Invest in Gorgeous Garden Furniture

Summer's coming around at last, and the chances are that you're thinking about dusting off the garden furniture, cleaning out the shed and generally giving your back yard a makeover in preparation for spending more time outdoors. If this is the case, here's a valuable tip: invest in some good garden furniture.

Don't wait for the next hot day then dash down to the local DIY shop to buy some cheap deck chairs and a fold away camping table; there's nothing wrong with having a few deck chairs in storage of course, but they are simply not durable or attractive enough to do your garden justice all summer, and on top of this there's always that slight risk that Auntie Gladys might topple backwards in the middle of a family barbecue – all this is more than enough reason to invest in some great quality, reliable wooden garden furniture.

Choosing your garden furniture is just as important as selecting interior furnishings, so quality, cost and design should all be considered. Over the past few years, teak garden furniture has become increasingly popular thanks to its durability and beauty:  teak sets are often perceived as expensive, but there are some great UK retailers who now offer really competitive prices combined with extremely high quality design. For instance, Teak Chic offers a huge range of teak garden furniture sets at very competitive prices, delivered fully assembled to your home.  If you're already planning some summer garden activities you should never underestimate the importance of pre-assembled garden furniture sets – they can save you hours of hassle on the morning of the party!

Once you've decided upon the design and style of your new furniture, and if you have the space, finish off your garden makeover with some useful accessories like sun loungers, parasols and benches. The more you invest in it, the more your garden will begin to feel like an additional room in your house – you'll be grateful for the extra space and you'll spend hours out there in the summer, making use of your wooden garden furniture and relaxing in the peace and quiet of your rejuvenated back yard.

Source : articlesbase

Living Room Divider Cabinet Designs

In the times when space is an expensive commodity, having a big living room is sheer luxury. But decorating huge living room is also as painstaking. They are difficult to maintain in the long run. Converting a living room into two different rooms seems a good idea. Room divider cabinet comes in very handy for splitting a big living room into two parts. Keeping both these room equal in size or different depends upon the planned usage of the rooms.

What is a living room divider cabinet?

Room divider cabinet is a regular cabinet, often bigger in size than the regular ones. The bigger size of the living room divider cabinet is planned feature that is added to make it more useful like a wall. Living room divider cabinet is a decorative cabinet designed beautifully to adorn the living room along with providing storage solution. Most of the living room divider cabinet designs are the ones that allow view from one part of the room to the another. Wood along with glass is the most common material used to manufacture them. White finishes are quite popular among divider cabinet. They can vary in their designs as per the requirement of the room and designer.

Divider Cabinet Decor

Living room divider cabinet ask for a nice decor that keeps them fit well in the room. A divider cabinet in the living room should not look an out of place accessory. Therefore choose some living room decor accessories like decorative picture frames, pottery products, paintings etc to display. The room other than the living room can be used for a variety of purposes. Use the backside of the divider cabinet as a wall and decorate accordingly. Books, however, are a good thing to arrange in a divider cabinet. Using a divider cabinet as a book rack also helps to partially block the view to the other part of the room. Or the same decor can also be used for the other room, if the cabinet is without a completely blocked back. Smaller sizes also look good when the cabinet is kept adjoining a staircase of a slanting wall.

Source : articlesbase

Rolling Stool

Rolling stool is one of the most popular types of stools used in homes, offices, and salons. With so many different varieties of rolling stools available in the market it becomes a tough job selecting the one which has the best quality. When out to buy a rolling stool, one should always keep in mind the physical comfort. This is because, a good rolling stool should be able to offer one a comfortable sitting posture which will have the least chances of causing any injuries or aches. 

There was a time when the wooden rolling stools were much in demand. Besides, options were non-existent or limited and one had no choice but to take home the wooden seating equipment. The only problem that crops up with these wooden varieties is that, that these are quite rigid and hard, lacking any flexibility. Today different types of rolling stools are available in the market and most of them are metallic with different adjustable features.

These days, people usually go for the ones fitted with a footrest and a backrest. This is because, these stools offer enough support for keeping the body fit without causing any strains. Some of these even have arms. While the rolling stools with arms and backrest are usually a commoner in the offices and bars, the ones used in the salons and spas are usually supported with backrest, armrest as well as footrest. Again, the ones used in the offices usually have a firmer body with a raised spongy back rest alongside a comfortable armrest. The back rest may also have the push back feature.

The stools used in the homes, mostly find place in the dressing room, paired up with the dressing table. Most of the metallic stools are adjustable in height. The dressing table rolling stools traditionally do not have any sort of rests and these are of the simplest forms. These are usually the wooden ones. But with time, things are changing and so are the furniture at homes, offices and everywhere else. So, rolling stools too have come a long way in this journey and are found in different fashionable styles, shapes and configurations along with variable levels of comfort.

Source : articlesbase

Types of Acrylic Furniture

The ghost chair is the latest favorite piece of acrylic furniture amongst the masses. Being a designer item they were originally created in transparent colors to compliment their name however now a lot of variations have been introduced to fulfill the requirements of people with different tastes and desires in furniture. Although these are a little expensive, they were designed to cater to the masses and thus their prices are considerably low compared to most other designer furniture.

Since 2002 when designer Philippe Starck created the first ever ghost chair which was originally transparent, many different colors and varieties have been introduced. Today you have the opportunity to select from Louis and Victoria chairs and ghost stools. You can also select any of your favorite color from the shades of pale black, grey, yellow, orange blue or white available.

The Louis and Victoria ghost chair has curved backs and round edges which makes them very comfortable and safe. The latter do not have arms and are suitable to compliment a dining set of furniture. These are perfect for parties however they can prove to be pretty expensive if bought in large numbers. The ghost stool is present in three different heights that is counter stool, bar stool and smaller stool. Their legs flare outwards and they have a reinforcing loop towards the end.

The one important aspect of these furniture items is that their plastic is recyclable and thus environmentally friendly. They can be purchased from high end furniture stores as well as online retailers for anywhere from $300 to $450. Children also love to have them in their rooms and owing to the round edges, durability and comfort characteristic to these chairs, these are perfect for them. Now you can also have certain designs custom made at the back of the chairs. Even the designs appear transparent and create a personalized feel.

Whether you are looking for chairs for your bed room, living room, dining room, drawing room, kitchen or you garden, the ghost chairs are the latest fashion trend worth considering for your next purchase. They are equally suitable for offices and commercial use. Being scratch, stain and weather resistant they are not easily tarnished and keep looking good as new for a long time. They are easy to carry and stack ideal to enhance the seating area. You can use them as a centre piece or focal point in the room or to offer comfy place to sit for your guests and friends on festive occasions.

Source : ezinearticles

Kids Furniture - Using Bunk Beds to Save Space

Bunk beds are the best ways to save space when your children are sharing rooms with each other. Normally bunk beds include two one over the other. They also have security features that protect your little one form falling from it. The ladders are designed is such a way that they can easily climb up to the top of the bed.

Beds with bunk are available in plenty of varieties. One of them is futon, which consists of lofted bed over a futon. Basically it is a lofted bed which is available in twin as well as in full size. They can be used in two ways; during day you can use it as a sofa and as a bed in night times. Due to this feature it saves lots of space in smaller as well as bigger rooms allowing you to include something essential in your kid's bedroom.

Next is L- shaped bunk beds, the functionality remains the same but its quite different form the ordinary ones. Usually they are placed at right angle in the corner of the room, providing enough free space in room to include other furniture. The lofted bed and bottom bed are perpendicular to each other. Many of them also provide drawers with bottom bed so you don't require buying special tables for your kids. Hence providing lots of free space for kids to carry out various activities.

Another type is loft bunk bed. They are designed in such a manner, that they are the most flexible when compared to other beds. Loft bunk beds includes a single loft bed of full or twin sized balanced over unwrap space. This open space under the loft bed can be used for playing, studying or even for putting a storage component containing clothes, books or any unused objects of your kids. You can also go for junior loft beds which provides some added features like slides, tents etc. to feel like playground in the house itself.

Hence from all these features, it is always advisable to buy bunk beds for you kids which not only save a huge space, but also provides various playing options for your children's. Other than these they can also make your kids room look more beautiful as they are made from woods like pine, oak etc.

So what are you waiting for, enjoy their everlasting features and open up your kid's confined room with all above described bunk beds. The best way to buy kids bunk beds is online shopping. Buying beds form online shop has numerous advantages. An online furniture store offers wide range of bunks beds, making your selection task very easy. Some of the online store also offers exclusive discounts on different items of kid's bedroom furniture.

Source : ezinearticles

Outdoor Furniture Options

If you have the luxury of outdoor space; the sort of house that boasts a patio a good sized verandah or a garden, then it makes sense to utilize that space and use it optimally. To take advantage of your outdoor space it makes sense to buy good quality furniture that offers comfort of use as well as visual appeal. There are many options for outdoor furniture and Amish outdoor furniture is one of them. And it's not just the Amish rocking chairs and Amish gliders you should be considering; Amish furniture has a whole lot to offer besides that!

Wooden outdoor furniture makes sense for a lot of reasons: if it is plastic you're thinking of; the weather will fade and chip it, making it brittle and dull to look at. Metal tends to absorb a lot of heat and may be painful to sit on, on a hot day. And with a small amount of care and maintenance, there is no reason why your Amish furniture will not last you a long, long time. It will beautify your home and help you enjoy the outdoors for years to come. There are several items of genuine Amish outdoor furniture that you can consider:

1. A porch swing could be a splendid addition to your porch patio or any leafy corner of your yard or garden. Those interested in porch swings could take a look at the different kinds of porch swings that are on offer: 5 feet porch swings are big and capacious enough to seat up to 3 individuals, so that you can curl up with warm cocoa with your kids on a cold winter day. A four feet porch swing would be ideal for a cozy twosome while there are 2 feet porch swings that are available in a number of styles such as the colonial style, the mission style etc. A porch swing could be an excellent plaything for kids as well.

2. A lovely garden bench could be another option for you; whether it is a static bench or a gliding bench you pick, it could be an ideal place to just sit and smell the smells, to soak in some sunshine or just read the morning paper each day.

3. Amish rocking chairs and gliders of course are legendary in terms of their old world charm and solidity of craftsmanship and construction.

4. A saddle rack could be another quirky and individualistic addition to the ambience you want to create out of doors; to lend charm and personality.

5. You can also create a picnic atmosphere with some sturdily constructed outdoor tables and chairs that can come in handy not only on a day to day basis, but also if you decide to have a barbecue or if you're having people over. So whether it is that lovely rustic look you want or something more sophisticated that you prefer, Amish outdoor furniture has just the thing for you. So go ahead and take advantage of the space you have; enjoy the outdoors!

Source : articlesbase

Shoe Safe-keeping Bench - Here Are the Distinct Kinds Accessible

If you are in the market for a shoe safe-keeping bench you are most likely finding there are various variations of this kind of furnishings. Each and every version of the shoe safe-keeping bench has a diverse intended goal. Below you will find out the various kinds of shoe storage furniture accessible in the marketplace so that you can make positive you get just the correct a single that will specifically meet your wants. 

The shoe storage bench is a really well-known sort of pieces of furniture today. 
Not only do they serve as a extremely interesting addition to the decor of a house, but they typically have far more than one particular helpful function. 

The shoe bench, also known as a shoe rack bench is usually discovered close to the entryway of a house. Depending on the desire of the residence owner, they can be used at either the front door or back door area of a home. Some individuals have much more than 1 for distinct entrances or even in the garage. 

Shoe storage space home furniture like this is usually fashioned out of numerous sorts of hardwood and arrives with organic stains or a selection of painted colors that blend effectively inside the layout of the house. 

The amount one particular designed objective of the shoe bench is to help decrease clutter and organize your footwear. Getting this type of furnishings will assist you grow to be a lot more organized when it comes to your shoes. 

Yet, intent for these storage space benches of boots or shoes is to permit for a surface that permits people to sit on when removing and placing on boots or shoes. 

Some shoe benches arrive in variants that are open with person cubbies for pair of sneakers. These allow you to see the footwear quite very easily. Typically this is a lesser pricey variety of bench as compared to the other kinds. 

The other sorts of shoe furniture are much more self-contained. These function a seat that is also a lid. On some the lid is hinged and on other people the lid removes with out any attachment. If you do not want the footwear to be observed this is the variety that will operate finest for your needs. 

A shoe safe-keeping bench that closes can be a good spot for containing several other things that usually clutter up a house. Have lots of toys all over the home? How about pet things? Maybe you will need extra safe-keeping for blankets or towels? The possibilities are endless. And of course, you can often use these for storing sneakers. 

Some versions appear as stand up cabinets that have hooks for also keeping neat coats, sweaters, jackets and the like. 

If you are concerned about the odors that at times can accompany shoes, a version that will work really properly for you are the ones manufactured of cedar wood. This works excellent to aid absorb any offensive odors.

Source : articlesbase

7 Ways To Picking The Most Ideal Garden Furniture

Do you know that you can actually add more buying value into your home by simply lanscaping

your yard? What's more, you can make it more usable by putting up garden furniture.

Here are the best tips in picking your garden furniture:

1. Know the climate of your area. The furniture should be able to withstand the general climatic condition of your residence. For example, if it is sunshine for most of the year, such as in Florida, you may need those that are made of teak or wicker. These types of materials are airy and allow proper circulation of air. Thus, you will still feel refreshed despite the bright sunlight.

Are the winters harsher than usual or rain comes more than 6 months a year? Look for those that are made of cast or wrought iron. They are definitely more durable and therefore long lasting. They do not experience any wear and tear.

2. Measure the space. The philosophy when it comes to your interiors can also be adapted in your exteriors. The sizes of the furniture should match that of your yard or patio. For example, if you are blessed with a huge space, it is more ideal to pick furniture pieces that are also gargantuan. With smaller space, opt for minimalist garden pieces.

3. Choose functionalities. The furniture pieces do not have to remain just mere decorations for your yard or patio. They can also be highly functional. Foldable seats permit you to move them in different portions of your home with great ease. If you want a lot of storage, look for wicker or teak ottoman-slash-storage.

4. Make sure you are comfortable with them. Unless you just need something to burn your money with, there is a good chance that you are going to use the furniture 365 days or even more than that. Hence, ensure that you will be happy using it. Before you eventually buy them, test them first. If you are using a chaise lounge, sit on it for a while and get a general feel. The table should not be too high that eating becomes uncomfortable.

5. Wait for sales. Most of the garden fixtures can be pretty expensive. If you like to save on them without buying pre-loved items, you can just wait for discounts or sales. Watch out for Fourth of July, Memorial Day, Black Friday, and Christmas or New Year. Prices tend to drop to as much as 50 percent.

6. Customize them. Another way of going less with the furniture and getting what you really like is to customize them. Go to flea markets or garage sales. Select those that are still very durable since that is a characteristic you cannot alter. You can then search for great inspirations or patterns in the World Wide Web. Use stencils and paintbrushes to make personalization so much easier.

7. Pair them with covers. You can make the furniture last a lot longer if you can cover them when not in use. Heavy-duty ones ensure that no harmful sunlight, rain, or snow can cause damage to those that you cannot bring inside your home.

Source : articlesbase

Asian Interior Design Tips For Your Home

Asian interior design is a stylish and classy way to decorate your home. There are many ways to use this design influence in your space. Some people, however, are a little lost when it comes to using Asian design in their own home. Here are a few ideas to help you begin. Using Japanese influence in your Asian decorating theme is a popular choice. There are many different ways to use this style. Japanese Shoji screens are one of the most popular choices. These are wooden frames with a lattice design. The cutouts are filled with rice paper. Some shoji screens are plain and some have beautiful designs. These screens can be used as a room divider or simply as decoration. Another thing to add to your Japanese inspired room is the Kotatsu table. This is a rectangular table in a dark finish with clean lines. Many have heaters in the middle, and are considered in Japan to be the emotional center of a home. Woven straw mats with colored borders are popular floor coverings in Asian interiors. These mats are called goza mats. In Japan, these mats are used for walking, sitting, and sleeping. They have two separate layers. One is the straw center and the other is the soft reed outer edge covered in cloth. These floor and bench coverings will add an authentic touch to your Asian style room. Another classic element of Asian interior design is the gong. There are several different types of gongs, and the one you choose may have much to do with the size of your space. Some gongs are very large, so your room needs to be large to accommodate them. A more manageable size would be a hanging gong. These are usually 12 inches or so and come with a mallet to ring the gong. You can find ones with a beautiful scroll design to accent your Asian decor. You can also purchase a classic gong that hangs on your wall as an art piece. These are lovely and help to tie an Asian inspired space together. Using Japanese and Chinese calligraphy is a classic and elegant way to decorate your walls for an Asian decorating theme. You can purchase these works of art already framed or just the print. If you buy just the print, it is usually most striking to frame them in black. Look for simple frames with clean lines. This will help enhance the Asian style. As you can see, there are many ways to use Asian interior design in your own home. There are a plethora of websites and retailers that specialize in Asian interior design. You can find the materials and products that you need to create your perfect Asian inspired space with relative ease.

Source : besttoread

Hamilton Pine Furniture

We offer an array of pine furniture, available in distinct style and range to choose upon. Now a day's solid pine is soaring on demand because this could be used in an extensive diversity of furniture range and styles. Pine can be shaped in a mixture of forms and carved intricately due to its fine and soft grain. Pinewood needs furnace aeration to avoid warping and splitting as it is a normal tendency when exposed to stern temperature change. Pine is also a soft wood and therefore susceptible to scratches or marks. Due to this our pinewood products are varnish-coated in matte or glossy finish or waxed to shield its fragile surface and make it look more attractive and can enhance the tranquility of any home.

Pinewood Color, texture and grain are of highly diverse nature. This is almost unfeasible to locate an exact match of wood color and pattern even if these are taken from two standing trees that grew side by side. The color of its wood turns deeper as the tree gets older.

 

A wide variety of Hamilton pine furniture is available with us to choose upon. We use reclaimed pine and using the reclaimed pine avoids causing environmental impact and ensures that the products are ecologically sound. It also provides our products with a unique rustic, distressed look. Each piece of furniture is made and carved by hand to give aesthetic look to the furniture and is stained and waxed to the highest standards. All this will create a magic in looks of the furniture. We provide a range of two part wardrobes, Drawer desks, Bedside cabinets, Dining tables, Coffee tables with drawer and TV units etc. We create a stunning furniture range which is cautiously crafted from solid European Oak and Pine wood.

Our collection is finished in the ever popular distressed style and a look that is enhanced by the metal hardware. Dove tailed joints, with solid wood backs and bases confirm the strength and quality of this collection. The dining tables are available in a range of shapes and designs as per the requirement of the client. These dining tables are coming in many sizes to accommodate the family members and custom designed as per the specification provided.

 

This furniture is coming in the honey finish which will enhance the beauty of the furniture. The table stands are made from the same food and are intricately crafted to enhance the magic to the furniture. A table with the dimensions of 1800mm x 1050mm x 785mm high is suitable enough to accommodate 6 persons is available. TV units with drawers are offered by us in a wide variety. These TV units are aesthetically designed and crafted to enhance the beauty of any home. It comes in various designs and size as per the requirement according the home.

Source : articlesbase

How to Style Your Home Windows

Sometimes because we get used to living in our homes we neglect to consider doing things to make living in them more exciting. But do you know that what people see in your homes represents the personalities of people living there? For example, windows do speak about the personality of your home and signifies how you live in your home because windows are parts of the house that easily bring about the personality of the whole house. If your windows do look so simple this could mean you are also leaving a very simple life. If your windows have many styles that at first glance you could feel their warmth and inviting presence it could mean you are also an exciting person so a big part of your personality sometimes emanates from what people see in your house particularly your windows.

So how do you make your windows stylish so that a new aura can be created within your home and people will perceive you as an interesting person? Read tips given by home interior design about home improvements and you can find so many suggestions on how to put life with your home windows. Starting off with the use of trendy curtains you could end up with suggestion on tinting your windows and these are actually very good suggestions. Tinting you windows is one of the most fashionable ways in giving homes a calm and peaceful feel and it can make your home unique.

Another way of bringing life to your house through your windows is by installing Venetian blinds. Although the use of Venetian blinds was already an old practice, today's blinds are more fashionable, trendy and stylish that they can easily give your home the contemporary look and feel of a new house. There are the chic types of roller blinds with exciting colours so if your home is also painted with lively colours these type of Venetian blinds could really perk up the inside features of your home. There are also the earth coloured blinds and they can perfectly blend on homes that have elegant and classic features. Earthly coloured blinds have colours like coffee brown, deep amber and different hues that could compliment well on classically decorated homes.

If some people do not have time in beautifying their house through their windows and just install blinds just to come up with simple designs, other people still prefer to concentrate more on using curtains. Curtains can really enliven the appeal of your windows because you can do many things with them. Right from choosing the most attractive and most stylish curtains, you can still adorn them with ribbons, drapers or solar shades so that an outstanding look of your windows would appear. Curtains are like blessing for windows just like beautifully made windows are blessings for the homeowners. If exciting curtains can coordinate well with beautifully made windows, the result is a very exciting display of marvellous home design right inside your home.

So depending on your choice of style and method on how to put life on your windows, focusing on making your windows alive is one way of creating a different ambiance in your home environment. We must be thankful we still can do something about beautifying our home and that is through doing something significant with our windows. Doors are part of the house that does not need to be redecorated or adorned but windows are our wives' favourite among home fixtures because this is where they can put their creativity at work.

Source : isnare

Outdoor Furniture Trends

For some time now outdoor furniture has gone beyond being just items for relaxation and enjoyment, and even though these are still major points to consider, design and style are the driving force of today's trends.

One of the many interesting things that happens when designers experiment and enjoy their creative forces is that they do begin to work with other materials. And this usually means a much wider variety in styles, colors and shapes. When combining materials a whole new world is opened.

Just think of the following:

Take an outdoor table for example.

• It could be square, rectangle or with a round top.
• It could be waist high or chest high.
• It could be for four, six, eight or even 12 people.
• It could be made from wood, and that also means the series of colors and finishing.
• It could be with a glass top, a wooden top, from metal alloys or a ceramic top

Wicker, aluminum and wood had been used for quite some time now but there are new materials and ideas coming along. These ideas will include different types of fabrics for outdoor use, wrought iron, plastics and more.

Some of the styles will include Wicker, bistro furniture, styles taken from the classics (Greek and Roman), country style, European, modern, contemporary, etc.

At the forefront of the design trends for outdoor furniture are colors that are either simple or vibrant. The standout and make a statement. It's not just a question of the blending into the outdoor scene but of actually making a statement that adds to the lifestyle.

Another important part of outdoor furniture today is weather resistance. This includes fabrics and materials. A chair deckchair or any seating furniture will have cushioned seats and pillows and these must be able to withstand demands made by the weather- and this means more than just the rain, includes the wind and the sun.

Source : ezinearticles

Your Complete Kitchen Planning Guide

Knowing how you want to use your kitchen, the features you would like to have in it, and defining priorities that fit your budget can make your dream kitchen a reality. With that in mind, you can minimize the anxiety and the potentially daunting task by building a complete kitchen design plan that helps to ensure getting the most value from your investment. Kitchen planning for your new or remodeled space will be easier to understand if you follow a few of the guidelines discussed below:

Your Kitchen - Your Domain

The kitchen is the heart of your home and has long since been more than just a place to prepare, cook, serve, and eat meals. Modern designer kitchens should be the ultimate representation of your lifestyle yet provide compete functionality in a sometimes very limited space.

When we say 'lifestyle', we really mean how will the kitchen be used and by whom? How much time do you typically spend preparing meals, what type of meals…gourmet or fast food? How are your meals prepared…made from scratch or pulled from the freezer and placed into a microwave? Are your meals eaten in the kitchen, a formal dining room, or in front of the television? Do you have pets to be considered in your new kitchen design? Do you have hobbies which also are done in the kitchen?

Lifestyles, when it comes to designer kitchens, will fall into the following categories:

• Chef Lifestyle

• Entertainer Lifestyle

• Family Lifestyle

• Urban Lifestyle

• Accessible Lifestyle

Depending on your lifestyle, you will probably want to consider the most common space planning requirements for your designer kitchen. The best kitchen designs are laid out with work zones in mind. Using what's called "the work triangle," kitchen designers place everything from ovens and cooktops to sinks and refrigerators — as well as the cabinets themselves — within various zones. Space planning or work zones should be driven by your needs to maximize storage, accessibility and comfort in your kitchen.

• Storage Space – Is there enough? Storage should be accessible to people of all ages and it should accommodate work needs and storage preferences. Don't overlook the important needs of handling your refuse, garbage, and recycling bins. Well designed storage spaces provide enhanced functionality for your kitchen.

• Work Zones – The basic work stations in your kitchen include a) storage for refrigerated and non-refrigerated items, b) cooking and/or heating, and c) meal preparation. Each work station must complement the other and the distance between each station should be as short as possible and without impediments.

• Open Floor Plans – Reflecting today's more informal living; open floor plans are very popular in new and remodeled kitchens. Typically a kitchen will now open to adjoining spaces like the family room, a great room, entertainment areas, expanded dining space, and/or computer workstation. Open floor plans create new design opportunities and can help you eliminate bottlenecks, improve traffic flow, and even create a perception of more overall space within your home.

Your Kitchen - From Floor to Ceiling

With a foundation of space within our grasp, let us now discuss the key components necessary to plan compete kitchens. Depending on your budget for a new kitchen or the extent of your kitchen remodel, either all or selected components will be considerations in your planning and budget.

• Cabinets – There are literally thousands of options to consider when choosing kitchen cabinets. Your task can be made easier by narrowing your options using these five things – Price, Material, Type, Color, and Style.

• Counter Tops have an enormous importance on the look and feel of your kitchen. The many choices available offer varying aesthetics, cost, weight, durability, and upkeep.

• Sinks – Material for your sink should blend with your décor; options include stainless steel, composite granite, cast acrylic, cast iron, and copper. The size of your countertop may limit your options for size and number of bowls within your sink. Drop-in or dual-mount sinks work well with existing countertops while undermount sinks offer a clean and stylish look with replacement countertops.

• Appliances are the workhorses in your kitchen. Appliances should be attractive, powerful, quiet, easy to clean, and safe. If buying new, look for super-high energy efficiency ratings to guide your choice.

• Flooring – The best time to lay a new floor is immediately after your old kitchen has been stripped out and your plumbing and electrical work has been completed. New flooring should cover the entire area, as the additional cost is negligible compared to the time it takes to cut around cabinets. Like your countertops, kitchen flooring should be durable, stain resistance, and complimentary to your overall décor.

• Lighting – Given the plethora of functions your kitchen performs, sufficient ambient and task lighting is critical. You need to have the correct lighting at all the conceivable spaces for whatever task may be done at that spot. The type of surface, which is being lit, will also have an impact to the lighting choices you need to make. Colors also play an important role in your lighting selections.

• Other Considerations – In addition to the key components listed above, you should also make note of other budget considerations in your overall kitchen planning. They include and are not limited to, Decorative Hardware – Faucets - Paint and/or Wall coverings – Ventilation - Electrical Outlets – Windows and Window Treatments.

Your Kitchen - Delivery and Installation

Consult skilled experts in a variety of fields, especially if you plan your kitchen remodel as a 'Do-It-Yourself' project. Since a complete kitchen makeover can be a fairly expensive undertaking, it is recommended that you seek and use skilled professionals with design and installation expertise. If you do not select a full service company with this capability as your source, you must be prepared to serve as your own 'scheduling contractor' and perhaps, even purchasing agent. Consider these final tips to get the most value from your investment:

1. Put your plan to paper – draw a plan and make a list to help you determine costs.

2. Hire a reputable contractor experienced in complete kitchens. Get references and a timeframe in writing. Labor costs can be estimated at approximately 30% of the total remodeling job.

3. Do it yourself – coordinate with your contractor for the pieces of work which make sense based on your skill and experience in remodeling. Unless you are licensed, hire reputable plumbers and electricians.

4. Keep at least 10% of your budget for unexpected costs. Who knows what lies beneath those old walls or floors?

Buying a new kitchen is not something you do every day; plan wisely to ensure getting the most for your investment. Remember that fitted kitchen products and services are not 'off the shelf' items so make sure your plan also includes the delivery of items so installation is not stalled. A 'build your plan' and 'follow your plan' approach will ultimately save you money and provide you with the kitchen of your dreams.

Source : articlecity