Home Improvement Articles

Kitchen is one of the most important parts of the house. From cooking delicacies to preparing diet food; it is the place where you get fuel for your body. Running a kitchen is no mean feat, especially when you need to keep in check cost escalations without compromising on your food preferences. Things may go haywire if your kitchen is in a mess.

Here are a few essential kitchen hacks which you keep incorporate in your kitchen to run it efficiently and save some money too.

Plan Ahead

By planning ahead for 2-3 meals, you significantly decrease the wastage of food in kitchen. This means that you can prepare food in more controlled quantity and prepare combinations of light and heavy food to keep your diet balanced.

Cut Vegetables in Bulk

To save time and effort, you can cut vegetables for 3-4 meals at one go and store them in airtight containers in the refrigerator. But make sure to nut cut a lot of veggies as it might lose freshness over the time. This way, you can save yourself from extra effort of washing and cutting veggies again and again.

Use Leftovers Smartly

There are millions of people who don’t get to eat three square meals a day. Hence it is criminal to waste even a bit of food. Store dishes in fridge to use the next day if possible. Things like bread can be sliced in small pieces and fried and used in tomato soup as bread crumbs. You can also use veggies to prepare salad instead of throwing them away.

Keep Utensils Ready

To fast track your cooking, make sure that the required utensils are clean and near the stove to avoid last minute search. For instance, you keep the utensils ready after dinner to comfortably prepare your breakfast in the morning.

Stock Up

Buying things in bulk is always rewarding. Daily use perishables like lentils, rice, and flour should be bought in bulk to save extra bucks. You can also buy potatoes, onions, apples and semi-ripe bananas in large quantities to get extra discounts and avoid regular trips to the market.

Plan Grocery Budget

To keep things under budget and also avoid unnecessary spending by shopping impulsively; it is essential to plan a feasible budget first. Make a list of essential items first; if there is some extra budget then you can indulge yourself in buying an expensive gourmet sauce or frozen foods.

You kitchen needs some good management skills to help your household run efficiently. By following these simple yet essential kitchen rules you can certainly save some extra money and time in the kitchen.

The kitchen is generally the most used places in the entire house and one cannot live without a kitchen. It is the place where cooking, eating, planning and communication takes place which is full of fun and enthusiasm. But an antique kitchen with all boring styles can make it unimpressive. You need to upgrade your kitchen with the new and trendy designs and do styles available in the market. You need to plan a kitchen renovation soon.

Kitchen renovation cannot be done overnight and it requires a lot of planning and strategies. Your dream kitchen should look classy and fabulous. You should feel comfortable when you are present in the kitchen. The first step in kitchen remodelling and renovation is to hire a kitchen renovator. There are many top and high quality kitchen renovators and companies. You can hire one according to your budgets and requirements.

They consult different architects and then design a general blueprint to be followed based on the clients needs and requirements. They are professional and dedicated towards their job.

Roles and Responsibilities fulfilled by kitchen renovators:

They provide guidance and advice in order to achieve your ideal kitchen. They are familiar with the recent trends in the market through extensive research and can provide you the best possible ideas which are unique, impressive and attractive. Given below are some of the responsibilities which are fulfilled by them

• Designing a blueprint based on the client’s comfort and requirements
• Providing an ideal renovation plan based on the client’s budget.
• Doing extensive research to know the trending designs and styles.
• Providing guidance and advice by offering the best plans to their clients.
• Monitoring all the tasks involved in the renovation of the kitchen like roof repairing, flooring, painting, etc.
• Making changes and modifications as per the instructions of the client.
• Getting the renovation done within the specified limit of time.
• Providing a client friendly experience.

You can plan out different strategies and the kitchen renovators will get it done for you. Some of the smart strategies that would help your kitchen look modern are as follows

• Kitchen renovators can remodel your kitchen based on the type of users. Including adjustable countertop height and toe pull drawers can give a modern touch to your kitchen.
• Purchase all the needed appliances and place it in the kitchen so that you can work easily and get your job done quickly. A classic example for this could be a built in drawer dishwasher.
• Create a lot of storage space in the kitchen like shelves and cupboards in order to store various items required for cooking.
• High quality, durable materials like stainless steel, tiles, stone, glass, etc should be used to avoid Future damages and also to improve the look of your kitchen.
• Plans should be made for proper lighting and ventilation systems.

An organized kitchen is a pleasure to work in. Ask any home maker, she spends 50% of her home time in the kitchen. Most of the times she is trying to ensure that things are in order because if not, she’ll end up spending a chunk of her time in finding things from a cluster in a cabinet or a drawer.

This can lead to frustatration and loss of efficiency which means that she would have to spend more time in the kitchen. There are a lot of options for her to spend her time, she would love to socialize, take up a hobby or even find some me time while at home but the kitchen would not let it happen.

Here is the traditionally adopted option!

Imagine a cabinet that is full of things that lie in a heap and are a part of your daily use. A 3-foot cabinet that is around 4-foot wide can be home to more than 100 utensils of different sizes and utility.

With simple dividers they can be organized in a much better way but then you would have to place them one behind the other which creates a problem in accessing things. You would have to remove things in the front to access what’s in the back. While it is better than the stack, it is still not ideal.

Welcome to the world of Slide Out Shelves

Now imagine the dividers had simple slide in and slide out mechanism that would allow you to pull out the divider and take the thing you want without having to re-arrange the entire cabinet. That would be perfect, right?

Well, that exactly what the slide out shelves offer. You can get a well organized cabinet that is also very easy to access. It saves you time and the frustration. Thus making your kitchen a much more efficient place to work in.

Are they easy to install?

Nothing in life is easy, but slide out shelves are now available in kits and a lot of self install options. It is as easy as putting together LEGO sets. However, you might have a specific need and measurement which need to be addressed.

You can have professionals build custom slide out and pull out shelves for you and delivered to your door step. These are not very expensive and can also be made in a few days.

Find the Right Slide Out Shelves Company

The only effort that you will have to make will be in finding the right company that can deliver quality slide out shelves that are durable and will be delivered as per the specification. Make sure you can look up on the Internet, read reviews, see the images and choose the right partner to deliver an efficient solution to make your kitchen a better place.

While kitchen facilities may be nightmarish economically, it cannot be denied that it is the focal point of the home. This common ground deserves all the attention and the expense. A wise investment, besides the style factor that is so important these days, the utilities play a significant role. Property values are going to increase significantly, if the occasion arises to sell and relocate, maybe to greener pastures.

Begin planning!
It is important to be clear about what is expected from the new kitchen. Perhaps the layout of the old kitchen was limited. Smart space utility would turn it around. Structural alterations may be needed. If needed, a window and door may need to be bricked up if they are getting in the way. Plan the locations of the cooking range, worktop and the floor storage units, the sink and the overhead shelves. Size matters for sure and the older homes traditionally have smaller kitchen spaces, maybe 4 m X 3 m. It would be a test of imagination to figure out what goes where.

Sketch a detailed floor plan to scale to visualize what the arrangements would look like. What design would be feasible? Ventilation is crucial and lighting too. By bricking up the windows and door, I now got two complete walls. French doors would lead to the back garden.

Budget reasons made us decide that the plumbing expense may be reduced by keeping the worktop and sink in the same position. The fridge would remain where it was and the possibility was of more cupboards and working space with the two walls. A breakfast bar would also serve as a working table. The sketch being ready, the work could commence.

Installing the cupboards
You can imagine the mess while the builders were at work. Along with the plumber, the electrician and plasterer did their work. I was busy planning the cupboard positions. I know carpentry and would save some expense with the IKEA kitchen units. DIY experience does help.

At the end of the sink would be the breakfast bar in an L shape with two stools. Extra space came from the washing machine that was now in the bathroom.

Cupboards went next to the cooking range on the wall and floor, under the sink and above the sink. Frying pans, sauce pans and oven dishes need to be conveniently near the cooking area.

A feel of the outdoors
Along with the French doors leading to the back garden, an awning would create greater space dimensions and fuse the inner and outer ambiances.

The range of cookers from well-known manufacturers Beko covers just about every form of cooking that there is. They supply freestanding cookers, range cookers, and microwaves, obviously, but they also make built-in ovens, built-in hobs, built-in microwaves, oven and hob packages, cooker hoods, and even a built-in warming drawer.

Take the free-standing cookers that Beko make. These are available in your choice of fuel types – gas, electric, or dual fuel – and a choice of 50cm or 60 cm widths. They have models with single ovens or double ovens, and you can choose between hob types of solid plate, induction, ceramic, or gas. The main oven can be of conventional design, fan assisted, or multi-function, and it can have steam cleaning and oven doors that you won’t have to clean so often, because as Beko says you want to spend your time cooking, not cleaning. Beko cookers are also available with catalytic liners to the ovens.

Depending on the model, the cookers can have a fully programmable LED display, mechanical timers, or high-efficiency gas burners. These cookers are available in A or A+ ratings, and Beko even let you select a cooker by their customer ratings of five star, four star and up, or three star and up, so you can make a choice based on what other users think. Colours available are white, silver, anthracite, and black, so there is a choice to suit every type of kitchen.

Range Cookers With Single Or Double Ovens

Beko also manufacture a selection of range cookers with single or double ovens, and hobs with as many as seven burners which helps to make easy work of big cooking. The ranges are supplied in stainless steel, silver, or black, and can be electric or dual fuel with options of induction, ceramic, or gas hobs. As you might guess, you will need more space for these cookers and they come in two widths of either 90cm or 100cm.

There is a wide choice of microwave ovens from Beko. These are available as either freestanding or built-in models, and they have been designed so that they match the Beko built-in ovens, keeping your kitchen stylish and co-ordinated. The microwaves have varying capacities from 17 litres via 20 and 23 litres up to a very large 25 litre model. There are also models with or without grills. Offered in stainless steel, black, white, or silver, the microwaves are either 700w or 800w and some are provided with a two year warranty.

Beko also make cooker hoods, and there are eight different models. Installing a cooker hood will reduce airborne grease, steam, and smoke in your kitchen and keep it cleaner. Any form of cooking on the hob is going to release particles into the air, so if you have a cooker hood to trap them it will keep your kitchen more healthy. The mechanical fan enables clean air circulation. The different types of cooker hoods are visor, telescopic, integrated, chimney, or canopy, and they come in widths of 50cm, 60cm, and 70cm.

When you start looking at built-in ovens there is a huge choice offering a variety of features. As Beko themselves say, it can be difficult to know where to begin when buying an oven, yet choosing the right one for your needs can make a huge difference to your family, enabling you to cook a wider range of meals and giving you more free time to spend outside the kitchen.

Single ovens allow you to bake, roast, and grill, but if you need to roast and grill at the same time you will need a double oven. Both types of oven can be fitted under your kitchen counter, but if you choose a double oven each one will have less space than a single oven in the same place. Ovens come with a range of different programme features, one of which is the Pyrolytic self-cleaning oven. This allows the oven to heat up to a super-hot 480°C which turns the grease to ash, and all you then need to do is wipe it with a damp cloth. Suddenly, oven cleaning becomes a thing of the past!

Beko make yet more cooking choices including built-in warming drawers. The best thing to do is to consider your needs and then take a look around the very extensive Beko website.

Every kitchen has got the potential for functionality, display, and storage. The saddest part of life is the fact that many of our kitchens do not have all these things. Having a large kitchen helps you solve the issue. It also looks beautiful. When you are choosing or designing a home, it is a great thing if you are able to have one at your disposal. Some of the benefits include:

Storage and Cabinetry

If you have ever used a kitchen that doesn’t have adequate space for storage, then getting a big one will be a great thing for you. You can have as many shelves and drawers as you possibly want. You can also install recycling bins and any other component that you may have always felt is necessary for your home.

Enough for the Kids

A large kitchen is always a perfect option where kids are involved. Regardless of what you want them to help with, a large kitchen will accommodate all of you without the cramped feeling. You can have them in there so as to watch them easily. You can also install amenities like refrigerated drawers and microwaves in the reach of the young ones in case they need something without you around. You can place amenities for your kids comfortably within reach so as to teach them some bit of independence.

Seating Space

Having some extra seating space is always a great asset for homeowners. This is an area where you can have your informal dining. When your extended family or friends join you for dinner, preparing and serving your meals doesn’t become as hectic as it is normally where there are smaller kitchens.

Versatility

Sometimes one needs more floor space while others you need some extra counters. A large kitchen allows you to do whatever you feel is necessary. This becomes evident when you are making a huge meal for a lot of people who want to help.

Additional Kitchen Amenities

When you have a large kitchen, it becomes very easy to have all the amenities that you may have always wanted in the same place. This is how you make the kitchen a functional area that is useful for you and your household. This is how a kitchen becomes the main cooking and entertainment hub.

Material Options

There are many materials that you can choose from for a functional large kitchen. There are budget materials and costly ones according to your budget. A countertop dealer can help you when you are choosing the best material.

Everyone now has a legitimate reason as to why they should have a large kitchen since the benefits are many. You can enjoy the better seating area and versatility at all times. Many people struggle with decoration and design of the kitchen due to the limited area that is usually available. So as to make such a kitchen functional and look great at the same time, a lot of work has to be done. A small kitchen makes you sacrifice a lot of things but with the larger option, the styles that you can have within have no limits. There are a lot of things that can be done so as to make the space look very special.

The u-shaped kitchen layout is the most common one, that you find within homes. There are many advantages associated with this option. This is a design that can be incorporated into small spaces and it is a great idea because you will have enough room for storage and you will have bench tops all around you. This means that meal preparations become very easy since there is a lot of room.

Efficiency

This design is a great idea if you want to enjoy the efficiency while cooking. You can move between the refrigerator, the ovens and the sink very easily. Most people consider this to be the most efficient floor plan that any kitchen can have because it has a working triangle. The work area is well separated from the family.

Accommodation

They say three is a crowd. However, with a u-shaped kitchen, you can have more cooks within the kitchen at one time. This means that it is a good option, especially when you are entertaining guests or if you have a big family.

Entertaining

You can have a bench top at one side. This creates some space where you can have people sit while you cook. This is a great way to separate the dining area from the kitchen so that you can entertain and cook without much of a hustle.

User friendly

The u-shaped kitchen is user friendly. When you have bench tops on three sides, you will have enough cooking space as well as access all your appliances. So as to maximize space, you need to ensure that the benches are free of clutter. This can be done by keeping the appliances, microwaves and any other cooking essentials within the kitchen cabinets.

There are very few disadvantages that are associated with the u-shaped kitchen option. One of the things that you may notice is that having benches and cupboards on the three sides in your kitchen greatly reduces the floor area. This means that you may not have a lot of space, even though the design allows you to move freely even when you have more people in the kitchen.

If you have bottom corner cabinets, you may have some difficulty accessing them. This is another disadvantage, especially when you are trying to do things quickly and need something stored down there.

When you have a lot of floor space, it may mean that the workstations are too far apart than they should be. This may then make it difficult to work quickly. On the other hand, when the floor area is too tiny, you may feel enclosed and may not be comfortable working within the kitchen. It is therefore very important to think carefully about what kind of kitchen you want even before you start building your home. Also, take time to assess the kitchen space before purchasing a new home.

When done correctly, the u-shaped kitchen layout can be a very practical option for any given home. Even with the layout, you will still have to decide on the color, the look and the style of your kitchen so as to make it attractive and functional.

The living room is one of the places where you put a lot of effort because it is where we entertain our guests. However, even when we have guests, they may end up in the kitchen somehow. Regardless of whether people may want to use your kitchen or not, it is always important to put some effort in there and the design can impact the space in some amazing ways. The kitchen is one of the areas that has to look as elegant as possible and should be convenient and functional at all times.

Having a modular kitchen serves all the purposes that you may want. There are many reasons as to why you should fit in the modular option and they include:

Assembly

This is one of the greatest features. A modular kitchen can be assembled very easily. You can enjoy flexibility in a great way since you can shift the whole kitchen, especially after you move. You can have the kitchen repaired or altered at any one given time without affecting any other part.

Customization

The modular kitchens are usually designed with the customers’ needs in focus. Depending on your own personal preferences and the space available, the kitchen can be customized just as you want it to be. The kitchen can easily be color coordinated or you can even choose a design that contrasts the whole theme of your home. This allows you to actually personalize the entire space and also allows you to work within your set budget.

Space savers

A modular kitchen has shelves that allow you to save on space. You can notice shelves in tiny spaces and the small corners as well. There are others where you find them hanging on the doors. You can easily fit your appliances along shelves or walls. The features are a great choice, especially if you have a small apartment.

Convenience

In the traditional setting, carpenters were hired to design the kitchen within your home. The approach consumed a lot of time and a lot of inconvenience in the part of the owner. As for the modular kitchens, they are created within a factory and then easily fitted in your home. You only need to place an order and you will have the installation done within a month or so.

Beauty

Modular kitchens have a lot of chick and contemporary designs. There are the elegant and refined ones, and there are also the slick and modern designs that you can choose from. There are also many patterns bearing great aesthetics as well as functionality. There is nothing wrong with having a beautiful kitchen.

Storage

Storage is always a great thing where kitchens are concerned. Modular kitchens have drawers, cabinets, and shelves fir more efficient storage. This allows you to organize your items so as to make working and cooking within the kitchen efficient and easy. You can then de-clutter the kitchen giving it that clean and neat appearance.

Design

The modular kitchens are designed in a smart way. The design is done in a way that allows you to store the things that are frequently used in very convenient positions within the kitchen. You can separate the cooking and cleaning areas as well.

Are you planning a remodeling of your house, including the kitchen? If yes, then you are in the right place. As you read through this you will learn of ways that don’t cut a hole in your pocket but give your kitchen a new look. Yes, amazingly, the ways that we will be talking about are affordable but will enhance and update the décor of your kitchen ensuring a new look.

There are many ways to make affordable enhancements to your kitchen décor. We are discussing eight of these to update your kitchen.

1. Updating the kitchen cabinets

If you want, and have the ability, you can replace the kitchen cabinets that you have but why not go with a more affordable alternative and update them to have a new look? Simple changes made to the knobs and the hinges will offer a new look to the kitchen. If you have wooden cabinets you yourself can do the sanding and paint it with a new coat of paint to make your kitchen look great.

2. Purchase cost-effective countertops

If you are not changing the cabinets that you have in your kitchen then you don’t need upscale countertops. You can easily find countertops which are affordable and replacing the old one/s with these will give your kitchen a new look.

When you are purchasing countertops keep your mind open regarding materials for the countertop and you will see that there are various affordable options to choose from. By matching the color of the countertop with that of your kitchen cabinet you will be amazed by the new look of your kitchen.

3. Have roll-out shelves

If you feel that having a new cabinet is costly, and the shape of the cabinet that you have at present is not affordable to renovate, then you can easily change to roll-out shelves in place of the old cabinets. They are cost-effective and will also help you to save space and money while giving an entirely new look to your kitchen.

Not only that, such roll-out shelves are also best suited for anyone having issues with mobility. It will make cooking in the kitchen more a matter of pleasure than of responsibility.

4. Play with the light

Lights, and their switches, can play a big role in giving your kitchen a new look without spending a lot of money. As a general rule, you must have warm light in your kitchen. You can easily shop for new light fixtures and switches at budget stores and for an affordable cost you can change the entire look of your kitchen.

You may have seen a decorative light fixture or a unique type of switch in design magazines. If you search you will be able to find a prototype of these for a reasonable price at a store nearby. So, purchase those and you will see how efficiently such fixtures change the entire look of your kitchen.

Have you found an ideal way to make your kitchen look new without spending a lot? If you haven’t, then there is nothing to worry about. Here are a few more ideas and, hopefully, you will find one which will match your taste and budget.

5. Re-paint and change the curtains

If you have a talk with an interior designer then you will find that they place high esteem on re-painting and changing curtains when they want to update a kitchen affordably. If you wish to change the color of your kitchen and have a new look then you just need a coat of new paint. It’s wise to choose oil-based paints so that it’s easier to clean stains.

Match the color of your curtains in your kitchen with the color of the new paint and see what a difference this makes to your kitchen. Curtains need to be changed regularly as they absorb oil and food smells in your kitchen. Follow these two affordable ways and have a new looking kitchen without putting a hole in your pocket.

6. Change the kitchen faucet

Having a new faucet in your kitchen will not only give a new look to your kitchen but would make cooking easier. You can change to a taller faucet so that filling and cleaning big utensils is easier to do. You can have a trendy finish so that the kitchen has a new look.

7. Have a backsplash area

If you do not have a backsplash area in your kitchen or you haven’t had one made of old designed tiles then it would be prudent to change those. This option will make cleaning easy and at the same time give a new look to your kitchen. If you feel that purchasing tiles is affecting your budget then you can use the stencil and paint method to have one which will add a new dimension to your kitchen.

8. Buy new appliances

You may wonder if this is affordable. It is you have an open eye and mind when making your purchase. There are a number of organizations making available useful appliances for your kitchen at affordable rates. You can buy these keeping your eyes open so that you get the best value for the money that you are spending.

If you have made up your mind to have a new look for your kitchen then you must have noticed that various sales and discounts are offered by reputed manufacturers of kitchen appliances. You need to grab those options and buy appliances that you need. The appliances will not only make cooking a pleasure but will also enhance the décor of your kitchen.

Hopefully, by now you have found some ways to update your kitchen affordably. You don’t need to implement all of the selected options above, simply choose those that suit your taste and budget. If you do we are certain you will have a new-looking kitchen.

The l-shaped kitchen layout is efficient and modern. This layout offers an efficient and easy workspace and allows your cabinets and appliances to be installed along the right angled walls with the center open. There are many advantages of having this kind of layout.

The working triangle

An efficient kitchen must have the working triangle in mind. This means that you should be able to move from the sink, to the oven, and the refrigerator very easily at any one given time. The l-shaped kitchen is a proponent of this triangle and it has work stations set on different walls. This means that you will not have to walk too long so as to get to the various zones. This makes meal preparation very organized.

Multiple entrances

The l-shaped kitchens are usually tucked in corners and have open ends that allow one to have different exits and entries. This means that there will be an easy traffic flow all the time. When there is less traffic in the kitchen, it means you won’t have any jam even when you are entertaining. This translates to less stress and more room during meal preparation.

Open plan

Modern homes are quickly embracing the open plan living option. The l-shaped kitchen is the perfect option, especially if you have an open layout or if you are planning to remodel to an open plan. When you have an l-shaped kitchen, you only need to use two walls within the kitchen. In this way, you end up opening up more space. This is a great idea if you want the kitchen to open to another room such as the family room or dining trim. This design makes things easy when you are entertaining.

Maximize space

L-shaped kitchens keep space connected and therefore you have a lot of open space for rest of the activities. The space maximizes the open space and the workspace and you can incorporate tables and chairs. Cleaning becomes easy too.

The l-shaped kitchen is ideal for the medium and small kitchens. You can also adjust the cabinets and bench tops length.

There are also some disadvantages that are associated with this kitchen plan. The first one is the fact that it is not efficient for the larger kitchens. This is because the appliances will be too spread out within the kitchen thus reaching them can be rather hard. It is also not that easy to have many cooks at the same time within the kitchen.

The l-shaped kitchen plan is very versatile. It is visually appealing and functional too. It is always important to think things through as you make your kitchen shape selection so as to get the most out of it.

If your kitchen is small, then the l-shaped design will end up making it feel larger than it really is. If you use other kinds of kitchen designs on a small kitchen, it means that the space will be closed off making it feel tighter than it should. A smaller kitchen can always benefit from that additional room feeling.