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Thinking about kitchen remodeling? Want to reface kitchen cabinets? Then this is a good place to start. Here you will find lots of tips, advice and help with planning, designing and buying your kitchen and kitchen cabinets.
Buying a kitchen is a major investment. To some it is the most important room in the house. Kitchen design trends are constantly changing, as are the choices of colors and materials. However, there are still some basic concepts that never change and hopefully you will find them here.
If you can’t find what you are looking for here then you should be able to find it either by using the Search box at the top of the page, or by clicking on the various links to other sites that appear on every page.
If you want to know more about just kitchen cabinets then we have also created a new Guide to Kitchen Cabinets and Kitchen Cabinet Refacing which you can find by clicking here: Guide to Kitchen Cabinets and Kitchen Cabinet Refacing.
When you are designing your new kitchen refer to these pages regularly as it will assist you with the design process and make your finished kitchen both functional and enjoyable.
And don’t just take our word for it; remember, when planning your new kitchen space, that consulting a kitchen designer or an interior designer who specializes in kitchens will enable you to get the latest advice on kitchen design ideas and guidelines. If you want to arrange a Kitchen Design Consultation visit us on our main site here: Kitchens Atlanta.
Thank you for visiting.
With so many choices in materials, appliances and accessories, sometimes it can be difficult to know where to start when choosing the components that make up your new kitchen.
A good designer should be able to point you in the right direction and sites such as this can give you some good hints, tips and ideas, but ultimately the choice of kitchen style is entirely up to you.
If you have any questions about kitchen design that are not covered in these pages then give us a call!
Planning
Obviously, planning is … (read more)
The next big step in the kitchen planning process is deciding what shape the kitchen will be, and determining who will use the kitchen and how often.
Although deciding on the shape seems restrictive, it actually narrows down the possibilities and makes the planning easier. The goal on deciding on a shape it to make your kitchen as efficient as possible, with the food preparation, sink and cooking areas close together. A good rule of thumb is to keep a piece of countertop between the sink and cooktop on which to prepare … (read more)
Think about what happens to your food and you will get a good idea how an efficient kitchen works. The steps are usually:
Purchase
Storage
Pre-preparation
Preparation
Service
Dish Washing
Bear all these in mind when planning and you won’t go far wrong. For example, put the fridge near the door where you bring in the shopping (to save you walking across the kitchen each time), put the baking supplies in a cupboard near the oven, the clean-up materials under the sink and snack items near the … (read more)
Your budget will normally dictate your choice of products but there are other considerations you need to take into account when working out how much your new kitchen is going to cost.
Prices vary quite a lot, so the figures given below are just a guideline and, as always, shopping around is the best bet.
But work out roughly how much money you want to spend and use this figure when talking to designers and contractors.
Below are some guidelines for establishing a realistic budget.
Budget Guidelines
First of all, if you limit … (read more)
The next step in planning your new kitchen is to plan enough storage to suit your needs.
As already explained in Kitchen Shapes, different shapes of kitchens automatically provide different amounts of storage space.
Although most of us think of plain cabinets when we think of storage, there are a lot more options these days.
In this section you will find solutions to various storage problems and useful tips to make the most of even the smallest of spaces. Cabinets will be discussed in the ‘Cabinets’ section.
Below The Countertop
It is obvious … (read more)
There are so many choices where cabinets are concerned, such as the door materials, style, color, frames, etc., and so much variation in price that the whole area can be confusing at times.
Hopefully, this section should give you a good place to start.
You may also want to consider the option of having your cabinets refaced. You will be surprised at the results you can achieve by doing this, and also how inexpensive it is, especially if you can find a good deal with a reputable company.
Definitely check it out first, … (read more)
The cabinets may be the face of the kitchen but the countertops are where all the action happens. A countertop will have to cope with hot pots and pans, knives, dirt and therefore needs to be durable.
So it is usually best to make your choice based on the performance of the material and ease of maintenance, as well as the sink mounting option.
Notes on edge styles and backsplash options are given at the end of this page (click here).
The countertop choices are listed below very roughly by price … (read more)
Now you’ve chosen the design of your kitchen cabinets and worktops, the next thing is to choose the materials and the colors of your walls.
The most common materials for the kitchen walls are paint, wallpaper and tiles.
Paint
Paint is the cheapest and fastest way to transform the feeling of your kitchen, however, you need to have good surfaces to paint on (i.e. no holes or cracks which will show through the paint).
If your walls aren’t smooth enough, then you can line the walls with lining paper first (a special … (read more)
Choosing flooring is a lot like choosing countertops. Which type you choose depends on the style of your kitchen, the amount of use it will get, and the price. Each type has its advantages and disadvantages.
Vinyl, linoleum and carpet are the most comfortable underfoot. Laminate, vinyl and polyurethane-treated wood are the most durable. Stone and concrete look good and are also hard-wearing, but are also harder to clean.
Decide whether you want to install flooring under your removable appliances or around them (whichever you choose, make sure you can roll them … (read more)
A fridge is one of the most important appliances in your home, influencing your eating habits and ensuring food hygiene and taste.
Refrigerators are available with different door configurations, with either the doors side-by-side, or with one door on top of the other, or as drawers.
In a top/bottom unit the freezer can be on either the top or the bottom. In a side-by-side configuration the freezer is on one side.
Some are available as built-ins, which can be disguised to look like just another cabinet. Others are the same depth as … (read more)
Ovens are available in gas or electric, and using a number of heating methods, conventional, convection, microwaves or combination oven/microwave.
They come in many shapes, sizes and finishes. Your choice will be influenced by the design of your kitchen, the space available and what you enjoy cooking.
A single oven can be placed in a cabinet below the counter top or in a tall cabinet. A regular double oven or an conventional/microwave double oven combination will be placed in a tall cabinet.
Wall ovens are either 24, 27, or 30 inches wide.
… (read more)
One question that often comes up is, should you buy a range or a cooktop?
In short, it is really a personal choice, based on your budget, space limitations, looks, and needs.
Budget
Prices for cooktops, ovens and ranges vary a lot because the prices are changing constantly due to special offers and sales, brands are priced differently to start with, and they also depend on which of many different features they offer.
However, a separate cooktop and wall oven will always cost more than a range, and will also require electrical … (read more)
Dishwashers are a great time-saver and are also more hygienic than washing dishes by hand, due to the higher temperatures involved during the wash cycle.
There are a number of factors to consider when choosing a dishwasher, for example, unit type, how many place settings you can fit inside, control type and the number and type of wash cycles.
Unit Type
First decide on the type of unit. Dishwashers are available as freestanding (portable) or built-in (under the counter) models.
They come in two sizes, 24″ and 18″
Portable dishwashers
As the … (read more)
There are many new looks and styles for sinks that depart from the typical bowl configuration.
Newer designs include geometrically shaped sinks made from glass, and stainless steel sinks with long, narrow stream-shaped basins.
A distinctive, contemporary sink gives a stylish flair and becomes a striking attraction in your kitchen, while still remaining functional. There are just a few things to consider when selecting a kitchen sink.
Size and Shape
Sink sizes range from S to XXL, so there’s a model to fit every kitchen. If space is an issue or if … (read more)
You can cook without a hood or a vent, but moisture, grease, odors, and heat from cooking on a cooktop can damage the rest of your kitchen.
Also, steam from cooking condenses on windows and walls, and in some cases carbon monoxide from the burning of gas can build up.
A range or cooktop hood or vent will remove most if not all of the above problems.
Hood Styles
Hood choices range from basic ductless wall-mount units, to systems with lights, timers, and easy-clean surfaces.
You can buy hidden slim-line hood designs … (read more)
Furniture and accessories add the finishing touches to your kitchen and help to enhance its overall effect. Buying new accessories is the easiest way to change the look of your kitchen.
However, it is important not only to choose items that complement the style and feel of your kitchen but also ones that meet your needs.
Appliances and accessories made of stainless steel are very popular right now, such as blenders and toasters, refrigerators and pro-style oven ranges. To get the all-steel look without the price, look for steel finished appliances and … (read more)
How to save when buying a washer and dryer
If you had to put a price tag on a new washer and dryer, how high would you go? When Yahoo posted an article from Consumer Reports on impressive laundry pairs for $ 1,600 or less, readers made hundreds of comments—some said that was way too much money to pay for these two workhorses. A matching pair should last about a decade before an expensive part blows, according to several appliance manufacturers, but even so you have to pay now, wash … (read more)
This high quality Bertazzoni espresso machine, the M45 CAF X from Design Series perfectly grinds your coffee beans and delivers excellent cup of real Italian coffee of different strengths.
The built-in coffee maker touch controls and trims perfectly match with your Bertazzoni Design Series oven.
Key features of this Bertazzoni built-in coffee machine include digital programmer, auto switch-off, auto rinsing and descaling, adjustable temperature and coffee intensity, adjustable bean grinder, cappuccino, hot water and steam functions, single or double drink option, steam nozzle to heat, froth milk, 2.8 litre water tank, drip tray, … (read more)
Robust Outdoor Brands – a Swiss design firm – has come out with this charming “PODhouse” – with a very small footprint. They arrive fully assembled, you just open the door. Aren’t they just the sweetest little cabins? Now you can buy that piece of land in the woods that you’ve always dreamed of, and put the PODhouse on it. Voila – instant retreat. Originally designed for camping in the Swiss Alps, you can rest assured it will hold up to winter and provide year-round enjoyment. Or you … (read more)
Ethuil is a bench like no other. With its intricate network of curved rattan joint wrapped with wicker, presenting an image of the veins within a Dentate leaf (toothed edge), the Ethuil bench is an example of what manual manipulation can create within the composition of one material and one colour. The addition of the upholstered seat is almost secondary to the stunning array of vertical pattern.
With today’s trend of adding a bench to a dining room table, what better … (read more)
While Jayanti Lal’s Toronto, Canada loft is a study of creativity throughout; it is the laptop station that truly exemplifies the concept of furniture as sculptural forms. All white and no conceivable texture except smooth, the only visual interest is within the shapes themselves – but what shapes! The choice of a Her Chair by Fabio Novembre is a fantastic and controversial sculptural statement taken from a human casting and produced using 3D printing back in 2008 when most people hadn’t even heard of such a thing. … (read more)
Bosch cooking gear has common-sense features
When it comes to kitchen appliances, convenience is increasingly synonymous with high-tech mobile control. But some new work-saving features are more about good old-fashioned common sense as we discovered when we saw some new appliances from Bosch at Design & Construction Week in Las Vegas.
Take the door on Bosch’s 30-inch Benchmark electric wall oven: Instead of opening downward, this one opens to the side like a microwave’s. That’s an advantage when you’re cooking a big roast because you don’t have to lift … (read more)
Genberg Underwater Hotels, a Swedish company, has unveiled their latest underwater accommodation at their Manta Resort on Pemba Island, off the coast of East Africa. Separated from the mainland of Tanzania and Zanzibar for decades, the Island is virtually untouched by development. And there’s an underwater room you can book for a mere $ 750 a night (per person, based on double occupancy). You can sunbathe on what is effectively the roof deck – or stargaze. And there is also a deck at water level. But 4 meters … (read more)
5 small appliances that make food prep a snap
When Consumer Reports surveyed 3,435 of its subscribers about their experiences cooking weeknight meals, almost half said they wished the task took less time. So the experts in our labs got to work testing kitchen equipment with time-saving features. They found products (Speed cookers) and strategies (Save time in the kitchen) to help make meal prep less laborious. And they discovered five top-rated small appliances that can be big time-savers.
Panasonic FlashXpress NB-G110P toaster oven, $ 150. The … (read more)
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