Make your small kitchen look bigger

 

You can follow these steps to make your kitchen look bigger. Happy trying

1. Step 1

   ORGANIZE
   It may be helpful to take the drastic step of take everything out of all your closets and drawers and putting them on a kitchen or dining room table. You can then see clearly what you have. Sort your items according to use and then place them back in the closets in a spot most convenient to their purpose. Stop by Lowe's or Target and pick up some organizers to help you fit more items in your cabinets. They have an organizer for everything! The more efficient you can make your cabinet space the more you can keep in your kitchen. But you want some extra space left when you're done minimizing and organizing to accommodate the next step. If you need some help with this step visit some of the many web sites, e.g. www.onlineorganizing.com.

2. Step 2

   

   EMPTY COUNTER TOPS
   Your counter tops should be empty. I know you think that's impossible, and it is a challenge, but you will feel your kitchen grow by leaps and bounds if you avoid cluttering your counter tops. Even your toaster and coffee pot can go in an easy to get to space in your cabinets. You can invest in a slide out drawer to place them on to make them easier to get in and out. If you can't imagine doing this, invest in small duplicates for everyday use. Store your large coffee maker in a cupboard for when you have company and buy one that's just big enough for your every day needs.

3. Step 3

   DECORATE
   To make your kitchen look larger paint with a light color and avoid wallpaper. A patterned print will make your room look smaller and busier. You want to keep things as simple as possible. Leave the window over the sink curtain-less or use a rod sleeve made of a fabric with a very open print or a solid preferably lighter than your walls. When choosing the color for your walls, a very soft, buttery yellow is perfect if it is a color you like and goes with the rest of your houses' color scheme. Avoid putting anything on the walls but if you must, use only small, light colored items.
   If your cabinets are dark, consider painting them white. If they have not been painted before, hire a professional painter or research the procedure, as they must be done properly to hold up under normal kitchen wear. Light colored cabinets will make your room look much larger. If you can afford it and your cabinets are in good basic condition you can have them refaced. Check out Sears for an estimate. They do a great job and have many color options.

4. Step 4

   FLOOR
   To make your kitchen appear larger, a light color floor will also do wonders. If you choose ceramic, go with something without a pattern and use a matching grout color. If you like linoleum, again minimize the pattern and design as well as the color. If you can't afford to re-do your dark floors, try covering them with light colored throw rugs.
   A small kitchen does not have to be a problem. If your space is efficient and organized think of all the steps you'll save while you're working! You won't have to walk miles for each activity like you do in a large kitchen!

Reuse & Recycle for your kitchen

 

This could be one of the ways to reduce cost on your kitchen renovation. Using reuse and recycle item does help to ease the burden on your pockets.

 

 

If you look from a different point of view, you can see a sign of creativity and artistry here on this kitchen design..do you see it?

How you can Choose the Right Kitchen Countertop at the Right Price

 

There are a few points that you should take into consideration when choosing your kitchen countertop just for the right price

 

1) Consider Durability
Natural stone style countertops are, by far, the most durable of choices. Specifically, granite is resistant to scratching and heat and leads the pack for architects counter of choice. Quartz counters are also very durable due to their non-porous nature but they are not as scratch or heat resistant as granite.

 

2) Consider Bacteria Resistance
Quartz, as pointed out earlier, is non-porous. For this fact, quartz counters are more bacteria resistant and may be a good choice for homes where health is their top priority in counter choices. Corian is also a good choice for bacteria resistance. Though corian counters are susceptible to surface damage, they are easy to refurbish due to having the same pattern all the way through the depth of the piece.

 

3) Consider Price
Natural stone counter surfaces are costly upfront but due to their durability and beauty, they will not only last longer and hold less risk of costly upkeep, they also add equity value in your home. If short term cost is your concern, a nicely made formica counter may be worth considering. I would suggest you aim for counters with built in backsplashes as two piece units often have issues earlier on due to moisture getting between the joints. Another choice would be to construct your own concrete countertop. They are terribly heavy, of course, so you will need a lot of manual labor help and really well constructed counters.

SOLID WOOD KITCHEN CABINETS FOR A LOT LESS

A good option for your kitchen cabinet. Quality shouldn’t be compromised

HIGH QUALITY SOLID WOOD KITCHEN CABINETS IN 20 INSTOCK MODELS THAT CAN BE CUSTOM ORDERED AND DELIVERED IN 2-3 WEEKS ANYWHERE IN CANADA!
Whether you are considering a kitchen cabinet replacement, kitchen remodelling or a whole kitchen renovation our solid wood cabinets offer the absolute best in value for your money. Our Cabinets offer the very best in home improvement value as you attain high end quality cabinets without spending a fortune.
Cabinet Construction Features include:
solid natural wood doors, face frame & drawers with dovetails. Only Furniture Grade Plywood is used for the cabinet body and shelving. *Interior colour matches exterior
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Kitchen Renovation Ideas

 

Do take into account of several ideas for your kitchen renovation before you decided to commence with the renovation work

Many would agree that the kitchen is one of the most important rooms in the house because the whole family uses it everyday. Therefore, it is important that it is designed to be comfortable and welcoming. Here are some helpful kitchen design ideas that may help you improve your kitchen and turn it in to the ideal place to enjoy time with family and friends.

The Shortest Way To One’s Heart Is Through Their Stomachs

A famous saying did imply just that and, even if we don’t always agree, it is a fact. For instance, every time one plans an event, it revolves around food. For example, all holidays have specific food dishes, which are usually homemade and that is why they are famous; birthdays, anniversaries and calling friends over for a meal or getting together with family members will almost always involve a meal or at least some snacks.

Most of the food preparation goes on in the kitchen and, therefore, it is important that the kitchen be designed according to the cook’s likes and dislikes. In a family, usually everyone has a say in kitchen or home renovation ideas because, even if they don’t cook, they will spend time in the kitchen eating breakfast and other meals if the dining table is placed in the kitchen

An Inviting Kitchen

A kitchen remodeling idea that the whole family will agree to is that it should be inviting and comfortable. A modern kitchen remodeling idea is to place the dining table in or close to the kitchen, especially if you have a large family, so it will be easy to serve the meals.

Another modern kitchen renovation idea is to have an opening from the kitchen directly into the living room where you have the dining table set and, in that way, when you have guests, you can entertain while cooking or prepare snacks without making your guests feel left out.

Try and design your kitchen in such a way that you have access to natural daylight, which naturally lifts your spirits; and what better way to start your morning then by a natural mood lift from the nature?

If you don’t have natural daylight available, a great kitchen remodeling idea is to install bright, but not too bright, light; light has a natural mood lifting effect on our system and it is recommended, especially in places like the kitchen where you deal with yet another natural mood lifter, which is food.

The right way to plan your kitchen renovation for great resale value

With proper planning and consideration, kitchen renovation could increase your house resale value..check it out

Planning to sell your house? If you watch carefully, you’ll see that it’s the women who influence the house buying decision of the family and most women begin by evaluating the kitchen. So if you wish to get maximum resale value for your house, which is normal, renovate your kitchen before you put it on the market. Roughly speaking the cost of renovating a kitchen can be anything between $6,000 and $30,000. Of course one is looking at maximizing the returns on investment and therefore outgoing costs will be given preference in the renovation decisions – but remember, as with any investment, you’ll usually make your money when you buy (not when you sell), so, in this case you’ll be making your money when you renovate your kitchen – not when you try to sell the house. The renovations of a kitchen range from the cosmetic appeal of the kitchen to the appliances. However when looking at maximizing resale value, the designers at Urban Key recommend that you concentrate on the kitchen features primarily, before moving onto the appliances.

1. Doors – Opt for the melamine covered doors which are cost effective and durable too. Choose bold dark colours since they’re not only lower in cost but also hide stains which are common in a kitchen. Of course if you are looking at high end renovations then, you could go for solid timber, 2 Pack or vinyl wrap doors and gables, but remember that they could put costs well above your benchmark cost. For timber also, the matt look is much lower in cost while the satin look costs more. If opting for the high gloss look, remember that defects show up clearly here and therefore the high gloss is a high maintenance finish.

2. Shelves – Don’t bother breaking down the entire shelf structure, but on the contrary redo the face of the shelf to match the doors finish. You could opt for a repaint job or change the edging on these structures, or just replacing the bare essential carcasses. Remember here the cost of the labour is sometimes even higher than the raw material so if you have any skills on this front, now would be a good time to show them. Also if you are hiring labour, it’s advisable to hire either local cabinet-makers or cabinet-makers who offer a warranty for the job since you could always ask them for repairs later if things do go wrong.

3. Benchtops – Kitchen splash backs and counter tops form a large part of the physical outlook of a kitchen and therefore feature high in the renovation list. There are suppliers, such as Surface Dynamics, who will just resurface your existing benchtop with a granite overlay, and have carved out a niche in doing just that, but this does not mean that you should rule out any local supplier you know. Undertake some extensive research before choosing your bench top. The most commonly used bench top is the granite 20-40 mm thick slab, or the overlays are about 7mm. While a laminated top is of course a much cheaper option, it is advisable to go in for the granite or engineered granite, such as CaesarStone for your home. Not only is granite chip and scratch resistant but you can chop and cut on it (highly not recommended) without having to bother about the surface being porous. Also, consider how the kitchen might be used by the new owner, so as to ensure the layout is workable for someone else – we often compromise our own comfort in our own homes, but this is the time to change anything which has been niggling at you. Also note that the recommended depth for the bench tops is no more than 900 mm (should not exceed 300mm overhang) while the minimum length could vary from 900 mm to 1500 mm depending on the number of people cooking. So if looking at a kitchen bench for two cooks working side by side, the length is better if closer to 1500mm. Note that the maximum sizes of granite slabs changes with different products, so ensure that the layout dimensions work with the size constraints.

4. Flooring – The flooring of a kitchen also forms an integral part of the look of the room. So consider the pros and cons of the material used before taking the plunge. Cork tiles cost roughly $90 per square metre and feel warm and soft as opposed to the often cold and slippery tiles, although anything cooling is often good in Australia. Cork floorings last 10 to 20 years depending on maintenance. But they stain fast and in a kitchen where spills are common one would need to clean these quickly or else bear with a stained look for a long time. The linoleum tiles and Vinyl sheet floorings cost less (about $50 to $60 laid), but can damage easily and some people may think they look cheap. There are stone, ceramic and terracotta tiles, which are easy to maintain but are heavy. If possible, hardwood is a great choice, working in well with Aussie building and fashion trends, but if you don’t already have a timber floor, you’ll need to be willing to spend somewhere near $130 per square metre.

As a tip, and I would love to get feedback from you if you’ve tried this, get an appraiser to value your house and offer suggestions to better the value (most often these will involve the kitchen), and after the renovation is done, have them back again to reappraise. Or another idea is to have an open house, advertised just privately in the paper (no need to get a real estate agent yet) and take the vistors around asking them what changes, especially to the kitchen, they would like to see – you’ll get some great ideas from the sort of people who are currently in the market!

How you can afford to make a great kitchen renovation without spending too much

We can always make our kitchen renovations affordable.

The kitchen is fondly known as the heart of the home. It is the room where people usually gather to talk, and eat, and it is normally used very often. Because the kitchen is the central point of a home, you will want it to be attractive, warm and inviting. When you want to give your kitchen a makeover, it need not be exorbitantly expensive. There are affordable ways to create the kitchen of your dreams.

There are many ways to create a completely different look for your kitchen, without changing any of its existing structure. If you have wallpaper on the walls of your kitchen, then tear it down. There are many beautiful colors that you can paint your walls with, even of different textures. A glaze could give the walls a gorgeous finish. Remember to try and match the color of your walls to your cupboards or at the very least the floors. Even just giving your kitchen walls a fresh splash of paint will make a big difference to the look and feel of the room.

In addition to painting the walls of your kitchen, you could consider repainting your kitchen cupboards. You can paint over old wooden cupboards, but preferably only ones that are not varnished. If your cupboards are varnished, it is a good idea to sand them down before you paint them. Alternatively, you can also sand your wooden cupboards down and re-varnish them. This will give them an attractive, new look.

The floors of your kitchen can make a drastic difference in the appearance of the room. There are cheap ways to redo your floor, and the cheapest are those that you can do yourself. If you want beautiful wooden floors, but can't afford wood, there are lovely wooden laminated flooring options for you to choose from. These laminated wooden floors look exactly like wood, but with a warmer, softer feel. You can choose from a variety of different wood variations.

To give your kitchen the most drastic change of all you can apply stainless steel PVC contact paper onto your appliances to make them appear as good as new! The same can be done for your countertops with stick on tiles or wooden laminate. You will be amazed at what a difference these cheap substitutes can make to your kitchen.

You may not have enough counter space, or enough space to store things in your kitchen. There are affordable wooden floating shelves that can be bought and installed into the walls of your kitchen. You will see the difference in having more space to store attractive things to display such as tea sets or coffee mugs. Bringing an old cabinet or cupboard into the kitchen, with a newly painted surface will also offer you new space for storage, as well as giving the kitchen a new look!

As you can tell, there are many interesting and effective ways to make a difference in your kitchen, the heart of your home. Depending on your budget, you can make the changes gradually, and slowly watch as your kitchen transforms.

What Should You Consider When Renovating A Kitchen?

It is very important that you take serious considerations when renovating your kitchen

Find out more about the initial considerations, common pitfalls and experts you may require when renovating a kitchen. The kitchen is often the most expensive room to renovate in the house and requires extra care to get it right. Read on to find out more about what you should consider and common pitfalls to try and avoid.

Plan well and consult the professionals to avoid these common kitchen renovation problems and pitfalls.. Source: Mark Cranitch

Initial considerations

Will a kitchen renovation specialist manage the entire project, or will you engage an independent builder or project manager?

Will you be restructuring the space: altering floor or ceiling; removing walls; resiting or resizing doors, windows or skylights; or adding a pantry? If so, allow for extra time and cost. Do the same if altering the existing plumbing or wiring.

Is the kitchen to be part of a larger living or dining area or a self-contained space? Will it incorporate an eating area or a pantry?

If you are incorporating imported and custom-built fittings/appliances order these well ahead to ensure their timely arrival.

• Determine what appliances, bench and storage space you require.
• Determine whether you will be installing new lighting, power outlets or switches.
• Do existing wall, floor and ceiling cavities allow for the plumbing, lighting, ventilation and water-heating options and cabinetry you plan?
• Will you be replacing or resurfacing existing flooring?
• Determine whether you will use any existing fixtures, fittings or finishes in the new design.
• What colours and styles suit your taste and lifestyle?
• How can you best plan around ongoing work? For example consider creating a temporary kitchen, eating meals out or renting a serviced apartment.

Expert advice

Your kitchen renovation generally requires help from some or all of these professionals:

• Architect and interior designer
• Environmental designer
• Kitchen renovation service or builder/project manager
• Plumber
• Electrician
• Carpenter
• Tiler or benchtop/splashback specialist
• Flooring specialist
• Painter

Can I do it myself?

• Major structural work and most plumbing and electricals must be performed by licensed tradespeople.
• Constructing or installing cabinetry, flooring and benchtops also need to be installed by skilled professionals.
• Tasks suitable for the skilled home renovator may include: removing existing fittings; constructing and/or installing cabinetry; fitting appliances installing cabinetry, storage units.
• Keen amateurs might assist the designer with layout and finishes; source fittings and appliances; install simple fittings (hooks, shelves, etc); paint; sand, surface or seal cabinetry and flooring.

Common pitfalls

Plan well and consult the professionals to avoid these common kitchen renovation problems and pitfalls.

• Failing to accurately measure your kitchen fittings, then finding your desired floorplan isn't functional, appliances don't fit, or your plan leaves insufficient space for working effectively.
• Underestimating the complexity, time and costs involved.
• Scheduling tradespeople in incorrect order or allowing insufficient time for each to complete their stage (especially with structural alterations or new plumbing).
• DIYing complex jobs such as removing load-bearing walls.
• Wishful thinking in kitchen layout: underestimating the dimensions of cabinetry or appliances, failing to account for the 'sweep' of doors, skimping on work surfaces or storage, allocating insufficient space for 'incidentals' such as waste disposal.
• Purchasing fittings or fixtures without first consulting trade professionals.
• Failing to consider hazards and workflow when planning kitchen layout.
• Choosing unsuitable appliances and materials, skimping on quality or failing to maintain them (wood degenerates unless properly sealed; stone and concrete require maintenance; cheap stone benchtops chip).
• Thinking you'll upgrade again soon generally, this is the kitchen you'll be using for the next decade, so plan it accordingly.