Tag Archive: Kitchen Remodeling


The Unique Beauty Of Copper Countertops

Filed Under: Kitchen Remodeling
Nov.16, 2011

Copper has been traditionally used in the kitchen as pots and pans. They are also used in building classic looking copper kitchen countertops. Copper is softer than stainless steel, but to many people it is more attractive. Homeowners who are averse to the ‘clinical’ look of stainless steel would do well to choose copper for their countertops. With copper, you can have two very distinct looks – the aged deep brown patina color or the bright and shiny mirror finish. Copper tends to have a very positive influence on any room in which it is installed. This metal blends well with any type of house design.

Kitchens with copper countertops will experience added warmth to the ambience of the room. The color of copper also fits in well with many styles of decor and kitchen materials Non-laminated copper will oxidize over time. This will cause it to take on a deep brown patina hue, which is something that is very appealing to the eye. Many homeowners prefer this aged look because of its classic-ness which radiates a certain kind of respectability.

But modern homeowners wouldn’t have any of these and would prefer the mirror finish of copper. This particular bright brown color is also very attractive and also unique to copper metal. You can do this by preventing the surrounding air from oxidizing the surface. How do you do this? By simply sealing and laminating the copper countertop surface, you can protect the surface and make it shine.

As in other metal countertops, you need to have a wood or plywood backing to mitigate metal noise. This will also strengthen the countertop structure and make it rigid so you can do your food preparations safely on its top.

Building copper countertops is rather expensive. It will cost you somewhere around $98.87 to $137.91 per square foot to build a copper countertop. With this high cost, it is indeed advisable to take good care of the surface and maintain it regularly. Copper is a relatively strong material and if given proper care, you can use it for years.

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Elkay Sinks Are Made To Last

Filed Under: Kitchen Remodeling
Oct.05, 2011

If you are looking for a sink that will satisfy your discriminating taste, consider getting an Elkay sink. Elkay Manufacturing Company, the maker of Elkay sinks, is offering a wide variety of sinks that can suit the preference of all types of homeowners. The sinks on offer range from the ultra-stylish, for the modern homeowner, to the more classic designs that are suited for people with more traditional tastes. But whatever Elkay sink you choose, you can be assured that the quality will be top class.

It was on 1920 in Chicago when Leopold Katz and his son, Louis started making quality home butler and pantry sinks. After more than 9 decades of operation, they are now regarded as an industry leader, setting the standards of kitchen and commercial sink manufacturing. So purchasing a Elkay sink means you are getting the experience of almost 100 years of quality manufacturing. You are sure to get the value for your money when you buy Elkay kitchen sinks.

There are basically two types of materials used by Elkay in making their sinks. One is granite composite and the other is stainless steel The reason that they use stainless steel is because it is one of the most efficient materials in preventing rust and corrosion. It is also highly resistant to water stains, dirt and grime. Elkay’s stainless steel sinks are categorized in two series. One is the Elumina Series and the other is the Mystic Series. Each of these has their own variations in style and design.

Their granite kitchen sinks are basically composed of 85% crushed quartz combined with high performance acrylic resin. It is as tough as natural granite but is more affordable. They are also highly resistant to scratches, dents and stains. Both their stainless steel and granite sinks come in single bowl, double bowls and even gourmet bowls. There is so much variety in their storehouse that you can surely find what’s right for your kitchen.

Some Elkay sinks are equipped with heavy duty undercoating which helps to dramatically reduce metal noise. It also helps to minimize condensation. When you buy a sink from Elkay, you will be given detailed instructions on its proper installation to ensure proper fit for your countertop. The most important thing is the fact that the sink that you bought is really made to last.

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How To Maintain Your Refrigerators Properly

Filed Under: Home Appliances
Sep.10, 2011

You will be hard pressed to find a home, office or dorm room that does not include fridge refrigerators as an essential appliance. In the beginning, the main purpose of a refrigerator was to keep food from spoiling by preventing bacteria from growing by providing a constant cool temperature. Soon it became apparent that the fridge would have many applications, including allowing individuals to eat healthier without starting their very own farms. It is also much easier to save money on food by buying in bulk and freezing it for later.

Regular proper maintenance is important to longevity and performance. While this is true of all your kitchen appliances, the refrigerator is even more important because of the nature of the job it performs. Your health could be at stake if food began to spoil in a poorly performing fridge, not to mention the amount of money that would be lost.

Regardless of the brand name, be it a Bosch Fridge or a simple Samsung fridge freezer combination there are a few things you should remember when it comes to maintenance. You will get more value for your money in terms of quality performance, longevity and durability.

Proper Placement

The first order of the day should be proper placement of the refrigerator since it will matter the most in the long run.  For one thing, you should never place it in an area exposed to heat from both modern appliances like the oven and stove as well as in a sunlit space.  Otherwise, the fridge will work harder at cooling itself, thus, leading to higher energy bills as well as sacrifices in longevity.

For another thing, you have to ensure that the surface on which the refrigerator is placed on is flat and level.  In this way, the inefficient dissipation of cool air and, hence, loss in storage capacity can be avoided.

When you are talking about energy consumption, it is best if you avoid opening the door too often or too widely. You can save approximately 30% of your energy bill by simply figuring out what you want from inside the fridge and then getting it out rapidly, avoiding opening more than once.

Coil Cleaning

To be more specific, it is necessary to clean the compressor coils so as to prolong the life of the fridge.  You can find these coils either at the bottom, behind or top of the appliance although the basic ways to clean them are similar – unplug the unit, expose the coils and then vacuum and gently wipe the dirt, dust and grime away.

Clean Frequently

As with any appliance in your kitchen, you will need to clean the fridge regularly. Get into a habit of wiping the unit down even when it appears to be clean to remove bacteria you cannot see. How often you will need to do this will depend on various factors including where you reside, how many people are in your home and what kind of food you store inside. It is best to use a mild detergent on all exposed surfaces including the door, gasket and interior shelves. It is not a good idea to use bleach on any area of the fridge, even when you have tough stains. Regular cleaning will prevent staining when you get on schedule.

In the end, your refrigerator will repay your responsible ownership in many ways. You will have maintained the freshness of food while adding style to your home.  Now, that’s optimum performance.

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Simple Kitchen Remodeling Ideas: Remodeling The Cabinets

Filed Under: Kitchen Remodeling
Aug.31, 2011

If you find yourself taking a look at your kitchen, thinking of remodeling ideas, there will be a lot of factors to take into consideration. You might work on anything from the flooring to countertops to the appliances; but what about this kitchen remodeling idea – the cabinets. There are many very easy ways to make changes to the cabinets which could give a whole new look to the kitchen before you touch anything else.

Easy Ideas

When most people think about redecorating the cabinets, they think of painting the cabinets. There are several ways to remake your cabinets. Most often a basic idea and a day is all that you’ll need. Here are several ideas for remodeling kitchen cabinets.

Painting – it is the most traditional way of remodeling kitchen cabinets. Sanding and painting will give cabinets a cheap new look. Staining is an offshoot of the painting idea and works as well.

Pickling – to do this method, all you do is to use a light coating of flat oil based paint. Before the paint dries, wipe it off. You are able to remove as much or as little as you would like to get the wood grains to show through. For darker effects, repeat the steps a second time.

Decorative ideas – any method utilized in painting flat surfaces can be applied to cabinets. Sponging, ragging swirling and several other methods can be used to give different effects.

Refaced – while this is the costliest remodeling idea for kitchen cabinets, it will also provide the most change for the room. If the colors, shapes, textures or cut of the cabinets are what cause the problem, then re-facing them will be the most suitable option.

Cleaning – sometimes all that is needed to remodel the cabinets is a good cleaning. Using a good bleaching chemical or wood cleaner will take the dirt off and provide the cabinets a new look. While not exactly remodeling, sometimes this livens up a room again. This choice also works properly when considering remodeling ideas for the bathroom as often time’s good bleach will remove most of the faded look.

If you begin your kitchen remodeling ideas with the cabinets, you may find other ideas such as the make use of pot racks or wall mounted pot racks in your kitchen for decoration and also functionality in your kitchen. But of course since the cabinets are the largest single part of any kitchen, these ought to be the first aspect to consider when thinking about kitchen remodeling ideas. Often times, the cabinets will only take one day to complete.

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Getting Your Budget Kitchen Remodeling Done With RTA Cabinets

Filed Under: Cabinets
Nov.23, 2010

Due to the many remarkable benefits that kitchen remodeling brings, many homeowners still decide to undergo such project while cutting down on its biggest drawback and that is cost. When it comes to reducing expenses however, a lot stumble into the pitfall of doing so by cutting corners which results to an unsatisfactory and very temporary change. To boost aesthetics and efficiency in the heart of your home without spending much, the key is smart shopping and choosing the right products. This article lays out how RTA cabinets can be one of these smart products that can bring you a step closer to success in your budget kitchen remodeling.


Budget Kitchen Remodeling Checklist


One of the essentials to a successful renovation project is well-thought of plan. No matter how minor the spruce up you are considering, enough and proper planning is crucial. When planning, create a checklist to help you out in shopping for the perfect RTA cabinets as well as avoid the hassles and inconveniences of making the wrong choice. In your checklist, make sure that you prepare details for:


- The location and available space you have to know what sizes and make is best whether corner, base, double or single door and other such factors.
- Current or planned color scheme and design to help in selecting the best complementing finishes as well as door and drawer styles


Buying RTA Cabinets


When shopping in general, whether off or online, an important rule of thumb to stick to is never stopping at the first item you think is good. To determine the best for your home and budget kitchen remodeling project, it is important to look around and compare before settling for the best choice.


If your try to browse through the Internet, you will be bombarded with a very extensive range of options. This same advantage can also cause an overwhelming feeling to buyers, thus this is where the tip above is crucial. If you have your checklist ready, the choices you have will be narrowed down. With a clear idea on what you are looking for, the selection process is made faster.


Best Value for Your Money


Though RTA cabinets already offer a very low cost alternative compared to your traditional cabinetry options, there are still ways to save more and get the best value for your money for the most efficient budget kitchen remodeling project:




  • Go for All-Wood Kitchen Cabinet Construction


The heart of your home is prone to the constant changes in temperature and humidity as well as the spills and messes. To make your investment last for a long time and prevent the need for changing cabinetry time and again, go for all-wood RTA cabinets and grace your homes with the beauty and durability that it deserves.




  • Avail of Free Shipping


Choose your supplier wisely by checking out and comparing not only what consumers have to say about them. It would be very beneficial to look into other ways that they make RTA cabinets simply the best deal for your budget kitchen remodeling. There are some suppliers that offer free shipping so better keep an eye out for them.

Eugene Makeev uses his skills and expertise to help home owners in Brooklyn, Long Island, Queens, Manhattan, and Staten Island avoid the common remodeling New York pitfalls by matching their needs with prescreened contractors and kitchen remodeling products.


Visit us for more on RTA cabinets.

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Adding A Natural Element To Your Kitchen

Filed Under: Kitchen Remodeling
Oct.26, 2010

Since the kitchen is one of the most highly trafficked areas of the home, many home owners find that a great kitchen is essential. This is a place of gathering for family and friends, where people eat and catch up on the events of the day. For people that want a warm and inviting kitchen with a natural element, white and olive are the perfect colors to go with. The ideas in this article will help you in creating a more appealing room with a natural feel.

Since there are so many people into green living, a color scheme like this helps add to the natural and simplistic appeal of things on top of other benefits.

Cabinetry Takes on a Whole New Look

We all want to avoid the look of all too popular avocado green of the 60’s and 70’s. There are many shades of olive green, from deep forest green to pastel shades. You best choice for the cabinets is a medium hue like the lighter shades found in camouflage materials. You will be absolutely stunned with the appeal that comes with mixing pure white and olive, especially since olive isn’t exactly the first color that comes to mind when you think of updating the kitchen. Look a few examples from the internet and you’ll see the striking nature of this look.

You can give your cabinets a new look by painting them and without much difficulty either. If your cabinets are already painted, all you have to do is just paint over the existing color. Cabinets that have been stained and varnished should be lightly sanded before you being painting them. When you achieve the medium olive tone you want, all you have to do is simple add white hardware to contrast.

Choose White to Complement

Your cabinets will be the greatest source of olive green in the room, while you will add interest to your room with white accessories, keeping it from looking boring and dull. You want white to be the predominant color for your counter top, so your appliances should be white and the counter top itself can be a solid white or a mixture of olive and white.

By adding a white paper towel holder, white drawer pulls and white lighting fixtures you can really further dress up the look of the room.

Accessories Complete the Look

You will add visual appeal with your accessories, you’ll also complete the look and tie the room together. Consider using an olive and white floral or leaf patterned kitchen floor mat in front of the sink. The beauty of linoleum or tile will really shine when these two colors are combined.

A solid white tablecloth and an olive colored pot filled with herbs or other natural greenery will be perfect for the kitchen table. Large botanical prints and olive baseboards can add more visual appeal if you use them to accent white walls.

If you compare this look with most kitchens of today, you’ll see that the look is quite unique and fresh. If you want a modern and inviting look for your kitchen, olive and white will do you proud; especially since the two colors mix hues straight out of nature with the pure and pristine look of white.

About the Writer..
For over forty years Leon Tuberman has helped people with their home furnishings and interior decorating needs. He owns and manages a popular furniture store in Los Angeles. They have a huge inventory of handcrafted American built solid oak furniture for your bedroom, dining room and living room. Whether you’re looking for dining tables for your dining room or wood file cabinets for your home office then they carry everything you need.

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Using Olive & White in Your Kitchen Decor

Filed Under: Kitchen Remodeling
Aug.24, 2010

Many home owners find a great kitchen to be essential, especially since the area gets plenty of traffic. Here, in the kitchen, family and friends gather to catch up on the day’s events and to eat wonderful meals. Olive and white are perfect colors for someone that wants a kitchen with a natural element that is warm and inviting. The ideas in this article will help you in creating a more appealing room with a natural feel.

This color scheme helps add to the natural and simplistic appeal, especially for people that are into green living.

Cabinetry Takes on a Whole New Look

Avocado green, that look that was “in” back in the 60’s and 70’ is a look that everyone wants to avoid. There are many shades of olive green, from deep forest green to pastel shades. Cabinets do amazingly well with medium hues, much like those found in camouflage materials. Although you aren’t thinking of olive at first when think about updating your kitchen, the appeal of mixing pure white and olive will be absolutely stunning. Just take a quick second to see some examples online and the look will surprise you.

You can give your cabinets a new look by painting them and without much difficulty either. If your cabinets are already painted, all you have to do is just paint over the existing color. Cabinets that have been stained and varnished should be lightly sanded before you being painting them. All you have to do, once you achieve the medium olive tone you want, is add white hardware to contrast the color.

Choose White to Complement

Your cabinets will be the greatest source of olive green in the room, while you will add interest to your room with white accessories, keeping it from looking boring and dull. You want white to be the predominant color for your counter top, so your appliances should be white and the counter top itself can be a solid white or a mixture of olive and white.

You can dress up the look a little further by adding white lighting fixtures, white drawer pulls and a white paper towel holder.

Accessories Complete the Look

Your chosen accessories will really tie together the room and complete the look, adding visual appeal. Consider using an olive and white floral or leaf patterned kitchen floor mat in front of the sink. Combining these to colors will also help linoleum or tile to look beautiful.

Use a solid white tablecloth for the kitchen table, as for the centerpiece use an olive colored pot filled with herbs or other natural greenery. Large botanical prints and olive baseboards can add more visual appeal if you use them to accent white walls.

If you compare this look with most kitchens of today, you’ll see that the look is quite unique and fresh. By mixing the pure, pristine look of white with hues that are straight out of nature by using olive and white, your desires for a modern and inviting kitchen will come true.

Avo Barsoumian has been part of the interior design and interior flooring community for the past 25 years. He is the owner of Carpet Wagon, a family owned flooring installation company in Orange County. The offer the largest selection of elegant hardwood flooring, beautiful laminate flooring and plush carpeting under one roof. So whether you’re looking for carpet barn for your new condo or best laminate flooring to makeover your older house then Carpet Wagon carries everything you need.

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How to Start – Make Your Home Clutter Free

Filed Under: Cleaning Tips
Jun.08, 2010

We have all been there: Searching for that one item you just never can seem to find. Opening drawers and looking on the shelves (you are almost certain you saw it there yesterday). As you continue your search you think to yourself: I have to sort out this mess and organise it better. Yet again you never do it. Why? As human beings we cannot face the possibility of going through our own disorder or be more organised, because it is just such a big job. I mean where do I start, you haven’t even seen the loft yet.


Getting started on your “De-cluttering” project is the hardest part, you will be surprised to find how easy it is and once you have taken that first initial step, you just want to continue and not stop until you are satisfied with the job at hand. So start with something small. Open you cutlery drawer and scan through all the items, we all have those wonky utensils in the back that are long due for the bin and all these other small things, what are they actually used for anyway? Get it all out and start again. Arrange them in the order of the items you use the most in the front of the drawer and work your way back.


Good now you have the swing of it, let us move to the cupboard with all the cleaning products. Again start by arranging all the products which are used the most in the front and work your way to the back of the cupboard. You will be amazed by the amount of space you have actually available.


Before you know it you have done a lot of de-cluttering in the kitchen, now that is a satisfying feeling. You can use the same technique throughout your whole property, one room at a time.


Make use of little boxes in cupboards and magazine holders to organise items and keep them together. Boxes that stack up on top of each other are very handy and if you want to store clothes, use deflating storage bags.


Once you have de-cluttered, you will find that it is much easier organising what you have left.


Good Luck and Enjoy…

Henriette Danel is a qualified and experienced Interior Designer and Property Investor. By holding regular webinars and by providing staging services, she can give you the “tools” to learn how to do it yourself.


Visit her website http://www.staging-properties.co.uk
Blog: http://stagingproperties.blogspot.com

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Kitchen Countertops

Filed Under: Uncategorized
Feb.25, 2010

The kitchen is easily one of the most important rooms in the house. The gathering of family and friends for the holidays, special occasions, or just daily conversation at the dinner table provides the memories that make a house a home. However, not all kitchens instantly provide the ambience for which homeowners seek.

Renovations and updates in the kitchen have the highest return on invest for a home’s resale value. Changes such as changing out countertops, installing new floors, or changing cabinets all fall under types of renovations. Some estimates state that a well done renovation would add up to 92.9% of the cost to the resale value of the home.

Very common changes that have a big impact are kitchen countertops. Choosing countertops often are based on function, durability, and appearance. The most popular types of counter tops are: laminate, stone, and ceramic tiles.

Laminate countertops are priced the lowest, and can come in a variety of colors and patterns. However, since laminate is often comprised of mainly bonded paper & particle board, it is prone to chips or scratches. Maintenance on laminate is relatively easy, however there are things owners should avoid. Avoid cutting directly on the countertop since the soft laminate could be easily cut, do not stand or sit on the countertop because weight could separate the piece from the wall, also be careful not to burn cigarette butts on the countertop as they are nearly impossible to erase, and be careful not to let water sit or stand for extended periods of time.

Stone countertops include the most popular countertop in recent years, granite. Not only does granite offer beautiful coloration that is attractive, it is also incredibly durable. Marble, and other types of countertops are included in this grouping, however granite tends to be the most popular. Maintenance for stone is also easy, be sure to avoid using abrasive cleaning pads since they could dull the polished finish. Cleaning the countertops can be achieved with a cleaner comprised of one part water to one part bleach. Also a licensed contractor can polish countertops to remove some stains, scratches and burns.

Another form of countertops is ceramic tile, which is priced somewhere in between stone and laminate. However, many complaints come from the fact that tile chips easily. Many homeowners also complain that cleaning the grout between the tile is very difficult.

If you wish to change the counter tops in your kitchen, look into professional companies. The licensed contractors can more easily handle any problems that arise, and some companies also offer limited warranties on their products. Also, researching companies and their practices could help make your decision.

For a picture gallery of ideas for your own home, you can visit http://www.northstargranitetops.com. Northstar Granite Tops specializes in working with all types of natural stone.

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Kitchen Decorating: Adding Color

Filed Under: Cabinets, DYI, Interior Design, Painting
Feb.15, 2010

Most families seem to end up spending a great deal of their time in the kitchen, so you might want to make it more interesting and add some color. Maybe you don’t want a drab and dreary kitchen, but you don’t know quite how to add the right touch. Here are some easy ways to add color to your kitchen so you can change your décor from boring to fabulous.

Add Color by Dressing Up Your Table
One of the easiest ways to create a colorful kitchen is to dress up the kitchen table. You might add a colorful tablecloth or placemats, as well as some colorful dishware. Another way to achieve instantaneous color is by adding a centerpiece, such as flowers in a vase or basket on your oak dining table. Try to find colors that will add some interest but also complement your kitchen’s décor.

Add Color with a Backsplash
Don’t let your kitchen backsplash be boring. You can always keep things simple with a neutral-colored tile or laminate, but you also have to option of venturing out a little and making things colorful. You should be able to find tile and laminates for your backsplash in a variety of different colors. Or you might choose to create a totally unique look by arranging broken-up colored glass in a random pattern on the wall. In this way, you can work some color into the décor and end up with a personalized, one-of-a-kind backsplash.

Paint an Accent Wall a Different Color
Is your kitchen painted a neutral color? Paint an accent wall a different color to add some more color to the room. Choose a more open wall, one that’s not completely covered with cabinets or appliances. Be sure to pick an accent color that will work well with the rest of your kitchen’s décor. You can go with a matching color, or if you want the wall to really stand out, pick something that’s complementary.

Take the Doors Off the Cabinets
When you take the doors off your kitchen cabinets, you can display all your colorful dishes and other tableware. The inside of the cabinets can also be painted a contrasting color if your dishes are neutral. This doesn’t necessarily entail removing every cabinet door, but you can pick a few cabinets to be colorful, preferably those more prominent cabinets above the countertops.

Use Window Treatments to Add Interest
Chances are, your kitchen has at least one window. Why not utilize that window area to add color? Whether you go with a valance or drapes, choose a window treatment in a color that will stand out. Red or purple window treatments would be a great way to add color to the room if you have, for example, a black-and-white or otherwise neutral kitchen.

Adding color to your kitchen doesn’t mean you have to change the entire décor. Rather, build upon what you already have to add your own colorful touches here and there.

About the Writer….
Leon Tuberman has been part of the furniture and interior decorating  business for 40 years. He owns and operates his family owned furniture store. They carry a large selection of American made solid oak furniture for your living room, bedroom and dining room furniture. Whether you’re looking for a oak dining table for your formal dining room or a tv stand for your family room  then they have everything you need.

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