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1. Start with the basics: silverware. I like to put silverware in an upper small drawer close to the dishwasher, if you don’t have a dishwasher then close to the sink, if you don’t have a sink…well, this ideabook may not interest you :) It’s all about ease of clean up and putting items away when it comes to silverware…if there’s an island, then I sometimes put the silverware drawer in the island, but still a pivot away from the dishwasher or main sink. If you’re dealing with an existing kitchen, run out and buy a silverware organizer… and I’m a big fan of containers that look nice even inside closed drawers — they’ll make you happy when you open them. The most frustrating thing about poorly designed kitchens (or anything for that matter) is that you spend time searching for things in vain). Here, the obvious spot is the small drawer to right of the sink. Even though there’s a drawer to the left of this dishwasher, I wouldn’t use it for silverware because it would be hard to access when the dishwasher is open. I’d go for a drawer to the right of the sink, even though it’s a bit further away. 2. Where to put everyday dishes? If you’re lucky enough to have more than one cabinet for ...
Sinks The counter height is typically 32 to 34 in., but what’s actually more important is your sink height. An above-counter vessel sink will naturally sit much higher than an inset below-counter sink, and so a vessel should be placed on a lowered cabinet to compensate. Ultimately, you should try a few different sinks and figure out the height that feels most comfortable for you. Mirrors Likewise, the height of mirrors should be based on your own height. Find an average eyeline for everyone using the mirrors and make sure this height is well within the upper and lower borders of the mirror (5 ft., 6 in. is average, but your household may vary). In many situations a centerline can be created between the counter and the ceiling for the most symmetrical look. (Using this same centerline for sconcesreinforces the effect, as seen here in one of my projects.) When combining a standing vanity with a sit-down makeup station, you’ll need to adjust the counter height down to about 28 in. or lower (minimum: about 24 in.). Try sitting at a real desk or vanityand see if it feels comfortable, considering you’ll be applying makeup rather than typing — going on the low side is better for le...
One Size Doesn’t Fit All When it comes to kitchen islands, don’t assume that if your kitchen is small, an island won’t be possible, or that you can’t include the options you want. There are many possibilities for making an island work, even where space is limited. Most kitchen companies or designers offer options with a reduced depth, a customized height or extra-large cabinets tailored to suit a specific design and the space it is intended for. Determine Your Clearance Zone When clients ask if they have room for an island, designers must consider factors such as how many people live in the house and how they use the space. But first and foremost, they need to know the size of the room. In a rectangular room that’s 16½ feet (5 meters) wide and 19¾ feet (6 meters) long, the main run of cabinets would be positioned along one of the walls. The depth of the cabinets from the back wall to the front of the cabinets will measure about 25 inches (650 millimeters). Within the design, you should leave a gap between the countertop edge on the back run of cabinets and the island’s countertop edge. This space between the two working areas forms part of the island’s clearance zone, which is...
1. Flecked or Softly Veined White One of the most common and coveted countertop finishes is a stone or manufactured slab material, such as quartz, in a white or off-white shade with a light multitonal fleck or grain to give it subtle natural richness. This snowy, sparkling look works well in many situations since it is very neutral but also contemporary and fresh. The pale tone brings a sense of cleanness and lightness to the space with a twist of subtle sophistication. In more traditional kitchens, this is usually a better choice than a true minimalist white countertop, which can be too severe and fight with the elegance of other elements such as knotty woods, Shaker cabinets or lantern pendant lights. Softly flecked or grainy whites also work well paired with brass accents. Again, the subtle richness holds its own without fighting for attention and keeps the countertop from feeling too austere — great for a dining island where you want people to actually feel comfortable dining. Flecked or softly veined white countertops are good for you if: You have a traditional or transitional interior. You want the space to look big and light without feeling clinical. You want white cou...
Designing the Three Main Areas of a Kitchen Ideally, refrigeration and dry-goods storage should be located nearest to the kitchen’s entry point. The cooking area should be located toward the dining spaces, and the sink is best positioned between those two functions. This creates what’s called a work triangle. The best work triangle is less than 21 linear feet (6.4 meters). Work triangles that exceed 26 feet (7.9 meters) make moving from one function to another inefficient in most cases. Everyone has personal preferences for what works best, so consider this a guide and not a rulebook. 1. Storage. Designers recommend putting refrigeration and dry-goods storage at the kitchen entry point. Putting your pantry on one side and a countertop that’s 15 to 24 inches (38 to 61 centimeters) on the other is a good idea. This will allow you to easily set down items that have been taken out of the freezer and refrigerator. The pantry can hold dry goods plus brooms and supplies like paper towels. Use drawers in this area to hold plastic bags, foil and anything that can contain food to be stored. For the cabinets in this area, you will want to have mixing bowls, cake pans, measuring utensils ...
4. Right Angles Designer: Farnaz Harouni Location: Los Angeles Size: 333 square feet (31 square meters); 18 by 18½ feet Homeowners’ request. A light, bright sanctuary in which they could relax and spend time with their two young boys. TV placement. “The placement of the TV was an obvious choice as it had to face the living room and the adjacent open kitchen to allow TV viewing from both rooms,” designer Farnaz Harouni says. “Whenever possible, I try to avoid placing a TV on a wall that faces a window, because the glare makes it difficult to watch TV. The challenge here was to keep the audiovisual instruments out of the kids’ reach. We tucked the DVD player and cable box in the cabinet next to the TV and placed a child safety lock on the doors. With the TV high on top of the fireplace and angled down, it was both out of kids’ reach and perfect for viewing while reclining on the sofa.” Other special features. “Using a light color palette of predominantly white and dove gray, you run the risk of a cold and sterile environment,” Harouni says. “In order to create a warm and inviting space, we added tonal textures with accessories. The warm color of the wood floors gave us an opport...
How to Choose a Ceiling Fan Pick the right ceiling fan size for your room. Size is important. If your ceiling fan is too small for your room, it won’t move air efficiently or effectively. If it’s too big, it could create the feeling of being in a wind tunnel. Room size is the main factor for determining what size ceiling fan you need, although ceiling height can affect it as well. (With taller ceilings, you may want to size up or use multiple fans, as the fan will need to circulate more air.) The following ceiling fan size guide from the American Lighting Association can help you determine which size is right for you. Rooms up to 75 square feet: 36 inches wide or smaller Rooms up to 144 square feet: 36 to 42 inches wide Rooms about 225 square feet: 50 to 54 inches wide Rooms larger than 225 square feet: an oversize fan or multiple ceiling fans How to measure a ceiling fan: Ceiling fan measurements come from their blade span, which is the diameter of the circle their spinning blades create, also called their “sweep.” For a ceiling fan with an even number of blades, measure the fan’s diameter to determine its span. For a ceiling fan with an odd number of blades, measure from the c...
QuikDrawers.com 5. Containers for Leftovers Over time, it’s easy to amass random food storage containers. If this is the case for you, I recommend paring down and investing in a set that nests nicely and takes up less space in your cabinet. The containers will look good and be easier to keep organized. To maintain your tidy kitchen, become more selective about what food containers you keep. For example, you might want to toss or recycle takeout containers from restaurants or, better yet, bring your own when you eat out so that you don’t collect more.
4. Pullout Organizers for All Your Cabinets To make full use of your cabinet real estate, I recommend sliding drawers and pullout organizers. These can give you full view of and easy access to the contents of your cabinets. Otherwise, items can become lost or forgotten and possibly expire before you rediscover them.
2. Drawer Dividers When storing cookware, you often must stack pots within pots, pans within pans and lids over lids. Things can get messy fast! A drawer divider that separates the lids from the pots and pans makes drawer contents look more orderly and can also help you find matching tops and bottoms faster. The same type of drawer divider is also useful for separating clothing in a dresser or food storage containers and their lids.
Flooring 1. Ceramic and porcelain tile. Kitchens are both wet zones and high-traffic areas, so proper flooring material is key. Ceramic and porcelain tile have moisture resistance that is superior to natural stone or wood (especially porcelain, which absorbs less than 0.5% of moisture when wet). They’re also highly resistant to scratching and staining. Unlike natural stone, you don’t have to seal ceramic and porcelain tile. They also don’t require special cleaners and can handle almost any type of sanitizing agent. Cabinets 1. Flat-panel doors. Even if you’re not a fan of modern design, it’s worth considering flat-panel doors if your top priority is easy upkeep. The less door detail, the less dust and dirt. Flat panel doors are also easier to wipe down because their surface doesn’t have recesses or raised grooves. Quartz Countertops This engineered product is one tough cookie. It isn’t foolproof, but it’s about as resistant to scratches and stains as countertops get. You only need a soft cloth and warm water for post-meal cleanup. If you have dried-on stains, quartz will hold up well to common cleaning products like Windex, Clorox and Lysol. The things to avoid? Corrosive chem...
Maximize Closet Space Organize your closet carefully to make sure you’re using every available inch. Dhaouadi suggests hanging two rods, one above the other, to utilize wasted space. “Look at adding [rods], shelves or drawers to accommodate all of your clothes and accessories in one place,” Aroutcheff says. “Make sure the doors open in a way that you see tops and bottoms at the same time, so it’s easier to choose your outfits in the morning.” As for accessories, “add rails on the inside of your doors to hang scarves or belts, or install a corkboard for hanging jewelry,” she says. “This way, you’re more likely to wear what you have and not buy more.” Employ Boxes and Bins “If you have a [closet] with more shelves than drawers, consider adding boxes that fill some of the spaces, so you can fold your clothes, pull out the box and see exactly what’s inside,” Spellman suggests. “It keeps things in order and accessible, and utilizes the full space.” “Miscellaneous items are always better contained in a box than in a clutter-filled drawer that will most probably end up overflowing,” Dhaouadi agrees. “Try opening a cupboard and organizing its contents into boxes. You’ll be amazed t...
3. Three-Niche Focal Point Niche tile: The tile in the niches is 1-by-2-inch Bianco Carrara brick tile. The niche surround is edged in Hampton Carrara polished marble pencil tile (0.625 by 12 inches). The niches themselves are framed with a narrower pencil tile, Carrara Somerset (0.375 by 12 inches). Solid Carrara pieces line the top, sides and bottom of the niche. Shower tile: Ceramic 3-by-6-inch subway tile Niche size: Each niche is 14 inches wide by 16 inches high. The bottom niche is 24 inches off the floor and is intended as a ledge for shaving. The niches and surrounding accent are centered within the 9-foot-high shower wall and are a total of 5 feet high.
Just because many of us use our home offices for work doesn’t mean they should be cold, sterile and inhospitable, like some office spaces of the past. A home office should be comfortable, and proper lighting is key to setting the scene for a relaxing work environment. Accent lights, lamps, pendants and wall sconces all can improve a room’s mood and comfort level. A bevy of library sconces and a task lamp on the desk provide a warm glow in the traditional Paris home office seen here, designed by NOOOR Architecte d’Intérieur. It’s easier than ever to get great lighting that helps you feel more productive and relaxed in your home office. Check out this illustration that reviews what to do and not do when lighting your home office.
Pros: Porcelain tile is highly versatile. It can survive detergents, scratches and long-term water exposure. It can be finished to have an authentic wood, stone or marble appearance. The best part? It accomplishes all of this without being high-maintenance. Expect to enjoy cleaning it (or the lack of cleaning, rather). Cons: Grout can be a problem. Rectified porcelain can keep grout joints small, but grout will no doubt be there for you to clean. It can get slick if it doesn’t have a textured surface.
4. Use Plenty of Closed Storage Visual noise is anything you can see that stresses you out — reduce this, and your space will immediately feel calmer. Use closed cupboards, drawers and closets to hide most of your belongings, and be discerning about what you choose to keep on display. For instance: an open shelf with a bud vase and an art print, a cleared table with a single bloom in a bowl of water, or a row of seashells on the dresser.
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