Nov 29, 2010
lkncabadmin
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Handy Practical Kitchen Remodeling Ideas

We all want a kitchen that inspires the true chef in all of us plus make it the best family room and most of this can be achieved by using excellent kitchen ideas to make the most of what we have available to us. Of course delving into such a huge task can be taxing not only physically but also on our pockets so it helps to plan carefully and get loads of advice. Kitchen ideas can be found all over the net but often times you’ll find that many of these tips are re-hashed kitchen design ideas that are outdated so pay close attention and take notes.

The most frequent kitchen remodeling ideas recommend that you focus on space, color, tranquility and a high level of multi-functionality among others. Here are some of the best kitchen ideas that you can implement into your home and also what to look at before we make any changes:

1. Space – How much do you have available to you? The shape of your kitchen also plays a huge part on practical kitchen design ideas. Space translates to layout and this is critical in the initial planning phase. The types of layouts are: A one wall kitchen, an L shaped, U shaped, island shape, a galley kitchen, a peninsula kitchen.

2. Color scheme – What colors do you have now and do you intend to paint your kitchen another color. It is recommended that never use a combination of more than three colors. More than this could result in a cluttered cramped feeling. Popular colors would be creams, pastels, as well as bright and light colors like green or blue that give the kitchen a refreshing feel to it.

3. Flooring – This makes a big difference. Darker color tiles make any kitchen feel small and cramped. Marbles and tiles in whites and light colors work best although it has been shown that people prefer cork flooring for warmth.

4. Clean Lines – The use of smooth clean lines make the world of difference by giving the kitchen an uncluttered look. It’s the illusion of smooth lines that make your kitchen appear bigger. The longer the lines the better, apply this to work tops, islands, drawers and cabinets.

5. Use of Lighting – The best lighting is natural lighting of course but sometimes we have to compromise for soft indoor lighting. Focus on indented or receded led lighting methods, and keep towards soft tones and upper cabinet fixtures.

6. Cabinets – Modern and contemporary cabinets are in and look great and are easy to maintain. Antique designs work best in large kitchens so choose smartly. Dark colors and finishes last longer but are bad for spaciousness. Focus on getting units that start from the floor all the way to the ceiling.

It’s important to point out here that investing in kitchen ideas will greatly increase the overall value of your property and serve the potential to sell your home fast in the future but also make any current guests and friends feel right at home.

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Nov 27, 2010
lkncabadmin
Comments Off on Design Your Kitchen Remodeling on a Budget

Design Your Kitchen Remodeling on a Budget

Planning a remodeling always starts with good intentions: “Let’s update the cracked and peeling linoleum floor in the kitchen,” you say. But then, you think, while you’re at it, maybe the walls could use a new coat of paint.

Then you realize the cabinets don’t match the paint color…and the backsplash needs to be changed, too, to match the new cabinets…Suddenly, everything in your kitchen needs an update and you’re scouring for more kitchen remodeling design tips online and in magazines.

But wait, these kitchen remodeling design plans all come with a cost. And oh, how quickly they add up. Next thing you realize, your kitchen remodeling project has a budget of tens of thousands of dollars, and growing. How can you handle skyrocketing costs? Here are some budget-friendly kitchen remodeling tips and ideas:

Part of the fun of remodeling a kitchen is in searching for the kitchen remodeling design that will inspire you. There are lots of fun tips regarding kitchen remodeling online. Build a portfolio full of the designs you like the most. Then try to pinpoint what it is you like in each photo. Do you like the color scheme? Brilliant, you can solve that easily! Paint is one of the most cost-effective ways to remodel your kitchen. Paint the walls, and if possible, paint your old cabinets, too. Or if you need new cabinets, decide if you need to replace the entire cabinet or just the doors. If it is only the doors, try purchasing lower cost cabinet doors. The trade-off is you probably have to install them yourselves but the bonus is you can refinish or repaint them as you like.

If your kitchen is lacking some color, a simple and cost-effective kitchen remodeling design is to repaint the kitchen. You can also install a tile backsplash. Both projects are relatively simple to complete on your own. You can introduce a bold or subtle change to your kitchen by introducing new colors and patterns.

Most modern kitchens have an island. If your kitchen does not have one, consider building one into your kitchen remodeling design. Pre-fabricated models can be purchased for you to build and assemble using simple tools. Or invest some time and custom create an island. An island can be a butcher block top for food preparation, a small sink for clean up, or even a mini dining table for extra seating and storage. A relatively small investment of building an island can yield large resell value returns.

A low cost remodeling design can involve switching up the decor. Install curtains or blinds on kitchen windows, or swap out old curtains for bright colored linen ones. Hang a clock or framed photos or pictures on the kitchen walls. They will also reflect light to some extent. Add some houseplants for fresh air and color. Even some colorful plates or platters leaning against the wall of a shelf can be an effective, but low-cost way to remodel your kitchen.

Look for salvaged parts to use in your kitchen remodeling design. Wood planks or plywood may be obtained for less by asking a lumberyard if they can sell to you (or giveaway) odds and ends. These can be repainted into new shelves. Cracked pottery or tiles can be reshaped into a mosaic backsplash, or even embedded artistically to give cabinet fronts some pizazz.

Sometimes, a way to give your kitchen a new look is simply a matter of using what you already have. A kitchen remodeling design does not have to involve knocking down cabinets or walls. Change up the arrangement of items on the countertop and shelves. Old can be made to look new again with some paint. Color really helps make an old kitchen look new and fresh. Look for more budget friendly tips for kitchen remodeling online and have fun!

Pieter West travels the world on a regular basis and have written about numerous subjects. He has an extensive knowledge about, finances, DIY, parenting advice and many more subjects.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Pieter_West

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Nov 27, 2010
lkncabadmin
Comments Off on What Kitchen Design Layout is Best?

What Kitchen Design Layout is Best?

To some people the design layout of their kitchen is something that they have no control over. Your room may be structured in such a way that means you can’t change the general layout of it, in other cases you could be free to play around with what you feel would work best within your room. So whether you are moving home or just generally remodelling your room how do you choose the right layout?

Straight line, island and U shape as well as L shape are the main examples of the design layouts that are available to you when it comes to kitchens. Each of these have advantages and disadvantages attached to them, but the best way to choose the one that you decide to have in your home is to apply each of these to your personal circumstances and your personal taste. So let’s take a closer look at the different styles that are available to you.

An L and U shaped layout have a lot of similarities as both of them allow you to make use of the working triangle as all appliances such as your cooker, sink and fridge are located close to each other. Within these designs as well, depending on the scale of the room, you could fit a table and chairs, in an L shaped room this could be opposite the corner of the L and in a U shaped room this could be directly opposite your sink at the open end of the U. A big disadvantage to both of these layouts is the corner. When you have cabinets that are set in a corner it can be difficult to open them, which is why in some cases you may have to have special doors attached to not only ensure they open correctly but to also ensure that you can fully get into the cabinet.

L and U shaped layouts are two of the most common designs when it comes to kitchens. They are commonly seen within households as they are the easiest to fit into the shape that you are presented with. However if you are lucky enough to have a large kitchen then you may want to think further a field than an L or U shaped design; you have a lot more options open to you, one of which is an island shape.

Island designs look amazing in the right size room and in the past few years they have become highly popular. However I can’t stress enough how important it is that you have a decent sized room in order to install this layout as they take up a lot more space than you may first realise. There is one other occasion in which you could opt to have this design, which is if you have an open plan dinning and kitchen area. This is a great way to separate the two rooms as well as maximising your kitchen space. As I previously mentioned there are always advantages and disadvantages attached to layouts and in the case of an island design you could end up suffering cramped aisles and not enough space to sufficiently get into your cabinets.

Just as U and L shaped designs are similar, so are gallery and straight line designs. A straight line design is pretty much self explanatory; it is a design where all of your appliances and cabinets are located in a single row. A gallery is only different for the fact it has two of these rows opposite each other. Both of these styles are perfect for smaller rooms where the layouts are restricted.

The best kitchen design layout that you can choose depends on your room, as you can see from the above. So make sure that when you are deciding which design layout to choose you keep this piece of advice in mind as this way you are sure to make the most informed decision.

Strata kitchens provides a full range of flat pack kitchens, to help you build your dream kitchen at affordable prices.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Logan_W_Smith

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