Rather than washing fruits and vegetables under continuous running water, fill up a large bowl and do the major cleaning in there. Once the produce has been cleaned, rinse it quickly a final time under running water to wash off any additional pesticide, herbicide, and fungicide residue.

Think ahead and make sure you plan meals before you step into the kitchen, especially if it involves cooking meats that are in the freezer. A common household trick is to thaw meats and other frozen foods in running hot water.

The problem with that is the water would need to be on a hefty length of time to fully thaw the food. There are several options for thawing foods. You can either defrost it in the microwave or by leaving it in the refrigerator overnight or you can fill up a pot full of water and thaw the meat on the stove on low heat.

If you have an ice maker in your fridge, refrain from using it. Your drinking water can be just as cold as ice if you leave it in the fridge. If you use a sink filter, put the water in enclosable pitchers. If you purchase bottles of gallons of water at the grocery, put those in the fridge as well.

By far, the dishwasher is the biggest water-consuming device in your kitchen. Opt for a water-efficient model if you can. When using the dishwasher, make sure you only run full loads. An incredible amount of water is wasted when the dishwasher is used for only several dishes. To prevent having to run the dishwasher on another cycle to get rid of tough food debris, make sure you scrub your dishes with a brush first. Don’t scrub them under running water. Fill up on side of your sink to help with those stubborn stains.

When washing dishes by hand, fill up one side of the sink for washing and the other for rinsing. Alternately, if you prefer not to fill up the sink with water to wash, make sure you put a bit of water on each dish to soften the food debris. When it’s time to wash, don’t run the water while scrubbing. Use a minimal amount of soap so rinsing will require less water.

Remember: A little bit goes a long way. Applying these tips and others in your daily routine will affect not only your water bill but also the well-being of the world.

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1. Green Design- With the alarming rise in gas prices and building materials, eco-friendly products are now a stable of any kitchen design. The kitchen and bath industry is at the forefront of green design with the development of new technologies and products, such as bamboo and recycled materials including glass, plastics, paper, and metals.

2. Aging-in-Place- More and more manufacturers are catering to the aging “baby boomer” market. New products feature accessibility and ease of use to accommodate boomers through the years, while still offering stylish design. From dishwashers accessible from a wheelchair to cabinet drawers that open automatically, manufacturers are recognizing the importance of universal design.

3. Organization- To keep paperwork and projects from piling up, many companies specialize in home organization. Put your client’s mind at ease with the upgraded additions of cabinetry dividers and custom storage solutions. With companies now specializing in after-market products, you can find a wide range of products that will customize any stock cabinets that you will find on the market.

4. Multiple Layers of Lighting- Accent lighting placed at various heights, under-cabinet lighting, interior cabinet lighting, and above cabinet lighting combine to create a warm and inviting kitchen. Task lighting adds drama and function, while dim accent lighting softens and soothes a room. Each layer of lighting serves a different purpose, which can enhance the room.

5. Compact & Efficient Appliances- One of hottest trends in 2008, is the incorporation of compact and efficient appliances. Horizontal dishwashers, French door wall ovens, two-tiered ranges, and power boil options on cooktops can ease the day-to-day cooking tasks, while maintaining the desired beauty and resourcefulness of your designs.

6. Expanded Color Palettes- Today’s contemporary designs allow for vibrant splashes of color in the kitchen and bathroom. Through bright and bold colored backsplashes, countertops, appliances, and cabinetry inserts and overlays, homeowners can incorporate the newest and hottest colors into any design. A wide range of color is now being used to evoke emotion and set the tone for your next projects.

7. Tile Murals- A trend that is increasing in popularity is using custom murals in the kitchen. Color, form, and design combine to create varied patterns ranging from modern graphics to soft floral patterns. A wide variety of patterns offers a look that’s sure to suit any client’s taste.

8. Integrated Electronics- By integrating wires, speakers, control panels, and flat-screen TVs directly into your design, you’ll allow the surroundings of the room to flow seamlessly around any audio/video equipment that you may want. Planning ahead will allow you to conceal the wiring and give your kitchen a truely custom look.

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Find out where the experts go to get all of their kitchen cabinets and accessories. Learn how to save thousand on kitchen cabinets by buying them where contractors and builders shop.

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Location: Creating an open space that incorporates outside living space is a big trend in newer homes. By Incorporating a door into the layout of your kitchen it would help create a nice flow to an outside deck or patio. You also may want to rearrange the position of windows to allow more or less sunlight or to watch your children play in the yard. Keep in mind that a cooking surface should never be located under an operable window.

Efficiency & Eco-Friendly: In today’s real estate market, everyone wants eco-friendly features in the home to reduce their carbon footprint. Outdated appliances can actually be costing you money due to inefficiencies. New technological advances with dishwashers, disposals and refrigerators could save you a considerable amount of money and may be well worth the investment. For example, purchasing a dishwasher with low-energy consumption, delay timer and economy cycle or half-load button will result in saving water and money.

Traffic flow: If there’s more than one cook in your household, you may want to consider making more room around the main workspace. If you entertain family and friends, you will certainly want an open floor plan that allows the cook to interact with guests. By most standards the width of a walkway should be at least 36″ and the width of a work aisle should be at least 42″ for one cook and at least 48″ for multiple cooks.

Sufficient space: Counter space and storage space can dramatically change just by rearranging the layout of your kitchen. The position of your refrigerator or shape of your counter may be taking away useful workspace. A good rule of thumb when replacing a countertop or changing the shape of your kitchen, is that you should have a total of 158″ of countertop frontage, 24″ deep with at least 15″ of clearance above, to accommodate all uses, including landing area, preparation/work area and storage.

Handicap Accessibility: Is your kitchen accessible to individuals with disabilities? While you may not have a need right now, if you plan on staying in the house a long time or plan on selling the house, it is important to keep this aspect in mind. Will you be able to use your kitchen safely as you get older? While it is often overlooked, this is a key design element in any kitchen remodel.

Before you remodel your kitchen, make a checklist of major and minor problems and keep notes of the features you dislike and like the most. Whether you are planning on working with a designer or taking on the task yourself, a prioritized list of needs and wants will help you better organize your remodeling plans.

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Find out where the experts go to get all of their kitchen cabinets and accessories. Learn how to save thousand on kitchen cabinets by buying them where contractors and builders shop.

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The Kitchen Rises to the Occasion

In the past, the kitchen served a utilitarian role where people gathered for the basic purpose of cooking and eating. The kitchen will continue to be a central gathering place in the future but on a more social level. For example, it has become the room of choice to entertain guests, featuring all the equipment you need…including the wine cellar. The kitchen will also gain greater control of the rest of the household with touch screen computers allowing consumers to control a variety of aspects of the home including lighting, heating and cooling, entertainment systems, security and more, bringing the focus to the kitchen like never before.

Green – The Newest Colour Trend in Kitchens

Along with the kitchen changing to a more social centre, going “green” with appliances and materials is becoming more common. There are two interpretations of “green” – the first is the more universal thought, that “green” means environmentally sustainable materials and/or appliances that are more conservative when it comes to resource use (electricity and water consumption being the main focuses there. The second is the actual health impacts on those interacting with the materials and appliances. For instance, some cabinet interiors use pressed woods. The sealants and binders for these woods can experience “off-gassing,” expelling urea formaldehyde into the immediate environment. This can be a problem for those sensitive to conditions that affect air quality. Instead, particularly sensitive individuals, or those concerned with possible adverse health effects may need to make use of alternatives such as Agra board or wheat board for those interiors. For the environmentally sustainable aspects, bamboo has become a hot material since it quickly reaches maturity.

Energy Star-labeled appliances fit with specific environmental guidelines, offering consumers energy-efficient options, making it easy to save money while protecting the environment for future generations. Many refrigerators and dishwashers bear this environmentally friendly label. Other options for “going green” include choosing an induction cooktop, allowing for more efficient energy use. Although many of the “green” treatments we’re beginning to see in North America have been on the market for some time in Europe, expect to see an even greater increase in the use of materials and appliances under this category as more provinces look to address issues regarding shortages of resources or landfill areas.

Practical Design for the Home Chef

In terms of design, hot trends for kitchens right now include the integration of multiple materials, such as granite or marble countertops with floating glass counters off of them (to provide a place for people to sit and interact with a cook). Wood counters are being introduced to create a warmer feel to the kitchen, while stainless steel is being used from a practical standpoint in regards to food prep and easy cleanup. Another trend can be seen in the expansion of the classic work triangle to provide additional room to welcome the help of a second person when it comes to preparing a meal.

Counter-depth refrigerators are reflecting the style and integration of build-in models. Technology is becoming more and more a part of the kitchen: ovens that can accurately measure the internal temperature of meat, poultry and liquid-based casseroles, and can automatically convert conventional times and temperatures to their convection oven equivalents; dishwashers that clean with steam and have sensors to determine if plates are clean; and humidity-controlled crispers that add just the right amount of moisture to fruit and vegetables. A trend that had been big years ago is making a comeback – vent hoods are again being displayed as a focal point. These hoods have beautiful detail and a look that helps compliment the surroundings. New over the-range microwave-hood combination ovens offer seamless design and a space saving option. Professional- grade appliances will become more popular in high-end kitchens to improve functionality and offer the details that matter to those who love to cook.

While technology and functional design improvements will increase the capacity and output of the home’s hub, green design elements will help decrease the impact on its occupants’ health and the external environment.

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