Book suggestion from Amazon

Book suggestion from Amazon

Book suggestion from Amazon

Book suggestion from Amazon

By taking a few simple precautions, you can make some great savings and avoid any hidden costs. Firstly decide whether you want to work with some or most of what you’ve already got, or whether you’d prefer to start from scratch. Look at your current layout and the ways in which it could be improved.

To work well, the fridge, cooker and sink should be in a triangle so you can move easily between the three. Avoid any wasted space and consider where utensils can be stored. Also, leave yourself enough surface space to prepare meals.

The colour scheme is very important. If you have a small space, opt for light tones to make the room appear bigger. While fitting tiles above kitchen counters can make cleaning and wiping the area much easier too.

See the light

The choice of lighting will also have a considerable impact on the room. Install a spotlight above the cooker, so you can execute dishes with military precision.

If you’re lost for ideas, DIY stores, kitchen showrooms, magazines and home improvement TV shows can be a great source of inspiration. Speak to shop assistants and ask for their advice. You could even create a scrap book of images and colour charts.

Clever spending

Take measurements, make a list of the utilities already in place, and work out a budget. Your units, appliances, tiles and worktops are likely to make up the bulk of the cost… but don’t forget the flooring, lighting, paint and/or wallpaper, handles, taps, kickboard, end panels, pelmet, etc. All of these things will add to your budget and the length and complexity of the project.

Some more affordable kitchens are available to take away that day from DIY stores, but most need to be ordered and this can take weeks, even months, so plan your project accordingly. The higher spec the kitchen, the longer it’s likely to take.

Cook off!

Now, think about actually installing the kitchen. Doing it yourself will help keep costs down, but do you have the right DIY skills? Professionals should be called in to do all the electrical and gas work, and only experienced DIYers should tackle the plumbing.

Good tradespeople tend to be busy, so it’s worth getting quotes well in advance.

Remember, as with any building work, there are always risks of damage – so make sure your home insurance is up to date and you’ve got the right level of cover by comparing different quotes with Confused.com, for more advice, read our article Got the Builders In? Make Sure You Don’t Invalidate Your Home Insurance. In addition, don’t forget to update your buildings and contents insurance to reflect any interior changes you’ve made… You don’t want to be left underinsured.

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Confused.com compares home insurance from 54 of the UK’s leading home cover providers. Find out how much you cana save by visiting http://www.confused.com/home-insurance

Article Source: Populate.net
Go to Source: Planning for a New Kitchen

Book suggestion from Amazon

I’ve attached my kitchen plan, and would love help on the following:
1. Base cabinets measurements: Do these measurements include height of legs? For instance, base cabinets say 30 3/8”, but is total height higher once the legs are installed?

2. We’re doing quartz countertop from another vendor, does this mean I don’t need Ikea’s worktops? I remember one contractor who came to give us a quote mentioned that if granite or quartz countertops were going to be installed, the base cabinets need enough plywood on top in order to hold the weight (like 5/8”). Is this something I need to address with Ikea, or through the vendor we’re buying the countertops from?

3. The wall cabinets for the hood: We have a microhood (a microwave + integrated hood) … did I pick the right cabinet for this? Our microhood is 36'' wide (47.4''h x 27''d), so I think I picked the right one (width wise). However, I wasn't sure if the "innards" of the cabinet I picked is the correct one for microhoods.

4. I would need two 3” fillers on each side of the stove (since the microhood is 36” and the stove is only 30”). Does this makes sense? I added them, with each being 3” wide.

5. Some of the cabinets in the corners (like the pantry cabinet) have a yellow/black exclamation mark on the software. The picture shows a "space" in between the door and the wall when opening the door. I'm assuming this means I have to account for an inch or 2 of space?

6. I picked a high cabinet cover panel for the fridge. Does it make sense there (it's on the left side of the fridge)? Our current kitchen does not have one. We currently have a "freestanding" base cabinet next to our fridge, so stuff falls in between the two all the time. I'm assuming the cabinet cover panel will solve this issue.

7. The cabinet on the left side of the fridge (on the Ikea plan) is currently 18” wide. Can’t I replace them with 21” instead? It looks like there might be room, so I don’t have to use the 3” filler (at least not on the right side). Seems like the base cabinet should be able to be as wide as 21”, but not sure about the wall cabinet right above it (the Ikea plan currently shows it as 18” wide). I’m having problems trying to calculate all the gaps (on this wall), since the microhood and the stove aren’t the same width.

8. I have a gap in between my kitchen ceiling and the pantry & fridge cabinets. I assumed I needed a filler piece, but I can't figure out how to select the right one from the software. All the filler pieces seem to be for vertical gaps, not horizontal ones.

9. We cook alot and never have enough drawer space for our big cooking utensils (whips, tongs etc). I’d like our drawer to be on the right side of range to hold these larger utensils. Is there a drawer combo configuration that is a favorite of yours, and if so which drawers specifically? Do you advise 1 top drawer and then 1 cab door with pull out shelves?

Attached Files

del_sol.fpf (136.8 KB)

[Review Request] reviews of kitchen plan–nexus with abstrakt: Go to Source

The choice of worktops on the market is vast. There are so many different materials out there deciding which to use can be ultimately befuddling and confounding. Worktops will vary in cost depending upon the material used; this does not necessarily have to be the most important consideration however. Aesthetics should also be considered when redesigning a kitchen. Here are some of the most commonly used materials in the construction of worktops and surfaces.

An extremely en vogue material at the moment is granite. It is extremely expensive but when buying slabs of stone you are paying for quality. Predominantly its biggest benefit is strength, although as a design feature it is also appealing. As well as granite there are a variety of composite stones that have become available since manufacturing techniques have been improved. Composite worktops can be extremely attractive utilising gloss sheen, glittering sediment and vivacious colours.

Stone is not the only option however and in some kitchens can look out of place. Wood should always be considered for worktops due to its durability and beauty. In addition wooden surfaces can also be fitted easily, reducing costs further.

Oak has been used in construction for centuries, its classical look is a powerful draw for many designers and the fact that it ages so well, makes it the ideal long term material.

Walnut is a popular choice because of its immensely prominent grain. The grain of walnut is so strong that it can dominate a kitchen and ultimately should be used sparingly. For a country kitchen however, walnut can be considered perfect.

Cherry has increasingly been used in kitchen design over the last decade because of its unique colouration and sublime grain. As a dark wood it is strong but also ages well and will only add to the aesthetic appeal over time.

Beech on the other hand is a light wood that can create a contemporary, light and airy kitchen. It is warm and welcoming and once again suits those who are trying to achieve the ‘country kitchen’ look.

For the most contemporary designers however, iroko is rapidly becoming the wood of choice. Described by many as the African teak it has a sumptuous darkness about it that oozes class and style.

Naturally finding a supplier that can supply your worktops at an affordable price is advisable but care should be taken to ensure only quality materials are used. While stone has few maintenance issues, wood requires a concerted effort to keep it in good condition. After instillation stains and treatments should be applied to ensure that the wood is protected from damp and hot items. This process will most probably have to be repeated on an annual basis so wooden worktops can be considered an investment of both time and money.

Whether changing the kitchen worktops to increase the value of a property or just to update a tired looking culinary area, the choices are seemingly endless. Hopefully this information on the most popular woods and stones used should help in making a decision. Ultimately the choice is yours, but remember that quality is essential for elegant work surfaces.

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Interior design expert Thomas Pretty looks into the types of materials used in the manufacture of kitchen worktops and the benefits of each.

Article Source: Populate.net

If you are going to update your kitchen affordably it is important to focus upon the small touches that can completely change the look; these small touches include the cupboards, the cupboard handles and the worktops. If you are clever about how to update these elements you can create a completely new looking kitchen at a fraction of the price. When you are doing this it is advisable to make the most of design magazines to find inspiration.

If your worktops and cabinets are made from solid wood changing their appearance can be extremely simple and cheap. Wood is an extremely versatile material in terms of design, by sanding down the existing stain you can then re-stain the wood making the most of the wood’s natural colour or even paint it in a way so that it becomes a stunning design feature. Natural stains are extremely popular in kitchen design at the moment and whether changing your worktops or cupboards you can make the most of the wood’s natural grain for a contemporary feel.

When looking at the handles for your cupboards it is important to experiment with a wide variety of options. A visit to a kitchen supplier will show that the range out there is vast. When selecting handles it is important to choose a style that matches your kitchen, while chrome may be extremely popular, if you have a wood kitchen it is unlikely that the handles will fit into that look. Ultimately you want your kitchen to be homogenous in terms of styling, this sounds easy but it is surprising how mismatched kitchens can look when people try to update them.

The area around the sink can often become dirty and even covered with mildew because of the excessive amounts of moisture. Rather than retiling the whole splash-back area a cheaper alternative is to install a board of wood, if you are doing this however make sure to use a good waterproof paint that will ensure the wood doesn’t rot. The same can be said for the worktops around the sink, a waterproof stain used on a hardwood will ensure that they are sturdy and resilient enough to cope with daily use.

While you may be put off by replacing all of the worktops in your kitchen because of the price it can be a great idea. It may be an expensive option but the look it creates will be ultimately worthwhile. With choices of wood, stone, granite or metal the options are endless if you want to replace worktops. Obviously these vary in price but quality materials can make or break a kitchen.

Hopefully this article has given some idea of how easy it is to change the look of a kitchen. This can add value you to home whether you are looking to sell or not. By using quality materials and a stylistic eye it is possible to create a contemporary and elegant kitchen that is practical and aesthetically pleasing.

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Interior design expert Thomas Pretty looks into how changing the worktops and cupboards can completely update the style and usability of a kitchen.

Article Source: Populate.net

Space of course is a factor when designing a fitted kitchen, for example if you have a galley kitchen you will be limited as to what you can do, especially if part of the kitchen is already dictated to a certain extent by placement of utilities and waste.

Price can also be an issue, but with major stores such as B&Q, MFI and home base selling kitchen units so cheaply or offering packages whereby you have appliances included and 30% off the rrp, do you get value for money or do you get what you pay for? There is after all a difference between a well built kitchen unit and a unit which is haphazardly thrown together. Saying that you can buy a cheap kitchen and put it together properly which will make it look just as good as a kitchen that cost a fortune but is fitted badly!

The kitchen is often the hub of the house, and certainly the busiest place especially if you have a family, a kitchen can also be a place to entertain, therefore a kitchen needs to be versatile whether it’s large or small and regardless of whether you can cook!

One thing to bear in mind is the work triangle. This is the layout of where the sink, fridge and cooker should be positioned for the best access to all as these are probably the 3 most important utilities in the kitchen area.

Of course it goes without saying that the style of the kitchen you choose plays a big part too, it has to be aesthetically pleasing to you, and it makes sense to choose a design which will stand the test of time, this is achievable with many styles nowadays as traditional, contemporary, minimalist or classic all have their place.

One other thing to consider is that a fitted kitchen comprises of more than wall and floor units, you will have to choose worktops, appliances, flooring, select what kind of lighting you are going to have? Then you will have to choose appliances, unless you already have these? Which will almost certainly mean another set of questions to answer, will you have a built in cooker and separate hob, a range or a free standing cooker, what sink will you choose? Just a normal sink and drainer, twin bowl or butlers sink which have made a come-back in the recent years (although not so forgiving on crockery!) Fridge, freezer or fridge freezer, washing machine, tumble drier or washer drier? All of these decisions will ultimately affect the finished look, even down to such decisions as whether to include a breakfast bar etc.

Generally these days you can see how your kitchen will look as a finished result before you even buy it, most stores will have a design programme which if you provide the dimensions of your kitchen they will be able to fit the appliances you require in the kitchen you have chosen, this makes life much easier as you will be able to see whether or not it will suit your needs, fits your dimensions and caters for your appliances before spending a single penny! The wonders of modern technology, so with all that said it makes sense to look at all the options when buying a kitchen and always remember to ask how much fitting will cost too!

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Shaun Parker has been designing kitchens for many years. He shares his experiences to help you find the best fitted kitchens and appliances on the market.

Article Source: Populate.net