Posts Tagged ‘Floor Space’

Designer Kitchen islands: Make the right statement

Wednesday, January 7th, 2009

If you were ever asked about the origin of kitchen islands, then you would probably not be wrong to trace its roots back to the medieval era. In fact the concept of the kitchen island was born in that period but it gained popularity only in the early 70’s and has been a part of mainstream kitchens ever since. Beginning with a small table in the centre of the kitchen, kitchen islands have progressed rapidly. Today they are making their appearance in several designs and styles. Such is the demand that we see several people even opting for designer kitchen islands. After all, it is more than just a functional accessory. The kitchen island symbolizes a vortex, a hub of all activity apart from the centralized preparation of meals.

The need for designer kitchen islands

Even though a kitchen island can be a small table in the middle of the kitchen, people are looking for more. They want to add a sense of style and make the right statement even with the décor of the kitchen. No longer is the kitchen merely a service area where the food is prepared. Today, people are giving the kitchen equal importance on par with the other rooms in the house. Designer kitchens are rather common these days where every nook and corner is planned with utmost care. Little wonder then that even designer kitchen islands are making their way in to homes all over the country.  It is yet another potent way of adding a personal style to the kitchen. A custom built designer kitchen island reflects great style and taste, in addition to transforming the kitchen in to an efficient work space and elegant entertainment corner.

More than just a functional accessory

A designer kitchen island is more than just an accessory that occupies 100 square feet of your kitchen’s floor space. These islands, made from the finest materials, are custom built, electrified, plumed and are essentially a ‘kitchen with in a kitchen’ with  several attachments like the sink, dishwasher, stove top and microwave in addition to the regular features like cabinets , racks and shelves. With endless possibilities, the designer kitchen islands have become multi purpose, multi level intricately carved masterpieces. The different levels can be used to prepare food and even serve them. The hi-end kitchen islands house wine racks, cook books, shelves, bar sinks, deep fryers and other amenities. The emphasis is clearly on creating separate work areas.

Need help with designer islands?

If you though that designer kitchen islands with granite tops were the only ones that existed, then you need to take the help of the several sites that are dedicated to the cause of designer kitchen islands. The never-ending array of designs, finishes, colors and styles of these impeccable kitchen islands will leave you spell bound. You’ll find loads of great ideas in creating designer kitchen islands and even some really interesting concepts as well. The photo gallery is something you can never have enough of.

Designer kitchen islands with their never-ending possibilities are all set to become the touchstone of not just your kitchen but also of your entire home. When are you making them a part of your style statement?

Cheap Kitchen Remodeling Tips

Saturday, December 27th, 2008

Tired of the way your kitchen looks? Bored by the same dull space and clutter?

If you feel your kitchen is too crowded or doesn’t make adequate use of space, but you can’t afford an expensive revamp, here are some cheap kitchen remodeling ideas to help you out.

Something we all tend to notice immediately about a room is the general color scheme. Even if we are not particularly artistic, the shade on the walls of a room make a big impression on our minds, automatically making us describe a room as welcoming or dull or depressing.

It costs little to slap a new coat of paint on the walls of your kitchen. If you are a do-it-yourself type, then you can probably even handle the painting on your own. Thus further cutting down on the costs of kitchen remodeling.

Colors such as sunny yellow or warm peach can make your kitchen look both bright and cheerful.

Other cheap ideas on remodeling kitchens include changing the flooring.

Go for some easy to wipe down tiles that go well with the general appearance of the room. If you’re stuck for floor space in a small kitchen, opt for diagonally patterned floor tiles. Such tiles help to create a feeling of more space than there actually is.

Another thing you can do is to change the lighting arrangements. Halogen lamps last longer and are much brighter too.

Rearrange your furniture a bit to see if you can’t get a better arrangement out of the available space.

If you want some extra counter room, why not get a drop down table? You can attach it to the wall and stow it away when not needed. You can also use it as a dinner table for meal times. That’s a good way to utilise space.

Hope you have a good time trying out these cheap kitchen remodeling tips.