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Farmhouse Kitchen Designs – Finding the Right Look For Your Home

Farmhouse kitchen designs create a very welcoming and delightful style. When someone walks into my home, I often think what atmosphere do I want them walking into? Do I want them to feel comfy and relaxed right away, or as though they are walking into a home in the country when we are actually in the city?

With this style, when someone comes over for the first time they will automatically feel very much at home, or when a friend returns for another visit they will automatically feel welcome. The house feels warm and welcoming based solely on the theme that the room is decorated.

Farmhouse kitchens always vary in decorations, furniture, and colors. However, there is a cozy feeling no matter how the decorator changes the little details to the room.

Unlike most other decorating styles farmhouse kitchen designs use a mix of knick-knacks and give a more relaxed atmosphere to the room and the house. The idea behind farmhouse kitchen designs is to give a completely lived in feeling. Therefore the more mix-matched the knick-knacks, the better.

Another common theme in this type of decor are wood floors with colorful rugs. The rugs are used to tie in all the mix of knick-knacks. What the rugs cannot integrate, you can always add flowers around the room mixing and matching colors as well. Wild flowers, especially, are often a great addition to authenticate the farmhouse appeal. Either fresh picked or bought from a store, these vibrant flowers can make all the difference in the impression that is being sought.

There is another main characteristic that goes along with farmhouse kitchen designs, in addition to the wooden floor and flowers around the room. You want to make your kitchen have a lived in feel. How to do that? Nothing has to match.

What makes this type of design so special is that every kitchen is different. The point is to have the same basic theme, wood floors, rugs, and flowers. However, the furniture can be different designs, styles, and themes. Although the furniture is all wood, it can be light, dark, tan, maple, oak, birch, etc. Every piece can also have different shapes, and represent different styles. They can represent more French genre or an old cottage feel.

The little pieces chosen add little details and incorporate the owner’s personality. This makes your house feel like a warm and welcoming home. You can portray your own personality through your knick-knacks you add around the room. It is all in the little details that make the farmhouse kitchen such an amazing, always different and ever changing style in America.

The basic idea of farmhouse kitchen designs is to pull all the different little details together. This creates a warm and welcoming atmosphere for both old and new friends. You want every person who stops by for a minute or two to feel the same as a friend who might be staying with you for a while. You goal is to make it as though they walked into a serene, comfy place to relax and let go of everything that is happening in their life, even if it is for just a few minutes.

How do you want people to feel who are coming into your home for the first time? Or how do you want your old friend coming into town to feel while they stay with you? Always welcome and relaxed is a great atmosphere for old and new guests. This is part of the farmhouse kitchen designs. It’s all in the little details that make the d?�cor.…

Kitchen Accessories – Cool Ideas

The kitchen is the one room in the house where we spend a substantial amount of time. We prepare meals at least two or three times in there everyday. It’s only fair that this wonder-producing room looks neat and organized, not in a strict, depressing way but in a fun, casual way. The best way to achieve this is by accessorizing it. Carefully chosen accessories warm up the kitchen and make it comfortable. There are many accessories you can choose from. Some of them may be basic, others may be purely aesthetic. As long as you do not end up cluttering the room, feel free to display those antique pieces you pick on your travel around the world in the kitchen.

An accessory that comes in handy when you pile up things is the drawer divider. It has the magical power to transform a messy drawer into a neat cabinet in a flash. This is especially so with multi-level compartmentalized junk drawer inserts. With a drawer divider, you can easily separate one set of kitchen equipment from another so that they do not mix up in the drawer and create a jumble. Or you can buy divided trays which fit into the drawers so that all you have to do is put what you want exactly where you want it.

Have glass doors on your cupboards if you have lovely pieces you don’t mind showing off. It can also be placed on the cabinet top, as long as you do not use the top as your work area. You can also experiment with colored, stained, frosted, wavy or seeded glass. This is wonderful choice for those of us who have qualms about displaying what we have in the cupboard. Nevertheless, they look really cool and in some cases may even look more chic than clear glass. Of course this will depend largely on the rest of the decor around the kitchen. Remember to keep the look neat.

Wire storage is a good accessory that is very practical. You can use it to hold wraps, foils, platters, towels and canned goods among other items. The beauty of wire storage is that you can tuck it inside a cupboard door, behind a pantry door or under a shelf. If storage is a challenge for you, they are a great choice. With several of these, you can easily store quite a pile of items. Slightly different from wire storage but serving more or less the same purpose are pot racks and chrome rails. Pot racks can be hung from the wall or ceiling and are used to hang pots, pans and other cookware. All you need is a hook to hold them in place and your worries about space will be gone. Modern day chrome rails are beautiful pieces of art. Place them inside the cabinetry, under the upper run and hang your utensils, oil bottles and condiments.

Fitted sinks are another choice accessory which makes cleaning convenient. There are different styles from which you can chose, the conventional sink and divided ones, those with garbage disposal pockets.

These are just some of the accessories you’ll find indispensable in the kitchen.…

Great Kitchen Layout Blends Function With Timeless Style

The following kitchen layout advice will help you plan that new kitchen you’ve been dreaming about.

Use these interior design tips and techniques to plan a kitchen that fits your family’s needs. Learn if a kitchen island is right for you and how to make the best use of space and traffic patterns.

Smart kitchen layout starts with considering your work triangle.

The simple concept of the work triangle has the stove, sink and refrigerator located at the three points of a triangle. Your triangle can have any angle in order to adapt to a u-shaped, l-shaped or galley style kitchen. Pay attention, though, to the length of the legs of your triangle. Ideally each leg should be from 4 to 9 feet (1.2 to 2.7 m) long.

An efficient work triangle is the basis of good kitchen and layout maximizes the efficiency of movement while you work in the kitchen.

If you have a big household and a busy kitchen, it’s wise to locate your refrigerator on an outside point of your work triangle. This gives the other family members access to the refrigerator for snacking and for putting groceries away while keeping them out of the food prep work traffic.

Dishwashers are a fourth station to consider in your kitchen layout… And are best placed inside the work triangle next to the sink.

Be sure to allow at least 24 inches (60 cm) on both sides of the dishwasher for ease in loading and unloading.

Now grab your tape measure. Get your approximate measurements from wall to wall and put the kitchen “footprint” down on graph paper. Use a simple scale like 1/4 inch to a foot (1 cm to 30 cm).

Cooking in our house is a social thing. Even on quiet week nights, our whole family will pitch in and make dinner together.

A great way to provide additional work space in your kitchen layout is with a kitchen island. If you have room, plan a second sink in your kitchen island to create space for friends to work together creating informal dinner where family can bond making comforting holiday meals.

Kitchen islands give welcome additional storage. Open, under-counter storage in a kitchen island is a great place for over-sized pots and bowls and for bulky small appliances like blenders and food processors.

Kitchen islands are on almost all of my clients’ kitchen design “wish lists”, but they don’t work everywhere. And, an out-of-place kitchen island is worse than no kitchen island. To keep your kitchen layout from feeling cramped, a minimum of 42 inches (105cm) is needed for all pathways.…

Traditional Vs Contemporary Furniture

As we are already aware, furniture is made available in countless shapes and sizes to accommodate a variety of designs; however these can be divided in to two main categories, traditional and contemporary. Contemporary designs give way for a modern interior, where as traditional furnishings work quite the opposite, offering a timeless and elegant ambiance. Both have their own, individual appeal, offering homeowners a choice between the two completely diverse designs as each creates a unique setting in its own right.

Extracting the two, contemporary designs offer a trendy and modern atmosphere; if homeowners find that they are particularly fashion conscious, this design in the form of furnishings and décor would be completely ideal for their home. Contemporary furnishings and designs meet specific tastes and styles of the homeowners; more often than not, they are produced to be aesthetically appealing and produced with attention to detail. Contemporary furnishings and decor are now also designed to accommodate the needs of twenty first century living, finished with sheer functionality in mind; however this many not always entirely be the case.

It is very easy to come across certain contemporary designs that lack common sense and would not be suitable to anyone, regardless of whether consumers a young professionals, families or the elderly. Contemporary designs can also be costly depending on your needs and wants; trends have a tendency to change with time and are therefore constantly evolving, the hikes in prices are generally justified by this notion. Unfortunately due to this movement, modern designs and trends can be disregarded as quickly as they were introduced in to the market. Therefore in an attempt to keep up with contemporary designs, homeowners will find themselves getting rid of furniture they may feel is out of date, yet is completely usable.

On the other hand, traditional and antique furniture designs for example cherry cabinets are much more flexible and do not necessarily go ‘out of fashion’, with many regarding this form of furniture and decor as timeless and classic. However the general stigma attached to traditional furnishings and decor is practicality; although these furnishings offer a friendly and warm ambience, they do not necessarily complement a contemporary lifestyle, something which many are now seeking. If in search of sheer luxury then traditional is most certainly the way to go. If tastefully decorated, both contemporary and traditional design can be made to exquisite; no one is better than the other, it all boils to down personal preference. If there is one factor to consider it would be the overall style of your home, both internally and externally. A clear combination however of the two styles can conjure immaculate result if tastefully executed. Although initially complicated, if you have the finances to do this, it could potentially become one of the best investments you ever made. Contrasts made between contemporary and traditional styles can produce wining results.

No matter the style you choose to opt for, avoid purchasing furniture and decor which has the potential to become outdated sooner rather than later; you will not be doing yourself any favours and will be in left redecorating again in matter of years, if not months. This is an easy mistake to make and is best avoided. Either contemporary or traditional designs with an elegant twist can work wonders for your home and works as the better option in the long term. When exploring furniture shops, always ensure that purchases are of the highest quality, durability and are aesthetically pleasing to get the most out of your money and years.…

Dream Kitchens and Luxury Upgrades

When modern homeowners talk about their dream kitchens it is interesting to note how frequently their descriptions are focused around a single luxury upgrade. For example, many homeowners view their dream kitchens as those outfitted with the most energy efficient equipment possible.

Unfortunately, the “green” movement is still a somewhat pricey one to buy into, especially where home appliances are concerned. This is quite frustrating for many, but there are now a lot of ways to find incentives that will allow the devices to quickly pay for themselves in only a short period of time. Their energy efficiency alone is often enough to warrant the purchase, but government rewards are available in many areas too.

Of course, many people who think about their dream kitchens have no concerns about efficiency or costs. Instead, they concern themselves more with the materials and the space instead. Consider how often a luxury upgrade involves all new cabinetry. This is a massive expenditure and it is also a huge project too. Cabinetry requires tons of demolition, it can be used to change the entire layout of the space, and it often means replacing the sink and even some of the appliances.

When luxury upgrades include cabinetry, many dream kitchens will have a brand new “island” installed as well. These are costly because they will usually include plumbing for a sink and may even have a cook top too.

Of course, removing and replacing cabinets to the luxury upgrade versions also means upgrading the countertops too. Everything from granite and marble to butcher’s block and Corian are in style, and it is entirely up to the homeowner to select the materials that suit their needs and their d?�cor.

Another thing about cabinets that makes them the essential component of a dream kitchen is their abilities to create a massive amount of efficiency and storage while keeping things clean and simple. Consider that modern luxury upgrades often include enormous pantry cabinets, refrigerated or heated drawers that can help in food preparation, and organizational cabinets capable of holding pots, pans, and lids in a much more efficient and workable manner.

Many modern kitchen upgrades also incorporate a work desk area with all kinds of high-tech connectivity. This all adds up to the fact that luxury upgrades often require the services of highly qualified plumbers, electricians, and carpenters and is the reason that most jobs are managed from beginning to end by a highly experienced contractor.…

A Small Kitchen Island For Your Modern Kitchen Design

A kitchen island has become a trend on kitchen designs nowadays because it can provide a lot of functions for your kitchen as well as it produce a more modern and sophisticated look. You can see a variety of island kitchen designs in every home improvement or home design magazines because of the markets demands. However, creating a small kitchen island can be a bit tricky since you have to be certain of all the measurements in order for you to create a functional and useful island. There are many things to consider on deciding the size of your kitchen island. If you prefer to have a small kitchen island, you may want to consider the size of your kitchen, how deep you want it be and its length. It should not be too deep, too long or too big for your kitchen area. It also should not get in the way of your other appliances in your kitchen. Bear in mind also during the process of your kitchen designs that the island will not block any of your kitchen pathways. It is a great help for the kitchen. That is why adding it should not cause any problem for you or your guest that may enter your kitchen.

There a few numbers of varieties for your kitchen designs that you can choose from. So picking the perfect island design is going to be up to you. It should be based according to your needs and how you want it to appear in your kitchen. Many of the kitchen island producers are creating designs for a small kitchen island. Those are created with a purpose to take full advantage of its usefulness. Creativity is needed for this type of kitchen designs. A kitchen island is typically used as a counter during food preparation but it should not be the sole purpose for your kitchen. It may be utilized as an additional table. It can also be used as an extra storage room. Having a second sink is very practical so adding a sink on the island is a good option for your kitchen design. Or if you want, you may also put a chiller for your wine or a small fridge for a more modern look. You may also put chairs or stools beside the island so that you can have a little chit chat with your friends or family while you are preparing the food or even make it as a second dining area. There are a few possible ways that you can do on your kitchen island, just be sure in what you want.

To help you on your island kitchen designs, you may want to ask the perspective of a professional designer for the measurements of your kitchen island as well as to where you can put it in your kitchen. But if you can do it yourself, it is much better as you can save a great amount of money. Always keep in mind that the kitchen island should enhance your kitchen’s efficiency and functionality at the same time.…

5 Ways to Save Big on Your Kitchen Design Project

Saving money on your kitchen design project is in everyone’s interests. Interior designs in the kitchen can easily get pricey, that’s why it’s a good idea to add a few money savings features to your kitchen design budget. By using these top five money saving tips for your kitchen, you can be sure you’ll get a kitchen design you’ll love and at a price you can afford.

Cost Breakdown List

A breakdown list of your materials, tools and labor costs can help you to define your budget. A better budget can mean you’ll get the most savings out of your kitchen design ideas. With a cost breakdown list you’ll also better be able to make changes during the project if you don’t like certain aspects of your design theme as you’re working on the project.

Efficiency

When renovating a kitchen space, many homeowners decide on extending their kitchen space to fit new appliances and other kitchen goodies. By adding additional square footage to your kitchen design, you also add big bucks to the overall cost of the project. Instead of adding space to make your kitchen better, add more efficient appliances and kitchen equipment to save money on your kitchen remodeling project.

Natural Lighting

Kitchen spaces often work best when lighting is natural. But installing a new bay window or French doors in the kitchen can be a budget busting interior design project. Instead of installing expensive new windows, opt out for a solar tube. A solar tube is an affordable skylight that can be installed nearly anywhere in the home. A reflective tube can be angled around rafters and other attic equipment without sacrificing on lumens.

Recycled Materials

Choosing kitchen materials that are slightly used or recycled can help you save big bucks on your kitchen design options. Your interior design ideas can actually be extended when you visit a used building materials supply store by allowing you to find materials you might not have thought of to use. Be sure to measure each object before you purchase it to ensure it will fit in your new kitchen design.

DIY Demolition

When hiring a contractor to remodel your kitchen, you can save money by doing some of the demolition work yourself. Many demo projects are easy enough for most homeowners and can help to save money on your kitchen remodeling project. Be sure to hire a contractor who will work with you on your overall kitchen remodeling costs.…