September 28, 2016
Is there any better feeling than sitting in your outdoor setting enjoying the night sky but also enjoying your wonderful garden. Especially if you have installed outdoor lighting to accentuate the special areas of your garden.
We are all drawn to the beautiful pictures of homes at night. Where the use of lighting around a home or garden adds a special feeling and character to the photo.
There must be something about the light and dark within the garden that draws us in and excites us.
When you are sitting under the night skies enjoying the special effects the right lighting gives to your garden then that is a magical time.
It is great to create a special ambience, mystery in your garden.
The video below from B&Q gives you ideas on what to consider for your own outdoor lighting requirements.
1. Safety
2. Security
3. Relaxation
4. Uplighting
5. Lighting and Water
6. Party Lights
Now you can for begin to plan your own outdoor lighting.
You can watch the full video below.
September 24, 2016
If you are looking for a challenge, why not plan a kitchen renovation. It is one way to give yor home that new home feeling. It also gives you a chance to entirely, or moderately change the look or style of this special room in your home. In the process you will easily accomplish two important goals:
1. You will increase the investment in your home
2. Improve your home to reflect modern life styles
September 21, 2016
With the warmer months fast approaching you need to start planning and designing your outdoor space now.
In this video Lauren and Kai from HouseandHome show you the 5 essential steps you need to take when designing your outdoor area.
Apart from some great advice check out the different options with furniture, colours and styles the girls show you. They really give some good ideas for planning your outdoor area.
Like the inside of your home, today you have numerous options with what you can do with your outdoor area. The range of colours, lounges and other accessories is amazing.
You can watch the full video below. Good luck with planning your outdoor area.
September 06, 2016
Spring is here at last. And Summer is not that far away.
It is a wonderful time of year. As we emerge from the depths of winter and those cold days it is a good idea to give your home a once over before the full arrival of Spring and Summer.
Now before you settle back and enjoy the long warm days of summer a few little things need to be done. It is a good time to give your lovely home a check and clean to give it a lift for those summer days.
A little bit of preparation now will save you headaches in the future. You want to enjoy those lovely BBQ’s and entertaining friends and family outside.
Before you start anything check your cleaning supplies If you find you’re out of paper towels or running low on Windex, in the middle of cleaning what a pain. Make a list and top up your supplies and pick them up next time you are shopping.
Spring is the perfect time to give your yard a little TLC. Set aside time to check all of your outdoor power equipment, especially those requiring fuel or batteries.
Make sure you have backup batteries and fuel cans on hand, as finding yourself out of power in the middle of a project is not fun.
Get the most out of manicuring your lawn by sharpening the blades on your mower.
Get your shed organized before you begin so that everything will flow easily for you.
To prevent leaking, take the time to examine your roof for obvious signs of damage. If you’re concerned about the condition of your roof, consider contacting a roofing professional to evaluate the damaged areas.
Cold weather, can affect the condition of your driveway. You’ll want to patch all cracks and determine if it's time again to coat your driveway with sealer.
Check your smoke detectors and their batteries.
Check your air-conditioner, clean the filters and test the cooling function for summer.
Organise a service call on your air-conditioner if you feel that it is required. You don’t want to be without your air-conditioner during the middle of the summer heat.
Check your BBQ and give it a clean.
You don’t want to go to use your barbie during Spring and Summer and find you have to give it a clean just before your guests turn up.
Check or fill your gas bottle so you start the season with a full bottle.
Every gardener’s personal nightmare is a yard full of weeds. Be proactive and avoid this problem by applying fertilizer and weed preventer before the pesky green tufts sprout. If you apply it too late, it can prove to be a daunting task trying to catch up.
In addition to fertilizing, preparing your perennial flower beds early, before the plants begin to grow and spread out, will make your job much easier. This is also a good time to lay down fresh compost and mulch and also pluck unwanted weeds.
Prune your trees and shrubs
Clear old leaves and unruly weeds from your garden to get it in pristine shape for planting
Your windows need to be washed in the springtime, both inside and out. While washing your windows, inspect the window screens for signs of distress, rips, and tears.
Wash the screens in good condition, and replace damaged ones. While your focus in on your windows, check the sealant to ensure there aren’t any leaks.
Your gutters will be getting a lot of action during the winter rains. Hopefully, you cleaned your gutters during Autumn, be sure to double-check for debris buildup, especially if your yard has a lot of tall trees.
Check the downspout for cracks or signs of damage, and be sure to point them away from your home’s foundation.
Is the exterior of your home looking tired? Consider repainting for a fresh, new look. Painters get booked up early on during the spring and summer months, so be sure to get a head start and make an appointment as soon as possible.
Consider a touch up for your doors and windows.
Refresh your floors with a deep clean or polish
Dry clean your curtains, dust off blinds and clean your windows
Spot clean your furniture
For a handy checklist for cleaning each room during Spring check out this article.
Now time to relax and enjoy the good weather.
August 31, 2016
Whether you have an old or new kitchens you never seem to have enough storage for all your pots, pans, food, small appliances.
If you are designing a new kitchen then you need to make a note of these ideas so that you can include them in your design or make sure your kitchen manufacturer or designer have included them in your new plans.
This video from Ben Galt gives you good examples of how to include these storage ideas into your new or existing kitchen
If you include these storage ideas in your kitchen you will be amazed at how much cleaner and organised your kitchen will be.
This will make your time in the kitchen more enjoyable and easier to get around. You won't waste time
You won't waste time searching for pots or pans, food from the pantry and it will make your cooking time much more enjoyable.
You can watch the full video below.
August 24, 2016
There is something distinct and special about an oriental design.
It has a mystic and special feel about it. It is like you have invited an ancient ideal into your home. Something unique from the Orient for your home.
If you are planning your home or kitchen renovation here are 5 ways you can add that special Oriental design to your home. Maybe not for the full house but for a special part of your home.
Why not create an oriental oasis in your home with your Dining Room. Having chairs or sitting on the ground will certainly give your family and friends a unique experience.
Serene and Practical: 40 Asian-Style Dining Rooms by Decosit
The inherent minimalism of Japanese design and timeless beauty of Chinese style and its unique flavor provide plenty of options for those looking eastward for some design inspiration. While the name ‘Asian style’ is far too broad, it often points to a style derived from the Far East, with ideas from Japan and China dominating the conversation. Read more..
Why not an oriental styled kitchen. The Japanese have created very simple and minimal kitchens yet they have a sense of style and peacefulness. Not filled with clutter.
Japanese-Inspired Kitchens Focused On Minimalism by Homedit
The kitchen has always been a utilitarian space where the design is focused on functionality rather than aspect and this caused kitchens to become simplified over the years, resulting in the contemporary minimalism. However, Japanese kitchens have always been simple so combining this influence with a contemporary décor is a great way to obtain a simple and practical look with a hint of Japan. Read more..
Why not change your bathroom to reflect the oriental influence. This does not mean a full renovation but some nice decorating tips to change your bathroom.
Elegant Japanese Bathroom Decorating by InspirationPAB
Japanese bathroom decorating suggestions to produce pleasant relaxation. A bathtub is a key element of Japanese bathroom decorating in practical and elegant minimalist style. Japanese have enjoyed the benefits of a bath for centuries. Japanese individuals wash their physique outside a bathtub. Standard Japanese bathroom design and style has a sink and drain on 1 floor. A deep soaking tub with warm water for relaxation. The Japanese bath has a heater installed inside, to preserve the water warm for other household members or for the subsequent day or two. Read more
Change your offcie to reflect the oriental style. Create a smart work space with a touch of elegance.
10 Creative Home Offices with an Asian Influence by Decosit
The Asian style is largely defined by the use of natural materials, calming hues and innate simplicity. Ergonomics meet form beautifully in Asian-style home offices, and today we have 10 outstanding inspirations that showcase how to pull off the look while embracing modern aesthetics Read more..
Create that room away from everything. Get away relax, meditate and prepare yourself for the day. You can do this both inside or outside your home.
A World of Zen: 25 Serenely Beautiful Meditation Rooms by Decoist
The more tech-savvy and busy we get, the more we feel a need to get away from it all and spend some time in peace and tranquility. An escape to an exotic holiday destination does help in this regard, but you really cannot take a break every week! This is where the calming influence of meditation and yoga comes in. Much more than a fad and a growing trend globally, spending at least a few minutes each day meditating can improve your concentration, posture and mood, along with delivering a slew of other health benefits. But like everything else, a perfect meditative session needs an ideal meditation room or space. Read more..
If you don't want to renovate or conduct a major upgrade then just decorate with a few nick knacks.
Luxurious Home Decorating Suggestions by InspirationPAB
Stylish property decorating suggestions and inspiration from diverse sources. For these who are Asian-style, exotic woods and unique crafts Song Saa Private Iceland Resort Pictures wonderful inspiration for generating offer intimate and luxurious modern interior with exclusive Asian flair and charm. Read more
Personally we love the Oriental design. Decorating with oraments, table runners, candles can certainly give your home that mystic Oriental feel.
August 23, 2016
Does it give you a sense of style and sophistication or do you think that because it is black then your home or kitchen will be morbid and dreary.
Like all colours it really depends on how you use and what you have around it. A lovely black dress is lovely but it really sparkles with the jewelry and accessiroeis that you dress it up with.
The same goes for your home or kitchen when you are renovating or upgrading.
One of the things we notice with black kitchens is not the black cabinetry or stone benchtops but the other colours that are used in the kitchen. The green plants, bright flowers, lighting, appliances.
These splashes of colour seem to jump out at you and compliment the black. The black acts as a foundation to build upon in your kitchen to give it colour and energy.
There are many different views and ideas for Black Kitchens. Some of the viewpoints are;
43 Dramatic Black Kitchens by OneKiDesign
Whats even better, is that you do not have design your kitchen in straight out black to make a strong visual impact. Since black is a neutral hue, it can be incorporated in so many ways, from all black to adding accents of white, brass, gold, even pink! Read More...
Kitchens in Dark Tones by Creative Residence
The black tones in the kitchen for someone will seem unusual and too dark. Because the kitchen have different function than the other areas in the home. If you want kitchen with black tones. Very important is to be properly aligned in space. Carefully to choose the tiles and the color of the wall. Kitchens in dark tones with elements from marble make fantastic combination. Read more..
25 Remarkable Kitchens with Dark Cabinets and Dark Granite by homestratosphere
25 Remarkable Kitchens with Dark Cabinets and Dark Granite and see some truly marvelous examples of this gorgeous kitchen combination. Read More...
If not in the kitchen then black can easily be included throughout your living areas. This appears to be more acceptable for the majority of of homes
A Pair Of Dark Themed Homes With Sophisticated Accent Colors by home-designing.
While everything seems to go with white, black and dark grey are a little trickier especially for those who crave a more subdued design. This post looks at two wonderfully luxurious homes that bring their moody and mysterious interiors to life with smart accent color choices – the colors themselves are subtle and muted but feel larger than life against their neutral backgrounds. Read more..
Why not use black for all your walls?
You can then build upon this with different colours for your furniture, windows and lighting. It will certainly create a presence in your home.
This Small, Dark-Walled Studio Apartment is Proof that Rules are Made to Be Broken by Apartment Therapy
When decorating a small space, the conventional wisdom is to use light colors to make the space seem as large as possible. But when your small space has high ceilings and great lighting, sometimes you can get away with breaking a few rules — and create a studio apartment with all the style of a much larger home. Read More
Why not paint the whole exterior of your home black.
20 Dramatic Home Exteriors Proving Black is the New Black by Freshhome
A black exterior is a striking choice for any home style. It’s authoritative, bold, and a bit haunting. It’s impossible not to make a statement with a black exterior. It amplifies modern architecture, making hard lines and angles even sharper. It also breathes new life to aged and dated homes, removing bland and murky hues for a timeless color choice. Read more..
Why not have a splash outside in your garden or outdoor area.
From simply having a black wall, to furniture, to garden furniture there are many different ways to include black in and around your home.
Here are 10 ways you can do this at your own home.
August 19, 2016
You want you floor to both look good, be durable and be safe. The last thing you want to select is a floor that is slippery or that requires alot of maintenance.
Your time is valuable and after spending time and money to renovate your home or kitchen the last thing you want is to be spending time maintaining everything. After all wasn't the renovation supposed to free up your time and make things a little easier in your home.
If you are uncertain about the differet types of flooring read our previous article of flooring types.
If you have decided you want tiles as your flooring then we explain the different types of tiles you can choose from for both the inside and outside.
Different tiles are more suitable for different rooms then other tiles.
Your budget will influence the type of tile you can choose.
We have included a video from tilecleaners.com.au which highlight the different tiles.
Marble is formed from Limestone, by additional heat and the earths crust forces. This process is called re-crystallization. The variety, textures and makeup of the marble is the result of the differences in the original carbonate minerals, the impurities, and the heat forces during this process.
Marble that comes from the purest calcite is usually white. Marble containing limestone is yellow or cream, if it contains serpentine then its green, if it contains hematite it is red.
It has been used for thousands of years for its beauty, strength and resistance to fire and erosion. The ancient Persians, Romans and Greeks used marble in many buildings and statues. To date, even with the advancements in technology, no one has been able to imitate the natural beauty of marble while maintaining characteristics of the real thing.
Most Common Uses: Interior and exterior wall cladding, interior and exterior flooring and paving, fireplaces, vanity tops, counter tops, table tops, staircases.
Soft & Resistant to shattering. Since classical times, white marble like Carrara, has been the prized use for sculpture with its softness and resistance to shattering. With its low index of refraction of calcite, light can penetrate several millimetres into the stone before being scattered out, resulting in the characteristic "waxy" look which gives "life" to marble sculptures of the human body. Michelangelo created all his Renaissance sculptures in marble; it was also the favourite medium for Greek and Roman sculptors and architects.
Natural, pure, durable & beautiful. The trend toward a less processed, less synthetic environment has never been stronger. Marble is truly a beautiful, natural product with a reputation for durability that has been built up over hundreds of years.
An excellent Insulator. Even in direct sunlight, marble stays relatively cool which lowers air conditioning costs. In winter, once warmed marble will retain its warmth and stay soft underfoot.
Adds value to your home. Marble is excellent investment – it may increase the asset value of your home, it look wonderful and oozes luxury and class. With judicious use and good design, marble is an inexpensive way to enhance the value of a building.
Offers design versatility. Marble tiles are frequently used in bathrooms on floors walls, shower recesses and vanity tops. In kitchens marble is used on floors, benchtops and splashbacks. Marble is commonly used for table tops for both indoors and outdoors and has also been used fire hearths and mantle pieces.
Travertine has been used as a building stone since ancient times. The word 'Travertine' comes from an old Roman name (meaning across the Tibur) from the town of Tivoli in Italy where large deposits of Travertine exist.
Travertine is a dense closely compacted form of Limestone found mostly in areas where circulating ground water contains Calcium carbonate. It often forms around the mouths of hot spring waters. Travertine crystallization occurs when calcium carbonate separates from water through evaporation.
Travertine is often used as decorative building stone. Travertine works for both indoor and outdoor applications; it can be used in all rooms of the house: especially living, bathroom and kitchens. It can also be used for decorative purposes such as splash backs and wall tiles.
Travertine has been used on paths, stairs, walls and floors in Europe for hundreds of years - it's part of the stone's charm. It has been used on more significant buildings as well. The Colloseum in Rome was constructed with travertine quarried from Tivoli on the outskirts of the city. The Sacre Coeur Basilica in Paris and the Getty Centre, Los Angeles are also made from travertine. It's all about the durability of the stone - it lasts & lasts!
Most Common Uses: Interior and exterior wall cladding, interior and exterior paving and flooring, vanity tops, washbasins, shower trays, staircases, residential and commercial counter tops, table tops.
Sandstone is a type of sedimentary rock. It is made up of particles of pre-existing rocks and minerals. These particles are usually igneous rocks, metamorphic rocks or even other sedimentary rocks.
Sandstone is generally found under the seabed, riverbed, or under desert areas. With the influence of some type of current (wind, waves, flowing water, or glacier) the layer of particles starts depositing one above another. They are composed of fragments or particles of older rocks or previously existing solid matter.
It is a common building and paving material. Like sand, sandstone may be any colour, but the most common colours include tan, brown, red, yellow, pink, grey and white. Since sandstone is very unique, it's beds often form highly visible cliffs and other topographic features, certain colours of sandstone have been strongly identified with certain regions.
Sandstone is a premium quality natural stone. It is incredibly versatile and can be used for a variety of purposes, both indoor and outdoors. This includes floors, walls, paving, coping, cladding pillars and landscaping features. there is nothing more natural than sandstone.
Bluestone's toughness gives it excellent wear and tear resistance.
It is often used for structural work because of its high compressive strength and durability. It's toughness is legendary.
It is a dense and incredibly durable building and landscaping material that has an unmistakable decorative quality and beauty.
It is also highly versatile. It's dark colour and range of surface treatments (sawn, honed, sandblasted etc) provide options for different uses.
Slate has been used for centuries to create appealing and functional tiles.
Slate is a type of metamorphic rock derived from clay or volcanic ash. While it’s quite beautiful to look at, slate is also a very effective tile choice for a number of reasons.
There’s no denying the fact that slate is an extremely versatile type of rock. It’s most commonly use as tiles, but it’s also used for tombstones, roof shingles, benches and outdoor memorial structures.
One of the greatest things about slate tiles is that it tolerates heat very well. In fact, out of all the tiles on the market, slate is arguably the type that has the best heat resistance. Because of this, slate tile is an excellent choice for kitchen counter-tops where piping hot pots and pans can be left without fear of damage.
You shouldn’t limit yourself to using slate tiles in just the kitchen, though. It’s also ideal for bathrooms because of the non-slip surface it offers. Chances are you’ve walked on slate tile outside at a park or memorial before. The reason it’s used in these areas is because it provides a non-slippery surface, even after it’s rained on. If you’re thinking of tiling your bathroom, consider using slate tile for this reason.
Another benefit to using slate tile is the variety of choices and styles available. You can find them in everything ranging from vibrant colors to your typical gray in great tile outlets.
Granite is commonly believed to have been formed from volcanic emissions or solidified molten rocks under the earths crust pressure.
Granite is a hard, course grained crystalline rock composed primarily of quartz, feldspar, mica and other accessory minerals. The minerals are interlocked like the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle.
Granite is a strong and durable stone which makes it valuable for construction.
Most common Uses: Interior and exterior wall cladding, interior and exterior paving, residential and commercial counter tops, monuments, statuary, kitchen and bathroom bench tops.
People will tell you ceramics have been around for hundreds of years and they would be right. Ceramics are known for their beauty and colours.
Ceramic tiles are more absorbent as they are made from porous clay, usually red, brown or white clay with a glaze on top. They are typically less expensive, easy to cut and easy to clean and maintain.
Sizes are limited as they are made in pre-determined size molds. Ceramic tiles normally have a rounded edge which some tilers prefer if the slab is not level.
Porcelain tiles are made from selected refined clay and are pressed before baking at a much higher temperature than ceramic tiles.
Porcelain tiles are less absorbent, stain resistant, frost resistant, the colour often runs through the whole tile and they are easy to clean. However they are harder to cut and are more expensive.
Porcelain tiles are a better choice for new home renovations and larger commercial projects where a better performing product is needed.
Porcelain tiles are manufactured with more advanced technology producing an incredible range of colours, sizes and styles such as stone-look, marble-look, cement-look and the very new and popular timber-look.
Porcelain tiles come in polished, semi-polished, matt, honed, brushed, rockface and glazed.
Terracotta Tiles are the relatively durability, versatile, looks better with age, warm and inviting underfoot, water, allergen and bacteria resistant, inexpensive low maintenance.
There is nothing quite like the timeless beauty of Terrazzo.
A mixture of cement, marble aggregates and pigments, terrazzo can either be made into precast elements or poured on site insitu. Polished, honed or brushed terrazzo can be tailored to suit a wide range of tastes and interiors.
The uses of terrazzo are limited only by your imagination. Precast elements such as terrazzo tiles, toilet and shower partitions, steps and risers and public furniture can be manufactured in the factory to exacting standards and beautiful finishes.
Quarry tiles are a natural, durable type of unglazed tile.
Quarry tiles are manufactured using a blending clays with other materials like shale to create a coarse mixture to create very dense tiles. After the tiles are cut, they are fired at high temperatures, changing the chemical composition of the clay and creating a heavy, hard tile which is extremely strong.
The bottom side of a quarry tile is generally ridged to improve adhesion to grout. The top of the tile has a coarse surface because it is not glazed.
The surface of a quarry tile is very useful in environments like pathways and kitchens and has great traction, in other words, it is great for non-slip.
The durability of a quarry tile makes it less prone to chips and scratches hence great for high traffic areas. The main disadvantage of quarry tiles is that they are somewhat porous because they have not been glazed. Due to this porous nature, this makes the quarry tile susceptible to water damage as water can seep through the tile which provides an hospitable environment for moulds and fungus.
For this reason, many people seal quarry tile and its grout after it is installed. Waxing quarry tiles is another process that assists to ensure that the sealer remains in place.
Since the 1990s a variety of modern glass tile technologies, including methods to take used glass and recreate it as ‘green’ tiles, has resulted in a resurgence of interest in glass tile as a floor and wall cladding.
It is now most commonly used in pools, kitchens, spas, and bathrooms. And while smalti tiles are still popular, small and large format glass products are now commonly formed using cast and fused glass methods. The plasticity of these last two methods has resulted in a wide variety of looks and applications, including floor tiles.[2]
In the late 1990s, special glass tiles have been coated on the back side with a receptive white coating. This has allowed impregnation of heat-transfer dyes by a printing process reproducing high resolution pictures and designs.
Custom printed glass tile and glass tile murals exhibit the toughness of glass on the wearing surface with photo-like pictures. These are especially practical in kitchens and showers, where cleanser and moisture resistance are important.
As they say the only thing limiting you is your imagination. The choice of tiles, like most things, will comne down to your personal preference, your budget and suitability for the room in your home.
August 10, 2016
Each room has a different purpose and activity and so a different colour is required.
But there is the same process for each room that will help you pick the right colours.
Here is agood video from Lowes that gives a very good explanation and steps on how to choose the paint colours for each room.
1. Stick To Your Favourites
2. Use Existing Furniture as a Guide
3. Think About Your Room Size
4. Keep an Eye on Nearby Walls
5. Analyze Lighting
6. Mood and Function
7. Try Samples
This is a very good 7 step process to follow when you are looking to paint any room in your house. You need to be comfortable with the colours you choose and like becasue you are the person living in your home.
You can watch the full video below.
There are 7 steps to help you choose the paint for your home or kitchen renovation.
All the best.
August 09, 2016
You need to give yourself with as much knowledge as you can about the kitchen remodeling and renovation process. This will make things flow easier for you and allow you to identify any problems before they happen.
Think about how you plan to use your kitchen in the future. The requirements of you and your family.
Is the kitchen set by itself or does it allow access to and from other areas?
Finances and time can seriously restrict your renovation plans so, when planning, include the expense of the project plus how long it will take to complete. Check out our earlier blog where we gave a guide to the break up of your renovation budget.
The rules for the work triangle:
Understand what you like or don't like about your old kitchen to help you decide what you need in your new kitchen.
Think about how you want to use the kitchen and how you want to involve family in kitchen activities.
Plan your budget for really important items first, such as more storage, new lighting and appliances, but beware of unexpected expenses like heavy new appliances that require structural upgrades to the floor.
Check out out previous article on your kitchen renovation budget
Shop for contractors and installers as carefully as anything else you choose for your kitchen to ensure they are qualified to accomplish the task on time and on budget.
Communicate with everyone to be sure they know exactly what you want. Be certain of your kitchen design plan, review it with your contractor and stick to it once the work begins.
A change of plans in mid-remodel is expensive so be sure of your plan before the project begins and follow it as work progresses to catch any mistakes due to faulty design or communication before it's too late to correct them.
No kitchen remodeling can be started until you become familiar with your area's planning and building codes.
These codes may impose certain limitations on your plans, such as how far you can extend a planned addition to the kitchen.
Other codes are in place to restrict construction elements like carpentry, plumbing and wiring.
Remodeling offers you the opportunity to gain more space and efficiency when it comes to cabinet storage.
Determining which cabinet styles offer you the best use of space is a task all its own. For example, in corner shelving areas, cabinets equipped with lazy Susans are much more effective than cabinets with fixed shelves.
Purchasing appliances well ahead of when you are ready to install them can save you much frustration.
This additional planning time gives you the chance to measure appliances precisely and accurately and match them to the space available inside the remodeled kitchen.
Taking the time to take these measurements will ensure that you aren't surprised with the delivery of a stove or refrigerator that is anywhere from 0.5cm to 4cm too wide to fit into its allotted space.
When selecting your appliances we suggest that you follow these steps to help you make the correct decision for your kitchen:
Oven - select your oven first. How often will you use the oven, how many people will you be cooking for, how much space is required for your oven, where will it be located in the kitchen. Here is our range of ovens.
Cooktop - once you have selected your oven then choose your cooktop. How often will you use it, will it be gas or electric, what will we cook on the cooktop, does the size match the size of our oven and where will it be located within your kitchen? Here is our range of cooktops. Once you have answered these questions you can move to the next area.
Range hood - once you have selected the cooktop then you will know how powerful and the style of your range hood. Will you select a slide-out or canopy to compliment the design of your kitchen? Will you range hood recirculate or be ducted out? How much space have I allocated to storage with your cabinets? Here are our range of rangehoods
Increasing your cooking preparation efficiency should be near the top of your list when it comes to remodeling plans.
An efficient placement of the refrigerator is in a location where you can actually reach inside it from the sink area.
If necessary, purchase a refrigerator with a door that opens in the direction that facilitates this ease of use or buy a model that allows the hinges to be switched to the opposite side.
Electrical appliances like cooktops and ovens are required to have their own electrical circuits.
This is an important fact to keep in mind because you will not be allowed to splice into an existing line.
Large appliances are not the only equipment subject to this necessity; garbage disposals and dishwashers are also subject to this code requirement.
One of the inescapable facts about kitchen remodeling is that, in many cases, you need to precisely address in advance how you will prepare and cook food while your present kitchen is in a state of distress.
Keep in mind that this preparation extends beyond how to cook food. You may need to find storage space for cookware, plates, dishes and silverware. If your plans are based on eating out during the remodeling process, you need to realize that completion time is always just an estimate.
A kitchen is a functional environment. In recent years, kitchens have become places where we do everything--homework, TV-watching, snack-eating, and sometimes, yes, we even do a little cooking.
So, it is easy to forget that workflow is the number one priority. Prioritize your workflow by keeping the classic kitchen triangle in mind, keeping services as close together as possible, and giving yourself enough counter space to spread out and do your cooking-- but not so much that it makes it difficult to get from place to place.
Even though large kitchens have become trendy in recent years, they do not work as well as smaller kitchens.
Smaller kitchens are less expensive to build or remodel, and they are better for the cook. If you absolutely feel that you need a spacious entertainment kitchen, then by all means do so.
But it’s a decision you need to ponder deeply, because the more space you take for the kitchen, the less space you have for other rooms in the house.
Does your kitchen have enough room for placement of an island? If so, this will spread out your perimeter counters that much farther. In that case, you will need to max out your kitchen island and make it fully functional, perhaps by adding a cooktop or even a sink.
The One-Wall Kitchen Design Layout is perfect for long and narrow kitchens. It's simple and, as far as kitchen remodels go, fairly inexpensive. While it does not utilize the classic kitchen triangle its linear design still allows for unimpeded traffic flow.
Counter space is at a premium. The one-wall kitchen design is not the best design, though. It can be improved with either the corridor or L-shape kitchen design plans--provided kichen square footage is available.
Corridor Style Layout kitchen design is highly functional because it uses the classic kitchen triangle. This layout gives a bit more space for counters and cabinets, though crowding between the two main work spaces may be a problem.
Still, the corridor style kitchen design is a highly affordable and functional plan.
L-Shaped Style kitchen design plan is very popular, though this plan does away with the crowding problems found in the corridor plan.
We still find the kitchen triangle, though the walk from range to refrigerator is longer. This arrangement allows as much--and even a bit more--counter and cabinet space than the L-shaped design.
The corner counter space (upper right in the illustration) is difficult to reach for food preparation, and is often used for storing mixers, toaster ovens, and other small appliances.
Note that with the increased counter space, a double-sink can installed. A highly evolved kitchen design layout, the double-L allows for two workstations.
The smaller "L" has a cooktop (but not an oven) and a second sink. The major cooking operations are focused on this area, while food prep goes on in the larger of the "L" spaces.
This larger "L" also has tons of open counter space because the cooktop has been moved away. Note that not much space is gained for cabinets: the smaller "L" has only a short run along the wall for cabinets (though cabinets can be hung off the ceiling above the cooktop, if desired).
U-Shaped Style kitchen design plan can be thought of as a corridor-shape plan--but with a closed end. The closed end gives extra room for a range or a sink.
This arrangement maintains good workflow by means of the classic kitchen triangle. The closed end also provides plenty of space for extra cabinets.
When considering the best kitchen design for your home, you need to incorporate lighting into your thought process.
Unfortunately, most homeowners take care of lighting as the last step in the process; it becomes an afterthought. And there is no need to stick to the time-worn and mundane can (or recessed) lights that you see in every kitchen in the world! Try lights that focus more on the work areas, such as kitchen pendant lights.
Task Lighting
There are some places in the kitchen where lights should be installed in order for cooks to work safely.
It's best not to use extremely bright lights, as they could be blinding and defeat the purpose of their function. Install task lighting in the stove area; place a light directly above the stove so that the cook can clearly see all food that is being prepared on the stove top.
Most ovens come with lighting from the manufacturer. Install a light directly above the kitchen island so that the cook can accurately see how to chop and prepare food before placing it in the stove or oven. The kitchen island light should be bright enough to be used alone when the main kitchen light is not on.
Accent Lighting
Install low voltage kitchen accent lighting to add depth and appeal to the space. Accent lighting can be used in the crevices of cabinets and counter tops in order to showcase certain appliances.
If there is a cabinet in the kitchen that showcases fine china or other unique dinnerware, install accent lighting around the shelves in the cabinet to bring attention to these pieces.
Lights that accent a kitchen space are especially ideal for small kitchen, as the lights can add depth to the space and make it appear larger. All wires should be hidden and properly contained for accent lighting. This not only improves the look of the lighting, but prevents overheating and electrical shortages.
Ambience Lighting
Use lighting to produce the appropriate ambiance for the space. Ambient lighting softens the shadows in the kitchen, and can create a warmth in the kitchen dining space that is similar to candlelight.
Add soft lighting along the floor panels of the kitchen to open the room up while conveying an inviting and intimate feel. Install the lights so they are safe for children; glass casings or lights that are installed high on the wall are usually best for families with babies and toddlers.
Solid surface countertops have a real strong fan base because they are solid (no particle wood core), minor scratches can be sanded out, and they even have the appearance of seamless stone materials.
Check out this article to see the different types of edges you can have on your benchtop.
If you follow these steps and keep calm then you will have a headache free renovation and be able to enjoy your lovely new kitchen.
August 03, 2016
Whether renovating your kitchen or your whole home there are a number of different options for your flooring.
Understanding the pros and cons of each type of flooring is important.
We look at carpet, hardwood, laminate, tile and vinyl.
Here is an extremely informative guide on the benefits of each different type of flooring and what to consider when selecting from the various options.
There you go a quick overview of the different options for the fooring for your home.
You can watch the whole video here.
Good luck with your renovating.
July 29, 2016
White is a classic.
There is something special about the colour of white that draws us all in but then at times, it can turn us away because it does seem sterile and cold.