Kitchen Design Mistakes To Avoid

Some people fall into the trap of simply going overboard when selecting the items with which to furnish the kitchen. Oak cabinets, large appliances, tiled floors, and stainless steel sinks all add a fantastic deal of life to the room, but they do so at a extensive price. Before finalizing the area in which the dining nook absolutely must go, a budget must be place in place and then followed without deviating from it. Only frustration can result from crafty a kitchen filled with objects you cannot afford.

A budget is just one plot you must devise before crafty the kitchen. This room is where you will make meals, and ample room must be available to do so. To be sure, enhancing countertops are a nice touch, but they have a duty that they must perform as well. Additionally, small appliances find their way to the countertops, such as blenders, toasters, and can openers. These items often take up permanent residence, so they must share room with someone who is cutting, a small a touch, and if not preparing breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Electrical outlets must also be placed conveniently for these appliances.

As you can see, training is elemental to kitchen design; therefore, everyone is careful to measure the room, right? Not all the time. Quite often, someone has plans for the kitchen that are simply too huge. Before you know it, a giant stove and giant refrigerator appear at the step, both hopelessly large and having no chance to fit in the kitchen. This is why it is elemental to measure all before, choose where all of the appliances and furniture will comfortably and judiciously fit, and go from there.

As you have doubtless noticed, many kitchen design mistakes are based on inadequate training. There is a inclination now and again to go ahead too quickly, and that leaves much room for error. Formulating a budget that you stick to, and by the book formatting the kitchen will eliminate many problems. Costs money wisely and being organized goes a long way.

Pre-Planning your Kitchen Design
The following are things that an owner should take into account when undertaking kitchen design. The time and cost of a job is vital – it can be expensive to replace the floor or ceiling. Removing a wall is another problematic area. You should take an accurate measurement before purchasing new doors, windows or even skylights.

Kitchen design often means integrating new appliances into it. You need to consider if you are going to install smaller appliances like a new microwave or larger ones like countertop burners, which may need professional installation? What type of fixtures do you need? Choosing the style and colors before embarking on kitchen design is also quite important. You might want to go in for a color scheme that suits the taste of the entire family. You also want a kitchen that you will be happy with for many years to come.

Fetch In the Experts
If you are planning anything to do with electrics or plumbing then the best advice is to call in an electrician or plumber. Are there other areas where a professional is needed? Plan ahead if you are going to do this because professional help is expensive. There are some jobs such as those mentioned where you really need a professional for safety reasons but otherwise, if you can do it yourself then you will save a considerable amount of money.

Frequent Mistakes Made
When beginning any new design project, acquaint yourself with common home improvement blunders. This is particularly relevant to kitchen design. To begin with, the importance of proper measurements cannot be stressed enough. If you don’t measure things correctly, things will not fit properly. Mistakes like this have the potential to ruin any kitchen design. A number of homeowners don’t comprehend how long, tricky or expensive a kitchen project can turn out to be. To be on the safe side you should overestimate rather than underestimate the costs and time delays.

Lots of homeowners attempt to handle difficult projects on their own to save money. Often, this is unproductive and a professional has to be employed to rectify the mistakes made. This can end up costing you more than anything you might have saved. When hiring professionals, make sure you are giving them enough time to do their job. A common mistake is overlapping the schedules of the different professionals.

When selecting the appliances and materials, there are methods to avoid unnecessary expenditure without having to sacrifice the quality – bear in mind that cheaply made countertops tend to chip off. When purchasing stone or concrete materials, you will have to keep up with regular maintenance to preserve their appearance.

Another mistake with kitchen design is to forget how it might fit with the rest of your house. When remodeling the kitchen, think about the resale aspect of your home as well. You may think hot pink cabinets are rather cool. But the next owner may not feel the same way.

sources:

http://www.streetdirectory.com

http://www.kbuy-ruidoso.net

Ideas For Decorating Kitchen with a Cafe shop Theme

A café is a place where people meet, talk and relax. The ambience of a café is loved by many people and that is why many of them visit one daily after work so that they can talk and share things with their friends and relax after the long day. One can decorate their kitchen with a café theme so that they have a coffee shop at home, or they feel the same. Creating the same theme as that of a coffee shop is a brilliant idea to add a different touch to the kitchen and make it nice and cozy also.

Decorating the kitchen with a café theme is not at all difficult or expensive as many would think it to be. People have two options when they want to incorporate a café theme; they can either completely change everything in the kitchen or they can use what is there, and use it and still create the theme. The things that one can use along with the colors and the final touches, is what matters the most.

A basic thing that one can add to the kitchen which will be useful also and will also help to create the café theme is to use a table with four chairs in the space. The chairs should be comfortable and for this one can add cushions to it. The table should not be crowded with too many things and under table you can opt for a modern carpet or rug.There are several types of these rugs you can get including wool area rugs, contemporary rugs and even discount area rugs that you can find online.The other thing that one can do easily is to paint the walls of a different color. The color should be bright and be chosen keeping in mind the natural light that comes in the kitchen.

Near the table that one keeps in the kitchen, one can place a book shelf and place some nice coffee table books or books of art and poetry. Another thing that can be done to create the café theme is that one should only be able to see things related to a coffee shop in the kitchen. The table should only have sugar and coffee beans etc, the counters should only have the appliances that are used in a coffee shop like the blender or the coffee maker. It is not that the kitchen cannot have other useful appliances; all that one needs to take care of is that these should be kept in the cupboards and should not be seen as this can ruin the café theme that one wants to create.

Coffee shops are known for being cozy, warm, and inviting places to hang out with your friends, have a cup of java, and perhaps a calorie-laden muffin or two. Why not create that same welcoming atmosphere in your own kitchen? Read on for some techniques and tips for creating a coffee shop themed kitchen in your own home!

1-Choose the right colors. Coffee shops are usually warm, cozy, and somewhat dark, with mood lighting. Choose colors for your walls that are rich, such as maroons, chocolate browns, and deep blues. If you feel especially daring, consider installing a faux or real brick wall.

2-Change out your kitchen hardware. Get rid of any shiny knobs and replace them with wrought iron pieces or rustic wooden ones. Consider replacing your stainless steel faucet with a dark rubbed brass finish instead, which looks old-fashioned and almost black.

3-Add coffee house style artwork. This can be eclectic, but usually is cozy and warm. You can even make your own artwork with your digital camera. Take some close-up pictures of coffee beans or sections of an espresso machine. Print them in black and white or colorize them for splashes of color on your walls.

4-Get some cafe style seating. Most coffee houses feature some type of cafe tables and chairs, even if the chairs do not match. Some coffee houses have sofas. Arrange your seating so that you have a conversation area, with chairs facing each other around a small table just big enough for that cup of joe!

5-Accessorize properly! Prominently display a nice coffee grinder and espresso machine. Set out your favorite oversize coffee mugs and display pastries in a glass case or cake holder. Consider making a sign with your name on it that welcomes people to your coffee shop.

sources:

http://www.ehow.com

http://www.homedit.com

Design Ideas For Corridor Kitchen

The corridor kitchen, otherwise known as a galley, is the most efficient layout for a thin kitchen space. Consisting of work space on two opposing walls with a single traffic lane between them and an opening on one or both ends, this kitchen design is relatively basic. Basic as it is, there’s still a lot of planning involved when it comes to layout.

Corridor or galley kitchens may be small but they do not have to be cramped or claustrophobic. Establishing an effective work triangle, eliminating awkward foot traffic that may interrupt cooking or kitchen chores, and most of all, finding new ways to use available space more efficiently, will make your corridor kitchen a joy to use. My Great Home suggests that clearing away clutter is the single most effective thing you can do to gain space in a small kitchen.

Lights and Mirrors
Use the old magician’s trick to good advantage by placing mirrored tiles as a backsplash behind counters and low appliances on one side of the kitchen, lining the opposite wall with as many windows as possible. Paint cabinets and walls in light-reflecting white, pale blue or creamy yellow to bring even more natural light into the room. Lighter rooms appear to be larger, and the added light is great for growing fresh herbs right in the kitchen where they will be handy for meals.

Pass-Through Window
Too many cooks in the kitchen can lead to spills, and even hot tempers. You can avoid congestion in a narrow galley kitchen by providing a window into the dining room, making it easier to serve and clear without bumping elbows. A pass-through window is also beneficial in keeping the cook, who may otherwise feel isolated, in touch with guests. Locate table accessories and basic condiments, salt and pepper, etc. on shelves next to the window where they are convenient from either side.

Open Shelving
Large overhead cabinets can overpower a galley kitchen and give a claustrophobic feel to tight spaces. Use simple shelves instead to keep everything close to hand while opening up the space for a more roomy feel. Shelves provide the added advantage of display room for prized kitchenware or artwork that you might otherwise have had no wall space to exhibit. Gain even more room on shelves with vertical plate racks and slotted boxes for containing pot and pan lids or shallow bakeware like cookie sheets and pizza pans.

Tricks and Gadgets
Take advantage of all the space-saving appliances, gadgets and devices on the market today to use every inch of your corridor kitchen to the max. Narrow pullout or behind-the-door shelf units are just right for canned goods storage; use lazy Susans for accessing seldom-used items ordinarily relegated to the back of deep cabinets, fold-down or under-counter sliding cutting boards save space, along with trash cans and cleaning products storage that hide away in narrow, previously unused sections between cabinets. These are only a few of the many items available to space-wise consumers.

Get Out of the Kitchen
In truly small corridor kitchens, try saving space by moving necessaries to another place in the house. Use an apartment-sized fridge under the counter for the things you use most often, then hide the full-sized refrigerator or freezer in a laundry room or pantry. Put the sink in the pass-through window, side- or wall-mount the faucet and wash vegetables from the other side to give the cook more elbow room. Take advantage of attic space to hide pull-down cabinets accessed with a simple recessed handle. Think outside the box — or kitchen, in this case — for singular solutions.

sources:

http://www.calfinder.com

http://www.ehow.com

Design Of Corian Countertops For kitchen

DuPont introduced Corian Solid Surface in 1967 as an easily cleanable, nonporous, hygienic material for use in homes and hospitals. DuPont originally supplied Corian in only four shades of white and beige, but now it offers a wide palate of colors and patterns suitable to any decor. Corian is popular as a top-of-the-line countertop surface, valued for its stonelike appearance and durability.

Appearance
Corian is available in more than 130 colors and patterns that range from the perennial favorite, white, to richly ornate marble and granite designs. Colors for countertops, backsplashes, coves and sinks can be mixed and designs can be inlaid into any surface. Its appearance is similar to stone. Sheets of the material can be molded and formed into almost any contour or shape. Separate pieces of Corian are bonded together and polished, making the entire surface of the worktop or vanity jointless and seamless.

Durability
Corian countertops are acrylic-based, essentially plastic, cast into sheets during manufacture. Corian is nonporous and, since liquids can’t penetrate it, highly stain resistant and easy to clean. It resists mold, bacteria and mildew growth. These same properties make Corian a kosher certified surface. Cleanup with ammonia cleansers or soapy water is all that is needed under normal use to maintain its finish and hygienic properties. DuPont guarantees Corian countertops for 10 years.

Workability and Restoration
DuPont supplies Corian in three thicknesses—1/4 inch, 1/2 inch and 3/4-inch. The sheets are bonded to a backing material, usually fiberboard, during final fabrication. Corian can be cut, milled, filed, ground, polished, drilled and routed similar to hardwood. Temperatures above 212ºF and hard impacts or cuts may damage the surface. Unlike laminated or veneered counter tops, the color or pattern is consistent all the way through the sheet. Shallow scratches can be removed with mild abrasives. More extensive refinishing or restoring requires buffing and re-polishing the damaged area. The original pattern will remain intact.

Pricing and Availability
Corian is available for sale and professional installation exclusively through kitchen and bath design shops, cabinetmakers and home centers such as Lowe’s and Home Depot. Each seller sets its own price, which may or may not include design, fabrication and installation, so prices vary widely. When comparing estimates, be certain that the quote is for the entire job and includes materials and labor. DuPont offers a price estimator at their website that will give a rough idea of the cost based on square feet and design features.

Other Uses
The same properties that make Corian an excellent counter top surface give it versatility in applications where a formable, hard, moisture and stain resistant material is needed. Corian sinks are popular in vanities and kitchens, as are custom Corian cabinet knobs and pulls. Walls made of the material are a sensible choice in damp environments. Bowls with intricate designs can be machined from Corian. Lighting designers have found that some colors of the material are translucent, and have employed it in mood lighting. Headstones and plaques take advantage of its stonelike appearance and machinability.

Corian countertops give you lots of flexibility in customising the design you want. You will have different colours to choose from. The corian countertops are also designed in almost any shape you would like, making them blend in well with the rest of the kitchen.
These Corian countertops are also resistant to different things, which include stains, scratches, and heat. The corian countertops are also quite hygienic.

sources:

http://www.vivant.com.sg

http://www.ehow.com

Design Ideas For Corian Kitchen

Corian sinks are an acrylic polymer mixed with thermosetting plastics. Thermoforming is accomplished by heating the material to over 300°F and forming it around a mold. Corain sinks also have the advantages of a wide range of textures. This is accomplished by using different grit sandpapers in the finishing process.

Corian sinks come in a very wide range of colors, shapes, and sizes. The other manufacturers have a wide selection as well.

Joining the pieces together, requires the use acrylic resin and a belt sander to get the seams to disappear. Great care and skill is needed to get the pieces to come together as tight as possible. An experienced solid surface fabricator can make a seamless transition that’s invisible.

The use of a solid surface sinks requires the use of a solid surface countertop from the same manufacturer if a seamless design is desired. You can also purchase self rimming sinks in solid surface as well and due to its wide range of colors it can match or complement any countertop or decor.

The disadvantages of solid surface sinks are they are susceptible to melting from high heat. Once the sinks are glued to the countertop they are there forever. An experienced solid surface fabricator can change the sink, but that involves removing the countertop and cutting out the sink. This can only be accomplished by an experienced fabricator. The new sink has to be the same size or larger but also needs to fit in the existing cabinet space.

The advantages of a Corian sink, and the other manufacturers, is the wide range of colors, shapes, and sizes. The seamless design is more hygienic because there are no crevices for food, grime, and moisture to build up. Scratches and chips can easily be fixed with a little sandpaper. Most people aren’t comfortable with sanding their sinks because they are afraid of damaging the surface. What I recommend is to get a lesson from the fabricator on how to fix the scratches This can save you money down the road. As well as give you the confidence to do it yourself.

Corian Backsplash Ideas:
The use of Corian for a stove backsplash can offer many design options. Corian holds up to heat and is easily cleaned. Corian comes in many colors and styles and is easily worked with standard power tools. With a little imagination you can design a beautiful custom Corian backsplash.

Solid Corian
A solid sheet of Corian can be cut to notch around the upper cabinets. This option will make a seamless backsplash that will be easily cleaned and maintained.

Corian Tiles
Corian can be cut into tiles and can then be glued back together on the wall. After sanding you can have a decorative backsplash that can be seamless but will add a visual texture to the kitchen.

Inlaid Corian
Corian can be easily cut and milled with woodworking tools. This offers you unlimited design options. You can purchase scraps from a Corian dealer to add decorative inlays or borders of contrasting designs to the backsplash.

sources:

http://www.dream-kitchen-ideas.com

http://www.ehow.com

Design Ideas For Kitchen Corner Windows

Corner windows are one of the most frequently used elements of modern residential architecture. Their use was popularised by the international style architecture which propagated simplified building forms, neat facades and lesser ornamentation. This era also sparked the use of glass for building facades, which led to the birth of the corner window. The corner window allowed seamless use of glass in the building envelope, lending a contemporary touch to both the building interiors and exteriors.

Corner window, as the name suggests, is a window at the corner of a building. The two adjacent surfaces of the building contain segments of the window which meet at the edge of the surfaces. The edge may or may not be vertically supported by the window frame. All other types of windows are framed by the walls on the four-sides, whereas the corner window creates the illusion of an open-ended window in the building elevation. Functionally, the corner window allows panoramic view of the surroundings. It also brings in plentiful daylight to the interior spaces.

Corner Window Curtain Ideas:
The right curtains can add function and beauty to a room. Windows placed in odd configurations can make finding the proper curtains a challenge. Windows that meet in the corner of a room can prove particularly challenging. Curtains should provide style and coverage without cluttering the space.

Mirror Image
Divide a set of draperies intended for a large window and create a mirror image look for your corner windows. Use one panel on a separate rod for each window. Any decorative edges should face the corner side of the window. Add a swag effect to the window treatment by tying the curtains back loosely. Matching ties often come with curtain sets. To make your own, purchase braided cord from a crafting store in a matching color or tone. Use plain pull-down shades in a complementary color or horizontal blinds behind the curtains for privacy.

Flow
Use multiple panels to create a flowing appearance across corner windows. Use straight curtain rods placed to almost touch in the corner between the windows. Purchase or sew sheer panels in progressive colors. Decide on the flow you desire before hanging your curtains. Guests’ eyes will be drawn from light to dark. Use six panels total. Hang the curtains using the three lightest colors on the first rod heading toward the corner. Place the three darker colors on the second rod, working from lightest to dark. To draw attention away from the corner, put the dark panels on the outside. To attract your attention to the corner, place the lighter panels on the outside.

Cornered Off
To visually block off smaller corner windows, use one rod to form a barrier curtain. Place the rod from the outer edge of one window to the outer edge of the second window to form a triangle. To give the illusion of no corner being present, select curtains in fabrics to match your walls. For an elegant look, use curtains made of lace in pale colors or white.

sources:

http://www.designyourinteriors.com

http://www.ehow.co.uk

Ideas For Corner Gas Fireplaces For Kitchen

Corner fireplace is ideal for small apartments and rooms, because it takes less space and serves as a decorative center. Corner fireplace is made usually with the combustion chamber, where the wood or gas will burn and mantel built diagonally across the corner. While the mantel is usually a little less than ordinary node fireplace, you can decorate the mantel – and heart – with personal photos and collectibles, as objects collected from his travels.

Fireplaces add warmth and romance to a room, but the maintenance required to keep up with a wood burning fireplace is a turnoff for some homeowners. A gas fireplace is a low-maintenance alternative to traditional wood burning stoves, and corner gas fireplaces add ambiance to a room without dominating the space. Incorporate your corner gas fireplace into your overall room design to create a seamlessly cohesive space that is stylish and functional.

Rustic Designs
Traditional corner gas fireplaces include black or iron fireboxes and accents metal in shiny gold-toned brass. Though older gas fireplaces may make a room feel dated, incorporating a rustic corner gas fireplace into your room design creates a cozy, timeless space that is full of warmth. Draw attention to your corner fireplace with a stone fireplace surround that extends from the firebox all the way to the ceiling. For an aged, woodsy look, opt for rustic brick; for a more country style, choose large stone slabs in varying shades of gray and brown. If you opt to fill in the corner with a fireplace surround, run a simple wooden mantel across the surround to add storage and introduce a horizontal line into the otherwise vertical space.

Contemporary Corner Fireplaces
Gas fireplaces are ideal for contemporary spaces because they offer more design versatility than a wood burning fireplace that requires a sturdy heart and surround. Choose a lifted corner fireplace that is suspended 1 to 2 feet off the ground for a minimalistic look; some suspended designs attach to the corner wall and include an enclosed firebox while others are built into and suspended from the ceiling for a larger fireplace. Instead of tucking your corning fireplace into the back of a corner, bring it to the outside corner of a dividing wall that separates two rooms; choose either an open corner fireplace that houses a small, candle-like fire or an enclosed corner fireplace contained with glass panels for larger fires.

Alternative Surrounds
Though traditional fireplace surrounds are made from stone or brick, alternative materials like clay or stucco add distinction to a corner fireplace. Draw inspiration from traditional southwestern design, and frame your corner fireplace with a kiva or beehive surround made from prefabricated plaster casts; accent the fireplace with colorful clay pottery or brightly woven wall hangings for an authentic look. If your aesthetic is more modern, line the wall behind your corner gas fireplace with large sheets of metal for a bright, reflective option; copper offers a warm glow while brushed nickel or stainless steel is a more monochromatic option for contemporary spaces.

Determine the type of fuel fire will burn. Select the shell corner fireplace or stove, or embedded in a corner fireplace that will have installed. For the traditional kind, matching the wood unit that can be freestanding or built.

Choose your style. Decide whether you want to make part of the fireplace in a cozy place to sit and read or aesthetic focal point in the room. For example, warm-fireplace feel, the site of photos of the policy. Lay a blanket — check with fire-safety risks when choosing a — in the outbreak to invite the company to gather there and gaze at the fire.

Choose a material for surface fire, choice of material that attracts the eye, such as stone work, marble, wood harvest, or red or white brick. If you do not want to draw too much attention to the angle, choose colors that already exist in the room — from furniture and wallpaper, for example — and to incorporate these colors into the mantel, hearth surface and to unify the room.

sources:

http://www.ehow.com

http://arhdecoration.com

Ideas For Corner Kitchen Sinks

Sink is one of the most inevitable parts of a kitchen. Almost all the work we do revolve around the sink, be it rinsing utensils, or cleaning utility equipments or even washing the vegetables. Before choosing a sink, you need to make an important decision of where it should be placed. If your kitchen is in the shape of L or U, then a corner sink serves as a good option to explore. It aids in enhancing the efficiency, due to its fabulous location, which lies at an equal distance from your working platforms. Also, a corner sink does not hamper the day to day activities.

Remember, the drainage system of the house decides the position of the sink. The location of the sink should be such that it should be near to the water inlet and outlet, so that you need not add extra long pipes. Coming to the range of corner kitchen sinks, there is a wide variety of kitchen corner sinks available in the market, thus offering you a multitude of options to choose from. As far as the material is concerned, some of the most popular varieties are the sinks made from granite, copper, stainless steel and porcelain. To know more about the benefits of corner kitchen sink and what to keep in mind before choosing it, read through the following lines.

Benefits
Corner sinks serves as the best bet for a kitchen that is small in size. Since it is located at the corner, the sink is easily accessible and occupies less space, allowing enough room for you, to move about freely in the kitchen. Also, a sink placed at the corner does not interfere with the other work and helps to continue the routine task effectively. In fact, for a larger kitchen as well, a sink placed at the corner is helpful, as it adds to the look of the kitchen. Also, when the sink is at the corner, the pile of utensils does not distort the look of the kitchen.

Choosing The Corner Sink
Available in wide variety of styles and designs, corner sinks are made from different materials such as granite, copper, stainless steel or porcelain. You can either go for custom made sinks or the readymade variety. In either of the cases, the options are varied and endless. In case, you do not know the appropriate size of the sink, the best bet would be to go for custom made corner sinks. This would be easier for you as you can get the exact size you want. The custom made corner sinks provide you with the liberty to choose the faucet holes, according to your liking. When it comes to the shape of the bowls, you can either go for rectangle, triangle, circle or square, as per your taste and preference.

Stainless

SteelStainless steel, still the most popular material for kitchen sinks, can be found in corner models that actually fit within the 90-degree angle of the countertop. Elkay makes a model with two equal-sized bowls that are positioned diagonally to one another from point to point. The V-space that forms between the two bowls at the top edge houses the faucet.

Composite

Composite countertops generally use a molded seamless sink, which is made right into the countertop itself. The professional who measures for your countertop can design a single- or double-bowl sink for the corner. Before deciding to place it there, think about the distribution of work in your kitchen space—where you wash, cook and store food.

Growing in popularity is the farmhouse or apron front sink. Made of a number of materials—including copper, porcelain, granite and soapstone—farmhouse sinks can be placed in a corner if the corner is squared off, allowing the apron to fit. This requires considerable cabinet work to retrofit in existing cabinetry. In new construction, installation is no more difficult in a corner placement than in straight applications.

Considerations

If you are moving your sink position to the corner, consider the distance the plumbing will require.

If you are not the only cook usually working in your kitchen, remember that a corner funnels people into a smaller amount of space. Therefore, the washing of foods for preparation as well as dish washing or any other task that requires standing at the sink will be difficult for more than one person at a time.

sources:

http://www.ehow.com

http://homedecor.iloveindia.com

Design Ideas For Kitchen Corner Cabinets

corner kitchen cabinet designs ideas to maximize small kitchen space is a really good idea. Corner kitchen cabinets is very functional, because they usually have a mechanism for flow and space saving corner cabinet solution.

The corner where the two sides of your kitchen come together is often a bit of wasted space. Cabinet manufacturers have designed products that help you use this space more effectively. Solutions are available for upper corners, lower corners and even for the corner countertop.

Rotating Shelves
A traditional way to deal with a corner cabinet is to install a set of rotating shelves. These shelves, sometimes called a lazy susan, allow you to turn them around till the item you need is within reach. Look for units that have a lip on the edge of the shelf so small items won’t fly off from the centrifugal force of rotating the shelves. This type of cabinet has two typical configurations. Some have the door set on a diagonal. This style is more common for upper corner cabinets, but is sometimes seen on lower ones as well. When you open the door, you see the round shelves inside. Another type has a door that has two panels at right angles to each other. These panels can be hinged, or might be affixed to the edges of the lazy susan itself. With this style, the rotating shelves do not form the shape of a full circle, but rather look like a pizza with a slice missing, the slice where the corner is located. Some lazy susans are fixed so both levels rotate together, while others have two separate levels that rotate independently of each other. All of these styles are great ways to use space when you have a cabinet set into a corner, if you have access to the cabinet from both sides of the corner.

Blind Corner Pull-Out Shelves
Perhaps you have a corner where there is an appliance on one side of the corner. This means you have access on one end: a narrow cabinet door that opens to a cabinet that is much larger than the width of the door. This is called a blind corner cabinet because you can hardly see what’s in the back of it. Many cabinet makers make units that slide in and out so you can store items in the back and still reach them. Most of these come in two parts. Pull out the first part and pivot it away to make room for the second part to come forward. Some units like this have the forward part attached to the inside of the door, and others work independently of the cabinet door. Most have an upper and lower shelf on each of the two sections.

Appliance Garage
Another easily wasted space in the corner of a kitchen is the space actually on the countertop itself. Depending on the depth of the counter and the position of the corner, you may find you can’t even reach all the way to the back of the corner. A good way to use this space is to install an appliance garage. This is an additional cabinet, usually set back a bit from the front of the countertop, that provides a storage spot for small appliances such as a mixer, a toaster or a coffee maker. Check with your cabinet maker to determine whether your appliance garage is meant to allow you to actually run the appliances or just store them. A toaster or coffee maker may create too much heat in a closed-in space. This type of cabinet can keep your small appliances out of sight when you are not using them, making your counter look neat and organized.

sources:

http://www.hote-ls.com

http://www.ehow.com

Modern Kitchen Designs with Cork Floors

Cork flooring is a favorite resilient flooring material among homeowners. This is because of its natural beauty and superior sound and temperature insulation. Cork is comprised mainly of air, making it an excellent sound reducer between rooms. It does not conduct heat or cold as other flooring materials do.

Cork is not just for use in bottle stoppers anymore. The material has taken off as an affordable, alternative floor covering for the kitchen. Cork flooring can be a durable, comfy, and sustainable option, making it an attractive choice when you design your own kitchen. Cork floors can be insulating, insect repelling, resistant to fire, sound-dampening, and tough against mold.

Cork is available for purchase in planks or individual tiles. Expect costs to vary between $3 and $22 per square foot. Suberin, a waxy material common in the top layer of cork, has been known to repel water as well as retain the moisture resiliency inside the cork itself.

The insulating, sound-absorbing quality of a cork floor can be particularly useful if there are family members living below the kitchen.
Using Cork Floors in Modern Kitchen Design

Cork flooring typically comes in pre-finished or unfinished stock. It’s certainly easier to install than wood flooring. Depending on your kitchen design layout and size, you may want an installer to come in. Pre-finished cork tiles and planks don’t need sealing after installation, but you may want a special seal to help fight mold and moisture. When you use unfinished stock, the sealer has a better chance of penetrating seams and natural edges of the tile.

When considering your kitchen design layout, remember that cork can be installed over your exiting tile floor or concrete sub-floor. The hard work is in determining the total square footage to cover, measuring, and cutting the planks or tiles to cover completely.

Some modern cork floors are engineered with snap-together edges. Remember too that cork breathes and can swell or shrink, making it imperative that the installer account for an expansion gap. You might consider shoe molding around the baseboard to conceal any gaps in coverage. An installer can show you how to use half-inch spacers along the existing wall.

sources:

http://www.flooringandcarpets.com

http://ideas.reliableremodeler.com