Kitchen
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April 20, 2015
Making an old Kitchen New
Kitchen Remodel Before and After Photos by Ever and Anon Photography Here's a before and after kitchen that caught my eye. It was recently featured in Country Living Magazine. The home owner, Kaylor Little has a furniture repair/refinishing business Fisherman's Wife Furniture, and manufactures some pieces herself. Ms. Little conceived this new kitchen and did much of the work herself. I'd call the kitchen Basic Builder Standard -1990's. It's a simple, compact U-shaped kitchen with builder grade everything. It really caught my eye in the before/after photos that the owner appeared to have changed out everything, but left the layout untouched. However, the original cabinets were not changed out, but were painted white. The accent color, a robin egg blue, is carried from the kitchen's blue subway tile backsplash to the adjacent room. Very simple, very nice, and a very needed touch of color. Countertops were replaced from a standard builder laminate to DIY made butcher block. Photos by Ever and Anon Photography Light fixtures were updated to a retro diner look, and all appliances were upgraded from white to stainless steel. The range was upgraded to a double oven range, and the new refrigerator is a counter-depth French Door model with ice and water dispenser through the door. This DIY owner rightfully gives herself a big pat on the back for choosing a counter-depth refrigerator for more aisle space in the kitchen. She also enclosed the refrigerator to give it a built-in look, added some crown moulding, and replaced -
April 08, 2015
Get more from a new kitchen island
Four Kitchen Island Ideas It seems hard to imagine a kitchen these days without either a peninsula or island of some type. With today's open kitchen designs, the extra workspace comes in very handy. Here are a few kitchen island ideas for kitchens of various sizes and shapes. 1. Wheel-In Kitchen Island Belmont White Kitchen Island This roll about cart from Crate&Barrel can serve as a work table or as convenient roll-in seating for a small kitchen. Roll it out of the way if you need the space to maneuver around the kitchen 2. Basic Kitchen Island Credit: Trackmeetsonline If you have room to add a permanent kitchen island, here's one that fits basic needs of an island with workspace, and seating for two. It's great for food prep or for your morning coffee and roll: the French call that morning cuppa with croissant a petit dejuener. 3. Kitchen Appliance Island I'm kind of an appliance guy, so I have to point out that a kitchen island can be a great place for appliances. Get that microwave off the counter and into the island. The microwave pictured above works well, but I really like the convenience of the microwave drawer for an under counter unit. The wall oven shown in the above picture is particularly useful for an accessible kitchen. If plumbing is available, another favorite use on a kitchen island is for a sink. Either a main sink or a small prep sink can make the island even more -
April 02, 2015
Smaller Appliances for Smaller Kitchens
More Appliance Choices for Small Spaces Small homes and condos can find more room in the kitchen with space-saving appliances. Fortunately, the field of smaller appliances has expanded greatly with appliance brands from Europe entering the field. Full size appliances in Europe are made to fit 60mm (24") cabinet widths rather than the 30" dimensions for most U.S. brands. In addition, many "apartment-sized" appliances have typically been de-featured and low-end models. No more. You can now choose from a wide-spectrum of brands from entry level to luxury brands made in more compact sizes. For example, standard dishwashers are designed to fit in a 24" space. However, there are a number of dishwasher brands that offer full-featured dishwashers that fit in an 18" space, such as the Bosch dishwasher. Click on the link below for a full description: Bosch 18" Dishwasher For those, that can't accommodate a full height dishwasher, Fisher & Paykel, as well as others, offer a space-saving dishwasher drawer. In cooking appliances, there are even more choices. Standard widths for ranges are 30", but choices abound in 24" or even 20" sizes. Here's a Bluestar range built for a 24" opening. Many cooktops, and ovens are 30", but here again there are many choices in 24" cooktops and ovens. UAKC, can even help you with a 2 burner cooktop if needed. Take a look at this Italian made Bertazzoni oven and cooktop made to fit a 24" opening. Click on the links below: Bertazzoni 24" Oven Bertazzoni 24" -
March 31, 2015
Kitchen remodeling ideas on a budget
Budget Kitchen Remodels 3 Great tips - 1 Bad idea I've been searching online for good ideas to remodel a small kitchen on a budget. Not necessarily a full redo, but just a few things that might help perk up the room. Below are three of my favorite tips, and one that I really don't like much at all. 3 Great Tips Paint can solve a lot of problems. Need some contrast or brightness in a drab kitchen?Want your backsplash to stand out? Visit a paint store. Take photos of the kitchen and bring in samples. I really prefer the freestanding paint stores over the big box stores. These guys really know paint, and can give you good advice. Of course, if your working with a design professional she or he will be your color expert. Cabinets dominate the space in your kitchen, but replacing cabinets can blow your budget. Think about painting those wood-stained cabinets. White is very popular these days, and will give your kitchen a bright, updated look. Here are some other ideas that can add some drama to your kitchen. If you can spare the storage or move it elsewhere, consider removing some or all of your upper cabinets. It's amazing how much volume your kitchen will gain. For many of us who are...ahem, vertically challenged, those upper cabinets aren't practical anyway. Consider installing some shelves in the free space or even wall brackets to hand pots on. Another idea is to just remove the cabinet -
February 10, 2015
Miele Appliances at KBIS/IBS 2015
New Miele Range a Winner in Las VegasMiele Appliances shown at KBIS/IBS 2015It's hard to come away a winner when you go to Las Vegas. But, the new Miele range was a good bet at the 2015 Design and Construction Week (*KBIS/IBS) show in January. Miele partnered up with some top kitchen brands (Haefele, Bauformat, and Cosentino) to showcase their luxury appliance brand. The new Miele Range, their first EVER, was a huge hit. (To clarify, Miele has been very successful in cooking products such as built-in cooktops and ovens over the years, but they've not ventured into the range business until now).Miele's range model line up consists of several configurations in 30", 36", and 48" ranges. The range line has been eight years in the making, and the attention to detail shows in the innovative features, and stunning Miele design, not to mention the durable construction. Miele's 30" range weighs in at 337 lbs. Compare that to the 160 lbs. of a typical Whirlpool gas range.You might also expect state of the art technology in a range of this class, and Miele does not disappoint. With a high-tech control panel that includes their exclusive MasterChef electronic controls, the new Miele features algorithms to perfectly cook many foods, and it will also store your own special recipes. Miele has taken a fresh look at every feature on a range. For example, Miele's unique range handle is designed to swivel from its vertical -
February 01, 2015
New Sinks and Faucets at KBIS 2015
New Franke Planar 8 Kitchen Sink and Faucet During the recent Kitchen and Bath International Show (KBIS) in Las Vegas we saw a variety of stunning new products. We were especially pleased to see at new kitchen and bath sink and faucet collection from a favorite brand, Franke. Read more below: LAS VEGAS (JANUARY 20, 2015) — The new Planar 8 Series of handcrafted, Italian-made, stainless steel kitchen sinks from Franke Kitchen Systems feature sleek, contemporary designs that are right at home in any modern kitchen décor. Introducing the New Franke Planar 8 Kitchen Sink Designed and hand-fabricated in Italy, the Franke Planar 8 Kitchen Sink Series is made from premium 304 grade 18-gauge stainless steel, equipped with sound-dampening pads and Franke’s silky luster finish. Other key features include: Maximized work space: These undermount sinks measure 17 inches from front to back to enhance countertop work space without compromising sink functionality. Maximized storage space: The drain is placed in the rear of the unit so that drainage piping does not crowd the space inside the cabinet beneath the sink. Easier cleaning: Unlike other hand-fabricated sinks, the new Franke Planar 8 sinks are engineered with an 8 degree radius in the corners making the sink much easier to maintain. Enhanced functionality: Custom accessories, such as a bottom grid and a cutting board, are available to create a more productive and enjoyable food-preparation experience. In conjunction with this introduction, Franke is also unveiling the Planar 8 Flex Semi-Professional Kitchen Faucet as a -
January 23, 2015
UAKC Wins Customer Satisfaction Award
Best Of Houzz 2014 and 2015 Customer Satisfaction AwardsUniversal Appliance and Kitchen Center Receives Second Consecutive Award Best of Houzz 2015 - Client SatisfactionThis professional was rated at the highest level for client satisfaction by the Houzz community.Awarded on January 13, 2015Over 25 Million Monthly Unique Users Rated Top-Rated Home Building, Remodeling and Design Professionals in the United States and Around the World.Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center of Studio City, and Calabasas, CA. has been awarded Best Of Houzz for Customer Satisfaction by Houzz (www.houzz.com), the leading platform for home remodeling and design the leading platform for home remodeling and design. The Southern California supplier of major appliances and plumbing fixtures was chosen by the more than 25 million monthly unique users that comprise the Houzz community from among more than 500,000 active home building, remodeling and design industry professionals. This is the second consecutive year that Universal Appliance and Kitchen has received the Best of Houzz Client Satisfaction Award.The Best Of Houzz award is given in two categories: Design and Customer Satisfaction. Customer Satisfaction honors are determined by a variety of factors, including the number and quality of client reviews a professional received in 2014. Winners will receive a Best Of Houzz 2015 badge on their profiles, helping Houzz users around the world who discover and love a professional work to learn even more about that business popularity and satisfaction rating among their peers in the Houzz community.Igor Royz, President and CEO of Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center always -
January 14, 2015
Dacor Appliance Innovation in 2015
New Dacor Appliances The 2015 KBIS (Kitchen and Bath International Show) is scheduled for next week. We're wondering what to expect in new appliances. In 2014, Dacor won numerous awards for their products, including the new products below. iQ 30" Wall Ovens and RangeDacor’s Discovery iQTM Wall Oven and Range shown at KBIS 2014 touts integrated and intuitive Android™ connectivity enabled by a proprietary Dacor iQ Cooking App. Using the enabled smart phone, even novice chefs can become experts with a simple swipe of a finger. Easy to use touch controls ensure that favorite dishes are conveniently cooked to perfection. Discovery Wine Station DYWS4The Discovery WineStation® is the first automated, temperature controlled, four-bottle wine dispensing and preservation system for the home. The connoisseur can choose the right wine and just the right amount - a taste, a half glass or a full glass - with the touch of a finger. A perfect addition to your home, in the kitchen, bar, den, game room or wine cellar, the Dacor Discovery WineStation maintains the freshness of your favorite wine selections for up to 60 days without the loss of flavor or natural aroma. Touch Gas CooktopHere's what Dacor President Steve Joseph had to say about the new Gas TouchTop. "Dacor is proud to introduce another first for the American kitchen. Our new Gas TouchTop combines the performance benefits of gas cooking with the convenience, safety and -
January 12, 2015
Kitchen Remodeling Tips #3: Lighting
Ideas for Kitchen Lighting 4 Ways to Brighten Your Kitchen Your kitchen needs lighting. Natural lighting is wonderful, but most kitchens don't have much natural light. Even kitchens with abundant natural light are going to need lighting for dark nights and stormy days. Here's where to start: This kitchen has a combination of natural light, ceiling light, undercabinet lights, and hanging light. None would be sufficient on its own, but the combination works nicely together. Let's take a look at kitchen lighting options. Ceiling Lights It's very common for kitchens to have ceiling lights. However, ceiling lights tend to be harsh and they almost always need supplemental lighting. Undercabinet Lighting Lights positioned under the upper wall cabinets can be used to highlight the backsplash and/or to light the countertop workspace. This can be an inexpensive way to beautify your kitchen and add needed light at the same time. Hanging Lights Pendant or rope lights hanging from the ceiling are eye-catching and offer great spot lighting on work or eating areas. In this instance, the industrial looking hanging lights provide focus to the island and great lighting over the eating area. Appliance Lights Don't overlook the lights on your appliances. A range backsplash usually has a worklight, and a refrigerator dispenser may have a handy light that also can serve as a nightlight. An over-the-range microwave is assured to have lights that shine down on the range surface below. Regardless of what kind of range hood you have, you're almost assured -
January 09, 2015
Kitchen Remodeling Tips #1: Backsplashes
Kitchen BacksplashesMake your kitchen standout with unique backsplash colors and designsThe kitchen wall space above countertops and below the upper cabinets, is a great place to add color and creative touches, and contrast. Here are a few examples: Subway Tile continues to be very popular. In addition to the traditional white tiles that you see in...well in subways, these tiles are now available in a variety of colors, sizes and finishes. Glass patterns and mosaic tiles can be used to tie-in to other kitchen colors, and provide contrast at the same time. Range backsplashes provide another opportunity for differentiation. If you choose any material other than tile or glass to go behind a range or cooktop, be certain that it is heat resistant. You should also consider if you'll face any special cleaning issues due to smoke coming off the range. The space behind appliances and countertops, can get dirty quickly. On a practical side, glass and ceramic tiles can make cleaning a breeze. Choose materials carefully, and consider sealing your grout.The nice thing about backsplashes is that you get to determine how much contrast and color you wish to add, and where. Even if you're not doing a major kitchen remodel, adding or replacing a backsplash can give you an entirely new "look".Of course, another way to achieve a new look in your kitchen, is with new appliances, or sinks and faucets. For the best availability and lowest prices on major appliances and plumbing fixtures contact the professionals at
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