How to Design Your Dream Kitchen

1. Welcome and Introduction: Great. Hi, my name is Erica, and I want to warmly welcome you to my course on how to design your dream kitchen. There is no other space in our home that is arguably more important and more utilized then our kitchen, one simply a place to prepare meals. Today's kitchens are a hub of activity, especially with the popularity of open floor plans. The kitchen is of course, the place where we cook our meals, but it's nearly always the most popular gathering spot for families and guests. It's a place to have our morning coffee, eat our meals, and often a place for doing homework and paying bills. The kitchen really is the heart of a home. And it's no secret that remodeling the kitchen is one of the biggest and most expensive interior design projects that you can undertake with so many choices to make from layouts and cabinet tree to countertop and Florian selections. At best, it's incredibly time-consuming, and at worst, it can be confusing and overwhelming In almost nowhere. Well, a design mistake be more costly than in the kitchen. As a result, gain it right the first time is important to say the least. But what if you knew what the pros know? Wouldn't you feel more confident in your design choices? Wouldn't you feel more at ease with making decisions? That is where this course comes in. Over the next several hours, I am going to break down all of the main areas of kitchen design so that you feel confident navigating every step, whether on your own or with the help of a designer or design build firm. Because even if you work with a professional, knowing all of the choices that you have and what considerations are important will help to ensure that you end up with the kitchen of your dreams. That said, we will start by talking about realistic time and money expectations when it comes to remodeling your kitchen. I'll also share with you the most important questions you should be asking any contractor before you begin working with them and what the order of work should look like in the kitchen remodel. In the next section, we will dive into all of the important functional decisions you'll want to make before beginning work. Everything from the ideal kitchen layout and style for you, as well as what you need to know when selecting cabinet, tree, lighting, and window coverings. And I'll share with you when open shelving and islands makes sense for your kitchen. I'll also cover ideas for breakfast, Noakes, and show you my favorite innovative storage solutions and small kitchen design hacks. Once all the important functional decisions are made, we'll then move into how to make great color scheme and well-coordinated finished selections including countertops, back splashes, sinks, faucets, appliances, fluorine, hardware and accessories. Basically everything you'll have in your kitchen. And I'll teach you how to successfully mixed metal finishes in your kitchen so that it looks designer and not disastrous. Finally, because I always try to make my courses as practical as possible, I've created a tool that will walk you through all of the decisions you'll need to make when designing your kitchen. So that by the end of this course, you will have your own customized kitchen design plan. If you're an interior design professional, feel free to use this tool with your own clients during the kitchen design planning process. In short, this course will teach you how to design a kitchen that is functional, beautiful, and most importantly, meets all of your family's needs. Now, let me briefly point out what I will not be covering in this course. First, I will not be teaching you how to use any specific online kitchen design program. Rather, I'll share with you some of the more popular software programs for kitchen design. Also, please know that there are plenty of free online tutorials that teach you how to use these programs. I also certainly will not be able to tell you how your individual kitchens should be laid out. Every kitchen is unique based on your needs and your layout. What I will share with your industry standard guidelines that will help you to maximize functionality and minimize mistakes. Now before we dive in, for those of you who don't know me, I own my own interior design firm called Erica Don interiors. I love interior design, whether working with clients or teaching individuals like you. I feel fortunate that I have found my passion in life. So thank you, thank you so much for selecting this course. And now let's get started on designing the kitchen of your dreams. 2. 6 Smartest Areas to Spend Your Money in a Kitchen Remodel: as I just mentioned, it's no secret that the kitchen is the most expensive room in your house to remodel, and in the next lecture I'll be sharing with you exactly how expensive a kitchen remodel can be. So, given this reality, it's obviously important that you use your money wisely and spend it on the areas that matter most. Now, let me just start off by saying that if you ask a group of interior designers this question , you will likely get different lists as some of this is subjective. But there will definitely be overlap on some of the items because some of this does come down to experience as well as what we know has a great return on investment. That said, if you were my client, here are these six areas where I would tell you toe either spend some money if you weren't planning on spending any money or just spend a little more of your budget than you may have originally planned. 1st 1 area that I'm confident every designer would agree on is countertops. Functionally, your countertops can absolutely take a beating on a regular basis, so you want something that will hold up and look great for years to come. A statically is truly one of the first things that people look at when they walk into a kitchen. If you go with a particularly exiled choice, it will definitely set the tone and even dictate the design for your kitchen. If you ever sell your home, High quality countertops are always desirable, so I would advise you spend some money on a high quality material like courts or granite. Now, if you have a really tight budget and you cannot afford this type of material for your entire kitchen, but you haven't island, then definitely spend some money on a beautiful high end piece of stone for your island and then go with a more affordable countertop option, such as solid surface for the perimeter of your kitchen. The second area where I will tell you to invest some money is in certain aspects of your cabinetry. Sure, if we need to replace all of our cabinets. Most of us love the look of custom cabinetry, but many of us either can't afford them or don't want to spend the money for them, and thankfully, you don't have to go top of the line to get a decent quality cabinet. My advice is to go with a mid range Cabinet box and door, which can save you thousands and rather spend some money in certain key areas related to cabinetry. First splurged on soft close hinges and glides and full extension drawer slides once considered a luxury there definitely becoming more common and a great selling point. If you do sell your home, even if you don't and you're thinking I've lived my whole life without this, do I really need them? I can just tell you that most clients wonder how they ever lived without them once they do get them, especially if there are kids in the home. Second, I would invest in at least one pair of accent doors, or possibly more, depending upon the size of your kitchen by accent doors. I'm referring to Mulya indoors, Glassdoor's leaded glass doors and aluminum frame doors. There is an accent door for nearly any style, and they really elevate the overall look of your Cabinet and your kitchen. Third on my list is Cabinet hardware. This is, sadly, an area that is usually not given a lot of thought by many homeowners. But hardware is something that you're going to be touching every single day. So spending a little more to get a decent quality that feels good and solid to the touch, like the door to a bank vault is just so worth it. Aesthetically, hardware reinforces whatever style you're going for in your kitchen, and it really does make a big difference to the final look of your overall design. As a result, this is one area where I encourage clients to spend a bit more money. Number four on my list is your faucet. Just like your hardware. You will be using your faucet every single day. And believe me, there's a big difference between the most affordable option and the most expensive option, at least from a quality standpoint. Now, of course, you don't have to go out and buy the most expensive, and in fact I wouldn't advise you to do that. But if you spend just a few $100 at least here in the U. S. You can get a good quality faucet with a stainless feel body, a ceramic disc valve, magnetic spray pulled down design and reliable touchless on and off capabilities, which is awesome toe have in the kitchen. Lighting is my number five, especially under cabinet lighting. While most builders do a good job of including sufficient ambient lighting in the kitchen, under cabinet lighting is simply not a standard yet, but it should be. Under cabinet. Lighting not only serves an important function as additional task lighting for your countertop, it also provides beautiful ambience to a kitchen because of its low intensity light. Under cabinet lighting is ideal lighting to use first thing in the morning and the last type of lighting in the evening. The cost of benefit ratio for this upgrade is well worth it, In my opinion, apart from under cabin lighting, if you have an island or a breakfast nook, take this opportunity to select some statement lighting that reinforces your kitchen style and great looking light fixtures can be had for a few $100 so you don't need to break the bank to make a statement. In this area. Ideal fixtures for islands are a pair of chandeliers, a pair of bold pendants or multiple pendants for a breakfast nook, a chandelier or a large pendant Look great. Number six was a toss up for me, and really, this comes down to whether or not you cook often. While it's important to purchase solid, energy efficient appliances from reputable manufacturers, I do not think you need to go top of the line for most of your appliances. That, said, the one area why would encourage you to spend a little more if you do cook often is on a quality cook top or range. Unlike the oven, which typically gets used infrequently by most homes, a cook top is often the true workhorse of the kitchen and is typically one of the longest lasting appliances as well. So upgrading is usually money well spent. In addition, upgrade to a nicer cook topper range means the ability to have more burners, more powerful burners, expandable burners, dual burners, which are burners with two concentric rows for fast heating and even cooking cooking sensors, seamless greats, hot surface warnings and options like a griddle walk burner, electric steamer module and deep fryer. All of these options means the ultimate inflexibility, and in terms of appliance, our ally, a higher and cook top will generally be seen as desirable by future buyers. Now I do have one honorable mention, and that is the sink. Why you can save a lot of money and get a decent quality stainless steel sink. Sometimes the sink really does make the design, such as a farmhouse sink in farmhouse, English country, French country, modern French and cottage kitchens. Don't forget that your faucet the sink is the most commonly used items in your kitchen. And given that most homeowners choose under mount sinks, replacing the sink down the road is quite difficult. So it's better to spend the money upfront on a quality sink that will last. Or if a standard stainless steel sink works just fine for you, consider adding a second prep sink. If two of you are regularly cooking in the kitchen, the extra ST can be a huge benefit for you both. And there you have it. The six areas where I would encourage you to think about investing. Ah, little more than you might have. These are all areas that carry a big design impact. Many of them have a great our ally and, more importantly, will make you love your kitchen even more. 3. Set Realistic Expectations - Time and Money: I'll let you in on a little secret. Most interior designers have a love hate relationship with channels like HD TV. For those of you outside the US and Canada, HD TV stands for home and garden television and is talk full of home remodeling and real estate shows. So why the love hate relationship? Because on the one hand, it's fun even for US designers to see home transformations and get inspirations for our own projects. On the other hand, many many of these home improvement shows are televising completely unrealistic expectations when it comes to the time involved to complete home remodeling projects and the true costs of said projects. Now I won't name names but a show with a premise of a complete room redesign being possible and only two days with a near $1000. Really. Or how about $5000 for a complete kitchen remodel? Seriously, as fun as these shows are to watch, I'm sorry, but that is just not realistic. Unless, of course, you have manufacturers giving their products to you for free in exchange for product placement in advertising, and you have contractors working at a significantly reduced rate in the hopes of gaining Mawr clientele. Additionally, let's not forget the obvious fact that if you tried to hire contractors to work around the clock like they do on some of these shows, your labor costs would be through the roof in real life. Okay, my HD TV rant is over. The point I am trying to make is that you need to go into a kitchen remodel with some realistic expectations regarding both time and money. So what are those realistic expectations? Well, when it comes to budget, this is obviously very geo specific. Even in the United States, your costs in cities like Los Angeles and New York are going to be significantly more than in cities that are in the Midwest or the South. I'm sure many of you have heard that a kitchen is the most expensive room in the home to remodel, and that is absolutely true. But I'm sure you've also heard that a kitchen remodel has the best return on investment when it comes time to sell your home. And that's also very true. Often you can recoup a majority of the costs of a kitchen remodel when it comes time to sell provided that the kitchen is still up to date. So in general, remodeling the kitchen is money well spent, provided it's done well, of course. Additionally, it's a good idea to keep the value of the home in mind. A common rule of thumb is that you should spend 15% or less of your home's value on your kitchen remodel. That doesn't mean you can't spend MAWR if you really want to, but just know you will likely not be able to recoup your costs If and when you go to sell your home. If you create a kitchen that is too high end for your home. So let's get back to the numbers. I can tell you that in my experience and in my area, a $20,000 budget can get you a nice kitchen facelift. Items like painting your existing kitchen cabinetry, new counters, new back splash, new lighting, new hardware and maybe some very minor construction work. That's assuming you aren't paying a general contractor or a designer, but a full kitchen gut in the States. It really depends on where you live, I would say the low average end of the range is $40,000 with the high end of the range hitting $150,000. In terms of time, a minor kitchen facelift can be done in a little as two weeks. If everything runs like clockwork, provided you've Ari selected all of your finishes and you're able to schedule every contractor back to back for a full kitchen remodel, this can easily take a long as a few months or longer. This time frame may not even include the design and planning stage, which I would argue should take as long as you need it to in order for you to feel comfortable with your layout and all of your selections. Sometimes it will just take a while to find the perfect countertop or adequately research the appliances that you want. It's also important to remember that sometimes the items or finishes you want may be out of stock or just have long lead times. I once had to wait six months for a specific range, and custom cabinets could easily take a few months to get to you. So the lesson of the lecture is, plan appropriately and don't rush 4. Important Questions to Ask your Contractor to Avoid Costly Mistakes : Even if you are an avid DIY or taking on a complete kitchen remodel by yourself without the help of a general contractor or a skilled interior designer is well, a risky proposition to say the least. Given all the skills required and the time involved, there are so many things to deal with from timing and ordering the subcontractors appropriately. Finally, in the appropriate permits and managing the things that go wrong, and I can assure you that you something will very likely go wrong. So hiring a general contractor or GC is usually the smartest decision when you are undertaking a kitchen remodel. If you don't have any background in construction or design. Remember there are different types of GCs. There are large firms that employ individuals for each specialty area, as well as owner-operated GCS with maybe one or two helpers, often subbing out the more technical work like plumbing and electrical. Now, who do you think will be more affordable? Right? Nearly always the owner operator GC. And that's often the kind of Gci work with. The other great thing about working with a GC is your opportunity to do a punch list at the end of a project. Instead of you having to go back to individual contractors for any fixed items, you just need to let the GC know who will handle everything for you until you are completely satisfied. Now, let's say that even after hearing all of this, you still want to go ahead and act as your own GC. Even in this scenario, odds are extremely high that at some point in a kitchen remodel, you are going to hire a professional contractor for assistance. Because let's not forget that there are code issues that need to be adhered to. Or there are activities that are just better left to the professionals as they just aren't worth the headache. So in many cases it makes sense to hire a professional contractor, in particular, a plumber and electrician, an H back contractor to install your new range hood and the fabricator to install your new countertops. These are simply areas that I always always, always leave to the licensed professionals and I advise you to do so as well. So when you find yourself looking for contractors, whether it's a GC or a subcontractor. I've compiled a list for you of the questions that I ask every new contractor I worked with. I've also added on additional questions that you as a non designer should also ask. That said, I reckon that interviewing at least three different contractors for each specialty area. First, and by far one of the most important questions you need to ask is, are you licensed and insured? Now, there are some contractors and nearly always conspicuously advertise their license number on their websites and business cards, such as GCSE and licensed electricians, but not all contractors do. So I always ask, are you licensed and insured? Assuming that they are, then they should easily be able to provide you with that information, which would be their license number and a copy of their insurance. The next question I asked is related specifically to a GC to a GC subcontractors. These can either be employees of the contractor or other independent professionals that they sub certain specialized work out too, such as an electrician or a title center. If they are employees of a general contractor, you want to ensure that they are covered by workers compensation insurance. If they are an independent subcontractor, ensure that they are appropriately licensed, certified, and insured. Next, you will want to ask who will be in charge at the job site. Now it may be the GC or maybe another individual who will act as a foreman. One of the most important questions you can ask is the following. What is the best way for you and me to communicate with each other throughout the project. Why do you think this is so important? Well, imagine this scenario. You've got multiple subs on the job and all of a sudden, things start going downhill with your title seller, you realize that the layout is not what you and the GC agreed upon. You tell us to this title center, but he tells you that this is what he and the GC agreed upon at the start of the project. So you immediately hop on the phone to get a hold of your GC, but it goes straight to voicemail. You try texting. No response. Tile work has now stopped and your GC is MIA little, did you know that the best way to reach him was through his assistant? This is a very possible scenario, my friends, which is why it's so important to agree upon the best way to reach each other during the project. So what should communication look like? Ideally, if you hired a GC, you want an absolute minimum of weekly on-site meetings. But if they're really good, they'll stop by at the beginning of each day to make sure that the subs and you are crystal-clear on the scope of work for the day. And of course, you also want to know how to reach them as quickly as possible when they aren't on-site and are needed for urgent questions and concerns. Next, ask the contract or what their cleanup procedure is at the end of each day and what measures they will take to protect your existing walls, your fluorine, et cetera. Assuming those items aren't being remodeled. Kitchen remodels are long-term projects. So it's important to remember that you'll be living through this for a while. So good contractors will take precautions to protect your home from the dust and debris in the work area through plastic sheeting, adequate floor coverings, and devoting sufficient time at the end of each day to clean up and organize the job site before they leave. Finally, many gcs and independent contractors will have pictures of their completed work. At a minimum, asked to see pictures and speak to the last few clients that they've worked with. It's important to me that I speak with recent clients because the GC may have changed out subcontractors and that could definitely affect the quality of the work. However, even better than pictures are being able to see a completed job in person. Sometimes it's difficult to see important details from pictures. Let me give you an example. Tile setting is a real skill and even though many contractors do it, they unfortunately are not all good at doing it. One of the most common problems include uneven tiles, especially on walls are uneven floors where you will have certain tiles protrude out further than the surrounding tiles, which is called lipids. This just looks bad and often comes down to a lack of experience in this area. Conversely, an experienced tile center who only sets tile will know all the techniques to use when dealing with problems like uneven surfaces. If you can see a job in progress, all the better. This will tell you a lot about how they manage their job site cleanliness, and their commitment to quality. When you speak with references, be sure to ask them if the project stay on or close to budget, find out if anything went wrong. It likely did. Some more importantly, find out how they resolved it. Ask how well did you see supervised his subs? Apart from these important questions, here are some additional questions I recommend that you ask and request as well. If working with a GC, be sure to ask for a detailed budget and proposal which outlines labor and material costs, payment schedule, who is responsible for pulling permits and scheduling final inspections, and how changes to the plans will be documented. I also recommend, if possible, including a penalty if the job is not completed on time. Speaking of the contractors budget, there should be a The 20 percent contingency budget built in. And if they don't include it, then you should. Something going wrong or unexpected surprises nearly always happen in remodels. So you definitely want a contingency budget. Finally, if you are doing a complete kitchen remodel, you will want to decide who will draw up your blueprint or your detailed floor plan. This can be your contractor and interior designer or even an architect. Although typically unless you are moving load bearing walls, in which case, you'll need an architect or structural engineer, or a contractor or an interior designer should be able to handle the drawings needed for your project. 5. When to Bring in a Designer or a Design/Build Kitchen Firm: Okay, let's say that you've decided you do not want the headache of acting as your own GC, so you decided to hire someone for this role that is one box checked. But now let's talk about the design and by design. I am referring to such things as your kitchen layout, optimal Cabinet placement, countertops, elections, lighting, placement, etcetera. But now let's talk about the design and by design. I am referring to such things as your kitchen layout, optimal Cabinet placement countertops, elections, lighting, placement, etcetera. You may think that your contractor can do it all, and sometimes they can. But typically they often aren't the go to for the best design advice so upfront. Be sure to talk to your contractor about design decisions. Find out if they have a designer they work with many do. Or if you should go ahead and hire your own. Now you may be thinking, How hard can the design side really be? After all, with readily available kitchen design programs to help you with your layout and sites like Pinterest for your design inspiration, you may be thinking I got this. The reality is that many homeowners start out this way, but often fall quickly into decision making fatigue. This is often the point that an interior designer like me gets the call. The reality is that you may have a general idea of what you want, such as cabinet color, countertop and flooring material. But there are so many more decisions to make in a kitchen remodel, and this is where a designer or kitchen design firm can really make the process much smoother and more enjoyable. Or, in other words, money well spent. Let me give you a situation that I and other designers commonly deal with. Imagine that you are a the point in the project when it's time to pick your countertop and your backsplash. Two very important decisions that will have a tremendous impact on the aesthetics and even function of your design. Right, so you decide to go to your local kitchen and bath showroom to make your selections. What clients quickly realizes how many choices there are in these two areas. First, you need to decide on the material, for example, for your countertops. Do you want granite courts, court site soapstone, marble laminate or something else? And how do you make the decision. It's important to know the pros and cons of each material to help you select the one that works the best with your lifestyle and with your needs. Sometimes there are sales reps to help you, but sometimes there aren't. That's step one. Then you'll need to choose your color and design. Most countertop manufacturers have several options. Finally, many countertops offer multiple finishes such as polished, honed or leathered again. What are the pros and const each and how will impact the overall look and function? So let's say you get that handled and you found a countertop that you love. Okay, so now it's on to your backsplash again. You'll need to first decide on your material. Do you want porcelain, ceramic, glass, stone or something else? What are the maintenance requirements for each? How durable are they? Also consider the style of your kitchen. A rough stone backsplash will provide a very different look and feel as compared to a smooth, recycled glass backsplash. Once you've selected the material that you do like, then it's time to consider the color. Obviously, you'll need to ensure that this coordinates well with your countertop right now. Marble looking countertops and white backsplash tiles are all the rage, and you may think this would be an easy selection. Pick the prettiest marble looking countertop material and parent with a simple white subway tile. Easy, right? Well, not necessarily. There's a lot of variants when it comes to marble looking kinda tops, and the whites that you'll see in the material may lean more towards off white or cream. And once you place that bright white subway tile next to it, you may realize that it's really not the best option. But let's say you do get lucky and you find the perfect combination. Then you'll need to decide on the size of your subway tile. Do you want the standard three by six? Or would you prefer for by eight or even a four by 12 and does the size of matter when you consider the style of the kitchen? Yes, yes, it does. I could go on, but this gives you a good idea of just some of the many, many design decisions that need to be made during a kitchen remodel. This is where an interior designer or a design build kitchen firm can really make a big difference in not only how smooth the process is, but also how happy you are with the final result. Obviously, I'm biased, but this is nearly always money well spent. So let's quickly break down the difference between designers and design. Build firms to help you make an educated decision. First, let's talk about designers. One of the biggest advantages to working with an interior designer is that we designers are free agents. We may have our favorite products and finishes, but we aren't limited by what products are available to us. And with so many options today, we can really help you narrow down your choices based on your aesthetic and your functional preferences. Interior designers also act as the project manager and work closely with the contractors to ensure that the work is being completed. Per the plan. The Dell inside with working with a designer is that while designers often have recommendations for contractors, it will often be up to you the consumer toe. Hire your own contractors. The way many designers work, including myself, is to structure the projects so that the contract is between you and the contractor, not between the contractor and the designer. What this means is a little more work for you in terms of costs. Many designers charge by the hour a flat fee, or they charge you a percentage of the project cost with design. Build kitchen firms. This is a one stop shop. This type of company will be able to provide design guidance. Will project manage and complete all of the work? You will also have one point person with whom you'll be communicating, rather than having to communicate with both a designer and a G C. The downside with design build kitchen firms, in my opinion, is that they're going to steer you towards the product lines that they either carry or most frequently do business with, so this likely may limit your choices. Also, design build firms often have their roots and therefore their strengths on the construction side of the house. So then maybe a bit weak on the design side, you will also obviously be using their crews, which may not be a good thing. If you aren't happy with the crew for any reason from a cost perspective, design build firms will build in all of their costs of the final price that they show you. This includes all of the design build and the project management fees, regardless of which way you go. There are obviously many benefits that come with hiring a professional to help you manage your kitchen remodel project, so it's definitely something to consider. 6. Order of Work: In this lecture, I'm going to address one of the most frequently asked questions, especially for those of you who are going to act as your own GC. And that is what order should the work be done in. Now, I'm guessing that for most of you, you understand why this is such an important question. Now, the order of some work is obvious. You obviously would not install your fluorine before you even tackled plumbing. But some work is not so obvious, such as, do you install the cabinet tree first or the fluorine first? For these and other burning questions, you've come to the right place. I'm also going to be answering this question with some important assumptions. First, that you are doing a complete kitchen remodel. Second, they've already decided upon your design. Third, you've already ordered and received all of your materials. Because remember, you may have a long lead time on some of the items that you've hired your contractors. And fifth, that you have prepared or someone has prepared for you a two scale floor plan for your new kitchen, assuming all of that has been handled. Now let's talk about the order of work. Step one is going to be Demo Day. Yes, I'm sure you've heard this term used on popular HGTV shows. I personally loved demo day. It's just cathartic and so many ways, bad breakup. Take a hammer to some tile like you would to your CIM boyfriends, four-by-four truck, a coworker giving you a hard time ripping out your countertop with a crowbar, we'll feel oh so good. But seriously all kidding aside, and please don't go hitting any trucks. Download day is the first big step towards acquiring your dream kitchen. Demolition is also an easy DIY task and a great way to save some money. If you do DIY your demo, be sure to wear appropriate safety gear and you'll likely need to rent a dumpster. Also, if you live in the US and your home was built before 1980, please please please be sure to have a professional check for asbestos or lead-based paint in your kitchen before you begin as this will require special handling. Now the one major downside to Demo Day is having to dispose of all the old materials. In most cases, contractors will simply Hall everything to the dump. For some people, this doesn't bother them at all, but fewer equal minded in any way, I encourage you to make a tax-deductible donation of your materials to organizations like Habitat for Humanity or the reuse people of America. Depending on the organization, you may need to arrange your donation before demo day. Okay? What happens after Demo Day? You move into what is known as rough and work, which includes framing, plumbing, electrical, and H FAQ. Be aware that after the rough and work is complete, you should then have what's called a rough in inspection to ensure that this work was completed according to code. If there are changes that needs to be made, it will be easy to do so while everything is still open and exposed, of course it changes do need to be made. You'll then need to have another inspection until you've passed code. That information aside. The first-order of business or step two will be to install any new framing that as needed of any new walls, floors, or beams. Obviously not everyone will need to complete this step. Step three will be to tackle any plumbing issues. Even if you don't plan on moving your sink or other major appliances, you may want to take this opportunity to replace old plumbing. This can also include replacing your shut-off valves, installing a shut-off valve box for your refrigerator if you don't have one. And if you're a moving from an electric range to a gas range, then have a new gas line run as well. After all of your plumbing has been addressed. Now it's time to bring in the licensed electrician, which is step four. There are a number of upgrades that you can make in this area. Consider reassess, can lights, possibly a chandelier or two, dependence over an island or a peninsula. And my favorite under cabinet lighting. Under cabinet lighting is generally the only lighting I like to use first thing in the morning and late in the evening when you are in need of some basic task lighting, but a light source that is not so bright and glaring. That said be sure to add dimmer switches to all of the lighting in your kitchen. This may be obvious to many of you, but with the exception of the recess can lights, the remaining light fixtures will be installed at the end of the project. During this step, all the electrician will do is add the boxes you'll need for your fixtures and ensure all the appropriate wiring is run. Apart from new light fixtures, you may also need to add in a 220 volt receptacle or an appropriate receptacle for your area. If you are moving from a gas range to an electric, an induction or a dual fuel range, which is an electric oven paired with a gas stove top. Considered by many to be the best of both worlds. You obviously may need to add new receptacle if you are moving your appliances, everything from a receptacle for your refrigerator, your microwave, dishwasher, garbage disposal, range hood, etc. Your electrician should tell you that to prevent circuit overload, most or all of your appliances need to be or should be on a dedicated circuit. Also consider whether you need additional countertop receptacles apart from what's required by code. Good electrician can help you with this planning. Step five is to install any new HVAC duct work or venting that is needed. Step six involves installing the insulation, hanging the new drywall, Medina and Sandy. If you want to do this on your own, there are plenty of tutorials on YouTube that will help you do this. Otherwise, make sure you find a contractor who has plenty of experience in this area, especially when it comes to Medina. Hang drywall is pretty straightforward and can easily be a DIY project. But I personally recommend finding someone who can do good mud work as this is imperative to the final look of your walls. I would encourage you to look at some completed projects or the person who will be completing this work for you. Because believe me, I've seen plenty of examples over the years of poorly done Medina and dry wall repair. Generally, this work will be completed by a drywall contractor, a carpenter, or a skilled handyman. Once a dry wall and blood work is complete, then you'll move on to step seven, which is to install any new doors or windows, including the trim. Moving on to Step eight, this is where you will be painting your walls and your ceiling. While this can definitely be a DIY job, I personally much rather sub this out as it's going to be one of your least expensive jobs. And they will do it more quickly and likely better than a non-professional. But if you absolutely love painting than I do have some tips for you. Be sure to buy high-quality paint in an egg shell or semi gloss finish for your walls and the flat or matte finish for your ceiling. Make sure you fill any holes and sand them well. Use a large buckets such as a five-gallon bucket to mix all of your pink cans together to ensure consistency. Use Quality rollers with an extension bar. And professionals would recommend to sand with a 150 grit sandpaper between your first and your second coat of paint. Also be prepared to do some touch-up paint work after the cabinets get installed. Now, step nine is a controversial one. Can you guess what that is? You hit the nail on the head if you said fluorine, this is truly the number one question that comes up from the homeowner during a kitchen remodel, Do you put the fluorine in first or the cabinet tree? And first, my recommendation is always to do the fluorine first, especially if you're using tile. But ultimately this is the homeowners call as you will be paying for extra fluorine, that won't be seen. But one of the main reasons to do fluorine first is that you can then avoid having to use quarter round, also known as shoe molding, thereby giving you a cleaner look. Again, as I just mentioned, this is controversial and you may find plenty of contractors who will strongly say that the cabinet tree should go in first. Particularly if you are using wood fluorine, assuming you installed the fluorine first, step ten then is the installation of your cabinet tree. This is definitely one area that I would say splurge and hire a professional. And typically the company who purchased the cabinets from can provide you with qualified installers. Professionals will ensure that your cabinets are hung plum and level, which is extremely important. The pros will also install your crown molding and the scribes. Scribes are what are used to cover any spaces you may have between the ends of your cabinets and the walls for any walls that are crooked. Once your crown and it describes are installed, the last to-do item for your cabinet installers will be to install your cabinet hardware, which can be done at the time of cabinet installation or at the very end of the project. Makes sure that you review the layout with the cabinet installer before they begin work to ensure that there are no mistakes. Also be aware that because no room is perfectly square, your cabinets will not be perfectly flush with the corners or the ceiling. But don't worry, this is where clock is used to fill in the gaps and then can be painted over as needed. Now, if you had decided that you'd rather install the cabinets on your own, be sure to install the wall cabinets first before the bass cabinets. Can you guess why? It will be much easier to install your wall cabinets if you're not having to reach over your base cabinets. Obvious. Step 11 is all about your countertops. Once your cabinet tree is installed, the fabricator will come out to your home to template the area where countertops will be installed. Once the areas had been templated than the installation can be anywhere from five to ten days. From that day. It can take longer, but my experience, this is a typical lag time from templating to installation. The installation of the countertop will also include the installation of your sink, assuming you are using a standard stainless steel sink. If however, you select a farmhouse or other specialties sync, this will actually need to be installed, often by your cabinet installer prior to the templating of your countertops. Part of the cabinet installers job is to ensure that the cabinets are properly reinforced, that they can support the typically heavy farmhouse or other comparable sinks. I'm sure by now you can guess that step 12 is the installation of your backsplash. Obviously, you can't install your backsplash until your counters are installed. This is typically a one-to-two day job by an experienced tile center. One important point, if you are installing a heavy countertop materials such as granite or courts, I recommend that you wait a few days before you install your backsplash. As this will give your countertop time to settle and avoid any unsightly seems that may appear if you install your backsplash right away. Lucky step 13 will be installing your appliances. Make sure that your appliance delivery folks properly protect your floors when bringing in your new appliances. Also makes sure that each appliances installed level and plum, in case you don't know, plum just means that the item or wall is perfectly vertical. Also makes sure that the appliances work before your appliance delivery people leave and that there aren't any leaks. Lastly, we have step 14, which involves having your plumber and electrician returned to finish their work for the plumber, this will mean hooking up your faucet and your sink. For the electrician, this will include adding receptacle plates and installing all of your lighting fixtures. That is certainly a lot of work. I hope that by walking you through it, you now understand why the order matters. It will certainly make for a smoother and more efficient kitchen remodel. One final point, whether you are doing a complete remodel or just the facelift. Make plans with how you plan on living without your kitchen. Some people will set up an informal kitchen in another space of their home, near another sink that contains their coffee pot toaster, microwave, and possibly a hotplate. Some people will cook a lot of meals and freeze them so that they only have to defrost and reheat in a microwave. Others will plan on mostly eating out. Regardless of your choice, I do recommend that you use paper plates as much as possible. Cleaning glasses, mugs, and silverware in a small sink. Not that bad, but cleaning plates is much more difficult and I would personally avoid that as much as possible. 7. Activity #1 - Assessing Your Needs : 8. Ideal Layout Options - Larger Kitchens: by far one of the most expensive parts of a complete kitchen remodel is changing the layout . Changing the layout will require such high ticket items as re plumbing, rewiring electricity and new cabinetry. If you like your layout and find it to be functional than my recommendation will always be to change the finishes, but not the layout. That said, if you just can't scan your tiny, cramped kitchen one day longer or the layout just doesn't work for you and your family, then by all means take this opportunity to create your dream kitchen. The layout of your kitchen is definitely one of the most important decisions you can make in terms of how happy will be in the long run, layout equals function and function is first and foremost, the most important consideration in a kitchen remodel. As much as I love form, form should never trump function in the kitchen, so let's get to it because there are many different layout options. I've broken this topic up into two lectures those layouts that are better suited to larger kitchens and in the next lecture, those layouts that are better suited to smaller kitchens. Now this doesn't mean that some of these layouts can't work in both sizes. Some of them can, but some are just better suited to a smaller or larger kitchen. In both lectures, I'll be sharing with you my pros and cons for each layout. Regardless of which lay out you choose. It's important to create the best work triangle possible. For those of you who haven't heard the term work triangle, let me quickly break it down for you. It refers to the ideal distances between the three main areas of work in a kitchen, namely, the refrigerator sink and cook top. Since cooks will frequently go between these three areas while cooking, it's important that these three areas are close enough to each other and in an appropriate configuration to facilitate common cooking activities, according to NK, be a guidelines, which is what I and many other designers follow. No leg of the work triangle should measure less than four feet or more than nine feet. Additionally, the some of the distances between them should be no more than 26 feet. Got it great. Let's go ahead and dive into the world of kitchen layouts. First, we have the L shape layout, which, of course, is shaped like the letter L. Because this layer is highly flexible, it remains one of the most classic designs today and honestly can work well in both larger and smaller kitchens. It's especially popular right now in new home building, as an L shaped kitchen fits perfectly into a corner of today's ubiquitous open floor plan designs. It's also a great choice for lofts if used in a larger kitchen, it's usually paired with an island because otherwise the work triangle can get to spread out to be efficient. Typically, the L shaped kitchen has one leg is longer than the other, although no is. If you do have one leg that is significantly longer than the other, you'll likely want to place your cook top on this longer leg as you'll want more counter space around this particular appliance. The end of the leg is the commonplace for your refrigerator. The corner or near the corner of the L is a great place for your sink, although you can certainly place it on either leg if you choose not to place your sink in the corner. Definitely incorporate some creative storage solutions such as a carousel so you can maximize your storage in that corner cabinet. If your legs are roughly the same length, I would encourage you to place your sink and your cooked up on the different legs, as this will give you more counter space between these two appliances, which is a common area for food prep. Because this Leia has quite a bit of open space, it's easy enough to incorporate an island or a dining table into this configuration. N K b A. Guidelines state that you should have at least 36 inches between your counter and your island for an adequate walkway. However, if there are appliances in this area, then the ill should be 42 to 48 inches. Why, If you do incorporate an island, consider placing your sink or your cook top in the island. An island is a great place to incorporate some additional seating as well on the side. Far this from the cooking area. Finally, another option is to create an L shaped island on the opposite corner of the space, which significantly adds to your counter and your storage space to ensure that you can incorporate at least one of the kitchen triangle elements on the short leg. The short leg needs to be at least three feet long. Otherwise, you really just have a one wall kitchen with a small tail on the side. If you only plan on having upper cabinets on one leg, definitely placed them on the longer leg, as this will obviously give you more storage. Additionally, if you place a cook top on the longer leg, this will allow you to keep dishes and condiments near the cook top. Another great advantage. Sometimes you'll see a small peninsula built into the longer leg of the L, usually at the end of one leg. If you have a small L shaped kitchen, you may find that counter space is at a premium. In that case, I would try to incorporate even a small island to give you more counter and storage space of possible. Another potential disadvantage to this kitchen is that because it is wide open to traffic, this type of kitchen layout offers little privacy. Finally, unless you have an island, you will find yourself with your back to your guests most of the time, which you may view as a disadvantage if you like to entertain a lot. Now let's move on to the G shaped kitchen, which basically is essentially an expansion of the U Shape kitchen by attaching a peninsula often used for seeding and additional storage. What I love about the G shaped kitchen is that it provides a bit more privacy or containment than an L shaped kitchen, but still allows for family and friends to interact by sitting at the peninsula. Generally a win win. This layer also provides more storage than any other layout, given that it has four walls of base cabinets to utilize and is great for two or more cooks . Given the workable three corners and the ample, continuous counter space, this kitchen is also a great alternative to those individuals who love the U Shape kitchen and want to include an island but really don't have the room to do so. The G shaped kitchen essentially gives you the island as a peninsula instead and retains all of the benefits of the U Shape kitchen, such as the perfect work triangle. That said, if you have a large enough G shaped kitchen, you could also include an island. Talk about sufficient counter space now going back to the peninsula there, typically about four feet wide, and the length will vary. The goal is to ensure that you have clearance of at least 36 inches to enter your kitchen in terms of disadvantages to this kitchen. If you have a smaller home, this type of kitchen, condemn it and make your space feel more cramped, Which is why it works better in medium to large size homes with the opening to the kitchen leading into a larger space, such as a living room or a dining room in terms of size, please note that this kitchen design doesn't need at least a 10 by 10 space to work well. Finally, because you're adding more cabinets and counter space, building or renovating, this kitchen will be pricier than almost any other layout. 9. Ideal Layout Options - Smaller Kitchens: Now let's talk about those layouts that are better suited for smaller kitchen spaces. First, we have the ubiquitous galley style kitchen, or what is also known as a corridor or walk through kitchen. This layout is characterized by two parallel walls or lines of cabinets facing each other with a walkway in the middle with an opening on one or both ends. Therefore, these kitchens are longer than they are wide. This is the layout of choice when you have a thin or rectangular kitchen space, which is often the case in older homes and apartments. If you go the galley style kitchen, the ideal with should be between seven and 12 feet. Anything wider than that, and you should really consider another layout. Additionally, you want an absolute minimum of three feet between the opposing sides. If you regularly have to cooks in the kitchen, or if there is through traffic in the kitchen from one room to another that you need four feet of walking space. A galley kitchen can theoretically be as long as you want it to be. But the longer it is, the more you'll need to think about dividing the space into multiple work zones for efficiency. One of the best advantages to the galley kitchen is that you can reach all areas of the kitchen with minimal walking. This makes for a nice compact work triangle. A couple of obvious downsides is that you may find that you can run into traffic congestion from people walking through the space from one room to another. Additionally, because of the recommended with of galley kitchens, it's generally not a great choice if you regularly have multiple people cooking in the kitchen simultaneously. When thinking about the work triangle, you can place us anywhere you want in the galley kitchen provided, of course, that you keep the three items within 4 to 9 feet of each other. Ideally, you want to keep the triangle as an equal lateral triangle for efficiency, with each side the same length rather than an irregular triangle. The common approach would be to have two areas on one side and the third area on the other side, and more specifically, you should place a single area on one side of the kitchen, roughly centered to the other two areas on the opposite wall. Now let's move on to the popular U shaped layout, which looks like a horseshoe and this sometimes referred to as a C shaped kitchen. This is a great lay out because, as you can see, you will have full use of three walls for cabinets and counters and just one open and for access. I love this layout for its symmetry alone. Additionally, you will have two corners in this kitchen, which gives you an opportunity to put in creative storage solutions in these corners to maximize your storage space. In short, the U Shape kitchen will give you a lot more space for, well, everything, which is why it's ideal for smaller kitchens. It really maximizes your space. A U Shape kitchen will also easily allow you to create zones in your kitchen. Now, even though this layout is ideal for smaller kitchens, this kitchen can work in any size kitchen. Small, medium and large in a small kitchen. The opposing sides are generally about four feet away from each other, making this an ideal kitchen for one cook in the medium size kitchen. The opposing sides are generally about six feet away from each other, which works well for two cooks. Now, if you are lucky enough to have a large U shape kitchen than your opposing sides are at least eight feet away from each other and gives you the option to add an island or even a dining table in the middle. Although I would nearly always choose to incorporate an island, this is because the island can be used in oh so many ways. You can use it simply for extra prep and storage, which is great. Or you could choose to place the main sink or extra sink their or even your cook top lots of choices. Indeed, another benefit of U Shape Kitchen is that because it does not provide passed through access to another room, such as your dining room, you should have fewer unwanted visitors and distractions. As you can see, benefits abound with a large U shaped kitchen. In terms of layout. In smaller U shape kitchens, you'll often see the sink in the dishwasher located at the bottom of the U and even better . Sometimes you are lucky to have a window on that wall, allowing you to place your sink directly beneath it, which will provide great natural light while cleaning and help the space to feel larger in larger kitchens, it's not uncommon to see the range of the bottom of the U. Regardless of what's at the bottom, you will then see the other two major work areas placed on the two sides of the you the ideal layout for the work triangle. This is the reason that many kitchen designers would consider the U Shape kitchen, the most functionally sound kitchen layout available. Apart from creating the perfect work triangle, do you see why else is Layout is so great? It's great because you will have ample counter and prep space next to each of the legs of your triangle. That said, if you have a particularly large kitchen, then your work triangle might be in an L configuration so that your work triangle does not become to spread apart has remember your side walls are often at least eight feet apart. Or as I just mentioned, you could choose the place one of the legs of your work triangle in the island and therefore reconfigure the triangle using the island. Another variation of the U Shape kitchen is when one or both of the walls are on an angle such as a 45 degree angle. This could make it a bit more challenging to maintain the appropriate spacey in your triangle. But certainly it's still possible. Finally, if one of your sidewalls does not connect to a wall on the other side. One more variation is to turn one of the tales of the you into a peninsula, which will provide you with more seating. You can also hang cabinets over the peninsula to provide you with even more storage. Last but certainly not least, we have the one wall kitchen, although not typically as popular as the other layouts, Sometimes this type of kitchen is really the best way to go, particularly in apartments, smaller homes and lofts, or any other open floor plan where you'd rather not break up the space but instead maximize that open, airy feeling in your home. This layout looks particularly great in contemporary and urban modern style homes. Also, given the close proximity of the appliances, this kitchen is still quite efficient. Even though you lose that beautiful work triangle. Here are three other advantages to this kitchen layout. First, it should be the most affordable kitchen to build INRA model, which is a huge plus. Second, it's considered the easiest kitchen to D i y. And finally, with less counter space, it should be the quickest to clean. So what do you think is the biggest challenge to this particular layout? I'm sure that most of you guessed that this layout will give you less storage and countertops space than any of the other layouts I discussed, although some of that challenge can be mitigated with either clever storage solutions, which I'll be discussing later in the course, or by installing a built in or a movable island, which will obviously give you more storage countertops, space and the place for you and your guests to sit and eat. You could also choose to place your sinker, even your cook top in the island, which will allow you to create the kitchen triangle if desired. Another reason to consider including an island in this layup is to provide your kitchen with a natural focal point, which is an important design element Now, if you choose not to have an island, it's common and most efficient tohave the sink placed in between the refrigerator and the stove, allowing for easy clean up the other reason. The place your stinking between these two work areas is to keep sufficient distance between your hot cook top and you're cold Refrigerator hot and cold areas should always be separated in lieu of an island. Another popular choices to place a dining table in front of the area as well in terms of size. Ideally, this type of kitchen should be at least eight feet long and is best suited for 1 to 2 cooks . Because these kitchens aren't that large, you'll find that's typically best to go with 24 inch wide appliances to ensure you have sufficient countertop space. And there you go. Now you have a great overview of today's kitchen layout possibilities. If you are working with a designer design build firm or a general contractor, they will be able to help you find the perfect layout giving your space and needs, which is an incredibly valuable in time intensive step in your kitchen remodel. But if you plan to completely D i Y this, I plan to use a custom cabinet builder or you simply want to provide a great starting point for whoever you work with. There are affordable and even free kitchen design software programs that non designers can use, including sketch up the A K, A Home Planner, Punch Home Design, Studio Essentials, Home Hardware, Kitchen Design software and Home Seiler. 10. Kitchen Styles: you may be wondering why I placed the lecture on kitchen styles in the kitchen functionality section, after all, isn't style pure form? It is. But the style of your kitchen woman forms such decisions as your Cabinet door style, which we will be discussing in this section. So I think it makes sense to discuss it up front. So you get more from the upcoming lectures. Now you may already know exactly what style you want for your kitchen, if so great. But if not, my goal in this lecture is to provide you with some guidance on how to choose a style as well as share with you some of the more popular but also enduring styles for kitchens. If possible. I always recommend keeping the style of your kitchen in line with the architectural style of your home, unless you absolutely dislike the architectural style of your home, in which case you may not want to. But consider this unlike the other rooms of your home, in which much of the styles defined by furniture, rugs, window coverings, etcetera or those things that you'll take with you should you move. The kitchen is primarily fixed hard surfaces so that when you leave your kitchen, of course stays behind. New homeowners, unfortunately, may likely find a kitchen that stylistically out of sync with the home, a detraction from the appeal of your home. Now, while that sounds limiting, the reality is that following the skyline is not going to be a problem for most people. And here's why. The majority of people probably would not choose a home whose exterior they absolutely hate , unless they only hate something that's easily changeable about the exterior, such as the color scheme or minor details such as the shutters style of door etcetera. So if you are happy enough with the exterior of your home that you are likely going to be happy with a kitchen that complements rather than fights the architectural style of your home. So that means if you have a mid century modern home, a mid century modern kitchen makes sense. A traditional home will look beautiful, of course, with the traditional style kitchen, a contemporary home just looks best with a contemporary style kitchen. If you have a lovely English country home, that why wouldn't you want a new English style kitchen? And so on is this a hard and fast rule? Of course not. This is just the recommendation you'll receive from most designers off course. If you do, follow this guideline that you should carry that style as either a primary or a secondary style throughout the rest of your home, so your interior design flows well. Now, if you live in a condo or a town home, where your exterior looks like everyone else is, the world of kitchen design is your proverbial oyster. So how do you choose first? If you have a dominant styling your home already, then that's the obvious choice. But if you don't or if you are planning on completely remodeling your home, then you may not know which direction to go in. In that case, let me share with you five styles that you might like as these styles are popular and loved by many, but not trendy. First, we have the traditional style kitchen, which is probably no surprise the traditional interior design has endured for several decades and has a kitchen style. It's no different. In particular. White traditional kitchens remain one of the most common kitchen styles you will see on places like Pinterest and Instagram. And for good reason. White cabinetry with elegant molding and trim milion cabinet doors, marble or marble looking countertops, white or gray backsplashes, traditional range hood, elegant lighting and wood flooring is a sophisticated, timeless look that appeals to many people. Next we have farmhouse. Now. This could fall into trendy, mainly because of style has been and continues to be uber popular, at least here in the US, in large part due to the TV show Fixer Upper, in which the signature style of the designer is farmhouse. Well, Farmhouse has never been more popular than it was back in the 17 hundreds, when we first saw in rural America. I think that if done correctly, a farmhouse kitchen will never look horribly dated. But we may just have to wait and see. At any rate, because of its enduring popularity over the last several years, I would be remiss if I didn't mention it. So what do I mean by done correctly? I mean that I would incorporate those elements that never seem to go out of style, such as white cabinetry, subway tile backsplash, a farmhouse sink and open shelving. I would then incorporate elements that can be easily changed out if desired, such as industrial style or lantern pendants, wire baskets, farmhouse style bar stools for your island and farmhouse style artwork. If you live anywhere near the water, you won't be surprised by my next style, which is coastal. Also noticed coastal chic People who live near the water usually want to reflect that desirable lifestyle in their home as well. So for that reason, I would categorize this as one of the Maurin during kitchen styles. If this is a style for you than white, any shade of blue and possibly green is going to be your color palette. White cabinets with a blue island look fantastic, combined with a light stone countertop and a white gray or blue backsplash, just like with traditional milion or glass cabinet. Doors are perfect in this style. Throw in some lantern glass or attan drum pendants along with seagrass or attend bar stools and coastal inspired signage or our work, and you'll have a classic beautiful coastal kitchen. Number four on my list is the Mediterranean style kitchen. The Mediterranean style is loved by many and works particularly well in Spanish style homes that are so popular in the western United States. Thes kitchens use beautiful raise panel doors, stone countertops, gorgeous architectural features like arches and pillars and wrought iron, which is a material that has endured since we first saw introduced into residential design hundreds of years ago. Last but not least, his mid century modern mid century modern has only been a style since 19 forties, but it's our youngest style of the bunch. But Wow is a popular has been for a while, and I honestly have no idea when we will see it start to fade. I definitely understand the appeal, though this is a style whose foundation is built on simplicity and incorporating nature through its materials and its large unobstructed windows. Bringing the outside into our homes really took hold with a style and who doesn't love nature. If you've taken my course on eco friendly design, you've heard me talk about bio filic design, which essentially means connecting us to our natural environment through architecture and design, and the benefits to doing this are several Bio Filic design is known to reduce stress, increase productivity and helps to create a calm, relaxed atmosphere. So for these reasons, I predict we'll see the primary elements of mid century modern kitchens for a while. These elements include flat panel cabinet doors in white or beautiful wood finishes, stone countertops, large windows and stainless steel fixtures and appliances. The way to ensure that this kitchen reads it's mid century modern and not contemporary, which it certainly could with these elements would be to include some classic mid century modern lighting and seeding. So there you have it, my top five popular but not trendy kitchens. Other styles to consider in no particular order, include cottage kitchens, rustic or Western kitchens, French country kitchens, Scandinavian kitchens, bohemian kitchens, industrial kitchens, contemporary kitchens, transitional kitchens and my favorite modern French kitchens. I recommend that you go ahead and download the attached document called the Ultimate Kitchen Designed Style Guide, in which I've listed all of the styles and the coordinating selections and finishes that go best with each style. Then, as you listen to future lectures, you can circle those selections and finishes that you are most drawn to. By the end of the course, you will then have all of your ideal selections and finishes identified. Very cool indeed, 11. Let's Talk Cabinetry – Repainting, Refacing, or Replacing: welcome to the world of cabinetry, I say world, because there are so many aspects to consider when it comes to cabinetry, because there's so much to cover. I've devoted the next three lectures to this very important topic in this lecture will cover both your choices for updating your cabinetry in the next lecture will talk about the functional aspects to consider when buying new cabinetry and in the subsequent lecture will discuss the design aspects. When it comes to cabinetry, you really have three options. Repainting your existing cabinets, re facing your existing cabinets or purchasing new cabinets. In this lecture, I'll touch on all three options, including the pros and cons for each option. Now, as I mentioned in the lecture on layouts, if you like your curtain kitchen layout than your most affordable option for updating your kitchen is to either pay your cabinets or to re face them, I generally only recommend replacing them. If your boxes are in bad shape or you are changing the layout via a major remodel, even if you want to make some minor modifications to the configuration of your cabinetry, then look to replace just those particular cabinets rather than all of them. New cabinets for an entire kitchen are expensive, usually 20 to 35% of your budget. That is not insignificant. Painting your cabinets no surprise is going to be your least expensive option. However, while painting the room can be an easy D. I Y project, painting kitchen cabinets generally is not. First, you should be aware that there is significant prep time, including sanding and prime ing, and using the right sealer is critical if you want to avoid chips down the road. Also, the finish look is always better if the cabinets are sprayed rather than rolled on. And this requires both the right equipment and experience with the right technique. Now I'm not saying that you cannot die. Why this? You can, but I personally don't recommend it. You will be saving so much money already by painting instead of re facing or replacing. So rejoice in that savings and hire professional. You will thank me apart from low cost. The other main pro to painting your cabinets is that you really only need to make one decision. What color do you want them to be? And because cabinets are the majority surface area of a kitchen. Painting them will make a huge difference to the look and feel of your kitchen. If you go this route, I generally recommend updating the hardware as well. This is another way to make a nice design impact for not a lot of money as long as your cabinetry is in good shape. The only riel conto painting is a possibility of being disappointed with the final look, either because of poor workmanship or if the sealer is not done well, you will also likely deal with chips down the road. Now let's move on to re facing, which is your second most affordable option. Re facing means that you're keeping the Cabinet box, but you are replacing the doors and drawer fronts and re facing the exterior of the boxes with a veneer. For the doors, you will have the choice of solid wood or engineered wood, including MDF, plywood or particle board. The engineered wood could be covered in wood veneer, laminate, melanin or thermo foil. That's a lot of choices, and you may be thinking, well, what's the difference? Well, in short, wood veneer is a thin layer of hardwood that is glued on laminate is a plastic or vinyl sheeting that is glued on. Melamine is simply another type of plastic laminate, and thermo foil is a thin layer of a specific type of PVC vinyl that is a vacuum pressed on . There is generally a lot of confusion between laminate thermo foil and melamine. So let me help you break these down. First, we have laminate. As you may have guessed, laminate is a more general term for a surface material that is made from paper and resin pressed together under heat. There are many different types and therefore qualities of laminate. The lamb it has manufactured under high heat such as Formica, will last longer than those manufactured on their low heat. Specifically, they will crack and chip less, and if it's high quality, it should not peel. Laminate is also easy to clean and comes in a wide variety of finish options from foe would grains to various solid colors and offers a consistent finish. Melamine again is a specific type of laminated melamine cost less to produce. Although there are high and low quality melamine products, the low quality melamine products will not last as long, but the high quality melamine products will last as long as high pressure laminate again. Because it's a type of laminate, it's easy to clean and has many different finish options. But melamine can peeler chip off, and, if not installed properly, the nails and the screws can cause a melamine to splinter. The pros to thermo foil are many. It's non pores, so waters non issue unless the coding is damaged. And that's actually true for all laminate options, it's resistant to most staining. The full wood products look better than laminate. It's easy to clean, of course, and is the most affordable of use. Three options. Third off oil products also come in many different finish options. However, it's not all positive. Thermo foil is susceptible, the chipping and can peel when placed near high heat appliances, although heat shields can be placed between the cabinet and the appliance to protect them for solid wood options, common materials include maple, oak, cherry, hickory pine and knotty alder. Solid wood doors typically costs more, but sometimes higher, and laminates concussed nearly as much as would so definitely be sure. Look at all of your options. The pros, with three facing are that not only can you change the color, but you can also change the door style, including the ability to add in accent doors such as glass front and Miljan doors. This is a great option when your Cabinet door style is dated, but your boxes and your drawers are in good shape, and changing the style of your door is second on Lee the color in terms of making the biggest design impact to your kitchen, the cons include potential bad workmanship. This can include doors and drawer fronts not being installed correctly and veneer not being applied correctly, which may ultimately start peeling off. So be sure to do your homework and talk to previous clients of the company you're considering hiring for your re facing the other con, some might say, is the potentially difficult decisions you'll need to make in regards both to material and door style, which is why I'll be covering more this information later in the course, so you'll feel more comfortable making these decisions. Despite some potential decision making challenges, painting and re facing are fairly straightforward options, especially when compared to buying new cabinets. For that reason, new cabinetry is where we'll be spending all of our time in the next two lectures 12. Gel Stains - The Best of Both Worlds?: 13. Let's Talk Cabinetry – Function First: before we dive into all of the functional decision, Jewell need to make the May 1st share some important dimensions with you. For those of you who appreciates such details, be aware that the finished height of your base cabinets with your countertops will be 36 inches high and are generally 24 inches deep. Your upper wall cabinets should begin 54 inches above the finish floor. Upper cabinets are commonly either 36 inches or 42 inches high and are usually 12 inches deep. But other sizes are available for such applications as cabinets over a refrigerator. Upper cabinets should not be placed over a sink. Obviously, replacing all of your kitchen cabinets will be the most expensive option. However, you should know that there is a huge variation in price and quality within this option for a variety of reasons. Now, you may be tempted to go with the most affordable option, but it's much better to go with the highest quality you can afford so that they will last and look great for as long as possible, or at least shoot for a mid level cabinet. So you may be wondering what factors are driving these large variations in price. In short, it comes down to materials type of cabinetry, meaning stocks and my custom or custom, the upgrades you select framed or frameless cabinetry and the style of Cabinet door. Clearly, you're going to have a lot of choices, so let me break it down for you first. The materials you definitely will have a lot of options I'll start with was generally the most expensive as well as the most desirable, which I'm sure you've guessed is solid hardwood. But I would also include plywood in this category. Why is that? Because solid hardwood is generally not a great choice for Cabinet boxes, due to both cost and its susceptibility to expansion and contraction when exposed to humidity and large changes in temperature. As a result, solid hardwood is generally only used for doors, drawer fronts and face frames. So do you know why hardwood is so desirable? Two primary reasons. First, each piece of wood is unique in texture, grain pattern and color. Additionally, hard was incredibly resilient and easy to repair when scratched, dented or stained. Hardwood can truly last a lifetime because the variations in texture, grain pattern and color. You definitely want to consider the style of your kitchen when deciding on which would to go with. For example, a wood that has a lot of visible knots like knotty pine er older is great for a more rustic style. Kitchen oak is a great choice for a farmhouse style kitchen. Cherry works best in traditional walnut would be beautiful in a mid century modern kitchen . Maple is quite versatile and can be used in most styles. As I just mentioned, plywood is considered an excellent choice for quality Cabinet boxes, assuming it's a good quality plywood. This is because plywood is moisture resistant and a stronger than MDF particleboard and even believe it or not solid hardwood. As a result, plywood cabinets are quite expensive. The thicker the plywood, the stronger it is. So be sure to look for cabinet. Boxes are at least 1/2 inch thick for the sides and bottoms, preferably 3/4 inch and ideally, 1/2 inch thick on the back. Shelves should be 3/4 inch thick to maximize the possibility of sagging. The next best option after a combination of hard would imply would is NDF, which is an engineered wood product made from wood fibers, wax and resin, and formed into panels via pressure and high temperature. The provost MDF include decent strength and durability, resistance to expansion from humidity and temperature changes, and it's smooth. Surface makes a great for painting. The cons are that it can be susceptible to damage caused by moisture, and some MDF uses Yuria formaldehyde in the adhesive, which has been linked to a myriad of health problems when it off gases. If you do go with NDF, I would encourage you to look for a product that doesn't contain Yuria Formaldehyde, as MDF has been shown to release the most formaldehyde. The remaining option is particleboard, which is an engineered wood product made from recycled wood chips and shavings pressed into sheets. Particleboard is your most affordable option, but there's a reason for that. While particleboard is resistant to temperature fluctuations, it is weaker than the previously mentioned materials and as a result, can be prone to sagging. It is also quite susceptible to moisture, which can cause both structural damage and discoloration. Now manufactures try to protect against this by stealing all of the ends with a special banding and a clear coat, which does help but does not make it completely resistant to moisture apart from materials . Another reason for the huge price variation is due to common upgrades that you might decide to make after all, you why your kitchen to not only look great, but you also want it to work as efficiently as possible and meet all of your family's needs . Some of the more common upgrades include soft close hinges and glides. Full extension drawers, rollout shelves, lazy Susans or drawers for corner cabinets built in wine racks. Crown molding turned leg pieces to mimic the look for furniture, glass doors and dovetail joint drawer boxes, which are much sturdier and offer the largest storage space possible. Going back to built in wine racks for a moment. Wine racks can be easily built into an upper cabinet added on at the end of an upper cabinet or two or at the end of a kitchen island. So if you love wine like I do, do consider adding in this easy and fairly affordable upgrade, Cabinet costs can also very greatly, depending upon if you go with stock cabinetry, semi custom cabinetry or custom cabinetry, stock cabinetry is not only the most affordable, it also will arrive more quickly, since this type of cabinetry is mass produced and ready to ship when you order. The primary downside with stock cabinetry is limit options you'll have with regards to size , material, style and color. If you confined stock cabinetry that will work for your kitchen remodel or if you're updating the kitchen. But plan on selling your home in the near future than stock cabinetry is a great choice. Next, we have semi custom cabinetry. This type of cabinetry uses stock cabinets but allow you to make changes in certain areas. For example, you may be able to resize the doors drawers both with and depth, select different style doors and drawers, and have a much greater selection in color choices, as well as allow for special treatments such as glazing. This will definitely help to give your kitchen a custom look without the custom price, while the lead time is longer for so my custom, often 4 to 6 weeks, it's not nearly as long as this for custom Cabinetry is for all of these reasons that semi custom cabinetry is the most popular and widely considered to be the best of both worlds. Last, but certainly not least, we have custom cabinets. You may be wondering if there is a difference in quality between semi custom and custom. Thankfully, there isn't. The difference has to do with Onley, the production method of the cabinetry. As you can guess, custom is the most expensive option, but there's obviously a good reason for this. You can literally build anything you want, which means that they are labor intensive and typically takes weeks or months to build. On average plan on a to 12 weeks. The possibilities with custom cabinets are endless. You could make them any size or style you want. You will likely have hundreds of color and finish choices, and they will fit your space perfectly and help you to maximize storage. You may be able to color match as well, which is incredible for these reasons. Custom cabinetry is a great choice if you can afford it and you plan on staying in your home for at least five more years. Your final decision when it comes to cabinet function, use that more to do with where you lived in the world. But that is changing. At least here in the US Some of you may have already guessed that I'm referring to whether to go with framed or frameless cabinets here in the U. S. Framed cabinets have been and continue to remain the standard in Europe. The more popular choices frameless. That, said, frameless, is becoming more popular in the US So what is the difference? The main difference has to do with inclusion of a face frame that sits between the door and the cabinet box. The frame is composed of rails and styles. Rails on the horizontal support pieces and styles are the vertical supports. These supports helped to improve the strength of the Cabinet. That said, because frameless cabinets lack this face frame, the cabinets are generally made of a thicker material to compensate and add strength. So if you're trying to decide with choice to make in your home, what are the pros and cons? Well for framed cabinets, the pros include easier installation. They could be hung on uneven walls, easier door drawer adjustment, and you will have more options in size, style and modifications. The cons are that they may take longer to installed and frameless and the Cabinet side skin panels will need to be installed on site, meaning more room for air on the installation side. Frameless cabinets gives you full access to the interior of the Cabinet typically are installed more quickly. They have a larger drawer capacity and your Cabinet sides air finished at the factory. The cons are that you will have less options in the areas of size, style and modifications. They're not a great choice for uneven walls as they can be pulled out of shape. The doors can be prone to sagging if they are installed correctly, and at least here in the US, are generally more expensive than framed cabinets. 14. Let's Talk Cabinetry – Style Second: now that we've discussed all of your functional decisions, let's leave that behind and move on to the fund design decisions, which are going to be tied to the style of your kitchen. What do you think are the elements of a kitchen cabinet that contribute to the style? Well, you may have guessed the Cabinet door, and you would be correct. But there are actually two different characteristics about the door that helped to establish the style. Any idea what those are? Did any of you guess inset versus overly, if so, very nicely done? In my experience, this is one of those areas that most people just don't give much thought to or any thought , too, until their designer or cabinetmaker is asking them to make their choice. Now I'm certain some of you are asking yourselves, When the world do you mean by inset and overlay? Well, this simply refers to how the Cabinet sits with respect to the Cabinet face frame, you essentially have three options incent, partial overlay and full of early. Now, if you've spent any time on Pinterest looking a kitchens, you've definitely seen all three options. Whether you were aware of it, or not, These options impact not only the style but also the cost. Let's start with the most expensive option. Any ideas? Which one? That is. It's insect cabinet doors. Inside Cabinet doors are exactly what they sound like. These doors air inset into the cabinet face frame and sit flush with the cabinet when closed. You can even customize the look of the store with a beated in a set, really giving it that something extra now. As you can see, an insect door gives your Cabinet a completely seamless look. However, the seamless look does come with several downsides. First, in terms of cost, you will typically spend between 15 the 30% more than you would with an overlay option, given that the doors and drawers must fit perfectly within 1/8 inch of the frame and the doors require stops. Since the door does not get stopped by the frame. As a result of the additional craftsmanship required, the lead time will also usually be longer. Additionally, because of doors sit inside the cabinet, you unfortunately will lose some storage space as well, which could pose a problem with larger items that you need a store And if you live in an area with high humidity, be aware that would doors are likely to expand, which could cause rubbing to occur between your door and the frame. Finally, with the style you absolutely will need to install polls or knobs. Otherwise, you won't be able to open the doors. So while the seamless look is beautiful, you'll need to decide if the costs are worth it. Please note that with this type of door, the hinges can either be concealed. Or you can go with exposed barrel type hinges that are a great choice for a more traditional kitchen. Speaking of traditional, this style is really suited to traditional kitchens, but honestly work well in any style kitchen, including on ultra contemporary kitchen. Now, if you feel the costs are just too much for this option, but you really like the look, a great alternative for you would be full overlay doors. These doors completely cover the face frame again, giving you a seamless look. Additionally, you don't have to lose precious cabinet storage space. Another great advantage is that you don't have to have a vertical style on your face frame , which allows you to store oversized items with ease. However, because there is very little space between the doors, generally about 1/4 inch, you still need to install pulls or knobs for ease of use. You will also have about 1/4 inch reveal on all sides of the door in terms of style. While any style kitchen works with this choice, you really want to go with this choice if you have a very contemporary kitchen. Also, if you're looking to conceal any appliances such as a dishwasher or a refrigerator behind some Cabinet panels, the full overlay is going to be your better option. The least expensive option is to go with partial overlay doors. This style can also be referred to his traditional overlay or standard overlay. It's called Standard because it was the industry standard for years because they're the least expensive. They are no surprise, the most common, and are definitely the door of choice for apartments and entry level homes. As the name suggests, this door style leaves some of the face frame exposed with one the two inches between your doors on all sides. As a result, you can choose to use hardware or not, since opening these doors without hardware is not a problem at all. This overlay, of course, cannot be used with frameless cabinets. These doors are a great choice if you have a traditional kitchen. But this type of door also works particularly well for a transitional French country farmhouse or Western style kitchens as well. Your next decision that you'll need to make is your door style design and more than any other aspect of cabinetry, door style design will truly dictate the style of your kitchen, so you don't want to make a mistake in this area. And, of course, you have a lot of options, making this a challenging choice for many and the point at which the homeowners eyes often start to glaze over on me. I get it, I really do. But don't worry. I'm here to help you sort it all out. I'm going to be covering eight of the most popular styles, starting with slab cabinet doors. These doors, which are sometimes referred to his flat panel, are obviously the simplest style door available, given its minimal is Look, this is a great choice for contemporary mid century modern industrial and Scandinavian style coaches. Next we have recess panel doors. These doors have a flat panel with the other edges raised. These work well in a variety of styles, but I particularly like them for transitional style kitchens. Let's move on to raise panel doors. This choice is always spot on for a traditional style kitchen. I actually chose a style for my own kitchen. These doors have a raised center panel, which aligns to the height of the doorframe and has a recessed surround. Most of these doors have beautiful carved detail ing, making them a favorite choice for many. This style of door also works really well in transitional Mediterranean, Tuscan and modern French kitchens. Next on our list is the ever popular Shaker style Cabinet doors. This style gets its name from Shaker style furniture, which, if you are familiar with Shaker style furniture, you know that this style of furniture is all about clean lines and maximizing utility. This door, which is a type of recess panel door, has a frame made from four pieces, which is laid on top of a flat panel so five pieces in total. The frame also provides strength to the outer perimeter of the door super simple, and as a result, the style of door works well with many styles, including traditional transitional and most styles in between. I particularly love it in both English country and coastal shoot kitchens. Now let's talk about cathedral arched doors. This distinctive style, which originated in the medieval period, is quite classic and traditional and can be either done in the recessed or a raise panel door. Moving on. We have beadboard doors, which is really only suited to a handful of styles, such as farmhouse, cottage and French country style kitchens. As you can see, the center panel of the door looks like beadboard paneling, which is a common wall treatment in all of the aforementioned styles. The main downside that I hear with these cabinets is a challenge of keeping them clean, given all of the grooves that dirt and grease can easily wedge itself into. Another great choice for the style kitchens includes distressed cabinet doors. Distress doors also look great in Western and any rustic style kitchens. Finally, we have milion and all other accent door styles. Thes accent doors are exactly what the name imply. There uses accents only on a handful of your upper cabinet doors rather than every upper cabinet door in your kitchen. In addition to the popular moly on style, which is an excellent choice for a traditional or transitional style kitchen, we also have glass doors, leaded glass doors and aluminum frame doors, which would be an excellent choice in a contemporary or an industrial style kitchen. An obvious but important point about glass doors is to remember that you should only install them on cabinets, where you're comfortable with everyone. Seen what's inside as a result, These make a great choice for cabinets, in which you store your wine and other cocktail glasses, any pretty serving where or with any set of matching dishware, so choose carefully. Location also matters. You don't want to randomly space them throughout your kitchen. Some great options include placing two on either side of your range hood or choosing that have all of the cabinet on one wall. The accent doors accent doors do cost a bit more than a regular door, but for the price, I think it's definitely a smart decision. One final consideration is to decide whether or not you want a special finish or a stain for your doors rather than just selecting standard painted doors. A special finisher stain can really help to essentially the style you're going for in your kitchen. Optional finishes include high gloss acrylic, which looks great in contemporary Art Deco and mid century modern kitchens. A weathered finish which is ideal for farmhouse, western and college kitchens. Or an antique finish, which is perfect for English country, French country, Tuscan and traditional kitchens. To obtain this antique finish, cabinetmakers use glaze, which is a semi transparent color to add depth and dimension as applied over a painted or stained finish. It can either be applied over the entire door, which will slightly darken the color or could just be applied in the corners and edges called accent glazing, which will help the carved detail ing to really pop, you can choose to accent glaze some or all of the lines of your Cabinet door. Just be aware that each additional line of glaze means an additional cost, as glazing is done by hand, Glaze looks great on both white or cream cabinetry as well as non neutral stained cabinetry like we see here with this beautiful island. While glazing in general is a wonderful upgrade to make. Be aware that some future potential buyers may not love as much as you do. Stains are used when you want to accentuate the natural grain of the wood you're using and can either be transparent. Or they will come in a variety of colors, stating looks great in rustic style kitchens. Whatever you choose painted, stained or glaze cabinets, be sure that you are getting a quality topcoat, such as a polyurethane varnish. Now a few final tips When purchasing new cabinets, I recommend looking for cabinets that are certified by the kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Association as they conduct ample testing to ensure durability. Also, be sure to buy repair kit as well as a few extra hinges or door slide systems, as these items wear out more quickly and are quite easy to replace. Finally, please consider donating your old kitchen cabinets rather than throwing them in your landfill. Companies like Habitat for Humanity and the Reuse People of America, when nearly always gladly take them off your hands 15. Open Shelving: uh, open shelving is everywhere right now, but thankfully, this is not something I would consider to be a passing trend. Open shelving comes and goes with popularity, but even when it goes, it seems to always come back both because of functionality and because open shelving really helps to visually open up a space, especially if you have a small kitchen or a dark kitchen. But really open shelving looks great in any kitchen. One popular sentiment I often hear when discussing open shelving is this. I love the look and functionality, but I'm really worried about the upkeep, and I do get it. So let's go ahead and break this common sentiment down on the functionality side, I can tell you both from personal and professional experience. Having most or all of your everyday dishes exposed on open shelving for easy access simply cannot be beat now to the perceived downside, which I'm sure you can guess refers to. Yes, dust and grease with shelving out in the open, the concern is that you'll be battling dust and grease on your shelves and dishes on a frequent basis. Well, this is where I stress using your everyday items because if you're just using these shelves for your everyday plates, everyday glasses and coffee mugs, unless you live in an unusually dusty home or area or you cook with a lot of Greece regularly, it is unlikely that your dishes and shelves will suffer any negative consequences from being out in the open. As these items will be frequently used and washed as to the shelving, yes, you will need to dust them from time to time. When I had opened shelving, I would try a dust them every other week when most of the dishes were in the dishwasher and that was just fine. That said, darker shelves may need to be dusted more frequently. Additionally, if you're shelving goes up quite high, it's not going to be practical to use only everyday items. But that's OK. It's OK. Have decorative items on your hard to reach shelves. This could include tea sets serving where artwork and baskets. So when is open shelving Not a great choice. Well, if you have cats that like to jump up on things, this may be a problem, or if you live in an area that has frequent earthquakes, also, probably not a smart choice. Finally, if you feel that you don't have anything you want to display at all, then clearly open shelves just don't make sense. Clients will often say that once they installed their open shelves, they felt the need to purchase new matching dishware, which I think is a pretty common reaction. Open shelving can be used in any style kitchen, but I particularly love it in farmhouse, English country, French country, cottage industrial and bohemian style kitchens. There also so many different styles of shelving everything from floating shelves to rustic wood shelves with metal supports. In terms of materials. Great options include wood, metal and even glass. Obviously, choose a style that coordinates with the style of your kitchen. If you aren't sure what that is, just Google the style of your kitchen with words. Open shelves such as farmhouse kitchen, open shelves and look at pictures in the images tab for inspiration. Pinterest, of course, is another great source for style Inspiration. If you do have a small kitchen, I recommend going with shelves are the same color as the wall or the backsplash behind it. Open shelving can be purchased from any number of retailers or that could be custom made. In my experience, custom made shelving is generally not that expensive when made by a carpenter or even an experienced handyman, And open shelving will always be cheaper than cabinetry. So if you need shelving of a specific size, don't be scared off by hiring out to get the perfect look and size. Speaking of size, open shelving in the kitchen should be at least 12 inches deep, but can also be is deepest 16 inches. I would install your lowest shelf 16 to 18 inches above the counter and then leave roughly 12 inches between the top of one shelf and the bottom of the next shelf up. This should be sufficient space to store most of your items. Open shelving should be treated like accent cabinet doors in terms of placement. While obviously very functional, open shelving is also very much a decorative element. So place them on either side of your range hood or on either side of your sink, because shelving in your kitchen is often going to be holding up quite a bit of weight, not just dishes, especially if you're going to place your cookbooks there than run of the mill anchors aren't going to cut it. So if you aren't confident in your ability to make them secure and stable, definitely hire professional toe. Hang these for you. 16. Kitchen Islands: I love a great kitchen island. Did you know that island is one of the most valuable upgrades and you can make to your kitchen any thoughts on why this is true? Well from a functional standpoint and island could be a powerhouse of activity. It can provide you with additional counter storage and seeing space, and you can also incorporate your cook top, your sink, your dishwasher and possibly a prep sink. Providing you with incredible versatility they cooked up on your island allows you to chat with your guests while cooking. You can also use the island as a buffet when you're entertaining. Aesthetically, an island is one of the easiest ways to create a beautiful focal point for your kitchen. Given the incredible our ally of Kitchen Islands, it's no wonder that this kitchen element has consistently endured in the US since the colonial era. So if you have the space and are considering installing one, just be sure that you have clearly identified how your island will be used so that you can maximize its utility before you buy one or build it. There are so many options available at all price points that as long as you have the space , I'm sure you can find one that will fit into your budget. We have the increasingly popular portable island, such as the island on wheels, which could be had for as little as a few $100 or we have built in islands, which run from several 100 to a few 1000. I especially like the built in islands with detailed carving that is reminiscent of a beautiful piece of furniture. Some even are repurposed pieces of furniture like we have here, and having any open legs will help to keep the visual weight of the island on the lighter side, as I just mentioned, built in islands generally costs between several 100 several $1000 depending on the size and materials used. If you're fairly handy, you can usually DIY I. Why a built in kitchen island? However, if you plan on installing, they sink a dishwasher, a microwave, a cook top, etcetera into your island. I would really recommend using a licensed professional, and you'll likely need an inspection a couple of quick notes if you install your sinking your island. I highly recommend installing your dishwasher right next to it. This is not only extremely convenient, but both appliances can then share the same drain. Also, if you are installing a dishwasher or a microwave, be sure to have adequate clearance for the door swing. This can vary by size of your appliance, so check the specs before finalizing the plans for your island. So how do you determine if an island is right for you? First and foremost, you need the space to be useful. A built in island should ideally be at least four feet long and a minimum of two feet deep . But you'll need a deeper island if you will be installing a sink or using it for seeding as much as 42 inches deep with a sink. Additionally, you need a minimum of 36 inches, but ideally 42 inches around all sides to accommodate traffic. However, if you regularly have to people who work in the kitchen or if you need universal design for someone in a wheelchair, increase that space to 48 inches. If you don't have the space for a building island, that meat see specs, then considering Mobile Island instead, that could be rolled in and out of the space as needed. If you decide to repurpose an old piece of furniture for your island, such as an antique, be sure that's tall enough to be practical. That's 36 inches for most tasks, which should be the height of your counter. That said, a 30 inch counter works will. If you're going to be regularly kneading and rolling out dough as you can, apply more downward pressure with a lower surface. Most people wouldn't want the entire island at 30 inches. So if you like this idea, consider Korean a drop down station at the end of your island. Just for this task, given the desirability of kitchen islands, are two islands better than one in many cases. Yes, yes, they are. Obviously you need the space. But provided you do a double kitchen island, for some is the epitome of luxury and does give you an incredible amount of versatility. Now double islands can either be installed parallel to each other lengthwise in a deeper kitchen, or they can be installed side by side in a particularly long kitchen. In my opinion, this is a much better choice than one really Long Island as a double island allows you multiple walking paths rather than just around the two outer edges of the island, which can kind of be a pain from time to time to maximize the functionality. This is where you want to focus on creating useful zones. For example, you could install the main sink and a dishwasher on one island for clean up, and then install a prep sink with a trash can on the other island for prep work. Or you could choose to install your sink and dishwasher on the island closest to the cup top, and then use the other island as a bar with a wine, refrigerator and seeding. A great choice if you enjoy entertaining. A double island can also be great when you regularly have your kids in the kitchen doing their homework. Ah, Second Island will provide them ample space for eating stacks and doing homework while giving you adequate space for food prep and cooking. Double islands can work well in one wall kitchens. You shake kitchens and L shaped kitchens, provided they're large enough off course Islands can also be different sizes, and this option works best when they aren't right next to each other. don't forget that built in islands can come in many different shapes. There's a standard rectangular shaped island, but we also have many others, including curved islands, square islands, l shaped islands and even T shaped islands, which are generally used when you want to add an informal seating area to your kitchen. The important thing is that the island is proportional to the size of your kitchen. If you are planning on using your built in island proceeding, you'll need 24 inches of with for each person comfortably in terms of comfortable these face. This varies by the height of your island. If you have a 36 inch high island, you want 15 inches for a 42. In High Island, you only need 12 inches, and for a 30 inch high island you'll need 18 inches. You should also have 15 to 18 inches on the target overhang. One easy weight. Increased functionality and improved design is to leave some or all of the shelves open on your island. This option is great if you plan on storing your cookbooks and or you're serving where here , as these make great decorative items as well, other functional options and you should be aware of for a built in island include extra outlets either on the side of the island. Auras pop about Let's on your counter. Very cool. A wine cooler wine racks on under the counter refrigerator. Great for the little ones in your home to grab snacks and water on their own. Let's face the store your microwave. Pull out garbage and recycling bins and pull out shelving. As I discussed previously. You can also install a sink or a cook top into your island. If you go the cook top, consider installing a decorative range hood above it. Now some believe that they simply can install a downdraft fan behind the cook top, or you can even purchase a cook top. With this. Incorporate into the imply. It's, however, this typically won't be enough to rid your kitchen of the strongest cooking smells or if you griddle, sear or fry food at the minimum. If you don't want the decorative hood, you should also install a secondary exhaust fan into the ceiling above. If you do go with a hood, be aware that you'll need a bigger fan and likely a bigger duct than if you install the hood on the wall. This is because a hood over an open space will be pulling air from all sides. Also, if you plan on both cooking and eating at your island, you should consider a dual high island, which will raise the height of your eating area to Korea. Safety Zone against cooking mishaps Such a scalding steam Greece or liquid splatters, a dual high island also has the added benefit of hiding any dirty dishes while you're cooking and entertaining a definite plus. So how do you maximize the design potential of your island? Here are some great suggestions. First, you statement lighting over your island. A chandelier to chandeliers are beautiful. Pendants provide great lighting and make an incredible design statement. Second, choose a unique countertop material that is different from your other counters. Because you recovered a much smaller space, you can go with a higher and material for not that much more money. Great choices include marble, granite courts, court site, butcher block, recycled glass or stainless steel. If your island is particularly large, consider using two different materials. For example, if you have a dual height island, each level could have its own material. Or, if you have a sink or food prep area, you consol stainless steel just in that area. You could even do a decorative in lay in the middle third of your island. Or what about live edge piece of wood for an elevated seating area. Using two different materials not only adds a great design punch, but it may also help you to prevent. Seems if you were planning all installing a natural stone countertop. Third, if budget allows. There is nothing more beautiful and striking in my opinion than a waterfall edge island on one or both sides. I mean, wow, just wow right when deciding between one edge or to consider the shape of your island. If you have a symmetrical islands such as a rectangular or a square island, then waterfall edges on both sides really does look best. But if you have an irregular shaped island, one edge, maybe all that you need and will definitely save you money or if you have a symmetrical island with open shelving on the other end, then obviously, when it is the only way to go fourth, consider painting your island in the color that is different from your cabinet Color. High contrast is best if your cabinets are light, go with a dark color for your island and vice versa. Fifth, consider a unique material for the base of your islands, such as reclaimed wood, a fantastic choice for a farmhouse, western industrial, contemporary or even urban modern kitchen. Six. And finally, if you have a more formal or traditional kitchen, consider adding decorative corporals and or island posts. 17. Kitchen Lighting: If you've taken any of my other classes, you likely know that I absolutely love lighting. There is truly no room in a home that is not dramatically improved with great lighting. And the kitchen, which is the heart of the home, is clearly no exception. Great laying can transform a kitchen from an ordinary space to a wow space just by using a layered lighting scheme. Now you may believe that can lights are all you need to light a kitchen? And if you have windows, that may be, all you need is natural light during the day. Not only is this incorrect, but you're also missing out on a great design opportunity. Now windows are great and can absolutely be used to offset your general lighting requirements during the day. But what do you do when there are no windows in your kitchen and, as a result, little natural light? I'm sure your first thought is well, Erica, obviously you need to install artificial lighting. Yes, of course, absolutely, and we'll get to what that looks like in just a few minutes. But there are other tricks, and you should consider using as well to maximize the light that you do have 1st 1 of the best techniques you can employ is to incorporate reflective surfaces to help balance the light around. Some great examples include lacquered cabinets, glass cabinet doors, especially with led lighting inside stainless steel appliances and countertops, or a reflective backsplash such as stainless steel, antique mere or glass. Additionally, be sure to choose light colored surfaces for your cabinetry and walls as life surfaces will visually expand your space. Now let's talk about artificial light and what your best options will be for your kitchen. As I mentioned just a few minutes ago, you want to use a layered lighting scheme, which is composed of three layers of light. We have ambient lighting, task lighting and accent lighting. First, let's discuss ambient lighting, which is a general life that provides illumination to your entire kitchen. Andy and lighting for your kitchen is commonly provided in the form of recessed can lights , but can also be provided by a chandelier or two or a semi flush or flush mount light for a smaller kitchen or several flush mount lights for lower ceilings. Sometimes a combination makes sense. You could use cans in the chandelier for example, task lighting, which provides more intense lighting for certain areas such as food prep, your sink area and cooking is vital to every kitchen. Task. Lighting can be provided through under cabinet lighting, track lighting or pendants over your kitchen island, or even narrow our focus beam recessed can lights, which is often the great choice for over your sink. A long, linear, multi light pendant can also look great over an island. Task lying should be about twice as bright as your ambient lighting and accent. Lighting, which is used to highlight objects or architectural features in the room, are great when used in glass door or millions or cabinets or on open shelving, which can be done by attaching led strip lights on the bottom of each shelf. If you have any artwork in your kitchen, accent laying can be accomplished through an led picture light or a directional recess can light. If you're just looking to create a pool of light or highlight individual item, consider led puck lights. If you absolutely love lighting, did you know that you can also install lighting in your drawers? This is actually a thing and can be done via led strip light and a motion sensor so that the light goes on when you open the drawer and goes off when you close the drawer finally for you, lighting a fixed Renato's. Also consider applying accent lighting on the tokic around the perimeter of your kitchen. V led strip lights or use led diffused light channels. If your floors particularly glossy because if you use led strip lights of the high glass floor, you will see the individual dots reflected in the floor. If you use accent lighting, be sure that it's about three times as bright as your ambient lighting to be considered. Accent lighting. Now, if you've taken my lighting class, you've heard me speak about the magic of dimmers. It may seem like dimmers are only needed in areas such as a dining room or the bedroom where you're focused on ambience, but I highly recommend putting them nearly everywhere, including your kitchen. I particularly recommend them for your under cabinet lighting, and here's why. When you wake up in the morning, particularly the early morning under cabinet lighting, convey a great alternative to flipping on the overhead lights in your kitchen. But even the under cabinet lighting can be too bright, right? When you wake up, it is for me and my husband. So we always start with dimmed under cabinet lighting when we're making coffee, and then we'll gradually adjust the lighting as we wake up. Trust me, install the dimmer for your own under cabinet lighting, and I know you will thank me. So now that you have a good idea of what type of light fixtures you should consider for meeting all of your Ambien task an accent lady needs. Let's talk about lighting needs lighting, temperature, light, fixture, size and light fixture placement. First, let's talk about how to determine how much lighting you need to properly like your kitchen , both for your Andean and your task. Lighting needs first. For those of you who measure your home in square feet like Ideo, let me show you how to determine your kitchen. Ambient lighting needs begin by calculating the square feet, which you do by simply multiplying the width by the length of your kitchen. Let's assume it's a 10 feet by 10 feet. Kitchen 10 by 10 is 100 or 100 square feet in the imperial system, which is what we use. We measure lighting in a unit called foot candles, which will help us to determine how many total lumens are needed. Every room in your home has a recommended number of foot candles for kitchen ambient lighting, for example. The recommended range of foot candles is 30 to 40. Now. We just need to multiply the two numbers in this range by the square feet, so that would be 30 times 100 which equals 3000 and then 40 times 100 which is 4000. This means that we need between 3000 and 4000 lumens of kitchen. Ambient lighting makes sense great. The recommended foot candles range that I used for kitchen task lighting is 60 to 80. In this case, let's say we're trying to light a two by three foot sink kitchen area to buy three equals six square feet, then six times six years 3 66 times 80 is for 80 which means that we need between 3 60 for 80 lumens of light toe adequately lighter Kitchen Island. Now, for those of you who use the metric system, lighting needs are measured in something called Lux, but thankfully, the same formula applies. First you calculate your square meters. Let's say that it's a two by three kitchen or six square meters. The recommended Lux for kitchen ambient lighting ranges from 300 to 400 so six times 300 is 1806 times 400 is 2400. So that means you should have between 1800 and 2400 lumens for your kitchen. Ambient lighting. The luxe range for kitchen task lighting is 6 58 50 If you have a kitchen island that is one by two or two square meters, then simply multiply two first by 6 50 then by 8 50 to calculate the range of lumens needed for that particular task area. Super easy right again, provided you have your different layers of light on a dimmer. You can always lower the lighting if you find it's too bright for you. Although be aware as you age, you will need more lighting. Trust me, I am already having this problem now when buying your bulbs will, of course, also need to determine the temperature that you want for your light bulb. Also known as the Kelvin rating, while I tend to go with warmer bulbs in my living areas somewhere in the 2,503,000 range, which are similar to candlelight because that just is most flattering to our faces, I go with at least neutral, if not cool for the kitchen, as this produces a brighter white light, which is best for high task areas like the kitchen that would be in the 3500 and 4500 Kelvin Range. This really is a personal preference, so you may need to try a couple of different bulbs in different Calvin radiance until you decide what you prefer. Now let's talk size of your light fixtures for recessed can lights. This decision could be made using several considerations. The height of your kitchen ceiling, the lumens output of your bulb, what the can is being used for and personal preference. Let's start with the height consideration. As long as you're stealing, is at least eight feet high. I generally will specify six inch cans because here in the US there are way more trim options for six inch cans than there are for four inch or five inch cans, which are the other two most commonly used sizes in residential lighting. However, if the ceiling is lower than eight feet, then I would likely go smaller four or five inch cans. Now my understanding is that in Europe, the smaller four inch equivalent is the standard, so those of you in that part of the world may likely have many more trim options in your four inch equivalent. Moving on. If you want a higher lumens ball, you may find that the ball will only work in a five or six inch can. So I recommend that you figure out the lumens, or what's equivalent that you need for your kitchen and then decide on the can size. Now let's really talk about function while any size congenitally be used for your ambient lighting needs. If you are using your can to provide focus task lighting, I would use a smaller can, such as four or five inches. Finally, there's personal preference. Some people feel that six inches air too big and prefer the smaller four inch size again. As long as you ensure that your bulbul fit the fixture, then go with what looks best to you. One final note about recess cans. If you shop for your own fixtures, you will notice that trims are available in a myriad of colors, including, but not limited to white, black, bronze, copper, chrome and satin nickel. So how do you choose? In general, most individuals do not want to call attention to their can lights, so in that case, you should choose a color that matches your ceiling color. For most people, that will be white. But did you know that the color that can can also affect the brightness of the bulb? It's true. For example, black absorbs light, so a black trim will absorb some of the light, and they will help to focus a light downward instead of balancing the light around like a white trim will. Interesting, right? And, as you probably guessed, not a great choice for a kitchen where you're trying to maximize light. If you have a wood ceiling, bronze, maybe a good choice, or if you just want to make a design statement than copper Cromer satin nickel, maybe the right train for you. If you're hanging a single chandelier or a large pendant in the middle of your space, simply add the length and width of your group to determine the diameter of your fixture for a 10 by 10 kitchen. This would be a fixture with 20 inches in diameter if you prefer a more oversized look at five inches onto that, so 25 inches. Unfortunately, there's not a comparable formula for those of you. Use the metric system, so you'll need to convert from users to fee and then back again to take advantage of this easy to use approach for multiple pendants or chandeliers. There, hanging over a kitchen island, you should first measure the width and length of your island. The diameter of your pendants or chandeliers should be at least to some of those measurements. So for a six foot by nine foot island, you'll want to find fixtures are at least 15 inches in diameter and his largest 20 inches. Or again. If you prefer an oversized look like I do. For information on proper light fixture placement, please download the attached document called Kitchen Light Fixture placement. One final note about light fixtures. Many of us like to shop online now for all things home, including light fixtures. This means that sometimes we're ordering products from other countries. If you do this, be sure that those fixtures first R rated for the appropriate voltage for your country and second, that they have been ul or e teal tested and rated or whatever the comparable safety testing laboratory, maybe in your particular country. 18. Window Coverings: just like you would in any other room of your house. I recommend coordinating the window treatments in your kitchen with the color scheme of your kitchen. Sounds like a no brainer, right? You'd be surprised by how many people just throw up the most off the wall window coverings , either something really basic, like plastic blinds or something that just doesn't match anything else that is going on in the kitchen. So I am here to help you avoid making this common mistake instead to help you maximize this great design opportunity. First, let's discuss what type of options work best. Then let's discuss color and pattern. Some of my favorite window coverings for a kitchen include Roman shades, Roman shades and Roman shades. Just kidding. Although I do really love light filtering Roman shades in the kitchen, they go so many styles from transitional and traditional to French country and modern French. And remember, Roman shades come in many different styles, with the most common being simple or flat, classic or pleaded relaxed and humbled. So there's a style for nearly everyone. You can also choose the pair it with a valence or not. So why do I love Roman shades in the kitchen. Well, they are incredibly functional. They allow you privacy if needed and can be light filtering so you maximize your natural daylight. They are simple meaning not too fussy, which is perfect for an uber practical room like the kitchen and the giving nice, stylish and polished look to a window. They also help to soften all of the hard surfaces we have in our kitchens. Now, some of you may be thinking, but Erica, is fabric really a good idea in the kitchen? Aren't smoke fumes grease and food splattered? Going to be a problem? Well, the answer is yes and no. If the windows over a sink and your shade is lowered, then yes, you could have some splatter. Fortunately, most windows aren't too near cook tops and ranges, even if they are somewhat close by. Provided you oven adequately powered vent hood. You shouldn't have a huge problem unless you cook like the Swedish chef from the Muppets show. In that case, I suspect you have bigger problems. All kidding aside, your shades could still absorb odors. So, yes, you may have to have them professionally cleaned on occasion for me This isn't a huge problem, but if it is for you, then consider other options in terms of other options. First, we have bamboo blinds, which could be a great choice for many styles, particularly if you have a coastal chic bohemian or Zen style kitchen. But I love the casual feel they can give to a more transitional kitchen like we see here. Shudders could be a great choice in a number of styles, including transitional and farmhouse. Speaking of farmhouse as well as cottage cafe curtains are an excellent choice for this style kitchen or really any country style kitchen as well. Roller shades are another good choice, particularly if you have a contemporary industrial or urban modern kitchen. Venetian blinds are super versatile and work in many styles, including contemporary and transitional pleated shades and cellular shades are popular options and homes. Given the versatility of top down or bottom options and are also great choices for the kitchen, just be sure that they are light filtering. If privacy and light control are not an issue for you, another great options the simply install a valence by itself, like a tailored box balance over your window just like with Roman shades. All of these treatments may need to be cleaned from time to time, but many can be spot cleaned with a mild detergent as needed and, of course, vacuumed just like other soft window coverings in our home. Do your homework, of course, to find out what is best for your particular window treatment. All that said, you can absolutely, positively simply leave your kitchen windows bear as long as your windows aren't situated in such a way that you will have the sun blinding you either in the morning or in the afternoon. And this all depends on the orientation of your window and where you live in the world. Now that we've covered types of window coverings, let's move on to color and pattern as I started off the lecture by saying your window coverings provide a great design opportunity. So let's not waste that window. Coverings are a great place to bring in a non neutral accent color, which can be coordinated with any artwork, accessories or even the border of a rug. Or you could choose to have your window coverings blend with the color of your walls or match your window coverings to one of the other neutrals in your kitchen patterns can be an excellent choice, particularly if you have a traditional transitional French country, English country or a bohemian kitchen. Whether to go with a larger small pattern. I like to have kitchen size dictate that choice. I will use smaller patterns and small kitchens, but larger kitchens condemn definitely hold its own with a larger pattern. Whatever decision you go with, I just encourage you to be thoughtful about it. Window coverings should be an important design decision, so choose carefully. 19. Breakfast Nook Ideas: Ah, the breakfast nook. Who doesn't love a good breakfast nook? I mean, the name itself says it all. Any sort of nook implies a cozy and comfortable spot, and that's exactly what this is. The breakfast nook should be a place where you love starting your day, whether that's just a cup of coffee, a lazy Sunday brunch or casual dinner, we all want a lovely place where we can enjoy our meals. Breakfast nooks come in all shapes and sizes. One of the more popular options today includes a built in banquet bench with a small table and chairs in front of it. Banquet benches are an excellent choice for kids and families, but really, who doesn't love a cozy, booth like feel? I don't know about you, but when I go to a restaurant, I made Booth Person. That said, they could be a bit pricey. And not everyone loves the look. So there are certainly many other options. You can have a small table and chairs tucked into a small area or in alcove, a Jason to your kitchen. With an open floor plan such as a loft, you could set up a table and chairs in front of your kitchen, which will help to separate the kitchen area from your living area. If you have a large L shaped or U shaped kitchen, a table and chairs may fit comfortably in the open space or could even work in a small L shaped space. As you can see, the space generally dictates what your options are going to be unless you're starting from scratch, in which case you can build this area into your kitchen plans, which can be oh so much fun. One design guideline I would encourage you to remember is if you have a more formal style in your home, your breakfast nook should be a more casual interpretation of that style. Nothing formal or fussy. Here. Choose easy to care for fabrics on your chairs, washable slip covers or simple wood or plastic chairs such as the cool tool Upper Eames aren't chair work. Great to table should be low maintenance, such as a rustic wood table or a lacquered table. Even the glass table can be a good option as it's easy to clean. Whatever furnishes you go within your breakfast nook, be sure that they coordinate with the style of your home. For example, a wood table with rattan chairs would look great in the coastal chic home. A mixed materials table with an assortment of different style industrial and mid century modern chairs are a fun choice for an industrial eating area. A wood table with fluted legs and casual French dining chairs would be on point in your French country home. A simple wood table with wishbone style chairs are perfect in the Scandinavian space, and a tool of table with Pantone chairs are an excellent choice for a modern French breakfast nook. I really love all of these chairs, but don't let shares have all the fun. Why not throw in some chair height stools to the mix? These two come in many different styles and shapes and make getting up and down from the table so much easier, which happens often on busy mornings, especially with kids in the home. One of my other design recommendations is to incorporate at least one fun element into your breakfast nook. Consider Corky artwork or wall art, a chalkboard or a chop wall, fun patterns on your chairs or your pillows, a bold pendant or chandelier or focus on the chairs and either mix up the colors or the color and the style. Or why not some striking wallpaper on any of the surrounding walls? Just make sure that you have a 45 degree or 90 degree edge, where you can cleanly stop that paper if you're a plant lover like I am. Freestanding bookcases or floating shelves filled with plants and interesting decorative items can also be a great choice in your breakfast nook area. In terms of lighting, Some homes just have a recessed can light over their breakfast nook area. But what fun is a candlelight? There are so many great light fixtures available that you should use this opportunity toe. Hang something pretty or fun. You can either buy a can light converter kit at your local home improvement store and D I y . This, or hire an electrician's convert it for you. Either way, I think making this fairly simple change is well worth the effort or uneven. Easier solution is a plug in pendant. Now let's go back to built in benches for a minute. What's great about this feature is that not only will always give you a cozy, comfortable look, but functionally, they're great, as it's so easy to add in hidden kitchen storage into the bench. The's ventures work well in the corner space or along a long wall. If you are lucky enough to be able to include one of these, I recommend using a pedestal table to avoid leg room issues in terms of space requirements and for comfortable seating. The height of your bench should be 18 inches, assuming you have a 30 inch high table and you want the depth of your bench to be about 18 inches. Unless you plan on having an upholstered back or multiple pillows, in which case you may be as much as 24 inches, your table should overlap your bench by 3 to 4 inches. Despite their space requirements, they are often a great choice for space constrained areas, as you actually need more space for appropriate chair clearance. Now, if you love the functionality of a built in bench but don't have the budget, consider using a ready made bench or love seat in lieu of chairs on one side of your table . You can go with a simple wood bench, which is great for industrial farmhouse and Scandinavian styles, or go with an inexpensive upholstered bench with a back or not for styles such as traditional transitional and modern French. If you go with a built in vents or a bench with a back, definitely consider incorporating a seat cushion and or some throw pillows and easy to care for fabrics likes umbrella or any outdoor pillow material. This is another great place to bring in a non mutual accent color from your kitchen area. As we discussed in the window treatment lecture, I also personally love using a rug in a breakfast area. But this is certainly personal preference. Rugs air not only a great place to bring in some color, but they really do anchor the furniture and help to define the space. That said, with small kids in the house, parents may not want the hassle of trying to keep the rug clean, even patterned or easy to clean drugs. So you should definitely do what works for you. Finally, for accessories, consider a vase of flowers, a small plants such as a succulent or a bullet fruit. For a final design touch 20. Innovative Storage Solutions: regardless of the size of your kitchen, everyone benefits from smart storage solutions. After all, why wouldn't you want to maximize the space you have? I personally dislike cram cabinets and drawers and would much rather have sufficient space for all of my items so that they're not only easy to find but also look great Now. Many of you, I'm sure, are quite familiar with lazy Susans for your corner cabinets, pullout trash and recycling bin holders and pull out shelves. These have all been around for a while. They're all great, and there's still hugely popular because they work. But there are so many more innovative kitchen storage solutions than ever before, and I'm here to share with you some of my favorite ideas. The first upgrade for improving storage that I'm seeing everywhere right now is swapping out some of your cabinets for deep drawers. As you can see in this picture, deep drawers give you incredible versatility as you can use them to store bulk your items like pants and strainers, but you can also use them for jars of dried goods. Pull up pantries are another popular upgrade I'm seeing in kitchen design. These smart storage cabinets would pull out all together as one unit are small on real estate but huge on storage, which explains why they're so popular. They can obviously be included in your new Cabinet design, or that can be purchased online by many retailers and fairly easily installed into one of your existing cabinets, all on the same lines. We have custom pantries for those of you with a proper pantry or who will be installing a proper pantry, know that you can use a combination of shelves, shallow drawers, pullout baskets and even wine storage to create your dream pantry. I love it now if you want to upgrade your existing pantry. No problem. There are lots of options from online design systems, such as easy closets dot com, two ready made systems that you can purchase through home improvement stores like Home Depot. Next, we have the appliance garage, which you may have seen in an interior design magazine or on Pinterest. They are everywhere right now. He's built in storage areas, allow you to conveniently store your commonly used small appliances, such as your toaster blender and mixer nearby. But out of sight cooking utensil drawers are another popular upgrade, which eliminates the need for a cooking utensil container on your counter. These doors come with built in slots that may quickly finding what you need. A breeze. Spices air, obviously a must for every kitchen. But instead of taking up valuable real estate on your kitchen counter with a traditional spice rack, instead purchasing in drawer spice rack, which makes finding the space you need a snap. But if you don't have the drawer space, there are still plenty of pullout Cabinet storage options and Cabinet door mounted systems , including D. I Y. Options, making this an upgrade that nearly everyone should have room for. Of course, don't forget to alphabetize them. Speaking of pull out systems, consider a drawer that wraps around your sink for storing sponges and clean supplies or as a D. I. Y option. A single or double tier pullout caddie is a favorite among homeowners now for the ultimate and pull a innovation. Move over Lazy Susan blind corner, pull out shelving units or pull out drawers for your corner based cabinet are an excellent and mawr efficient alternative. If you're handy, you confined D i Y. Tutorials online. I'm sure We've all seen Pinterest pictures of pantries organized beautifully and efficiently with a liberal use of baskets. But have you considered using baskets on any open shelves in your lower cabinets or your kitchen Island baskets, Wherever used are always a smart and stylish choice, particularly in the kitchen. If you have the floor space, consider addio you Taj array for holding pots, pans, books serving where or dishware. Detached arrays, which are like bookcases but with open sides come in many different styles and price points . And because of their open sides, their light on visual wait, Think of any Taj array in your kitchen as an updated take on Baker's racks. Here we see one pulling double duty as a room divider as well, between the kitchen and the eating area along the same lines. If you have a traditional farmhouse or English country kitchen, consider an antique or vintage cabinet for storage. Usually well built, this approach is not only functional but makes a huge design impact. Now let's talk details for a minute. People commonly hang them on the revenues or dishwashers, but this is just not a great idea. Any guesses as to why, well, First of all, I'm sure you're aware of the water splatter that gets on these appliances when you go to dry your hands. But more importantly, it's really not very hygienic. Every time you open your dishwasher or your oven door, your dish towel then hits the floor, which, let's face it, is generally not the cleanest surface in our kitchen on the 24 7 basis. Thankfully, there are some great alternatives. If your sink is located within a foot or so from the end of your base cabinet, consider installing a towel bar on the end. This will keep the towel off the floor and conveniently located for drying your hands. But if this isn't an option for you, you can purchase towel bars that you can hang over the door of the cabinet directly below your sink. For all you fellow wine lovers out there, most of us have seen built in and countertop wine racks. But what about wine cubes? Why in cubes allow you to store a lot more wine than a typical wine rack in a similar amount of space? I personally love the built in ones, which can either be integrated into an upper or a lower cabinet. They do make prefab ones as well. So for those of you who have extra counter space, these can be a great option for storing and displaying your wine to wrap up this section. Here are three final storage recommendations for you I absolutely love this first idea. If you're short on glass space in your cabinets, particularly cocktail glasses, consider installing glass shelves under your cabinets on your backsplash. Storing clear glasses on glass shelves will virtually make these items nearly disappear into the background. Smart and stylish. Second, consider immovable pegged drawer system, which is used to store plates and plastic containers in your deep drawers. These D I Y systems are fairly affordable and are a great way to efficiently use any large drawers that you have in your kitchen. They're also great for allowing the smallest members of your household. Teoh easily grab their own plate. Finally, I'm sure you would agree that cutting boards, cookie sheets, baking sheets and pizza pans are some of the pesky er items to store in our kitchens. Most people end up just piling them on top of one another in one of their base cabinets. But this approach makes it less and easy to pull out when you need one in through the base cabinet. Pull out tray divider. This handy system could be installed in a base cabinet or a 24 inch deep cabinet that you may have over your refrigerator again. This could be an upgrade when purchasing new cabinets. Or you can actually purchase a D. I Y system online for a decent price. Alternatively, you can purchase pan dividers that could be easily installed vertically or horizontally for a more affordable price. What I love about the storage solutions is that most of them can be D I. Y or easily integrate into your existing kitchen. I hope you enjoy this lecture and, more importantly, that you picked up some new ideas for innovative storage solutions that you are excited about integrating into your own kitchen. 21. Small Kitchen Design Hacks: if you have a small kitchen as functional, then count your blessings. Not surprisingly, remodeling or update a small kitchen will always cost you less than if you have a really large kitchen, which is what I'm seeing popping up a new home construction all over the US right now. The beauty of a smaller kitchen is that you can more easily invest in higher and finishes because you'll generally need less of each material. Now. Just because you have a small, functional kitchen does not mean that you wanted to look small. No, quite the contrary. Most of the time, we want to make our kitchens feel and look bigger than they actually are. So if you have a small kitchen that is not meeting your functional needs, then we have two challenges on her hands. One, we want to make it look bigger, and two, we want to make it more functional. So if you were nodding yes to either of these scenarios than this lecture is for you, and because I, too, have a small kitchen, I have used many of these techniques that I'll be recommending not only professionally but also personally. First, let me go ahead and list all of the hacks or techniques that I regularly used for making a kitchen feel larger and those techniques I've used for making it more functional. Then we'll be going through different examples of small kitchens that have used one or more of these techniques, and I'll be discussing the techniques in detail as needed. On the A static side, easy hacks include removing the upper cabinets, open shelving glass, cabinet doors, minimal accessories, continuity of light colors, appliance panels, counter depth refrigerators, bear windows, an interior cabinet lighting on the functional side. Apart from what we discussed in the last lecture, additional smart hacks include hanging utensil racks, magnetic wall strips, pot racks over the sink, cutting board rolling carts, shelving above cabinets, interior cabinet door storage, cabinet hooks and shelf risers. So let's dive in and see what these look like. In our first small kitchen. You can see that they have used a counter depth refrigerator. Do you know why this is a great idea? It's because a counter depth refrigerator creates a single continuous line for your I and as you now know, will provide the illusion of more space. But in addition, a counter depth refrigerator actually does give me more floor space as regular depth refrigerators do, protrude out a little bit into the kitchen. You can also see that there is a cutting board laying over the sink by purchasing a cutting board large enough to lay over your sink or purchasing a cutting board made to fit the top of your sink. The result is that you will have more counter space for prepping your meals. Placing the cutting boards so near the faucet also makes your sink the perfect prep area for your fruits and your vegetables in this kitchen. You can also see that they have minimal accessories on those beautiful counters. A great design guideline to employees to have just one or up to three if you have a grouping of either decorative or functional accessories per isolated area of counter space , meaning any unobstructed expanse of counter space. Finally, they've used light colors for their primary colors, and they've left the window bear to maximize natural light. In our second kitchen, you can see hanging utensil rocks, which they've used to hang cooking utensils and some dishware hanging on the backsplash. In addition, that hanging utensil racks. You can also use magnetic knife strips on your backsplash or walls, which can hold not only your knives eliminating the need for a knife block. But don't forget that can hold anything magnetic. Such a stainless steel serving spoons and spatulas Can openers pizza wheel meat thermometer , food processor blades, mixer beaters? Well, you get the idea. If you have metal pot lids, you could even install a magnetic knife. Strip inside your based Cabinet and hang them. They're freeing up valuable shelf space. I really do think outside the box. When it comes to these handy magnetic strips, you can also see that they used minimal accessories and a counter depth refrigerator. In our third kitchen. They replace an upper cabinet with two shelves. When I like about this approach is, that's resulted in them taking the backsplash to the ceiling again, forcing the eye upward and helping the ceilings to feel taller. They also used hanging utensil racks, and I love the barstools they've chosen for the space. The open steel we've and light frames for the legs are incredibly light, from a visual weight perspective perfect for a small kitchen. Also, you may have noticed that the we've has a similar pattern to the backsplash, which adds harmony to this design. Moving on to our next kitchen. We don't see any upper cabinets in this shot, so there may or may not be. But what we do see is open shelving with regard to removing upper cabinetry. This is one of the easiest than foolproof ways. Have your kitchen feel larger and brighter. The obvious downside with this approach is that you then lose valuable Cabinet space in an already small kitchen. But there are some work arounds to this problem. First, try removing just the upper cabinets on the focal wall of your kitchen, meaning the wall that you first look at when entering your kitchen. This means that you may have upper cabinets on a side or an opposing wall or walls, so you give up some space, but not all. And by having your focal wall be free of upper cabinets, you are providing a similar space illusion as if you had removed all of them. Alternatively, you can just get really smart with your lower cabinets and incorporate some of the storage solutions that we spoke about in the lecture on innovative storage solutions. Finally, of course, you can replace the cabinets with open shelving, which definitely creates a more open feeling than close cabinetry. If you do go with open shelving and a small kitchen, definitely take the shelving to near the ceiling like we see here, presuming you have a relatively normal height ceiling. This will accomplish two things. First, you've added extra shelving, especially for things like serving where that you don't use often. And second, the higher shelving will draw your eye upwards, which will help the space to feel larger. My advice is to only place infrequently used items on those top shelves, as I just mentioned, such as the dishware used for entertaining specialty glassware or even a pretty tea set. In addition to open shelving, we also see a small portable island with wheels in the middle of the floor. Small portable islands or even smaller rolling carts are great because when you aren't using them, they usually could be stored on a wall in or adjacent to your kitchen or place parallel to the end of a base cabinet to minimize the amount of wall space it takes up. This is a great space to store cookbooks, pretty dishware or cocktail glasses, liquor bottles and pretty pots such as a Dutch oven. The top of the car can even double is another place to lay a cutting board when you are short on counter space. In our next example, we see that they have chosen a light color scheme for their cabinetry, walls and their flooring. Color scheme selection is definitely an important consideration in a small kitchen. Assuming you want to make the kitchen feel larger, the rules are simple. First, keep the colors light so white light grey intense, meaning lighter versions of any accent colors. This is your first design rule. Second, try to use one primary color in the majority of your space. For example, if I'm trying to make a really large kitchen, feel smaller. One designed technical uses to paint the upper and lower cabinets. Different colors using two different colors, especially those with high contrast such as black and white, will visually cut the space and help to make it feel smaller. Now that's generally what you don't want to do in a small kitchen. Instead, continuous blocks of colors, particularly white, which reflects the most light will help to visually open up the space. For example, a kitchen with white cabinets with white walls will appear larger than the kitchen, with blue cabinets and white walls along the same lines. Using appliance panels that coordinate with your cabinetry again helps to create continuity and, as a result, a feeling of openness. However, if you don't have the budget for appliance panels, then the next best choice would be to select appliances that are the same color as your cabinetry or go with stainless steel, which naturally reflects light as well. We also see that they've left the window bear in this kitchen to maximize natural light. In the second small U shape kitchen, you can see that they've used glass cabinet doors on the upper left cabinets. Any glass doors do help to visually open up the space, although not as much as open shelving does. Unlike the last kitchen where the window was left bare here, they've used a light filtering window covering to maximize natural light, but to also provide privacy. Finally, this kitchen also has a light gray and white color scheme going back to this kitchen that they left the focal wall bear of upper cabinets. We also see that they've left their window bear and use some appliance panels for a more seamless look in this beautiful kitchen. We definitely see continuity in the primarily white color scheme and great use of appliance panels. Don't forget that accent lighting is also your friend in a small kitchen. Installing lights inside of any cabinets with glass doors will help to make the cabinets feel light and break in terms of space. Hogs in our kitchen cabinets of one of the worst offenders are pots and pans. Thankfully, there are many great hanging pot rack options available. For those of you who don't mind having those items on display, the most common place to install them is on the ceiling and often over a kitchen island, which is okay for a large kitchen but not so great for a small kitchen. Ah, better places to hang them on an open space on your wall, even on your backsplash. If it is high enough, I also like this option installing a shelf at the end of one of your upper cabinets and having it serve double duty. Alternatively, you could hang them in between cabinets like we see here. Although I don't love that's blocking the window. In the last lecture, I talked about using the end of your base cabinet on which to hang a tell holder for your dish tells, But this space can also be used to hang pots, pans and even cutting boards. Now, in the last lecture, we talked about ways to squeeze more out of your cabinets with clever upgrades. But what if you've done all that and you still don't have enough Cabinet space? At that point, your walls become your best friends first. If your upper cabinets don't go to the ceiling, then do consider installing a shelf in the same color as your cabinets above them, which will double your space up there to store lesser use items. The key to keep this area from looking horribly cluttered is to either store stylish items such as matching serving where pretty jars or use matching baskets with name tags in which to store. Those less visually appealing items and walls aren't the only space where you can ramp up the kitchen storage. Don't forget about the inside of your cabinet doors. This is a great place to hang your oven mitts, potholders, dish towels or any type of organizer, such as a spice rack or a general organizer, which have been used to store clean supplies. Foil Saran wrap sandwich bags, small cutting boards, Tupperware lids, dishwashing soap cooking magazines, you name it. Another favorite hack is the hangar measuring cups and Spoons. Here. I've even seen cute ready to install systems that have labels for measurement cups and spoons. Finally, maximize the space inside your cabinets through too easy Hacks first install hooks inside your cabinets toe. Hang your coffee cups on and or you shelf risers, which can literally double your space by allowing you to store different items on the same shelf, one over the other. As you can see, there are many products today that can really help you to maximize the space in your small kitchen in nearly every possible way. That said, you may be wondering, Well, where do I start? What are the best door attacks to spend my money on? Personally, I would start with those ideas that conceal kitchen items most of the time, such as utilizing the backs of cabinet doors in selling shelf risers, etcetera, to keep my kitchen from looking too busy. As you may have realized, having a lot of kitchen items clearly visible, especially kitchen items in a variety of colors, will work counter productively to the light, monochromatic color scheme that you use to try a visually open up your kitchen. After that, I would incorporate ideas that have minimum visual distraction such a storing cocktail glasses on glass shelves, as we discussed in the last lecture, or using the end of base cabinets for storing dish towels or other items. As this is below your eye level and won't draw your attention as much. I truly hope you learned some great new ideas that you can use in your new home. I'll see you in the next lecture. 22. Activity #2 - Making Your Functional Decisions: 23. Let's Select Finishes – What Comes First?: Now that you've worked out the more challenging, functional aspects of your kitchen, now it's time for the fun part. Well, at least for me. And of course, I'm referring to the design selections, which will be largely dictated by the style you've chosen for your kitchen, as we discussed earlier. So what do I mean by design selections? I am referring to your color scheme, countertop backsplash, flooring, sink and faucet appliances, hardware and accessories. You may have noticed I didn't mention cabinetry and life fixtures, but I cover these areas in the previous cabinetry and lighting lectures earlier in the course. And for those of you who are interested in mixing metal finishes in your kitchen but have no idea how to do it. Well, we'll cover that to a little later in the course. Now, with all of these choices to make, a common question is, well, where do we start? Once we've selected the style, would you start with flooring, countertop appliances, color scheme? And what about your cabinetry, which we discussed earlier? Where does that go? In the order of things? In terms of selecting your door style and your color, I am sure some of you just said color scheme out loud and you would be right after all, after style, Doesn't your kitchens color scheme helped to narrow down many of your choices? Of course it does. So what comes after choosing your color skin? If you're not sure, don't worry. That's what this lecture is all about. First, let me just say that you may receive some slightly different answers to this question from different designers and design build companies, much like we discussed with the order of work lecture. But in general, I think we all follow a similar order. Here is how I do it. First you and I would select cabinetry, then counters followed by your backsplash and then your flooring. Next, you select appliances, including your sink and faucet, followed by hardware and last but not least, accessories. I'm sure some of you may be wondering why this order we start with cabinetry because this is your biggest ticket item. You want to find the perfect style and color first so you don't have to compromise. Trying to match it to any other finishes counters air next because you will have fewer options in this area than you will in your backsplash. And again, this is a very important item in your kitchen, both functionally and aesthetically. Conversely, there are so many backsplash options that this is one area where clients eyes do start to glaze over a bit, so it's better to pick countertop first and then select a coordinating backsplash material . Making these three decisions first, particularly cabinetry and countertops, will help you to more quickly narrow down your flooring selection as far as your sink, faucet and appliances. You may be thinking, but Erica, I love cooking, and I have my heart set on the specific range. Why wouldn't I designed my kitchen around this? Or you may be thinking, but Erica, even when dealing with standard sizes, they still can vary by a few inches. So shouldn't I select my appliances first? Both of those arguments sound perfectly reasonable, but let me tell you why I recommend selecting cabinetry before appliances in nearly every case. First, the design layout of your cabinetry is the single most important decision you will be making in your kitchen. You want to choose a layout that will work best for you and optimize your space. So although you may believe you know exactly what range or refrigerator you want. You may be surprised that once you finalize your cabinet designed layout, you actually may change your mind about your initial selections. Also, there's the fact that your cabinets will outlast your appliances by a long shot. So getting a Cabinet design that you will be happy with long term is more important than any appliance selection Now. That said, if a client came to me and told me that they absolutely 100% had toe have this Viking range or this sub zero refrigerator, then I would make sure that we fit it into the design. But in most cases, I recommend selecting cabinetry before appliances. Not surprisingly, I'm sure hardware and accessories are last. In terms of hardware, you have a ton of selections, and so it's easier to coordinate the hardware with everything else than the other way around. Accessories air items such as a soap dispenser, canisters, artwork, etcetera and just like accessories for any other room of your home. They definitely are last on the list for selection. Okay, now that we've got that sorted out, let's dive right into each of these areas, so you feel confident making your selections 24. Kitchen Color Schemes: as we discussed in the last lecture. Choosing your color scheme is as important as choosing your kitchen's style, as this decision will inform all of your other finished selections. It's important to note that when I use the term kitchen color scheme, I'm referring to the metal finish or finishes as well, such as chrome, nickel, bronze or brass. So how do you choose your color skin? Given that there are so many color combinations available? Thankfully, the style you've selected will help to greatly narrow down those selections. Now, before we get into some winning combinations by style, let me just share with you some color trends in kitchen design right now, as well as some important considerations that you should think about before making your color scheme selection as faras color trends. White kitchens have been and continue to be a favorite for many different styles, particularly traditional. A white kitchen never seems to go out of style, So if you like white, feel confident that this color has true staying power as far as non neutral colors, Blue is definitely wanting those popular choices, especially as an accent, color everything from cabinetry and islands to appliances and backsplashes Blue, particularly navy blue, is hot hot hot pair this great Q with white cream or light gray for a beautiful color combination that should also look great for years to come for finishes. Brass is very popular right now, but chrome, nickel and black are all close behind in popularity. Speaking of gray, this color is still holding strong in home design, including kitchen design. Gray is usually paired with white and or black and a dark gray looks beautiful, with light wood tones and white. One of my personal favorite color schemes for a kitchen is a black and white color scheme. This combination works for so many styles, including traditional contemporary transitional, Scandinavian, modern French, art Deco industrial and even farmhouse. Now I'd like to share with you to important considerations before you finalize your color scheme first, given the prominence and central location of the kitchen in your home, and given the fact that a kitchen is primarily composed of hard surfaces, it's important to consider the other colors found in your home, particularly flooring, and any adjacent pink colors went selecting a color scheme for your kitchen as faras flooring, you essentially will have three options. One. If you aren't changing the footprint of the kitchen, leave the Florida's is to replace the flooring so that's unique to your kitchen or three. Continue the flooring you have in the areas around the kitchen. Whichever way you go, you'll want to ensure that the color in your kitchen, particularly the cabinetry, work well with the flooring in your kitchen. I will get Maurin to how to do this in the flooring lecture later in the course. But just be sure to keep this point in mind in terms of coordinating the cabinetry in your kitchen with other cabinetry or built in shelving you may have in your home. The cabinetry, of course, doesn't have to match exactly, but it should coordinate so that the home flows well and you maintain harmony. This is especially important with any cabinetry in a nearby area that is within the line of sight from your kitchen. Second, remember to keep in mind some basic color psychology Colors impact our moods, and for a highly utilized space like the kitchen, it's just smart to make sure that you use colors that you like. If you are looking to stimulate the appetite. Consider incorporating red, orange, yellow or turquoise into your kitchen design to help suppress your appetite. Blue, purple, gray and black are great choices. Note that turquoise can help stimulate the appetite, but blue does not. So why is that? Well, apart from blueberries, there aren't really any blue foods found in nature, so the colors that suppress appetite have to do with a primal response. Colors there, naturally found in natural food, are generally red, orange and yellow, whereas you don't see food that is generally blue, purple, gray and black. Now you might argue that we have eggplant and red cabbage, but those aren't terribly popular foods. Turquoise, while obviously in the blue family, is thought to stimulate appetite because it reminds us of tropical waters, which generally makes everyone feel quite happy. And happiness and eating go hand in hand. Interesting. Right now, pink is also known to suppress appetite, But pink is not a popular color for kitchens. Unless, of course, your Barbie and Ken. Now, if you want the kitchen to be a lively, fun place with great conversation again, consider red and orange. But if you want the kitchen to be a bit more common. Relaxed blue and green are excellent choices. Finally, you'll know that the majority of color combinations for a kitchen consists of 2 to 3 neutrals and if there are not neutral accent colors as well, generally those air limited toe 1 to 2. Unless you're considering a bohemian kitchen, in which case non neutral colors rule in terms of common finishes. In general, more formal kitchens frequently used nickel or bronze, contemporary or more middle. Most styles frequently use chrome. Casual styles often use chrome and black and where rustic styles love to use bronze, copper and black. Now that is not to say that you can't use a different finish for one of these styles because, after all, it's your kitchen, and most finishes are neutral enough that they can be used in most styles. That said, let's go ahead and jump into some color scheme Examples for each style. For traditional style kitchens, consider cream brown and pale yellow with bronze finishes. Espresso, beige and cream with nickel finishes or white rich brown and grey with nickel finishes. If you have your heart set on English country, then you may love cream brown and green with bronze finishes or white Asian brown with black finishes. For you modern French lovers. Some great combinations include white and gray with nickel finishes, black and white with black finishes or espresso and white with nickel finishes for your Mediterranean kitchen. Beautiful color schemes include brown Beijing cream with black finishes and white, brown and black with black finishes. Coastal sheikhs. Best color combinations, no surprise include blue as a must color, but the shade of blue you choose is all up to you. Here we have navy blue and light blue with white, brown and nickel finishes, and we also light blue with cream brown and bras finishes if you just the door cottage kitchens, then consider white, light blue and medium wood tones with black finishes and cream medium wood tones with deep green and red accents. If you're going with a Scandinavian kitchen, common color combinations include white black light wood tones and chrome finishes. White black, medium wood tones and black finishes and white, black and red with chrome finishes. For a French country kitchen, we have cream brown and blue with black and nickel finishes white, brown and black with nickel and black finishes. and white, gray and brown with nickel finishes for all you Tuscan lovers out there, consider using olive green brick rad cream and medium tone woods with black finishes and beige with medium wood tones and black finishes. If you love color and are considering a bohemian kitchen, you are in luck as any color combination will generally work, the brighter the better, but for some inspiration, considered turquoise, red, yellow and gray with chrome finishes, or for a seriously pared down, bohemian inspired kitchen, which appeals to others. Consider dark brown, white and medium wood tones. But be sure to have a strong pattern and some plant life in your design. If you know you're going western, then definitely consider red turquoise um brown with black and bronze finishes or turquoise yellow, red and beige with bronze finishes. If farmhouse is right for you. Tried and true color schemes include blue, white, black and medium wood tones with nickel finishes, white and medium wood tones with black and antique pewter finishes and white, beige and brown with bronze finishes. Contemporary kitchens look great in white, black and gray age, with chrome finishes, espresso in gray with stainless steel and chrome finishes or for something more unique, go with navy blue and medium wood tones with chrome finishes. One of my other favorite styles is transitional if you love this style than some winning combinations include white, gray and black with nickel finishes black, white and gray with brass finishes and white and gray with rich wood tones and nickel finishes on urban modern kitchen is always a great choice for a loft or a downtown dwelling . For this style, consider white light woods. Deep bread with stainless steel finish is black and medium tone woods with black finishes and espresso white and gray with chrome finishes. If mid century modern speaks to you, then consider turquoise, red and medium wood tones with crone finishes, white, blue and light wood and medium wood tones with chrome finishes and white gray and medium wood tones. Industrial is such a fun cool style for this style of kitchen great combinations and include gray brick red and light wood tones with chrome finishes, gray black and light wood tones with blue and or yellow accents and gray medium dark wood and light wood tones with stainless steel. Finish is and finally is then If you're looking for peace and tranquility in your kitchen, look to white greys and turquoise with chrome finishes and white and medium wood tones with chrome finishes. Clearly the after mention combinations or not. The Onley color schemes available to you in these styles. But they do work well and can help you to more quickly narrow down the best color selections for your dream kitchen, no matter what style you choose. 25. Captivating Countertops - Stone of Every Kind: At this point, you've hopefully selected your layout, your kitchen style, your Cabinet, your style, all upgrades and your color scheme. Now let's go ahead and get into the details of kitchen design, which includes all of your finishes and your appliances. As we discussed earlier after cabinetry, countertops are generally going to be your most important and sometimes your most expensive item, so you obviously want to choose wisely. There are several factors that you should consider when making your countertop selection, budget style, color scheme activities and your cleaning routine. First we have your budget. This factor alone will greatly narrow down your options. If you have a modest budget, you can quickly eliminate some of the higher and materials such as marble. From a style perspective, certain countertops just look better with certain styles, such as butcher block in a farmhouse, kitchen or stainless steel in the contemporary kitchen. Obviously, your color scheme will help you to greatly narrow down your choices as well. If you've decided on a white and great kitchen, then you can eliminate any non neutral color options as well as beige and black countertops . After selecting style and color, many people unfortunately just stop there. But the kitchen is first and foremost function in my mind, so you have to consider the functional aspects as well. First, let's discuss your regular kitchen activities. If you regularly, or someone who likes to be able to set a hot pan directly on the countertop or you have young kids in the kitchen, then this needs to drive your decision making as well. Finally, we have your cleaning routine. This is the one area where I find people don't always tend to be as honest with themselves as they should. The reality is that some countertops, although beautiful, are incredibly high maintenance and need to be cleaned regularly. Toe look good, for example, any dark countertop is going to be a challenge to keep clean. It just is. You will need to clean regularly. Otherwise, dust, fingerprints, wire spots, etcetera will likely drive you crazy. Other countertop materials are simply high maintenance that require more regular ceiling or oiling, such as some marble and butcher block. So with these factors in mind, let's discuss the most popular stone options Today. In the next lecture will dive into countertops made from everything else first and not surprising on the list is granite. Although once considered a high end material, this carrot top has become ubiquitous and kitchens today, although realtors still list this as a main kitchen feature due to the fact that Granick continues to remain a favorite amongst home owners everywhere and for good reason. Granite is moisture scratch and heat resistant durable, and every piece is unique, so no one else will have exactly the same countertops as you dio. Because of the common strong patterns and granite, most don't need constant cleaning toe look good Granite also comes in many different colors , so if you like this material, there is a good chance you can find a slab that works with your color scheme. In the past, the main down side was the fact that needed to be resealed roughly every year. However, there are now lifetime sealers available for a higher up front cost, of course, but if you hate the idea of annual ceiling than it may just be worth it to go with this newer product, you may or may not be aware that granite comes in many different grades low grade, mid grade and high grade, which essentially tells you the price range and or the quality of the granite. For more information about granite grades, check out the attached document called granite Grades Do these matter. Granite looks good in many styles, particularly traditional transitional, contemporary Mediterranean and Western. In terms of cost, granite is considered to be a mid to higher end cost material. Next up in popularity is one of my favorites. Let me lead into this material by saying that while I love natural materials like marble and granite, if I'm working with a client who is looking for something that's extremely durable and requires little maintenance than all frequently suggest that we go with courts Courts, which is also called engineered. Stone is definitely one of the most popular materials today and seems to be only growing in popularity. Why do I love courts? First, let's talk about the functionality. It is a fantastic material for heavy use, and for most people, the kitchen is definitely an area of heavy use. This is due to the fact that courts is extremely strong, non porous and a stain resistant, crack resistant, heat resistant, acid resistant and bacteria resistant. Now, please note that this does not mean staying crack heat acid and bacteria proof. You cannot completely beat up this material, or you will see where in terror. For example, if you place a pot or a pan that is harder than around 300 degrees Fahrenheit, you could very well scorcher countertop. On the plus side, it doesn't require ceiling and could easily be cleaned with water, mild soap and a soft cloth. Now on the ecstatic side, one advantage to courts is that it should be consistent in look and pattern from the sample to your actual slab, which means that what you see is generally what you get. However, you should always ask your sales rep about the range of acceptable variants. Early in my professional career, I had a situation where the actual slab came in, looking quite different from the sample, provided after going back and forth with a distributor and the manufacturer that came back staying, that the product was in the acceptable range of variants, which, at that point I wasn't even aware that that existed when it came to courts. Unfortunately, I learned my lesson the hard way, so I always have my client look at the actual slab in person to make sure they're happy with it before installation. Despite this minor issue, because courts comes in a huge array of colors and patterns today, making a choice that works with nearly any style or color scheme here's another reason. Do you love the look of marble? But hate the upkeep? First, you're not alone. Second, I have great news. There are so many beautiful marble looking courts products available today for a much more affordable cost and a lot less maintenance. That this, I'm sure, is just one more reason for courts. His popularity. Some common manufacturers of courts that you may have heard of include Caesar, Stone, Sile, Stone, Cambria and Zodiac. Because courts not only comes in many different patterns as well a solid colors, it works in many styles, including but not limited to traditional modern French Mediterranean coastal Sheikh, Scandinavian contemporary transitional Art Deco and Zen, in terms of price per square foot courts, is what I would consider a mid to high end material in line with the cost per square foot of granite, although higher end products such as Cambria are usually more expensive, although granite and court seemed to dominate many kitchen redesigns today. Let's not forget that we have other options as well. One of the other great options is court site. Now you may hear that court site is superior to courts, and personally, I think that this comes down to priorities and perspective. First, despite the similar name, thes are different materials, as I mentioned earlier courts is an engineered stone that is made up of roughly 90 and 95% ground courts and 5 to 10% polymers, pigments and residents. Court site, on the other hand, is all natural and made from metamorphic rock that started as courts. Rich sandstone, unlike courts, which is a smooth material court site, has a slightly coarser feel. If you like your stone to feel more like stone than this, may be a great choice for you because it's an all natural stone material. It's not non porous, like courts is and will typically need to be sealed at installation and annually thereafter to avoid stains and bacterial problems. Apart from being all natural to other advantages, a court site that are often touted include the fact that stronger than courts can even tolerate, like cutting on the surface without etching as more heat resistant than courts. In fact, court site manufacturers will usually tell you that you can set hot pans and pots directly on this countertop, and it will be fine courts that comes in a range of colors, including whites, greys, black browns, greens and blues. This material, like granite, has generally strong patterns, so it more easily hides dust, food, splatter, etcetera for style compatibility I would treat similar to granite and consider pairing it with traditional transitional, contemporary Mediterranean and Western kitchens. In terms of cost, courtside is typically more expensive than courts and granite. Next, we have soapstone. This material, which has been slowly gaining in popularity, is another all natural material, and as a result, no two slabs will be exactly alike. Sub Stone is also a metamorphic rock composed of Magna site, dolomite talk and some additional minerals. One important feature to be aware of is soapstone will generally dark in overtime as it's exposed to oxygen. It's also quite a bit softer than the previously mentioned countertop options and will easily show nicks and scratches. But the good news is that these blemishes contentedly be buffed out if desired. Although to be honest, I heard mixed reviews on the ease and success of doing this. As a result, some people prefer to leave the blemishes for character. Sub stone is also bacteria and heat resistant, and it doesn't require ceiling. Soapstone like courts, is easy to clean up, usually just with water and mild soap. In terms of appearance, substantively has vein ing much like marble and usually comes in a limited palette of colors, including grey, green and black. Soapstone counters look great in traditional transitional, contemporary modern French, urban, modern farmhouse, college, English country and French country kitchens. Although because it is a soft, high maintenance material, I might be inclined to only use it in the more casual styles, like Farmhouse College in English country, so that I could allow it to obtain a weathered patina look that would fit right in with these particular styles. From a cost perspective, it's usually a little more expensive than granite and courts. Finally, we have a true fan favorite, at least in terms of looks. And that, of course, is marble Ah, marble, a truly beloved classic and a favorite amongst Pinterest viewers everywhere, marvel of course is a completely natural material, so no two slabs will be exactly alike. Correra, which originates from Italy, is the most commonly used marble and, because of its availability, the most affordable option as well. Other popular options include Calcutta and statuary. Oh, there are others, but these three dominate. As a result, when you look at courts products, you will frequently see these three types replicate frequently by courts manufacturers. Now, even though when most people think of marble, they think of white with grave aiming, marble does come in additional colors, including black, green, yellow, gold and even pink, all those softer than court site courts and granite. It's, thankfully, a little stronger than soapstone, but still prone to scratching. That said many, although not all marbles are quite high maintenance and porous. So spills like red wine juice and colored oils or even oil from your hands may be a real problem if you don't seal it regularly, typically every six months. Although some people say that they like their marble toe, look a little worn and patina after years of use, that's definitely a personal preference, marvelous, fairly heat resistant, which is great. But like courts, not heatproof, so I would always use a trip it for cleaning. You really want to go gentle here? Nothing stronger than you would use on your hands. So again, water and mild soap work well. Marble looks ideal in traditional transitional, modern French, contemporary English country and French country kitchens from a cost perspective. While marble can be extremely expensive, career marble because of its availability, is generally more in line with granite and courts. 26. Stone Countertop Finishes: 27. Captivating Countertops - Everything Else: While Stone certainly seems to dominate the world of countertops, let's not forget that we do have lots of other options. So if stone leaves you feeling cold, then you come to the right lecture. First up on our list is a material that is the opposite of cold. Instead, this material just oozes warmth. Any guesses you got right, if you said would and butcher block countertops. Once considered old fashioned, these countertops are now very much back in style and are considered a dream material for many. Would countertops, particularly butcher block counters on island, look fantastic. While the terms would and butcher block are often used interchangeably, be aware of an important difference. True, butcher block countertops are made from strips of wood that are glued together into a slab and can be used as a true work surface, like a cutting board for slicing and chopping. Also, whereas a butcher block countertops can be is thick as 12 inches, would countertops are generally only as thick as six inches, regardless of which way you go, simple wood or butcher block. There are lots of choices you'll need to make first, you have graying orientation specifically and green edge, green and face cream. While there's a lot of information about these different grains, both functionally and aesthetically, let me just say that face grain is more of a decorative choice and helps to highlight the beauty of the wood. While edge and end grains are more durable as a work surface, you'll also need to decide on what species of would you want. Common options include walnut, Oak Beach, Brazilian cherry, bamboo, maple, teak and Wedneday. But be aware that some woods perform better depending upon where they'll be used, such as an island versus nearest sink. So definitely talk to the supplier about where the wood counters will be installed. You'll also need to choose an edging. Many of the edging options mimic what we see with stone countertops, plus more. Next, you can decide if you want to stay in the counter or not, which will add to the cost rather than leaving the wood in its natural color. Finally, you'll need to select the protective coating or seal, which includes mineral oil. Oil lacks combo or a urethane or acrylic clear coat. Although the Clear CO is considered a permanent coding, you should know that is not a food grade finish. So if you plan on cutting food directly on your counter, go with a mineral oil or oil wax finish. Also, the clear coat can be a pain to strip. If and when you want to re finish it would. Counters have many advantages. They are strong. They absorb sound well, and they're generally considered eco friendly. They're also easy to clean, with warm water and a claw or a mile cleaner. Would counters can easily be repaired when scratched or dinged. As obviously, this material can be sanded easily. Like most other countertops, they are heat resistant, but they're not heatproof. Another advantage toe would is that, unlike stone countertops would carry tops are way easier to D. I y on the installation side for handy homeowners. Now let's talk about the downsides first, unless you go with the clear coat finished. They need to be regularly maintained with oil or oil wax, which can be a bit of a hassle. How often this seems to vary, and you should ask the manufacturer for their recommendation. But from what I've seen, heard generally at least twice per year after the first year But it could be more depending upon how dry the air is in your home as long as they are properly oiled with a water resistant oil, water should not be a problem. That said, they can expand and contract with humidity changes, which could cause warping and gapping problems if not properly installed. One way to combat this, though, would be to choose a thicker wood countertop. Would counters obviously look fantastic in a farmhouse kitchen, but they also work well in French country transitional, modern French, urban, modern, industrial, bohemian. And if you use wood with a live edge, it's a stunning choice for a Western kitchen, depending on the type of wood used, the's countertops range from quite affordable, even less than laminate to one of the most expensive countertop options available. Another popular countertop option today, which has gained popularity in recent years, is concrete, especially popular and industrial, urban, modern, contemporary and farmhouse styles, but can also be great in French country and even traditional. While I'm sure gray is the predominant color that comes to mind when thinking about concrete counters, remember that concrete can be staying to nearly any color. You want you can also have different finishes from smooth and polished too rough and textured. And you can even embed a variety of materials into concrete, such as recycled glass or stones, giving you a highly customized look. While concrete is definitely strong as well, a scratch and heat resistant, this is one material that definitely needs to be resealed on a rather frequent basis. The penny on the sealer you use as much as four times per year. Otherwise it won't be scratching. Heat resistant four times per year is definitely not low maintenance. Can you guess concrete counters? Number one Nemesis? Yes, it is water, water or any liquid for that matter, especially acidic. An oily ones can leave your concrete counter stained, although there are some techniques you can use to try to lift those stains. That said, even with proper ceiling, it's almost inevitable that you'll end up with some sort of staining over time. Although truth be told, many people like this Warren look Additionally, extreme changes in temperature or settling of a new home can cause your concrete counters to crack. Ouch. Cleaning. These counters are not too bad, though. A sponge or soft claw warm water and some mild dishwashing soap is all you need. Finally, in terms of cost, you might be thinking high bet concrete counters are cheap compared to most of their options. Well, I am sorry to disappoint you, but they're definitely not cheap on par with granite and courts. And a good chunk of that cost is about installation, installation and installation, as fabricating them well requires skill and experience. The two main ways to install concrete counters are to have them pre cast off site and then installed much like a stone countertop. Or they could be hand poured on site. Some people think that you need extra reinforcement in your cabinets due to the weight of the concrete, but you actually don't. It's comparable in weight. Two stone countertops. Now you can technically d i Y concrete counters, and there are online tutorials that will teach you how to do it. But just know it's tricky if you want a great result moving on. We have stainless steel, although definitely not as popular as the other materials recovered. Stainless steel can be a great choice for certain kitchens, especially if you are a serious cook. After all, it's solid, durable, practically water staining, heatproof and bacteria free. It's also equal friendly as it could be recycled when removed. For all these reasons, this explains why stainless steel is the counter top of choice in commercial kitchens. But it's not indestructible as it can and will scratch, and it can also be dented, which could be difficult to repair. But going with a lower gauge material 16 or 18 will help to minimise dense. Also, stainless steel, as you may know, is prone to showing fingerprints and smudge marks. So if this is something that drives you crazy on your stainless steel appliances, well, then Stainless steel countertops may not be the best choice for you unless you don't mind frequent cleaning. Speaking of cleaning, using baking soda and vinegar and gently scrubbing in the direction of the grain is a good way to clean them. The's countertops are also loud. Unlike wood, which absorb sound, steel magnifies it aesthetically. Stainless steel can be a great choice in smaller kitchens because it is a reflective surface which helps light to bounce around and visually expand the space. But this material can read as too cold for some people. You may be surprised to know that different edges and finishes are available for steel countertops. For edges, we have square, which is the most popular toe beveled or bull nose for finishes you can choose brushed the most common, but there's also satin or Matt. Stainless steel looks great in contemporary farmhouse, industrial, urban, modern, Scandinavian, mid century, modern and Zen. Cost wise. You might be surprised to know that these are pretty pricey, typically higher than granite and courts, especially if you go with a lower gauge, thicker material. But you cant cut costs if you find a prefabricated work table or counter from a restaurant , which you may be able to find three restaurant supply company. Now let's move on the solid surface and laminate countertops. I group these together because these materials are often spoken of interchangeably, but please know they are different materials. Solid surface countertops such as Korean, Formica and Wilson art are made from mineral dust mixed with a variety of plastic resins and pigments. They are low maintenance uniform, non porous, virtually bacteria free and stain resistant. The seams are also invisible on the downside. Solid surfaces, a weaker material and can be damaged by heat, and you definitely should not cut on them as they will scratch easily. That said, scratches and burn marks are usually fairly easy to repair. The's countertops come in several different colors and patterns, and while some are meant to look like stone, it's pretty easy to tell that they aren't really. Stone cleaning is a snap with soap and water or a mild household cleaner. Cost wise. Solid surface countertops. Ari lower to mid range material. Laminate is made by combining layers of paper and residents to form a lightweight, affordable countertop material. Lemon. It comes in a large number of colors and designs, including options to make it look like stone. But it scratches and stains. It's not heat resistant and the life span of lamb, and it ranges between 10 to 20 years, a huge departure from natural material countertops that can last a lifetime. That said, the quality of laminate countertops are improving every year. Laminate countertop installation condemn definitely be d i. Y. And did I mention how budget friendly it is? It truly is, which is why it can be a good choice when you are on a tight budget. Warm water, soap and the cloth are all you need to clean laminate counters. You don't want to use a harsh cleaner because if you damage the protective seal, your countertop will quickly break down and will need to be replaced. Because of the very large number of color and pattern options. Both solid surface and laminate countertops can work in basically any style. Finally, although I won't go into detail on these other options, I do want to bring your attention to some additional countertop options that are newer on the scene but gaining in popularity, partly due to the fact that they are all known as eco friendly options. Thes include paper Stone, which is made from recycled paper and a non petroleum resin. We also have countertops made from recycled glass, which are beautiful but pricey. And finally we have resin countertops, which are recycled PVC free, resin based products in a variety of colors and finishes. 28. Tips for Saving Money on Countertops : 29. Beautiful Backsplashes: now that you are well versed in your countertop options, let's move on to backsplashes. Backsplashes are the jelly to your peanut butter. The Robin to your Batman. The Fries Fear Burger. Well, you get the idea. These two materials obviously go hand in hand and need to be selected together carefully when it comes to selecting a backsplash. Not on Lee. Do you want to make your selection based on how well it coordinates with your countertop? But you also need to ensure that the size works well for your space that it'll lines with your kitchen style and not it's in line with your budget and your cleaning routine. Let's start with probably the most popular option right now. Any guesses? If you're in interior design a fiction Otto, you likely said Subway tile. And that is absolutely correct. There is no question that subway tile is the backsplash material that is ruling the kitchen right now, at least in the States and in many ways, rightly so. Subway tile is durable, available in many colors and patterns, and has a classic, timeless appeal. Whether you install it in a classic running bond pattern or a more elegant herringbone pattern and all the other patterns in between. It's really hard to go wrong with this option and works well with basically every Connor top material out there. Standard subway tile, which was first seen in a New York subway station in the early 19 hundreds, is three by six and is made from ceramic, porcelain or glass. Today, subway tile comes in many different sizes, including two by four and four by eight. As you may have noticed, the length of a subway tile is two times a twit. Now rectangular tiles do common sizes like to buy 64 by 10 and four by 12 and sometimes they're referred to a subway. But technically, they don't fit the subway definition on easy way to choose. The color of your subway tile is the coordinated with one of the accent colors in your countertop material. If it's more than one color, such as with stones like granite and marble, the rectangular tiles I spoke of earlier, such as to buy six and four by 10 look best in contemporary styles, whereas a classic subway size looks best in more traditional or formal styles. In terms of size three by six is the most common, and it looks best in most applications. Two by four can either be uses accent tiles or if you just like the look of a smaller tile , that's fine as well. Personally, I try to minimize grout as much as possible. Not surprisingly, larger tiles like four by look best when you have a large kitchen or a larger, expansive space, such as a fairly open wall, particularly when you are taking it to the ceiling in terms of materials. Ceramic and porcelain. Subway tile work great with most styles, whereas I often like to use glass tiles in coastal chic, contemporary and Zen style kitchens. When purchasing ceramic or porcelain subway tile, you may be surprised to know that you will have two different finishes to choose from glossy or matte glossy, which reflects the most amount of light looks great in many styles, especially traditional transitional, modern French and mid century modern kitchens. Matt, which has low reflectivity, can be a great choice of your tile is patterned or for your brightly colored tile. I also like a Matt finish for more pared down styles like cottage or country kitchens. Another way to think about which finish you'd like. It's the site. If you want a colored tile to Rita's lighter or brighter or darker and more subdued, let's talk black subway tile for a moment. If you choose a glossy finish, the tile worried a slightly less dark, whereas a matte finish will accentuate the darkness. Additionally, you might remember from an earlier lecture, I mentioned that reflective surfaces help a space to feel larger, so using glass tile will help your kitchen to feel larger as well. And clearly, using mere tile like we see here will have that same effect. Cleaning ceramic porcelain glass Subway tile is quite easy thes air, very durable, non porous materials, so simply wiping them down with a wet cloth or using soap or a mild cleaner for cleanup after cooking is all it takes. Budget wise porcelain and ceramic subway tiles are usually quite affordable, but they will be pricier for both material and installation. If you go with a glass or mirror option now, let's move on from subway tile. Yes, there are plenty of other options, so subway tile is not for you not to worry. I am sure you'll find something you like. First up on our list is tile, meaning tiled as not subway tile. There are so many beautiful tile options in a variety of shapes, colors and textures. We have porcelain, ceramic glass, antique, mere iridescent Traver, teen and other natural stones in shapes like arabesque hexagon, elongated hexagon, square fish scale or scallop geometric patterns and leaves tile backsplashes pair well with most countertop options. Style wise, the key to choosing the right tile is in the material shape and color. For example, in terms of material, charity looks great with any old world style, such as Mediterranean and Tuscan. Antique mirror would be beautiful in traditional and transitional. As for a shape, you may be able to tell intuitively that some of these shapes will fit better with certain styles. For example, Arabesque, which is a very classic shape, looks really good with traditional transitional and French country, whereas a geometric pattern works well with contemporary mid century. Modern and bohemian leaves would work well in a Zen style kitchen and fish scale looks great with coastal sheikh in terms of color. Because all of these shapes are so distinctive, they often look great even in a monochromatic color such as white cream, grey of blue and considered centrally in the shape with a contrast ing grout color. If you decide to go with one of these backsplashes with multiple colors, then be sure to pair it with a solid colored countertop. Otherwise, it will look too chaotic, given the strong shape and the strong color of the backsplash for size. Remember, smaller tile works better in smaller spaces, and larger tiles need a larger expanse or a larger kitchen. The look best in terms of cleaning smooth surfaces such as glass, porcelain, ceramic are going to be easiest, whereas you want to make sure you seal a stone backsplash, whether smooth or rough to prevent staining. Rough stone backsplashes can have the added challenge of having to possibly clean splatter out of crevices. Rough stone can look so great, though, especially in rustic western Tuscan and Mediterranean kitchens that still may be worth the extra work cost. Wise tile backsplashes are all over the map. It depends heavily on not only the material used but also the intricacy of the patterns and finally one of the best ways to maximize the diversity of tile is to consider a unique tile application behind your stovetop arrange. It could be a simple is doing an incident in which you run your subway tile in a different pattern, like we see here, using a pattern with the same color way but a different pattern or going for a more striking look by varying the tile color and shape. Now some of you may be thinking that this look is dated, but when I personally feel has become a bit dated, our picture mosaics not simply using a different material style or pattern behind the range , which is usually our kitchens focal point. And this is a beautiful way to accentuate that focal point moving on. We have a tried and true material that has been gracing kitchens for millennia. Well, or it leaves as long as backsplashes have been around. And he guesses, Nice job, if you said Brick. Although not the most popular choice, thes days, Brick gives a warm, timeless appeal to a kitchen, particularly if your style is industrial, urban, modern farmhouse, English country, French country, Tuscan, bohemian and even traditional brick pairs well with butcher block countertops and stone or stone like counters in solid colors, especially gray, black and white. It's important to seal your brick with a clear polyurethane sealant in either a satin or matte finish. As brick is a porous material. Believe it or not, brick is also surprisingly easy to clean. All you generally need is water, and you should avoid harsh cleaners for more stubborn stains. Dish soap, a little salt and a gentle bristle brush should do the trick. Also, you don't have to go with the traditional red color. Consider a brick backsplash painted white riel. Brick is pretty pricey for both material installation. So for a more budget friendly backsplash of better options to go with brick veneer, next up is one of the more stunning choices in my opinion. And that is slabs of natural stone, including, but not limited to granite, marble and courts, although obviously pricey, large slabs and expansive spaces are just gorgeous, and I love that they don't have grout lines, which makes cleaning a breeze. Clearly, they are a dramatic choice, especially when taken to the ceiling, and they are so in right now. Ah, common approaches to use the same stone material that you used in your countertops. One of the benefits to doing this is that it will visually expand your space as continuity of color and or material helps toe makes a space feel larger. I particularly like this looking contemporary, traditional transitional and modern French kitchens. If you choose to use a stone slab for your backsplash, I would encourage you to choose a countertop material that is anything but stone. Trying to pair to stone slabs successfully is very difficult. Unless one of the stones is an engineered stone like courts in a solid color. Don't try to match to natural stones with patterns. It will likely go badly, given that this is one of the pricier options. One way to curb costs is to use this material as a back splash in on Lee, the focal wall of your kitchen or over your range, which is often the focal wall of your kitchen. Anyway, remnants could be a smart, affordable option here. If you do mix and match back smashes, be sure to keep your secondary material simple, such as a solid colored tile or if you have a small kitchen, this will cut down on the amount of material you'll need anyway, so it may still be within budget the next two materials. I'd like to cover our stainless steel and concrete, but because we cover these two materials at length in the countertop section, the same information generally applies. When using these materials as backsplashes, I'll just spend a couple of minutes providing novel information that pertains toe backsplash application of these two materials first with regards to stainless steel. Obviously, this material looks so great with stainless steel appliances and in terms of countertops, I think it looks best when paired with solid or minimal designed stone countertops. Now your first thought, maybe that thes backsplashes are simply metal sheets, but in actuality, you can find many different types of stainless steel. Backsplash is in a variety of designs, such as brick, diamond and square, and they're available as well in a number of finishes, including, but not limited to polish, brushed and hammered. If you order the right type of steel, they will be magnetic as well, which could be a bonus if you're looking to hang magnetic items on your backsplash. Cost wise, this is one of the pricier backsplashes, but you can cut down on costs by D i. Y in the installation. Unfortunately, stainless steel is definitely one of the easier materials to install. If you do d i. Y the installation. I recommend selecting 20 or 22 gauge steel for your backsplash, although I've seen some done with us. Lois, 16 gauge and some with this high is 24 gauge. Now, if you are someone who loves concrete counters, you may also like concrete backsplashes. Concrete backsplashes can be installed is tiles or is one large expansive concrete like your countertop? While I love the look of a solid slab, remember that concrete can crack even with rebar or wire mesh. So if you use tiles, you at least could have a tile setter change out a Tyler to if they do crack. There are even D I Y tutorials of how to do this online, although I personally would leave this to the professionals. I particularly love the look of a concrete backsplash with a stainless steel or a butcher block countertops or, for a monochromatic look, concrete counters with concrete backsplashes like we see here is a striking look with the huge popularity of the farmhouse style. Right now, I'm seeing a lot more backsplashes made out of reclaimed wood. But regular wood looks great as well. Reclaimed wood backsplashes look fantastic, with concrete, stone and stone like countertops and style wise, they are a perfect choice for any rustic style, including farmhouse, western country and cottage, as well as industrial and coastal chic. A less rough hewn wood can be a really cool choice for a contemporary kitchen. One important point to be aware of is be sure that you're complying with fire code requirements and maintaining adequate distance between your would backsplash and any gas burners, which means you may have to use a different material for the area behind your range or your cook top. Also, to protect your would, be sure to seal it with a conversion varnish or a polyurethane finish. Obviously, you can even paint the wood, and if you do so, remember, the high gloss finish will be easiest to clean. But an eggshell finish should clean up pretty well also, and clean. All you should need is a wet cloth and some mild dishwashing soap. Reclaimed wood could be a fairly cost effective choice, especially if you d i y this and even better if you get your wood for free. If you're interested in D I Y installation, there are plenty of online tutorials on how to do this. 30. Tips for Saving Money on Backsplashes : 31. Important Backsplash Guidelines: I want to take this opportunity to share with you some important guidelines that will serve you well when it comes to selecting and installing your backsplash. Guideline number one. Take your backsplash to the ceiling whenever possible. Yes, taking the backsplash to your ceiling is more expensive, both for labor and materials, but it looks stunning, and it really helps to visually expand the size of your kitchen. If you can't take it to the ceiling, at least make sure you take it to the bottom of your cabinets to minimize the amount of transition areas in your line of sight, which will make a kitchen feel smaller. Guideline number two If you decide to use a stone splash than leave the area above the drywall bear personally, I'd rather have a back splash from counter to cabinets. But sometimes you purchase a house that has a splash already. Or maybe you just prefer it that way. Either way, don't visually cut the space with two different materials. Guideline number three. If you were d I Y. In the installation by an additional 10% more material than you think, you need to cover breakage and waste guideline number four. Choose your grout color according to your style. If you have a more formal or traditional style, I personally prefer matching route. Contrast ing Grout can work in a variety of styles, but we'll give you a bolder look, and as a result, I like it with styles like contemporary industrial and urban modern. However, it can also look great in a farmhouse, modern French transitional and mid century modern guideline number five. Absolutely. Be sure that you are your installer. Using quality grout sealer. There is nothing worse than dirty stained grout, especially on such a visible area like your kitchen backsplash. A sealer can be done after the fact, or you can also purchase grout that has a sealer mixed in guideline number six. Either your countertop has a strong pattern or your backsplash has a strong pattern, but never both, unless exactly the same material, such as granite courts or marble Guideline. Number seven contrast between your countertops and backsplash nearly always looks great. This also makes it easier to Courtney to materials. Trying to match colors can be tricky. Speaking of coordination, guideline number eight always take samples home with you of both your favorite countertops and backsplash selections. Can you guess why? I'm sure you can. We have two main reasons. First, the lighting in the store will always be different than your lighting in your kitchen. You want to make sure that you look at the two materials together in your kitchen lighting to make sure that they work well together. How do you know if they work well together? Here are two ways to ensure you are getting this right. Either selected backsplash that is one of the accent colors in your countertop. Or simply ensure that the undertones are either both warm or both Cool. Second, you want to ensure that these materials coordinate well with the other colors in your kitchen, such as a marble looking carrot top with white cabinetry. Some whites work well together, some don't and finally, guideline number nine. Be smart about when you choose the D I. Y. The installation. Although many materials are not too difficult to install, they are usually time consuming, especially when you consider all the special cuts that may be needed or alignment that needs to happen. Also consider how important a perfect installation is to the overall look of your kitchen, for example, a back splash like brick veneer generally doesn't have to look perfect, especially given that the tiles themselves will intentionally look weathered and worn. 32. 31 Flooring: the flooring in the kitchen can be an interesting dilemma In today's popular open floor plans. The kitchen is often an integrated area with a family room and the breakfast area or even the dining room. As a result, homeowners find themselves at a loss as to whether or not they should continue the same flooring that they have in these other spaces or, if they should Korea transition of some sort to allow themselves the ability to make the flooring in the kitchen unique. So what's the right answer? My recommendation with my clients with open floor plans usually goes like this. If the home is on the smaller side, I recommend that keep the flooring continuous throughout the spaces because changing the flooring does visually cut up the space and makes the area feel smaller, which is usually not what people are going for unless you have carpet everywhere, in which case you'll need to choose a different material for your kitchen for obvious reasons. However, if they have a larger home, that it really is a personal choice because they do have the square footage to visually accommodate a change in flooring material without ending up with a cramped feeling. If this is you, then ideally, you want to choose a flooring as low maintenance and durable, of course, for your kitchen. So now let's dive into the most popular flooring choices for kitchens while again discussing the pros and cons of each. First, we have tile, both ceramic and porcelain, although porcelain is usually the material of choice because it's harder and less porous than ceramic. Porcelain tile, which can be purchased, glazed or unglazed, is probably the most enduring and popular choice for kitchens, at least here in the US and to no surprise, tile is extremely durable. It doesn't absorb bacteria or orders, and you don't have to worry about denting your tile floor if you drop objects on it, unless you drop something really heavy and you crack a tile. But that is generally unlikely. Even if that happens, a professional tile centre can pretty easily change out that tile. That's why it's good to have some extra tiles laying around from all of your tile installations. One of the most popular tile flooring choices today are plank tile flooring, which looks like wood planks combining the best of both worlds. You have the durability, water resistance and easy cleanup of tile combined with the beautiful look of wood. And if you install radiant heating, your tile floor doesn't have to be so chilly. Tile can also mimic stone for a fraction of the price. The main constant tile is that it is an extremely hard surface, so it can be wearing on your feet to stand on it for extremely long periods of time. And it can be slippery. Additionally, grout cleaning can also be a pain, so be sure to have it properly sealed. And I always go with the smallest grout lines possible. Tile is generally quite affordable, and with so many color pattern and size options, including tile that mimics would this is an excellent choice for basically any kitchen. Next on our list is stone. The most common options for stone flooring include slate Traver, teen limestone, granite and marble still has a great choice if you live in a warm climate, but even if you don't radiant floor heating is an option with this type of flooring as well . Still, it is incredibly durable, and each stone floor will be unique, given the variations in this natural material. Stone also has great resale value. It's important to be aware that some stones like marble, will stain, if not properly sealed. And although stone is obviously hard, stone can chip some more than others. So again, it's important to keep some extra pieces around if needed. Stone kitchen floors look great in modern French, Tuscan, Mediterranean cottage, English country and French country kitchens. Clearly, depending on the material, this could be a fairly affordable flooring option or a very expensive flooring option. Let's move on to the next most popular choice for kitchens today, at least in the U. S. Can you guess what that is? Surprisingly or not, it would be hard wood or engineered wood if hardwood is not commonly used in your part of the world. Years ago, most people would never dream of using this type of material in the kitchen because of potential water damage. But times have changed, partly due to the fact that today's hardwood flooring has better sealers and polyurethane finishes available as a result. This trend is huge right now with great resale value. Yes, there is no doubt they're beautiful, warmer and softer underfoot, but are much more prone to dings and scratches. Planks can separate and warp with humidity changes and, more importantly, are prone toe water damage. Also, unlike tile, it's more difficult to replace a damage wood plank that said, properly finished hardwood has no problem handling minor splashes that are cleaned up fairly quickly. And many people simply considered things and scratches as adding character. And that's what I try and tell myself every time a new ding or scratch happens in my floor . Worst case, they can always be refinished. Engineered wood has limited re finishing capabilities, but thankfully is not susceptible, like hardwood is toe moisture and temperature changes would looks great in pretty much any style kitchen, but it's particularly beautiful in traditional transitional bohemian and any other rustic styles Cost wise. You can get some fairly inexpensive options or quite expensive options, but in general, I would consider would and engineered wood as a mid level priced flooring. Okay, so let's say you love the look of wood, but you need something more affordable. I'm sure some of you are thinking, What about laminate? Well, definitely more durable, and with underlayment or pre attach, padding can be fairly soft to stand on. It's also great for D. I. Y. Installation. On the downside, this product can scratch with no ability to be refinished. Boards can separate with water or dampness rising from the sub floor, and this flooring can be slippery. Although manufacturers are improving their products in this area, cost wise, this flooring is a very affordable option. A similar product, a laminate that could mimic the look of wood and tile is vinyl, as in luxury vinyl planks or commonly referred to his L V P. This product, specifically L V P, is soft under foot. It wears extremely well, making it a favorite for homeowners with dogs and kids is water resistant or even waterproof and easy to install, making an excellent choice for kitchens. The look of L V P is getting better every year, and today it's not uncommon to use it in some higher and homes. Although the resale value is currently not the same as it is with hardwood or engineered wood, L V P can also be installed over existing floors, which can save you time and money. My main complaint with vinyl personally is that, well, it's vinyl and not what I would consider to be the most eco friendly material with vio si off gassing considerations. Additionally, even though it is extremely durable, it can scratch and dent L. V. P, however, has a great price point and is a more affordable option. Toe would. Cork can be a decent choice for kitchen flooring because of its resistance to mold mildew bacteria water, and it helps toe hold in heat. It's also much softer on the feet than tile. It dampens noise and have some slip resistance. It's also ego friendly since it's coming from a renewable resource. The downside with cork is that a can dent is prone to fading from the sun, and it does need to be resealed every few years. You should also consider a quality cork that could be sanded and refinished as needed. Depending on the quality, court can be very affordable to a higher mid range price point. Another material comparable to cork is bamboo. Bamboo can definitely be go friendly, although it's not always so. If this is something that's important to you, then you should definitely do your homework. Bamboo is a fairly strong flooring, material stronger than hardwood and a little warm moisture resistant than wood, but it can still scratch and dent. It's also more difficult to re finish. If you're concerned about the quality of your bamboo, check out the warranty. Higher quality bamboo flooring will have a longer warranty price Wise bamboo is a mid level range flooring, typically less expensive than hardwood. One final option that could be a great trace for kitchens is concrete now you might be thinking, but concrete is so cold in the hard underfoot. That's true, especially the hard underfoot part. But you can combat the coldness through radiant floor Heating. Concrete is also incredibly strong and doesn't have warping or staining issues. Like many of the other materials we've discussed, as long as it's properly sealed, remember that concrete can be stained, stamped and polished for a number of different looks. Concrete floors obviously look great in industrial and urban modern kitchens, but also work well in contemporary farmhouse and Scandinavian style kitchens. Cost wise. Depending upon what options you make, it can be incredibly cost effective to pretty pricey. Now that you know all the choices, let me share with you some tips for selecting the right flooring, so that it coordinates well with your cabinetry and the other finishes in your kitchen. First color a failsafe option for color combinations is to go with a flooring color that contrasts with your cabinetry. For example, white cabinetry looks best with medium to dark flooring. Dark cabinetry should be offset with a lighter floor. This doesn't mean that you have to do it this way is just a fail safe way to get it right. Contrast works in design. Now let's talk undertones. You need to consider the undertones of your cabinetry, your countertop, possibly your backsplash as well as any adjacent flooring. If you are using different material in your kitchen, meaning cool undertones look better together, as do warm undertones. You can easily break this rule if you are using to contrast in tones of different neutrals , such as a dark cool neutral with a light warm neutral. If you were choosing a true white cabinet, then you only have to worry about undertones of your countertop and any adjacent flooring. If you're color blind or have problems seen undertones, please ask a professional or someone who is color savvy. Given the cost of kitchen design, this is one mistake you don't want to make. Speaking of asking a professional, most decorators and designers are happy to just do a color consultation, often for a fairly minimal flat fee. It's worth the cost to get this right. 33. Amazing Appliances – Important Questions/Guidelines and Cool Small Appliances: For those of you who love to cook, shopping for kitchen appliances can be the most exciting part of your kitchen renovation. After all, there are more options in the world of kitchen appliances than ever before with incredible capability, flexibility and innovative technology. In short, it's easy to be charmed by the latest and greatest so to help keep you from completely blowing your budget in this area, it's imperative that you clearly define your needs. After all, as much as I love, form and ideo function should rule when it comes to appliances. Before we get into important considerations for each type of appliance, let me first ask you some important questions to help you to begin narrowing down your choices first. How often do you cook if you're someone who doesn't enjoy cooking or just doesn't have the time to? Don't spend your money on the high end range in hood. Instead, consider investing your budget in unique appliances that you can actually get excited about , such as a built in espresso machine, a top of the line blender or a multi cooker like the instant pot, which functions as a pressure cooker, a slow cooker, a rice cooker, a cake maker, a yogurt maker, and can also steam seer and warm your food. Next, how many people do you cook for? If you have a large family, consider installing two dishwashers and or a refrigerator with more cubic feet. Do you have a limited time to make dinner? If so, consider a speed of in, which is a small oven using hybrid conviction and microwave technology. The speed up cooking time, usually between 4 to 8 times faster than a traditional oven without sacrificing flavor or texture. A speed oven can also be a great choice as a second oven in your kitchen. Given its small size, as most people still want to have a regular sized oven for cooking larger meals, many speed ovens do more than just speak cooking. They also act as a microwave and often have nice features like broiling, grilling and warming. So if you get one of these cool new appliances, you could likely skip your microwave purchase unless you want a microwave available at all times, which won't happen when you are using your speed oven as an oven. Do you like to entertain? You will likely benefit from a range with a large capacity oven with a warming drawer, possibly two ovens, a six burner cook top on under counter refrigerator door that can handle additional food for guests, a beverage center and or a wine cooler. What is your budget? You may be surprised at how much variance there can be in pricing between appliance manufacturers here in the U. S. You could spend as little as 5000 or as much as 50,000 orm or for your appliances. Really, some of it comes down to the name brand like lock or new wolf and Viking. And some appliances, like built in refrigerators, are just really expensive for your typical model. So how should you decide on your appliance budget? Well, a good rule of thumb is to plan on spending 10 to 20% of your total budget on your appliances. All of these questions are so important to answer before you begin applying shopping, not only to ensure that you end up with appliances that fit your life, but also so you don't get sucked into buying an appliance because of a cool new feature that you'll rarely or never use. Now that you considered some important questions here. Some general guidelines for any kitchen appliance purchase. First, there really is no reason not to purchase energy efficient appliances in the U. S. These air easily identifiable with the Energy Star label. Second, choose appropriately size appliances for your kitchen. Just because they make a 40 inch wide range does not mean you should buy one. Scale is very important. A massive 48 inch wide range in a small kitchen will just look silly. Conversely, a 24 inch range in a large kitchen. We'll also look silly. Third, be aware that there are three different types of appliances built in overlay and integrated building of the most common that people purchase. This just means that the appliance will sit flush with their cabinetry. And with this option, you'll need to choose your finish. Such a stainless white, black, etcetera. The next type of appliances, called overlay overlay, sometimes referred to his panel. Ready or partially integrated means that you're installing a matching Cabinet panel so that the appliance blends with your cabinetry. This could be a great choice for dishwashers and refrigerators, but even with overlay panels, you can still tell where the appliance is because of exposed fence or toe kicks. That brings us to integrate appliances, which completely disappear and look just like a regular Cabinet once they are installed. Although by far the most expensive choice, integrate appliances are sometimes the only option that homeowner wants for their new kitchen. Just know that functionality is not improved. This is strictly anaesthetic. Upgrade after narrowing your choices for function, size and type, then you'll want to focus on style and finish in regards to style. While there isn't a huge array of distinct styles and most appliances, you can still absolutely make a style statement. For example, if you have a modern French of French country kitchen, a French cooking range would be amazing. If you have a contemporary kitchen, look for minimal hidden or digital controls in your appliances. A fifties retro style fridge would look great in the cottage or a mid century modern kitchen. In terms of finished, don't forget that there are options other than stainless steel. Yes, stainless steel is a fabulous choice for nearly any style, but they do easily show fingerprints and water stains. So maybe stainless steel isn't the best choice for you and your family. For example, White looks great with coastal farmhouse and Scandinavian, while black looks great with industrial norman modern. Apart from stainless white and black, we also have slate black, stainless and non neutral colors like red and blue. Obviously, non mutual colors make quite the design statement, so I personally would recommend having a focal point appliance such as your range. Be in a non neutral color and then purchase your remaining appliances in stainless steel or in a color that closely matches your cabinetry so that they blend in as much as possible. Also don't feel that you need to purchase all of your appliances from the same manufacturer . I am a firm believer that you should buy the best possible appliance in each category. Most manufacturers often excel in one particular appliance area. One challenge with this approach is that finishes such a stainless steel and door handles do vary by manufacturer. There are a few workarounds to this problem first, Like I stated, you could choose to have your range being a different color altogether, which means you don't have to worry about matching anything on that appliance with the other appliances in your kitchen. Second, you could look for appliances that have complementary handle styles. Another great approach is one that I just spoke about a few minutes ago, choosing overlay appliances with matching panels so that they blend seamlessly with your kitchen and create continuity between appliances. This takes some pre planning, both with your appliance manufacturers as well as your cabinetmaker. First. Not all appliances have this feature, so you'll need to make sure you choose appliances that do while you can buy a coordinating colored panel from the appliance manufacturer. Typically, I highly recommend that you see if you can obtain these panels directly from your Cabinet maker to ensure a truly seamless look. Your Cabinet maker or a general contractor can install these panels for you. One important detail homeowners often overlooked with this feature is this. They forget to buy matching hardware for their appliance panels, so please don't make the same mistake once you've decided on your ideal appliances. Definitely comparison shop, which is easy to do online. Sometimes the best prices will come from brick and mortar stores. Other times, online retailers will give you the best deal, perhaps one of the most important points I can give you is to make sure you measure measure and then measure again not just the space in your kitchen, but that the appliances will fit through any doors that they need to go through. You might be surprised to know how often people overlook this important step when ordering appliances and furniture and end up with a horrible surprise on their hands. Finally, I'd like to share with you some innovative small kitchen appliances that you may not have heard of. We have single serving blenders with a travel lid for smoothies to go espresso machines that can brew your favorite beverage before you get out of bed with just your smartphone. Countertops steamers for a healthy and easy way to steam and reheat food. Soft serve makers to make desserts from frozen fruits. Mini cake pop makers. Single pour wine preservation systems that allow you to pour a single glass of wine without even removing the cork. And believe it or not. Three D printers for food. Yes, food. For all the details of how this works, just ask Google. While you may be tempted to run out and buy summer all of these appliances, I encourage you to carefully consider whether you will actually use them long term. There is nothing worse and appliances dying, a slow death in our cabinets. 34. Amazing Appliances – Ranges, Cooktops and Range Hoods: Let's talk ranges and cook tops just to be sure that you and I are on the same page. Our range is an integrated cook top and oven unit. If you say cook top, that means a separate cook top that sits on top of your counter. So one of the first decisions you'll want to make is if you want a range or if you want to separate your cook top from your oven. This could be especially helpful for individuals who have problems bending over as the oven is generally installed at standing height. Generally, if you want separation, you're going to be a larger kitchen with adequate wall space or be willing to sacrifice and cabinet space. The bottom line is that a range may be your only option if you have a smaller kitchen or an open kitchen with little wall space. If you go the range, you'll need to decide between freestanding sliding or drop in a freestanding range is what most people think of when you say range. It's also the most affordable type and the most common, giving you the greatest selection. This range has finished sides as a result, could be placed anywhere in a kitchen. This type of range may have the controls on the back or on the front of the unit. A slide and range does not have finished sides, so it must be installed between two based cabinets. Slide and ranges have a lip so that the cook top rests slightly on the countertop on each side. This not only gives any more customized look, but also prevents liquids from dripping between the range and the cabinets. A drop in range is mounted on a base cabinet rather than sitting on the floor, which means that it has no bottom drawer because of the difficult installation requirements , at least here in the U. S. Thes air, mostly sold as replacements for other droppin ranges in older homes and are only available in electric in terms of fuel type, you may want to go with what is already there, gas or electric, but you don't have to if you own a single family home. Even if you aren't doing a major model, you can still generally running new gas line if needed, or install an outlet with appropriate voltage. For many years, gas was considered the choice for serious cooks, but dual fuel ranges are becoming increasingly popular as our electric induction cook tops . First, let's go ahead and discuss dual fuel. A dual fuel range has a gas cook top at an electric oven, which is considered to be the best of both worlds. As gas cook tops give you the most control and precision, and likewise, electric ovens are more precise and, as a result, better for baking. If you choose an oven with a conviction of future, which circulates the air for even cooking all the better as a result of the dual fuel, you'll need both a gas line and an outlet of appropriate voltage here in the U. S. That would be to 20 induction. Cook tops are still relatively new to the US, although they have been used in Europe for a long time. Induction. Cook top Siew's electromagnetism to produce heat, which means they won't heat up your kitchen or release any harmful emissions. They also heat up quickly. They respond more quickly when you lower them, and they're said to cook more evenly than traditional electric cook tops. They're also considered safe because they will only heat up when a pot or pan is on top of it, and we'll quickly cool down once you remove the Potter pan. There are also advanced induction cook tops that will adjust to fit the pot or pan that you've placed on top. It's important to note that you do need special magnetic cookware that work with induction cook tops, so be sure to put that in your budget if you go in this direction. Although it's possible that some of your pots and pans may work with induction cook tops, the best way to test it is to see if a magnet will strongly adhere to the bottom of your pot or pan. If it does, you should be good to go. Finally, it's not uncommon to occasionally here a buzzing or humming sound when using these cook tops, which some people find to be a bit of an annoyance. Now it's briefly talk about gas ranges and cook tops. Most gas burners have a heat output, or BTU, of between 2000 and 12,000. Anything above that, such as pro style ranges, will have be to use ranging from 15,000 to 25,000. But that kind of power will come with a higher price tag. More gas consumption will need a more powerful range hood, but it could mean better performance, such as bringing water to a boil more quickly. Notice, I said, could mean better performance. The truth is that most home cooks don't really need more than 12,000 BTU use per burner. It's more important to have some burners with lower be to use, such as below 2000 which will allow you to more effectively simmer sauces. Also, if you want easier cleanup after cooking on your gas, cook top. Look for sealed burners rather than open burners, regardless of which fuel source you go with. Some of today's higher end ranges and cook tops have some incredible features, such as built in griddles, steamers and or deep fry units. Now that hopefully got you excited about the world of ranges and cook tops. Let's now turn our attention to the all important range hood. A good range hood will clear your kitchen of not only smoke but also smells. And, of course, fan size matters, which we'll get to in a minute. But first, just like with every other appliance, we've discussed the options are extensive. First, we have over the range microwave hoods under cabinet range hoods, wall Mount range hoods, including the uber popular Mantle Range Hood island hoods and downdraft range hoods, which we talked about in the Kitchen Island lecture. While there are duct free exhaust systems, the truth is that they aren't as efficient as ducted exhaust systems, which means that with the exception of island hoods, you'll want to mount your hood on an exterior wall so that the ducting is shorter and more efficient. In terms of guidelines, your hood should be at least as wide as your cook top, but some experts and just that's even better. If your range is about three inches wider than your cook top, your hood should extend out enough to cover the back burners and about half of the front burners. Now what I just gave you are the guidelines for the vast majority of hoods available on the market Today. However, technology is rapidly evolving in all areas, including hoods, and there are newer, more advanced hoods on the market that are nearer, sleeker and have incredible power, such as the Jupiter Wall arrangement by Futuro Futuro, which is a mere 14 inches wide but can be used with ranges up to 24 inches wide. Please note that not necessarily endorsing this hood. I simply want to make you aware of the fact that the guidelines we've been using for years are beginning to evolve. In this area. Most hoods are mounted between 30 and 36 inches above a cook top. But always check the manufacturer guidelines of your range hood for optimal installation height. If you have a high ceiling such as a nine foot or taller and are purchasing a wall mounted hould, be sure that it will extend to the ceiling or that an extension can be purchased as needed . Not all models offer this feature in terms of how powerful of a fan you need. There are three numbers you need to look at to determine the CFM or cubic feet per minute. Thes three numbers are the width of your range. The total BTU output if you have a gas range and the size of your kitchen first regarding your range with a good rule of thumb is to have 100 cfm per linear foot of range for wall. Mount Hood's and 150 cfm per linear foot of range for island hoods. So let's say you have a 36 inch wide range. This means you would need a fan with a minimum of 300 CFM. Next. Look at the BTU output of your range. Let's say that total output of your range is 50,000 BT use. Go ahead and divide that number by 100 which is 500. This tells you that your fans should actually be 500 CFM. Now let's look at the size of your kitchen because you want your fan to cycle the air 15 times per hour. Let's say your kitchen is 10 by 10 and the ceiling height is nine feet. Multiply 10 by 10 by nine, which is 900 divided by four. That numbers to 25 or 2 25 CFM. So which size? Fan to U two's 305 100 to 25. If you guess 500 you've got it right, as you should go with the highest of the three numbers, your fan should have a minimum. CFM of 500 hoods today have gotten much more powerful, and it's not uncommon to see hoods with studies as high as 900 or 1200 CFM usually overkill for most ranges. But enticing. The problem with these higher powered hoods is that you may need to install a makeup air system in your H fax system to prevent negative air pressure, air quality issues and or uncomfortable temperature fluctuations. Makeup air systems may also be needed for homes are closed up tightly. Talk to a knowledgeable contractor or h back professional to make this determination. Also, be sure to select the hood that gives you at least two, preferably three fans. Speed options to get the most out of your hood. It's smart to use the lowest setting for the entire time you're cooking and Onley. Use the higher settings for searing or frying. Can you guess what the biggest complaint is when it comes to range hoods? Yep, it's the noise. Some range hoods could be excessively loud, like a Boeing 7 47 thinking off in your kitchen so loud that people just end up not using them. But hoods are so important they move cooking smoke and smells outside. They help prevent smoke alarms from going off. They help keep your kitchen cleaner and they can help cool off hot kitchens, so definitely do your homework before you buy. The best approach is to find a local retailer that carries the hood you are interested in and go test. Drive it in person. If that's not possible, make sure you can read reviews on it before you buy. Yes, range hoods can be quite the beautiful focal point, but remember, function first. One final tip. Look for a hood that has an easy to remove aluminum or stainless steel hood filter that could be thrown in your dishwasher. Hood filters, which keep Greece and food particles from entering the ventilation system, should be cleaned at least annually, but if you cook daily, you'll likely need to clean it more often. If you don't clean it regularly, it can not only be more difficult to clean, but more importantly, it will keep your hood from operating effectively. In terms of new functionality, you should be aware that you can now purchase range hoods that are energy star certified, which means that they use CFL lighting and have lower sound levels. Additional features include on a mag shut off change filter indicator lights a heat sensor that will adjust the blower when it detects more heat. And, oddly enough, even voice control or WiFi capability to control your hood from your smartphone device. WiFi truly is everywhere. 35. Amazing Appliances – Ovens, Microwaves and Dishwashers: Now let's move on toe ovens, both integrated range ovens and wall ovens. Today's ovens offer incredible functionality. Some features to consider include rotisseries thermometers, French doors that minimize door swing but allow you to easily open both doors with one hand . Pre program settings. Recipe memory, steam features, soft, close feature and, of course, WiFi connectivity, so you can preheat your oven on your way home. Some even connect to smart thermostats so that they can lower the temperature. When your oven heats up. Ranges can have storage space or warming drawers. You can now even find an oven that has a divider so that you can cook items at different temperatures and for different times from a single oven. Wow, of course. Don't forget to look for safety door locks if you have small Children in the house. If you are purchasing a new microwave, think about how you're going to use it. Is it just for reheating food and coffee, or do you plan on cooking meals in it? This will make a big difference in the size and functionality that you'll need. Many people choosing over the range microwave because they don't want to sacrifice counter space. Personally, I much rather have a decorative hood over my range. But I don't want to sacrifice precious counter space either, so you can either go with a true built in microwave, either in an upper or lower cabinet or on your kitchen island. Or save some money and retrofit one of your upper cabinets to allow your more affordable countertop microwave to sit inside of it. We also have the cool microwave drawer that is integrated into a lower cabinet and slides out like a drawer rather than the traditional hinge door. Although it's pricey, difficult to install and usually isn't deep enough to accommodate larger items, many people like it because it doesn't take a valuable counter or upper cabinet space. And because you're lifting items up and not out, you're less likely a spill hot food or drinks on yourself. And to prevent kids from operating it on their own, you can typically lock the control panel. Now let's talk dishwashers. Once considered a luxury, they're now considered as a fairly standard appliance, and most kitchens and they really have come a long way. New models are so much quieter, way more water efficient, often have concealed control panels, and some of them have some really interesting features, such as 1/3 rack really maximizing your total space. They have adjustable racks, stemware holders for your wine glasses. Ah, variety of wash cycles, of course, and soil sensors that will adjust the water, heat and spray as needed. Or, if you live alone or have a really small family. Consider a dishwasher drawer instead of a traditional dish washer. Never heard of one. Don't worry, you're not alone. Dishwasher drawers give you incredible flexibility. You can choose to install either one or two, and they operate independently of each other. Given their small size, they are incredibly water and energy efficient as well. A space saving more specifically, If you choose just one drawer, you can still have a Cabinet or a drawer beneath it. Additionally, unlike a regular dishwasher in which the door when open, extends out about 21 inches with a dishwasher drawer, you can open it just as much as you need, freeing up valuable walking space. These appliances air also incredibly quiet. Speaking of quiet, if this is really important to look for a dishwasher that has a rating of 45 decibels or less for the most quiet model available. Finally, as I mentioned earlier, if you have a large family or you entertain often, consider installing two dishwashers. This seems to be a growing trend here in the States, so if you decide to go this route, just know that you're not alone. 36. Amazing Appliances – Refrigerators and Built-In Wine Coolers: when thinking about what type of refrigerator you'd like, ask yourself these questions. Do you have a small kitchen and want to maximize floor space? If so, consider a counter depth refrigerator. Just make sure you measure your space, as these refrigerators can often be wider and or taller than a standard refrigerator. Do you love to cook, then invest in the refrigerator with climate control for different compartments? Are you a white line of fixed Manado? Look for a model with a built in wine rack Is bending over difficult for you? You may be better off with a pull out freezer on the bottom so that the majority of the items you need to get to will be a high level. Well, you have an island in front of your refrigerator. If so, then a two door or a four door French store, refrigerator or a side by side refrigerator will usually work better to minimize the space needed for your door swing. You may not have heard of the four door French store option two doors on the top and two doors on the bottom. But the bottom freezer has a flexible freezer compartment, meaning one side is always a freezer, but the other side gives you the choice to change temperatures between a handful of settings, meaning it can be used as both a refrigerator and a freezer. Very smart and incredibly flexible. Now, what about built in refrigerators? They look beautiful in high end, and they sit flush with your cabinets. But are they worth it? Well built in refrigerators, which are quite tall, can be is white is 48 inches, much wider than a standard refrigerator. But remember, you will lose some storage capacity from the decrease depth. They typically require professional installation and will very likely not move with you to your next home, given how big and heavy they are, given the high price tag as much as $10,000 here in the US that thought alone can be painful. So is it worth it? If you want a high end look than a built in will definitely give that to you and higher and homes with large kitchens just look best with built in refrigerators. But many of us can get a similar look by using the regular counter depth refrigerator and building your cabinetry around it, such as installing a side panel and a 24 inch Cabinet overhead. This is much more affordable than a built in in terms of size. This will vary by your lifestyle and where you live in the world. For example, here in the US, where we typically only shot one time per week, even if it's just two of you, you'll need between 12 and 18 cubic feet. The more you cook at home, the more you need. Refrigerators here in the States are also expected to be that large. And with our larger kitchens, a small refrigerator would just look silly. Also, if you live elsewhere in the world and have a large family, and the space for then an American style refrigerator may make sense for you. But if you live outside the U. S. And are more accustomed to going to the market every day or every other day, then a smaller refrigerator likely makes perfect sense going back to the U. S. Standards. If you are a family of four, you'll want at least 20 cubic feet. Don't buy more than you need, since a bigger refrigerator will mean a bigger energy bill, some of the newest technologies are really cool, but are they worth it? For example, you can now purchase a smart refrigerator with a touch screen interface and built in WiFi. What can this interface do? Maybe it's very to ask, What can't it dio today? Smart refrigerators will allow you to look up recipes, and we'll even read you the recipe step by step While you cook, you can create shopping lists by adding items manually or even with your voice. And even better, it can be sync with your smartphone. They can enable you to see inside your refrigerator without opening the door via built in cameras. You can even do the inside of your refrigerator while you're at the store to see if you're low. Any particular item. You can assign expiration dates to your food so you can receive notifications to use your food before it goes bad. I love that feature, and these smart refrigerators can even stream music or TV from another smart TV in your home. It almost feels like an episode of The Jetsons, right? Yes, these are cool features, but will you really benefit from them? Maybe while these air considered cutting edge now the reality is that the cost of this smart technology has really come down and may only cost you a few $100 more for some of these features, depending on the manufacturer, which means that this may be fairly standard in the years to come. Just like energy efficient appliances have become one smart feature that I personally like is a smart water dispenser. This dispenser will automatically stop filling your glass or picture when it detects that its full great for little kids. Now, let's talk about one of my very favorite type of refrigerators. Yes, a built in wine cooler once only found in the highest end kitchens I'm seeing built in wine coolers being incorporated into more kitchens than ever Now, as cool is, these are they aren't a great choice for everyone. First, you really need to have the space for those of us. A small kitchens. Do you really want a sacrifice? Precious Cabinet space for a wine cooler? Maybe, but generally these air better options for kitchens with islands, a separate bar area or simply enough cabinet space to spare. Second, do you generally have enough wine around to justify the expense? Well, if You generally have more than a handful of bottles at any given time and or you have specialty bottles that you're saving for special occasions, then a wine cooler. Condemn. Definitely be a great choice for you. Do you find that your refrigerator space is being overrun by wine bottles? Well, if you know that wine bottles left out on the counter could be negatively affected by the heat in the kitchen, this could definitely be you. Now, you might be saying, but Erica Yes, my refrigerator is overrun by wine, but I have a small kitchen with no cabinet space to spare. So what am I to dio? Thankfully, there's another option I'd like to mention while you can buy a countertop wine cooler. If you do have a small kitchen, this probably isn't a great choice for you, either. My recommendation, then would be to go with a freestanding wine cooler, which could be placed at the end of your base cabinet if you have the space or even in another room. If you just can't live another minute without this appliance and few things say living large like a wine cooler does Now, if you are new, to the world of wine coolers. Let me just share with you some features that you may want to look for. First, you should know that these built in coolers can hold a surprising amount of wine as much as four cases of wine. Next, be aware that many built in coolers are single zone, but know that you can get one with dual zones or even war zones. If you go with a larger freestanding unit, I would definitely recommend the dual zone unless you only drink one kind of wine. Some coolers also have a presenter shelf, which will allow you to display any special bottles. Other features include humidity control, auto temperature adjustment, UV tinted glass tempered glass, pre program settings, which will change to the optimal temperature based on the wine. You're chilling and even locks to keep your kids out. Very smart indeed, 37. Sensational Sinks: Now let's spend some time talking about one of the most highly utilized items in your kitchen. That's right, your sink. Having personally lived through a kitchen remodel, I can tell you that this is by far the hardest item to live without. Sometimes when you are replacing the counters the fabricator, a company where you purchased your counters from, we'll throw in a basic sink for you for no additional cost. This could be fine for a bathroom, but I don't recommend taking this approach for your kitchen unless this is a rental or you don't plan on staying long term. A great sink will make a big difference in the overall function of your kitchen, so it's worth investing a little more money in this area before we get in the specific product criteria to consider. Let's first talk about placement if you are doing a complete kitchen remodel and therefore can choose a placement of your sink, make this decision carefully first Per and K B A. Guidelines. If this is your only think you should place in either across from or adjacent to your cook top, and your refrigerator, additionally, should have at least a 24 inch wide landing area toe one side of the sink, an 18 inch wide landing area on the other. You also want to ensure that your sink is located within 36 inches from your dishwasher. Often the sinking A dishwasher are side by side, and that is ideal also. If there are two or more of you who will regularly cook together and you have the space than definitely consider installing a second sink for food prep, this can be installed on your island or anywhere that will have adequate space on both sides for dirty and clean dishes. Ideally, you want to have it near your refrigerator, and your trash can also be sure that your prep sink is big enough for your colander. They aren't always, unfortunately, now back to your main sink. In terms of size, this can be a bit tricky, especially for those of you with smaller kitchens. You want a think big enough to handle your typical cleanup, but not so big as a sacrifice. Too much counter space. It's very important to think about what items you regularly cleaning your sink. Are you someone who cooks with large pots and pans Obviously a single deep basin sink will work better for you than they double basin sink. Also, choosing a sink with an offset drain will give you more space to stack dirty dishes, as well as giving you more space under your sink. So if you are getting your kitchen, this is a great change to make. The bottom line is that for my clients who enjoy cooking, I recommend getting the biggest sink that will work for their space and will fit the size of their sink cabinet while ensuring that they have adequate counter space on both sides. As we just discussed for most clients, a 33 to 36 inch wide sink will meet most of their needs. Farmhouse sings often referred to his apron front sinks, although these air, technically slightly different, have been and continue to be super popular right now and look right at home in farmhouse, traditional transitional English country, French country cottage and modern French kitchens. Although commonly single basin farmhouse things can also be double basin in terms of materials. Today, sinks are being made from a variety of materials, including fire, clay, porcelain, stone, stone, composite, copper, concrete, stainless steel and cast iron and come in a variety of colors, including white, black and gray. And if it's porcelain, then it could be any color in the rainbow, giving home owners an opportunity to make a fantastic design statement with this workhorse of the kitchen. Given all of these options, how do you choose? Well, first, I think it's important to start with the material and then tackle the number of basins and the size. Naturally, each material has its own pros and cons. Let's start with fire. Clay, which is a ceramic porcelain material, has a stronger finished, then enameled cast iron. It's fired at extremely high temperatures for durability and has a non porous surface. In addition, these things are rust proof, stain and scratch resistant, and they can withstand mawr abrasive cleaners. But they come in limited colors. They're heavy and more expensive. That said, I have a Blanco Fireplace Inc and I absolutely love it. Now let's move on to porcelain. Porcelain sinks can either be solid porcelain or that could be a porcelain enamel over cast iron or steel. The main advantage supports land is that the common a number of different colors and have a beautiful, glossy finish that said, they're more prone to staining and chipping, and you definitely don't want to use an abrasive cleaner on a porcelain sink as it will dull the surface. Stone sinks. Such a soapstone granite, limestone, onyx and marble look really cool are definitely unique and are quickly gaining in popularity. These things, which are generally carved out of a single piece of stone, are not surprisingly, quite durable and easy to clean. They're also chip resistant and nearly heatproof. On the downside stones. Things are heavy, quite pricey and should be periodically sealed so they remain non porous. Stone things can look great in nearly any style kitchen. Now, if you love stone but don't have the budget for it, consider a stone composite sink. These things are made with a blend of courts, dust and acrylic resins and are non porous and odor resistant like stone sinks. They're quite durable but can be damaged by extreme heat, become in many different colors, finishes, shapes and sizes. They also have a more uniform look than some stone sinks, which some people actually prefer. Now let's turn our attention to copper. Copper sinks are quite the eye catcher and look particularly great in an apron front style . They have a very distinctive look with their warm patina and look fabulous in any traditional or rustic style kitchen. A quality copper sink, meaning at least 99% copper is strong and said to kill 99.9% of bacteria perfect for the kitchen sink. However, be aware that copper can react to acidic foods and drinks as well as extreme heat. So read the care instructions carefully to keep your sink looking great. Also be aware that if you buy a higher gage meaning thinner copper sink, they can warp and dent. You can choose a smooth or a hammered finish for this distinctive material like stone. High quality copper sinks are pricey. Next up is concrete. Where can't concrete be used in the kitchen anymore? We have countertops, backsplashes and now sinks. This material really has come a long way, and just like with countertops and backsplashes, concrete sinks can also be died to custom colors. Not surprisingly, concrete things are extremely durable. They're also heavy, although there are now some commercially available concrete blend sinks that are a lighter than your traditional poured concrete sink. As expected, concrete sinks are expensive, and they also need to be occasionally resealed. Like any concrete product. Cracks, chips and stains are likely at some point. Ah, concrete sink will look great in any rustic style as well as in industrial and urban modern kitchens. Moving on to was probably the most popular material stainless steel. It's a popular choice for good reason. It's lightweight and is quite durable for all the reasons we discussed in the previous lectures. So if you're someone who likes to just throw things in your sink and not worry about the finish, stainless steel is a great choice, although don't throw too hard since, as you know, stainless steel can dent. Additionally, if your water is hard, you may have a problem with water spots from the calcium and magnesium deposits. And, of course, you now know that stainless steel does scratch and his louder than other options. Stainless steel sinks work in any style, but they look particularly great in contemporary industrial and urban modern kitchens. Last but certainly not least, we have cast iron for some people. A single basin enamel coated cast iron farmhouse sink is the only sink they have envisioned in their dream kitchen, and they simply don't want to compromise. And no question, they are beautiful, but they also have some challenges. First, they are extremely heavy, and you'll need to make sure that your cabinets are properly reinforced before installation and that they are appropriately sized so the sink will actually fit. So what do I mean by that? Well, many people who want to replace their standard stainless steel sink with a farmhouse sink will quickly realize that the new sink won't fit. The cabinet doors below the sink are just too tall. This means that you either need to retrofit the Cabinet or replace it, adding extra cost. Fortunately, there is a great option for you if this is your situation. Coler makes a sink called the Whitehaven, which is a short apron and is meant to be installed in a standard size cabinet. So definitely check it out if you want to make this change. Other disadvantages to this type of sink is that the enamel does wear and scratch over time . Even a belt buckle can scratch the front if you aren't careful. Bottom line is that if you are hard on your sink. This may not be a great choice for you, although one great work around to this problem is to use a stainless steel sink grading your sink. This will protect the bottom of your sink from wear and tear. Despite the popularity of single basin sinks, double sinks, they're still agreed choice for a lot of people, especially for those who need to regularly prep food on one side and want to clean on the other. Or for those who don't have a dishwasher or don't regularly use a dishwasher. In that case, one side for cleaning and the other side for rinsing works great. Yes, it's more difficult to wash larger items, but it does give you more flexibility. That said, manufacturers air coming out with add on items to make their single based in sinks more flexible, such as rinse baskets, colanders and even cutting boards. You can also buy a double sink with a lowered divider that makes washing those large pans much easier and is a good compromise. When you can't decide between a single or a double basin sink double basis, things commonly coming a 60 40 or a 50 50 split 60 40 can be great for cleaning and prepping food, whereas 50 50 split could be good for those who need toe wash and rinse dishes on separate sides. Although less common. There are also three basins sinks, which will have a small sink in the middle with the garbage disposal and two bases of equal size on either side. One they spend if of the sink is that you can easily access the garbage disposal even while you have pots or pans soaking. Now let's talk under mount versus drop in head to head. Which one comes out on top? Well, in one corner we have the drop in sync, sometimes referred to as the over Mount Top Mount or self remain sink, which used to be these standard type of sink. This think has some serious drinks. It has a visible lip that sits on top of the counter top and for this reason is the easiest to install. Great for a D. I. Wire drop ins are also more affordable and can be used with any type of countertop material . Another nice advantage with a drop in is that it's easier to clean the seam around the sink since it's on top of the countertop with an under mount sink. Cleaning out food build up in the scene is more challenging now, despite that challenge, under mounts are a serious contender for a number of reasons on underground sink will give you a seamless look and more counter space. That said, probably the biggest advantage to this type of sink is the ease at which you could easily wipe food particles from the countertop into the sink, with no pesky room to get around. One possible disadvantage with under amounts is that they cannot be used with laminate countertops because the particle board isn't strong enough to support the weight of the sink. Speaking of fasteners, please be sure that whoever installed you're under Mount Sink does it correctly meaning with clips or straps, not just with silicone. Otherwise, you may find yourself with a dropping sink in the future. So which one delivers a knockout punch? Sure, they each have their pros and cons, but the truth is that at least here in the U. S, dropping things often look dated. So for that reason alone, I am almost always going to recommend an under mount sink to a client. Does that mean it's always the best? Of course not as always, you should choose your winner. 38. Fantastic Faucets: when it comes to faucets. There are so many options available that it could be absolutely overwhelming, but it doesn't need to be. As long as you use some important criteria, you can pretty quickly narrow down your choices, which I'll get to in a minute. But first, my most important piece of advice is this. As tempting as it may be, don't go with the cheapest option. Spending just a little more money on a quality faucet is worth it. It will last longer and perform better. For example, you can't go wrong with a faucet that has a stainless steel body and a ceramic disc valve trying to minimize the amount of plastic parts. Speaking of costs, don't buy the most expensive faucet either, as the higher price relates more to the finish on the faucet than it does to the quality of the faucet. Now back to the decision making, let's run through the decision points that you can use to quickly narrow down the right faucet for you first mountain style. Most of the time, a deck mounted faucet works best, but if you have a wall directly behind your sink, you can also choose to go with a wall mounted faucet, A word of advice. A wall mounted faucet has a much more complicated installation, so be sure to hire a plumber with experience in this area. If you do go this route, just know that it's going to be a much more expensive choice. But the's faucets do take up less real estate on your counter. They're easier to clean. And, boy, do they look cool, especially in ultra contemporary kitchens. Next, you'll need to choose the design style of your faucet. There are multiple options for all styles, so be sure to select one that works with the style of your kitchen. Whether that's traditional transitional, contemporary or industrial, there is a faucet for your kitchen, so choose appropriately. Thankfully, nearly every style will work with one of these four faucet styles. If you really don't know which style would work best, I recommend just googling the style of kitchen you like and seeing what faucets others are using for that particular style. Now let's focus in the number of handles for your faucet. If you aren't installing the new counter, but rather simply replacing your faucet, obviously you need to choose a faucet that fills a number of holes You currently having your counter. However, if you are installing the new countertop, you'll obviously have a choice between a single handle or a more traditional dual handle faucet. I will tell you that single handle is the more popular choice. Today it has a cleaner, more streamlined look. It's easier to install, and there's less to clean. But a double handle faucet gives you better control over temperature and flow, and they look. I deal with a more traditional style kitchen. On the negative side, double handle faucets, arm or inconvenient when your hands are full or dirty, which is a big deal in the kitchen. I'm sure this is a single biggest reason that single handle faucets are the more popular choice. Your next decision is whether or not you want a touchless option, which operates off a sensor. But be aware that some manufacturers have done a better job than others with their touchless technology, so be sure to read reviews before making your decision. Also, be aware that most these faucets who's a battery for the sensor, which will need to be changed. Thankfully, at least one manufacturer that I know of. Mohan offers an optional a see adapter kit on some other faucets, which will allow you to plug the sensor technology directly into the wall, bypassing the need for battery changes. The bottom line is that this technology on Lee continues to improve, so at some point I do think that this will be a common feature on most faucets in terms of height. This is strictly personal preference unless you have cabinets or shelves above your sink, which will necessitate a shorter faucet. But be aware that you may have a difficult time cleaning large pots with a shorter faucet. I try to go with a taller, curved neck faucet whenever possible. Last but not least, it's time to choose your finish. The most popular finishes today include chrome, stainless or satin, nickel bronze and Matt Black. Chrome and stainless work well with any style, whereas bronzes, abery, trace form or traditional styles. And Matt Black works well in both contemporary and industrial style kitchens. If you're interested in mixing metal finishes, I'll be talking more about how to do this later in the course, some final faucet buying tips for you. First, I recommend gain that integrated pull down sprayer with a magnetic catch instead of a conventional side sprayer. For better performance and ultimate flexibility, especially if you have a large sink to that point, be sure that the hoses long enough that will reach all corners of your sink. You can also choose to have a matching soap dispenser that fits in your countertop if you want. Finally, don't forget that many Fawcett's today are much more ego friendly and do a better job of water conservation without sacrificing performance here in the states. Just look for the water sense label. One trend. You may have been seen popping up literally everywhere are pot fillers. Pot filler. Faucets are nearly always mounted faucets that sit over your cook topper range. They swing out when you need them to fill a pot, and they swing back out of the way. When you are done, they allow you to easily Philip your pots with water so you don't have to carry a heavy pot of water from your sink to your range. So how useful and practical is this? Well, if you have some pots that just don't fit in your sink easily or you have back problems or other physical limitations that make it difficult to lift heavy pots of water. A pot filler can be a smart choice. Plus, they're seen as incredibly desirable. So it's fantastic for resale value. The main down side is in the installation. Most walls behind a range are not plumbed for water flow, so this obviously has to happen to make this work. In short, I would only consider installing one of these if you're doing a complete kitchen remodel or building a new home. One of the advantages the pot fillers is that they're not regulated on gallons per minute, so they typically will fill your pots faster. But this advantage is also a detriment if it's springs a leak. For that reason, these fixtures have a lever near the wall that will allow you to turn the water on and off to the faucet, so be sure to turn it off when it's not in use. Like faucets, pot fillers are available in a variety of styles and finishes, making this a possibility for any style kitchen. If you have a large cook top and therefore needed pot filler with a longer reach, look for a double jointed rather than a single jointed model. Finally, installing your pot filler between 13 and 16 inches above your cook top will work for most kitchens. One way to ensure that it will work for you is to get out your largest pot and make sure that you have adequate clearance in terms of where to install it horizontally on your wall . While many pictures show installed directly centered over the cook top, it's generally better to install it on the left or the right side of the cook top, so you don't have to reach over the main part of the cook top toe access it. 39. Handsome Hardware: If you are a details person, you probably love selecting Cabinet hardware. If not, you may find this part of the process rather tedious and almost always. Hardware is one of the last items selected in the kitchen remodel, so decision making fatigue has often set in by this point. And to make matters worse, there are just so many choices available. I get it. I do, but don't give up yet. Hardware matters both functionally and aesthetically, functionally. Don't forget that not only do they do the obvious, open the door or drawer, but they also protect your cabinet. Finish from oils from your fingers, and once you define some parameters, the process can go more quickly than you think. Now first, let me just state that you don't have to use hardware in your kitchen. For example, if you're going with an ultra contemporary kitchen, you should consider for going hardware altogether on your cabinets and instead consider touched open cabinetry or integrated polls. If you go this route, by all means, breathe a sigh of relief and skip this lecture. But for the rest of us, remember the old saying. Hardware is the jewelry of the kitchen When selecting hardware, you should nail down type, style, size, finish and possibly price range. Yes, there are other options, but focus on just these areas will generally get you to a decision. Many online retailers such as bill dot com, my knobs dot com and signature hardware dot com offer excellent filters for these and other categories, so let's go ahead and get started. First, you need to select the type of hardware you want, meaning polls or knobs handles or sometimes listed as their own category. But when I say polls, I'm referring to handles as well. Knobs are pretty straightforward and look great in most styles. I do tend to avoid them in more minimalist styles like contemporary and Scandinavian or styles like industrial and urban modern. Why? Because knobs look best with more detailed doors like raise panel, recess panel and cathedral arched doors, which you won't find in these styles, but rather in styles like traditional modern French and Mediterranean. Can you guess why knobs look best with detailed doors? It so the hardware doesn't take away from the beautiful detail ing and small hardware like a knob won't that said? There's one caveat to this. Older populations usually find polls easier to use the knobs as they can use their whole hand rather than just their fingertips. So I'm working with an older couple. Pools may be the better choice, regardless of style. When looking at polls, you'll quickly realize that you have quite a few options. Not on Lee do have traditional handles, but you also have some unique options, like Cup pulls, March polls, finger polls, recess pools and drop pulls. Pulls as a general category work well in any style when using them in more formal or traditional styles. I nearly always mix, pulls and knobs together, knobs on doors and pulls on drawers. If I'm working in a more minimalist or industrial style now, generally use all polls. Now let's discuss style. As I mentioned, online retailers, thankfully, almost always have a style filter of some sort. This is great for people who really have no idea what style of hardware works best for their kitchen style. Let me go ahead and give you some guidelines. Pulls was straight. Clean lines are always suited best for minimalist styles like contemporary Scandinavian and Zen as well as mid century modern, whereas highly detailed pools are better suited for traditional and more formal styles. Cup pools are great for traditional transitional and country kitchens, and arch pulls work with traditional transitional art Deco and all other formal styles. Finger and recess pools can be a great choice, with contemporary industrial, urban, modern and mid century modern drop polls will help cabinetry to feel more like furniture, and they have many different styles. I prefer them best in traditional cottage country and English country styles. That said, these are more of a pain to use, and unless they have a back plate, they could damage the finish on your cabinets. While round knobs look great with any style, square knobs look better with a style like transitional one. Word of caution knobs will come loose, and square knobs can make you a bit crazy when trying to keep them straight. Our next criteria is size for styles like contemporary Scandinavians, n industrial and urban Modern, oversized pulls look great roughly 2/3 or even 3/4 the size of the drawer. But for every other style, the rule of thumb that looks best is toe have the pool B 1/3 the length of the drawer. If you know anything about design, they you know about the rule of thirds, and Cabinet hardware is a great place to apply that rule. You may have heard that if you have a particularly wide drawers, such as a 24 inch wide drawer, for example, that two knobs or two polls will look better. While this is a matter of personal taste, just be aware that when you are in a hurry, you will likely be inclined to just use one handle, which will not be good for the drawer in the long run. So you may be better off just going with a longer handle for that particular drawer drawers . One final point to remember the size for pools is usually listed as center to center length , meaning the length between the two mounting points. Be sure to always check the total length of the pool in order to apply the 1/3 or to third rule. Next we have finished Chrome looks best with minimalists and industrial styles, but also works for transitional coastal mid century modern and Art deco. Brushed nickel is an elegant, more upscale look that pairs well with traditional transitional and modern French brass is an excellent choice for mid century modern transitional, traditional modern French and bohemian. Bronze or rust hardware is well suited to any of the country styles like French and English country or any rustic style, including Tuscan and Mediterranean. Black finishes are ideal for industrial, urban modern and also look great with English country, French country, Tuscan and cottage. While I love mixing and matching metal finishes in the kitchen and we'll talk about how to do this in the next lecture, you should keep your kitchen hardware in the same finish. The only time that mixing hardware finishes works is if you have a kitchen island in a different color than your cabinetry, such as white cabinetry with a dark island, as we see here. As you can see, they've used black hardware on their white cabinetry and chrome or nickel on their kitchen island. What makes this work is the contrast of the Cabinet colors and how they've changed the hardware finish of their island on Lee, which is a natural focal point of the kitchen. Of course, there are other finishes as well, such as glass or crystal, but I'm not seeing these often used in kitchen design today, if you do love them, stick with using them in more vintage styles like English, country or cottage. Or use a more updated style like this in a style like transitional. That would be beautiful. If you have a bohemian kitchen, you can have fun here with some of the more eclectic choices, such as brightly colored glass hardware. One final guideline to consider is that once again, contrast works best meaning. If you have dark cabinets, don't use dark hardware as it simply will be lost in the Cabinet, even though hardware in general is not terribly pricey. If you're on a tight budget or have a lot of doors and drawers in your kitchen, budget may be pretty important. But don't go with the most inexpensive option. They may likely feel cheap and flimsy when you use them and remember, you will be using them every single day, so investing in a little higher quality will still be in most people's budget. Finally, let's talk placement polls are knobs on. Drawers are pretty straightforward. The most common placement. Issa simply center the hardware vertically and horizontally on the drawer. You can choose to hang them higher on the drawer. If you'd like me being a symmetry girl, I personally like them completely centered. If you have a flat panel door, polls look better and you have to Good placement options. Either place the poll in the corner in a vertical position or placed the pole in the corner in a horizontal position. Now, if your door has a recessed or a raise panel, you also have to placement options. First, you can still place a knob in the corner or second, which is a look I prefer is to align the knob with the recessed or raise panel specifically for upper cabinet doors. I would align the bottom of the knob with the bottom edge of the panel, and for lower cabinet doors, I would align the top of the knob with the top edge of that panel. Now some doors, like Shaker style doors, look good with either knobs or poles. So if you're using polls, I recommend following the same guidelines I just gave Align the topper bond with a pull with the panel, and here is the most important point to emphasize with your Cabinet company. Make sure they install the hardware so that it's perfectly aligned with each other, especially with doors in the same Cabinet. Nothing will drive me crazier than a knob or a pool that is slightly higher or lower than the pool or knob next to it. Remember, hardware? Is your kitchens detail and detailed installation matters? 40. Mixing and Matching Metal Finishes: I love love, love mixing metal finishes everywhere in a home, including the kitchen. Now I know that this statement just gave some of you hives. Some of you may even be shaking your head at me. It's okay. You're not alone. Especially if you're a traditionalist. But even if you are a traditionalist and in many ways I am a swell, you can and should consider mixing metal finishes in your kitchen. Why do I say that? Because mixing metal finishes adds character to your kitchen in a good way, and it shows that you have both style and taste. Trust me on this. Don't fall into the trap of believing that you have to coordinate all of your metal finishes. With so many people choosing stainless steel appliances, we're all going to end up with stainless steel and brush nickel in our kitchens. How boring is that? So give this technique ago that said, Just make sure you do it well. Yeah, I know what you're thinking. When the world does that mean, What does that look like? Well, I'm glad you asked. Let me share with you my tried and true techniques for mixing metals in the kitchen. First, be aware that the goal is to make this look intentional rather than accidental. The way to do that easily is to have, like objects in the same finish, such as having all of your lighting in the same finish all of your hardware and the same finish all of your faucets in the same finished etcetera. Second, don't worry about those stainless steel appliances. As I just mentioned, stainless steel appliances are so big quickest that I don't really worry about coordinating with these appliances. Now you don't have to follow these guidelines, but if you do, you don't have to really worry about getting it wrong. So here's my first tried and true technique. Have your lighting being a different finish from the rest of your kitchen. Lighting whether dependence or a chandelier is often front and center in the kitchen, and this is a great place to bring in another metal finish. My second technique is to have your hardware being one finished and everything else in another finish. If you haven't island, another great approach is to use one finish for your lighting and bar stools with everything else in the different finish. What's particularly good about this technique is that it means that most of the items that are in a different finish are in the center of your space, so they really do stand out as the focal point. Finally, sometimes I just like to have the range hood, such as a show stopping comp, arrange hood being a different finish from the rest of the kitchen. There are obviously different ways to mix metal finishes apart from these four methods, So let's take a look at two additional examples. In this first example, they've chosen brass as their standout finished by incorporating it into their oversized pendants and the range hood. This is balanced nicely by the nickel hardware. Now let's take a look at our second example. What jumps out at you? It's that brass chandelier, isn't it? It's truly the show stopper in this kitchen, which has chosen to use a black metal for nearly everything else, including the other lighting, as well as the hood, the range and the drawer pulls. I don't know if you noticed they're not, but they did also add in a brass kitchen faucet, which, in my opinion, they didn't need to do but it works. Nevertheless, as you can see, they broke from my guideline of having all lighting in the same finish. But that's okay. By taking this approach, they've made that chandelier simply pop. I truly hope that I've been able to show you why mixing metal finishes is such a fun and fantastic approach for your kitchen. 41. Accessorizing: by the time you get to the point where you are selecting accessories, you are surely nearing the end of your remodel, and we are nearing the end of this course as well. Accessories are very frequently one of the most overlooked areas of kitchen design on Afterthought at best. In fact, it's often the designer who wants to accessorize so they can get that perfect shot for their portfolio. And then the accessories air all returned to once they came, as the client often doesn't want to incur the additional cost, or they feel the accessories will just get in the way of all the tasks that take place in the kitchen. And that's OK. But if you want your kitchen to look like a Pinterest worthy kitchen at least some of the time, or if you just love accessorizing than this lecture is for you, the truth is that the kitchen does not need a live accessories toe look great. Don't forget that most your countertop should be clear, both for functional and for aesthetic reasons. Aim Toe have won the three items per uninterrupted span of countertop space, depending on the length of the space. A trio of like items makes a great grouping, such as three bowls of fruit or three canisters, or a pair of items like cooking oils. Functional items that look great in the kitchen include wood in cutting boards, knife blocks, a decorative utensil holder, a lovely kettle on your range and a coffee station with a French press and decorative cups . Whatever small appliances you choose to leave out, try to ensure that they're the most decorative if possible, such as a great looking espresso machine. Purely aesthetic items that work well in the kitchen include fresh flowers, riel plants or a decorative bowl. In other classes, you may have heard me say that plants, whether real or faux, are an important element. Toe a room. This is one of the Onley spaces where I feel that faux just doesn't work well, unless perhaps it's a very high end, very riel looking small plant that is perhaps up on a shelf. A kitchen is such a naturally organic place that plants in this space really should be of the rial variety. Whatever accessories you use, just be sure that they match style of your kitchen and apart from plants and flowers, accessories always look best when their kitchen related. Now, if you have the wall space, don't be afraid to hang some beautiful artwork either in the kitchen, right next to the kitchen or in your breakfast nook area. This is a great way to reinforce the style of your kitchen. For example, if you have a traditional kitchen considered canvas reproductions of classic works of art or, if you have a contemporary kitchen, includes some abstract artwork. I love art as long as you keep the are a good distance away from the stove or insure. It's not a priceless piece of art, then your typical canvas artwork should be fine, however, if you're only available. Wall space is near the stove that looked a hang artwork that is protected by glass so you could easily clean off the glass as you need to from grease splatters etcetera. Don't forget if you have open shelving, you can also mix in small pieces of artwork there, as well as even behind class door cabinets. Finally, let's talk rugs. You may have heard me say in another course that a rug is a must for nearly any room. But what about kitchens Do you think I'm yea or nay for kitchen rugs? Before I answer that question, let me just lay out the pros and cons for adding a rug to your kitchen On the pro side, It's a great way to add color to a space that is usually quite neutral and add texture to softening room that is composed of nearly all hard surfaces. It can also help to reinforce whenever style you've chosen for your kitchen. Finally, it can also provide some cushioning, which can be helpful when you're cooking elaborate dinners or doing dishes on the con side . You're definitely living dangerously by placing that rug in a room that is prone to spills and food splatters and could prove to be a tripping hazard in a space where you may be moving quickly. If you are firmly on the pro side here, some guidelines to help you choose the best rug for your space. First, be sure that matches the shape of the space, meaning if your kitchen is a galley style kitchen, you'll likely want a runner. If you have a U or G shaped kitchen, a rectangular room should work well. Darker colors like deep red and navy with a pattern are ideal for hiding stains, but you should still plan on cleaning your rug regularly to keep it looking great. Also, to prevent slips, be sure to pair your rug with a quality nonslip rug pad worth every penny. You want to leave about 12 to 18 inches between your rug and your cabinetry, but you can go is closest six inches in terms of size. If you're a place in the rug in between the island and the perimeter cabinetry, a good length is to match the length of the island. If you're a place name rug in front of a sink, a two by four rug is usually a good size. Ideally, I recommend using an indoor outdoor rug that has a flat dense. We've so back to the question of whether I'm yea or nay on rugs in the kitchen. Personally, I don't think you'll ever see a rug in my kitchen. I prefer the look of long expanses of clean surfaces in my kitchen, both on my countertops and on my floors. But this doesn't mean that I cannot appreciate the look of a great rug in the kitchen. I definitely can. And if you love the look of a rug in your kitchen by following the after mentioned guidelines, I think you'll be quite pleased with the results. 42. Activity #3 - Selecting Your Finishes: 43. Wrapping Things Up: if you're watching this lecture a heart felt thank you. And congratulations. Thank you for watching. And congratulations on completing the entire course. I hope that this was everything you wanted in the kitchen design course. And more More importantly, I hope that you participated along the way to complete your own kitchen design plan and that you now feel much more confident in making all of those important design decisions. If you have any suggestions on how I could make this course of more valuable to you, please don't hesitate to let me know as I do make updates to my courses. Additionally, if you have any follow up questions on the course content, please send me an email or post a question as I am happy to provide any needed support to you. Thank you again so much and happy decorating.