• The first step to installing your kitchen cabinets is to decide if you want to start with the wall cabinets or the base units. If you start with the base cabinets, you can cover the counter with a blanket and rest the wall units on it to reduce lifting. However, installing the wall units first is often quicker.
• Depending on the cabinets you’ve selected, you may need to assemble them according to the manufacturer’s directions.
• Measure everything carefully, and mark the area where each cabinet will be placed. Make sure to use a level to insure that you don’t end up with crooked cabinets. Use a stud finder to locate and mark the wall studs. You absolutely must attach your cabinets to studs, or they’ll fall down.

To Install Wall Cabinets

• If you’re attaching multiple cabinets, it’s easier to connect them before you put them up. Attach several cabinets to each other with screws. (It’s helpful to drill pilot holes first.)
• If you have a helper, you can have them lift the cabinets into place. However, it’s difficult to hold such an unwieldy load steady enough to attach it to the wall, so it’s a good idea to rest the cabinets on something and have your helper hold them steady. Try using paint cans or buckets. You can adjust the height with pieces of wood or books.
• Attach the cabinets to the wall studs using cabinet mounting screws. Again, drill the holes before inserting the screws to avoid splintering your cabinets. Make sure that you connect the cabinets to all of the available studs. At minimum, you should use one screw at the top and one at the bottom.
• Carefully remove your supports.

To Install Base Cabinets

• Check the area to see if it’s level. If you’re installing expensive tile flooring, it’s silly to waste your tiles on areas that will be hidden under the cabinets, but you’ll need to fill those gaps or you’ll end up with a row of crooked cabinets. Tile underlayment is a good material for smaller gaps. You may need to use wood shims to fill larger holes or dips.
• Start in the corner if you have a corner unit. If not, start in the middle and work out. Corner units generally require installation of wall supports called “cleats.” These are attached to the wall studs near the top of the cabinet, and the cabinet is nailed onto them. This helps to keep the unit stationary while you’re putting in the other pieces.
• Set another unit in place. Before installing each unit, check to make sure that it lies flat against the floor (if not, add some material underneath to fill the gaps) and flush against the wall (again add filler if necessary).
• Cut all of the appropriate holes for plumbing and other accessories before attaching the cabinets.
• Connect a couple of the cabinets together using cabinet mounting screws. Fit them into place and screw them into the wall studs at top and bottom.
• If you end up with unexpected gaps between the units, all is not lost. Consider installing a filler wood panel between them and paint or stain it to match. You can also use this technique to adjust the cabinet spacing to fit plumbing or wiring needs.

The thought of living with construction noise, dust and chaos often causes people to put off a major kitchen renovation project.

But there are a number of things you can do to ease the pain and speed the entire kitchen remodeling process.

And, with a near 100% return on investment in many cases, remodeling the kitchen is one of the best home improvement investments most homeowners can make in their older home.

Follow our guide to kitchen remodeling survival and you may be surprised how easily you can make it through your kitchen construction to finally have that kitchen design you’ve been dreaming about!

Plan Your Kitchen Renovation Project

Since kitchen remodeling often means tearing out walls, old appliances, cabinetry, and other items you may have once considered permanent, you’ll need a solid plan in order to reduce the inconveniences of demolition and the fact that you won’t have a permanent kitchen for some period of time.

By planning ahead, you can survive major kitchen remodeling. Start by working with a kitchen designer to establish a clear idea of what your new kitchen will include; layout, any new walls, cabinet design, major appliances, flooring materials, etc. should all be decided before you begin.

Stay On Schedule!

Setting a schedule and arranging various subcontractors in the right sequence can substantially accelerate your project and help avoid inevitable delays that are to be expected with any major renovation project.

Setting and staying on schedule can be a tough task, even for the most experienced general contractor, let alone a home owner trying to manage a renovation project for the first time. But don’t panic; there are a few tips you can follow to help keep your project on schedule.

First, be sure you understand the correct sequence of remodeling. Demolition, framing, rough plumbing and electrical, and drywall are the typical major steps, followed by finishing, which will include painting, cabinet installation and counter tops, finish plumbing and electrical and flooring. You may want to consult with an experienced general contractor to be sure your sequence and scheduling timelines are realistic.

Be sure you interview and decide on your subcontractors before beginning your renovation project. Be sure to get comparative quotes and check references of all your subs before hiring anyone!

Make sure they will be available to do work when needed according to your construction schedule; waiting a week for the electrician or plumber can delay the overall project by weeks since it also throws off the timing of other subcontractors’ work.

Finally, expect delays so you won’t be caught off guard when they do happen … and they will. Delays are an inevitable part of any major remodeling project, so keeping your cool and simply making adjustments to the schedule is the best thing to do.

On the other hand, a good general contractor knows when to push back on suppliers and subcontractors to help move things along! If possible, use a carrot instead of a stick, promising them incentives for early completion or reminding them that you have friends who may be in need of their services and you would like nothing more than to give them a great referral.

Kitchen Demolition

Before you begin demolition, its best to set up a temporary kitchen in an adjoining space that will not be subject to heavy construction traffic, staging of materials or other activities involved in the renovation.

Once you select a temporary kitchen work area, set up your refrigerator, dining table, microwave oven, toaster and other essential kitchen appliances. A hot plate or single burner electric stove also makes meal preparation easier. Be sure to place your makeshift kitchen near a bathroom, laundry room or other location that has a sink you can use for cleaning up.

Try to complete your demolition as quickly and efficiently as possible in a single, swift phase if possible, since this will be a major contributor to dust and rubble that needs to be removed from your home. Seal off the demolition area first with plastic sheets to contain dust as much as possible.

If the path to removing debris needs to be routed through non-construction areas, you’ll want to protect floors and walls with cardboard, moving blankets or other protective coverings.

Also, be sure to arrange for removal of your demolition materials. You can get a dumpster and have it emptied periodically. Also, you might want to hire a crew to haul off your demolition rubble to save time and hassle. Be sure to keep all recyclable materials, reusable appliances, etc. separate from general trash and debris.

Keep the Work Space Clean

You can’t avoid dust and other particles, but you can contain things but keeping the construction area swept clean daily. Use a broom to remove larger debris, try a shop vacuum to remove as much dust as possible and then wet mop the floors. This will substantially reduce sawdust and other particulate matter from infiltrating every corner of your home!

During those times that you know you’ll have strong odors like construction adhesive, paint, etc. being applied, plan to get out of the house for a few hours to let things air out. Take the kids to a movie, go to the park and have a picnic, visit grandma overnight; anything to get out of the house for a while.

You also want to take steps to protect personal property. No matter how hard you try to keep things clean, dust will make its way out of the construction zone!

Cover or remove your finest art, furniture, electronic equipment and other valuable or dust-sensitive items.

Keep Your Sanity During Construction

Never turn down a free meal opportunity! Let family, friends and neighbors know you are remodeling your kitchen and would love to have them over for a party or dinner once your new kitchen is complete. This may help bring prepared meals your way or, even better, invitations to their homes for meals during the construction effort.

Another creative idea is to plan to eat out at your favorite restaurants or new ones you’ve been meaning to try. Of course, most of us will be on a tight budget when doing a major kitchen remodel, so finding good places to dine out on a budget or getting take out food can also be a creative diversion.

Plan meals that are easy to prepare and clean up. You can get away with basic dish ware, pots, pans and utensils by using paper plates and plastic cutlery, cooking outdoors on the barbeque grill and avoiding more complex meals.

Always be sure to bring something along if you do get such invitations and offer to help prepare the meal and clean up so you have a good chance of being invited back!

Other Ideas for Surviving Your Kitchen Remodeling

• Find a good place to locate your refrigerator or get a smaller unit for the makeshift kitchen area and keep your main fridge in the garage. If possible run a temporary water line to feed the ice maker and water dispenser, since you probably won’t have a sink close by.
• A microwave oven and toaster oven can be your best friends, handling about 75 percent of meal preparation tasks.
• A hot plate or single coil burner makes a great addition. However, do not use a propane or white gas stove inside the house! These can also be great temporary kitchen appliances but only for outdoor use.
• Keep your food supplies and temporary kitchen appliances together in a single space to avoid having to run back and forth between rooms when preparing meals.
• Dust infiltrates everything, so use airtight plastic boxes to store food items and kitchen utensils. Cover food preparation surfaces with plastic tarps during the work day and be sure to mark the top side or you’ll get even more dust on those surfaces!
• Washing dishes may be the biggest hassle in your makeshift kitchen. If at all possible, relocate your old dishwasher temporarily. If that isn’t possible, get a portable utility sink and have your plumbing contractor plumb it in a convenient location as close to the fridge and makeshift kitchen area as possible.
• If none of these options are available, you’ll have to get really creative by setting up a backyard cleaning station with a garden hose and temporary basin, using a bathroom or laundry room sink or even the bathtub if no other options are available.
• Get some plastic tubs to haul dirty dishes to the clean up station and back to the kitchen space for storage in your airtight bins.
• Since you won’t have a garbage disposal, keep a garbage can with airtight lid and plastic liner in the kitchen work area and plan to empty it at least once a day.
• Use your outdoor barbeque grill as much as possible to reduce odors and indoor cooking activities.
• Frozen foods and precooked meals that can be nuked in the microwave oven are a great way to reduce meal preparation messiness and get meals prepared quickly.
• Keep plenty of snack foods like fresh fruit, granola bars, chips, crackers, etc. handy.
• Use disposable plates and utensils during this difficult time; while nobody wants to add to the landfill, this is a good time to make an exception.
• If budget allows, eat out or get take out to avoid meal preparation and give yourself a break from the chaos of construction.
• For safety, always keep pets and small children away from the construction area.

Decorating your kitchen cabinet doors and drawers with new knobs and pulls can give your kitchen decor a whole new look. But, with so many styles to choose from or even making your own, who knows where to begin? Read on to learn everything you need to know about choosing knobs and pulls and installing them in your kitchen!

Choosing the Right Knobs and Pulls

Kitchen cabinetry is available in many sizes and designs. The first step to selecting kitchen hardware is to look at the style of the kitchen. Is it country, elegant, or modern? The materials and style you choose should compliment that style. Elegant cut glass drawer pulls would look out of place in a country kitchen, whereas brass drawer pulls might be a better choice.

Metals – Brushed metal versions such as pewter, nickel, and brass drawer pulls and knobs generally suit more traditional kitchens. Polished metals look better with modern designs.

Glass – Glass drawer pulls and knobs come in colored and clear forms. Glass is generally best suited for elegant kitchen designs, although modern designs are available. Blown glass versions offer interesting variations in shape and color but are generally more expensive.

Ceramics – Ceramic knobs come in both plain and decorated versions. If your kitchen has a theme, you can search for a coordinating knob. Apples, checks, and roosters are just a few of the themes that you’ll find.

Vintage – Vintage drawer pulls and knobs can give unique flair to your kitchen. You can find many vintage drawer pull styles on the Internet from antique hardware sellers. You can select a matched set, or choose a variety of styles made out of the same material.

Making Custom Knobs

It’s easy to make your own cabinet knobs if you can’t find exactly what you’re looking for. All you need is a small wooden knob (usually one-inch in size) to embellish. These are easily found at any hardware store. Choose one with a flat, not rounded, head.

The following are some easy custom knob ideas:

• Polymer clay – With polymer clay, you can make any simple shape that you want, such as fruits or flowers. The clay also comes in a variety of colors to suit any kitchen.
  The process is simple; take a small ball of clay and use it to completely cover the knob, avoiding the area where the screw goes in. Then sculpt your work of art and press it onto the clay-covered knob.
  Using a toothpick, poke some small holes in the back of the clay-covered knob to let air escape while the clay is baking. Bake it according to the package directions. Cover the dried knobs with clear varnish.
• Buttons – Try attaching buttons to your kitchen knobs. Choose buttons with flat backs to allow for easy gluing. Attach them to the knob using a hot glue gun. You can layer different colors of plain buttons to exactly match your kitchen color scheme. It’s advisable to avoid fabric buttons, since some of the knobs are likely to get wet.
• Other small, round objects – Be creative. Coins, checkers, and other small objects can make interesting kitchen decorations. Attach them with a hot glue gun.
• Small ceramic tiles – One way to insure that your color scheme is an exact match is to reserve a few tiles from the backsplash and use them for your cabinet knobs. Of course, this only works if you’ve chosen smaller tiles.

Simple Knob and Pull Installation Steps

• Take the time to count the number of cabinet knobs and pulls in your kitchen before you go to buy or make custom knobs.
• Cabinet pulls take two screws, so it’s not a bad idea to measure the distance between them to insure that you get the right size.
• Make sure that your style comes with screws. Some do not. You may also need to purchase washers.
• Look at the packaging and ask a sales associate to help you if you’re unsure. And if you don’t happen to have a screwdriver (usually you need a small Phillips head), don’t forget to pick one up.
• Open the drawers and cabinets and unscrew any existing hardware from the inside. Save the screws; if they’re in good condition, you can reuse them.
• Attach the new cabinet knobs and pulls. Make sure that the pulls are right-side up.

Tuscan style is inspired by nature, so Tuscan kitchen decor makes for a soothing and peaceful room. Because Tuscan design is so simple, it only takes a few changes to remodel your kitchen in this delightful rustic style.

By focusing on paint and accessories, you can easily accomplish a kitchen remodel on a budget well under $1000. The following Tuscan kitchen ideas can help you get started.

Tuscan Kitchen Color Schemes

The first step in your Tuscan kitchen design is to select a color scheme. One easy way to select colors is to find a Tuscan-inspired accessory like a ceramic tile, piece of pottery, or a painting and select the key colors from that inspiration piece.

If you don’t have a piece to start from, you’ll need to select colors yourself. Focus on colors that can be seen in nature.

Some of the most common colors seen in Tuscan kitchen decor are:

• Browns – Try earthy tones like deep browns or tans.
• Reds – Picture the colors found in fall leaves, like rich golds, burnt oranges, and rich reds.
• Greens – Olive, deep greens, and sages are the best choices.
• Blues – Think deep blue; it works particularly well as an accent color.

Painting Your Tuscan Kitchen

For the walls, try a paint finish that adds texture, such as stucco or sponging, to add to the rustic, aged Tuscan vibe. These techniques have the added benefit of disguising any imperfections on your walls. One word of warning: choose darker colors with care, since colors tend to appear darker when applied to walls.

You can try out your desired colors on a board and put them into the room to see what they look like at various times of the day before you commit to a color selection.

Another suggestion is to combine lighter and darker tones. Try starting with a darker base and sponging a lighter color over it to create depth.

You can also consider painting or staining your cabinets. Cabinets are a good place to use some of the deeper colors in the Tuscan palate. Deep Tuscan red stains are very popular.  Or consider painting the cabinets a strong, contrasting color to the walls.

The other option is to paint the walls in a light color and then give the cabinets a coating in a deeper shade of the same color.

You might also consider painting doors, shutters, or window frames. Be careful, however, not to overwhelm the room with color.

Tuscan Kitchen Furniture and Accessories

Set off your new cabinetry look with some new hardware. Ceramic or burnished metal knobs are good choices for Tuscan kitchen decor, and provide a lot of design bang for the buck. There are many “Tuscan” or “Tuscany” hardware collections available to assist you in your selection, although of course you’re not limited to those options.

Consider curtains in lighter colors, particularly if you’ve chosen deeper tones for your cabinets or walls. Sheers, Tuscan stripe designs, and simple checked curtains are all good Tuscan kitchen ideas. You can even stencil a Tuscan-inspired design onto your sheers to add visual interest.

For kitchen decoration, consider wall tiles. A few accent tiles applied to the walls adds Tuscan flair. Or decorate the walls with metal urns, platters, and bowls.

Fill glass or copper containers with dried goods and cooking utensils and use them as display items. Or select ceramic containers in an accent color like deep red. Freestanding metal or wood stands can store pots or fruits and vegetables. Add some plants to complete the look.

Tuscan furniture is generally simple. A large wood table with simple chairs is the best option for an eat-in kitchen. If your current table and chairs doesn’t fit with the Tuscan vibe, hunt down a used set at a garage sale, or buy a plain unfinished version and stain it yourself.

You might also consider adding a stencil to the tabletop or chair seats. Think plain wooden stools and simple lines for a breakfast bar. Add some Tuscan touches with bright seat cushions. Decorate tabletops with wooden bowls filled with fruit, pottery, or large stone vessels.

There is no end to the number of configurations kitchen designers can dream up, but there are a few basic concepts you can follow to be sure your kitchen will work for you and not the other way around. The kitchen layout that works best for you depends primarily on your lifestyle, the size of your kitchen space and how many people live in your household and regularly share kitchen and cooking duties!

Many designers will rely on what the National Kitchen and Bath Association refers to as the “work triangle” when working up a kitchen layout. This concept uses an imaginary triangle between the refrigerator, the range and the sink. The NKBA suggested guidelines on designing a work triangle are as follows:

• The triangle should be uninterrupted by major traffic patterns.
• Each leg should be between 4 and 9 feet, with the sum of the triangle not exceeding 26 feet.
• The triangle should not cross islands or peninsulas by more than 12 inches, which would obstruct movement.
• If your kitchen has a single sink, it should be located either between or across from the food prep area, cooktop, or refrigerator.
• The obvious idea behind this concept is efficiency, and setting the work stations up so that the chef is not interrupted by cross traffic, and keeping them close together.

Seems pretty logical and the triangle concept is time tested and proven to work in many households … unless you have more than one chef in the kitchen and need more than three work stations! Since it is common in many households for people to share kitchen duties, the work triangle can become problematic, so a little rethinking may be in order.

The work triangle concept works best in smaller kitchens and households with few people; especially if one person loves to cook and tends to do most of the food preparation. In this case, hopefully somebody else has cleanup duties!

But the triangle has given way increasingly to the concept of “kitchen zones”, which are especially useful for larger kitchen spaces and if your lifestyle includes a lot of entertaining, big family get together occasions and multiple chefs working in the kitchen at the same time.

The typical zones to consider will include:

Prep

Slicing and dicing, cutting, rolling and mixing are the typical tasks in this zone, so an island is often the best location. A small sink for rinsing is helpful. Also nice to have is a small under counter refrigerator to keep eggs, milk and other items handy. Equip with:

• Knife block or drawer
• Pull out butcher block or butcher block built into counter space
• Pull outs for utensils, mixing bowls, measuring cups, etc.
• Pull out for recycling and garbage

Baking

Cookies, cakes, pies, breads, pizza dough … Mmm, yum! A slab of marble here is perfect for rolling out dough. Equip with:

• Storage bins for sugar, flour, baking powder, etc.
• Shelving or rack to store cook books
• Drawer space for cookie cutters, spoons, spatulas, oven mitts, pot holders, etc.
• Roll out with tray to store baking sheets, pizza pans, etc.
• Drawer space to keep measuring cups, rolling pins, etc.
• Easy-to-reach Cabinet space within easy reach to store heavy dishes, mixer, mixing bowls, etc.

Cooking

A main work station, this is where you have heat in your kitchen, so grease and steam have to be concerns with sizzling dishes on the range. It is also good to locate your microwave and toaster within easy reach of this zone. Equip with:

• Pull outs for pots and pans
• Spice drawer or racks hidden in pull out corbels near the cooktop
• Drawers for cooking utensils like spoons, spatulas, etc.

Clean Up

Your main sink and dishwasher are the primary tools in this zone. Storage space for cleaning supplies, towels, and cabinet space for most common dish ware should also be located here. Equip with:

• Easy access to plates and dishes that are used daily
• Dish towel pull out drawer
• Pull out under the sink to store cleaners, dish washing detergent, etc.
• Tilt-out tray to keep pot scrubbers, sponges, dish rags, etc.
• Drawer for plastic wraps and baggies, aluminum foil, wax paper, etc.
• Pull out drawer for plastic bowls, Tupperware, lids, containers, etc.

Eating
Many meals are eaten impromptu in the kitchen. Also, when you entertain, people always seem to gather in the kitchen area so you need a good place for them to sit and chat, munch on snacks and not be in the way of traffic. The kitchen bar is also a great place to store placemats, tablecloths, napkins, and less often used dishware.

Smaller spaces often push the designer to the limit as much or more than larger ones, especially when you need plenty of storage in a tight kitchen space. But, the challenges of making your kitchen functional and selecting the right fixtures, whether for a high rise luxury apartment or even a small suburban condo, can be overcome.

Follow these simple tips to make your small kitchen a wonderful place to prepare meals and enjoy eating your favorite dishes.

Focus on Kitchen Functions

While a larger kitchen can easily accommodate many functions, from a work center for doing bills and kids’ homework, to a huge pantry and double ovens, the small kitchen must be designed for one main function; food preparation and eating areas.

Focus on function, designing the stations, planning placement of major appliances like your kitchen range, oven, sink, dishwasher and refrigerator first.

You can really maximize space by selecting scaled-down, more innovative kitchen appliances. For example, choose a refrigerator with freezer drawers, a range with overhead microwave oven built in, a smaller 2 burner range and a single versus double sink.

You’ll have the same functionality without using up so much square footage! When work space is limited, designing your kitchen with a small center island or a rolling kitchen cart that can be stored in the closet when not being used can really conserve on space.

Keep Your Design Open

A small kitchen can feel quite claustrophobic with too many cabinets and doors can be a problem to open and close in tight quarters, so using open storage solutions can help open things up.

Hang pots and pans on an over the range rack, leave upper cabinets open for easier access or to display artwork and decorative items.

Try planning your small kitchen to be as open as possible and you won’t feel like the space is so confining.

Keep Design Elements Cohesive But Interesting

When selecting the materials and appliances for your small kitchen space, try to pick counter top, flooring and other materials that blend well together. Unlike in a large kitchen, where many materials and patterns may work well, the smaller space dictates a cohesive, well integrated selection of design elements and materials.

You can add interest to your kitchen design by incorporating a multi-level island, with food prep station with enclosed cabinet storage below on one level, a small eating space with open storage below on another, and your range on a third level, for example.

Try blending shapes as well; maybe a rounded corner on one side of the island or overhead cabinets to help mix things up and provide that bit of extra open space.

Be sure to gather plenty of swatches, samples and pictures before finalizing your design. You want to be sure that that black granite counter top will work with the maple laminate flooring and cabinetry before you start the project.

Remember that colors, textures and patterns selected will have a huge effect on how light or dark, open or closed your small kitchen space will feel, so try to bring as many of your samples into the space to get a sense of how everything will fit together.

Making Things Visible

Nothing helps open up a small space more than light. Glass is a great way to help add light, since it will reflect and refract natural and planned light sources.

You can use a glass table top, glass cabinet doors or even glass tile counters.

Try adding a pass through window between the kitchen and eating area, which opens the space and allows visibility between the eating area and main kitchen so that you can interact with guests while working in the kitchen.

Opaque, colored or textured glass can add interest to your kitchen design as well.

Window placement is very important to increasing visibility. Try to design your workspace to take advantage of natural window light and give you a nice view from primary work area in a smaller kitchen.

Lighting Design

No room in a home needs adequate lighting more than the kitchen. Plan your lighting design with plenty of general ambient lighting and especially to have adequate task lighting in work areas.

Complete your lighting design with accent lighting to highlight features like open cabinet spaces, that custom designed tile back splash over your range or artwork.

Under cabinet lights make a nice touch, as do rope lights on top. You can use a mix of fluorescent and incandescent lighting to help achieve the right color temperature and make your kitchen as energy efficient as possible.

And, since your space is small, you don’t have to worry as much about the energy use of lighting as much as in a very large kitchen! Use the lighting fixtures and sources that best complement your space planning and design elements.

Choosing the Right Flooring

Since a small kitchen has very little square footage anyway, you can choose a more expensive flooring material without breaking the budget! Marble or granite tile can make a good choice, with pattern and color options unlimited.

Stone can be cold if you like to go bear footed, so wood or wood laminate flooring products are another good option and will complement your natural wood cabinets. Or, if retro is your style, you might try a black and white checkered tile pattern to match high gloss laminate or lacquered finish cabinetry!

Smart Use of Color

Color will play an important part in how your small kitchen feels. Wall colors are an obvious thing you need to decide; a white or off white neutral color can help keep things more open, but you may want to consider something bolder like light pastels or even brighter red, yellow or orange. Since you won’t have a lot of exposed wall space anyway, you can get away with wall colors that simply wouldn’t work in a larger space.

Less obvious, but equally important, are the smaller elements in your kitchen that can add color and drama. Stools, appliances, dishtowels, dishware and your toaster are other potential ways to bring your color palette together.

Making It Cozy

Since you’ll be spending a lot of time in your small kitchen, you also want to think of ways to give it that cozy feeling. Especially if the space is already built or does not lend itself to a major architectural reconfiguration of the layout, relying more on those personal design touches may be your best bet.

Design a custom backsplash, change out your dishware, add a new spice rack; whatever personal touches make sense and bring a cozier feeling into the room. Whether you prefer modern design, French country or old world style, you can personalize your small kitchen the way you want it to feel by adding these small touches!

Unfortunately, kitchen lighting is still one of the most overlooked and easiest ways to change the look of your kitchen. Read on to learn how you can use modern lighting solutions to make your kitchen more stylish and functional.

First, it is important to understand the different types of kitchen lighting; overall ambient lighting, task lighting and accent lighting. While most lighting fixtures are designed for use with specific bulb types and wattages, it is important to know the advantages and intended usage applications of each bulb before making your selection.

Overall Ambient Lighting

The most common kitchen lighting sources include incandescent, fluorescent and halogen type lamps. Incandescent lamps produce light by heating a very fine coil of tungsten wire filament using electrical current the filament is heated to more than degrees Fahrenheit, releasing visible light from the lamp.

Any of these three types can be used to provide overall ambient lighting in your kitchen, but choosing the right fixture is important. For ambient lighting, you want to use a diffused light source rather than a point source.

Recessed can light fixtures with wide flood bulbs work well for ambient lighting needs. You can also use fluorescent lamps in can fixtures to keep electric bills down. Other alternatives include more traditional recessed fixtures with translucent diffuser panels.

Using a phosphor powder coating, fluorescent bulbs contain argon and small amounts of mercury. When an electric charge is applied, the mercury inside the tube changes from a liquid form to a gas form. This causes ultraviolet light photons to be released and react with atoms of phosphor, producing white light within the human visible spectrum.

Fluorescent bulbs waste very little energy producing of heat, and can produce from 50 to 100 lumens per watt, whereas typical incandescent lamps produce versus only about 15 lumens per watt. Fluorescents are thus up to 4 to 6 times more efficient. Color temperature can be an issue with fluorescents, so be sure to look for warm or daylight temperature bulbs.

Task Lighting

Any area in your kitchen, where you work needs good task lighting. Whether it’s where you read your recipes, chop your vegetables or wash dishes, task lighting is essential to getting the job done properly.

Because task lighting is directed specifically at a certain area, you are not working in your own shadow, which is the problem with a single over head fixture in the room.

Use of recessed spotlights and floodlights has become very popular in recent years due to the style and range of options available. They are unobtrusive and provide great sources of all three types of light in a kitchen. Expense is higher since wiring and mounting labor is higher for installation in your ceiling.

If recessed lighting is not an option, another alternative for task lighting sources is to use track lighting. These have the added advantage that you can easily move and reconfigure lighting direction as desired.

Most recessed fixtures can provide lighting for specific functional work areas in your kitchen; islands, counter tops, sinks, ranges, eating areas, etc.

When combined correctly with ambient lighting sources including natural window light and diffused ceiling light sources, recessed or track lighting helps reduce unwanted shadows and gets light to areas you need the most light. Unless placed correctly, focus and spot lighting may cause unwanted dead and hot spots, so careful planning and placement is important.

Chances are, you will be installing multiple fixtures of many different types and styles throughout your new kitchen. Your ability to control each, both separately and in tandem, will prove critical if you are to create a flexible lighting environment.

Halogen bulbs are a very popular option for task lighting, due to their intensity and the variety of light focusing options available. Halogen bulbs are similar in nature to standard incandescent bulbs, except a lot more efficient and longer lasting. Standard incandescent lamps generate a lot of infrared heat which translates to energy inefficiency. Tungsten in the filament evaporates, leaving deposits inside the glass bulb, causing the filament to break and burn out the bulb.

In a halogen bulb, the tungsten filament is enveloped within a smaller gas-filled quartz tube. When heated, halogen and the evaporating tungsten atoms combine and the tungsten is re-deposited onto the filament. This enables longer lifespan and hotter temperatures, which produces more light output per energy unit.

Thus, Halogen lights can be much smaller than tungsten light sources yet still produce as much or even more light intensity! They are ideal for installation in very small places and will be less obtrusive to your kitchen design.

Accent Lighting

Accent lighting helps creates a focal point in your kitchen, highlighting specific design elements. Typical accent lighting will include under and above cabinets, track lights and spot lights, aimed strategically to highlight cabinetry, artwork and other design elements.

Accent lighting fixtures include glass pendant lamps, rope lights, wall sconces and others. Pendant lamps over a kitchen island or bar also make great accent lighting sources, combining task and accent lighting in a single source. And with so many design and color choices, you will find pendant lamps to complement any kitchen decor, whether modern, country, retro or other style.

Accent lighting is a must for accentuating architectural details, beautiful works of art or pottery collections, or anything else you want to draw attention to. One great way to utilize accent lighting is above your kitchen cabinets.

If your kitchen cabinets do not go all the way to the ceiling, an inexpensive method for ambient lighting is to place Christmas rope lights above the cabinets. The fact that they are holiday lights will be hidden by the height and upper ‘lip’ of the cabinet, and it provides an excellent source of ambient lighting.

Dimmer Switches and Lighting Controls

Lighting controls need to be placed at kitchen entry and exit points, as well as at key work areas such as desk alcoves, islands, etc.

You may also want to consider incorporating one or more of the infrared remote control units that allow you to control your lighting much the same way as your entertainment components.

Timers and electronic sensors that turn lights on and off automatically are also seeing increased use in the kitchen. Before spending big bucks to go high tech, consider adding plain old dimmer switches, which have advanced greatly in recent years.

A dimmer switch works by turning electricity to the bulb on and off very rapidly, working off the alternating current, which cycles 60 time each second.

Less expensive than timers and remote control lighting solutions, dimmer switches control light intensity as you require for given tasks and desired mood lighting levels.

One tip to remember is that you don’t want to overload circuits so putting each type of lighting in your kitchen design on a separate circuit will help prevent problems with overloading.

When choosing a range hood, always consider the design of your kitchen. How should your range top be used? What type of ventilation system will best go with your kitchen?

An assortment of styles, durability and design options are now available for your kitchen range hood. A stainless steel range hood may add style and professional grade functionality or it could be overkill, depending upon your needs and kitchen design tastes. A simple wall-mounted unit may be sufficient.

To those of you who still don’t know why one needs a range hood, here’s a little introduction. A range hood helps keep your kitchen smell fresh and sanitized whenever you turn your burner on by filtering the hazy fumes, greasy vapor and carbon dioxide that cloud your kitchen while cooking.

In general, there are two main types to choose from: the vented and the recirculation fans. What vented fans do is to haul the smoke through a duct from inside the room out!

Recirculation fans, however, steer the smoke through some filters and make the cleansed air flow back to the kitchen; this type should be avoided unless you simply have no options to install proper ductwork in your kitchen.

Vented Range Hoods

If you are going to install a range top close to an exterior wall and at the same time have the resources for an installation then it would be best to consider a vented range hood because this type is more successful when it comes to ridding the air of dangerous chemical substances and oppressive grease that cling to the atmosphere.

Considering that this type needs a duct to be connected to the hood and exterior vent, then, it is only natural that installation costs will be higher. However, considering also the amount of frying using oil or browning of dishes that produce smoke and steam in your kitchen, this choice is indeed more advisable.

You may want to consider whether you want a range hood that can control the quantity of air you want circulated in your kitchen or you may wish for the type that has an automatic shut-off after a thirty-minute period or so.

Fixtures such as a built-in lighting system that helps in lighting a specific task, or a fan installed for each burner to give you better air purification, are also available.

Kitchen Range Hood Prices

There are many range hoods that can fit your budget, ranging from $50 for the basic wall-mounted type to the $200-$400 range or even higher, where you can get range hoods that come with several lights, timers and easy-to-clean filters and surfaces.

For a more economical model, you can get a down-draft range hood installed underneath the cabinetry and become virtually unnoticeable when not in use. Kitchen island range hood models may “pop-up”, and may be integrated with the range for a clean look when lowered, and then raise 8 to 10 in. above the range’s surface when in use. Other models may have vents situated on the range’s surface near the burners.

If you plan ahead when designing a new kitchen with a cooktop on the island, you can also install a matching island range hood, which provides good ventilation for your kitchen island cooktop. There are also models that integrate a microwave with the vent system. This style is attached on the wall over the cooking stove.

Regular maintenance should also be considered. Some of the external metal pieces of your range hood will be dishwasher safe for easy cleaning.

Filters made of metal mesh can get trap grease while carbon filters can purify the air of overpowering scents. Regardless which type of range hood you purchase, the filters will need to be cleansed or renewed from time to time.

How Effective is Your Kitchen Range Hood?

So, just how much air can a range ventilation system remove? This is typically measured in cubic feet per minute (cfm). The Home Ventilating Institute suggests a minimum of 40 cfm for every linear foot a range comprises. A 120-cfm unit is generally sufficient for the average kitchen range. With downdraft types, you may want to go up to 150 cfm.

Models with a remote-mounted motor are quieter since the fan is located on the far end of ductwork instead of the canopy, but does require a higher cfm fan. Depending on the model and manufacturer’s instructions, you will need up to 400 cfm for use with a wall-mounted hood or up to 600 cfm for an island range hood.

Ductwork should be as short as possible to increase the hood fan’s effectiveness, so proper planning is an important part of the selection and installation of any range hood.

Kitchen Range Hood Types and Options

When talking to your builder or shopping for a new range hood to install in your existing or new kitchen, you have a lot of ventilation options to consider, including:

Basic wall-mounted unit – in the range of $200 to $400, you can get a hood featuring easy-to-clean surfaces, built-in lighting, and kitchen timer.

Downdraft hood – this type works hard to ventilate air from your kitchen and may not be as effective for burners furthest away or removing odors and steam and odors wafting out of taller pots and pans. Often this type will be an add-on option matching your cooktop, so look for this option when selecting a kitchen island range.

Recirculating range hood – you should avoid this type if possible since without ductwork it does not remove odors from your kitchen, but as the name suggests, simply recirculates air.

Over the range hood – hands down, the best option available and also the most expensive, a hood mounted over the range will most effectively remove steam and unwanted odors and is the preferred type among serious home chefs, offering both the look and functional characteristics of a commercial stainless steel range hood.

The ventilation system is a major component in your kitchen. Be sure you get the right one for needs by selecting a range hood that is large enough, has the features you need and a design that complements your overall kitchen design.

Remember the pink flamingos? They are here again! But the flamingos are not the only ones; retro kitchen designs are out as a fashionable and cozy way to beautify your kitchen. The fifties are making a comeback through stainless steel and checked floors.

To obtain the retro look, some designers often add actual furniture and accessory pieces from the fifties and sixties. At the very least, they give the kitchen a fifties’ and sixties’ ambiance. This revived the retro design style that is increasingly gaining popularity.

The word retro (short for retrospective) doesn’t only speak about styles from the 1950’s. To a certain extent, a retro look also relates to designs, styles and fashions from the past that are often considered nostalgic and conservative.

In American terminology, retro rooms are identified as the ones from 1950s. The 1950s designs are popular for their high-spiritedness and self-confidence, put on display by the use of bold colors and patterns, thus exhibiting a certain kind of “hipness” about them.

No wonder that homeowners nowadays want a resurrection of the colorful and fun fifties. This look was captured using today’s materials and technology plus supplements and furniture from the past.

In contrast to the increasing advancement in technology, the warm feeling of bygone days seems to be what present shoppers are increasingly growing fond of.

However, to authentically create the retro feeling in the kitchen, it is vital to distinguish first the general feeling of the country during the time you wish to revive. Design is not something that exists in a vacuum. All epochs have their unique style and design that reflect their own time.

The same is true for the 1950s-style design. One can see from the vivacity of the rooms that it reflects an era rejoicing the end of World War II. This statement agrees with the fashion world’s experiment with war-time, resin-based plastic materials.

The outcome for these new materials, together with the happy essence of the period and the rush to accommodate newly-formed and growing families, is the emergence of a very carefree style whose revival continues to invigorate kitchen designs later on.

Latest materials and lively-tinted plastics commenced a host of vibrantly colored (e.g., candy pinks, turquoises and blues) cheery pieces. In the 1950s, laminates are the latest material applied on countertops, and even on cabinets.

This was basically due to the quality of the laminate that could be manufactured in any color one wishes.

Although a huge number of today’s materials do well with the present retro appearance, the range of colors for this look is limited to the cheerful, funky and fun. Candy color bright or warm and natural, whichever shade is utilized, does not matter as much as decorative art, which is a crucial element in retro-style interiors, with accessories commonly employed to complete the look.

Along with traditional materials, all these bits and pieces were accommodated in the decorative sphere to fashion novel accessories. Furniture shapes, patterns in fabrics, and lamp designs have prints or shapes like amoebae, boomerang and kidney-beans reflecting the fifties. Even clocks are made to appear like atoms.

There was an outburst in the production of glass during the 1950s and 1960s. This is mainly because of the huge progress in glass technology. Lighting extended to the figural and the abstract, a far bolder step than ever before.

For instance, slim and very practical pivotal pole lamps became very much fashionable. You can still unearth samples of these lamps in antique stores today.

One of the crucial things to keep in mind about retro design is that it is necessary to generate an energetic and authentic setting. Also, it is the accessories and furniture that really make the retro setting.

Contemporary and transitional are the characteristics that stayed in major surfaces and material, with the details giving this style its exclusive voice and appearance.

Bear in mind the following when making a retro kitchen:

• For cabinets, glossy maple, cherry, or mahogany finishes do well. Stainless steel, acrylic or vibrant laminate finishes in segments of the room give appropriate accents.
• All contemporary countertop materials work well with counters. It is recommended to use very small patterns or solid colors. Decorative tile can also be used to add flavor to the room and you shouldn’t be bashful about the color palette.
• For floors, the ideal material is wood. You may also work with geometric patterned vinyls. Another excellent choice is a cork floor.
• If at all possible, you may add a mid-century furniture in a table or counter area.
• Bright colors for accessories are crucial to creating the retro style. Remember to use plastics to generate a sense of fun. Play on with a little neon. Use Fiestaware as a reference to your colors and integrate these colors to your retro kitchen design.

But when it comes time for a barbeque, it seems the whole family; or rather the whole neighborhood is scrambling to be there! Thus, the outdoor kitchen is born. You may say that an outdoor kitchen is too luxurious for you, too expensive perhaps, unaffordable and so on. Think again!

As long as you have a place (a deck or a patio would do) to install the basics of an outdoor kitchen then you will be surprised at how inexpensive they could be. All you really need to complete your outdoor kitchen is a grill and a storage area for you cooking accessories. And if truth be told, you can have this in a single unit for more or less than $300.

The cost of putting up a fine outdoor kitchen is rather cheap, that is, as long as you already have an area in mind such as a deck or patio where you plan to set it up on.

When choosing the location to put your grill, make sure that it will not reach any combustible surfaces. This can be illustrated through simple addition: if you put fire and wood together, what do you get? More fire, of course! However, you should not limit your caution to wood alone. Never make the common mistake I’ve seen a hundred times of putting your grill near a vinyl siding. Although it may not cause fire, the heat will surely dissolve the siding.

Also, take note if you are going to use a gas grill. You will need to think about the gas line and a place where a gas grill can easily be set up. And, don’t forget to think about the possible bad weather. You’ll need a covered space with ample amount of lighting to accommodate your cook.

Do-it-yourself outdoor kitchen

When making your own storage cabinet, consider how the weather will affect it. A cement fiber backer board can be used as protection.

Or, set up a tile or stone surface that can cover it. For about $700 you can buy you a fine-looking steel drop-in grill. Be sure that your countertop is also weatherproof, so make use of tile, granite, stainless steel, solid surface, or concrete.

You can produce a magnificent social spot if your area is large enough to include both the countertop and the eating area. You can then make the grill as the center or focal point. Bar stools are ideal for this type but be sure to buy stools made of weatherproof materials.

Refrigerators and sinks

Of course any kitchen has a refrigerator, so your outdoor kitchen must have one too. A good stainless steel refrigerator made especially for outdoor use is the best type to buy.

Outdoor refrigerators are not your ordinary full-size units. They are the under-the-counter type. Ensure that your buy the right outdoor type.

Without outdoor refrigerators, what effort it would be if you have to go back and forth to the inside kitchen, so it is a great addition to your outdoor kitchen. Make sure that your things are stored securely all year round by buying an outdoor refrigerator with safety lock.

Another thing to consider is a sink. It is more convenient if you have a sink in your outdoor kitchen to do your washing and rinsing and adding water to your sauces. It saves you the trip of going in and out of the house or the tedious task of putting up a hose. But check first with your local building codes regarding adding a sink.

Modular grill units

If you lack the confidence to build your own outdoor kitchen, do not think that you are doomed of not having a nice one forever. There are modular units that can serve as alternative to your outdoor kitchen. It is as easy as setting it up then firing up the grill!

Of course, you wouldn’t want one of those $20-grills you find in super-saver stores. Invest, invest, invest! Typically, grills will provide you a cooking spot from 15” to 26” deep and up to 4 ft. wide.

Your decision will really depend on whether you want a charcoal grill or the one that makes use of gas. You may even consider a wood smoker as an option (but they are more tedious to work with in terms of regimented cooking schedule).

Real outdoor grilling connoisseurs use stainless steel most often. Newer models feature wood grain embossed on the stainless steel and even has an array of bright colors to choose from that will complement any kitchen. You may also choose a model with side burner for your sauces or other dishes.

Custom built-in grills and countertops

If you really want to customize your outdoor kitchen, you will plan it as part of your landscape design, with a built-in grill and countertops that incorporate tile or natural stone like slate or granite that match your patio materials.

While this adds cost, it will also make your outdoor kitchen something to really enjoy and a place the entire family will want to spend time together relaxing for outdoor meals. An outdoor kitchen and eating area will also increase the value of your landscaping investment.

Determine the elements that you want for your outdoor kitchen but ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS consider how it will fit the climate in your area. If appropriate, consider how best to provide overhead protection and features like screen enclosures to keep the bugs away so that you’ll truly enjoy using your outdoor kitchen.

An outdoor kitchen can be a good investment in Minnesota as well as in Florida considering the wide range of choices and options available if you plan correctly and know what seasons and how often you will use yours.

Adding an outdoor kitchen can be a fun do-it-yourself project or part of a professional landscape design effort that you choose to hire contractors to complete.
Set your budget and must have features and design elements up front and you’ll be happy with your outdoor kitchen and eating area for many years!

Nowadays, cooktops have progressed from the basic four-burner type to more elaborate types like the gourmet commercial grade ones with griddles, grills and various different burner configurations. In fact, with all the features available it is next to impossible not to find one that best fit your needs and your budget.

Whether your kitchen has a gas or electric cooktop is not a problem because both types offer exact same countertop cutout. When choosing one that will match the arrangement and design of your new kitchen, consider the following features and options:

• Compared to the models sold a few years back, cooktops nowadays can be cleaned effortlessly, are aesthetically appealing, and offer more flexibility because of added features (e.g., more precise temperature control).
• Ceramic cook tops are both offered in gas and electric.
• It should be easy-to-clean and not trap food. Look for models with a frameless edge or easily removable components.
• Available optional accessories like interchangeable burners and grilling grids.
• A downdraft exhaust, which is ideal for kitchen islands without overhead exhaust, is offered in some electric and gas cooktops.

Why choose electric cooktops? Here are some of the benefits:

• Easy-to-clean, smooth ceramic cooktops offer a glossy façade.
• Offered in a range of colors, ceramic cooktops can match any kind of kitchen there is.
• The ribbon elements on a smooth top get hot as rapidly as the old coil elements. An adjustable element that can fit large and small pans is also available. A triple element, however, can accommodate a casserole dish or a 9” x 19” griddle.
• A number of sealed ceramic cooktops are recessed and so they are almost flushed with the countertop.
• An attractive electronic touch-control cooktop with no knobs creates an added decoration to your kitchen. This type comes with other additional components to offer.
• For less serious cooks, an electric cooktop offers ease-of-use and quick cleaning!

Of course, gas cooktops have advantages as well:

• Sensors, one feature of the cooktop, will automatically detect and turn off an unoccupied element that is left on.
• The sensors also regulate the size of the element to the pan’s size.
• The control-lock is a safety feature that puts a stop to its elements when set in motion by accident.
• A digital timer is a feature that warns you when cooking time has finished.
• By innovatively recessing the sealed burners below the surface of a countertop, a lot of cooktops nowadays contain spills, making them easy to clean.
• There are also types that have “gas-on-glass” feature. Cleaning an electric smooth top with gas is made easy by mounting the sealed burner straight on to the ceramic top.
• Cooking delicate food is made easy by using sealed “simmer” burners rather than a double boiler.
• Cooking temperature is regulated using precise temperature controls, thus, fitting every cooking need. You don’t even have to worry scorching dishes that need to be cooked at very low temperatures.
• Some “high-powered” burners can heat up to 15,000 Btu’s making you finish high temperature frying, boiling or cooking with a wok easily.
• Cast-iron, porcelain enamel-coated grates that are easy-to-clean and dishwasher-friendly are also available.
• Most serious chefs consider gas the only true option in selecting a cooktop!

And as long as you have your pantry organized, you can save time from looking for that bottle of ketchup you need for your sandwich or that box of microwave cheese dinner you know you just bought a week ago.

You haven’t got a pantry? You’ve got to be kidding! As long as you have that extra bottle of shampoo or that can of Vienna sausage kept somewhere underneath a sink then you can organize a pantry!

Pantry Organization: Getting Started

The principle that underlies the meaning of the pantry is not the same as that of a simple storage place. Although it is good if you keep a certain cabinet for all your pantry goods, this is still not a pantry. The pantry should be thought of as a reservoir of consumable goods kept in any region of the house.

All houses can have a pantry, whether they be small apartment type or a huge pastoral farmhouse. It is beside the point whether or not some homes feature a definite storage place called “pantry.”

The purpose of setting up and maintaining a pantry are two-fold. One is to prepare the family to some unforeseen events. Another is for domestic convenience. A properly organized pantry means that the family will never ran out of stock of widely used items such as toothpaste, shampoo and toilet paper.

What is most significant is for a pantry to be well equipped even during adversity. Whatever misfortune befalls on the family (e.g., retrenchment, sickness, natural disaster, etc.), the family is still well provided for.

As a start, your pantry should have spare items for every storable necessity for the family’s convenience. The beginner’s pantry is easy to set up. Just put in your pantry a back-up item for every bag, carton or box utilized in the house. A fine initial goal is to have a three-day provision of groceries and sanitary goods enough to sustain your family and one extra person.

A lot complicated pantries have further targets in mind. A home with a middle range pantry can provide for its residents two weeks to a month in case of emergency. This pantry contains alternates for fresh foods, such as dried fruits and vegetables, powdered milk, and canned products. This type of pantry gives vital security and convenience.

What Should I Keep in the Pantry?

Some home organizations recommend a list of pantry items luring you with the idea that if you buy them you will create a pantry. However, after 18 months, you’re rummaging through cans of apricot halves, wondering to yourself what got into you to have bought them in the first place.

Be reminded that each home’s pantry will differ according to the family’s own needs and way of life. The family’s budget and the place to store the goods in also influence the pantry’s contents. For instance, households with young children and who live on single-income will most probably have pantries stuffed with breakfast cereal, baby’s formula, disposable diapers and healthy snacks purchased on sale with coupons.

Couples without kids who live a vigorous social life and with individual diet preferences will lean toward health foods, diet snacks, hostess gifts, party crackers and tiny jars of appetizers, and dips.

Those who love to bake will have in their pantries gluten, specialty flours, and confectioner’s sugar. Those who do not know how to cook, on the other hand, will probably stock up microwavable goods and frozen delis.

In general, each household can reserve fundamentals for kitchen and bath such as toothpaste, tissue paper, baby diapers and feminine hygiene products, laundry and dishwasher detergent, disposable utensils and garbage bags.

No idea what to put in your very own pantry? Then the first step is to look through your grocery list. As long as you use it and can easily be stored then it can go to the pantry.

By having a general idea of your needs through your grocery list you’ll be able to fight Pantry Mania: the arbitrary and unsystematic purchasing of unwanted and unneeded canned goods and grocery items that dust in your pantry for decades and decades.

A broader aspect of the pantry principle does not end with the usual dry storage of canned products and staple goods. Add in your pantry freezer storage and a few refrigerated products. Buy fruits and vegetables when on sale and store them in the corners of the vegetable bin of the pantry. Freezer convenience entrees are also eligible pantry items.

The underlying and most important thing I would like to point out is to construct a pantry that will fit your family’s needs. Display your folks’ favorites on the pantry shelves may they be boxes of thin spaghetti no. 9, canned Vienna sausages, or Spam.

Putting Things in Order

In order for you to utilize your pantry to the utmost, you have to learn to organize. You can get the ultimate capacity from you pantry when you know what you got, how long it will last, and how to stock it up safely. Learning how to properly organize and how to do an inventory will keep your pantry in smooth circulation.

Beginning pantries are relatively easy and does not entail complicated organization. You can make them by purchasing twice the number of every piece as necessary for a week’s consumption, then keeping the spares.

When you have consumed the last teaspoon of mayonnaise, get the extra jar from the pantry then include the word “mayo” to the week’s shopping list to change the one you took from the pantry.

In general, the beginner’s pantry can be kept along side with in-use or opened stuff. For instance, on the canned goods shelf, you may arrange cans of chicken noodle soup front to back.

You could also pile on top of the pantry box the open box of detergent. Do not forget to circulate the items! Remember FIFO – first in, first out! Place the new goods to the back of the pile or line; make use of the items in front first.

A well-organized pantry can be a big help especially for beginners. Have a shelf or a cabinet to store pantry objects. Categorize them, piling boxes and cans. Bags of dried beans, rice, or pasta can be placed in flat-bottomed plastic baskets.

In every rule there is an exception. For “store by category,” the exception is complete pantry meals. On a division of the pantry shelf, collect all the makings for three to five pantry meals: an additional can of chopped clams, a box of oyster crackers, a family-size can of clam chowder kept together makes replacing these goods easy after use.

Before your shopping day, go and see your “pantry meals” area and check its contents. Vacant places will jog your memory to replace the missing box of oyster crackers as needed.

Extensive pantries need a more systematized approach. Since larger pantries call for more storage space, they are often not in the kitchen and situated somewhere else. In this case, it is better to have a written pantry inventory that will jog the memory of forgetful cooks of the whereabouts of pantry items.

Keeping an Inventory

The things you will need to take an inventory are: clipboard, steno pad, and a laptop computer. Generate a pantry inventory form. Jot down the pantry contents, quantity and the place where you kept the specific good for easy reference. Before shopping in the grocery, take a detour to the pantry. Do you need to replace any used items? Then, add them on the list of things-to-buy for the week.

Bigger pantries may be divided into multiple divisions in the home, so focus on the food storage procedure as you stock up. A fine storage location for baking staples, fruits, or root vegetables is a cool, dry basement room. Canned goods and dried beans, on the other hand, can be placed safely in areas with greater temperature difference.

Selection, utilization, maintenance and storing of foods in long-term storage pantries need a more detailed approach. Homes keeping a provision of food and water adequate for a year must consider more closely the storage guidelines, secure packing, and inclusion of pantry supplies into one’s everyday diet.

Even a beginner’s pantry needs some investment of some sort. In addition to the components for three to five pantry meals, a spare item for every product utilized in the house represents a major financial cost.

It is true that following the pantry principle does entail shedding off some of your precious money for the present but really does pay off in the end. If you sum it all up and think in broader perspective, it is a great way to save time and money. So, in order to manage your pantry well, it is a great idea to spread the load.

Here are some tips to guide you:

1. Set aside a "tithe" for pantry-building – Every week, allot a regular proportion of grocery budget for the pantry. Just a couple of dollars per week can start the practice of accumulating and keeping pantry reserves.
2. Take advantage during sale – Buy and stock up during supermarket sales. These stores periodically offer canned products at very low prices to attract shoppers at their doors. As long as it can be stocked and it’s on bargain price, purchase several.
3. Purchase by the bulk – It really is worth it when you buy in bulk. Rather than spending some of the pantry “tithe” money for some five-pound bread flour for $1.39 at the supermarket, purchase the 25-pound sack of bread flour in the warehouse for $3.89. You’ll be saving and storing up at the same time, hitting two birds with one stone.

Tips for Storing in Small Areas

It is really a challenge to fit even a beginner’s pantries in little quarters or apartments. Find a pantry in the tiniest dwelling by trying these ideas:

1. Look beyond – Search for a location not only in the kitchen to store pantry items. As long as temperature and moisture are not a matter of concern, any room in the house is a potential pantry storage candidate. Who says you can’t put cans in the coat closet?
2. Camouflaging – Incorporate pantry items into the house. For instance, put together two large bulk-food storage containers and add a plywood circle on top and a round tablecloth. Your storage area for your 50-pound flour became a gorgeous end table.
3. Search high and low – Use the space beneath or above furniture as a storage location. Pack shallow storage boxes under the bed with canned food, label them up, and then thrust them back under the bed. In the same way, cardboard records boxes can be used as storage material. Decorate them with gift wrapper or textile, pack them with beans and rice, bags of pasta, and so on, then put them away on top of some tall cabinet or bookshelf.

The first thing that you need to give especial attention to is your kitchen.

You should make your kitchen the heart of your home because here is where you’ll feed your family and food is an expression of your love.

If you’re someone who likes to cook or loves to eat, the kitchen would matter much to you. A one-of-a-kind gastronomic experience does not only depend on your cooking skills, the cooking instruments you use are also a crucial factor.

Even more so when you love to bake or roast you’re the perfect Thanksgiving turkey.

To give you uncompromising control over your ovens temperature, you must have a sophisticated, easy to operate, reliable built-in oven to do the job.

One can do loads of stuff with an oven. You can have your own Thanksgiving turkey. You can bake cookies, bread, cakes, and other pastries. If you have a sweet tooth and you know how to bake, you’d find yourself inseparable from your oven of choice. Instead of spending a lot of money on expensive desserts, you can produce your own sweet delicacies.

Ovens have been a part of the household for hundreds or maybe even thousands of years. Nowadays, ovens are designed using the most advance technology, which appliance companies are able to get their hands on. More efficient ways of heating, easier cleaning procedures and other features are now fast-becoming staples in the ovens that are in the market today.

In selecting a built in oven, one must not only look at the color and look of the oven but also at its baking features.

Built in ovens can be either single or double, stainless steel or colored. The color or the outside material of the oven ultimately depends on the taste of the buyer, may it be his or her favorite color or it goes well with the kitchen decor.

The decision of it being either single or double depends on what you are going to use it for. Utility of an appliance is one of the first things to be considered before buying it. If you plan to start a baking business at home then a double oven would be a must.

You might also opt for a double oven if you have a big family and meals are a big fuss with two or more of everything is being baked at the same time. However, if the oven will only serve 2-5 people, then a single oven would do.

Size of the oven is also important. Not that you should buy a gargantuan one, but just the right size where everything you ordinarily bake will fit in. You must also make sure that there is enough space for it in your kitchen. Measure first the maximum width and height that your kitchen space can accommodate.

You should also choose between a gas and an electrical oven. While it’s more environment friendly to use an electric built-in oven, it is, on the other hand, cheaper to operate a gas-run.

Opening the oven door, you must then make sure that everything inside is sturdy. Make sure that the shelves won’t fall off. Get ones that has light inside it so that checking your recipe while it’s cooking will be easy. Make sure that the window is large enough for you to see everything that is inside, making sure that nothing is going to get burnt.

If you’re going to buy a brand new oven, then choose one that has a convection system. While this kind of oven will cost more, it would ensure a faster, thus a more efficient, baking process.

An oven with a convection system uses a fan that circulates the hot air inside the oven, allowing faster baking or roasting. This will help you save on gas or electricity.

You might also want to buy a self-cleaning oven. This makes the cleaning process easier and faster. Most of the popular oven brands offer this kind of feature in its newer models.

There are also other features that add to the excitement of browsing for a new oven: digital switches, timers, heat settings, LED displays, etc.

Finally, make sure that there is a solid warranty for your new oven.

Kitchen islands have become more elaborative, adding kitchen appliance, cabinet designs and accessories like sinks designed specially for food preparation.

Kitchen Islands evolved from the classic kitchen tables. But today, the design of a kitchen island has become a fully equipped kitchen focal point, complete with food preparation sink, refrigerator, and even cook tops.

Kitchen Islands Add Decorative and Functional Value

There are many advantages of putting a kitchen island in your kitchen design; it provides additional space, extra space for appliances and additional storage space. A kitchen island also makes a great focal point for your kitchen, with stools on the open side that make it a great place to gather during parties and get-togethers with family and friends.

A simple surface, the traditional kitchen island is sometimes can be an elegant to any kitchen. But, you can also add additional style and function with features like corner posts, bump outs, and open shelves.

A kitchen island provides efficiency and convenience by creating an efficient workspace.

Your kitchen island is best placed in the center of the kitchen. Kitchen islands also serve well as a dividing element between your kitchen and eating area or living and family room space. This makes for a convent mix of preparing meals, while socializing with your guests at the same time.

According to statistics, kitchen islands are one of the most popular features of new and remodeled kitchens today. More and more homeowners who are remodeling their houses decide to make the kitchen island a center piece in their kitchen, specially requesting a kitchen island design when working on plans with their architect or interior designer.

While providing needed counter space, many kitchen island designs also incorporate state-of-the art features like a warming oven, dishwasher, small refrigerator or wine cooler, and plenty of storage space.

You can also go more upscale and design a multi-level kitchen island design, with storage space for cookbooks, wine racks, a deep fryer, bar or food prep sink, and eating area. A multi-level countertop surface enhances the interior design, adding functional and decorative value.

Kitchen Island Styles

Kitchen island designs have become so popular that interior designers must be inspired to create new and unique kitchen island styles.

You want your kitchen island design to be unique, so these days there are islands in many different shapes and styles. A rounded, oval, L-shaped or more angular shaped kitchen island could bring a fresh look to your kitchen.

Many kitchen island designs will have a breakfast bar. Instead of the traditional rectangle, they may have a triangular shape orientation, with a sink, refrigerator, and cook top that form the focal point of your kitchen plan design.

Elements of Kitchen Island Design

Aside from the basic appliances that are associated with the kitchen island design, there are additional features that can be added in your kitchen design.

These could be your main or secondary oven, additional electric outlets and switches, shelves, and storage utilities like pull outs or lazy Susan rotating shelving. These features greatly enhance access to commonly used pots, pans and other frequently used cooking utensils.

Your kitchen counter could be built with the same materials as your kitchen island counter top. But if you want to create a more interesting look in your kitchen islands, you may consider using different materials aside from the materials you used in your kitchen islands, giving your island a more eclectic and more contrasting design element.

Kitchen islands lighting is very important in your kitchen. Your island lighting should provide good overall ambient lighting, with overhead can lighting or fluorescent fixtures, task lighting for work centers and some more decorative or accent lighting to add depth and warmth. Accent lighting provides the dramatic effect that you want to highlight your kitchen island area.

Whether you decide on a traditional kitchen island or something more elaborate, the functional utility and beauty of a kitchen island makes this the center piece of most modern kitchen designs today; something you can enjoy and get good usefulness for many years to come!

Though it is just the most basic necessity in your kitchen, it can be overwhelming when you are already faced with so many different kinds of refrigerator models and features.

About 10 million refrigerators are purchased each year according to American Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers. Of these, four million are side by side models and about five million will be top freezer types. One million are bottom freezer versions.

So, top freezer and side by side models tend to sell about equally, shifting in recent years toward the side by side models. Side by side models have become more affordable, driving up sales.

These days, you can find side by side refrigerators with door-mounted water, ice and crushed ice dispensers, as low as $700 or $800.

The features that most people want:

• Ice and water dispensers on the door – the ice and water dispenser features found in most side by side models has driven up the demand for these products.
• Water filtration – Probably 90% of side by side models now include a water filter system to remove chlorine taste and the odor.
• Spill-proof shelving – contains spills and clean up more easily.
• Capacity – people want more space in their refrigerators today to put milk and juice, leftover pizza, and all the other various foods family members like to keep on hand.
• Color and style – stainless steel is very popular today and homes with whole appliance package in stainless are perceived to have higher value, even though in many cases stainless steel kitchen appliances are as affordable as other styles and colors.

Here are some tips that you could help you in choosing the right refrigerator for you and for your family:

• The first thing you should do is set your budget. Since there are many models that offer different features or additional features, you need to remember that the more features, the more it costs. Determine what you and your family need in terms of refrigeration and choose the best refrigerator that meets your needs.
• The second thing you need to consider is the dimension of the area where you want to place your refrigerator. In this stage, you need to be accurate in measuring the width, the depth, and the height of the area where your refrigerator is allocated. You don’t want to buy an oversize refrigerator and make a fuss on where to put it in your kitchen later on.
• After considering your budget and getting the measurements, the next thing you will consider is the design of your new refrigerator.

There are many different designs available in the market today:

• Side by side combo door -  the freezer is on one side and the refrigerator on the other side.
• Single-door refrigerator – known as the top mount type. This is the type of refrigerator where the freezer is on top, and the refrigerator is at the bottom.
• Freezer on bottom, refrigerator on top -  convenient access to refrigerated items, but requires stooping down to get at frozen items.
• Built-in refrigerator – generally either a side by side or fridge on top, freezer on bottom configuration, one of these babies will set you back a lot more but look great since they blend into the cabinetry seamlessly.

If you are on a tight budget, remember that our golden rule is not to exceed your set budget. A single door refrigerator is much cheaper compared to a two door refrigerator.

Aside from the design that you want, you also need to determine the features that you want in your new refrigerator.

Are you looking for a refrigerator with an ice maker? Do you want your new refrigerator to have a water dispenser? Are you looking for a refrigerator with water filtration?

Or do you want a refrigerator that have specific layout inside? These are only few features the new refrigerators have. The features should meet your needs. Assess what you and your family usually put on your refrigerator, are you stockpiling foods?

Do you usually have more vegetables and fruits? So, before you shop you need to list down all the features that you want and you need. You also need to remember that features also affect the price of the refrigerator.

Another important feature you need to consider is how energy efficient the model can be. This is not a problem for new models as they are pretty much all Energy Star rated. Remember that the best models to purchase are the ones with the most efficient Energy Star rating.

If you are buying your new refrigerator, you also need to consider your family members. If you have a toddler in the family, you might want to consider a refrigerator with a lockout safety feature for ice dispensers and indoor water dispensers.

If you are already window shopping for your new refrigerator, you might as well consider asking for the manufacturer’s warranty that comes with the refrigerator you are considering on your list.

If you are buying a refrigerator, you might as well go window shopping your nearest appliance center instead of just window shopping online. When you buy a refrigerator, you need to inspect the actual unit.

The great thing about a new dishwasher is that it’s no problem if your kitchen remodeling plans have already been made; you can find a new model will complement most any kitchen design.

The emerging trend is toward stainless steel kitchen interior décor, so finding a dishwasher that matches your other kitchen appliances makes sense.

You can find models with a stainless steel exterior or select an exterior cabinet-faced model to blend seamlessly with your cabinetry. This does require coordination with your cabinet manufacturer or installer and will add some expense.

Most manufacturers have introduced models with long-lasting stainless-steel tubs. While they are more expensive than models with plastic tubs, they are easy maintenance, quiet and have more efficient drying cycles due to the higher reflectivity of the metal tubs.

Stainless models also use low-wattage heating elements, conserving energy and protecting heat-sensitive objects placed on your lower rack. Using a stainless-steel interior with superior insulation, these dishwashers typically use a 450-watt element instead of the higher 600 to 750-watt type found in plastic tub models.

A stainless tub allows your dishwasher to run at hotter water temperatures. While 140 degrees Fahrenheit is typically recommended for plastic tubs, a stainless model can handle water temperatures over 165 degrees Fahrenheit, better sanitizing glassware, silverware and dishes.

Your new stainless steel dishwasher will be much quieter than an old plastic-tub unit so that you can operate it while you dine without any disturbance. Stainless steel dishwashers come in many different styles and sizes to fit your kitchen space, yet accommodate all your pots, pans, and dishes.

Prices range from about $400 to $1000. If you want to get the best deal, you might consider shopping online. You can compare prices and choose the best deal that fits your kitchen remodeling budget.

Models like those from Asko are designed to be super efficient, highest Energy Star-rated dishwashers. While you’ll invest more up front, the long term savings can make these models worth the extra expense, not to mention you’ll be helping to conserve our energy and water resources!

Most stainless steel dishwashers come with self-installation instructions. If you are the do-it-yourself homeowner type, this helps greatly with your budget because you can just follow the simplified instructions on how to install your new stainless steel dishwasher on your kitchen without hiring a professional plumber or contractor.

The kitchen is a gathering place. It is the heart of the home, where families gather to chat and cook and where children do homework.

As such, you want to be sure that your kitchen is as open and inviting as possible. So, how do you make your kitchen more inviting and modern?

The size of the kitchen is very important if you do a lot of cooking and especially if the whole family is involved in the process.

There are some fairly simple upgrades you can do to make your kitchen home improvement project not only simple and fun, but will make it a more modern and comfortable space in which to cook.

Sometimes a simple thing like moving a picture can give a room a whole new look, so look around your kitchen and see what kind of changes you would like to do for your kitchen home improvement project.

Do not tackle a project that might be too much for you. Save that for a contractor to bid out at a later date. One kitchen home improvement project that is fairly simple, is to add tiles to a counter that may be just old counter top.You will need to take up the old counter top and if necessary replace the old  wood.

Next comes tile and grout selection. You can either match your grout to the tile or choose something that creates contrast.

While there are unlimited numbers of gadgets for the kitchen today, remember that modern design is about choosing objects carefully for utility and not having a bunch of items that are rarely, if ever used!

Some other ideas to give your kitchen a sleek, modern decor:

Reduce the Clutter
Modern design should emphasize clean lines and strong organization of items. Few items will be displayed on the counter tops and the ones that do are chosen specifically because they are used regularly and have been chosen for their quality, form and utility. If you do have a lot of kitchen gadgetry, you will want to keep many of these items stored away. You can also rotate the items you keep on display for a little more variety! Learning to be more spare is part of the modern aesthetic.

Minimize Details, Emphasize Consistency
In selecting kitchen cabinets for a modern kitchen, most designers like to choose a single style of door, usually a flat design, to maintain consistency of color and form. Hardwood with evenly sized planks or large tile flooring materials will be the most commonly used styles.

Sleek looking appliances with clean lines and styling, all from a single manufacturer will help maintain consistency, which is important in the modern design aesthetic. Counter tops should use innovative materials like polished concrete, glass, or highly polished stone rather than traditional textured marble or granite surfaces.

Make the details matter
Where a traditional design focuses more on pattern, modern design is focused on form and shape. Neutral wall colors are a natural choice in the modern kitchen decor, with color being provided more by accent pieces.

Use quality materials
To make lines and forms stand out, you will want to choose the highest quality materials your budget allows for where possible. This ensures that each design element chosen will stand out and none will seem like an afterthought.

Fewer elements, strong sense of scale
Ornate decorative elements are common in traditional design. Function and form, large shapes and minimalist design are the cues that reveal a modern kitchen. You want your modern kitchen to have more depth created by shape and texture. Try polished stone or glass tile for the backsplash.

Modern does not mean fashion forward
Designing a modern kitchen does not imply that it has all the latest kitchen gadgets and fashion. Modern is a design aesthetic that continues to evolve. Fushion of different styles has also become part of the modern movement, with people trying more adventurous textures, fabrics, and forms. You might hang blown glass bowls from Italy on your wall or set an abstract sculpture on the counter top or kitchen table to add interest, color and culture to your modern kitchen decor.

Frosted glass, used in cabinet doors can make for an interesting modern element. If you have colorful dishware behind the doors, you will get an interesting effect of color and hints of the shape and form through the glass. Use accent lighting inside the cabinet to play up the effect.

A few more ideas for your modern kitchen design:

• Glass cabinet doors or open cabinetry – while it may not be practical to expand or add windows, you can still use glass to enhance the space by using clear or opaque glass panes in your cabinetry.
  Just remember that if you have clutter or unsightly items inside, you’ll be showing it all off! So, choose carefully which cabinets this idea makes sense for, keeping items there which you want to display.
• Lighting – lighting design makes all the difference, especially in the kitchen. If your kitchen has a single light fixture in the center of your ceiling, add task lighting and accent lighting to transform your modern kitchen design.
• An easy lighting option is adding a little under-cabinet lighting in your kitchen. Above-cabinet lighting is another good option if your cabinets allow space. Inexpensive rope lights are perfect for this application.
• Recessed lighting fixtures are a good option for both ambient and accent light sources. Install adequate task lighting over work stations like the range and your kitchen sink. Pendant lamps, modern-style chandeliers or track lighting make good options as well.
• Bright, warm colors and tones – to make your kitchen seem larger, try using white, off white, yellow or another light color instead of darker wall paint colors on the walls! Lighter colors will reflect light more readily.
• White, off white or stainless steel applicances are also hallmarks of the modern kitchen decor. Add color with your accessories – try using bright dish towels, floor and sink mats, area rugs and accent pieces like vases, bowls, etc.
• Hang bright wall art of an Italian cafe or your favorite dishes. Modern kitchen decor should be sparse compared to more traditional styles, but you can still have fun. A major concept in modern decor is that using less color on the walls will emphasize decorative elements more dramatically.

It is where meals are prepared, friends gather to chat and children finish their homework. But if you have a kitchen that you do not love, it can be a dreaded dismal place where very little gets accomplished. Good kitchen decor can cheer up even a small kitchen and make it more warm and inviting.

One of the best ways is to open your kitchen up is to literally tear down the wall between your kitchen and living room. Join these two gathering places into one open one. Most newer homes are being built with this concept of open space already incorporated.

Even if you only tear down a window-sized area to be able to view the kitchen from the living room, it will open it up and make it seem larger and more inviting. The kitchen no longer has to be completely hidden from the living room, as it seems to be in older homes.

But if you can’t tear down a wall, there are other options for your kitchen decor:

Glass cabinetry – use clear glass panes in your cabinetry. Show the depth of your kitchen. As a warning, though, you will not just be showing the depths of your kitchen, you will also be showing off any mess you may have previously hidden behind those opaque cabinet doors. Consider only installing glass panes in a few of your cabinets, allowing you to display your beautiful pottery and dinnerware, not your cereal boxes and messy spice rack. A few stained glass inserts can also really make your cabinets stand out.

Lighting – the right lighting can make all the difference, even in the kitchen. If you are using just one light fixture located in the center of your ceiling, it is definitely time to add to and change how you light your kitchen. One fairly easy thing to do is to install under-cabinet lighting. An affordable alternative to hard wiring these lights into the exisiting electrical box in the kitchen is to use the ‘tap’ lights currently available. If your cabinets do not reach to the ceiling, you can even install above-cabinet lighting,. For the above-cabinet lighting, you can use Christmas rope lights. Be sure to have good task lighting over important work areas like the kitchen sink and stove. Modern track lighting and pendant lights can add a nice touch.

Bright and warm colors – if you have a small kitchen and want your kitchen to seem larger, do not use dark colors on the walls. Instead, open it up by using warm whites and yellows or other colors that invite light. Also consider light-colored appliances and cabinetry. You can still add a splash of color here and there in your accessories. Use a bright red dishtowel; sink mat, fruit bowl, recipe box, etc. Hang up some brightly colored photos or drawings of Paris cafes or food, etc. You can still have fun with your kitchen decor. And, in fact, if you use subtler, lighter colors on your walls, your decorations will stand out much more.

These are only a few ideas to help you improve your decor and make the gathering spot of your home feel fresher and larger and even more inviting. Just look around your kitchen and think about what you could change to make it feel more welcoming.