Tips For Kitchens

Tips For Creating Outdoor Kitchens

Outdoor kitchens are any other like themed -rooms inside the household, except that its lay-out is designed outside the wall perimeter of the main house and is usually situated where the sun is at its beaming smile or the moon is at its sweetest wink.

It usually serve as a venue for barbecue soirees, evening family get-together and small parties and even neighbourhood bonding sessions. But, what are the basic elements for building a functional and classy outdoor kitchen?

Kitchen Outdoor

1. PLANNING – Prior to even having the first step of creating your dream outdoor kitchen, one should first have a blue print of what one wants for such kitchen. Hence, the blue print should be able to identify where in the house lay-out, specifically, must be situated. It must also identify the size of the kitchen and its level of functionality viz the other utility rooms inside the house. During the planning stage, one must also consider what types and how many kitchen equipment are you willing to house inside the said area.
2. ARCHITECTURAL CONCEPT – Next line would be the concept of the outdoor kitchen, whether it will be a classic, modern, economical, basic or high-end. It must clearly depict what type of style you would want to project. One can also have a lavish concept, such as a country concept with the presence of brick and woods or French Mediterranean which scallops and cone edges or a Thai which lavish use of colors and glittering accents. Most often, the architectural design of an outdoor kitchen is in harmony with the architectural concept of the main house.
3. TECHNOLOGY – This is the meat of all outdoor kitchens. For outdoor kitchens, naturally, rust proof equipment are being installed. Durability of the equipment is also a consideration. This is so, because, one must consider the conditions in an outdoor environment. The presence under the direct rays of the sun or drops of the rain, moisture of the soil or the surrounding plants or even the extreme temperatures during winters and summers. Kitchen equipment must be carefully chosen that can wither these types of conditions. Hence, all kitchen technology equipment must be all-weather proof.
4. BASIC PARTITIONS – Like any other rooms inside the house, your outdoor cooking area must have clear cut partitions which will provide space for every activity to be done inside the perimeter. Mini-partitions such as kitchen counters divide the cooking area from the ingredient preparation area. The wet area can be characterized by a sink which will be a washing area for ingredients and used utensils, pans and dishes.
5. SECURITY and SAFETY FEATURES – This is a very important consideration in every outdoor kitchen. The security features would usually refer to the protection of all equipment and things installed in your outdoor kitchen. Each of installed object must be securely fastened/locked and protected, because of the kitchen’s outdoor nature, which is consequently susceptible to theft and burglary. Safety features, on the other hand, refers to preventive features of any call for accidents, such as fire, oven explosion or even electrical malfunction. Hence, safety gadgets such as fire extinguishers and other fire prevention instruments must be always present.
Finally, the harmony of all these important elements will depict one’s perfect idea of an outdoor cooking place. One’s careful picking of a style, kitchen piece and the like will surely be a dream outdoor kitchen.
Tips For Creating Outdoor Kitchens

You can check these sites for more homes for sale Carefree AZ Homes with Pools and Luxury Real Estate.

Ideas On Kitchen Design And Lighting

If you have just moved into a new, old house, one of the first things that you will probably want to do is refurbish or remodel the kitchen, especially if you like cooking or spending a lot of time in the kitchen. If you use a kitchen a great deal, you will probably already have a good idea of what you would like the kitchen to look like in the end.

One of the first decisions to make is whether you are going to do it yourself or oversee it yourself. There is a lot of work in a kitchen refurb and I have seen amateurs spend years, literally years, doing what a professional could have done in weeks. This always leads to family tensions. Once that I know of, it even led to divorce. It seems that everybody wants to boast that they are having refurbishments done, but no one actually wants to go through the hassle of having it actually done.

If you are not completely sure what you want your kitchen to look like, it is a good suggestion to visit show kitchens at home improvement stores and even pick up brochures there to study at home. You could also buy a few magazines and surf the Internet for ideas.

Once you see a few examples that you like, be sure to cut out the pages and print off the image files after downloading them. This way you can build up a dossier of the things that you would like to integrate into your new kitchen..

Once you are pleased that you have all the components you like, you have to collate them. This does not have to be to scale or exact, but just as good as you can do with what you have. Take a large sheet of paper, say A3, and mark in your kitchen’s windows and doors.

Then cut out the pictures of the items you want from the magazines and brochures and stick them in place. If you think that this is not realistic, draw them in and label them clearly so that you can refer back to your picture file.

You need not stop at one design, you can play about with it. If you cut the images out, but do not glue them down, you can move them around until you are contented. You may also want to get the opinions of other members of the family and have a brain storming session

When you have finished, decide how you are going to illuminate the kitchen. Do you want a pendant light over the table? Do you want spots pointing at the cooker and the sink? Do you want hidden down-lighting to shine on the work surface? How are you going to see what you are doing? It is a very important question. Wall lights are good for ambient lighting.

In conclusion, you have to choose a colour scheme and you are almost ready to start, unless you are using a contractor and then you will have to select one first, but that will make up the contents of another article.

Owen Jones, the writer of this piece writes on several topics, but is at present concerned with researching wrought iron floor lamps. If you would like to know more or check out great offers, please go to our website at Wrought Iron Light

How to Install Kitchen Cabinets

Installing kitchen cabinets can be the best of times,and the worst. Best, because it marks the completion of an arduous task; worst. because installation of perfect cabinets in an imperfect kitchen is sure to put your cabinetmaking skills to the test. Until now, you have worked on paper and in the relative calm of your workshop, carefully crafting your cabinets one by one. But a kitchen is not a workshop. When you bring your cabinets on site and start installing them, you may find yourself dealing with problems you had not anticipated, often working against the clock.

For example, no matter how painstakingly you have executed your story poles and built your cabinets to their specifications, there will undoubtedly be gaps between the carcases and the walls, floors, and ceilings. This is because the walls of a room, unlike your cabinets, are rarely straight. Fortunately, out-of-plumb walls can easily be straightened by adding additional rails to the end cabinets and scribing them. The scribe rail can then be planed or sanded to conform to the wall.

The chapter that follows guides you through the steps and techniques necessary to install your kitchen cabinets and make sure they are plumb and level. A general review of installation techniques outlines several options for installing both lower and upper cabinet runs.

Pinpointing irregularities in kitchen surfaces is covered. Lower cabinet runs are usually installed first, followed by the upper cabinets. Some cabinetmakers, however, install the upper cabinets first, arguing that it is easier to do this task with the lower cabinets out of the way. While either option will work, stand-alone kitchen peninsulas and islands are best installed last, as they can create traffic jams during installation, no matter how well they are expect to worked in the finished kitchen.

Placed on levelers, plinths, or their own integral bases, the lower cabinets are shimmed from behind so their faces are plumb and aligned flush with each other, then the cases are fastened to the wall studs. Utility hookups such as hot and cold water supplies, drain pipes, and electrical outlets require special planning. Before installing cabinets around such hookups, check with a professional plumber and electrician to ensure that the pipes are sound and the wiring is in good condition. Upper cabinets are mounted using nailer rails, European-style supports, or beveled wooden support rails. As in the lower cabinets, variations in the length of a cabinet run may call for filler snips to bridge gaps between cabinets. The final touch is decorative crown molding, which dresses the joint between the cabinets and the ceiling.

Visit the Woodworking Plans Website pages for more woodworking articles.

Most Popular Kitchen Cabinet Color

Is your kitchen looking a little tired? Is it more depressing than delightful now? Maybe it is time to do some thing about it, but if a total renovation is not necessary, you could just modify the colour scheme. For example, you could repaint the walls and the ceiling. Repaper if that is what you prefer and you could choose new kitchen cabinets to suit. This is a relatively economical way to give your kitchen a makeover without going the whole hog.
Many people believe that you have to change everything in the kitchen in order to remodel it, but that is just not the case. You change what you want. You renew what needs renewing. However, it is remarkable what effect a change of colour scheme can have. In fact, you do not even have to replace the cabinets.
The base units of wall and floor units or cabinets are all standard sizes. They are usually 600 mm, 400 mm or 300 mm and the doors come in sizes to suit these units. Therefore, all you have to do is change the doors. So, you can make a substantial change to your kitchen, with just a lick of paint and a dozen replacement cabinet doors.
So, how do you choose the colour of these new cabinet doors? Well, maybe you have seen some at a friend's home that you admire. You could get a couple of home improvement magazines or you could look on line. Maybe the first choice that you should make is, whether you want wooden cabinet doors or whether you want painted doors.
There are scores of natural wooden colours available, but if you are willing to paint your own cabinet doors then you can literally have whichever colour you want. If you are not altering everything in your kitchen, match swatches of different colours against what you are not changing until you find a colour combination that you like. Get the whole family embroiled, it can be enjoyable.
It is a big decision to choose the colour of new cabinet doors, particularly if you decide on a natural wood such as oak, mahogany or maple. It is the same if you choose pre-coloured cabinet doors. If you are really having problems coming to a decision, just get cabinet door blanks and paint them yourself.
In fact this is not simply a lazy option, because it permits you to change your kitchen colour scheme every year or two at no more cost than the price of the paint and your time. It is probably the best choice for people who get fed up with colour schemes quite often.
This advice is a good method of saving money on new kitchen cabinets, although you may have to renew a few base or wall units if they have become damaged. Damaged cabinets will allow insects and dust to enter and infect your crockery and food so they should be replaced straight away.
In general, kitchen cabinet base units cannot be easily repaired because or the matter they are constructed from. In this case, you will need a few new kitchen cabinets.

Owen Jones, the author of this article writes on quite a few topics, but is at present concerned with thinking about the dual fuel range cookers. If you would like to know more or check out some great offers, please go to our website at Electric Freestanding Cooker.

Kitchen Cabinets – The Best Kitchen Furniture

Kitchen Cabinets – The Best Kitchen Furniture

A kitchen cabinet is integral kitchen furniture in the home. In the modern day setting, kitchens are furnished with cabinets that are fitted which will offer storage areas that could either be spacious or not. If you think that your kitchen space can accommodate more that what is necessary but with a limited financial budget, thus a kitchen cabinet that is free standing is the best option.

Although it is not possible at all times to renovate the kitchen in order to augment the storage area and a high-priced choice as well as very unreasonable if you are staying in a borrowed accommodation, a free standing cabinet can be a good kitchen furniture to choose. This has a lot of selection with respect to the dimension and comes at an affordable price. All you have to do is pile the cabinetry beside any available space on the wall in the kitchen and you will certainly have a perfect positive feature in the home.

Free standing kitchen cabinets have similar features in term of the styles and designs with the conventional cabinets. You can also select a small cabinet with few drawers and shelves or opt for a tall cabinet that has an enormous size.

Kitchen furniture like the cabinet is also available in various selections related to the material and shade. It is best to select the wood type in order to tote up the artistic appearance of the kitchen. The basic metal kind is also appealing in a distinctive manner as well as with the use of glass and plastic. Any available area in the kitchen can be filled with a cabinet to cater the needs of the family.

The first thing to do when buying a kitchen furniture like the cabinet is to check your capacity to purchase such item followed by the cabinet’s dimension. Wooden cabinets are typically costly than the other types. To ensure that your cabinet is with the appropriate dimension, assess the area where the cabinet will be installed before your purchase.

A lot of shops are offering kitchen furniture for instance, a cabinet that is custom made. When you shop, it is vital that you inform the seller your preference so that he will be able to create the cabinet of your choice. This idea is commendable knowing that the interior of the cabinet will be designed based on your individual requirement.

Cabinets that are custom made have parts that are modular and changeable, thus, you will be able to change the area of the cabinet at once and carry it with you just like any other furniture if you decide to relocate. It is significant that you purchase kitchen furniture that is of good quality to make it a treasure trove later.

Shopping online is a good way of procuring kitchen furniture because you will be able to go through a wide array of selection in terms of designs and respective prices. You can also check for the warranty, the return policy and the cost of shipping. Pay particular attention the guideline in returning the item because this can be crucial in cases where you are unsatisfied with the kitchen furniture.

Visit Glenn Salazar’s new website to get popular facts on kitchen cabinet handles, learn all about them and read about the best deals and discounts. If you are interested in kitchen cabinet doors, this site is a place where you should go.

Tags: area, dimension, free standing kitchen, home, kitchen cabinets, wooden cabinets

Remodeling Your Kitchen on a Budget

November 29, 2010

It is easy to look at magazines featuring amazing kitchens and dream of having one just like it. It’s not quite that easy though and the problem most people have is money.
The phrase ‘kitchen remodeling’ might be synonymous with ‘very expensive’ but it doesn’t have to be. There are a few great ways to ensure your new kitchen designs can be within your budget.
The first thing to do is to think about your floor plan. You might want to have an island fitted in the centre of the kitchen or change the layout in another way.
One option which can increase the space of your house without having to have an extension is to take down an exterior wall. This will probably lead to changing two rooms in your house and can increase the property price too.
What about a gallery kitchen? These kitchens aren’t as pokey as you might imagine. You can always attach your kitchen to the dining room to make a special living space which is roomy and comfortable.
If you want a hassle free way of just putting something down and having done with it, what about an island? Islands are simple to fit and they don’t have to match the rest of the kitchen.

Easy Kitchen Planning and Remodeling

You only get one chance to plan your new kitchen so take your time. It is important to understand the different aspects of your new kitchen’s design.

Kitchen Work Triangle

The kitchen work triangle of the kitchen is an imaginary line drawn from the centre of the fridge to the centre of the sink to the centre of the stove and back to the fridge again. The triangle should be a maximum of 26 feet and no single leg of the triangle should be shorter than 4 feet or longer than 9 feet. The work triangle should not intersect an island by more than 12 inches.
If you have only one sink, it should be between or opposite the refrigerator, cooking surface or preparation area. This is so you won’t waste steps, be interrupted by foot traffic or be cramped.
Some people feel that the work triangle is too restraining for some kitchens. If there is going to be more than one person cooking, an L shaped kitchen design might work better.

Kitchen Countertop Heights

You should have 2 heights of kitchen countertop, one between 28 and 36 inches from the floor and one 36 to 45 inches from the floor. This makes the kitchen better for cooks of different heights, cooks who might want to sit down and bakers who want to knead dough at a lower, more comfortable height.
Make sure no appliance, entry or cabinet blocks anything when opened. If you have an island cabinet, nothing should hit it when opened. Between 42 and 48 inches is a good minimum planning distance between cabinets.

Kitchen Accessories

You should include at least 5 storage or organizing items. Maybe include pull-out shelves, tall cabinets, raised base cabinets, storagebins, pull-out pantries, roll-out bins and lowered wall cabinets.

Windows and Skylights

These should equal a minimum of 10% of the total square footage of the living space including the kitchen or the kitchen itself.
Kitchen Cabinet Design

 Leave a Comment » |  Kitchen Remodeling | Tagged: Kitchen Design,Kitchen Remodeling |  Permalink

How to Plan Kitchen Improvements ?

November 29, 2010

If you want to improve your kitchen it is vital to plan it properly. If you don’t plan well, you might end up with an expensive bad kitchen which you are unhappy with.
In the past, kitchen design planning involved the stove, sink and fridge work triangle and the work surfaces took second place. Today there is a lot more to think about. Do you want a modern style kitchen? Do you want a rustic style kitchen with a kitchen pantry? Do you have your own ideas about how to blend styles to give your kitchen your own personal touch?
It is common these days to see professional style kitchens entering the domestic scene. Kitchens are a fashion accessory in some ways and there is more choice than ever these days. It does however take a lot of planning to create the perfect kitchen and there are various things to think about before you start, including your budget, your personal tastes, the space you have available and more.
Ask yourself a few questions before you start your new kitchen plans. Are you going to be cooking for large numbers of people regularly? Do you want your kitchen to be a place for people to congregate during a party? How many people in your house will cook? Does someone in the house like baking? Do you like spending a long time cooking or do you prefer making quick and easy recipes?
You might want to leave the planning of your new kitchen to a kitchen planner rather than do it yourself. This is cheaper than you might think. Home Depot, B&Q and similar places have staff with plenty of knowledge so if you purchase some appliances you might get free kitchen planning help from the shop.
Don’t go overboard. You might think that expensive marble would look nice as kitchen surface but if you want to move house in the future, you can’t take it with you and the price of a modestly priced house won’t include the extravagant outlaying you have made in the kitchen.

Kitchen Remodeling Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

 Leave a Comment » |  Kitchen Renovation | Tagged: kitchen, Kitchen Design, kitchen improvement |  Permalink

Kitchen Styles – Modern

November 29, 2010

Modern

With a modern kitchen you should expect slick, polished finishes and modern windows and timber joinery. Stainless steel is widely used in modern kitchens. The lighting is normally recessed into the ceiling or halogen lights can be used.

 Leave a Comment » |  Kitchen Styles | Tagged: Kitchen Styles, Modern Kitchen |  Permalink

Kitchen Styles – Art and Crafts Kitchen

November 29, 2010

Art and Crafts Kitchen

An arts and crafts kitchen relies on a natural look with good quality craftsmanship. Recessed panel doors with thick frames feature in an arts and crafts kitchen and you can contrast the finish of the door frame against the panels.
In an arts and crafts kitchen you might see natural, neutral colours, clean strong lines, mullioned glass doors, rich woods, stained glass lighting fixtures and windows and recessed or inset panel cabinet doors.
With a Shaker kitchen, which is similar, you might see beech, maple, birch or oak veneered wood. Inset flat panel doors go better with a Shaker kitchen style and you can use wide rails in the cabinet frame.

 Leave a Comment » |  Kitchen Styles | Tagged: Art and Crafts Kitchen,Kitchen Styels |  Permalink

Kitchen Styles – Country

November 29, 2010

Country

A country kitchen is often welcoming and bright, featuring woven baskets, painted and glazed cabinets and decorative moulding and shelving.
In a country kitchen, you might see checked, striped, floral, plaid and gingham patterns, antiques, handmade items, metal or chicken wire cabinet inserts, beadboard and calico or chintz window coverings.
In a French country style kitchen you might find oak or cherry cabinetry, framed cabinets in recessed or raised panels, pantry and plate racks and decorative shelving.
In a traditional English country kitchen the cabinet design is normally square and accented by curves. Natural cabinets in oak or pine are popular. A large wooden mantle range hood, intricate moulding and wood cutouts in valances look authentic in an English country kitchen.
For a farmhouse kitchen, use light or dark stained wood and use heirlooms or antiques for authenticity. For a cottage kitchen, you can use driftwood-like finishes for a seaside flavour. For a lake flavour, you can use darker wood but keep it natural looking.
Other country styles include Swedish country, garden country and Tuscan country.

 Leave a Comment » |  Kitchen Styles | Tagged: Country Kitchen,Kitchen Styles |  Permalink

Kitchen Styles – Old World

November 29, 2010

Old World

An old world kitchen should hark back to its pre 17th century European style. The raised panel cabinetry is often painted and might have beadboard, cracking, cup and dish racks, bun feet and valence legs.
In an old world kitchen you might see stone floors and walls, furniture-look cabinetry, mosaic tiles, copper or pewter accents, rich deep colours, plaster or brick walls and appliances hidden behind panels.
Tuscan is another old world style. A tuscan kitchen relies on natural materials. The cabinets will often be cream, earthy or yellow. Other old world kitchen styles include French chateau, Italian villa, Dutch cottage, Mediterranean, Castle, Gothic and Normandy cottage.

 Leave a Comment » |  Kitchen Styles | Tagged: Kitchen Styles, Old Word Kitchen Styles |  Permalink

Kitchen Styles – Rustic

November 29, 2010

Rustic

A rustic kitchen will often feature a regional flair. You will see leather pulls, knotty alder, hickory or pine, wood panelling, wooden ceiling beams and rich, warm earthy tones.

 Leave a Comment » |  Kitchen Styles | Tagged: Kitchen Styles, Rustic Kitchen |  Permalink

Kitchen Styles – Traditional

November 29, 2010

Traditional

A traditional kitchen has an elegant and formal look like the European and American homes of the 18th to the early 20th centuries.
Features in a traditional kitchen might include natural materials like stone or wood, antique appliances and fixtures, raised panel
cabinet door styles, rope and crown moulding, corbels and fluting and cabinets in mahogany, cherry or walnut.
An Italian style traditional kitchen will rely on elegant cabinetry with onlays, rope moulding and custom carved reliefs. These cabinets are usually painted cream and have intricate raised panelling.
A Victorian style traditional kitchen will feature Cathedral arch doors, raised panels and ornate trims and mouldings. Heavy, dark woods are usually used for Victorian style cabinets.
For a Georgian style kitchen walnut, cherry or mahogany woods give a formal finish. Stacked cabinetry to the ceiling, heavy crown moulding and square panel raised doors are common. Black accents are often seen.
Other traditional kitchen styles include Federal, Queen Anne, Early American, Manor, Shaker, Edwardian, Neoclassical, Colonial, Farmhouse, Regency, Cottage, Cape Cod, Bungalow and Plantation.

 Leave a Comment » |  Kitchen Styles | Tagged: Kitchen Styles,Traditional Kitchen |  Permalink

Kitchen Styles – Transitional

November 29, 2010

Transitional

A transitional kitchen will have elements of contemporary and traditional design. A transitional kitchen is eclectic and combines manmade and natural materials, textures and finishes.
A mission style kitchen might be made transitional by adding bamboo flooring. A tuscan kitchen might be made transitional by using steel appliances or having some high tech lighting. You could have a cherry style kitchen with contrasting paint colours. The sky is the limit with transitional kitchens.
Transitional fixtures and mouldings are not elaborate but should have some degree of ornamentation.

 Leave a Comment » |  Kitchen Styles | Tagged: Kitchen Styles,Transitional Kitchen |  Permalink

Kitchen Styles – Contemporary

November 29, 2010

Contemporary

For a great contemporary kitchen, rich wood finishes, high tech appliances and luxury gloss is the look you need to aim for.

Floor to ceiling cupboards give you plenty of storage space, leaving the worktops uncluttered and wraparound surfaces that link the sink, worktop and splashback look great too.

 Leave a Comment » |  Kitchen Styles | Tagged: Contempory Kitchen,Kitchen Styles |  Permalink