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There are basically three ways in which you can change the look and ambience
of your kitchen.
1. Decorate it. This is the easiest and least expensive
method, and it allows you to change the room around whenever you have
a whim. Projects can include adding decorative touches to walls, windows,
and even cielings, refinishing existing structures, wall papering, and
many other simple and easy tasks. It can even be as easy as just buying
new matching flatware to spread throughout the space.
2. Re-Furnish it. This involves purchasing new furnishings
and accessories for the space as a way of redefining the feel of
the room. Objects which you can replace include refrigerators, stoves,
microwaves, tables, islands, and shelving. Be sure to make very accurate
measurements when going this route, as your new accessories will
either have to fit in the same space as the old ones, or you will
need to get some contracting done.
3. Remodel it. This involves tearing out existing
structures, moving them, replacing them, and adding or changing plumbing
and electrical lines. This is the most expensive and imposing method,
but it also has the most dramatic effects.
Kitchen Decorating
Lighting
Illumination is extremely important
in the kitchen. You need to be able to have plenty of light so that you
can work effectively, and be able to discern between different ingredients,
measurements, and healthy versus molding food. You also want to create
a bright and exhilirating atmosphere, where people will feel happy, invigorated,
and ready to work.
The most common choice for lighting in a kitchen are overhead fixtures.
These provide an even spread of light throughout the room, without glare
or shadow. Most common are flush and semi flush mounts which are butted
up close to the cieling, to maximize head space and make the room look
larger. If you can sacrifice the space, some people also use chandeliers
in the kitchen, but most people will reserve these for their dining room
and other more formal areas.
Color
The colors you use in the space can
have a profound effect on the ambience you create throughout the room.
While different people will have different reactions to colors, there are
some common reactions that are shared by most members of our society. It
is important to balance this knowledge, with your own tastes and reflections,
in order to create the perfect harmony.
Dark colors will tend to feel warmer, and will radiate heat, so many people
will stay away from them in the kitchen. Black is especially difficult
as it can make a room feel smaller and closed in. However using dark colors
as accents with the main theme of the room being light or pastel, can make
the space more interesting, and even warm up a sterile locale.
Red and orange colors will speed up the metabolism of people in their vicinity.
This makes them hungry, and also makes them burn calories faster. Used
strategically this can be a powerful tool in the kitchen.
Personalize your space with decorative and functional trivets and drink
coasters, which are available in a wide variety of sizes and colors
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However you should be careful of these colors as their overuse can lead
to over snacking and over tasting while c ooking. They also tend to make
people more aggressive, so using them sparingly is a good idea.
Decorations
In the kitchen you want to be inspired.
You want your creativity to flow as you toil over the culinary art that
you are crafting for your family and friends. This is why it is important
to personalize your kitchen. Fill it with items which mean something to
you, and which get you to think and feel.
In the kitchen your floor and counter space may be limited. However your
walls are usually your own, allowing you to hang art, clocks, and other
decorative pieces. You can also hang shelves, allowing you to place free
standing items as display pieces.
This desire to beautifuy your kitchen should be tempered however in order
to protect the oitems you are displaying. If you have a piece which can
be ruinbed by stains, dont hang it over the stove. If you have art that
may curl in high heat areas, be certain to leave that out of the kitchen.
Glass plating often helps protect items which are delicate. Just use some
common sense, and you shouldn;t have a problem.
One way to get double duty out of your decorations is to use dishes, utensils,
serving items, and cookware, as displays throughout the space. These should
be your fanciest special occassion utensils, so that you will only have
to take them down and put them back in place every once in a while. Heirloom
and antique items are especially good for this, as they can create a connection
to your families history, and help to develop a sense of community in the
space.
There are also many custom and theme dishes and utensils which you can
buy in matched set to use as accents throughout the space. Aside from dishes,
cutting boards, trivets, and drink coasters are especially useful for this
purpose.
Kitchen Re-Furnishing
Many of the items found in your kitchen are semi permanent structures.
Expensive, complex, and utterly necessary, these are the living components
of the space, which make it functional and give it purpose.
Items in this category include refrigerators, ovens, microwaves, dishwashers,
shelving, tables and islands. While some of these objects are easier to
replace than others, a change in the look of any of them can drastically
alter the ambience of the space.
When changing any one inherent furnishing in the kitchen you should be
careful that you dont alter the color and style so drastically that it
starts to stick out. If it does, you may want to consider waiting, and
saving up so that you can migrate a few of the rooms structures over. In
an ultra modern white tile kitchen, having an antique style black iron
stove can make the room feel unbalanced and unfinished.
You also have to be certain to take careful measurements of any items that
you are going to be replacing. Things such as stoves and refrigerators
are often sized to fit in the space between counters, or around windows.
If you purchase a replacement which is too lareg or too small, it might
not fit, or you could end up with unsightly gaps. The only way to remedy
this will then be to get construction done to teh rooms internal components.
Kitchen Remodelling
Natural slate and quartzite are becoming very poipular in the kitchen
as they are resistant to stains, they hide dirt, they are slip resistant,
and are very durable.
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There are many different ways to remodel your kitchen. Some
projects can be undertaken by yourself, while others will require a professional.
The time the project will last can vary considerably. Remember, the more
complex and lengthy the construction you are undertaking, the more time
you will be without a kitchen. This can mean that you will be foirced to
eat out a lot, or purchase fast food and snacks while you are without a
cooking space.
When undertaking a construction project yourself, be certain to check more
than one book or website for instructions. Even if both sources tell you
to do it in the same way, hearing it in two different wordings may help
you to understand the true meaning of what they are saying better.
One simple do it yourself project in the kitchen is refinishing your own
cabinets. This can be done by stripping the wood on existing boxes, and
then painting or restaining it to give it a new look. When undertaking
this task be sure to remove all nobs and cover over hinges and joints with
tape so that you get a sleek, finished, proffessional look.