home sectionhome section
Giving your kitchen a makeover doesn't have to cost an arm and a leg. Learn about do-it-yourself kitchen makeovers with help from a registered interior designer in this free video clip.
In most kitchens, the corner kitchen nook is up against a wall. Find out if corner kitchen nooks have to be up against a wall with help from a registered interior designer in this free video clip.
When homeowners remodel a kitchen, they often gut the entire kitchen so they can start from scratch. These types of projects can be very expensive, so any part of the remodel that you can complete yourself can save you money. One of the fairly easier parts of this project is building and installing wrap-around countertops. These countertops span multiple walls and meet in a corner.
Remodeling your kitchen doesn't have to be an expensive project that you pay someone else thousands of dollars to complete. It's possible to give your kitchen a complete overhaul, on your own, to suit your personal tastes and preferences. Whether you decide to modify just one or two focal points of the space, such as the counters or cupboards, or everything from the walls to the floors and appliances, you'll have a sense of accomplishment knowing that you took the time to customize it yourself.
If you are planning to remodel your kitchen, it's best to do the job properly. Part of the process may include acquiring any work permits necessary. Permits vary, according to local ordinances and remodeling plans, but in general, similar guidelines apply to most situations.
Rolling storage is incredibly flexible, and increases its usefulness by facilitating easy transport to whatever area of the house you require it. Yet when used for kitchen pantry storage, it's important to build a rolling unit that is stable and will not tip over when pushed from the top. The chance of this can be minimized by building a storage unit with a wide base and by storing heavy items on the bottom level. Rotating wheels can be added to each of the four corners of the storage pantry unit to make it roll smoothly.
Kitchen banquets are interior decorating designs that can become do-it-yourself projects. Banquets provide extra storage and create cozy dining areas with padded seats. With table seating against a wall or in front of a window, kitchen banquets increase the usable space in a small kitchen area. You can create a kitchen banquet yourself by building from scratch or by using prefabricated cabinets or chests.
Any homeowner who has ever dealt with the frustrating, expensive and persistent problems associated with excess indoor moisture surely knows how useful a vapor barrier can be. Any area of the home that is particularly prone to moisture problems will benefit from the installation a vapor barrier that resists vapor movement from the outside of the home to the inside. Installing a vapor barrier in the kitchen, for example, requires only a few basic steps.
Kitchen drawers made from particleboard can stink for a number of reasons. Usually, the smell is only evident in the kitchen or the drawers themselves. However, research shows that the use of particleboard can cause poor air quality throughout your home, and your smelly kitchen drawers may be the main culprits.
Instead of keeping your dinnerware and stemware hidden, show them off with glass cabinet doors. As long as your cabinets are made of wood, you can retrofit them with glass. Non-wood doors may be more difficult to cut and cause splintering. You can complete this project with wood doors in less than 48 hours, which includes a 24-hour drying time once you glue on the glass.
Installing a tile counter along with a backsplash behind it can at first appear to be a daunting task. From creating a counter base to grouting the tile joints, the project is a large one that will likely take you a few days to complete. Taking the process step-by-step, however, cuts the project down to size. No single step is too difficult for a determined DIY homeowner to complete, and no specific experience is necessary. A beautiful countertop is just a matter of proceeding at a steady pace, and making sure that you’re confident with each step before proceeding with…
In the kitchen, most decorative elements must be both attractive and functional. Lattice — crisscrossed paneling that most often makes its appearances in the form of garden trellises — does both of these. It is easy to install and easy to personalize. It usually comes in white, but can be painted to fit any decor. It can be found in basic wood, as well as easy-to-clean plastic. While lattice work adds a charming decorative element on its own, its garden associations also lend it to being paired with floral accents, like vines and flowers, faux and real.
Give your kitchen a new, old look with a do-it-yourself, shabby-style makeover. Decorating in the deliberately shabby style means enjoying the elegance of antiquity without any of the fuss or formality. The look is refined, yet relaxed. As such, shabby-style kitchens are ideal for busy households. You don't have to worry about scratches, chips or dings because everything already looks old and worn.
Kitchens are one place where the mess of small items can quickly become overwhelming. Knives, forks, spoons and cooking utensils are just the start, and a kitchen tray divider keeps things organized. Make your own kitchen organizer from a sturdy plastic drawer liner and a length of board. This cheap and simple project requires only a basic amount of woodworking knowledge.
The ideal location for the stove is one of the key elements to an efficient kitchen. A well thought-out kitchen means the cook moves at maximum efficiency between work areas so meal preparation and cleanup take less time.
Kitchen timers are handy tools used to measure the passage of time while cooking. A timer is important, as some recipes require strict time limits, lest your edible masterpieces burn or don't cook all the way through. With the purchase of a kitchen timer, you may have questions about the basic settings.
Gnats are small insects that occasionally find their way into homes through open doors and windows. Once inside, they are attracted by the smells of the kitchen and feed on exposed food and garbage -- some are also attracted to humans and can cause painful bites. Gnats are also prolific breeders and can undergo population explosions in a very short time. Reducing or eliminating the indoor gnat population through the use of simple homemade traps is an easy way to get them under control before the problem becomes severe.
When your kitchen countertop starts to wear out, or you would like to upgrade to a different material or style, you must remove the old countertop before you can install a replacement. You must take care when removing the sink, since not properly shutting off the water to the sink, or not properly catching the water left in the supply lines or drainpipes, will result in water damage in the cabinets and possibly the room below the kitchen.
Dehydration is an easy and effective way to preserve fruits, vegetables and meat for later use, and is a tasty alternative to canning or freezing. This process removes moisture and circulates hot, dry air through the food so that bacteria, yeast and mold cannot grow and spoil it later. It is necessary to heat meat to 160 degrees Fahrenheit before drying in order to kill harmful bacteria, which can result in food-borne illness. Once heated properly, meat must be dried at a steady temperature of 140 degrees Fahrenheit, otherwise the meat will cook instead of dry. You can dehydrate your…
The health and beauty aisles of the drugstore are filled with colorful bottles of skin care products whose labels boast of how well they work. But many women are bypassing name brands in favor of making their own facial cleansers from common household products, often with excellent results. One such homemade cleansing regimen is the oil cleansing method, often referred to as OCM, which works in a way that might seem surprising. It removes oil from your skin by using other oils, primarily olive oil.
Electrical wiring in homes is mostly carried out using either 14/2 gauge cable for light circuits and 15-amp outlets circuits and 12/2 gauge cable for 20-amp circuits. Larger gauge cable is required for higher amperage circuits like electric stoves or washing machines, where local building code regulations should be consulted for the correct cable gauge in your area. Where 12/2 cable has a black and white wire, 12/3 cable has an extra red wire, with this cable used for three-way light circuits. The location of all light switches/outlets should be planned prior to the installation process.
The term "rough in" is used to describe the process in which electrical boxes and wiring are installed during construction of a home or other building. The term implies an unfinished job that is installed in a way to ease the installation of outlets, switches and light fixtures. The rough-in takes place before the drywall is secured to the studs. All cables are run from the panel box and secured in a way that meets the standards of the National Electric Code. Excess wire is left hanging from all electrical boxes to ensure that there is an adequate length of…
Decks, patios, covered porches, gazebos and arbors are transitional areas between the inside of the house and the outdoors. They are ideal places to locate outdoor kitchens for casual living, dining and entertaining. Although backyard cooking, dining and entertaining are casual activities with a relaxed atmosphere, an outdoor kitchen can be as elaborate or as simple as budgets and desires allow.
The easiest way to decorate your kitchen when you have a tight budget is to incorporate a country style. This is because vintage, distressed and antique accessories are cheap and plentiful if you search for them in the right places. A country-style kitchen imparts a laid-back, casual look to the room. It is inviting to friends and family members, whether your are preparing a meal together or simply enjoying a cup of coffee and a chat.
Incorrectly refinishing your countertop could leave your wood or tile vulnerable to moisture or sunlight. Correctly refinishing your countertop will protect your counter as well as allow you to take full advantage of its natural beauty. If you are comfortable with some basic carpentry skills, you can match the quality offered by people with years of experience.
A surprising number of household appliances are described as "energy vampires" by power consumption experts and researchers. These machines draw energy from electrical outlets when they are off or in stand-by mode. Energy consumption is measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh). You can calculate a device's daily power consumption by multiplying its wattage use, which is often listed on the appliance, with the number of hours it is active each day. Divide the result by 1,000 to find the daily kWh consumption of the appliance.
Granite kitchen countertops are a pricey addition to a home and feature a complicated installation process. With practice, you can master a faux paint treatment to replicate the look of granite for a small fraction of the cost of the real thing. Visiting a granite supplier and referring to color pictures of granite countertops will aid you in the painting process. To make the countertops durable, a lengthy drying process between coats of primer, paint and sealer is necessary.
Pretty much any countertop will do what a countertop should do -- provide a surface on which to place pots, pans, spoons and ingredients while you are cooking, a space to put your toaster, microwave and coffee pot and a spot to temporarily hold the dishes as you take them out of the dishwasher. But there's a big difference between a mundane laminate countertop and the look of a granite countertop. If you'd like to have granite, but it's too pricey, use paint to create faux granite.
You are planning a camping trip but would like to cook more than just hot dogs over the fire. One option that can help add variety to campsite meal time is to build your own cook stove, a task almost anyone can complete by using readily available materials such as a large metal tin can. A decent cook stove will allow you to prepare soup, beans, canned food or even boil water while separated from your stove at home.
Appliances play a big part in day-to-day household management. They help us cook our food, clean our clothes, wash our dishes, dispose of waste and provide us with hot running water. However, the lifespan of any appliance is not infinite. All appliances require repair or replacement once they reach or exceed certain periods.
Some home appliances may last a generation, while others may not make it five years. Each appliance's use and type of care varies, which affects how many years it will remain working, but having an estimate helps with household budgeting.
Kitchen cabinets are a simple way to upgrade the look of your entire kitchen. While their sheer bulk makes them appear a permanent part of the structure, fitting them into units with countertops is a simple process once the steps are understood. The keys to a good cabinet installation are accurate measurements and taking the time to get all units level before installing the countertops to the outside.
Nonmetallic-sheathed cable is used to wire most homes in the United States. The National Electric Code gives specific guidelines for using sheathed cable and how to properly insert it into a box and secure it.
A Tuscan kitchen is a warm, earthy environment in which to partake of the pleasures of food and company. Floors, walls and furnishings reflect the sunny agricultural belt of central Italy. Rich colors are based on natural shades and echo the hues of Renaissance paintings. Think gleam rather than sparkle, layered rather than slick. A Tuscan kitchen might evoke your favorite vacation, your grandmother's treasured soup recipe, the tactile delight of terra cotta, stucco and wood. However simply or slavishly you choose to interpret it, Tuscan elements can be used to create a beautiful kitchen.
Roughing in electrical wiring will need to be done prior to installing wallboard in a new home or addition. You will need to know the amount of power supplied to the home and the total electrical load the breaker panel can carry and to map out the circuits prior to beginning installation. In most areas, a licensed electrician must sign off on work like this and you'll need to have approved plans before you start so you don't have to rip it out and start over. Save money in the middle by roughing it in yourself.
A bidet is a tool that consists of a water spray with which you can clean yourself after you've used the toilet. Bidets originated in France and were first introduced around 1710. Although introduced in America in the 1950s, they never became very popular. The device is popular in Asia and Europe, however. If you would like to have a bidet in your home, but would rather not spend hundreds of dollars to buy and install one, you can fashion your own using an inexpensive dish sprayer.
Balanced air is healthy air in that it is not stale and full of unwanted, lingering odors and airborne bacteria. Balanced air is equal amounts of air exiting and entering the cooking area simultaneously and uninterrupted. This means adequate air ventilation is critical to keep the air moving up and out while drawing in more air to replace what has been vented. To balance the air of a kitchen hood, carefully consider contributing factors which create it.
A bidet is a plumbing fixture that is intended for washing the genitalia. You sit on it the same way that you would a toilet and when you press a button, it shoots water into the appropriate areas. A commercial bidet can be expensive, and requires installation by a professional, but if you don't mind something that is simpler, you can make your own bidet for about $20.00 in 2010.
Some kitchen tools are unique in what they do and others are uniquely re-designed standard kitchen tools. Some hand tools have arrived in the kitchen from the do-it-yourself realm, others from the craft world and yet others are exclusive to cooking. Regardless of its uniqueness, a kitchen hand tool is only as useful as its effectiveness in doing its job.
A corner carousel or "Lazy Susan" cabinets are used as space savers in many kitchens. The turn-table in the interior of the cabinet allows for many items to be stored in a small space. Corner carousel cabinets are fitted with the use of shims and a carpenter's level.
Kitchen appliances can use a great deal of electricity, especially if they are older and weren't designed for energy savings. You can determine what the power usage of your appliances is if you are thinking of replacing them with more energy-efficient models.
Since the inception of electrical appliances in homes and kitchens, hundreds of people have been electrocuted by plugging into ordinary electrical outlets. Equipping an outlet with a Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) probably could have prevented all the injuries and deaths.
KitchenAid has long been a trusted name for both large and small appliances. In particular, the company offers a wide variety of mixers to suit the needs and wants of nearly every consumer.
Many homes in the 1950s were all about simplicity and convenience. Having a washer and dryer in the kitchen seemed to make perfect sense, since many homemakers in the '50s spent much of their time in the kitchen. Why waste steps going into a separate laundry room when it can be conveniently located near the stove? However, times have changed drastically. When you redecorate the '50s ranch home to accommodate modern designs, Archinspire online suggests that you consider a renovation that still respects the original design, yet introduces fresh new elements.
Kitchen hoods collect all of the steam, grease and other matter rising up from the cooking surface below. For this reason, you will need to perform routine cleanings, which will require you to wrap the hood. This wrapping allows you to mask off the hood and protect the surrounding area from the dirt expelled. By wrapping the hood correctly, you can minimize the cleanup required afterward as well as speed up the process.
While making over your kitchen counters and cabinets can be as extensive as ripping out the old surfaces and installing brand new material, it can also be as quick and easy as applying a coat of paint. You can completely remodel both the counters and the cabinets in your kitchen with paint. It is important to use the right materials and prep adequately for the job. You kitchen will look like a brand new place after just a few days.
Kitchen Queen woodstoves are hot and ready for cooking once the fire is going. Basically, you need to recognize where the hottest areas are in comparison with the warm areas. There are a few tricks to cooking over a fire source for heat that you will quickly learn with a little practice.
Jazzing up your worn, dull countertops can give your kitchen a whole new look at just a fraction of the cost of a complete kitchen renovation. Several options for resurfacing kitchen counters are available: Replace the countertops entirely with new laminate, concrete, stone or wood; strip off and replace the laminate on a laminate countertop; install a laminate or stone shell over the existing countertop; or roll on a new finish. For the roll-on option, the least expensive, there are two methods: paint and epoxy. Paint is less expensive; epoxy provides a harder, more wear-resistant surface.
Decorating in a cottage-style theme is easy because the basis for most cottage kitchens is pristine white--white walls, white cabinets, white furniture, white window treatments. This style lends itself to mismatched and used furniture. Hardwood flooring and butcher block countertops are often used in cottage kitchens.
A plate rack to store and display dishes doesn't have to be an expensive addition to your kitchen. You can make your own for little more than the cost of a few dowels and some glue. Not counting the time required to cut the wood or finish the rack to match your cabinets, you can assemble and install your own kitchen cabinet dish rack in about half an hour. Instructions are for a standard stock cabinet of 24 inches wide.
If you have been shopping around for Corian countertops, you may have discovered that Corian is one of the most expensive finishes available. Until recently, you had to order your Corian countertops through a professional installer and then pay that installer to put them in. But with the recent introduction of unfinished Corian material to the marketplace, you can now purchase the basic supplies and prepare and place simple arrangements of these countertops yourself, keeping your kitchen looking fabulous and your pockets fat.
Kitchen cabinets look impressive with glass doors. Homeowners can replace the wood panels in their kitchen cabinet doors with glass, but that can be expensive. Plexiglass is an affordable and comparable option to glass. Knowing how to start will help.
Kitchen thermometers are used in many tasks in home cooking, from candy making to ensuring that a roast is done. Probe thermometers, which are poked into solid food, are one of the most common types used in a household. Kitchen thermometers don't always measure the correct temperature, as their dial can become out of alignment just as a clock's hands might be. Calibrate your thermometer on a regular basis to make sure that you are measuring the correct temperature in your home cooking.
Kitchen Aid dishwashers were designed to use a rinse agent to help dry dishes spot free and more efficiently. The rinse agent dispenses during the final rinse. Many of the dispensers in modern Kitchen Aid dishwashers are adjustable. If you have hard water in your area, you may need to increase the amount of rinse agent that is dispensed to combat the hard water.
It is said that home ownership is the largest investment the average person will make in her lifetime. One of the major expenses in any home is the kitchen cabinets. Nothing can quite measure up to the pride of building your own. With a little research to find a good set of blueprints and purchase or borrow the right tools, anyone with moderate carpentry skills can build DIY cabinets.
For whatever reason, you need more storage. For many people, that means buying more cabinets. But cabinets are expensive and irritating to install. Wall-mounted and adjustable shelving, utensil caddies attached to rods and magnetized spice jars are relatively inexpensive projects, jut out less from the wall and are something that most people with a tool box can do.
When you think of installing kitchen cupboards, chances are you think it is something best left to a professional. But prefabricated cabinets have made it possible for homeowners to buy and install their own cupboards. With a bit of time and some basic installation techniques, your kitchen can have a brand new set of base, wall and ceiling cabinets.
The average life expectancy of any kitchen appliance depends on the amount of use it receives. Traditional kitchen appliances include dishwashers, ranges, refrigerators, trash compactors and microwaves. When appliances are used properly, they can last longer than expected.
Troubleshooting your kitchen stove is not as difficult as it may seem. The only thing to consider is the type of oven you have --- gas or electric. If your oven won't work or the burners won't turn on, there are different ways to tackle the situation depending on the model you own.
Large kitchen appliances all have two things in common. They save you money and time in the end. Larger appliances are now carrying the Energy Star rating, which means that they are more energy efficient and will use less electricity to operate, thereby saving you money on your electric bill each month. Larger kitchen appliances also save time by completing the task at hand much quicker.
Kitchen appliances eat lots of energy, even when they are not in use but still plugged in. Technology has helped create refrigerators that consume much less energy than older models, but they still are far from green. And refrigerators are only one of many appliances in use in today's kitchen, from microwave and regular ovens to dishwashers, trash compactors, coffee makers, garbage disposers, toasters and blenders.
Kitchen counters are great working surfaces, but nothing beats having an island for food preparation and presentation. Working in the center of the kitchen means you won't have to turn your back to everything that's going on there. If you lack the budget for a new kitchen island installation, this low-cost kitchen island could be a good solution for you.
Your kitchen countertop is made of a substructure--usually particleboard--covered by a surface of tile, sealed wood, laminated vinyl or some other durable material. If that material, whatever it is, starts looking worn, stained, or you just want a change, you can keep the substructure but give yourself a new surface. Countertop refinishing generally falls into two categories: Restoring the finish that's there now, or covering with a different finish. Which you should use depends largely on what kind of countertop it is.
A kitchen island can increase the functionality of your kitchen by providing additional work and storage space. Making your own kitchen island is an affordable project that can add value, style, and warmth to your kitchen. A do-it-yourself kitchen island also has one big advantage: You can customize your island to your kitchen and your cooking needs, ranging from creating a baking center to building a homework center.
If you are charmed by the rustic influences of the Tuscany region of Italy, then a do it yourself Tuscany kitchen decor makeover may be right for you. There are many ways to incorporate a Tuscan theme into your modern kitchen with accessories, paint and Mediterranean textures.
Kitchen countertops consist of several different layers of construction. Regardless of what material the surface is constructed from--tile, laminate or concrete--the underlayment (layers below the surface) must be solid and strong to support the weight above and waterproof to prevent any water from seeping into the wood surfaces below. Installing underlayment is a moderately difficult task, but depending on the size of the project, it can be done in one day or less.
If you plan to remodel your kitchen, you may also be looking for ways to lessen the expense of the project. One of the best ways to save money while remodeling your kitchen is to do the job yourself. Many kitchen remodeling tasks can be accomplished by homeowners with ease. However, if you are getting into technical remodeling tasks as electrical or plumbing, you may want to hire a licensed professional.
Kitchen art should reflect the favorite foods and occasions connected to the resident cook. From a simple set of food snapshots to an elaborate kitchen theme interpreted by favorite friends and family, kitchen art speaks volumes about the type of food flowing from the kitchen. Dump the kitschy farmers' look and create kitchen art centered around family and friends.
Outdoor kitchens are one of the newest waves in the modern home. Depending on where you live, outdoor kitchens can also add value to your home if thought out properly. While you want your outdoor living space to be comfortable and amenable, you don't need to go overboard and drop $50,000 on your yard, because you most likely won't get that back. Building an outdoor kitchen requires planning and research. Don't rush into this by trying to build it in one afternoon.
If you are ready for a kitchen makeover but don't have a budget to start replacing cupboards and counter tops, here are some ideas to help you pep up your boring kitchen. You will need some do it yourself experience to complete all of the steps in this task, so if you feel uncomfortable with some of them, skip those and complete the other less challenging ideas. No matter how many or how little you do, your kitchen will be different than what it was before.
Doing your kitchen renovations yourself can save you quite a bit of money. The cost of labor is a huge part of the expenses that normally go with kitchen renovations. While it will take some sweat and elbow grease on your part, doing your own kitchen renovations will give you a satisfied feeling every time you set foot inside your kitchen!
For a handicapped individual, finding ways to remain independent is usually a top priority. The kitchen poses considerable risks and obstacles for a person with special needs. The good news is that there are appliances made to meet the special needs of handicapped people.
If you want to redecorate your kitchen but don't have the funds to purchase everything new, do not despair. A brand-new kitchen can be created just by refinishing the cabinets. In most kitchens, the cabinets are the main focus since they take up much of the space. Take a look at your old kitchen and try to imagine a whole new look just by changing the cabinets. There are several options depending on the amount of money and time that you have to invest.
