Archive for June, 2009

Small Kitchen Remodeling Made Easy

Monday, June 15th, 2009

Small kitchen remodeling can be a challenge, but it doesn’t have to be. In fact one of the best ways to add value to your home if you happen have a kitchen that is tight would be to just touch up the cabinets rather than replace them. This article will look at some kitchen remodeling ideas you may use for your next project.

If you have an older home with wood cabinets you may be able to touch them up with a new stain or paint or add some nice wallpaper trim to the top of the kitchen Cabinet’s. This is a very inexpensive way to add value and charm to your kitchen remodeling plans.

Another great way to add some nice value to your small kitchen remodeling would be to add some new hardware to the kitchen cabinets and drawers. If you look around at your large retail stores you can often find them closing out large displays of their knobs and handles. You can buy hardware that normally would cost $10-$15 each for a dollar to two dollars. Another great place to look for kitchen cabinet hardware would be at garage sales.

Another idea when decorating up your kitchen would be to add some wallpaper trim around the top of the ceiling. This is a very inexpensive way to add some great value to your kitchen project. Again small kitchen remodeling does not have to be difficult – it can add value and be very fun if done right.

Some Basics on Small Kitchen Remodeling

Monday, June 15th, 2009

The kitchen is probably one, if not the most remodeled area of the house. It has definitely gained so much attention from homeowners nowadays, probably because the kitchen has become the center or the hub of social and family activities. However, it doesn’t only hold true for family homeowners, it also applies to single people living in pads and condominiums, or college students living in dorms and apartments. But the difference, probably lies in the size and use of the kitchen. Compared to family houses, with wide kitchens, these single spacers only has a small space allotted for kitchens. Still, there’s an opportunity for these small kitchens to look good and new.

Small kitchen remodeling may not actually follow what the usual kitchen remodeling complexities have, but the basic must-haves should be present. Depending on who lives in that small place, whether he prefers a minimalist style or she likes a decorative one, the important aspects of the kitchen must still be there. Take for example, the countertops, at least cover all floor spaces with a counter space, and use a good countertop material that would suit your taste and design. There should also be cabinets, cupboards, and drawers filling up the empty spaces below the countertops and built on the walls, the more storage space you have, the better. Try to have built-in appliances to maximize the area and the little space you have. Your lighting must give a good effect on the room, making it look spacious and comfortable. There are other details which may vary depending on the person using the kitchen. If he or she usually uses her kitchen to cook or bake or work, try using tiles on the walls just above the sink, stove and countertops, for easier cleaning, and to give a variety on the look. You may also use unique and modern decorative handles and knobs for the cabinets and drawers to give a nice and fresh touch.

In small kitchen remodeling, one just has to do creative and resourceful thinking. Do not limit yourself to what is just there in your kitchen, try to imagine and visualize the kitchen you want, then work it out. It doesn’t mean that just because you have a small kitchen, you can’t anymore work some magic to beautify it. Make sure that when you start your small kitchen remodeling plan, you are putting a touch of yourself in it, this would give more life to your remodeled kitchen. Once your small kitchen remodeling is done, you’ll definitely enjoy staying in it — preparing, cooking, baking, eating, working, and even just chatting with your friends.

Small Kitchen Remodeling

Monday, June 15th, 2009

With the ability to take moderate sizes of kitchen appliances, small kitchen can still be remodeled and maximize its function without having to add extra space. The idea is to maximize the space left and conceptualize small kitchen remodeling ideas that will enhance its visual balance. This will create a visual impression focused on space utilization.

How to do that? Here are some tips:

1. Storage space

To maximize space, you need to incorporate storage spaces in places which will provide double function. For instance, you can hang a wooden rack on your window without blocking the light. With this, you can display plates and other kitchen utensils. Decorative as it may look, the function is still there and the space maximized.

2. Colors

Always use light colors. They tend to create visual impression of a bigger space. Dark colors appear gloomy and compact. Using these colors in a small kitchen will only create a condensed area.

3. Customized cabinets

To maximize space in your small kitchen, it is best that you let you have your cabinets custom-built. In this way, proper sizes are allocated leaving no unused spaces behind.

4. Customize furniture

If you really cannot do away with furniture such as placing a small table in your kitchen whenever you want to eat meals in it or simply enjoy looking at your wife cook dinner, it is best that you have your furniture customized.

For example, you can have a drop down table built beside the wall. Once used, you just have to easily fold it and additional space is rendered.

5. Lighting effects

Light can do wonders in small areas like your small kitchen. Halogen lights or accent lights can create bigger space and better visual projection. The trick of the eye cannot simply be underrated and the way you have envisioned things in your kitchen will promote harmony and comfort even if you only have a few square meters of an area in your kitchen.

Small Kitchen Remodeling Design

Monday, June 15th, 2009

If you’re in a rut on a small kitchen remodeling design, then you might just need to know that designing this tiny piece of space only boils down to strategizing on what you can fit in and where.

Making a great small kitchen remodeling design points you to the many different cabinet designs and surface patterns providing your small kitchen a superb sense of space. But first is consider the most important elements for a small kitchen remodeling design – sufficient storage space, choice appliances, and reliable lighting.

The best storage solution for your small kitchen may include putting a small island at the center. The small island storage will not only allow you to work with more space around you but will also hold additional freestanding drawers or shelves that are also conveniently accessible from any part of the kitchen. If your kitchen is just too small for an island then incorporate a galley kitchen layout in your small kitchen remodeling design. This arrangement puts the cabinets lined-up hanging on either side of the kitchen aisle or top portions of the walls to take advantage of that space without being an obstacle. Another storage idea is to hang the pots and pans on racks chained at the center of the room or just anywhere on the ceiling, thus also adding charm and character. Also, install a pantry cabinet that goes all the way to the ceiling with its topmost cabinets for seldom used items and the lower cabinets made more accessible with rolled-out shelves, tilt-out bins, or lazy susan’s. And for the details, use light-colored cabinets with glass doors and create more storage inside cabinet doors to place tiny bits and pieces.

As for your small kitchen remodeling design appliances, install deeper counters to accommodate more appliances and increase workspace. There are now many compact space-saving appliances in the market for your choosing – 24-in. deep ref’s, microwaves that can be hung underneath cabinets, etc. But when it comes to the sink, keep it big. Large kitchen sinks are always practical especially in cleaning up huge pots and pans, and, keeping a party.

Another trick that you can do in your small kitchen remodeling design? – Installing under-cabinet or under-the-counter lighting. With the right kind of lighting you can make your kitchen appear bigger and so much more inviting. Diagonal flooring tiles or flooring design running the length of the aisles or galley could also do the trick. Plus, you can even add a small eating nook with a drop table or a built-in counter along the wall or just a small round table with two chairs tucked into a corner. Functional, efficient, and charming – All it takes is creativity!