How to Get a Stunning New Kitchen
By Fiona McAlister

When it comes to kitchen and bathroom cabinetry in your plan to renovate those super important spaces, I’ve got the answer. Use KraftMaid Cabinetry which I spotted in the 2009 Kitchen of the year Exhibit at Rockefeller Center in New York City this summer.

The Dove White modern farmhouse kitchen design was so impressive that I zoomed to my local retail outlet and did a morning’s planning the very next day. Now that I’ve had both the kitchen and bathroom done just the way I mapped out that morning, I couldn’t be happier!

The 2009 Kitchen of the Year with the Barefoot Contessa was inspired by Garten and designed by Robert Stilin, who is known for his warm, comfortable, Hamptons style. You can see more of Robert Stilin’s design at his site online. The exhibit was open daily from Monday, July 20, through Friday, July 24, 2009. Each day, tours and cooking demonstrations filled the space.

KraftMaid emphasizes that they will work with you to ensure not only that you end up with a stunningly gorgeous kitchen and bathroom but that the final result will be absolutely unique to you. What other manufacturer can claim that?

Whether you’re a baker, a movie-fan, a fashion enthusiast, or an entrepreneur, they have the kitchen cabinet designs and interior decorative accents that are perfect to fit your lifestyle.

I began looking at their online presence and just for cabinet doors there are 157 separate views.

Take a look at storage solutions in the kitchen and bathroom and you’ll discover all kinds of ideas that you hadn’t dreamed of from drawers and lazy susans to cooking pot and pan solutions. Your pots and pans will never have been so neatly organized. Don’t believe me? Just take a look – you won’t be disappointed.

Deep drawers with adjustable dividers cleverly store your cooking essentials. Simply pull the drawer towards you to quickly access everything from your pots and pans to your herbs and spices. Give every pan and tray a home. You have to see the site to realize what I am talking about.

Don’t delay and before you do another thing go to the site and gasp. Then get your pen out and start writing – better yet print copies of the pages that are relevant to your creation and then off to your local outlet. That’s it, I never felt so creative as getting in to the planning aspects with these folks.

Have as much fun as I did!

Fire up your imagination with Fiona McAlister on her new site http://www.kitchenbathroomcabinets.com

Kitchen Cabinets

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learn more about kitchen design…

Dramatic Kitchen Upgrades For Under $500
By Sari Holtz

Everyone wants to have a gorgeous kitchen, but not everyone can afford to invest in their kitchen during today’s economic downturn. Likewise, most people are not lucky enough to be contestants on Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. But luckily there are many ways in which savvy consumers can enjoy dramatic kitchen upgrades for under $500. Consider the options below and discover how you can create a beautiful, more efficient kitchen at a reasonable price.

1- Update your kitchen lighting. Not only is a new kitchen light fixture a great decorative detail, but it’s also critical to maximize the efficiency of your kitchen because food preparation will become instantly easier with proper lighting. When upgrading your kitchen light fixtures make sure to choose models that can accommodate energy efficient light bulbs, which will provide wonderful lighting and reduce your electric bill. Additionally, energy efficient light bulbs are designed to provide years of reliable usage, so that consumers will not need to worry about changing their light bulbs frequently.

2- Purchase a new dishwasher. In November 2009, the US government should be instituting a plan through which consumers can receive a rebate when exchanging their older appliances for new, energy efficient models. As is the case with energy efficient lighting, energy efficient kitchen appliances can reduce electricity costs while significantly impacting the look of your kitchen. Choose a modern stainless steel design or a dishwasher with a front panel that can be easily integrated with your existing kitchen cabinetry.

3- Change your faucets. Many of today’s kitchen faucets are designed for fashion as well as functionality. If your old faucet doesn’t work properly or is outdated, exchanging it for a new one will give your kitchen an instant facelift. For the most dramatic look, choose a faucet that extends well above the kitchen sink. If you’ve never tried a faucet with a retractable hose now may be the perfect time to enjoy the practicality of this feature. Gorgeous kitchen faucet designs start well under $200 and are sure to increase your enjoyment of your kitchen.

4- Try pull out shelves instead of stationary shelves. Perhaps the most practical upgrade that you can make in your kitchen is to replace your standard kitchen shelves with pull out shelving. You won’t believe how much easier it can be to access your pots, pans and pantry items. Rev-A-Shelf is a leading manufacturer of kitchen organization products, and they offer a fantastic line of products for well under $500 that will revolutionize the efficiency of your kitchen.

5- Replace your kitchen cabinet hardware. kitchen drawers and cabinets are opened frequently, they demand cabinet hardware that will be comfortable to grasp, wear well and look fabulous. Starting at around $1 per piece consumers can find brand name cabinet hardware for any room of the home. This may be the most affordable way to upgrade your kitchen, and you won’t even need to worry about electrical malfunctions, burned out light bulbs or plumbing problems.

Kitchen upgrades need not cost a fortune to make a dramatic difference. With a bit of research, creativity and perhaps some government rebates, you can enjoy the kitchen upgrades of your dreams without spending a fortune.

Sari Holtz is the author of hundreds of articles that offer interior design ideas for homeowners on a budget. She loves to search for great deals on cabinet pulls, cabinet knobs and cabinet organizers. You can also check out her blog, http://decorexpert.wordpress.com

Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Dramatic-Kitchen-Upgrades-For-Under-$500

Many cooks live with a kitchen with an electric range, and dream of upgrading to a better gas range. This is a realistic dream and surprisingly affordable in many situations. The first thing to check is if your kitchen is already prepared for gas. If the pipes for gas are not already there, this upgrade will be very expensive and perhaps is something you should consider waiting on. If kitchen is gas-ready, you’re already in a good position.

Now you’ll need to decide between a new and used gas range. A variety of quality brands make gas ranges including Whirlpool, GE and Wolf. Some range are meant to beautiful status symbols and have a high price to match. Others are more plain and are surprisingly affordable. If the new ranges don’t meet your budget, consider buying a used one. They are surprisingly common on the used market, and you should be able to get a great deal. If possible, have the seller deliver the stove and then you’ll save some money as well since renting a truck to haul the range adds to the total price.

Finally, keep your total upgrade cost to a minimum by trying very hard to sell your old electric range on a place on craigslist website. Even if you get $75 or $100 for your old stove, this is a fairly substantial discount on the price of the gas stove that you bought. If you’re not an expert, it’s probably wise to hire someone to help install your new gas range correctly since a gas leak from not installing the range correctly can be deadly. Enjoy cooking on your new gas range!

Jason Stevens writes about the Whirlpool gas range.

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Learn more about kitchen appliances

kitchen doors for your Your kitchen is a crucial part of your house, it is generally your children’s first stop upon coming from school and a relaxing spot when entertaining guests. For most of us this is where we start our day. The look of your kitchen from tile to appliances can drastically affect the mood of your house.

One of the easiest and most cost-effective ways to improve the atmosphere of your kitchen is replacement kitchen doors. Kitchen doors can give the appearance of replacing all of your existing
cabinets at a small fraction of the cost. Replacement kitchen doors are available in many materials like solid wood, glass and a variety of composite materials. Even more extensive is the selection of styles in which these materials can be found.

Your replacement kitchen doors should match the paint job and over-all theme of your kitchen, so if you repaint and have all-new appliances, your replacement kitchen doors should be
evaluated and changed to suit. Finding the perfect matching items for your kitchen styles will give it a complete and modern feel.

When shopping for your replacement kitchen doors, remember to look for a design that is not too “busy” and wont detract from the other features of your kitchen. Your kitchen doors should be
a complimentary tone and clean color and texture so it is easy to keep looking nice, as well as easy to match to the rest of the room.

Don’t settle for the first price quote you receive for your kitchen renovation projects. There are many stores out there with great products and services, and you should take your time to find the best items and installation options to fit your needs.

Once you have selected your replacement kitchen doors, the next step is to decide which route you are going to take for the installation of the new kitchen doors. Most retailers will also
offer installation by a professional contractor, this will be faster than attempting to replace the kitchen doors yourself but will add quite a bit to the projects total cost.

If you decide to take on the installation process yourself, there will be much planning to be done. Before anything, you will need to find the help of a friend or family member, as it is difficult to hold your replacement kitchen doors and mount them all by yourself. Also trying looking for an online resource or a book to make sure you have the necessary tools.

A great money-saving idea is to buy your replacement kitchen doors directly from the factory, as this could potentially save you a lot of dough. Also, this option will save you the issue of trying to get through a crowded home improvement store and still paying for their mark-ups.

Learn about the advantages and disadvantages of replacement kitchen doors at Best
Kitchen Doors. This information packed site will teach you everything you need to know about selecting needs.

About the author:
H Krafston provides expert home design and remodeling advice at
several websites including http://bestkitchendoors.com >.

Since most families spend a majority of their home time in the kitchen, it is no wonder that kitchen remodel projects are often the most popular home renovations. Who wouldn’t like the idea of a brand new kitchen? Our kitchens are where we spend countless hours cooking, relaxing and socializing. All these things are less likely or as enjoyable in a dark, depressing and out-dated kitchen.

Your home’s kitchen remodel project is often one of the more expensive areas to maintain, update and install, which is why you want everything to be done right. Remodeling a kitchen, one
which will be efficient, beautiful, and adequate, takes more than throwing a lot of money around. It also needs time imagination and the right design ideas.

Clearly there are a few different ways to decorate your kitchen. Most people I speak with have so many different ideas that they never know where to begin. They also love the idea of doing
these decorating projects on their own after finding some inspiration from home improvement shows or reading about how easy it can be to implementsoapstone as in a soapstone counter from reading about it in decorating magazines.

One popular trend is to create open spaces so that your kitchen area is an integral part of your living area. An open kitchen is great for permitting everyone to hang out while the food is
still being cooked on your new soapstone stoves, or while the kids are working on their homework at the kitchen table. When you look out from your kitchen area as you work on your soapstone countertop, isn’t it nice to see your living area, or maybe a glimpse of the dining room?

Another possibility is to install a kitchen island made from soapstone. The trend of kitchens islands is becoming more and more functional in modern kitchens. Some are eating islands with
bar stools, while others are functional cooking islands with a stove top. If you can design a kitchen with a soapstone island in mind your home benefits from not only a beautiful design, but
also a convenient work area providing much needed extra space.
Finally, add some vibrant colors to the mix. Some of the bolder home decorators are brining color to their kitchen appliances. It began years ago with rainbow hues and more recently, can be
found on refrigerators, ovens, blenders, and even soapstone sinks. This unique blend of colors on appliances and
soapstone counters which used to be white, beige, or steel, is bringing added life and excitement to the new center of the house. A purple refrigerator, a grayish hued soapstone counter,
or even cheerfully yellow cabinets can give your kitchen that extra wow factor.

About the author:
Anne has worked on many home improvement projects with
soapstone. Her specialties are redesigning ordinary kitchens
into the extraordinary using soapstone sinks or a soapstone
counter.

Planning a modern kitchen design? Well, here are five great bits of advice I can offer you on getting every element of your plans bang on perfect.

Let’s start by talking about planning. A modern kitchen could look and feel any number of ways but what will determine how yours looks is your lifestyle. Think about how often you use your kitchen, what you use it for and the type of things you do in there. Then write down all the things you need to have in there to enable you to work better. Planning isn’t the most glamorous part of any kitchen design, but you’ll be rewarded for your work by the end of the process.

The second tip is choosing the right materials. You’ll want to invest money in strong materials that not only look beautiful and modern but also last for as long as you need them to. Things like stainless steel are popular in modern kitchen design and will also stand the test of time. Make sure you think about every little thing you put into your kitchen and consider if you’ll get your value out of it.

Next, incorporate an island into your kitchen. No modern kitchen design is complete without a central unit these days. An island can also be remarkably functional and you can have it purpose built to suit your own needs. For instance, if you do a lot of cooking you can have a sink or chopping board built in. An island is also useful for entertaining guests so if you have a lot of dinner parties, it will usually become the central hub of activity.

Make sure you keep those lines clean. When I say this I mean that in a [http://www.kitchendesignsite.com/category/modern-kitchen-design]modern kitchen design, all the surfaces should have very straight edges and line up perfectly. A nifty tip is to ensure you overhead cupboards reach the ceiling. This is something that easily gets overlooked but can really give you that streamline effect, which is essential for a modern looking kitchen.

Last but by no means least; involve yourself in the process from start to finish. If you’re passionate about how you want your kitchen to look then make sure you stay on top of the design process right through to the fitting. Designers and builders will take liberties and make key decisions if you don’t make yourself clear. Stay involved with the project and see it through to the finish. You’ll be rewarded with a stunning modern kitchen.

Thomas Baugh offers more advice on planning a modern kitchen at the Kitchen Design Site.

Article Source: www.ezinearticles.com Modern Kitchen Design

Interesting tips on creating a environmentally friendly “green” kitchen.

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“If unique kitchen design is what you’re after,  then we’ve  found a great thread for you to read. It focuses on 10 Kitchen Designs to drool over. Each one of them experiments with style, space functionality and extreme design.

Some of our favorites are “the Musical Cooking Station” which resembles a Dj set up and is reflective of the hip styles of today.

Another great kitchen is the “circular Kitchen” which maximizes living and storage space in one compact unit.

Be sure to check out the simplicity of the “#1 Kitchen”, The beauty of the “Sheer Kitchen” An egg shaped compact Kitchen, and don’t forget to see the best of them all, “The Z Island Kitchen” This is what I think of as a truly Sexy Kitchen, Enjoy!”

-Michael

Full Story Below…

After some digging, I found the 10 kitchens that turn ordinary cooking into a heightened culinary experience – from kitchens that play music to kitchens that float….

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