Choosing The Best Kitchen Floor Plan For Your Family
When deciding on how to lay out your kitchen, you should really take the time to think about how your family uses the space and pick a plan that will be most functional for you.
The floor plan in a kitchen consists mainly of the cabinets and island and perhaps a separate eat in area. There’s basically 5 different “shapes” in which you can configure your cabinets.
Cabinets Along One Wall
In the simplest of kitchen you might find cabinets along one wall only. This could be practical if you have a long narrow kitchen. This is the least functional type of kitchen. If you have to have this type of plan, make sure the sink is in the center with the oven and fridge close by so the cook can easily prepare the food. Also make sure you have enough counter space between appliances – a common mistake is to put only 8″ to a foot between appliances and there is not much you can do with that little space. This type of layout is not conducive to family gatherings in the kitchen unless you have a larger area where you can put a table and chairs – even then, your back will be to everyone as you are preparing the food.
Galley Kitchen
This style of kitchen is often seen in apartments and smaller homes and consists of a somewhat narrow kitchen with cabinets along 2 opposing walls. While this plan is efficient on space it can be difficult to work in as the traffic pattern is right in the middle of where you are trying to prepare food. The configuration makes it a little easier to prepare food in than the “once wall” configuration, but it does not leave any room for family or friends to join in the fun. The typical galley kitchen is narrow with walls on either side. In this style kitchen, it is best to place the sink and stove on one side of the galley and the fridge on the other.
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L Shaped Kitchen
An L shaped cabinet arrangement can make good use of space and be a lot easier to work in. Try to locate the appliances close to the middle of the L, but leave plenty of counter space in between each appliance so the cook has space to work on. If one end of the L is open to another room, you can add bar stools and make it a counter – this type of kitchen is great for having family and friends gather while you are preparing the food.
U Shaped Kitchen
A U shaped kitchen requires plenty of space – 8 feet by 8 feet at the bare minimum. This type of layout maximizes storage but can be difficult for more than one cook. Putting a table at the opening to the U can add seating for family to gather. Another option is to open up one side of the U and put bar stools on the other side of the counter. In a U shaped kitchen, the major appliances (sink, fridge, stove) should each be placed each on one leg of the U.
Islands
Islands are great additions to any style kitchen as long as you have the room. An island can be incorporated into any of the kitchen floor plans above and can add to the ease of cooking in kitchens that are rather large as you can locate a sink or stove on the island and have it near the other appliances for ease of use in cooking and preparing food. In order to incorporate an island into our kitchen you need to have 42″ of aisle space on all sides. If your kitchen is too small to allow for this, try a portable island that you can move in and out as needed. Islands are great places to have an extra appliance or add an eating counter.
Lee Dobbins loves to decorate and write about decorating. Visit her site for more unique and unusual Kitchen Decorating Ideas and tips on kitchen decorating themes.
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Kitchen Flooring Options
Article by Nick DAlleva
Currently, anything goes concerning kitchen floors. In the old days, there were basically two choices, tile and linoleum. Today, we see hardwood, linoleum, cork, laminate, and many different types and style of linoleum.
Let’s start by looking at what does NOT work well for most people’s kitchen floors.
Cork flooring is all the rage today, but it’s not a very good choice for kitchen floors in most cases. Although its surface is treated, it is just too porous, and if you have kids or a dog rummaging through the kitchen on a regular basis, forget about it. It is not durable. In other parts of the home cork flooring is very popular and it’s very easy to install. In most cases, snapping squares together is all that is involved.
Marble tiles are beautiful but still a better choice for bathrooms. Smooth / or polished marble is very brittle and not durable. Marble is a rock, but most people don’t realize how brittle it is, and at up to per square foot it’s too expensive to replace if something happens. “Tumbled marble” looks great, but it’s far too porous for the kitchen. As you could actually spill coffee and wine on polished marble, it’s not a good idea for tumbled marble that does not clean up as well and can absorb stains. Breadcrumbs would find their way into every nook and cranny too.
Some types of hardwood; Be mindful of the seams between the hardwood planks. Wide seems and gaps will collect crumbs which may be cleaned via shop vac, but heaven forbid something sticky gets down in the cracks. If you are looking at hardwood for the kitchen, choose hardwood that goes together with the smallest seams possible.
What selections work best in the kitchen:
Laminate flooring used to get a bad rap, but it is highly improved today. Laminate, actually a “picture” of real wood, will fool quite a few people today, and the layman cannot distinguish between laminate and real hardwood. Laminate is absolutely our # 1 choice for large families and those with pets. Your kids can slop jelly bread on the floor, the dog can overturn it’s dish, and your husband can drip paint all over the floor and most laminates will laugh it off. Before you turn you nose up at laminate, go out there and see what’s available. You will be pleasantly surprised.
The old stand-by, tile. Most tiles are either ceramic or porcelain. “Porcelain” does not mean the tile looks like your smooth white toilet. It comes in all the shapes and sizes of any other tile. All you need to know is porcelain is much more durable that terra cotta or ceramic tile and will pass the bowling ball test. If you drop a bowling ball on ceramic tile, several will crack and need to be replaced, where porcelain will probably be just fine. You will find porcelain to be about 25% more expensive than most ceramic tiles though.
Tile cleans up very well with the exception of the grout lines. Grout lines are a stain and dirt magnet. Make sure you double seal your grout lines, and clean and reseal them every 2 or 3 years. Unlike your tile, your grout will eventually absorb stains. Clean grout lines will give the kitchen a very clean and polished feel while grungy grout can be a dark cloud over your kitchen.
We are putting hardwood in both categories because some will work in the kitchen. 3/4 inch hardwood, or engineered hardwood can work just fine in the kitchen if the seams are very tight and you don’t mind a few inevitable scratches and nicks. The final word on hardwood is its “hardness.” Most hardwoods are compared and ranked against “oak” or “red oak” as a measure of hardness. Make sure you buy a hardwood that is no softer than oak if you have an active family. For example, dog scratches will plague all but the hardest of hardwoods.
Finally, let’s look at linoleum flooring. OK, a top New York City interior designer still will not be caught dead using laminate, and it gets a bad rap. However, like laminate “hardwood” flooring, it is very much improved. Unlike laminate, linoleum won’t fool too many people, often designed to look like ceramic tile, but noting beat’s it in terms of cleanup and durability. If you are putting your money into a granite countertop and new appliances, a linoleum floor is just fine, and will last for many years with minimal effort. As the cheapest option, it will be there for you if your budget is squeezed.
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How To Make Great Kitchen Floor Plans
When it comes to remodeling the home you need to change up the most important room in the home. That would be the one that is always busy. The kitchen will be the busiest room in the home even if you don’t like to cook a great deal. That is still where you have to put away the dirty dishes and get everything that you drink. You might even want to make use of it as the place where you may be entertaining a few of your acquaintances and family.
If you are trying to build a home you need to understand what each room will look like and find out how to make it all work together in harmony. That might mean that you will have to sacrifice certain things. In the end it helps to create a kitchen floor plan that’s going to make sense and which you will have the ability to use.
When you are making this plan you will need to sit down with your contractor and articulate to them what you’re looking for.
You should tell them what kind of appliances need to be in this room and just how much cabinet or counter space you might need in order to make use of it like you would like to.
When you cook a lot than this might mean you will need a whole lot more counter space than what is critical in most properties. That means that you have to think about adding in an island in the center of your kitchen or probably putting in a long counter that borders the side of your room. This is a great feature to be able to use.
There are a variety of various kinds of kitchen floor plans that you will have the ability to make use of and that will really come in handy. In the end just make sure that it’s going to make sense and that you will be happy with the end result. That is what is most important to do when it comes to remodeling or building any home that you want.
Spring Clean Your Kitchen In Just One Day
Spring is just around the corner and it’s the perfect time to spring clean. A little bit of effort now will allow you to enjoy more time outdoors when the weather is nice. You can easily spring clean a kitchen in one day with some planning and commitment to time. Take note of the following steps and in one day your kitchen will be perfectly clean!
De-clutter Your Kitchen! Spring cleaning is the perfect time to de-clutter your space. Clean out junk drawers and remove everything from the counter tops that doesn’t belong such as junk mail, bills, etc. Make sure clutter is separated into items that can be thrown out, recycled, donated or placed in a better storage area and not the counter top! Take the time to go through your cabinets and pantry to look for anything that has expired and toss it. At the end of the day you will appreciate the clutter free space!
Dust and Wash Ceilings and Walls! Dust and Clean! A rule I always follow when cleaning a room is start at the top and work your way down. Dust your ceiling and walls and then with a mild detergent wash them. Pay extra attention to high traffic area’s and corners especially if you have young children. A great tool is the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser. This does a great job of cleaning those hard to clean marks on the walls. Just wet it, wring it out and scrub the wall surface that is marked.
Ceiling Fans and Light Fixtures Clean those ceiling fans and light fixtures. Dust has a way of accumulating on these surfaces. Cleaning them regularly is best but be sure to do a thorough cleaning several times a year. A mild soap detergent will work fine. Be sure to wring out the rag and be careful around electrical areas.
Dust Blinds and Wash Window Treatments Wash your curtains and dust blinds! Spring cleaning the kitchen is an excellent time to take down any curtains you may have and wash them. While up there be sure to dust and wipe down your blinds. I usually dust blinds first and then with a mild detergent wipe down each slat. It’s a bit time consuming but you will be happy to see how clean your blinds are when you’re finished!
Window Cleaning! Window Cleaning! Grab your window cleaner and do a good thorough cleaning of all your windows. Nothing brightens up a room easier than fresh clean windows! Be sure to wipe down any trim and mouldings around the window with Murphy’s Oil Soap.
Cabinets! Wash your cabinets inside and out! Yes, this can be quite the chore but if you are committed to a thorough one day cleaning you will be glad you took the time and didn’t skip this step. Take everything out of your cabinets and with a mild soapy detergent wipe down the inside of your cabinets. Putting everything back in place only once you are sure they are completely dry. This is a great chance to clean up some more clutter! Check expiration dates and toss any items you no longer use. If you are storing appliances, casserole pans or an item you don’t use that often then consider finding a different place for it to open up more storage in your kitchen for items you do use frequently. I keep a few items stored up in a family room closet so I can have easier access and more storage for the items I use most often. Now it’s time to clean the outside of the cabinets. I use Murphy’s Oil Soap and wipe down the outside of all the cabinets. Once they have dried apply Milsek Furniture Polish. This will give the cabinets a really great shiny clean look and they will smell good as well. Be sure to clean any door hardware with the appropriate cleaners. Example…if you have brass cabinet pulls use a brass cleaner and polish to have them looking their best. This is one of the most time consuming parts of the spring cleaning in your kitchen but your cabinets will look fantastic!
Appliances! Appliances…another tedious task! Starting with your stove wipe out the inside. You may want to set it on the auto clean now or wait until you are done cleaning your entire kitchen as this usually heats up the kitchen quite a bit. Give the stove top a good cleaning removing all pieces that can be. I have found that cleaning the gas stove burner grates with amonia and letting them soak removes all that built up grease and grime. Be sure to spend time cleaning all the pieces on the stove top thoroughly before placing them back. Next you will want to clean your fridge top to bottom, inside and out! Start with the outside making sure to clean the top….it’s amazing how much dust collects up there. I usually use an antibacterial spray for the outside of the fridge and scrub tough marks the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser. Turn the temp down on the fridge and remove everything. Take this opportunity to check for expiration dates and un-used items. With a mild soapy detergent clean your fridge taking out any shelves and trays that are removable. Once dry, place everything back. Repeat this step in the freezer. Wipe down the outside of your dishwasher with mild soap or anti bacterial spray cleaner. Look inside and clean it up as well. Same with your microwave oven. The Magic Eraser works wonders on the inside of your microwave too! And finally, wipe down and clean any counter top appliances such as toasters and coffee makers.
Counters and Sink! Counters and Sink! Once everything has been taken off the counters give them a good cleaning with mild soapy detergent. I go over mine with an anti bacterial spray as well. Then place everything back on your shiny clean counters once dry! Fill the sink with warm soapy water and clean. Again, once the water is drained and everything is wiped dry, I go over again with anti bacterial spray cleaner.
Furniture! Furniture! With mild soap clean all the furniture wiping down the table and chair legs, seats and all surfaces. With young children and white furniture I do this weekly. If you have wood furniture be sure to polish it. Clean trash cans too!
Floors! Finally, the Floors! Last step to a beautifully spring cleaned kitchen is the floors. Sweep them up and wash them. If you have ceramic tiles, clean the grout. If you have wood floors, then apply a good hard wood floor polish to them. Your kitchen will look fantastic and you will be happy you spent the day spring cleaning your kitchen.
Topps Tiles How-To Video Series – Wooden Flooring Part 1 – Tools for the job Wooden flooring is both hardy and offers a luxurious quality that is unique from any other type of material. In this tutorial series we walk you through the various types of wood flooring, and how to install…
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Just How Good Is Cork Kitchen Flooring
If you desire to have a kitchen flooring that has a great look to it and is also rather durable then you must consider cork flooring. This is produced with thousands of air sacs that make it one of the most comfy floors to walk on. It is like walking on air.
Its strength mainly is based from the water based polyerethane and wax finish that is used over the top of it. All of these have their numerous advantages that make them a plus to utilize in the house as well as a few disadvantages.
Scratch resistance is a feature that we seek for in each floor. Shoes, toys, dishes, and pets walk around on these floors incessantly and we should have something that has the ability to hold up against it all. One of the only times that this can be scraped is when dust and dirt specks are left on the floor and not removed.
Because it is made up mainly of air when you drop a dish or anything that might be fragile on it the floor is able to absorb the shock and let it fall softly. This serves to lessen the amount of broken dishes that you might have and avert scratching.
However, this feature is one of the worst disadvantages to cork kitchen flooring. Any exceedingly heavy and sharp objects will have the ability to hurt the floor when they are on top of it for long periods. Any of these objects must have padding underneath them before placing them on the floor.
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Vital considerations for buying Kitchen floor tiles
Shopping for kitchen floor tiles is no more an easy task now. This is because of the fact that market today is flooded with a wide assortment of tiles. With a wide variety of designs, styles and colors available in the market, individuals often get confused what to purchase and what not. To save yourself from this situation, it is extremely important to keep some points in mind before shopping for these tiles.
Budget is considered as one of the most important factors that should be kept in mind before one plans to buy tiles for kitchen floor. Always go for the tiles which suits you best in terms of budget. For this, you need to do a deep research over internet. There are many internet websites which display complete information regarding the features as well as the price of all kinds of tiles. You can go through each of these sites deeply and make a comparison between the features and prices of tiles available from different companies. This will help you in making a fair decision regarding your purchase. Moreover, you can make a good purchase at an affordable rate. But if a person is not clear about his or her budget and has not done proper research, there are more chances of buying bad product.
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This is another important factor that should be kept in mind. Always go for tiles that are durable in nature.
Today, kitchen floor tiles are available in stylish and classy colors. Always go for a color that goes with your kitchen theme and decor. This will add more exquisiteness to your kitchen and make it look much better than before.
This is also a significant factor that should be given preference. There are some tiles which require a lot of maintenance and care. Avoid purchasing such tiles for your kitchen floor. Better choose tiles that can be washed and cleaned up with lot of ease.
If an individual’s considers all these important factors in mind before buying tiles for kitchen floor, he or she can surely make an excellent purchase and that too without spending much money from their side. So, always go through a deep research before purchasing in order to avoid any future inconvenience.
Cheap Ways to Update a Kitchen
The kitchen is the heart of the home, so it is important that you and your family enjoy being in it. However, many people live with a kitchen they hate because they think it would cost too much to update it. You do not have to be one of these. Go ahead and set yourself a budget for updating your kitchen and then uses these cheap ways to make your kitchen a place you love to be in again.
Clean
You would be surprised how much a thorough cleaning can do to update your kitchen. Scrub the cabinets, floors and appliances to get rid of years of dirt and grime. Declutter the countertops and the refrigerator so the kitchen looks organized and like new. Doing this can take years off the look of your kitchen.
Remove Wallpaper
Another cheap way to update your kitchen is to remove any old wallpaper you might have. Wallpaper can quickly date a room, so take the time to get it off of your walls. Then just apply a few coats of paint for an updated look on the cheap.
Revamp your Cabinets
If your cabinets are still functional but just need some updating there are plenty of things you can do. Paint or re-stain your cabinets, add molding to the cabinet doors or even reface your existing cabinets to get a new look for thousands of dollars less than replacing them. Just make sure you do the proper preparation to ensure your new look will last for years to come.
Paint your Hardware
Something as simple as updating your kitchen cabinet hardware can have a huge impact on the way your kitchen looks. If the cabinet hardware is looking shabby and dated and you cannot afford to replace it, get a few cans of metallic spray paint and make them look brand new. So long as you take the time to do it right, your hardware will look brand new and no one will know your cheap secret.
Paint your Countertops
Old laminate countertops can be very ugly but what should you do if you do not have the money to replace them? Paint. Yes, you can use paint to create the look of granite counter tops for much less than the cost of purchasing new them. There are several different ways to do this, so start looking online to find the technique that will work best for you.
Vinyl Tiles
If you are dealing with an ugly floor, purchase some cheap vinyl tiles to get an updated look. Vinyl tiles can cost as little as $ .20 a square foot and can even be installed over existing flooring. Since you can install it yourself, this can be a huge money saver. So take a look at the vinyl tile options in your price range to see what you can find.
Paint or Cover Appliances
Your old looking appliances can also make your room feel dated. However, you can either paint or cover your existing appliances to get an all new look. Appliance spray paint is the cheapest option and can allow you to turn that olive color refrigerator into a sleek black one. If you have the money though, try peel and stick stainless steel sheets that can give you this costly look on the cheap.
Replace Old Curtains
Finally, take a look at the curtains in your kitchen. If your curtains are looking old and faded, it is probably to replace them. You do not have to spend a lot of money to do this. Take a look at the clearance section at a big box retailer or even make your own with a cheap flat sheet. This make sure you show off your kitchen windows instead of detracting from them.
If you use these cheap ideas, you will be able to give your kitchen a completely updated look for very little money. So start looking around your kitchen to see where your money will be best spent and then get to work. You will soon be enjoying a beautiful updated kitchen that you created cheaply.
Daughter’s to do list for Parents…
An Inexpensive Option in Kitchen Flooring that is Making a Comeback is Linoleum Kitchen Flooring
Linoleum kitchen flooring is one of the oldest flooring materials around and it has shown it can stand the test of time. Gone are the days where linoleum was available in just white, black, and grey today there are more than 200 different colors, designs, and patterns to choose from, some manufactures even allow you to design your own.
Made from mixing linseed oil, sawdust, limestone, and color pigments tied with jute fiber linoleum is considered to be environmentally friendly.
Linoleum is well-suited for kitchens because of its durability, strength, resistance to fire and water, and ease of cleanup and maintenance. All of these benefits are often overlooked because of its history as a boring option for the home. That is no longer the case you are now able to get just about anything you are looking for with linoleum flooring so it is something that you might want to look into.
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Highlights of Linoleum Kitchen Flooring:
-Made of natural materials
-Resistant to different forms of bacteria as well as water and fire
Cons:
-Not really a con but its history is a big downside more because of people’s views of it due to the way it was as compared to the way it actually is now-a-day
As far as the cost go linoleum kitchen floors will run you somewhere between -8.50 per square foot with installation being an extra cost unless you try to tackle it as a do-it-yourself project. Installation is not as easy as laminate or wood flooring however it is not impossible for a normal homeowner with some DIY experience. If the only reason you haven’t thought about linoleum floors in your kitchen is because of what you heard about them in the past you might want to take a second look because they really do offer a lot of benefit and will not break the bank.
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Leave a commentOptions For Kitchen Flooring
What’s the first thing someone notices in your kitchen? Surprisingly, it’s the floor. The flooring is usually the body around the charming picture that we call your kitchen and like any good photograph frames, the floor will obtain the initial interest of your onlooker.
That’s the reason if the existing linoleum or hardwood floor covering is defectively worn with parts of your sub-floor showing through it’s time for you to give consideration to reworking them. Still it is usually ignored because it is just not any simple job
Rubber is obtainable in a wide range of colors and patterns and since the colour is steady through out the whole material it will not fade or exhibit damage that’s just like that of a good deal of other different selections. It is usually very reasonably priced so it will not break your budget either.
Bamboo is moisture resistant if installed and sealed right so in many cases it is not something a normal home owner would want to tackle without competent professional assistance. Assuming you’ve ever had hardwood flooring you know they might look riveting for years to come whenever cared for correctly.
After setting up any of these you must give the fresh floor time and power to settle prior to shifting any of the kitchen appliances back. You don’t want the extra weight to maneuver it or warp it prior to being set. Though it is often the very last thing you consider changing, the kitchen flooring could make a real change to the look of the kitchen and the difficulty needed is well worth it. Just be sure that you find something that features a great design to it in order that it might look great in your kitchen.