The complete kitchen

What Exactly Is It That Your Kitchen Lacks?  For me, it's ventilation, natural light, and counter space.  Since I rent however, there isn't too much I can to to fix these issues.  When your kitchen has everything it needs, it just works.  Cooking is a more streamlined process, and entertaining is more pleasurable than stressful.

A Table/Island If your kitchen is big enough to fit it in an island/breakfast bar is a great idea. By doing this you immediately turn it into a dining room and gathering place. Even if it is a relatively small surface you can still use the kitchen as a cosy place to have meals. I think it would be especially useful in the mornings when you are sitting the family down to breakfast and going over everyone's plans for the day. If you have enough room for something bigger then full scale parties and dinner parties become a very real possibility.

 via Pinterest via BHG

via HomeLife.com.au

via BHG

More LightA common problem in many kitchens is a lack of light. This can lead to a horribly dark and old fashioned look, even if the rest of the room is perfectly acceptable. Luckily options abound when it comes to options for extra kitchen lighting, my favorite being pendants and under cabinet lights.

Not only functional, these pendants over the counter are STUNNING.
via Clerkship Scramble

via Kitchenmaking.com

FlowA danger is any kitchen is that it can feel cut off from the rest of the house. If you are still in the process of designing the place then arches, breakfast bars, French doors and conservatories are all clever ways to maintain the contact with other parts of the house. If the house is already finished then it might be more difficult to do this, but keeping the door open and encouraging more use of the kitchen can help it feel more a part of the home.  It sounds small, but I rent and have a galley kitchen, so to "open" it up, I keep the door open, and have a framed picture and open shelves in the kitchen that you can see from living room, thus visually inviting you into the kitchen.

The floor graphic in the kitchen is also in the dining room, creating a visual continuity which helps combine the otherwise separate areas.

Excellent lighting, a runner, and an intriguing graphic keep this kitchen from looking like an after thought and more like a well considered, frequently used space.

2 above via blogbuilddirect.com

Smart AppliancesA well equipped kitchen is a joy to work in or to eat in. It can be pricey to start from scratch, but if you already have great bones in the kitchen, a few finishing touches might be all you need. Thankfully, there are plenty of smart, inexpensive appliances and gadgets around from websites such as the popular Lakeland one. If you have all of the basic kitchen appliances already then maybe something exciting like a food processor, a juicer (I've been wanting one for a while!) or one from the modern range of coffee machines could give you the little extra something that you are looking for.

What is your kitchen missing?

This article is written in association with Lakeland home shopping pioneers.

Kitchen Love

I cook a lot more in the fall and winter, so I'll be spending a lot more time in the kitchen.  I imagine that in some homes, the kitchen is the most popular room in the house.  Our kitchen is a small galley kitchen, so it's not suitable for hanging out in, but one day I hope to have a kitchen that opens up to the living room.

This kitchen is simple, but white is my favorite cabinet color, and the light is really nice.

2 above via Apartment Therapy

If you are very good at keeping your items tidy, open shelves can be really attractive, and the open backs don't hide the eye-catching backsplash.

via Hus & Hem

Talk about amazing kitchen design, all those windows would make you feel like you're cooking outside year round.

via ?

via Heart Home

via House of Fifty

I like this unique kitchen layout.

via Home Designing

*disclosure: this post brought in partnership with thegoodguyskitchens.com

Kitchen Design 05

Kitchen Design - They include both high tech appliances with their customized innovative accessories, to produce a sleek kitchen. This turns their daily kitchen activities into a blissful and beautiful experience. True to their feelings, a kitchen ought to be stylish, novel, efficient and aesthetic, as well as impeccable. In fact, most people will judge your personality from the design of your kitchen. With this in mind, let us look at why modular designs for kitchens are being embraced all over the world.

Kitchen Design - Currently, these kitchen designs are considered to be the latest trend in home décor. Their innovators believed that the designs will greatly ease kitchen work, as well as make it fun filled, rather than boring. Actually, most individuals that have integrated these designs into their kitchen attest to enjoy doing kitchen work, rather than feeling compelled to do it. The added touch of glamour enhances their moods and morale.

Kitchen Design - There are various modular designs in the market created in a plethora of colors, shape and style. However, all must contain the following accessories. First and foremost, there should be a dishwasher. They are present in various sizes, so as to meet the needs of each individual. The size depends on the capacity of the household, rinse cycles, area for placing the appliance and washing design.

Kitchen Design - Secondly, due to the elegance of modular kitchen designs, a chimney is a prudent accessory. This is because it expels smoke and thus protects the kitchen décor from smoke related detriments. Also, considering modular kitchen embraces advancement in technology, a microwave is a must have appliance. It plays a crucial role in immensely reducing work load in the kitchen. The same case applies to the other types of ovens including slow cookers, dinnerware and convection toaster ovens.

Kitchen Design - Modular designs for your kitchen aim at keeping the kitchen clutter free. Therefore, it incorporates an efficient cooking range, which has multiple burners. This also explains why shutters and pull out drawers are incorporated into the design. The shutters and pull out units are very convenient. Individuals use them to place their including crockery. The adjustable shelves are designed with handles to enable individuals open and close them in a jiffy. In addition, they are easy to maintain, as they are made from durable materials.

Kitchen Design - At times, the modular kitchen designs add a sophisticated edge to the kitchen decor. Glass shutters are used to adorn the beauty of kitchen cabinets (pull out units), which are ideally placed at corners. On the same hand, most counter tops are made from granite to invigorate their sturdiness, durability and stylish outlook. On the other hand, most modular kitchens have laminate and wooden floors, though it is not rare to come across ceramic tile floors.

Kitchen Design - Modular kitchen designs cater for the needs and demands of all individuals. This is because they are available in a myriad of color schemes including silver, cedar, birch, gold and pearl, as well as white, orange, yellow, green, blue and red. In addition, those that love a combination of various color schemes can get their wishes fulfilled. Moreover, whether your kitchen is small or big these designs are easily incorporated into the design of your home. This gives your kitchen a fashionable look.

Kitchen Design - On the same hand, modular designs modernize the interior décor of the kitchen, giving it a great appeal. As a result, the design of your home, whether modern or traditional, gets a fresh outlook. It appears to be more functional and attractive. On the other hand, people love kitchens that are spacious to give them enough room to move around. Modular kitchens effectively meet this need, since they are well organized and provide the desired storage space. In a nut shell, they provide a clutter free working area.

Kitchen Design - A kitchen can be more than just about its role in function, organization and efficiency. Kitchens need a personality and a look and feel that can liven up the senses in addition to being a functional place for the preparation of food. The French Country Kitchen design is one of many classic kitchen design themes that you could consider. It can provide your kitchen with a traditional look that has its roots in the hillsides of rural France. It is a style that can fit into both rural farmhouses and in the grandest chateau.

Kitchen Design - French country kitchen design conjures up images of the Provence and the French countryside with its pastoral settings, lavender fields and rustic French farmhouses. The French country kitchen represents country living that is uniquely French. In designing your French country kitchen design you discover that the French country look is always very rustic, old and warm.

Kitchen Design - There are many elements that go into the French country kitchen including the use of large pieces of furniture made mainly of light colored woods and can be decorated with ornate carving.

Kitchen Design - Color is an important place to start the design process. You can draw inspiration from some of the principle French impressionists like Monet and Renoir, Van Gogh. Colors that are used in the French country kitchen style can include sunny yellow or soft gold, bright red and rust, grass green, cobalt blue and soft ocean tones.

Kitchen Design - You can decorate in the style of the French country kitchen design by using vivid colors - poppy red, sunflower yellow, bright blue, meadow green, and sunset purple. Your walls and cabinets and large furniture can be painted in off white, ivory, light beige, and taupe. Cabinets can be painted a glossy white to brighten light-filled spaces in the kitchen or they can be left as natural wood. These colors can provide a light, airy feel so you do not want to use strong colors here. In fabrics such as curtains and seat cushions you might also add paisley, stripes and floral prints to your French Country Kitchen theme.

Kitchen Design - Natural materials are an important element in walls, cabinetry and furniture that is used in the design of French country kitchens. The materials used in creating a rustic French country kitchen look include natural stone floors, granite counter tops and tumbled marble back splashes. These natural materials can be used on walls and beamed ceilings, and can be rough stained or painted plaster, or wood painted in natural colors. Floors can be made of stone or brick and covered with wool or cotton rugs, a fireplace made of stone with a heavy beam that can serve as a mantel, and wooden shutters as window coverings. Furniture and cabinets can have a rustic or even a distressed look. Countertops can be done in ceramic tile with tile back splashes.

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Kitchen Design - Is it time for your kitchen to get a makeover? If you are going to renovate, you might as well do it in line with the latest in kitchen design. In this article we look at some latest trends in kitchen design. Kitchens aren't just functional rooms anymore - you can express your creativity and create a pleasant workspace to cook up meals, and spend quality time with your family. So what are the latest trends in kitchen design - what is hot, what is not?

Kitchen Design - Do you still have fluorescent lighting in your kitchen - well if you want the latest in kitchen design - and to know what is hot, what is not - fluorescent lighting is definitely not. One long globe casting a harsh light over the kitchen was never an idea that combined style with utility - it's not something you use because it's beautiful - it's simply utilitarian. The latest in kitchen design is LED's (light-emitting diodes) which use less than half the electricity of fluorescents and can last 10 times as long. As for what is hot in kitchen design - the newest buzz is on 'accent lighting', and layered kitchen lighting. Chandeliers and pendants are as in as you can get for task lighting, along with lighting for cabinets. These do the job, and add style and ambiance to your kitchen. When it comes to lighting, fluorescents are so last century!

Kitchen Design - Is your kitchen a series of appliances - washing machine, dryer, and fridge? Well if you are interested in knowing about kitchen design - what is hot, what is not - then the next thing to look at is hiding these appliances with clever cabinetry. A stylish kitchen with no electrical appliances in sight is the latest trend in kitchen design. By using cabinetry artfully, kitchen appliances can be carefully hidden without losing ease of access or functionality - there are amazing innovations - now even a fridge can be 'invisible'. This way, the kitchen comes into its own as room which can flow into the rest of the design in the home, and loses that 'factory' stuffed with machines image.

Kitchen Design - Kitchens have slowly become more and more important in family living. People are spending more time than ever in their kitchens, and kitchen design reflects this. If you want to know about kitchen design - what is hot, what is not then pay attention to this. A kitchen designed as purely as work area is not hot at all! What is hot is using workspaces to do double duty. A kitchen island can also be used as a dining table; by making kitchen cabinets look more like furniture the kitchen becomes cosier. And on the subject - banquette seating is a hot trend at the moment. In line with this trend, more and more people are putting wall mounted televisions and sound systems into their kitchens.

Kitchen Design - The earth and impact on the environment is something everyone takes into account these days. Kitchens are not different - in fact, there are many things you can do to make your kitchen more eco-friendly. If you are asking about kitchen design - what is hot, what is not? Then remember that designs which aren't eco-friendly are out! Besides changing your lighting, you can think about investing in eco-friendly cabinetry like bamboo or wheat board. Both are incredibly resistant, and will give years of guilt-free good use. Leaky faucets waste one of the earth's most precious resources - water! New eco-friendly designs eliminate leaks, and save water with special water sparing designs. These are a must in any kitchen. And on this subject, when you buy kitchen appliances look for those that are energy saving.

Kitchen Design - Designing your ultimate kitchen should be a rewarding experience. After you have gathered ideas for your kitchen from a variety of sources, the fun begins when you start to actually incorporate all the different design ideas into a coherent picture of your perfect kitchen. This is the time to ask for assistance from a kitchen design specialist, who can work on the design process with you.

Kitchen Design - The place to start when you are designing your dream kitchen is with a dimensional diagram of your kitchen space. On a large piece of graph paper, draw the outline of the kitchen space, including any doors or windows that you will have work around while you design your kitchen. Accurately mark where your plumbing and electrical supplies are located. You can move plumbing and electrical supply points, but this involves more time and money, and it is always easier to accommodate existing service supplies into your design, if practical.

Kitchen Design - The placement of your work triangle should be the next step in designing your kitchen layout. The sink, cooking surface, and refrigerator need to be situated within easy reach of each other to allow your kitchen to work smoothly. Here, again is where an experienced kitchen designer can be a valuable partner in the design of your kitchen. They have the experience to know what will and what will not work efficiently, and could keep you from ending up with a kitchen which does not meet your needs. A good kitchen designer will know if your kitchen would work better with an island, or maybe a peninsula, or a movable cart or nothing at all. These are design items that need to be addressed early in the process, and will make the whole design process successful.

Kitchen Design - The next step is to layout your kitchen cabinets. Standard cabinets come in widths with 3" increments, so you can use them in almost any kitchen layout. Here is another area where an experienced kitchen designer can save you lots of time and frustration. Once the basic kitchen layout is complete, the designer can assist you in including the details that really make a kitchen a showpiece. How about a plate rail or open end shelves for added appeal? Is a wine rack appropriate in your kitchen design? It is the little details, which you may not have even thought about, that make any kitchen really special.

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Kitchen Design - When planning a kitchen remodeling project, the best thing you can do for your sanity is to start planning your new kitchen design online. There are so many steps and factors to consider- enough to make you break into a cold sweat when faced with the task of designing or remodeling a kitchen. But there are many guides, templates, and inspirational kitchen photos online to help you. So why not take the reins and start planning your kitchen design online?

Kitchen Design - Take control of the kitchen remodeling project. With many online tools and options, designing your kitchen online has never been easier. You can find professional help, read up on kitchen plans and advice, and do all your kitchen planning online first. You can create a kitchen design online to rival some of the showrooms in the stores.

Kitchen Design - Yes, you can be a kitchen designer! Well, maybe not a licensed contracted professional, but a designer nonetheless. Yes, even you who claim not to be able to match your socks much less match the cabinets- you can design your kitchen online. And not just a ball and stick drawing, but one with surprising professional clarity, thanks to the many kitchen design programs available.

Kitchen Design - Designing a kitchen takes many steps, but you can keep organized by doing it all online. In the real world, you might run into trouble deciding on a countertop first and then realizing your options for cabinets are limited for that countertop. But if you were to design online, swapping the countertops could not be easier than a couple clicks of a mouse button. Then if you decide you don't like it, you can switch back just as easily.

Kitchen Design - Online programs help take you through all the steps of kitchen design online, even those you may have forgotten. You might have an eye out for new cabinets but you forgot to take into account ceiling height. No worries, the program factors that in for you. Or you tried to add the sink next to the fridge but did not realize that opening the fridge doors would block access to the sink.

Kitchen Design - No worries, online programs even let you rotate your plans so you see your kitchen from 360 degrees. You'll notice instantly that the island that looks so perfect in the corner is actually blocking the path from the sink to the stove. In fact, online planning will take into account the "work triangle" that ensures almost always the most optimized kitchen floor plan. You won't make the mistake of locating the sink far from the stove again.

Kitchen Design - Learn all the right kitchen jargon online and you'll be talking like a kitchen designer in no time. Play with color and texture combinations in your kitchen design online to your heart's content. Online kitchen design programs let you do so with ease. They might have templates of coordinating color schemes so you don't have to worry about choosing clashing colors.

Kitchen Design - Another important part about doing your kitchen design online is the creative freedom. If you want to explore all flooring options in the kitchen, you can. If you want to change the number or arrangement of cabinets, you can. If you wanted to add wallpaper or backsplash, you can. It is so easy to visualize a design online.

Kitchen Design - Be the designer you never thought you could be. All cliches aside, a novice could learn to design a kitchen online. You can find organizational guides, checklists, and even software that will walk you through all steps of a kitchen remodel or design. Start planning your next kitchen design online and you will be one step closer to completing your remodeling project.

Kitchen Design - Why go for timeless kitchen design ideas instead of something more trendy, and up to date? Well a kitchen is expensive to renovate. If you are planning to sell, you want a kitchen that will appeal to a broad range of people, and won't date. Very few people may share your enthusiasm for a purple and orange kitchen, and you don't want to put potential buyers off. No one wants to invest a fortune into redoing a recently renovated custom kitchen, so don't choose a kitchen design which may be trendy this season, but will date very quickly, and may become very difficult to integrate into the rest of your home if you decide to redecorate. By using Timeless Design Ideas, you avoid these common pitfalls, and ensure that your custom kitchen will be a beautiful complement to your home for years to come.

Kitchen Design - Custom kitchens have many advantages - you can express yourself, and design a room that reflects your personality, and your family's lifestyle. Many families virtually live in their kitchens - it's not only an area where you prepare food, many people eat meals, especially breakfast there. Although in Kitchen Design - Timeless design ideas implies a kitchen that won't date, this doesn't mean old-fashioned - modern innovation can only add to your kitchen design. Look at how your family uses your kitchen as a starting point when designing your ideal custom kitchen. You can use islands as dining counters, wall-mount a television so you can watch morning shows as you prepare and eat breakfast. There are so many innovations that make a kitchen a room you want to spend time in, and clever use of modern ideas and technology combined with timeless design ideas will give you a kitchen with lasting appeal.

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Kitchen Design - Today's modern kitchen serves as a family hub of household activity and entertaining. They are now well lit, open places. The kitchen's size and design should address your family's lifestyle and how your kitchen is used for cooking, eating and entertaining. Since the kitchen is called on to fill more roles than any other room in the house they have had to increase in size as well. Today's kitchen design challenge is in creating an open-faced kitchen - one that's part of a dining area, family room or so-called great room.

Kitchen Design - Both the function and style of the modern kitchen play important roles when tackling a kitchen design or renovation project.

Kitchen Design - If you're remodeling an existing kitchen or planning a kitchen addition or a new home, here is some current kitchen design trends to keep in mind.

Kitchen Design - One of the more recent trends in modern kitchen design ideas is to make the kitchen part of a 'great room', that is to combine the kitchen with an adjacent family room. To create the great room the wall separating the kitchen and family room or dining room is completely removed creating a more open space centered by a spacious kitchen island or peninsula.

Kitchen Design - There are some definite advantages to expanding the kitchen. You can open up the space and in so doing you make both the kitchen and the other room look and feel more specious. Also since kitchen cabinetry, countertops and appliances are beautiful pieces of furniture in their own right you can now show off your new kitchen. Your remodeling costs won't really increase all that much by opening up the kitchen other than the cost of extra cabinetry. Anyway the added cost that would be put into this type of kitchen design would be more that offset by the increase in the value of your home.

Kitchen Design - Furniture-style cabinetry will continue to be a popular trend in kitchen design at least according to the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA). These furniture-style cabinets are considered to be especially popular in the development of kitchen islands. Features that give cabinets a furniture-like appearance are legs or bun feet, corbals onlays and mouldings. Cabinet doors are made with solid hardwoods, the most popular being maple and cherry. As for finishes light and medium finishes continue to be popular, although kitchen designers and trendwatchers also see a growing interest in deep, rich browns as influenced by the furniture industry to some extent and to create a more formal look for the kitchen.

Kitchen Design - Cabinet manufacturers and kitchen designers are starting to design more individual and freestanding pieces of furniture instead of the usual built-in cabinetry for expanded 'great room' kitchens. This is known as the 'unfited' kitchen design first popularized by English designers and cabinetmakers. This also leads to another trend of incorporating features from heirloom quality furniture such as glazed, distressed and antique finishes.

Kitchen Design - Undermounted sinks in both cast iron and stainless steel are among recent changes in kitchen design because homeowners like the clean smooth look which blends with modern designs. The advantages of an undermounted sink are that it is functional, beautiful and very easy to install. The bowl is attached underneath a countertop. No sink rim shows above the countertop and there is no lip to collect water and catches dirt and crumbs. Instead debris is easily swept into the sink so that the counter can be cleaned faster.

Kitchen Design - Custom kitchen design requires development of many details in several areas to be able to create the plans for your custom kitchen. Being able to create a custom kitchen design can be a very challenging task. It is important to satisfy the needs for style of the kitchen, as well as cooking, dining, socializing and your budget. This can be a very tall order when it comes to being able to design a beautiful kitchen where many hours are spent creating delicious meals, that can combine aesthetic beauty and function, and that will inspire compliments and serve as the focal point of your home.

Kitchen Design - Renovating a kitchen usually starts with a design for convenience, organization and functionality.

Kitchen Design - Many people want to change the look of their kitchen by developing great kitchen decorating ideas and also find ways to create a new feel for their kitchens and provide an atmosphere that they can be comfortable in and create a kitchen in an efficient and organized way.

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