Your Complete Kitchen Planning Guide
Knowing how you want to use your kitchen, the features you would like to have in it, and defining priorities that fit your budget can make your dream kitchen a reality. With that in mind, you can minimize the anxiety and the potentially daunting task by building a complete kitchen design plan that helps to ensure getting the most value from your investment. Kitchen planning for your new or remodeled space will be easier to understand if you follow a few of the guidelines discussed below:
Your Kitchen | Your Domain
The kitchen is the heart of your home and has long since been more than just a place to prepare, cook, serve, and eat meals. Modern designer kitchens should be the ultimate representation of your lifestyle yet provide compete functionality in a sometimes very limited space.
When we say ‘lifestyle', we really mean how will the kitchen be used and by whom? How much time do you typically spend preparing meals, what type of meals…gourmet or fast food? How are your meals prepared…made from scratch or pulled from the freezer and placed into a microwave? Are your meals eaten in the kitchen, a formal dining room, or in front of the television? Do you have pets to be considered in your new kitchen design? Do you have hobbies which also are done in the kitchen?
Lifestyles, when it comes to designer kitchens, will fall into the following categories:
Chef Lifestyle
Entertainer Lifestyle
Family Lifestyle
Urban Lifestyle
Accessible Lifestyle
Depending on your lifestyle, you will probably want to consider the most common space planning requirements for your designer kitchen. The best kitchen designs are laid out with work zones in mind. Using what's called "the work triangle," kitchen designers place everything from ovens and cooktops to sinks and refrigerators — as well as the cabinets themselves — within various zones. Space planning or work zones should be driven by your needs to maximize storage, accessibility and comfort in your kitchen.
Storage Space – Is there enough? Storage should be accessible to people of all ages and it should accommodate work needs and storage preferences. Don't overlook the important needs of handling your refuse, garbage, and recycling bins. Well designed storage spaces provide enhanced functionality for your kitchen.
Work Zones – The basic work stations in your kitchen include a) storage for refrigerated and non-refrigerated items, b) cooking and/or heating, and c) meal preparation. Each work station must complement the other and the distance between each station should be as short as possible and without impediments.
Open Floor Plans – Reflecting today's more informal living; open floor plans are very popular in new and remodeled kitchens. Typically a kitchen will now open to adjoining spaces like the family room, a great room, entertainment areas, expanded dining space, and/or computer workstation. Open floor plans create new design opportunities and can help you eliminate bottlenecks, improve traffic flow, and even create a perception of more overall space within your home.
Your Kitchen | From Floor to Ceiling
With a foundation of space within our grasp, let us now discuss the key components necessary to plan compete kitchens. Depending on your budget for a new kitchen or the extent of your kitchen remodel, either all or selected components will be considerations in your planning and budget.
Cabinets – There are literally thousands of options to consider when choosing kitchen cabinets. Your task can be made easier by narrowing your options using these five things – Price, Material, Type, Color, and Style.
Counter Tops have an enormous importance on the look and feel of your kitchen. The many choices available offer varying aesthetics, cost, weight, durability, and upkeep.
Sinks – Material for your sink should blend with your décor; options include stainless steel, composite granite, cast acrylic, cast iron, and copper. The size of your countertop may limit your options for size and number of bowls within your sink. Drop-in or dual-mount sinks work well with existing countertops while undermount sinks offer a clean and stylish look with replacement countertops.
Appliances are the workhorses in your kitchen. Appliances should be attractive, powerful, quiet, easy to clean, and safe. If buying new, look for super-high energy efficiency ratings to guide your choice.
Flooring – The best time to lay a new floor is immediately after your old kitchen has been stripped out and your plumbing and electrical work has been completed. New flooring should cover the entire area, as the additional cost is negligible compared to the time it takes to cut around cabinets. Like your countertops, kitchen flooring should be durable, stain resistance, and complimentary to your overall décor.
Lighting – Given the plethora of functions your kitchen performs, sufficient ambient and task lighting is critical. You need to have the correct lighting at all the conceivable spaces for whatever task may be done at that spot. The type of surface, which is being lit, will also have an impact to the lighting choices you need to make. Colors also play an important role in your lighting selections.
Other Considerations – In addition to the key components listed above, you should also make note of other budget considerations in your overall kitchen planning. They include and are not limited to, Decorative Hardware – Faucets – Paint and/or Wall coverings – Ventilation – Electrical Outlets – Windows and Window Treatments.
Your Kitchen | Delivery and Installation
Consult skilled experts in a variety of fields, especially if you plan your kitchen remodel as a ‘Do-It-Yourself' project. Since a complete kitchen makeover can be a fairly expensive undertaking, it is recommended that you seek and use skilled professionals with design and installation expertise. If you do not select a full service company with this capability as your source, you must be prepared to serve as your own 'scheduling contractor' and perhaps, even purchasing agent. Consider these final tips to get the most value from your investment:
1. Put your plan to paper – draw a plan and make a list to help you determine costs.
2. Hire a reputable contractor experienced in complete kitchens. Get references and a timeframe in writing. Labor costs can be estimated at approximately 30% of the total remodeling job.
3. Do it yourself – coordinate with your contractor for the pieces of work which make sense based on your skill and experience in remodeling. Unless you are licensed, hire reputable plumbers and electricians.
4. Keep at least 10% of your budget for unexpected costs. Who knows what lies beneath those old walls or floors?
Buying a new kitchen is not something you do every day; plan wisely to ensure getting the most for your investment. Remember that fitted kitchen products and services are not ‘off the shelf' items so make sure your plan also includes the delivery of items so installation is not stalled. A ‘build your plan' and ‘follow your plan' approach will ultimately save you money and provide you with the kitchen of your dreams.
Kathryn Dawson writes articles for KDCUK, a well established and highly experienced company in the UK providing kitchen planning and design for homes in London and the entire United Kingdom. Explore a wide selection of luxury designer kitchens available, whether you are going for classic, traditional or modern style. Look no further for complete kitchens today, and let the professionals provide ideas and creativity on your new kitchen at trade prices.
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Filed under News by on Oct 12th, 2010. Comment. 
4 Essential Tips for You to Add More Elegance to Your White Kitchen
Most of the kitchen have white color theme. The white color is a well-liked color that is used by most of the people for their kitchens. There are many reasons because of which this color is preferred by many people for their kitchen. This is a cheerful, bright color which makes your work easy in kitchen. It also offers great canvas for decorating the kitchen by using other colors. The good thing about white theme in the kitchen is that you can change the theme of your kitchen frequently by using the combination of other accent colors.
Given below are the 3 essential tips which help in adding color, style and elegance to your white themed kitchen:
1. Most of the white colored kitchens have light shade or white cabinets which after some time give dull look to your kitchen. To remove this dullness you can include different styles and exciting flavors by substituting it with the other hardware which is bright and colorful. You can choose a color which is used anywhere in your kitchen and then find the cabinet door which can easily blend with the colors all over the room.
2. The other essential thing that can enhance the white theme of your kitchen is to add textures. You can select place mats that have different and interesting textures in order to add lots of interest in the kitchen. You can even choose single color texture and then carry it to different areas of your kitchen. This will help in tying the overall effect of the textures into your kitchen. For example you can use the floral textures or arrangements in your kitchen at different areas.
3. White kitchen gives a light feel and airy atmosphere. This feeling can be further enhanced by just adding some of the plants as well as other colors into your kitchen. This actually helps in intensifying your feelings every time you enter into the kitchen. Plants usually do great in kitchens. Since there are different colored plants available in the market so you can choose any of them which perfectly match with the theme of your kitchen. Actually the white theme in the kitchen enhances the look of plants more. If there is open space available on top of the cabinets then you can put the plants there. In this way these plants add elegance and style to your kitchen without taking on the extra space.
4. The fourth tip that enhances the look of your white themed kitchen is to add different tiles. If you have tiles on the countertops then you can include other tile accents all over the room. You can choose to have colorful ceramic tile on top of your kitchen table. You can also make use of the decorative hanging tiles or wall arts into your kitchen.
These are some of the essential tips that help you in enhancing the look of your white colored kitchens when you get bored of seeing the same white color all over your kitchen. However, having a white kitchen is always beneficial for you because you can decorate it in your own way whenever you desire to do it.
Are you looking to update your kitchen with White Cabinets? RTA white kitchen cabinets might be just what you need. Find exactly what you're looking for in one place: http://KitchenCabinetHub.com
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Some thoughts on custom kitchen remodeling design and kitchen makeover
As the kitchen is the heart of a home and the focal point of most households, kitchen renovation is usually required every few years. For many, the kitchen is the most important part of the house. It is a place where the family congregates during daily meals, holiday entertaining and other activities, and as such, kitchen remodeling and makeover is one of the most common home remodeling jobs general contractors deal with. Having a kitchen that will meet your needs is not a luxury but rather a necessity…and in fact, with today's kitchen remodeling ideas, one doesn't need to spend a lot of money on custom kitchen remodeling design …even a simple kitchen makeover will suffice.
When planning a kitchen remodeling design a detailed plan must be drafted. In any kitchen renovation, whether it's a custom kitchen remodeling or a small kitchen makeover, the kitchen layout style should be well thought of and considered. The kitchen area must be utilized and allocated in the best possible way for all the basic appliances and utilities of a kitchen – the size and place of the stove, refrigerator, sink, dishwasher, cabinets, counter-top, and so on, is the first step in determining the kitchen's layout and design. Next, we consider which materials to use for each of the kitchen renovation features. For instance, for the counter top we can use marble, granite, tile, Formica and so on. The same goes for the cabinets, floor, walls and lightning, where the choice of materials is just as varied.
In addition, the plumbing and electricity of the new kitchen remodeling design may require some work & adjustments. You may want additional lights or more sinks and faucets for the kitchen makeover, especially if the kitchen area is large and it's a custom kitchen renovation with features like center islands and extra counter top space.
Bottom line; make your home a place of joy and comfort. Remember its where you spend most of your time and where you build your family and raise your children. And luckily with today's developments it can also be inexpensive and affordable for all. Go out and check the market for appliances and tools to make your home a heaven on earth and live like a king in your beautiful kingdom
the article was writen by Moshe C , the ceo of Green Future Construction
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Filed under News by on Oct 12th, 2010. Comment.
Copper Kitchen in New Haven slated to close Oct. 27
NEW HAVEN — The owner of Copper Kitchen restaurant, a downtown staple for more than 40 years, plans to close the business’ doors Oct. 27 unless he can reach a lease agreement with landlord Yale University Properties.
Read more on New Haven Register
Mount Clemens apartment balcony coming down
More residents may be forced to move
Read more on Macomb Daily
Hunger pains?
NEW HAVEN — The owner of Copper Kitchen restaurant, a downtown staple for more than 40 years, plans to close the business unless he can reach a lease agreement with landlord Yale University Properties.
Read more on New Haven Register
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Remodeling Your Kitchen Always Starts With the Right Kitchen Drawings
When remodeling a kitchen the old saying "failure to plan is planning to fail" is especially true when referring to your kitchen drawings. The basic elements of a good set of kitchen drawings will be discussed in this article.
Floor plans –
A large scale comprehensive kitchen remodel should ideally include two complete kitchen floor plans. One shows the space in its current condition and is commonly called an "as built" plan. A second kitchen floor plan drawing is needed to depict the kitchen in its completed state and is referred to as the "proposed kitchen floor plan".
In addition, the floor plans used for you new kitchen drawings will show the exact position of each and every new item you have selected. New cabinetry will be shown here along with appliance positions and the various door swings of those appliances .You should also see cabinetry, countertops, flooring and appliance make and model numbers in addition to all global plan notes including particular cabinetry names.
Many kitchen designers like to show various cabinet dimensions on their kitchen floor plans. Typically this results in a labyrinth of extension and dimension lines. With the exception of random depth dimensions this should be eliminated altogether in favor of establishing these cabinet dimensions on elevation drawings. Simply put, the idea behind kitchen floor plan is to display room specific dimensions only. The primary role of the kitchen floor plan drawings is to display dimensions such as wall length and position, window location and size and walkway clearance and elevation markers. You should see the new cabinetry and countertops here but only as they concern to the room lay-out. The only cabinet/appliance dimensions you should see would be those showing cabinet/appliance depth.
Elevation Drawings –
Nearly all cabinetry dimensions should be presented on the particular wall elevations indicated on the kitchen floor plans. Appliance dimensions and how they integrate with the surrounding cabinetry will also be clearly visible here too. Specific cabinet heights and mounting heights for wall cabinets are noted in these elevations.
The exact door design and drawer front style should be clearly reflected on the cabinets illustrated here. You should also notice all special accessories here such as molding combinations, corbels and cabinet on lay carvings. Look for any special modification notes needed for cabinetry either from the cabinet maker or particular requirements from your installer in the elevation area of your kitchen drawings.
CAD software drawing applications are standard in the kitchen and bath business today. Notwithstanding, some dealers and designers still provide hand drawings. Larger drawing sheet sizes are better regardless of the method used to render kitchen plans. 8 1/2" x 11" sheets are simply too tiny to show all the required detail essential for clear and concise kitchen plans.
The ideal scale for kitchen drawings is 1/2" = 1' – 0". At this scale floor plans and elevations are easier to read. In most cases sheet sizes larger than 8 1/2" x 11" will be mandatory to show kitchen floor plans, elevations and notes.
For your kitchen remodel to be a complete success you need as much detail as possible on your kitchen drawings. General contractors, sub contractors and local inspectors must all have every question answered in black and white prior to construction. Magazine quality kitchens don't just happen they are very carefully planned. By knowing just what to look for in carefully planned kitchen drawings you will more easily be able to select the right professional to remodel your kitchen.
This article provided by CADKitchenPlans.com your industry leading source for kitchen plans & cabinetry drafting services. Visit us today at http://www.cadkitchenplans.com and sign up for your free copy of The Designers Toolkit – Kitchen Design Help!
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Another All-time great for pop television, The Man's Kitchen. A guy's gally. I am man. Hear me roast! *simian grunting*. Copyright 2006 Futuramklax Inc.
Video Rating: 4 / 5
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Catch the Malaysia Kitchen Food Truck October 11 – November 19 in Manhattan and Queens, NY
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Briefs: Master gardeners teach composing workshops
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Troubled students learn control in the kitchen
L’Observateur RESERVE – With tables decked out in white tablecloths, flowers, candles and low lighting, a classroom at the St. John the Baptist Parish Alternative School was transformed Monday into a restaurant where students served out spaghetti and meatball lunches to faculty and fellow students.
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How to Save Space in Your Kitchen
In most homes, the kitchen tends to be one of the busiest rooms. Traffic flow is high because this room is generally where food is stored in cabinets, on pantry shelves, and of course in the refrigerator. Many meals and snacks are prepared here, and some families dine on those meals seated around a table placed in the kitchen. With so much activity occurring in the kitchen, space is always a premium. Having the space needed for preparing those meals and snacks as well as having a kitchen with an uncluttered look to it, is of prime importance for many people.
Your kitchen can easily become a “drop zone” for things that do not really belong there. You are likely to have at least one drawer in the kitchen devoted to storing items that could be stored for use in other rooms. You should go through cabinets and drawers and clear them of these things so that items you regularly use for cooking and baking can be stored in them. This frees up precious needed counter space and keeps the kitchen from taking on a cluttered appearance. Consolidating foodstuffs with the addition of shelves and inner-door cabinet baskets is also valuable to your efforts to save space in your kitchen.
A lot of your counter space is lost to loose spice jars, coffee mugs, paper and plastic shopping bags, foods like fruits and vegetables, and other things that can make your kitchen cluttered rather quickly. It is amazing how one mug quickly turns into a collection and they slowly begin taking up your valuable space making it more difficult to prepare a meal or snack, read a cookbook, place groceries on, and so forth. Many space saver solutions exist to help you solve the problem of loose items eating up space you need. They can also help make your kitchen more attractive. Coffee mug trees, spice caddies, vegetable bins and baskets, towel racks, hooks, and many of the other space-saving solutions that are available, can make a big difference in added space and order in your kitchen.
The appliances and gadgets that you have in your kitchen for meal preps, as well as for cooking, baking, serving, and storing foods, can also take up a lot of kitchen space. Even some furniture used in the kitchen, should be swapped for furniture that uses less space and provides more function. Smaller kitchens may not have enough cabinets and shelving to store cookware, bakeware, utensils, dishes, nonperishable foods, and other things properly. Therefore, they end up all over the kitchen, stacked precariously on countertops, and in cumbersome totes on the floor, and elsewhere throughout the kitchen. This not only makes it harder for you to use your kitchen, but it can pose a physical hazard to everyone entering the kitchen as well. Storage containers, servers, bag caddies, shelving, and other similar products can help put order to your kitchen and reduce risks of injury from cluttered pathways and objects falling off counters.
You really need to take inventory of what you have in your kitchen and evaluate if the space they use up is space worth surrendering, because they serve their necessary purpose well. Even appliances, which you use daily, are available in smaller sizes that do not take up as much of the space that is such a premium in most kitchens. Do you really need a full-size coffee maker on your countertop everyday when you do not drink more than a cup or two in the morning: and a space saving coffee maker can brew that amount of coffee without stealing space you need for other things?
Move full sized appliances that you only use on special occasions or when guests visit to other storage areas such as the attic or basement. You can easily retrieve them when they are needed, but in the meantime, this can save space in your kitchen. Consider smaller appliances that serve the same purpose as their larger counterparts for ones that you do use regularly.
An online site offering quality made and reasonably priced space saving products is a good place to learn more about how to save space in your kitchen. There is a large variety of products available in many designs and colors. These products allow you to discover the perfect solution to your kitchen storage needs. Choose those space saving products that compliment the theme of your kitchen for an even more attractive room. An uncluttered kitchen with pretty and smart designs along with eye pleasing colors is excellent to consider. A kitchen that is well organized is an excellent place to cook meals because it eliminates the stress and frustration of misplacing important kitchen accessories.
Lisa Parker is a freelance writer who writes about a wide range of topics, including tips for the home and home organization, at times specifically discussing topics such as kitchen storage.
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Filed under News by on Oct 9th, 2010. Comment.
Do it yourself Kitchen Cabinets
Most home owners prefer to remodel their kitchen in the way that suits them. Next to the bathroom, the most used area in the house is naturally your kitchen and many people prefer open plan kitchens for comfort and convenience. Getting kitchen cabinets installed by a contractor can be very expensive. If you are looking for do it yourself kitchen cabinets then Kitchens Pro has the answer.
We have used the power of the internet to make renovating or completely remodeling your kitchen a snap .You can use the features that we offer for a complete do it yourself kitchen cabinets solution for the look you have in mind, and for usability that suits your needs. Why not try out our free design service, no strings attached, so that you can build the kitchen of your dreams with do it yourself cabinets? Our selection of quality kitchen cabinets come in whatever styles, finishes, and colors that you prefer and they are easy to assemble to help you make a success of your do it yourself kitchen cabinets.
You can save thousands of dollars in do it yourself kitchen cabinets. Whether you already know exactly what you want, or need ideas for the perfect kitchen style, you’ll find everything you need on our site. With an extensive inventory of top quality cabinets, and a wealth of information about designing your kitchen, www.kitchenspro.com is your one-stop resource.
Kitchens Pro supplies top quality kitchen cabinets that you will be delighted to find at a fraction of the price compared to other kitchen cabinet suppliers. Not only will we match any competitor’s price on similar quality cabinets, we’ll even refund you the difference up to 10% below the competing offer. With the lowest prices and the best selection, Kitchens Pro has everything you could want in do it yourself kitchen cabinets.
Choosing your do it yourself kitchen cabinets is a simple process following a few steps. If you need assistance with your purchase, expert sales professionals will guide you so that you can find exactly what you are looking for. We stand behind our products and prices and with a mission to serve all our customers like royalty, we are one of the leading choices for do it your self enthusiasts.
Designing your dream kitchen is a fairly easy process. First choose what you want your kitchen to look like and then the layout of where you will be installing cabinets. After you have made your choice, purchase everything you need online from the comfort of your own home and your do it yourself kitchen cabinets will be shipped you promptly. Once you discover how it easy it is to choose and order do it yourself kitchen cabinets, you’ll be eager to get started on your new project. Visit us at www.kitchenspro.com for more information about our products and services.
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Filed under News by on Oct 7th, 2010. Comment.
The Spaghetti Taco, à la ‘iCarly’
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