The kitchen is the first area in any home to start organizing. The kitchen is a center of activity in morning and evening when everyone is at home. Everyone loves food and wants it prepared quickly. But a kitchen is often the most used room in the house and a place where bacteria can develop easily. Below are some tips to help minimize bacteria and improve the look and feel of your kitchen area.
Clean the refrigerator and deep freezer if you have one. Remove everything in freezer and fridge. Clean the inside and defrost it. If you prefer clean it with soap or vinegar as a deodorizer. Anything that is not needed should be discarded.
- If possible, move the deep freezer to the garage or to the basement. This will increase the available space in kitchen.
- Clean all the drawers of kitchen cabinet. It may be time to put down new shelf paper.
- Keep your kitchen clean by cleaning as you go. This is most difficult part of organizing your kitchen, but if you develop this habit, it saves you time in long run.
- Remove anything you have not used in last 2 years to some other area of your house or throw it away.
- Remove every thing from the Kitchen countertop and sink area to clean thoroughly. Throw away clutter (or things you haven’t used in 2 years) as you put everything back.
With the creation of bigger and bigger kitchens, lighting the spaces above and below the cabinets has become more important than ever. Available in slim, energy-efficient designs such as miniature track lights or low-voltage linear systems, under- and overcabinet lighting quickly and easily lights up counter tops and accents ceilings. Halogens offer consumers a whiter, more accentuating light. Used undercabinet, it compliments the look of granite and marble countertops.
Every kitchen is individual and task lighting here depends on cabinet layout and computer location. Too much light can wash out the screen. Consider a fluorescent task light for the computer. Be sure to cover the key board and work materials.Halogen undercabinet lighting offers another option. If space is limited a small halogen desk lamp might work well, putting the light where you need it.
No matter how many lights you install in your kitchen, the experts recommend circuiting them separately so the lighting is zoned. This allows you to create ambience by mixing the various lights you turn on. Lights above the cabinets should be soft and low-voltage. The light over the sink should have its own switch. Same with the lights over the island and those over counters.
Marvel Industries has come up with a fantastic idea for your kitchen sink.
This new kitchen sink design with a butcher block is shaped to make cooking and cleaning up as simple as ever. Here at Style on a Shoestring we are always looking out for new and innovative ideas to incorporate into your home.
Custom cabinets are cabinets specially made to meet the space and design specifications of your kitchen. While they do cost more than stock or semi-stock cabinets, they are generally well worth the extra money and the longer waiting period between placing and receiving your order. Because they are manufactured by experienced cabinetry craftsmen using superior methods and materials, they look better and hold up longer than other cabinetry options in the long run.
What’s the Difference Between Custom and Stock Cabinetry?
Most stock cabinets are made of inferior materials which wear quicker, fall apart faster, and may not be manufactured very soundly in the first place. The goal of a stock cabinet maker is to mass produce cabinets at a breakneck pace, ensuring customers a generic product that arrives at their home in a minimum amount of time (usually less than 4 weeks).
Stock. Most stock cabinets are made of particle board materials covered with veneer or imitation plastic wood, presenting a number of problems. For starters, particle board cabinetry tends to flake with use, causing the veneer (often held on by cheap glues) to come off the cabinets as the subsurface degrades. On top of that, particle board is notorious for coming apart. Because it is a less dense material, fasteners tend to pull out and shelving bows under the weight of dishes. Considering your cabinets hold some of your most prized and fragile possessions, it’s important to ask yourself whether you’re willing to risk your dining set in order to save a few bucks.
Custom. Custom cabinets, on the other hand, are almost always constructed of solid hardwood, eliminating the flaking, sagging and eventual degradation that is part of cheaper materials. Add to that the natural beauty of properly stained hardwoods, and it’s clear that custom cabinets are the way to go. Also, with the amount of competition out there, these custom cabinets may be more affordable than you think. It’s definitely worth looking into when you decide to add new cabinets to your kitchen or anywhere else in the house.
Concrete counter tops can be a good choice if you have counters that are unusual in shape. These designer counters are often cast right in your kitchen for a custom look. However, the price tag for these unique counters is high and may be beyond most people’s budget.
Pros: These counters are heat and scratch resistant and can be color-tinted. They can be finished to look exotic and unusual. And there are new treatments available to eliminate cracking and additives to reduce porosity.
Cons: Cost is mid -to -high range due to custom work; cracking is possible if not treated properly. These counters can look somewhat industrial ; and if not sealed they can be porous.
Stainless steel countertops not only look sharp and appealing, they’re also very resilient. They’re water resistant and non porous so no water can harm the material itself. They add elegance and clean lines to any kitchen. Below are a few pros and cons to consider when looking at stainless steel counterops.
Pros: Since water can’t build up in the material, there is no chance for mold, bacteria, or other germs making this a very hygienic cooking surface. Also, it’s heat resistant, which means that you can place hot pots and pans on it without risk of heat damage. The metal is flexible and can be made to fit almost any kitchen. Also the metal is shiney and can make the overall appearence of your kitchen space seem bigger.
Cons: Stainless steel counters can aquire dents and scratches over time if not used properly. Fingerprints and smudges can be an ongoing problem, especially if you have small children. Also, they must be cleaned very carefully. Harsh chemicals can actually stain the metal. These countertops are not cheap and should be installed by a professional.
Laminate counters are made of plastic-coated synthetics that carry the trademarks such as Formica, Nevamar, and Wilsonart. They provide a smooth surface to work on and the pieces are cut to size and are finished on the ends.
Pros: You can buy laminates in variety of differnet colors. They are easy to maintain and are very durable. More importantly, they are inexpensive if you are on a tight budget.
Cons: Any scratches or chips are very difficult to repair. Seams will show and end finishing and front edge choices can quickly add up.
Wood countertops add a beautiful and warm look to a kitchen. They are available in a wide variety of colors and finishes. Hardwoods, such as maple and oak , are most often used as countertop woods.
Pros: They are easy to clean. Wood or butcher block counters offer a smooth surface to work on. Also, they can be sanded and resealed as needed.
Cons: These countertops can be damaged by water and stains over time. All scratches must be oiled or sealed according to the manufacturer’s instructions. If not cleaned properly bacteria can become a problem. Also, you never want to cut anything directly on the wood.
