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Renovate Your Kitchen
- Remodelling Your Kitchen
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- If you are in the planning stages of a new home or kitchen
renovation, you can take advantage of the latest ideas and
products for kitchens. There are great new materials available
for countertops, cabinets, and floors. Innovative space-saving
shelves and dual-purpose areas can help you make the most
of any space. Your options are limited only by your budget
and creativity. One important consideration however, as
you stretch your creative muscles, is to protect the future
resale value of your home. Keep in mind that the choices
you make now may not be desirable to new owners. Have you
always dreamed of a bright blue kitchen floor or yellow
cupboards? Consider compromising by using colourful accent
pieces displayed on shelves or a just one wall painted with
a vibrant colour instead of the entire room.
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- A few basic design suggestions can help you avoid costly
mistakes. Decorators recommend homeowners use just three
or four core colours, such as a neutral base of cream and
white with navy accents, throughout the house including
the kitchen. Also ensure that the materials you use will
wear well. Poor quality countertops, which become scratched
and stained, for example, can ruin an otherwise attractive
kitchen. Plan down to the half centimetre taking into account
space for opening doors and drawers. When planning the placement
of shelves, consider your own height as well as average
heights in order to keep shelves within easy reach.
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- If you want to use a computer program to make your own
design, there are several available through the Internet.
Check out the Better Homes and Gardens ® website at http://www.bhg.com/kpg
for a free interactive kitchen design program. Their Kitchen
Arranger feature is a fast, easy way to see how different
layouts of cabinets, islands, appliances etc., will look
in your "virtual kitchen" before you get to the real thing.
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- Renovations to an existing room are typically less expensive
than an addition and can be equally creative. If you need
both an office and an occasional guestroom, why not simply
hide the bed until it's needed? A Murphy bed can fold up
against a wall and be concealed behind panelling, which
matches the room, or a large decorative screen. The reliable
standby sofa bed is another option if you have the space.
Choose a quality sofa bed, which can furnish a seating area
for clients.
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- Top Design Trends:
- * Granite or faux stone counter tops are highly durable
and very striking. Chances are if you go to open houses
at new upper scale condominiums you will see polished
stone on kitchen counters. The classic look of stone
makes it a good choice to weather the winds of fashion.
- * Stainless steel countertops are 'de rigeur ' (read
that as extra trendy) in today's designs. Its sleek
look and durability have made it a favourite among professional
chefs for years. It is impermeable to spills, germs
and high temperatures although a few words of caution
are in order. Nicks and scratches can show easily on
stainless steel. This material also requires a firm,
solid underlay to prevent denting.
- * A kitchen and living area which open into each other
will add immensely to the sense of space in a home.
For this design, nothing should block the standing view
between the rooms. A wide counter with seating on the
living area side and shelf space underneath facing the
cooking area is a great way to separate the rooms, add
storage space and still retain the sense of flow between
kitchen and living room.
- * Walk-in butler pantries are a great feature if you
have the space. Despite the antiquated name, a butler
pantry is a wonderful place to store an extra freezer
or the supplies to feed a large family.
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- What's Out:
- Harsh lighting is being replaced by lighting similar
to living areas with greater light over specific work
areas such as the counters and stove. Designers are
moving away from panels of florescent lights to recessed
lighting and/or highly decorative fixtures.
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