kitchen
2. Install undercabinet plug molding. One option for a clutter-free backsplash is to install plug molding beneath the wall cabinets. 3. Mix outlet styles. I always ask clients if a toaster or a coffee maker will live on their counter. If so, I add a wall outlet behind that appliance since it will always be plugged in. Otherwise, the electrical cord will be visible as it dangles from the plug molding above. Remember to combine a mixture of outlets and plug molding into your design.
1. Refrigerator side panel. Most kitchen remodels incorporate the refrigerator into the design by adding side panels that match the cabinetry for a built-in look. Standard countertops overhang base cabinet doors by half an inch. Be sure the depth of the refrigerator panel is slightly greater than the depth of the counter. Otherwise, the counter will jut past the panel instead of converging with it. 2. Tall cabinets. In addition to increasing the depth of the refrigerator panel, also increase the depth of your tall cabinets as shown here. Consistency is the key to good design, therefore all counters should have the same reveal, or edge configuration.
Polished plaster There are many reasons to choose a polished plaster splashback, not least because it can be specified in almost any colour. ‘Texturally, it can range from highly polished and smooth to rough and weathered,’ says Charlie Borthwick of Cue & Co of London. ‘It also doesn’t have to be one flat colour; veining can be introduced to add depth and interest.’ Pros It’s easy to maintain and needs minimal care once installed – simply wipe it down. Cons Although polished plaster is fairly hard-wearing, accidental chips cannot be repaired. ‘If this is a concern, use your worktop material to create an upstand – a small skirting around the edge of the worktop – to help protect the plaster,’ suggests Charlie.
Shades of blue are a unifying motif in the kitchen’s eclectic design. Amanda used chalkboard paint on both the upper and lower standard cabinets that were there when the family moved in. The farmhouse-style sink and faucet as well as the butcher block countertops are from Ikea. To protect the Anthropologie wallpaper backsplash, Amanda applied three coats of matte Polycrylic over the top of it.
One long clerestory window....
Narrow windows located high in the wall are usually called clerestory windows. The principal reasons for shifting windows vertically in the wall like this are to take advantage of natural daylight while promoting privacy and prohibiting views out. Locating windows higher in the wall delivers more light farther into the space. The upper cabinetry becomes a light shelf, bouncing light even deeper into the space. An operable clerestory provides excellent ventilation capabilities, and without the need for supplemental lighting, the clerestory window is an energy-conscious choice as well.
This is another concrete counter, though the addition of glass aggregate gives it the appearance of terrazzo. Because all concrete counters are one-of-a-kind, adding different colored glass or stone to the mix while it's being made can be just the thing if there are specific colors you'd like to integrate into a design
Quartz composites are a newer and growing category in the countertop world. Composites are made from stone aggregate and polymers that compressed under high pressure. The resulting material is practically non-porous and just as strong as most natural stones. Since it's a manufactured product, it has consistent colors and patterns.
This is another concrete material made by a company in New York called IceStone. IceStone counters use a combination cement and recycled glass to make what is the one of the most sustainable surfaces on the market. IceStone looks very much like the terrazzo shown in this ideabook but the use of recycled glass gives it a sparkling liveliness all its own.
The counter shown here is made from Formica brand laminate, that unfairly maligned material. Formica brand laminate has been been a popular counter material for the hundred or so years since its invention for a very good reason. It's resilient, heat-resistant, easy to clean and a lot less expensive than many of the options available today. A lot of people dismiss it unfairly, but this designer suggests that it's worth exploring. It has some patterns and textures that are surprisingly beautiful.
31. Hang it all. It’s not only utensils, pans, spices and tea towels that can work with wall-hung storage. A lack of workspace is often the most noticeable thing in a small kitchen, so forget having fruit or vegetable bowls cluttering up your countertop. Instead, use wall-hung baskets. Think, too, about other ways of freeing up that work surface. Could the radio go on a shelf? Will the toaster fit inside a drawer when not in use?
Glass backsplash
MY IDEA: use BEADBOARD (to match ceiling of sunporch) as kickplate for bar chairs??? Maybe with copper or chalkboard on end where transition from the cherry cabinets occurs? Or could we use COPPER or maybe that ceramic brick or thin brick - to match the room divider?
Two drawers on top of the counter offer additional storage and, now, a platform for a microwave and toaster oven (not seen in photo). INTERESTING IDEA - drawers beneath a raised platform for microwave?
Opt for Xenon or LED lights for bright and warm yet accurate color rendering. Always make sure there is a diffuser or lens on the fixture itself to help evenly distribute the light and reduce any hot spots on the counter. As we age, we will require two to five times more light to perform the same tasks we did at a younger age.
Baskets are an interesting touch, softening the beam.
this kind of range hood could have the vent pipe enclosed by cabinetry - maximizes cabinet storage while still providing a good CFM flow/exhaust that vents more of the range surface than a microwave's fan.
Hood blends-in with cabinets. Vent exists before getting to ceiling.
8. Chopping block. Thanks to the miracle of hinges and clever design, this handy butcher-block surface pops up in a flash. THIS might be one of the things we'd attach to the stair wall, to pop up when needed on sturdy fold-down hinges.
Flooring. Opt for flooring that requires just damp mopping and that has no grout lines, such as Marmoleum, linoleum or sheet vinyl. Although hardwood is easy to clean with a dust mop or a damp mop, you must immediately wipe up any spills or splatters, so you'll find yourself wiping up more often.
Backsplash. Your backsplash material should also be low maintenance and easy to clean. Full-sheet materials like this back-painted glass eliminate grout lines. You can use quartz or any stone slab as a backsplash. Laminate is another large-sheet material you can use that is very low cost. All are easier to clean than mosaics of any kind.
Big cabinet drawers. Houzzers want to make the most of every square inch of storage space. Big drawers, especially those with dish racks and other inserts, maximize bottom cabinets' storage potential.
You can still mix countertop materials when you have a peninsula rather than and island. Here the butcher block top doubles as a prep area and snack counter. ROUND the EDGES of any shelves we add on stair-wall.
This looks like stone doesn't it? Well it's not. It's a new high-definition laminate from Formica. In person, this laminate has a glittering, prismatic effect that makes it look even more like natural stone than it does in this photo.
The first thing to consider is how much power your fan needs to have. A range hood's performance is measured in cubic feet per minute (CFM). The higher the CFM number, the more air the range hood can remove in one minute of operation. Your CFM needs depend on the size and the type of your range or range top, as well as the type and frequency of your cooking. For example, a large six-burner gas range requires more CFMs than a 30-inch-wide electric cooktop. The requirement for an electric stove is 300 to 450 CFMs, whereas a gas range will need about 600 to 1,200. This number is based on the amount of BTUs (British thermal units, a gas appliance's performance measurement) divided by 100.
How many you'll need: It's easy to go overboard and plan for way more recessed lights than you need. Consider several factors: which areas you want to illuminate, how much light floods the space already, how much visibility you need, the wattage of the bulbs you'll use and the height and square footage of your ceiling; there's no universal solution. One general rule of thumb is to place 4-inch lights 4 feet apart and 6-inch lights 6 feet apart. Generally, you'll want to mount them 12 to 18 inches in front of the area you want to illuminate. Consult an electrician for advice about your specific situation.
Undercabinet lighting. A simple valance on the underside of your cabinets will not properly hide the cord for lighting. Plan ahead and have your millworker build a false bottom to conceal the wires.
A slab backsplash is simply a backsplash made of a continuous material (or in cases like this one, a few large pieces with the occasional break for an appliance or a cabinet). The solid surface creates a different visual effect than, say, tile. When matched to the countertop, it creates an especially big, bold look.
Another trend is to use a short backsplash, often just a few inches high, to give the sense that the material is traveling up the wall while protecting the wall from dings and dents where it’s needed most. In fact, you may prefer this look for its more understated nature.
Using an engineered stone on one third to half of the wall above a countertop leaves room for a display of art, decorative plates or a stunning painting to give your kitchen a gallery-like feel that softens the functional feel.
(cheap, easy-clean way to do interesting kitchen back-splash that could add color and texture, depending on the wallpaper chosen) Last, take inspiration from this idea and get the look not with stone but with paper. A wallpaper backsplash creates that continuous custom look while tying the room to another space in your house (if you repeat the pattern in, say, your living room or dining nook). Just add a layer of glass on top to create that wipeable surface.
interesting light fixture and suspension beam
mixing counter top types -- consider using a blend of laminate and then more water resistant material around sink area
brick and wood combo
This style of cabinetry is the first thing that comes to mind when someone mentions Shaker style in the kitchen. The fronts are simply framed, and the clean lines could work with just about any style.
simple, natural look and feel; formica countertop wraps up the back; sink is under the countertop even though it's formica / laminate
countertops that are pleasingly chunky. They are constructed from wide boards of oak that are 1½ inches (40 millimeters) thick and have softly curved corners.
Dining bump-out to define space with two narrow openable sides and one big closed middle window
Giant whiteboard or magnetic board - perhaps in kitchen on stair wall as place we leave each other notes/keep shopping list, etc.? THIS IS JUST GLASS, WHICH WOULD WORK. MOUNT CLEAR GLASS/use Whiteboard MARKERS?
Pretty and warm effect with the wood.
simple wood cabinet lines (mixed with stainless...)
consider making some interior walls of warm-colored brick - maybe the one bordering the sunroom in dining area? or a partial/half wall with arches or beams to set off dining area? also could be used for woodstove backdrop
variety if interesting ideas/materials with solid but open effect. Combo of steel, wood, stone....
16.ACCOUNT FOR LID STORAGE> There are many ways to solve this problem, but my favorite is to create a divider in a pullout drawer, as shown in this photo.
Q