Kitchen Home Improvement

Submitted by: Sarah H

Sometimes the best things take the longest to develop and with a good kitchen design it is no different. This is so because the kitchen is not only one of the most important functional rooms in the home but also because it serves the added purpose of adding tangible and aesthetic value to your home and any good kitchen design will be able to accomplish all these purposes.

Today kitchens are no less important than they were when they first became a focal point in the home; in fact, they are possibly more of a focal point and important today than they were in years past! Many families today live a very fast paced life and as such necessities and quality time often coincide so it s no wonder why so many families meet for a quick breakfast or dinner in the kitchen. But a bad kitchen design can make this function difficult let alone any idea of luxury which includes being able to spend some time with your family or friends when cooking or having a meal.

A good kitchen design is a design that does not only allow more than one person to work comfortably at the same time, but it also allows easy and accessible storage as well as aesthetic appeal so that people would actually want to spend time in the room doing things that would otherwise be a drab and a chore.

A good kitchen design takes into account the needs of the person or family that is going to be using the kitchen and as a result, things like the cabinets, appliances, furnishings and lighting should be adequate enough for these people to execute their kitchen tasks. Some people prefer a lot of work space in the kitchen so opting for all encompassing built-in units like kitchen islands and wall to wall counter tops are a great idea. Others prefer large refrigerators and stoves and ovens in which case these appliances should be chosen according to your particular needs and preferences.

The actually useable space in the kitchen is another factor that a good kitchen design takes into consideration to give you maximum usage in your kitchen. If the available space in the kitchen is not used economically and efficiently many people opt to have remodeling done, however since this can get quite costly a face lift project can help greatly in updating your kitchen design to suit your needs. A relatively easy way to do this is by changing your kitchen cabinets since this is what will help you be better able to manage your space. Some people, depending on the budget for the face lift project also replace bulky appliances.

Additions like ceramic backsplashes by the sink and stove area also serve functional and aesthetic value and one should never underestimate the value of upkeep like paint, fittings, fixtures, furnishings and accents that also serve to add luster and function to the design of a pre existing kitchen.

Where actual space is concerned some more drastic measures can be taken like calling in contractors to have walls removed or extended. Again this will depend on the size of your budget and how badly off your kitchen is. If time or finances don t allow it is also a wise idea to contact a professional just for opinions and suggestions for alternative ideas that could possibly be done on a budget.

Another good idea when it comes to kitchen design is to consult an interior decorator since these professionals will really be able to help you make the most of your available kitchen space. And they will really be able to make your kitchen work for your needs, personal preferences and overall lifestyle.

About the Author: One Final Tip: Do get many ideas before starting any home project, visit

home improvement ideas

a site offering tips on

choosing metal roofing

and much more.

Source:

isnare.com

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By Jesse Akre

Your house, as much as you like the way it is decorated, you still feel like it is still a bit on the boring side. Did you know that there is a pretty easy way to spruce up the look of it? Thats right there is and that is by purchasing some beautiful glass doorknobs. In no time, your home will be looking better than ever.

Okay, so you might be wondering, glass doorknobs, what is so special about them? The fact is, they actually have one pretty amazing appearance that is the result of the ways they can be shaped, the colors infused into them, and the many, many materials that they can be mounted on.

For example, you can get one that is in a rosette shape and actually has a pink color infused right into it, creating a breathtaking side that is only made more beautiful by its polished brass base. Or, you can get another one that is smooth and round in shape, featuring a bold blue color. There are even ones that are mushroom shaped and some that are oval while other color choices include lavender, auburn, yellow, and even crystal clear.

If youre not quite into glass doorknobs, dont fuss since there are actually a lot of other ones to choose from made from other materials as well. Like, you can get ones that are made completely out of metal that feature different finishes, ones made from a combination of metal and porcelain with a porcelain ball handle mounted on a metal base, and you can even get ones that are made out of wood or plastic.

The main thing that you want to really remember when purchasing glass doorknobs, and any of the others for that matter, is to makes sure you get the right one for the job. Seriously, there are different ones that serve different functions. For instance, the one you put on your front door is not the same one that will go on your bathroom door. For the front door, you would want to go with an entrance one that has a keyed locking cylinder while the one for your bathroom would be a privacy version that still locks but has no cylinder. There are also passage way versions that do not lock at all and ones that have the look of the fixture, but do not twist.

A convenient option for checking out all the glass doorknobs you could get, and the other ones as well, is by doing comparison shopping on the World Wide Web. In a matter of minutes you can look into what all the different online hardware stores have available and generally they will all be at a pretty reasonable price. Whats even better is that what you buy will be shipped right to you, so no worries about wasting gas and a trip outside the home.

Ultimately, if you want to really add some spice to your home, install some glass doorknobs. There are an assortment of stunning selections to choose from, all of which will be sure to please.

About the Author: Jesse Akre, owner of a variety of online stores focusing in home dcor products and information, provides consumers with information that they can use to create one chic outdoor or indoor space. Today, he shares advice when purchasing beautiful

antique doorknobs

,

glass door knobs

, and

glass doorknobs

.

Source:

isnare.com

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isnare.com/?aid=267128&ca=Home+Management

By Janice Tham

What do you do if your room makes you feel claustrophobic? You feel cramped in those quarters, but there isn’t much you can do about it, or is there?

Windows that face the outdoors would help tremendously but there is only so much you can do about the structure of the room. The landlady may kick you out if you knock a hole in the wall to create a window, but there are other ways of bringing in the light.

Okay, before we even talk about light, is the room cluttered up?

The first thing you should do in a cramped space is to declutter. Get rid of all the things you don’t need. As for what you really need, plan out where you can keep them so that you have as many clear surfaces as possible in the room. The less clutter there is, the more spacious, or at least, the less cramped and stressful the room would feel.

Keep all the papers out of sight. Organize them in files, or boxes and hide these boxes in odd corners in the room, out of sight.

By the way, how well is your room organized? Many rooms might have unused spaces beneath the window or they may be oddly shaped. Make the most of those odd spaces by building in cabinets or storage spaces and keep your belongings there out of sight, to reduce clutter.

Get a magazine rack to keep your newspapers and latest magazines in. Then keep that magazine rack near the wall. Actually, keeping the furniture against the wall leaves you more space in the center of the room for you to move around.

Take a leaf out of the Shaker’s book. You know the Shakers style of home decorating. Where simplicity counted, neatness and practicality was everything. They had pegs on racks to organize all their things and racks are great space savers, highly practical and get you organized. The Shakers would not leave things lying on the floor. Everything had its place, on racks. Walls were lined with pegs on which they would hang up their few, practical possessions.

Clear spaces reduce the clutter. Just keeping the floor clear of objects and every surface tidy with the bare minimum on each surface would make the room itself feel less cramped.

Talking about spaces, consider going for glass tables instead of wood. Glass furniture appears invisible and the visual space freed up by using glass or transparent, clear materials instead of opaque objects would make the room look more spacious.

Instead of claustrophobic, think cozy. Go for rich fabrics that lend the room texture and an air of luxury. Cover the floor in the center of the room with a large rug to give the room that luxe finish.

Fake a ceiling to floor, wall to wall window by draping curtains against an entire wall, to give the illusion that there is a window and therefore, more space behind that curtain.

Make the most of whatever light your room may have by lining one of the walls with mirror panels. Have you seen a room with a wall lined with mirrors? Those mirrors make the room look twice its size, the reflection of the room through the mirror makes it look as if there is an identical extension of the room on the other side of the wall. You could arrange mirror panels side by side to cover the entire length of the wall to visually double the size of the room.

There is no need to feel claustrophobic in your room. With a few carefully planned touches, your tiny room can look more spacious and feel cosier.

About the Author:

Practical Home Decor Ideas For The Claustrophobic

. Consider getting

decorative racks

to help you organize your living space. The writer is the webmaster of

home-decor-ideas.com

Source:

isnare.com

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