There are many companies that manufacture different kinds of apron sinks; Kholer, Barclay, and Rohl for example. Farmhouse apron sinks are made from many different types of materials like stainless steel, fireclay, copper and porcelain. Each of the above mentioned materials create their own unique statement from the warming glow of the copper, to the contemporary look and feel of stainless steel.

They are also available in many designs and colors. Design wise, the depths can vary, though they will always be deeper than most other types of sinks, and they can either have one, two or three basins. It’s really up to you and your design senses to pick which one will work best in your kitchen for the long run.

These sinks can be a little pricey but it depends on where you’re planning to buy it and what type of material you want to have. Oddly enough, buying “used” might not be the way to go here. Vintage and antique farmhouse kitchens can be at least as expensive as new ones, and sometimes more. You can find vintage cast iron models on eBay for over a thousand dollars. Conversely, you can find some for a relatively cheap price if you can find a modern remodel; try Craigslist for that.

If you want the look and feel of classic American history to permeate your kitchen, then an apron front sink is a great way to go. The style has survived over a hundred years, and it doesn’t look to be going anywhere anytime soon.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Edward_Genovese

We had an island installed that seats six comfortably and eight if they are little people. We enjoy having our extended family over and the space for the children is great. The contractors and designers wanted me to put a sink or stove top on our large island, I am so glad I stuck to what I wanted and left it a giant slab of granite. I use this space for so many things unrelated to food preparation. It is a fantastic work space. The granite countertops make the kitchen; they are warm, spacious, shiny and beautiful. I love my new kitchen which has in turn, given me a renewed interest in cooking. It is fun to prepare food and serve it in our spacious kitchen. What I really enjoy doing is entertaining.

We have our gathering space updated, open and inviting. We do spend a lot of time in our kitchen, from after school with the kids to dinner time it seems we are all sitting around talking, making dinner, doing homework, working on projects or just hanging out snacking. It has been a wonderful utilization of money, we still don’t live in the Taj Mahal, but it doesn’t matter, our home is warm and inviting and a great place to be.

graniteandmarblesolutions ( http://www.graniteandmarblesolutions.com/ ) is one of the best granite countertops Atlanta has to offer.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ryan_Coisson

With so many people into green living, this color scheme helps add to the natural and simplistic appeal on top of its other benefits.

Cabinetry Takes on a Whole New Look

No one wants the look of avocado green that was so “in” back in the 60’s and 70’s. Olive green comes in many shades, from deep forest green to pastel shades. For your cabinets, the best choice is a medium hue much like the lighter shades you find in camouflage materials. While olive may not be the first color that comes to mind when you think of updating your kitchen, you will be stunned at the appeal that comes when you mix pure white and olive. Just look online at a few examples and you will see that the look is truly striking.

You can paint your cabinets without much difficulty, and give them an entirely new look. If your cabinets are already painted, simply paint over the existing color. If your cabinets are stained and varnished, you may want to lightly sand the finish before painting. Once you have achieved the medium olive tone you want, simply add white hardware to contrast.

Choose White to Complement

While the cabinets will be the main source of olive green in the room, white accessories will add interest and keep the room from looking drab or dull. Appliances that you keep on your counter top should be white, and the counter top itself may be solid white or a mixture of olive and white, with white being the predominant color.

You should further dress up the look by adding a white paper towel holder, white drawer pulls, and white lighting fixtures.

Accessories Complete the Look

The accessories you choose really tie together the complete look and add visual appeal. Consider a kitchen floor mat that can be used in front of the sink in an olive and white floral or leaf pattern. Linoleum or tile will also be beautiful when these two colors are combined.

For the kitchen table, use a solid white tablecloth and accent with an olive colored pot filled with herbs or other natural greenery as a centerpiece. White walls accented by olive baseboards and large botanical prints add even more visual appeal.

The look is totally fresh and unique when compared with most kitchens you see today. If your desire is to have a kitchen that looks modern and inviting, olive and white is a spectacular combination that mixes the pure, pristine look of white with hues that are straight out of nature!

Leon Tuberman has 40 years of experience in the furniture and interior design industry. He owns and manages a popular furniture store in California. They have a large inventory of handcrafted American built solid oak furniture for your bedroom, home office and living room. Are you searching for wood nightstands for your bedroom or a wood TV stands for your home then they probably have everything you need.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Leon_Tuberman

The fact of the matter is that the design the key element. The biggest problem always seems to be the refridgerator. Where do you put the beast. For example an a common solution is to put the refrigerator into an alcove built right into the garage. This small extension was cheap enough and provided three more feet of space for the kitchen cabinets. Another idea is to create space is to take a wall down and combine as a room addition without the cost of building a dormer extension or the like. If you can’t remove a wall then start to think in 3D. Certain home styles allow you to Vault the ceiling above the area. A good kitchen designer will jump at the opportunity to add volume and feel to the room. This is done by expanding into the attic space overhead.

To tweak the new look it is very cost effective to add a small skylight to the job. I’m not saying to add a sunroom or a sunroom addition- just something to bring in more light and beauty.The rage lately has been to do multiple skylights and add larger windows as well. It doesn’t cost as much as you think and is a good
investment for your project.

Finally, if the refrigerator is tucked away and you’ve maximized your space both horizontally and vertically (vaulting the ceiling) your now ready to talk about the cabinets and the work triangle needed in each of our kitchens. Next article: the work triangle.

Gordon Millard C.R.

http://www.gamcoremodeling.com

Babylon, Long Island, Suffolk County, NY

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gordon_Millard

Are you an outdoors person? If so, built in barbecue grills can be a welcome addition to your home. More people are beginning to extend their living area onto their patios and backyards. Instead of a portable grill and a patio set, the outdoor area is coming into its own with the installation of outdoor kitchens.

Outdoor Kitchens

The trend of outdoor kitchens has become the number one feature many are looking for when they build a new home or consider the purchase of an existing one. Entertaining outdoors is on the rise and what better way to do so than with a built in barbecue grill?

Many people are keeping costs down by opting for small outdoor kitchens with the basics. Others decide they want this kitchen to be along the lines of their indoor kitchen with all the latest in features. Depending on where you live, the kitchen you decide on can be very elaborate or it may need to remain simple.

Areas that have relatively short summers would not be the ideal spot for an all-out luxurious outdoor kitchen. You can still have built in barbecue grills, but you may want to design it to be covered during bad weather. On the other hand, if you live in a mild climate that does not receive a lot of cold weather, snow and freezing temperatures, a kitchen can have as many features as you choose.

Keep in mind, outdoor kitchens can become quite expensive depending on what you decide to include. The kitchen with built in barbecue grills can be the focus of many family get-togethers, entertaining and spending time with your immediate family. The kitchen can be used on a daily basis if you wish. It is so much more fun to eat outdoors.

When deciding on the features your outdoor kitchen will have, you need to consider the set-up of the appliances you will be using and their relation to the built in barbecue grill. If it can possibly be done to make the outdoor kitchen more functional the work area must be in the proximity of the entertainment area. If not, you will feel just as alone when cooking as if you were inside and everyone else is outside.

What Type of Built in Barbecue Grills Should You Consider?

Built in barbecue grills can be made from a variety of materials. They are available in cast iron, stainless steel, cast aluminum and steel covered with enamel. There are even some that are made from several different materials.

Probably the best choice of these materials is stainless steel. It more resistant to rust than many of the other materials used. There may be less expensive materials for built in barbecue grills, but they will not last as long. Planning this outdoor kitchen is essential to finding the grill that you are going to use. It must fit in the space allotted while still being large enough to cook what you are planning to cook.

If you are going to be preparing meals for large groups, it would be better to buy one with a larger cooking area. Unless you want to stand and cook for hours, which is what will happen with a grill that has a small cooking area, you should opt for the biggest one that you can afford. Do you want a built in barbecue grill with side burners for keeping some foods warm while finishing the preparation on others?

These are all considerations you will need to keep in mind when you are shopping for the right grill. There are many brands available so you may get a little confused. Just remember the main features you are looking for and the name will not really matter.

Of course, you will want to make sure you have the right materials to install the grill if you are going to do this yourself. Making sure it is safe to use is extremely important. If you are not sure about everything it takes to install built in barbecue grills, you may want to call a professional to install it for you. Safety is going to be one of the most important aspects of the grill especially since you will be using it around so many people.

The next step in your outdoor kitchen is to test your choice of built in barbecue grills and enjoy your next meal in the great outdoors. You may never want to eat inside again.

About the Author

Shabby chic kitchens are now one of the most sought-after kitchen styles, in the modern world; especially in country properties. However it is not by any means a new look since it originally evolved in the mid-twentieth century, when it became a popular method of creating an acceptable and charming way of decorating as money was tight after the second world war.

The essential element that conjures up the shabby chic look is a timeless elegance where furniture does not have to match, just so long as all your pieces have an inviting, slightly worn look, and are closely related in colour or tone. True shabby chic in your kitchen should reflect the grace and beauty of a bygone era, when life was simpler and altogether more natural.

Shabby chic kitchen styles are characterised by a rural style comfort coupled with old world whimsy. The décor, which is normally based around white, off-white or very pale unobtrusive colours such as soft greens, pale blues, pale yellows or muted beiges, should look effortless and completely uncontrived.

Before setting about creating this well-loved style take a good look round your kitchen and consider the existing style in terms of wall colours, cabinets, appliances, work surfaces and even cookware. Also take note of the size and layout of the room to determine if there is enough floor space to accommodate additional pieces or the necessary wall space for additional cabinets or shelves. If not, begin thinking about how you could change the current look to achieve a more rustic feel. Newly painted walls and certain paint effects on furniture, along with the right accent pieces will help change the whole look your kitchen.

In the main most kitchen walls are best painted in plain or lightly toned white to maximise the amount of light, however for something a little more unusual you could also try painting your walls in a pattern of wide pastel and white stripes. If however you prefer wallpaper, to make your kitchen appear more homely, it is best to choose a muted floral pattern, especially roses or tiny bunches of daisies or forget-me-nots.

Do bear in mind though that endearing as old fashioned wallpaper can look it should not even be considered if your kitchen doesn’t have proper ventilation to stop it getting overly steamed-up when cooking; otherwise you will soon be re-papering!

Concrete, grotesquely tiled or tacky linoleum floors are a complete anathema to the shabby chic kitchen style so they will need to be replaced with something more in keeping with your new soft and natural look. This of course can be a major and expensive undertaking, so if you don’t want to completely replace your kitchen floor you can simply add lots kitchen mats or rugs in muted pink, blue, green, or floral designs; just be sure to choose colors that complement your walls and existing flooring.

Plain wooden floorboards can be given a new lease of life by being sanded and varnished to prevent splinters in bare feet! They can also be stained in a ‘natural’ wood colour but be careful that you don’t go too dark and make you kitchen feel grim and gloomy. Very pale wood may be stenciled in an interesting design before varnishing, but do ensure that the design ties in with your existing colour scheme. A clever floor design could be used to emphasise a special feature such as an old couch, a favourite rocking horse or a freestanding butcher’s block.

Kitchen furniture and cabinets can be decorated in a number of exciting paint finishes, which is then distressed in varying degrees depending on just how truly ’shabby’ you want your kitchen to look. If you are not sure how to go about the distressing process simply dial up ‘How To Paint Shabby Chic Furniture’ on the internet and you will find plenty of information and even videos on Youtube.com that cover the subject in depth.

To avoid an overly modern look you should always replace any current hardware on kitchen cabinets and door furniture with something more appropriate, such as glass or vintage ceramic knobs; which will indeed look so much more authentic. You can often find just what you need on Ebay or you could try scouting round some of the more reputable building reclamation yards. Sometimes it is worth buying old cabinets or doors just to lay claim to stunning or unique door and cupboard accessories.

If your current kitchen appliances don’t look remotely right in your new kitchen, you can have them repainted to match everything else, as fortunately companies do exist that will repaint appliances. Alternatively, if you want to replace the appliances altogether, there are also companies that sell retro style appliances.

Don’t forget to give your kitchen a light and airy window treatment. Curtains, rather than blinds, are an excellent way to emphasise the shabby chic look especially dainty floral prints, held in place with antique tie-backs. For a cleaner, unfussy look you could also use cotton nets slung over pine poles or even pure lace, draped across just half the window.

Be aware that one of the joys of shabby chic style is that it utilises less than perfect pieces, so do check out jumble sales, garage sales and even skips for discarded items. Someone else’s rubbish may just be the perfect display piece for your shabby chic kitchen. A tart-up with a pretty paint finish or some floral material can give new life to many a neglected treasure.

The right accessories will simply ‘make’ your shabby chic kitchen so these should be chosen and placed very carefully to give the right effect. This stage of achieving the shabby chic look is rather like planting a country garden, in as much as it should all look entirely natural and as if it has just happened by chance.

However as any skilled gardener will tell you it takes quite a bit of forethought and planning to create just the right uncontrived look. Exactly the same will apply to your kitchen but, being careful not to over-clutter working space or surfaces, you can easily develop the shabby chic feel simply by applying a little imagination, time and effort and the best of all it won’t cost you a fortune.

Some really great additions to your kitchen can include distressed corner shelves for old battered recipe books, Victorian chamber pots for plants, early spice racks, embroidered hand-towels and homespun linen on wrought iron hooks, well-worn oven gloves, 1950’s tin canister sets and cookie cutters, granny’s wash board, sepia framed photos, Imperial kitchen scales, a rose patterned china tea service, vintage wooden boxes and serving bowls, old baking trays, copper pans, fish kettles and of course lots and lots of fresh flowers.

Finally do remember that the true shabby chic look is only achieved by being understated, so you don’t need to have every single item in your kitchen distressed, miss-matched or floral. Sometimes less is definitely more and it is also vital that your own personality comes into play to make your dream kitchen particularly special and unique to you.

About the Author

When choosing your own fitted kitchen, it is easy to lose track of the overall design, and to become overfaced with the challenge of making the project a reality. There are several ways of ensuring that your involvement in the process is reflected in the design, while also remaining flexible to changes in either your budget or your tastes. The key to this confident outlook is in thinking about design – in a sense calling to mind the various elements of your fitted kitchen in a workable manner.

However technically-minded we may or may not be, it is certainly possible for us to form a preliminary ’sketch’ of a kitchen design that suits us; by ordering a few brochures and visiting a few stores we can begin to realize a shape and a unified feel that may be built essentially around any aspect of the design: kitchen cabinets, worktops, specific lighting – all of these things can be the starting point from which the picture of the finished kitchen begins to grow.

From a loose portfolio of ideas (brochure cuttings, photographs from stores), we will begin naturally to think about the specifics and how they are relevant to our personal needs – call it a brief, a plan, at this stage it’s just a kind of list of the storage space, appliances, surfaces, finishes and fittings that we think are more suited to our own needs and tastes. As each kitchen is different in its positioning, shape, and size, we can begin to be more selective, and trim down the design to suit the space it will inhabit.

After getting a fairly good feel for the kind of fitted kitchen we want, we may still have further questions that need answering in order to reach that perfect design – after all, as good as the in-store kitchens and brochure pictures may be, the correct blend of interior aspects and practical elements is hard to achieve. But, as we’re thinking about design already, we’re one step ahead in providing ourselves with the solutions.

Browsing a few websites offering fitted kitchens, we’ll find that the better companies offer a ‘free design visit/consultation’ service. By arranging a consultation, we can openly and frankly lay down our vision for the fitted kitchen we’re thinking about, and establish a kind of creative space in which ideas can be bounced back and forth. The bottom line for design consultants is the preservation of the picture we have of the fitted kitchen, so again we are strengthening our initial vision with the experience of trained, impartial professionals.

We might consider this further and find that the in-store fitted kitchen examples and the brochures are the product mostly of thinking about and talking about design; the texture and finish of the cupboards may be anchored around a striking worktop as a centrepiece, for example – there is a choice being made, and whether or not we want to think of ourselves as customers-cum-designers at all, these choices will be the aspects of the finished fitted kitchen that really come to life and make this most central space of the home truly unique. (By Katie Brunt) ]]> http://www.ahcqc.com/19/thinking-about-design-fitted-kitchens-the-smart-way/feed 0 http://www.ahcqc.com/16/green-ways-to-decorate-and-design-your-kitchen http://www.ahcqc.com/16/green-ways-to-decorate-and-design-your-kitchen#comments Mon, 05 Oct 2009 09:36:01 +0000 admin http://www.ahcqc.com/?p=16

After decades of neglect, the environment is starting to receive the attention it deserves, and with good reason. As a result, some homeowners are choosing to implement green designs into their kitchens, especially since the kitchen can use a lot of energy through appliances that constantly run and water that regularly drips.

Here are several tips for each category in your kitchen so that you can choose a green decorating scheme based on your needs and budget.

Green Appliances and Water Saving Technology

Energy Star appliances are getting a lot of attention, and with today’s range of options and price ranges, upgrading your older appliances for more energy efficient options is viable. Energy Star appliances use anywhere from 10 to 50 percent less energy.

Don’t overlook your kitchen faucet as a potential source of water-conservation. Especially if your budget doesn’t include new appliances, consider choosing a kitchen faucet with an aerator. You’ll have the same water pressure with less volume. A recirculation pump will keep your hot water in your tap, meaning no running the water for up to a minute waiting for hot water.

Big-Ticket Items Going Green

Cabinets and countertops are seminal components that affect the look of your kitchen. If you are considering the possibility of refacing your current cabinets, one popular option is choosing a hardwood that wasn’t finished with urea-formaldehyde, which emits harmful gasses. You can also choose green materials such as wheatboard that is finished with nontoxic products.

Recycled quartz countertops are the most popular green option, and are engineered by DuPont, CaesarStone, Silestone, Zodiaq and IceStone. These recycled quartz countertops are antimicrobial, mold and heat resistant. They offer a wide range of color options with good color depth and a hint of sparkle that will complement any kitchen.

Green Underfoot

If you are considering updating your kitchen flooring, before you go the laminate flooring route, do some research into green options such as cork flooring, linoleum and bamboo or reclaimed hardwood. Bamboo is popular because it’s easily renewable and has been improved to be more durable as well as to stand up better to moisture. Cork is environmentally friendly and you’ll have a many options for color, just make sure you like the texture and look before committing.

Because linoleum is made from linseed oil, rosin and wood flour, it’s durable and environmentally friendly to produce. If you are set on tile, consider purchasing recycled tile that was well preserved, perhaps a terra cotta for a warm, rustic look.

Don’t Throw That Away!

Whether you are updating your entire kitchen or just several items, don’t overlook how you dispose of the items you’re replacing. After all, throwing your current appliances into the landfill won’t justify buying Energy Star appliances. Instead, either sell or donate your used appliances (if in working condition). This way, someone else will reuse them and this will prevent them from clogging a landfill. The same goes for replacing cabinets and even countertops. If you’re taking down your cabinets, take pictures first and try and sell the lot or donate to your local home improvement charity that will reuse your materials, such as Habitat for Humanity. This way, you’ll have done your part for the environment.

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