Remembering Our Very First Kitchen in the Early Eighties

Throughout the last few decades kitchen designs have certainly evolved, and in doing so, the kitchen has truly become the ‘hub of the home’. Stylish kitchen designs, natural materials and use of colour provides charm, warmth and cosy settings, where many activities and social functions now take place. However, growing up in the early eighties I remember our family kitchen being a very different place.

 Back then, we lived in a modest three bedroom semi-detached town house where our basic kitchen consisted of a stand-alone gas cooker, a medium sized fridge-freezer combined, a sink and four storage cupboards. As cupboards go, these provided the main storage for foodstuff, baking utensils, cutlery, crockery and the many pots and pans my mother had accumulated over the years. Made of formica and covered in thin layers of brown wood like laminate, these cupboard doors, drawer fronts and tops were unattractive and not at all sturdy. The floor was garish green tiles.

source: homedesignideasz.com

Some years later as the family grew, we invested in a tall cupboard, which we called ‘the larder. This came in a light blue shade and had three compartments. The top compartment had frosted glass panels, and it was here we displayed our crockery. In the middle and bottom section tins of food, rice and packets of dry legumes were stored. I remember being fascinated by the door on the middle section, which locked automatically in place when shut and opened downwards on hinges, providing a little more work space on which to prepare a bowl of cereal in the morning or a sandwich after school. Looking back now, the kitchen was totally mismatched, but it didn’t seem to matter much then, mum was always able to prepare and cook tasty wholesome meals for us to share.

 Today, kitchen renovations and remodelling are the most popular home improvement of all time. These new kitchen designs take into account the layout of the room, many of which have been made bigger by knocking two rooms into one, in order to accommodate all the activities that now takes place in this room. They also aim to achieve the ideal look and feel that’s right for the home by providing sufficient storage space helping to keep the worktops clear and the kitchen neat. The quality, styles and designs of today’s kitchen cupboard doors and drawer fronts bring a completely different look and feel to the kitchen and home, one that is chic and stylish.

 Where once paint and plain white tiles were the main features on the walls, many designs now incorporating glass, metal, decorative tiles, natural stone, solid wood, and other hard wearing materials. The kitchen is therefore able to withstand the constant thoroughfare of family and visitors. The addition of great lighting and attractive seating areas put the finishing touches to the perfect place to relax and dine.

 Gone are those days of having a basic, mismatched kitchen. With kitchens designers and manufacturers working hard to meet the needs, taste and preference of the modern day family, rest assured, there is a kitchen design out there to suit your home and lifestyle today. 

A Replacement Kitchen Can Help To Sell Your Home Quickly

Are you think of selling your property, but worried that it needs a lot of work doing before putting it on the market? Maybe you’ve seen a number of TV programmes whereby potential buyers are shown immaculate homes which they can move into without having to do anything to them

Don’t despair. Many homebuyers and property developers are more than happy to purchase a property which they can add their own personal touch and features to. What we do know however, is that a property is likely to sell quickly and for the asking price if the kitchen/dining room has been remodelled to an acceptable standard. 

source: Bathroom Improvement

Obviously, you don’t want to spend a great deal of time and money on this project. This is certainly not the objective. Your aim however should be to make this area the main focus of the home, as the kitchen is now the most widely used room in many households today.

Opting for a replacement kitchen offers a hassle free way of remodelling this room. This modern method simply means that you won’t have to remove and replace your existing cabinet casings, if they are in good condition. This therefore helps to keeps the cost low and the workload and schedule time to the bare minimum. This type of remodelling also has potential to add substantial value to the property.

Saving time and money this does not mean settling for average products. Replacement Kitchen doors and drawer fronts are of exceptional high quality. You will have the same choices of all the latest designs, colours, style and material to choose from as you would have if you had opted for a fully fitted kitchen. Replacement kitchen doors can also be made to measure to ensure you have the exact fit.  

With so many variations, there is a design to suit any home and every kitchen theme. Select from high gloss contemporary designs to suit a modern home or apartment, or natural wood and tongue and grove panels often associated with country homes and farmhouse kitchens. Whichever style you choose your kitchen is guaranteed to taken on an appearance that is both stylish and chic. 

Carry on the look throughout the kitchen by updating the worktops using materials and colours that work well with the new cabinet doors and decor within the room. Replacing the lighting for more up to date ones will help to create the right mood and ambiance during cooking and entertaining. 

If you are working to a budget you may well choose to keep your existing appliances, especially if they have been well looked after and in good working order. Many homebuyers are usually happy to accept the kitchen as it is with all the necessary appliances already in place. 

With your new look kitchen offering a comfortable and relaxing setting, your property is likely to have a sold sign placed outside after the initial viewing. It really is that easy to remodel your kitchen at the fraction of the cost of a fully fitted kitchen and have it selling fast.

5 Reasons in Refurbishing Your Kitchen

Refurbishment of a kitchen can be considered expensive, time-consuming and inconvenient, but can also increase the worth, satisfaction and the use of the kitchen. Moreover, most homeowners want their kitchen to be updated in terms of style and functions. It gives them enjoyment and in turn, causes them to spend more hours in the kitchen. Here are the other reasons why a kitchen needs refurbishment:

1.    To update its look

You may have already lost the excitement of working in your kitchen over the years. You may find its appearance and formation so dull and dreary. You could transform your kitchen into a completely new look which makes it look cool and ultra modern. You may want to try warm tones and subtle paint which creates a long lasting appeal and a totally new feeling. you can achieve this through replacement kitchendoors. 

2.     To increase value

Giving your kitchen a facelift can cost a lot, but some people just consider it as one of their investments. Refurbishedkitchens can increase the value of houses. The money you lay out in makeover can come back once you plan to sell your house in the future. So the renovation done on your kitchen is all worth it.

3.    To add comfort

You may have changed your outlook towards your kitchen. You may find its small size already uncomfortable. So to meet your changing needs, you have to do some alteration in your kitchen.

Increasing the sense of spaciousness is perfect to accommodate extending families. You may as well need bigger storage and space to avoid mess and reduce clutter. For ease of use, you may also hope to improve the formation or position of fixtures to give a good flow of work in the kitchen.

4.     For restoration and maintenance

As time goes by, our kitchen provides poor functions since some parts of it are getting old or damaged. You may find a puddle in your kitchen after a stormy night or water stained ceiling that looks dirty and unpleasant especially to visitors. In order to protect your investment on your kitchen, restoration and repair are necessary.

5.    New fixtures

New appliances in the market may outdate your old tools in the kitchen. In order to set up a new device in your kitchen, you need to get rid of the old one. However, the new one may require more or lesser space. So to achieve it, you need the help of experts that can redo the fixtures of your kitchen.

Refurbished kitchens are as good as new, depending on the design and construction option chosen. It is less expensive and provides the same new look and fresh feeling.

Get more tips here. Watch the video - The Doormaker

Kitchen Remodeling - One of Life’s Little Comfort

Coming home from work I am thankful for life’s little creature comforts- a roof over my head, and a wonderful family. Once indoors, I’m able to relax for the next thirty minutes. The children are settled at the table completing their homework and my husband is preparing supper.

It’s not until I join them in the kitchen for supper that I begin to feel a bit disheartened. No don’t get me wrong, dinner is not the problem. My husband is an excellent cook who enjoys creating wholesome and nutritious meals. The problem is the setting. Our kitchen has become worn and outdated.

At the time of purchasing the property four year ago we felt quite lucky. Although the kitchen needed some work it came with new modern appliances that looked really great. That was our main reason for buying. Once we’d moved in we decided to leave this area and concentrate on other structural work in the home.

As many homeowners know once you are residing in a space it becomes harder for any renovation to take place. There are however some reasons why a kitchen renovation cannot be delayed.

If a kitchen area has been involved in a flood or fire the homeowner should have the damage assessed and immediately after that begin to plan a renovating project. Also if certain items such as, the work surfaces, cabinets, flooring or sink becomes cracked or show signs of wear or tear, you should consider replacing them as they will only continue to get worse and the kitchen will begin to look old and worn.

Kitchen renovations can be very expensive, time consuming and cause major disruption to normal life. When planning a completely new kitchen renovation it is important to determine what needs to be done and how each section of the work will be carried out.

Make sure it is something that you want and that are you able to deal with the issues that comes with this type of renovation. Be sure to plan the tasks carefully and set a realistic budget. Remember if you decide to do the renovation as a DIY project it will take more than a few days to complete. If you are able to hire professional help then take advantage of that. Ensure you hire someone that can handle all aspects of the job.

Thankfully, today there are more simple and creative ways to update your kitchen quickly. Opting for replacement kitchen cupboard doors, drawer fronts and handles will transform the entire room while saving you time and money, while allowing you to keep the original layout of your kitchen. Applying a fresh coat of paint on the walls and replacing worktops or appliances will give your existing kitchen a stunning fresh new look without the expense and hassles involved with a full kitchen renovation.

Remodeling your kitchen does not have to cost a fortune. For far less than a new installation you can achieve the look and feel you desire for your kitchen. So go on, choose to be creative.

Watch this video for a better idea about kitchen remodeling