Kitchen Design - What is the New Kitchen inside your Future? Go ahead and take Steps to Success - Planning

INTRODUCTION

Many of my clients have, unfortunately, initiated the design of their kitchen without an understanding of the extent of what is actually involved in the process, in terms of design, budget, timeline and other issues. In these cases, our design process together, was frustrating for the client and for me. As a result, this article will clarify the process so that you will have the opportunity to become better informed before you begin your kitchen project, thereby avoiding uninformed decisions or possibly spending time and/or money needlessly.

This article is not about the specific design features of your kitchen and how to design it. There are many good resources available for that. Instead, it is about the process of designing your kitchen. It is meant to help in getting a head start and to expose anyone who is, or might be, embarking upon the design of a new or remodeled kitchen, to the first and most important step - Planning.

Designing a kitchen for a new or existing home is a big investment in time, money and energy and it is sometimes stressful and challenging. Unfortunately, some vendors and TV programs don't like to dwell on this aspect and therefore mislead the consumer regarding the actual amount of time and effort that is required. Even though creating a new kitchen is challenging, most clients say that the results are more than worth the effort. I hope that the information provided herein will be a helpful contribution toward having you well on your way to a successful project.

Before you begin the process of designing your new kitchen, you will need to set the criteria for the design. I recommend that you engage a professional kitchen designer that not only designs the cabinet layout, but designs every element of the kitchen and is involved throughout the entire project, so that the final result will be a cohesive design that reflects optimum function and style. The designer will not only help you create a beautiful, efficient, kitchen but will save you significant time and money and you will both have fun developing your joint creation. I trust that what follows will get your energy flowing and thoughts racing, in preparation for actually embarking upon your journey. And, it "is" a journey!

THE KITCHEN OF TODAY

The kitchen has traditionally been the most important room in the house because cooking and sharing food has long been central to family life. Meals will always be important, but cooking has, in some cases, significantly changed. The grocery industry has focused on replacements for home meals and hundreds of restaurants have incorporated "to-go" in their business model. Whether we cook frequently or not, kitchens remain the foundation of family life because it is where we live and gather. It is where most of us start and end our days and share the information of our day.

Today's kitchens serve more roles than ever before: entertainment center, home office, cooking and dining space. The electronics for an entertainment center may include TV, music and internet connection and the office area may have a desk, files, computer and bookshelves.

THE FIRST STEPS

Determine with your family, who uses your current kitchen and how, and discuss the conveniences you would like to have in the new version. Make a scrapbook of articles and notes on kitchens and kitchen features that interest you and photographs of kitchens you like. Evaluate how and when you cook, where you serve meals to whom and how often you entertain and how you entertain. Inventory your dishes, silverware, serving pieces, cookware, linens, and your typical grocery storage requirements so that you can be sure that the new design accommodates everything.

It seems that no matter how much time you budget for a remodeling project, it usually takes longer than you expected. For a complete remodel, the down time during construction can be at least two or three months and much longer, depending upon the size and extent of the project. Your family needs to eat in the meantime. So, before construction starts make arrangements to store, heat and clean up, enough to keep you going until the kitchen is back on-line. Many of my clients who have had the good fortune to have a bar sink in the family room, have moved in the old refrigerator and microwave near the bar sink and this combination becomes the interim kitchen during construction of the new one. The upside to this is that it provides a great rationale for eating out more often!

THE KITCHEN FOOTPRINT

Let's start with the space you have available for the kitchen. Whether you are designing for a new home, or remodeling in an existing one, you are limited by how much space you have available in which to create your dream. If the space is fairly small, you will want to consider whether or not you have the option of expanding. You may be able to accomplish this in your existing home and, in a new home, very often you still have time to alter the architectural plan, if needed. In either case, if you can eliminate or relocate a wall or walls or add to the house to create more space for the kitchen, it will improve the function and value of the room significantly.

Of course, if you don't create an addition to the house, and just remove or relocate a wall(s), you then have infringed upon a contiguous space and decreased its size, so you have to weigh which option is the best for you. Is it worth giving up the other space to increase the size of the kitchen? In my experience, if you can do without the adjoining space, it is much better to devote that extra space to the kitchen.

When you plan to remove or relocate a wall(s), the key factor to determine is, by so doing, will you encounter a load-bearing situation? This occurs when the wall(s) is part of the support system for the structure of the house. Usually a contractor can determine this. If the contractor is uncertain, you will need to have a structural engineer examine the structure to make that determination. If it is non load-bearing, when you are ready to start construction, the contractor can proceed to build out the space per the new plan. If it is a load-bearing issue, your local building authority will require that you retain a structural engineer or an architect to design a structural solution for removing or relocating the wall(s).

He or she will submit design drawings and calculations of the solution, to the building authority for approval and permit. Upon receiving the permit, when you are ready to begin construction, the contractor can then proceed to build-out the structure per the engineer's or architect's specifications. This is the process in California, based upon the state building standards, Title 24. The process in the other states is very similar.

In any case, once you have made the decision of whether or not to expand or re-configure, you will know the size and shape (footprint) of the space that you have available from a horizontal standpoint - Plan View.

VERTICAL SPACE

You should also consider what size and shape the room will be from a vertical standpoint as well. If it is possible to increase the height of the room by raising, eliminating or altering an existing low ceiling or soffit, you should seriously consider taking advantage of this option. The additional height will provide more cabinet storage from the increased height of wall cabinets and the room will become more voluminous which is always more visually impressive and comfortable. From a construction standpoint, the load-bearing issues will apply to increasing the room height just as it applies to moving or eliminating walls.

Of course, in dealing with all of these design and construction issues and decisions that need to be made, you will not be alone. Your designer will be the pivotal person who will help you evaluate the choices you have available. He or she will produce drawings in order to visually demonstrate these options and will offer advice on which options are best and why.

I understand that this all sounds very tedious and problematic. In some sense these two words are a good description of the design/construction process. However, what I have outlined above is done thousands of times every day and most of those homeowners have survived and, as a result, now have the new, beautiful, functional, kitchen of their dreams. You notice I said "most"! Seriously, the project will be challenging and there will be some problems. This is just the nature of design and construction and that is why you should not proceed without experienced professional help throughout the process from the very beginning to the end.
 
UTILIZING YOUR KITCHEN

Are you an expert chef, who does it all: cooking, baking, barbecuing, or are you a minimal cook whose main goal is to just get a meal on the table for the family as expeditiously as possible, or are you somewhere in between? Do you always cook by yourself or do you often have family and friends help with the cooking? Do you often entertain and all flow into the kitchen while munching on your Brie between sips of chardonnay? Do you bake often and want a marble surface for that purpose? The questions can go on and on.

Some clients have large, prestigious, homes and entertain frequently and/or have large families. They may have someone do the cooking for them. Some of these types of projects may need the full treatment, such as a butler's pantry or walk-in pantry, two islands, two refrigerators, two dishwashers, two microwave ovens, a wine cooler, a separate beverage cooler, a built-in espresso machine, sink, prep-sink and bar sink and glass-door cabinets to display the family heirloom china, etc.

Most clients require something substantially less than all of this, but I bring it up just to emphasize that how you utilize your kitchen has a strong influence on the design and therefore, as I mentioned, you should think about how you want to operate and what you want to accommodate in your kitchen. You can start to think about what type of appliances and features you would like. Think of the three major work areas of a kitchen: Food Prep (refrigerator and sink), Cooking (cook top, oven and microwave) and Cleanup (sink, dishwasher and recycling). You will find a myriad of styles and options available which you and your designer will need to carefully consider. More planning, of course!

HOW & WHERE YOU WILL EAT

You may prefer to be able to eat in the kitchen by having an island with seating. The size of the island that the room will accommodate will determine how many persons you can seat. Seating at an island reduces the storage space available in the island, so the balance of the kitchen storage will need to absorb this loss. You can basically sit at three counter heights: chair height (29-30"), counter height (36") and bar height (42").

If you have an adjacent breakfast room, you may want to eat there in the interest of having more storage space in the island. If the room will accommodate it, you may like the idea of a built-in booth in the breakfast room or kitchen, in lieu of a typical table and chairs. Many clients like to have the option of eating in both the breakfast room and at the island in the kitchen. In some cases there is no breakfast room and the dining room serves as both breakfast room and dining room. In any case, you should give these and other possibilities careful consideration.

THE DESIGN STYLE

There are many design motifs available to you: Traditional, Modern, Contemporary, Country, Craftsman, Cape Cod, etc. The design motif that you select will obviously heavily influence the selection of all of the other elements in the kitchen. The cabinet style and finish have the strongest influence on the design style of the kitchen. As I mentioned, you can start by collecting magazine photos of kitchens to get a feel for what you do and don't like. They will give you great ideas for all things kitchen. Stock, semi-custom or custom cabinets have many different styles and finishes to offer and of course, custom cabinets can provide any design and finish.

REMAINING ISSUES

The planning process will continue until every aspect of the total kitchen design is selected and specified. However, once you have established your footprint and vertical space, how you want to utilize your kitchen, how and where you want to eat, and your design motif, you are more than half way there. The planning process continues, on a smaller scale, as you are making more decisions about all of the items and issues that make up a total kitchen design.

Examples: Do you often make spaghetti and pasta, which requires filling a large pot with about four to six quarts of water? If so, you should have a pot-filler over the cook top or range top. Since there are only two of you and it takes a long time to fill up the dishwasher before you can wash the dishes, you should consider a two drawer dishwasher which enables you to wash one drawer at a time, thereby saving energy and providing you with clean dishes more often. Do you prefer an air switch in the countertop for the disposal or do you want the switch to be on the backsplash? Do you want a garbage disposal in the prep sink as well as the main sink? Do you want soft close on your cabinet drawers? Do you like the idea of pendant lighting above the island? Do you want a filtered water system? The questions go on and on!

The various categories you will be encountering in designing your new kitchen are as follows. This listing of categories will give you an idea of what is to come. I didn't say it was easy!

APPLIANCES, CABINETS, HARDWARE, FLOORING, PLUMBING, COUNTERTOP, BACKSPLASH, LIGHTING/ELECTRICAL, WALL FINISH, FURNITURE, WINDOW TREATMENTS, ART WORK, ACCESSORIES AND CONSTRUCTION.
 
CONCLUSION

I trust that by reading this article, you now have an appreciation of how important careful planning is to the successful design of your kitchen. The more thought and quality time you devote to it, the better prepared you will be when you begin with your designer and the process will become easier and more efficient, which everyone involved will greatly appreciate.

Once you have made most of these macro-decisions that I have mentioned, you will be ready to tackle the micro-decisions that are coming next. As you can see by the examples I have mentioned and the listing of categories above, you have a lot more planning to do, but remember you are now over half way there. Be strong and resolute and I am sure that you will get through the entire process virtually unscathed. And, if you are thoughtful, organized and work in the spirit of mutual cooperation, you will probably have some fun too! Remember that not all of this is on your shoulders. Your professional designer will be by your side for the whole trip.

I sincerely hope that you have found this information helpful and I wish you the best of luck on your journey.

How Come Kitchen Sponges So Absorbent?

Kitchen sponges may be used to dry hands in the kitchen area or bathroom, to dry out spills, in order to clean everything from home windows to flooring. Because of their absorbency, strength, and convenience, towels are most generally used in the kitchen area and sit near the drain in many homes and offices across the nation to dry dishes, dry hands, and dry out kitchen spills. Additionally for their convenience, they are also sanitary since they're disposable making for use just once, staying away from the distributing of bacteria that could occur with shared towels. Everybody that has used a towel within their lifetime recognizes that kitchen paper baby wipes are disposable and convenient, why on the planet could they be so absorbent?

Sponges can absorb more liquid than the usual napkin or perhaps a tissue, and when you've attempted to wash up a spill having a napkin or perhaps a tissue, you realize that! Exactly why kitchen paper baby wipes can take in a lot liquid happens because, unlike a napkin or perhaps a tissue, the paper that comprises a paper towel is loosely woven, permitting water to visit between your paper materials within the towel. This is accomplished through 2 significant manufacturing processes-creping and embossing. These 2 manufacturing processes alter the physical qualities from the paper, which makes it more absorbent than the usual sheet of paper, a tissue, or perhaps a napkin. Creping provides the paper wipe versatility and stretch and produces more open areas for water to go in. Throughout the creping process, the mechanical action of the edge disturbs the fiber-to-fiber bonds within the paper and forms a micro-fold structure inside the piece of paper. Embossing implies that the top of towel is transformed from the flat working surface to some formed surface, to ensure that you will find areas which are elevated in the flat background. The embossing process evolves a empty space between your paper, permitting the paper wipe to carry more water.

Although important, creping and embossing aren't the only variables that may modify the absorbency of sponges. The creping and embossing processes leave carefully divided materials of cellulose, the principal structural chemical in cotton, wood, and many other plants. The little molecules that comprise cellulose in paper baby wipes are sugar molecules, and water is extremely soluble in cellulose materials. It is because cellulose, like sugar, clings tightly to water molecules.

The final element in paper absorbency is the amount of plies, or stacks of paper. Kitchen sponges are also available in 1-ply and a pair of-ply, which ensures they are either 1 layer thick or 2 layers thick. For absorbency, 2-ply kitchen towels are more powerful and much more absorbent than 1-ply kitchen towels given that they have 2 layers of absorbent paper towel per sheet. But 1-ply towels may also get the job done.

While you shop for kitchen sponges in large quantities membership shopping warehouses, within the supermarket, or online, you can observe that you will find various kinds of kitchen towels. Many of these towels have different amounts of absorbency in line with the plies, cellulose, creping and embossing. Now you realise why these different brands have different absorbencies, you may be a far more informed consumer.

Take Out Kitchen Faucet Overview of Delta, Kohler and Danze - Which Faucet Brand Is the greatest?

Pull out faucet can add a lot of functionality and convenience to one's kitchen. Moreover, they can create beauty and style to the over-all look of your countertop. However, with the loads of choices available, it can be quite a challenge to decide which one is the best. We reviewed and compared 3 leading brands - Danze, Delta and Kohler to find out.

Delta pull out kitchen faucet has a wide variety of selections to choose from. If you prefer low arc faucet styles, they have models like Foundations, Lewiston, Signature and Saxony. They come in different finishes such as chrome, stainless and bronze. You can also select whether you want the faucet to have a soap dispenser or whether you prefer the minimalist design. Prices range from 0 to as high as 0, depending on what finish and features you choose. If you opt for the high arc pull out kitchen fixture style, their best one would be the Waterfall model, priced at around 0. It has a very sleek and modern design and comes with a soap and lotion dispenser.

In comparison to Delta, Kohler kitchen faucet has very limited choices when it comes to pull out style. As of now, their website features the Forte single-control pullout faucet that comes with color-matched spray head and lever handle. It has a low arc design and available in several finishes like polished chrome, brushed nickel, bronze and stainless steel. It is priced at around 0. Their high arc pull out model is called Elate which has a high-arched spout and minimalist design. It targets the user to enjoy the comforts of easy cleaning and perfect maneuvering of large pots to fill up water. It is priced at around 0, so this is a better choice than the first one.

Danze has both low arc and high arc in their pull out kitchen faucet collections. They are also available in different colors like stainless steel, chrome, stainless steel and even oil-rubbed bronze finish. The prices range from 0-0 depending on what type and model you choose. Danze's faucets have very modern and beautiful designs. They look very sophisticated, they can definitely make one's kitchen look expensive and elegant.

Delta, Kohler and Danze are all leading and trusted brands in the faucet industry. They all offer the same durability and reliability to their products. They always think of functionality and user-friendliness for all their faucet selections. Over all, we can say that it is all a matter of personal choice and budget as to which one you would choose. Each faucet brand can be the best pullout kitchen faucet as long as they fit your personal needs and requirements.

Kitchen Design Tips &amplifier Updates - Space Needs &amplifier Recommendations

Kitchen design is often as simple like a straight counter top with minimalist home appliances, or as sophisticated as multiple sinks, dish washers, cooktops &lifier ovens in islands, under islands, over islands and much more. Wine chillers can easily fit in just a dishwasher or perhaps be as tall like a kitchen. Sinks could be troughs to contain ice to awesome bottles, little to have an entertainment center, exponentially increase bowls as well as an infinite number of materials. Materials vary enormously, you are able to go eco-friendly with counter tops made from compressed recycled paper, obvious glass, concrete, granite, limestone or even the old standbys. Even within materials, for example granite, prices vary enormously with respect to the exact stone selected, and you may have some very affordable and delightful stone should you browse around. Likely to infinite realm of options in the kitchen area.

First we are able to begin with some design fundamentals. Just how much room will i requirement for a kitchen? Well, that is dependent on what you would like inside it. At it's most small, you can fit a kitchen right into a space 5'-4" x 7'-5", but there would not be much beyond some really small home appliances with no dishwasher. Let us take a look at some standard appliance and fittings size ranges.

Sinks: sinks are available in many dimensions, depths, materials and costs.  They come as narrow as 11" wide, however, you most likely wish to plan a minimum of a 30" - 36" cabinet, which could accommodate an array of standard size basins from 25" to 33" in a number of styles (drop-in, undercounter, or uncovered front eliminate).  You must also decide if you want just one, exponentially increase basin sink, as which will impact available dimensions. There's also a choice of putting the sink within an island, or putting an entertainment sink or trough sink inside a secondary location.   Dish washers: dish washers are pretty easy since they're pretty standard at 24".   Cooking: again we've multiple options, but dimensions really are a little simpler.  You've got a selection of a totally free-standing or slide-in, where the unit matches between two cabinets, that is generally 30" wide a cooktop with separate ovens, (either below or perhaps in another cabinet), which will come standard in 30" or 36" dimensions and squeeze into that size cabinet (although you will get professional style rangetops as much as 48") or perhaps a professional style range produced by companies for example Viking, Wolfe or General electric Monogram including 24" completely as much as 60", and wish significant ventilation. When you purchase another oven in certain type of wall oven arrangement, standard oven sizes are usually 27" and 30", although they may be found as much as 36".   Fridges: Options, options! Fridges are type of two fundamental style choices. Would you like the one that is shallow (around 2') and is called built-in or counter-depth, or would you like the slightly much deeper traditional style where a number of refrigerator sides are uncovered. The not so deep built-in's generally are available in 36", 42" &lifier 48", as the much deeper styles are available just beneath 30" wide or more.   Taps: Kitchen taps, besides a nearly infinite number of styles, materials and colours, also provide developed. Taps are actually available simply to fill the containers in your stove, have a range of pull-out sprayer heads or separate sprayer, single or multiple handles, they are offered with remote two button controls for any prep sink which enables for any quick sink rinse or perhaps a more complete cleansing flow, and may fit any decor from ultra modern to renaissance.
Just how much counter top is sufficient? Based on the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) as many as 158 inches (13'-2") of counter top frontage (not in corners) is required to accommodate all kitchen uses. Attempt to allow a continuing portion of counter top with a minimum of 36 inches wide by 24 inches deep alongside most of your work space.  The NKBA suggests that you simply allow a minimum of a 15 inch counter top area alongside your oven as well as on the handle side of the refrigerator.  

When speaking about storage,  the NKBA suggests a complete shelf/drawer frontage of 1400 inches for any small kitchen (less then 150sf), 1700 inches for any medium kitchen (151 to 350sf) and 2000 inches for any large kitchen (over 350sf). Exactly what does this suggest? Performs this imply that I want over 100' of shelves for any little kitchen? Well, yes, but, each drawer or every individual shelf ought to be counted for the total. If you possess a 24" wide cabinet, 30" high with 3 shelves, you have 6' of shelving. And when there have been a 24" base cabinet with 4 drawers, there's another 8', so that one 24" section of your kitchen area already has 14' of shelving.  

What's "the job triangular"? The job triangular signifies the 3 major work stations from the kitchen: the kitchen area, the refrigerator and also the sink. Calculating from the middle of each, the utmost total entire triangular shouldn't be greater then 26 ft using the maximum leg no greater then 9 ft and also the minimum not less then 4 ft. At three dimensional Home Decorator, you will find really 9ft and 4ft arrows that you could devote your floor intends to test distances.  

Eating areas won't be restricted to tables! Islands can hold eating areas, cooking areas, dish washing areas, or simply prep areas. An average counter top is 34 inches to 36 inches high. A table is usually 30 inches high. So in planning kitchen eating areas, a part of a tropical eating area could be dropped to table height or perhaps a table could be built being an extension of the island, left at counter height with stools, or elevated to 42 inches for any high counter top eating area, that is frequently accustomed to hide the job top of the counter behind it when seen in the relaxation from the room.  

Just how much space is perfect from a table and also the wall? The NKBA  (National Kitchen &lifier Bath Assoc.) suggests no less than 32 inches if no traffic must pass. 36 inches will let someone squeeze by, and 44 inches will let an individual walk by. If your motorized wheel chair must pass, allow 60 inches.  

It is advisable to vent your stove towards the outdoors if at all possible, but you will find recirculating fans that will draw smells in the air if outdoors ventilation isn't available Don't put cooking surfaces under operable home windows. If you're lucky enough to get come with an operable window above counter top height inside your kitchen, put your sink under it rather than your stove. Place a microwave having a fan combination over your stove, either tiring towards the outdoors, or recirculating the environment.  

Don't waste your kitchen area corners. Upper cabinets could be decorative open shelving and have a 2 part door which opens each side from the cabinets. Blind base cabinets might have lazy susans, which rotate for access, or base cabinets might have shelves which take out, swing aside and permit much deeper shelves to become drawn out into accessible locations. Even though it is the toughest to gain access to, minimal costly option would be simply to have deep shelves or perhaps a simple lazy-susan (the rotating shelves). For those who have an L formed kitchen or island having a peninsula setup, doorways can be put on sides for ease of access.  

Remember the area between your lower and upper cabinets. For those who have more then enough counter top, the area between your lower and upper cabinets  (even just in the corners) might have tambour doorways (rollup doorways) which could hide home appliances or even the space can contain open wine shelves, departing half the counter top uncovered for that usual reasons.

 Cabinets come in most dimensions. Base cabinets are available in every width from three inches up, and depths from one foot to 24 inches and bigger, to allow them to fill a myriad of needs. 9 inch and 12 " base pullouts for soda bottles and cans are excellent and efficient for filling out narrower spaces. You will find  base cabinets with pullouts for garbage and/or recycling, or with shelves that raise for any Kitchenaid Mixmaster kind of appliance. A 12 " deep cabinet in the finish of the island can be used as cook books or created for storing wine. Remember full height pantries, which could have shelves, roll-out drawers, door accessories for spices or herbs or any other niche storage. Both upper and lower cabinets could be decoratively open for wine, books, glasses, and much more. An 18" or 24" base will have a small wine or soda refrigerator built-in. You will find 6" high drawer cabinets or open shelves which could fit beneath your upper cabinets to supply storage for more compact products.  Base cabinets can also have glass doorways and fancy faces, which may be used to display special dishes.  With storage confined, cabinets have grown to be very clever about offering maximum efficiency in minimum space.