Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ category

Basics of Kitchen Design

Remodeling the heart of your New York home can be an exciting venture to undertake and most often such projects includes changing the very essence of the area. When it comes to kitchen design it’s not just about aesthetics but creating a new look and feel altogether that will enhance functionality while keeping everything attractive. So wherever you are-Brooklyn, Manhattan, Long Island, Queens or Staten Island; it pays to know the basics of kitchen design and this article lays several out.

Ergonomics in Kitchen Design

Ergonomics essentially makes every task done in the kitchen be completed efficiently, posing the least strain on people doing it. An ergonomic kitchen design optimizes the use of distance and time between work stations as well as customizes depths, heights, widths and allowances within the area for convenient body positioning. Some of the things you can implement for the most practical everyday cooking and food preparation experience include:

· Higher than standard 36″ countertops will prevent users from hunching over while increasing storage space.

· A deeper sink allows you to clean larger items such as pans, pots and trays easier and without much mess and spills.

· Enough flooring space between cabinets will allow more freedom in movement and prevents traffic in the area when more than one persons are working.

Choosing Color Scheme

In kitchen design, your choice of colors would greatly affect the overall impact of the project finish. So it is very important to think through the color scheme you integrate into the project carefully. If you are not going to change everything, make sure that any addition will brandish a color or glaze that will complement with the rest of the décor. in your kitchen design, there are surfaces that are covers a wider area and are more visually dominant which you should focus on. This includes – flooring, countertops, sink, appliances, kitchen cabinets and walls.

Flooring Types

Kitchens are among the most used and frequented areas in homes. Braded as the hub, its many functions causes it to accept more traffic than other rooms. This makes your choice of flooring an important part of the basics of kitchen design. One essential thing to look out for when choosing among your flooring options is durability to last the years of heavy use and abuse. Some of the most popular flooring types for kitchens include:

· Natural Stone

· Ceramic tiles

· Linoleum

· Vinyl

· Hardwood

Each of these options has their sets of pros and cons. Depending on your preferences and personal needs, you can choose which would serve best for you and the family.

Accessories

As little as they are, accessories can be enough to make or break your kitchen design. When remodeling, give enough attention to details. You can create more interest by choosing accessories to match the theme of the kitchen design such as flower-shaped cabinet handles and pulls for a floral or organic set-up. Accessories may be decorative and some can be added to boost functionality and efficiency like drawer organizers and wine racks.

 

How to Have an Italian Kitchen Design

The kitchen is the center part of each home and the place where many activities happen. In Italian themed kitchen design ideas, one requirement is a big table that can accommodate a lot of friends and family members for a get-together dinner or parties. They usually use natural colors like cream, gold, and oranges which also happen to produce a cozy environment. An Italian kitchen is usually based on comfort and style.

One common Italian themed kitchen is the Tuscan style. This technique blends the natural color along with the normal materials which creates a hackneyed appearance. Do not think that you need to buy expensive antiques to get the Tuscan look. Just try out these following techniques to get classic Italian style kitchen design ideas.

Lighting

When installing an Italian themed lighting, you must install ones that uses iron wrought material though recessed lighting is also encouraged. If you want to stay Italian, just make sure that the lighting you install has a matte metal finish. Sleek metals promotes modern look and not the best choice for an Italian themed kitchen.

Accessories

You can buy old antiques to accessorize your kitchen. However, if you are on a tight budget, try looking for your old pots and pitchers you can just paint to get a worn out look. Decorative jars such as the Majolica ware; it is a set of pots that is both Italian and perfect for your everyday ware. Place pots with herbs on your countertop, more green more Italian.

There are many items that can be added to your kitchen that will enhance the theme. Another example is a vintage looking center table. In most Italian families, their recipes are often passed to the next generation so they require a table surrounded by many seat where children study cooking. The table must be made of wood without finishing and the seats must be a combination of wrought iron and wood.

Wall Painting

For the walls, earth tone is the best choice of an Italian kitchen. You may color the back splashes with bold color to add brightness into the room. The walls should also have painting pieces for an accent. Food painting is the most common one that you will find in an Italian kitchen. Creating and designing an Italian themed kitchen is enjoyable and may be achieve on any allotted funds. Smaller budget only implies that the use of Italian accessories must be designed and made accordingly by yourself.

Another reason why Italian style kitchen is on trend nowadays is because it is based on minimalism, comfort and maximized used of the kitchen which is how a kitchen is supposed to be designed in the first place. An Italian kitchen is a spot where laughter and love take place. It is one area in the house where everybody can sit around together and have fun with each other. Think around that and you will surely have a perfect kitchen.