Redesigning your kitchen can transform the look, feel and value of your home almost instantly. Considering the fact that kitchens are where most people spend a majority of their time at home, shouldn't we enjoy the time we spend there? Whether to wash dishes, cook, do homework or read the newspaper, every home should be complete with a unique, comfortable kitchen.
Sketch Away
The first step in designing or redesigning any kitchen starts with planning. So grab pencils and some paper and draw your ideal kitchen. Ask other family members in your home to do so as well, and compare notes or pictures. Are their any common themes or fixtures you all agree upon? Try to coordinate all the plans into a master kitchen blueprint.
Copying is Okay
Now it's time to ask neighbors, coworkers and others about their own kitchens. What do they like or dislike about their designs? Ask for their honest opinion about your current kitchen. Think back to parties you've attended; did you notice how some kitchens feel cramped, even if they are big dimensions?
It's all in the Finish
With your blueprint and notes in hand, it's time to start making your dream kitchen a reality, starting with your cabinet hardware. Do you have enough cabinetry, or are you finding it hard to fit or locate pots and pans? Installing new cabinets can be a quick, simple and low-budget solution. When selecting cabinet hardware materials, consider the look and feel you want your kitchen to emanate. For more elegant homes, select a dark finish like bronze or a rustic antique. Modern chic styles typically incorporate lustrous, polished finishes like satin nickel, pewter or brass. Be sure to match the appropriate cabinet hardware finish to the cabinet knobs, hinges, screws and drawer pulls.
Light it Up
Use the natural sun light to your advantage. Draw back curtains and install sky lights to maximize the daylight hours. Not only will this keep your heating costs down, but it will also give off the appearance of more space. So if you're working with smaller dimensions, this is a perfect option for you. To create additional illusions of a roomier kitchen, hang mirrors that will reflect what appears to be another room next to the kitchen.
Give Direction
For busy homes, keeping traffic out of the kitchen can be difficult. By sectioning off a specific area, you'll direct traffic to pass through the area you're working or cooking and into an area to eat or relax. A perfect way to create these areas is by installing an "island" or stand-alone cabinetry unit. This way, guests, kids, and spouses will tend to stay on one side of the island, and you can stay on the other without bumping into others.
Create Atmosphere
No one likes a cold kitchen, especially during the winter. Create and maintain a comfortable setting by installing a low cost, energy-efficient ceiling fan. Fans, like Hunter ceiling fans, come in a variety of styles so you can maintain the style of your home literally down to the fan blades.
Keep temperatures comfortable by making sure your fan is oscillating in the right direction for each season. During warmer months, fans should rotate in a counter-clockwise direction to circulate air and create a breeze. For chillier months, your ceiling fan should run clockwise to mix the warm air evenly throughout your kitchen.
Be the Master Chef
We've all dreamt of being a master chef at one time or other in our lives. With your newly redesigned, dream kitchen, it's your time to shine! To create extra flair in your new kitchen, hang cooking utensils on the walls-they can serve both as decoration as well as tools. Complete the look with a crisp, white apron and matching chef's hat. Now all you have to do is invite the guests!
By:Tori Spade
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