Kitchen Remodeling - A Checklist for Your Kitchen Remodeling Project

Kitchen remodeling takes both time and money. A major remodel with top-of-the-line appliances and cabinets can easily run more than $100,000. As for time, allow at least four months for a remodeling job or, more realistically, six to eight months. It takes about two months for custom cabinet orders, more time for planning, order processing, shipping, demolition, installation, moving back into your kitchen and re-organization.

While it's tempting to get started as quickly as possible once you decide to remodel, it's better to catch your breath, do your homework and think through your plans because you don't have the time or money to make mistakes.

Start with the basics. Consider what the primary uses of the kitchen will be then collect ideas for enhancing your project. Put some initial thought into this prior to meeting with a contractor. Following is a checklist of items to consider when planning your kitchen remodel.

Determine the primary uses of your kitchen:

• cooking
• food storage
• dining
• equipment / utensil storage
• specialized food preparation areas
• waste disposal
• laundry
• secondary media center
• message station
• mini-office
• hobby / craft center
• entertaining
• mudroom
• traffic hub

Enhance your kitchen remodeling project:

• Brainstorm with household members
• Find ideas in model homes, showrooms, home shows, magazines, books and catalogs
• Appliances - ovens, stoves, cook tops, refrigerators, dishwashers, range, microwaves, hoods, and exhaust fans
• Cabinets - wood cabinets in oak, maple, cherry, hickory, pine, birch, metal, plastic, cabinet re-facing, kitchen storage items and kitchen islands
• Countertops - stone, marble, quartz, granite, solid surface, wood, metal and Formica
• Flooring - hardwood flooring, cork, bamboo, laminate, linoleum flooring, flooring installation, repair and refinishing floors
• Lighting - light controls, chandeliers, fixtures, lamps, fluorescent lights, recessed and spot lighting
• Sinks and Fixtures - kitchen faucets, stainless steel, brass, plastic and glass handles
• Windows - skylight windows, double hung and single hung windows, casement and garden windows for growing herbs and plants
• Select a design professional and/or contractor that meets your needs

The more details you can determine prior to your kitchen remodeling project the better. It will make your remodeling project more efficient and, thus, less expensive.

A Love Affair With Sparkles! The Chromatic Mosaic Tiles Collection

I've always loved sparkly things! Show me anything with glitter or sequins in it, on it - or even near it! - and I'm absolutely sold! Any excuse to add some sort of sparkle in my home and I'm first in line to check it out... I'm also constantly on the lookout for inspiration and new ideas for home interiors. So I got the best of both worlds when I came across the Chromatic Mosaic Tiles collection.

The bubbling chrome used in these Chromatic mosaic tiles is sealed in smooth, clear or coloured glass. It has a wonderful jewel-like quality and adds sparkle to any room in which these mosaics are placed. At any time of the day, you will see something different in these glass tiles, as the changing light highlights different tones and creates new reflections around the room. They will create a sense of light, brightening up any area and create a beautiful focal point in your kitchen or bathroom.

They look gorgeous in large blocks where you can really see all the different colours within the glass. If you're on a tighter budget or prefer a more subtle approach, they also look very effective as a simple border. If you're feeling particularly creative, why not take them from their webbed backing and create your own custom mosaic effect? You could try blending from one shade to another, have contrasting bands of colour going across the wall or create your own wavy shaped mosaic design. Why not try this idea: take the dark blue shades of Chromatic Azurite and create your own custom blend up to the more aqua and green tones of Chromatic Lagoon. I think it would look absolutely stunning in a shower or bath area!

My favourite in this Chromatic mosaics collection is Chromatic Purple Haze as it incorporates another love of mine - purple! Though equally delicious are the blues and greens of Chromatic Lagoon and the blues and purples of Chromatic Azurite; so evocative of the sparkles on the sun-drenched Mediterranean sea on a beautiful summer day!

With this glass mosaic tile range, you really do have everything. Including:

• a choice of beautiful, deep and rich colours
• glittery, sparkly, light-reflecting radiance
• a custom style effect which will never rub off or fade
• modern styling for your kitchen or bathroom

Be the envy of your neighbours and friends by choosing these glass mosaic tiles for your next home decorating project! Say "goodbye" to boring, flat-looking ceramic tiles and say "hello" to a wonderful, glittery, sparkling, depth of colour! Don't just take my word for how beautiful these mosaic tiles are. View this Chromatic Mosaic Tiles Gallery and see for yourself!

Amerock Kitchen Hardware

Amerock handles and knobs are some of the best hardware and most reasonably priced in the kitchen industry, especially if you choose the styles that are protected by Amerock's Guardian Lifetime Finish.

I have Amerock hardware throughout my home. As a testimonial, those handles and knobs have been in my home for over 8 years and not one is tarnished. Again, make sure to get handles or knobs with Amerock's Guardian Lifetime Finish guarantee. It's easy to keep the handles and knobs clean too. I just wash with warm water and a mild soap (like Dawn Dishwashing Liquid). The Dawn helps cut through the grease that's going to accumulate on your kitchen hardware too.

Top 10 Reasons to Choose Amerock Kitchen Hardware:

• Durability
• Affordability
• Their handles and knobs just feel good to grip and have ample room for fingers.
• They have literally thousands of handles and styles, plus dozens of finishes to choose from.
• They have several appliance pulls to choose from if you need them.
• Again, the Guardian Lifetime Finish - is guaranteed never to tarnish. Look for these handles if you plan on staying in your home a while and don't want to be replacing handles do to tarnishing.
• All Amerock kitchen hardware is guaranteed to be free of defects.
• They come with 8/32" x 1" screws for installation.
• A few of their most popular styles of kitchen knobs have been developed into passage and privacy door knobs and levers for your home (Amerock Ensembles Collection).
• Finally, the company has been around since 1929 and are part of the Newell Rubbermaid Company. They've been around a long time, and if you need to match handles and knobs that you get today with something you'll purchase or build in the future, they'll most likely have the same handle or knob, or a good match.

Amerock kitchen hardware has "lines". Allison is their cheapest hardware, but it's also not their best. You can find handles for a couple of bucks on up. They do have some pricey "lines" that can cost you $20 plus dollars per handle, but most of their hardware is reasonable.

How to Easily Pick out Handles or Knobs.

First, you should select a finish that you'd like to go with. For example, polished brass or oil rubbed bronze. Make sure it's something that will fit your decor.

Next, choose a style or design, such as contemporary, casual, European, etc.

Then, you need to decide what size meets your needs. Most handles have 3" centers (from mid-hole to mid-hole). If you are replacing hardware, you will need to know what size you have now. You can use backplates to coverup holes if you need to, as well as use knobs in handle holes (i.e. have two knobs 2 3/4" apart if you can't find any 2 3/4" handles that you like).

Finally, choose what you like. What looks great to you and what feels right are what you should get. If you don't, you'll end up replacing your hardware and spending up to several hundred dollars and a lot time again!

You can purchase Amerock kitchen hardware from several sources online, like The Woodworkers Depot, or from your local hardware or home center.

Green House: Compost Collection Starts at Home

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency states that over eight percent of the waste generated per person per day could be recovered for composting. In addition, over twelve percent of the municipal solid waste in the United States is comprised of food scraps. This adds up to nearly 32 million tons per year. By starting at home, we can all do our part to collect compostable materials and help divert waste from our landfills.

In order for any collection program to be successful, it has to be simple. If it is easy to collect food scraps, then it is more likely to be embraced by each and every member of your family. There are a few easy steps which can help ensure your house is doing its part to make a difference.

Start by educating the members of your household. Let them know that by collecting food scraps separately from your trash, everyone is doing their part to help the environment and change the world. It can be a powerful message.

Be sure to use the correct compost collection bins. Depending upon the size of your family, you may be able to use a smaller organic collection bin. For larger households, a larger kitchen collection container can be used. Many sizes are available. Be sure to choose the one that is right for you. In addition, you can use a kitchen compost bin that has a vented lid (often available with charcoal filters) to help ensure a steady air flow for the bin but also to reduce any unwanted odors.

Be sure to place your kitchen compost bin somewhere central and somewhere that everyone will use it. Placing it under the kitchen sink is a good idea as this is usually a very central location in the kitchen and allows for plates and dishes to be rinsed immediately after food scraps are scraped into the organics bin.

Choosing a durable collection container is always a good idea. Due to the composition of food scraps, the bin could get heavy at times and the last thing you'll want to deal with is a broken handle causing a spill. Also, the bin should be easy to clean (a bin that is dishwasher safe is a good idea).

Transferring the food scraps from your kitchen collector bin into a larger container is going to be important as well. Placing an organics collection cart in the garage is a good start. By making sure the kitchen container is emptied on a regular basis into the cart, you'll go a long way to helping reduce odors and ensuring your kitchen bin is always ready to collect more items.

If your municipality does not offer curbside collection of organics materials, you can always look at starting composting in your backyard. The food scraps you collect will not only stay out of the landfill, they will go a long way toward providing your gardens with the very best organic material to ensure they flourish.

By taking the correct steps, you can go a long way toward beginning a compost collection program in your very own home. It's easier than you think and will help truly make a difference in the world.

Things to Know About Maple Kitchen Cabinets

The cabinetry has been dubbed the building blocks of kitchens not only for their great contribution to the overall look of the interior but also for the organization they lend the area for more functionality and efficiency. When it comes to buying the best cabinet collection, the wide variety of selection can pose as a great challenge. A household name in furniture and cabinetry is maple, and maple kitchen cabinets are a common sight in many kitchens. So if you are looking to buy a set for your remodeling project, this article tells you why maple cabinets are an excellent choice.

Aesthetics

What draws many homeowners to choosing maple kitchen cabinets is the intrinsic character of the wood that features elegant fine grains. This creates a coordinated look to all units and a smooth to touch surface. Because of the tight grains, this type of hardwood will look fabulous when painted. When finishes in its natural color, you can get a light to medium natural tone that helps achieve a sunny welcoming feel in the heart of homes. And because the wood material stains very well, you can also find luxurious dark choices including mahogany, cherry, walnut and others.

Design Flexibility

Because maple kitchen cabinets come in a very wide array of finishes, you can choose the best complementing color for whatever color scheme you are working on in your remodeling project. You can choose to have your cabinetry custom-made or bought ready to assemble. Light weight, this hardwood is easy to work with and is a popular material for RTA cabinets in various styles to match with different kitchen designs. Some of the most popular collections include: Cherry Maple Glaze, Bronze Cherry, Chocolate Mahogany, Cinnamon Glaze, Coffee Caramel, Classic Rope, Espresso Shaker, Ginger Shaker, New Yorker, Randolph Walnut, Signature Black, Spice Maple and White Shaker.

Durability and Strength

The cabinetry that you buy should hold up for many years; this makes the level of durability and strength an important shopping factor to take note of. Maple kitchen cabinets are popular not only for their aesthetic benefits but also for the premium quality that they come in. This hardwood is particularly good at maintaining its beauty even through exposure to moisture, dirt and grime, and the always changing temperature levels. So even through the everyday use and abuse and no matter how busy your kitchen might be, your cabinet collection will grace the area with exquisite warmth for many practical years.

Cost

Because maple is widely grown in America, the supply for timber is adequate to make the price for custom cabinetry material as well as RTA maple kitchen cabinets minimal and affordable for buyers. Light weight, shipping would not cost as much and will be a whole lot easier especially if you buy ready to assemble units which are flat-packed. You can even take advantage of free shipping for a minimum order. So if you are particular about the budget, this hardwood material is a good option to give you the best value for your remodeling money.