Save Thousands of Dollars by Designing your own kitchen
Since the kitchen can be the one of the biggest investments you make into your new or existing house, a lot of people look for ways to scale back the cost. On average, a new kitchen can cost anywhere from $20,000-$40,000 depending on the grade of cabinets and countertops that you use. One easy way to reduce your costs is to cut out the architect or interior designer. By following the simple steps below, you can measure and layout your own kitchen and save thousands of dollars on your kitchen. I also make some recommendation to reduce your investment on the cabinets that you use.

How to get started:

Once you have decided that you want to try to design your own kitchen, it is important to figure out what you like and don’t like about your current kitchen. Not enough countertop space? Need more seating area? Don’t like where the refrigerator is located? Write them down so that you have notes to refer back to.

Start visiting your friends… I know that sounds like a strange step in the process, but it is important to get ideas anywhere you can. Check out DYI magazines, Home Improvement books, and search the internet. It is important to have a good idea of what you want your kitchen layout to look like before you get started.

Think about the kind of kitchen cabinets you want. Are you going Read the rest of this entry

Painting your kitchen cabinets is a great alternative to purchasing new cabinets. Not only can you save a lot of money but if done correctly the results are fantastic.

The easiest way to complete this project is not to paint the inside of the cabinets . The inside is only seen when the cabinet is open so I would recommend that you leave them unpainted. Plus if you don’t paint the inside of the cabinets you don’t have to remove everything from inside the cabinets.

Make certain that the room you are painting the cabinets in is well ventilated because the oil based primer and paint does have a very strong odor. Consider using a fan placed by an open door or window to help and pull the fumes out of the house.

Step 1. Take off all of the cabinet hardware including all knobs, handles and pulls. Cover all countertops and flooring using drop cloths or tarps. Leave the doors attached. Using painters tape, tape all the hinges on the doors.

Step 2. Clean cabinets thoroughly using a cleaning solution such as TSP. This is a cleaning agent which is readily available at most hardware stores. Wash the exterior of all the cabinets that are to be painted using your cleaning solution. Allow the cabinets to fully dry and then sand them to a dull finish using a fine grit sandpaper.

Step 3. Prime cabinets using a good oil based primer such Read the rest of this entry

Siemens offer free 5 year guarantee

In the UK from 1st February 2008 to 30th April 2008, Siemens are offering customers the chance to benefit from 5 years warranty on selected kitchen appliances. The offer extends to washing machines, dishwashers, tumble dryers, fridges and freezers. See below for the models currently featuring under this new offer.

To claim the 5 year guarantee, buyers should complete the claim form via the website or leaflet from the dealer.

Restricted to the following models only:

Washing Machines:

WXLM148AUK, WXL148AUK, WM12E468GB, WM14E141GB, WM14S392GB, WM16S392GB, WM14S493GB, WM16S493GB, WM14S794GB, WM16S794GB,

WM14S79BGB, WM12E44SGB, WXL127AGB

Tumble Dryers:

WT34V397GB, WT46E388GB, WT46E387GB, WT46S599GB, WT46S59BGB, WT46S598GB.

Dishwashers:

SE25T850GB, SE25M275GB, SE25M276GB, SE24M851GB, SE26T251GB, SE25M851GB, SE25M575GB, SE26T252GB, SE26T652GB, SE26T852GB,

SE26T590GB, SE26T551GB, SF24T258GB, SF24T558GB, SF25M250GB, SF25T552GB, SF25T054GB.

Refrigeration:

KS38R495GB, KS38RA90GB, KG36P320GB, KG39MT90, KG30U694GB, KG33NA90GB, KG32U193GB, KG34NA90GB, KG34NX90GB, KG36U194GB, KG39NA90GB, KG44U195GB, KG49NA90GB, KG34UM90GB, KS40U690GB, KD40NA90GB.

Freezers:

GS32NA90GB, GS32NA91GB

Siemens appliances are carefully created to the exacting standard that customers require. Siemens draws on many years of manufacturing experience and their relationship with customers to design machines that meet customers needs. Extensive research and testing of every part brings a level of reassurance that will last for many years. Siemens have over a century of experience in bringing reliable, cleverly designed and quietly efficient products. All Siemens products are developed only after extensive research and testing.

Siemens Appliances are part of Read the rest of this entry

Lemon is a handy kitchen cleaner as, many times, you will already have a lemon in your fridge. As such it will be cheap, easy and convenient to use. The acidity in a lemon is great for cutting through grime and grease, whilst the resulting smell is fresh and tangy.

If you mix fresh lemon juice with pure soap and hot water you will have an eco-friendly cleaner which is good value, suitable for most surfaces and will fight grease with a vengeance. You will need to rinse away after cleaning though with clear, fresh water. If the surfaces are particularly dirty you should increase the ratio of lemon and soap, to the amount water.

By dissolving a small amount of baking soda into a spray full of hot water you can make a quick, easy and cheap air freshener. Just add a small spoonful of fresh lemon juice to the mixture and spray into your room. This should erase nasty smells and not just mask them. The overall effect afterward will be fresh and clean not overly flowery as some fresh air sprays are.

Pure lemon juice left to soak onto bathroom rust, for about 30 minutes, will lift it incredibly well. There are many more ways to use lemon juice as it is pretty much a universal cleaner. After all lemon juice is a citrus fruit, and one which acts as an acid in removing stains. Salt and lemon juice work particularly well together. These two cheap and convenient ingredients mix Read the rest of this entry

Use Kitchen design software to create a classy kitchen

It is not everyday that you have an opportunity to design a kitchen. And when you do, it must be perfect. Kitchen design software will guide you through the process and get you there. Basically your demands are simple.

Kitchen design software can put all your gadgets and appliances in ideal places, and the job is completed. But the real problem is when you really don’t know what the end result is going to be like. And once you have the hardware in place, kitchen design software sees to it that nothing goes wrong and there is hardly anything you can do about it other than gulp down the design along with your meal.

This is where kitchen design software comes to your help. By using Kitchen design software you can make sure that those mishaps don’t happen. Many Kitchen design software provide a 3D view of the kitchen and an easy interface to move around your cabinets, crockery and cutlery any way you want and see the results instantly. A ‘Walk through’ can in fact give you a feel of the entire kitchen even before the first tile is laid.

Kitchen design software may provide the precise dimensions and layout most suitable for you. Position of windows and doors can be modified to permit maximum sunlight and the best possible view. Remember the quotation “Your heart is where the hearth is”.

The kitchen is the Read the rest of this entry

The kitchen island as a stand-alone platform in the middle of the kitchen provides convenience and efficiency by creating more workspace. When the island is located in the center of the kitchen more space in automatically created. In most situations a kitchen island is the ideal way to separate the kitchen from the living room. If the kitchen island has cook top, sinks or pull-out drawer refrigerators then this accommodates greater convenience and socializing since one can do dishes and preparation while conversing with guests in the living room. There are endless uses for kitchen islands.

According to the National Association of HomeBuilders (NAHB), kitchen islands are one of the most popular kitchen design features among today’s consumers. The NAHB also reports that buyers of new homes have also indicated a desire for kitchen islands as well. Actually some 80% of homebuyers consider a kitchen island to be an absolute must.

Some newer kitchen island ideas include the following features: rolling islands that can be used where a large island won’t fit, granite-topped islands, and islands with furniture like features such as pilasters.

New homebuyers aren’t the only ones that should consider a kitchen island design for their kitchen.

Some older homes with an awkward kitchen floor plan with limited space can also benefit from a kitchen island design idea. Closed off kitchens have been transformed into more open looking kitchens by lowering existing walls half way to forms islands Read the rest of this entry

Spring is just around the corner, and, of course, our thoughts focus on cleaning. The annual ritual called Spring cleaning is not just talk where I come from. Beginning in March, housewives start to resettle the dust, so to speak.

The house must be squeaky clean for Easter. In our cultural-religious tradition, the house must be sparkling clean by Easter night. When we return from midnight service, following the resurrection, our homes must be spotless and our food prepared for a midnight feast. How do we clean our homes for Easter? Well, we begin with the windows.

Drapes must be washed or sent to the cleaners. A white vinegar wash made of one bucket of lukewarm water and one cup of white vinegar is used to wash down the window’s glass and the frame. Following the removal of the winter’s accumulated dust on the windows and sill with a cloth soaked in the vinegar wash, a fine, lint-free cloth is used to dry both the glass and the sills.

The room will immediately feel refreshed and the odor neutralizing effect of the vinegar is as if the entire room’s air was sanitized.

Such cleaning might seem drastic to those of us who prefer to have our drapes cleaned once every ten years, but all levity aside, when you see the accumulated dust on the curtains edges near the rods, you will have no problem in deciding what is causing your winter allergies. Of course, dry cleaners do come to your house and do take Read the rest of this entry

CUSTOM KITCHENS

Custom Kitchens cabinets have been a main feature of finer kitchens ever since they were first manufactured. These kitchens come with a personalized consideration for detail. Custom kitchens offer all the details or specific needs or desires that the owner engaging in planning kitchens requires. Custom kitchens belong to the brand new world of luxury kitchens.

However, there are certain things to keep in mind before making a custom kitchen of your dreams. These types of kitchens may look special on paper and may not be exactly similar when built. The look, feel and the design may not be exactly what you desired. The kitchen will be your future cooking centre and you must not be ready to compromise now. You must make a flawless plan and carry it out with good craftsmanship. You must ensure the functionality of the kitchen in a superior manner.

One special tip will be to contact interior designers, architects, etc for the purpose in order to make it the best. These people can offer all the technical details and can help you to avoid all the common errors committed by the inexperienced. One must be careful while selecting colours especially to avoid odd looking kitchens. A blend of the perfect colours will be ideal, when recommended by an expert.

One must make a proper judgment about the needs of your kitchen and the needs of your family. One must be specific about the storage and space needs of Read the rest of this entry

There are many handy tips to share when it comes to keeping your kitchen clean when you cook. Everybody loves to cook, dragging out all the big manly pans and all the special utensils to sautee, mix, and stir just right. Only then to turn and fall into sudden death depression when the after mess is looked upon.

Cooking throughout the years as a single mom often working 2 jobs and going to school, time never seemed to be on my side, so when preparing a meal at the beginning of the week I often chopped and diced larger quantities than needed. I then placed the left overs into zip lock bags so that they can be pulled out and used again later with less clean up.

As you are cooking have one side of the sink with dishwater ready to clean up pans as you use them and for cleaning of the work areas and or cutting boards as they are used. You will still have the other side of the sink if needed to rinse and prepare vegetables. Then as each person finishes with his or her plate they can scrape off the plate and wash their own plate,fork and glass in the ready to use sink of dishwater. You will be amazed how much time each person cleaning up after themselves will save at meal time plus gives each member a feeling of team work. This practice also helps enforce the house rule of Read the rest of this entry

Custom kitchen design expects development of many facts in numerous areas to be able to invent the devices for your custom kitchen. Being able to invent a custom kitchen design can be a very challenging chore. It is important to suit the wishes for style of the kitchen, as well as cooking, dining, socializing and your account. This can be a very tall order when it comes to being able to design a wonderful kitchen where many hours are useminus creating delicious meals, that can join aesthetic beauty and meaning, and that will inspire compliments and assist as the crucial advantage of your home.

Renovating a kitchen typically inceptions with a design for convenience, organization and meaningality. Many people want to change the look of their kitchen by developing great kitchen decorating thoughts and also find habits to invent a new feel for their kitchens and bestow an atmosphere that they can be comfortable in and invent a kitchen in an helpful and logical way.

As to where to instigate, well you might want to inception be browsing and saving thoughts you may come across in magazines, online sources, the files and other funds. After you have put together enough design thoughts you can inception to plan your custom kitchen design. Good kitchen design depends on eloquent about the newest trends in kitchen design.

There are many gear to judge when you are planning your custom kitchen design. Among them are the areas of the kitchen to Read the rest of this entry