To some people, the kitchen is the best room in the house. However, it also happens to be the biggest energy user. The U.S Department of Energy states that cooking, lighting, and refrigeration account for about 41.5% of your home’s energy consumption and saving your kitchen’s energy efficiency is essential. Add electronics, dishwashers, and a couple of other appliances and it becomes an environmental hot spot. If you’re looking to improve your kitchen’s energy consumption, here’s how to go about it.

Image via: Houzz

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Use Appliances with Energy Star Labels

When buying a kitchen appliance, look for the energy star label. Many appliance companies are making energy-efficient models these days. These appliances add to the aesthetic appeal of your kitchen while helping you to save energy. They are usually 10 to 20 percent more efficient than other appliances. If you are on a budget and unsure about getting new appliances, look for retailers who offer reasonable financing options.

Image by: Inge Romsée

Replace Your Light Bulbs with Energy-Saving Ones

Traditional light bulbs can wreak havoc on your energy bill. Replace them with compact fluorescent lights which fit in standard light sockets and use less energy. They create less heat and save more energy from cooling costs. You can also incorporate more natural lighting by installing tabular skylights. They are relatively inexpensive and give the room a considerable amount of light.

Image by: Karen Dominguez

Check Your Range Hood

A poor range hood does not ventilate properly and ends up creating a hotter kitchen which results in higher cooling costs. Ensure your range hood is cleaned frequently and works properly. Check it regularly to ensure it vents to the outside and does not vent or recirculate into the attic. Hot air that is directed to the attic is bound to increase your cooling costs.

Image via: Pinterest

Run Your Kitchen Differently

If you can’t afford to buy new appliances, there are several ways you can make your kitchen energy efficient with the existing appliances. Start by turning down the temperature on your freezer and refrigerator by a few degrees. When using the dishwasher, make sure it is completely loaded to capacity before running it. This ensures you use it fewer times and save more energy in the long run.

There are many steps you can take to ensure your kitchen is more energy efficient. While some may take time to implement, they offer long-term ways to reduce your home’s energy consumption.

For more kitchen & bath ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

There’s a saying that says you can tell a lot about a person just by looking at how they keep their homes.  And since the kitchen is the center core then its maintenance is of pretty high importance.  A kitchen remodel is one of the best ways to add value to your home and increase your return on investment (ROI) when selling your home.  Now it can be a costly venture however, there are ways that you can update and switch out certain areas of the kitchen without having to go off the financial deep end.

Image via:  Houzz

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Get all the Information and Research

Before you decided on your kitchen remodeling project, do some research first.  Figure out what style kitchen you want in your home, the budget you intend on working with, a timeline that you plan on starting and finishing the projects, and if you decide on working with a contractor or interior designer or I you plan on doing the projects yourself.  Get all the information you can first before starting anything.

A Fresh Coat of Paint and Backsplash

One of the ways to update any interior space that you can do yourself while not diving into your wallet so much is by adding paint.  You can transform your kitchen by painting it a brighter or lighter modern color that will give it an entirely different look and make the space seem larger for the visual appeal.  Also, adding backsplash to your kitchen is another cost effective way to update your kitchen that you will be able to accomplish yourself.  Just look for a video tutorial or home repair guide to help you.

Image via:  HGTV

Add in More Storage

Storage is major selling points when it comes to home purchasing plus, the more storage that you have within your home the more functional the home will be for you and your family.  So think about adding in some pull out shelves, drawer organizers and/or small movable islands.  By adding the storage you are adding to the space within the home and should not eat up your set budget.

Replacing or Updating the Fixtures

Replace those outdated or unattractive fixtures that you have in your kitchen.  You can actually replace some of your fixtures yourself, by taking a class or two from Home Depot or learning from online tutorials.  They should help you in removing and installing old fixtures for more modern ones.  From the lighting to the faucets if you want it updated the information, guidelines and tools are out there for your taking.

Image via:  Motiq Online

Every once in a while you crave change and variety, most definitely when it comes to redesigning or selling your home.  The kitchen is one of the most used places within the home so make it special to you or those you intend on selling it to.  Take a look at the tips above and see how they work out for you and the ‘heart’ of your home.

For more kitchen & bath ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

Looking to clean your kitchen this season in less time?  When the season changes and temperature drops, you just cannot come back to your home and have the kitchen ready for cooking. You have to clean it to make it ready for the colder days. Check out some ideas about how you can do the cleaning job:

Image via: Homes by Architects

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Clean the Refrigerator – Inside & Out

The refrigerator is one of the main points from where you can start your cleaning task. It needs a deep cleaning because the drips, spills, and other spots can get very dirty. Switch the power supply of the refrigerator off and remove the shelves, trays, bins, racks and other contents. Use an antibacterial cleaner to wash everything.

Clean the condenser coils, vacuum cleaner, and the decorative grill below the door of the refrigerator. Put everything back carefully and seal the door with door gasket to keep the cool air in and the warm air out.

Dishwasher: Clean your Kitchen

This appliance is used to clean up plates, dishes, cups, and glasses. However, it can get dirty too if not cleaned for a long time. To clean up the interior liner of the dishwasher, use some baking soda on a damp sponge. Use plastic scrubber if there is any stubborn stain. Use a deodorant, applicable for dishwasher, during the cleaning to make the appliance smell good.

Image via: Tidy House

The Pantry

Some people bake more in the fall. So, it is the good time to check your pantry and get rid of the expired baking supplies. Use up or donate any boxed or canned goods that will be expired in the next few months.

Stove/Oven

Cleaning the stove is a hazard but you have to do it because buying a new one will be expensive. You can skip some of the scrubbing works if your model is self-cleaning. The safest way of cleaning the oven will be to read its manual, which will surely have some cleaning recommendations. You can use oven cleaners or ammonia for the cleaning purpose. Do not forget wearing gloves and opening all the nearby windows during the cleaning job.

Cleaning Kitchen Areas:

Other spots in the kitchen that need to be cleaned are the sink, kitchen countertops, and backsplash. The sink can be nicely cleaned by using baking soda. On the other hand, use cleaner to clean the backsplash and the countertops. Scented cleaners are available in the market. Find one that will be perfect for the fall season.

Image via: The Kitchen

As kitchen is a busy place in the house, you have to clean it almost frequently. Occasional deep cleaning and regular maintenance will keep your kitchen germ and grease-free, looking brighter and smelling fresher.

For more kitchen & bath ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

I can’t count the days fast enough for my upcoming blogger trip to Los Angeles, California for #BlogTourLA with the other bloggers. In the upcoming weeks I will feature several designer brands that I love, and each of them as their hand in the Modenus BlogTours so it makes the entire experience wonderful for me and it brings you the latest in trends in home design!

Today I feature Poggenpohl – pronounced “Po-ggen-pole”. They are the world’s leading luxury cabinet brand and they have 35 kitchen design showrooms across the United States. Their European kitchen designs are innovative, sleek and contemporary and they create a kitchen working environment any novice or experienced chef will love to work in.

Poggenpohl was established in 1892 by Friedemir Poggenpohl and they are celebrating 120 years of leading the luxury kitchen market. Today Poggnepohl offers over 70 kitchen cabinet door fronts is varying finishes such as: wood veneers, laminates, lacquers, acrylic, glass, metals and custom RAL colors.  Their gorgeous cabinets and commitment to quality has put them into the billion dollar Nobia Group – Europe’s leading kitchen interiors company with more than 20 top brands!

Here’s a glimpse of their latest lines available:

Segmento Kitchen:

Poggenpohl’s +Segmento kitchen combines wide vertical segments with sleek worktops and features handleless cabinet fronts, shown here in the new Walnut veneer and high gloss Pebble Grey lacquer cabinetry. Interesting design accents include the aluminum toe kick and the raised breakfast bar in walnut veneer. The shelf system creates a perfect visual and functional link between cooking and living areas.

 +Edition Kitchen:

The new +Edition collection from Poggenpohl combines classic details with modern appeal. This innovative kitchen design features natural walnut wood veneer along with white lacquer cabinetry, available in flat panel or thin frame detail door styles. New black glass upper wall cabinets include the same thin frame details with finished interiors and LED lighting.

Core Ash Wood Kitchen

Poggenpohl’s new Core Ash wood veneer features a very expressive grain pattern and combines well with the Sand Grey matte lacquer cabinetry for a stunning kitchen design inspired by nature-influenced colors and textures. This kitchen features a new backsplash accessory system, thin profile framed Core Ash door fronts and motorized flip up upper wall cabinets with integrated LED lighting. Also shown is a floating breakfast bar in Core Ash.

Poggenpohl has a complete line of kitchen cabinetry lines that are perfect for your discrimnating taste. I thought the LED lighting in the cabinetry was innovative. Especially since traditional under cabinetry lighting can get hot, burn out quickly and often distribute light that isn’t bright enough for prepping food.

Here’s what Poggenpohl said about their latest LED lighting features in their cabinets:

“The glass cabinet fronts and LED lighting in the latest +Artesio kitchen received tremendous response from the architecture and design community. Many of the new technologies introduced in the +Artesio line were the locomotive for the main product line. The glass cabinets, LED lighting and new interior drawer inserts and accessories can be used throughout our entire product line”

Take a look at all of their products on their website: Poggenphol.com for modern kitchens and trends you love to see in your home!

For more BlogTour LA posts on Stagetecture, click here.

Your kitchen is one of the busiest areas of your home. A day will never pass without you doing something like cooking or slicing a piece of cake in your fridge. And with several chores that are involved in your kitchen, it is very essential to have adequate lighting.

Having an ideal kitchen lighting requires proper planning and technical advice. You can’t just play around with your lighting fixtures and have them installed as you desire. But since the technical areas can be assessed by experts, you can look into these ideal lighting ideas to enhance your kitchen:

Image via: Daniel Dubay Interior Design

Ambient lighting

Having this type of lighting ensures not only comfort, but also safety. The ambient lighting allows your kitchen to have a pleasant ambiance. It’s like you are influenced by the lighting to perform your tasks in the kitchen intensely. This makes ambient lighting as one of the best options for your kitchen lighting. The availability of modern lighting fixtures that you can control the illumination or radiance makes the ambient lighting possible.

Image via: Teri Fotheringham 

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Accent lighting

Accent lighting for your kitchen provides a highlight on a specific area you want to emphasize. It tends to command attention to a particular area to stand out. This type of lighting for your kitchen can be placed in areas where you have your decorative kitchen accessories. Equipment or even your food preparation area.

Image via: In Detail Interiors

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Task lighting

The name speaks for itself. The task lighting system aims to provide better lighting in areas where you perform your kitchen chores. These areas are the cooking area, countertop, lavatory, pantries and cabinets. This type of kitchen lighting goes to the advantage of smack light sources. It will definitely make you perform your task easier and faster.

These are just some of the effective kitchen lighting that you can choose for your home. You can truly make the most of your time in your kitchen with the help of proper lighting.

For more kitchen & bath ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

This summer how about spending more time entertaining your family, guests and of course, you! One way to take advantage of your great backyard is to design a beautiful summer kitchen. Whether you plan on grilling, keeping food warm, preparing your food, and keeping it cold – a summer kitchen enables you to bring your culinary and entertaining activities outdoors.  If you’ve been thinking of ways to make your outdoor home more enjoyable

Image via: Mark Scott Associates

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Now, imagine a well-designed kitchen that fits the summer season. This idea will definitely inspire you to cook more and even better. With everything at stake in the outcome of your food, you don’t have to settle for anything less. A perfect summer design for your kitchen is a great project. To help you out with your plan, here are some important tips when designing your summer kitchen:

Consider the climate

Since it’s summer time, your kitchen should be able to sustain the heat from inside and out. You have to consider proper ventilation so that the circulation of air will be good. Also, consider the insulation of your roofing. You may opt to have wider windows so you can open them if the temperature in getting higher. Another good idea to neutralize the summer heat is to use a natural wood as materials for your summer kitchen.

Image via: Dean Herald-Rolling Stone Landscapes

Assess your furniture

Kitchen furniture can make or break your desired summer kitchen. These furnishings play a vital role in making the best kitchen for summer and any other seasons. Your furniture must complement with your floor plan. Kitchen furniture can include seating area, accessories, and side amenities like carts, tables, and any elements that could effect how the cook moves throughout the summer kitchen preparation area. Look to a layout that enables the cook and guests to be far enough from one another to not distract the other party. Consider having a kitchen design professional to layout your summer kitchen if you have questions.

Image via: Lynx Professional Grills

Invest in the quality of materials

You have to think of long term and not just for one season. Bear in mind that summer will not last for a year. Another season will come and the cycle will keep on going. Therefore, the materials you have chosen will be essential in the long run. These materials should be in high quality and can sustain in a changing environment.

On top of it all, you have to plan it properly before implementing. It is very important to think about every aspect of your plan and see if it is your ideal summer kitchen design.

For more kitchen & bath ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

]]> https://stagetecture.com/how-to-design-the-perfect-outdoor-summer-kitchen/feed/ 0 52029 https://stagetecture.com/choosing-the-perfect-kitchen-cabinet-door-style/ https://stagetecture.com/choosing-the-perfect-kitchen-cabinet-door-style/#comments Wed, 17 Jul 2013 11:00:53 +0000 https://stagetecture.com/?p=51556 vinyl kitchen cupboardReplacing your kitchen cabinet style allows you to give your kitchen a whole new look, without the great expense incurred by a full kitchen refit. If the inside of your kitchen units is fine then it’s a futile waste of money to replace perfectly good units, when you can just replace the front! You have a wide variety of kitchen cupboard door options to choose from.

Choosing the Perfect Kitchen Cabinet Door Style

 

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Kitchen Cabinet Door Shaker Style

The most common style of kitchen cupboard door around today are Shaker-style ones, this means these doors adopt simple clean lines with an emphasis on utility rather than stylistic flourishes. Shaker doors have a single flat center panel surrounded by a frame made from four pieces; they are available in a selection of different wood types and colors. The price will vary, depending on the wood used; some doors are available with a cheaper material making up the larger center panel, in order to reduce cost.

Kitchen Cupboard Acrylic Doors

Acrylic kitchen cupboard doors consist of high-density MDF wrapped with an acrylic fascia, available in a wide range of gloss finishes. They are more durable than the commonly found vinyl kitchen cupboard doors. They are mass produced and therefore often cheaper than most other cupboard door options. The one down side to acrylic cupboard doors is that due to their shrink wrapped nature they are often difficult to repair if damaged.

Kitchen Cabinets Louvered Cupboards

Louvered cupboard doors are a traditional looking slatted design. This design allows for ventilation into and out of the units, making it ideal for concealing various appliances that require ventilating. The amount of wood paired with construction time leads to a slightly higher price, however, they will give your kitchen a distinctive and memorable look.

Kitchen Cabinet Door Ideas: Inset Doors

Inset cupboard doors are so called because they’re set inside of the frame of the cupboard, as opposed to the majority of others. An inset cupboard door is fabricated with precision so it can be opened and closed whilst resting in the frame, even if the wood contracts or expands. Inset cupboard doors also require external hinges, so bear this in mind when choosing your doors as you want them to be in keeping with your design.

If you really can’t find a kitchen cupboard door style you like, then consider getting doors custom made. Although this could prove expensive, there are many companies and designers that can help you design and make your perfect kitchen cupboard doors- personalizing every detail, from the material they should be constructed from down to hinges & handles.

In summary, there are many different types of kitchen cupboard doors out there, and this article has only touched on a few of them. Take your time to consider what it is you require from your new doors and weigh up the pros and cons of each design and the impact that they will have in your kitchen, then make a decision that you’ll be happy with for many years to come.

For more kitchen ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

How to Easily Upgrade your Boring Kitchen

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Paint:

One of the easiest and cheapest ways to refresh the interior of your kitchen is to give it a fresh coat of paint. Firstly identify the areas of the kitchen that need refreshing as not all the walls will require spicing up. For optimal effectiveness, focus on adding striking colour to feature walls- but do your research first as colour can have a huge impact and shouldn’t be underestimated. One recommendation would be to add paint selectively to one particular are of the kitchen, creating a focal point and creating an immediate impact. However, it is crucial that you select colours that will complement the existing colour scheme present in your kitchen, matching things such as the cabinets, backsplashes, and flooring.

Upgrade Kitchen Cabinet Hardware:

Once the paint has dried, it is time to continue with the facelift by upgrading that dated kitchen hardware. In the grand scheme of things this can be considered a small change; however replacing tired old hardware can have a huge impact without having to go to the expensive of replacing the whole kitchen cabinet. Focus on finding hardware that suits and compliments the tone of your kitchen; investing in quality replacement drawer knobs, cabinet handles, and light fixtures.

Don’t Settle for Boring Kitchen Flooring:

If you are hoping for a brand new look for your kitchen nothing achieves this better than replacing your flooring. If this is a route that you’ve decided to take, a recommendation would be to consider using vinyl flooring titles. Vinyl flooring is probably the most suitable type of flooring for a standard kitchen – it’s relatively inexpensive, easy to maintain, comfortable to walk on and extremely durable. However if the budget can stretch a little further than investing in a more natural flooring material is advised, such as wood. Although over double the price of vinyl flooring, the finish and impact it has on your kitchen are second to none.

Combat your Boring Kitchen with Creative Lighting:

Cleverly selected lighting can have a major impact on your kitchen, creating a mood and atmosphere at the flick of a switch – giving the feel of a complete kitchen remodel without the added expense.

There are 3 main categories to consider replacing lighting in the kitchen outlined below:

– Task Lighting

– Ambient Lighting

– Decorative Lighting

For more kitchen & bath ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

A kitchen pantry is often added to a kitchen to increase the storage space. However, the pantry is also needed to be cleaned, organized, straightened, and spruced in order to make the space more functional. Here is given some pantry makeover ideas that will help you with the storage of your kitchen.

Image via: Mark WIlliams Design Associates

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Choose a Functional Design

The design of your pantry plays big role in adding functionally to your kitchen storage space. Walk-in closets and pantries are popular choices but some pantries can be super functional without being the walk-in variety. Instead of a walk-in pantry, you can use a closet that is reasonably wide and only a couple of feet deep or you can go for an open floor-to-ceiling pantry type that can offer a quick view of what is in stock and can store a lot of items. To get the maximum storage space from the pantry, its design should be based on the available kitchen space and the type of things you are going to store in it. If you live in a smaller home – a closet can be converted into a pantry and separated with accordion doors to hide pantry items and to provide versatility & separation of areas.

Add Drawers, Shelves, or Racks

Pantries are good for storing bulkier items like plastic storage containers or paper towels. However, not all the things you store in the pantry will be of same size. Some things are likely to be quite small than the standard size. So, for the smaller loose items, consider adding a few drawers. One or two racks or mini-shelves can be added to keep the spice cans organized.

Image via: Schappacher White Architecture D.P.C.

Use Storage Gadgets

One effective way to make your available space more functional is to add storage gadgets and devices. Accessories like baskets, spice racks, drawers, tray dividers, etc. can keep your pantry ordered. Use bins to keep lax items together. Use pull out shelves to access the back area of deep shelves and access the corner areas by installing Lazy Susans. To maximize storage, you can also use shelves on the backs of pantry doors. However, before purchasing, be sure what add-ons will fit your pantry closet design. If you share a space with a roommate consider personalizing your storage gadgets with labels on built-in shelving, wire shelving, rubber bins/drawers and use accordion room dividers to separate individuals items from other roommates.

Image via: Bess Jones Interiors

These ideas will hopefully make your pantry more obtainable, practical, and functional and help you to get an organized and beautiful food storage area.

For more kitchen & bath ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

Looking for inspiration for your bespoke kitchen design? Today’s trends are about new and innovative materials, using natural influences and that little touch of something special. Vincent from London interior designer Increation says that “something we have been doing for a while but really coming into the fore in interior design is the use of organic form and shapes. This, plus a return to a little glamour. Many clients are tired of the minimalists look.” 

 Image via: Bruce DaMonte

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Quartz Worktops

Quartz resin is getting a lot of press at the moment as a good worktop alternative to granite. Also known as engineered stone, the process, developed by Italian company Breton combines a mixture of crushed quartz resin and dye in molds where the mixture is heated and vibrated.

The resulting slabs are solid and impervious to stains, moisture and bacteria. They are also heat and scratch resistant. The appearance varies according to the quartz color and size of pieces that are used. Some companies are incorporating semi precious stones for an even more dramatic look. Quartz resin is also stronger than granite and so is more suitable for overhangs as it does not need rodding to prevent cracking. Brand names for this type of surface include Silestone, Caesarstone, and Cambria Quartz.  For an even more glamorous surface investigate other stone in resin such as agate.

Lava Stone Worktops

Another combination using natural stone, lava stone is hardened volcanic material cut in slabs much like other stone surfaces such as the ever-popular granite. Lava stone is then, however, coated in hard enamel glaze, which gives a surface that is extremely durable. Owing to the enamel coating, lava stone work tops are available in a choice of bright and beautiful colours. Essentially all lava stone supplies come from one source, Pyrolave, so these surfaces may be hard to come by in certain areas, but are all the more beautiful and exclusive for that.

Image via: Sub-Zero Wolf

Copper and Brass

These beautiful rich metals are big news this year across the home. Although hardly a new material for the kitchen, with copper kettles and pans being a staple for generations, these metals are being used in different ways. For instance why not think about a copper sink as a stunning accent piece for your kitchen?

Don’t be afraid that you will need to use copper as your metal of choice right across the kitchen. Many designers are using copper and brass in handles and light fittings as well as sinks and splash backs but teaming them with nickel or stainless steel for taps and appliances. Used in these different ways, copper and brass can be used to hark back to the traditional kitchen or give a contemporary design a warm luxurious accent.

Image via: Natalie DiSalvo

Real Linoleum Flooring

Lino, as the term is often abbreviated, has a bad press bought about by imitation sheet flooring such as PVC based vinyl, present in many homes in the 1970s, which is not the real thing. Real Linoleum is a natural flooring option made of linseed oil, cork, wood flour, tree resins, ground limestone and pigments all pressed onto a jute backing. It is easy to clean, long lasting and extremely durable. It is cheap for an eco friendly product, and comes in lots of colours and patterns. Mainly because of its durability and environmental aspects this flooring, used for much of the first half of the 20^th Century is experiencing a revival. It’s a fabulous material for the vintage home.

For more kitchen & bath ideas on Stagetecture, click here.