How to paint kitchen cabinets.

By on March 16th, 2008

How do I make my tan colored kitchen drawers and cabinets appear a darker wood color. Do I paint these or use a glaze spray or something. As you can see I’am clueless.

Stainless, white or black appliances.

By on March 14th, 2008

My kitchen has fairly simple white cabinets and the countertops are mostly black with flecks of gray and white. The floor is gray, and the in-counter stove, combo recalculating fan/microwave, and double ovens are all black. All this stuff was added about two years ago when the previous owners remodeled, but they reused their old fridge and dishwasher, which are on the wall opposite the stove.

The fridge is almond colored and needs to be replaced within a year. The dishwasher is white and while it works, but if we buy a fridge that isn’t, it’s going to stick out.

I can buy a white fridge and have half my appliances in black and half in white.
I can buy a black fridge and dishwasher which will match the other appliances.
I can buy a stainless (or stainless looking) fridge and dishwasher and make sure they have black trim to kind of coordinate with the other appliances.

Opinions.

Tags: remodeling, Kitchen Appliance Trends, Kitchen Remodeling Advice, kitchen remodeling ideas, kitchen planning, kitchen backsplashes

My live-in bf and I have been fighting about “stupid” stuff.

By on March 3rd, 2008

He has a problem with my stuff being around the house. Like if my book is out of place on the coffee table.or my hair straightener is left out to cool. he admits he is “nit picking me”. I packed up a lot of my “nothing” things like candles and stuff on my night stand. I now keep my blow dryer/hair straightener and allll my make up things in my large sephora box in the closet. I packed up my set of dishes so there is less clutter in the kitchen cabinets. what else can I do. He is mad that I did this but I want to avoid the stupid fights about my stuff being around the house. Is this a good way to live. What do I do.
No way he is not getting rid of any of his stuff. I moved into his place.therefore I accept all his stuff bc they were here first. I even left my dog at my parents He thinks that I mess up the house with my “clutter”. books etc. if the book is out i am messy. if the straightener is out . I am messy. He thinks I am a messy person when all i do is clean.
He admits that he nit picks me. and just today told me he couldnt live like this anymore. I feel like a boader living out of the closet and NOTHING of MINE is out in this house at all. But I dont think there is a compromise. If my stuff is around its clutter to him and this is the only way to avoid a fight. am I being selfish that I think I am being cheated out on living normally here.
he is 31. never married. never lived with anyone before.

Tags: remake kitchen, Home Floor Plans, kitchen backsplashes, kitchen designer, kitchen new design, long island kitchens

Ive been having problems with my landlord and I need some advice about what to do.

By on March 1st, 2008

I live in a 6 story building in Brooklyn Newyork. Recently, Ive been calling the landlords office about a leak that has been in my kitchen. It had destoyed my cabinets and a few of my things in the cabinet. In a continous effort, I was ignored. I finally called 311, or the City of Newyork to have them inspect the safety of the cabinets. They finally came and noticed many other violations in my Apt. They changed my cabinets, but they only changed two. I requested to have the 3rd one put in and I was told that it wasnt part of the “deal”. I pay my rent on time and Im not getting assistnace from the govt. Anyway, the landlord sends a letter to my house with the Supt. of the building that stated that I would have to pay a $4.00 increase in my rent for as long as I live there to cover the cabinet. I refused to sign this request. Is this legal for a landlord to deny me what I need for my apt. Can he increase my rent so I can get one cabinet in my kitchen. Im very upset. What can I do.

Tags: Kitchen Remodeling Advice, cabinetry, long island kitchens, Kitchen Design Articles, long island kitchen designer, kitchen design

Read Kitchen Cabinet Reviews Before Buying Reading some

By admin on December 28th, 2007

Read Kitchen Cabinet Reviews Before Buying

Reading some customer submitted kitchen cabinet reviews can be a great way to save time, effort and potentially tons of frustration because you can find out about systemic problems with a prospective brand or model of kitchen cabinets before you spend all the money and invest all the time installing the cabinets.

So where does one go to read about other peoples’ experiences with different kitchen cabinet products? There are simply tons of different types of consumer oriented services and websites out there where you can peruse various customer ratings and reviews of all kinds of products and services.

For the most part, there are two camps when it comes to consumer reviews websites; free and premium services. Most free consumer review websites will not have very comprehensive information and mostly likely will only cover products from a limited number of retailers.

If you don’t need to know about detailed performance information, then one of these free services may be all that you need to find out if there are any known problems with a particular line of kitchen cabinets. Another advantage is that the free services generally only feature retailers and manufacturers that are very well known and reputable.

For larger, more complex purchases for things like electronics and the like, you will probably want to utilize one of the premium consumer review services in order to get more accurate and detailed information on product specifications as well as maintenance, warranty and performance issues that testers and previous customers have experienced.

If you are the type of person that appreciates comprehensive information you’ll certainly enjoy using a service like http://www.consumerreports.org . You can find out quite a bit about products without paying for the service, and then if you want to know even more, they have different plans from which to choose. Then you’re granted access to all the little tidbits about products.

For the free customer review type of service, take a look at some of the more popular shopping related review sites like NexTag. You can go to http://www.nextag.com/kitchen-corner-cabinets/search-html to find out about kitchen cabinet products and read various kitchen cabinet reviews from customers.

If you’d like more guidance as to choosing the type of kitchen cabinets that you’d like in your new kitchen design, perhaps you’d like to use a service like the Sear’s sponsored kitchen cabinet service found at http://www.thehomeproducts.com .

Take the time to research the various options when it comes to the types of materials and styles that are available. There are so many different models and styles from which to choose that you’re only shorting yourself if you don’t take the time to get a good sampling of all that’s out there. The internet is the perfect tool for being able to see lots of different kitchen cabinets without having to leave your home.

Take your time and once you’ve found just the style of kitchen cabinets that you want, then it’s time to find the best price for the cabinets you want. It’s worth checking out the deals on popular auction websites, such as eBay. Many times these sellers are able to offer the best prices. Just watch for shipping fees and only purchase fro a highly rated seller, and you’ll be just fine -and save a lot of money to boot.

Tags: kitchen islands, Home Floor Plans, remake kitchen, kitchen remodeling ideas, kitchen backsplashes

Differeent Types of Kitchen Cabinet Glass With all

By admin on December 25th, 2007

Differeent Types of Kitchen Cabinet Glass

With all of the different types of cabinet doors there are to choose from, it took me a while to decide on which doors I wanted to incorporate into my newly renovated kitchen. I wanted something vibrant and really one of a kind. I finally decided that some decorative kitchen cabinet glass doors were just the thing to complete the snazzy new kitchen.

I was a little hesitant about choosing glass cabinet doors. I mean who wants to see all of their cups and clutter with the doors closed. Isn’t that what cabinet doors are for after all? But once I saw all the lovely designs and also how not all glass cabinet doors are entirely see through, the decision toward glass doors was finalized.

First, some beautiful carved red wood kitchen cabinet glass doors caught my eye. The detail, color and textures were so fascinating, yet I had to force myself to see them in my kitchen and though they and my kitchen each look great, it was clear that they would not go together well.

Next, I found a crisp and vibrant set of kitchen cabinet glass doors that incorporated a nice stained glass type of design. I really liked the purple, gold and green jewel tones, but these didn’t match my other kitchen dיcor as much as I’d been hoping for so I moved on.

Finally, after going through dozens and dozens of kitchen glass cabinet glass doors at http://www.cabinetglass.com I found just the set of doors. These had yellow, red and green, the primary colors of other parts of my kitchen. I love the flowing lines and other motion details.

Also, the kitchen cabinet doors that I decided on had nice thick black beveling embellishments and the colors are so vibrant. So I ordered them and haven’t’ looked back since. They arrived without incident and were very well packed. They came with all of the necessary hardware to make installation a breeze.

It only took a few hours to unwrap, hang and secure all of the kitchen cabinet glass doors. I have to admit, somewhere in the middle of the purchasing I started wondering if I really needed to spend the money for fancy kitchen cabinet doors, but let me tell you, the first glimpse of the new doors in place was proof of the decision having been a worthwhile one.

The glass kitchen cabinet doors made my kitchen come to life with reflected colors and light. The rest of the kitchen’s new countertops, cabinets and flooring were spectacular, but the kitchen cabinet glass really tied the whole thing together and completed the new creation.

I’m so happy that I decided to spend the money on new glass kitchen cabinet doors. If there was any one purchase that really added to the total ambience of the kitchen, the decorative glass kitchen cabinet doors are easily the winner.

Tags: appliances, long island kitchens, kitchen planning, Home Floor Plans, kitchen sinks

DIY Kitchen Cabinets: Simple or Difficult - You

By admin on December 16th, 2007

DIY Kitchen Cabinets: Simple or Difficult - You Decide

Nobody likes to spend a fortune on kitchen cabinets. However, unless you have connections, you will probably purchase kitchen cabinets that make you feel used and abused. There is always another option, right? Of course there is another options. You can do-it-yourself - better known as DIY. This is an option for the crafting professionals that enjoy a challenge. I love to craft, but DIY kitchen cabinets is a bit out of my league. You will do a lot better with all of your DIY projects if you know and accept your true limitations.

The first step to any DIY kitchen cabinets is to measure. You have got to know what you have to work with. An artist always knows his or her canvas. Your kitchen is your canvas: you need to know the true limitations of your canvas. This is a two-person job and doesn’t take a lot of hard work, but the task can be tedious and boring. You just need t o make an exact copy of your kitchen on a piece of paper and then copy down exact measurements down to the millimeter. This will provide you with an accurate replica for your kitchen, which will come in handy later.

Now that you have an exact duplicate of your kitchen on paper, you get to search for patterns and/or plans. This is a great job for the Internet! Many home improvement sites will actually offer free programs that let you build that perfect kitchen cabinet area. You add measurements, then you draw and plan away. When you are done, you just have to print out or copy the instructions as they are given to you. I like this method because you can get a perfect shopping list of materials needed. In addition, sometimes you can add your zip code and get an estimated final cost.

Of course, you can find other types of patterns or plans via the Internet. Sometimes, you will get a basic design and the be expected to create and measure on your own. This is why I appreciate the programs so much more. You get simplistic ease and it is usually free. I like that I get a shopping list! This is handy.

Now that you have all of that, you will need to carefully consider the setup of your power tools and hardware. Of course, many homes have an abundance of power tools suited for any occasion. However, not all homes are so blessed (just ask my husband). Now that you have a list of what you need, you probably have a good idea of the tools that you need - or in some cases want. You can buy what is needed, but I suggest you have everything bought before you start. There is nothing as frustrating as getting halfway done with a chore only to find you are under equipped to finish the task.

Now it is time to get the material and the hardware to finish your DIY kitchen cabinets. These can be purchased at almost any home improvement shop or hardware store. You may want to shop around for the best prices, but the prices will only vary a slight degree. You should have a general idea of what is needed. Now you get to choose materials needed. Of course, the prices are going to vary depending on the material. Of course, you need to realize that while solid wood for your kitchen cabinets may sound perfect, those would be extremely heavy and most home do not have the support in the walls necessary to support solid wood.

You should also realize that there are certain places that a cheaper material may be acceptable. If you have problems purchasing any of the hardware or material, an associate should be willing to assist you and help is always a great thing to have. They can lead you in the right direction if you get befuddled or lost.

You have your DIY kitchen cabinets ready to be made - almost. You get the material to your home and this is usually done by the retailer you purchased the material from. The charge is usually minimal or better yet free. Retailers love your business. When you make big purchases, you are making that retailer a lot of money. Free deliver is a way of saying thank you.

You should make sure that you have removed the old cabinets thoroughly. This usually doesn’t take a long time, but it is always nice to try to save the old cabinets. A lot of charities can put those old kitchen cabinets to good use. Whatever you do with those old kitchen cabinets, make sure you clean behind them thoroughly. Old particles and dust can interfere with the installation of the new DIY kitchen cabinets.

If you have done this before, DIY kitchen cabinets will not take a lot of time. However, the amount of time you spend depends a lot on your work ethic. Just get busy and stick with it and soon your DIY kitchen cabinets will be completed and ready for installation. Of course, installing these beauties will be a chore all in itself. Having a partner to help you with the whole project will be beneficial to you and your project.

Since you have completed those DIY kitchen cabinets, you will notice that the beauty it adds to the kitchen is seen not only by the beauty of the cabinet. The true beauty is that you created those with your own two hands. You will always have a prideful feeling when you experience the cabinet over the years. Perhaps there is nothing more rewarding.

Tags: kitchen designer, kitchen ideas, decorating, certified kitchen designer, kitchen redesign

Which Bosch Dishwasher Is For You? Bosch is

By admin on December 7th, 2007

Which Bosch Dishwasher Is For You?

Bosch is a name you can trust and it’s a great choice if you want a dishwasher that’s going to get your dishes extremely clean. So which Bosch dishwasher is for you?

Bosch is engineered to be energy smart, consume less water, protect your delicate crystal and glassware, and clean up the nastiest messes.

1. Cleartouch - means that all the cycles are easily available and well marked so that there is never any confusion during operation. 2. Optidry - provides multiple sensors that automatically adjust the wash cycle and water temperature so that there is never any spotting.

3. Infolight - when the dishwasher is running this light beams onto the floor to let you know. Modern dishwashers are so quiet that an indicator is needed. 4. Award Winner - 7 times in a row Bosch has won the award for the top dishwasher of the year.

Not sure which Bosch dishwasher to buy? Here are just a few that are worth checking out.

SHX57C05UC Stainless Steel Built-in Dishwasher

This is one very quiet dishwasher and the flexible loading makes it very attractive. It’s built to last and it speaks quality from top to bottom. The biggest complaint is it is so darn quiet you can’t tell that it’s running. Thank goodness for the little red light.

SHE44C07UC Built-in Dishwasher Keeping with the Bosch tradition this is another one that’s extremely quiet. It loads efficiently and it’s got plenty of room. In fact it is recommended by Consumer Reports. One of the best buys around.

SHU33A06UC Built-in Dishwasher

This one has the wonderful stainless steel interior. The cleaning is flawless and it would be hard to beat with any other dishwasher. There is no need to pre soak anymore. Yes this ones a little pricey but worth every dime. It’s probably the last dishwasher you’ll buy.

SHE66C06UC Dishwasher This quiet uncluttered panel makes this an easy to operate dishwasher. It’s biggest drawback is the small silverware holder but overall you can load it up great and get the best wash in the house.

The beauty of Bosch is you know that the innovative designs just keep on flowing so that you can be comfortable in knowing that the purchase you made will have been for the absolute best that was available at the time.

If you spend some time shopping online you’ll be pleased to discover there are some great sites offering Bosch dishwashers at deep discounts. In fact discounts as deep as 75%. Wondering why? Well less overhead and let’s face it a more competitive environment. This is great news for you the consumer!

So the only question that remains unanswered is which Bosch dishwasher will you be bringing home?

Tags: kitchen backsplashes, cabinets, kitchen interior, kitchen remodeling, kitchen design

ASTM F1704 In 1990, AGA Laboratories was funded

By admin on November 19th, 2007

ASTM F1704

In 1990, AGA Laboratories was funded by the Gas
Research Institute to construct a state-of-the-art
kitchen ventilation laboratory and research the
interaction between cooking appliances, kitchen
ventilation hoods, and the kitchen environment.
In early 1993, the original Energy Balance Protocol
was developed to explain the interaction between the
heat loads in the kitchen. Mathematically, the energy
consumed by the cooking appliance can only go three
places:
to the food being cooked
out of the exhaust duct
into the kitchen as heat load
In late 1993, this was introduced as a draft standard to
be adopted by ASTM and was called the Energy
Balance Protocol. The original protocol was developed
to only examine the energy interactions in the kitchen
with the goal of determining how much heat was
released into the kitchen from cooking under a variety
of conditions. This standard was adopted by ASTM as
F1704.

Around 1995, the standard adopted new methods of
determining the capture and containment using a
variety of visualisation techniques including visual
observation, neutrally buoyant bubbles, smoke, lasers,
and Schlieren thermal imaging (discussed in more
detail later in this section).
The test set up includes a hood system operating over
a given appliance. Several thermocouple trees are
placed from 1.8 m to 2.5 m. in the front of the hood
system and are used to measure the heat gain to the
kitchen space. This enables researchers to determine
the temperature of room air being extracted into the
hood.
In theory, when the hood is providing sufficient
capture and containment, all of the convective plume
from the appliance is exhausted by the hood while the
remaining radiant load from the appliance is heating
up the hood, kitchen walls, floors, ceiling, etc. that are
eventually seen as heat in the kitchen.

During the 1950 s Schlieren thermal imaging was used by AGA
Laboratories to evaluate gas combustion with several
different burner technologies. NASA has also made
significant use of Schlieren thermal imaging as a means
of evaluating shockwaves for aircraft, the space shuttle,
and jet flows. In the 1990 s Penn State University
began using Schlieren visualisation techniques to
evaluate heat flow from computers, lights, and people
in typical home or office environments. In 1998 the
kitchen ventilation lab in Chicago purchased the first
Schlieren system to be used in the kitchen ventilation
industry. In 1999, the Halton Company became the first
ventilation manufacturer globally to utilise a Schlieren
thermal Imaging system for use in their research and
development efforts.
By using the thermal imaging system we can visualise
all the convective heat coming off an appliance and
determine whether the hood system has sufficient
capture and containment. In addition to verifying
capture and containment levels, the impact of various
supply air and air distribution measures can be
incorporated to determine the effectiveness of each.
By using this technology a more complete
understanding of the interaction between different
components in the kitchen (e.g., appliances, hoods,
make-up air, supply diffusers, etc.) is being gained.

Productivity Labour shortages are the top challenge that

By admin on November 16th, 2007

Productivity

Labour shortages are the top challenge that
commercial restaurants face today. The average age of
a restaurant worker is between 16 and 24 years. In a
recent survey conducted by the National Restaurant
Association in USA, over 52% of respondents said
that finding qualified motivated labour was their main
concern.
Room air temperature affects a person s capacity to
work. Comfortable thermal conditions decrease the
number of accidents occurring in the work place.
When the indoor temperature is too high (over 28 C
in commercial kitchens) the productivity and general
comfort diminish rapidly.
The average restaurant spends about $2,000 yearly on
salaries in the USA, wages and benefits per seat.