No two homes are entirely alike. Yes, their exterior may be the same "cookie cutter" model, and even the appliances and layout may be precisely identical, but each structure is still unique. It is the people within the home that truly make a house a home. Every home utilizes their kitchens differently, passed on their family's needs. For most, the kitchen is the hub and focal point of most conversations and meals, and also serves as a makeshift classroom, theater stage or hideaway. When considering your kitchen and its design elements, it's hard to decide what you truly need and don't need to make your house run smoothly.
Separate the Needs & Wants
It's easy to be lured in by shiny, expensive kitchen gadgets. With this pastry bag and assortment of tips, you can now bake those melt-in-your-mouth cookies you've always dreamed of. And with this pizza kit, you can spin your very own garlic crusted Italian pizza. But wait-couldn't you do all that without the fancy tools? Odds are, you can. So before you spend your entire kitchen budget in the gadget section alone, write a list of "must have" items that you'll use almost daily, a "would like" list of tools you'd use fairly regularly and finally, a "dream on" list of those expensive thingamajigs that you see on the cooking channels. Shop for those must-have items and stick to your budget.
Splurge on the Big Stuff
If your home is active (or involves children) then you might want to consider investing in high quality, durable appliances. Ovens, refrigerators and even microwaves will be just as often as the amount of times you say "no" to candy after dinner, so don't skimp. Look for designs that are simple and conserve space.
Likewise, if you're stocking a kitchen for two or one, you certainly don't need corporate-sized fridge space or a double oven. Instead, opt for a smaller model that makes roasting a chicken for a smaller dinner party a breeze.
What Your Cabinets are Saying
Whether you have time to scrub down your kitchen cabinet hardware daily or not, your cabinets can say a lot just by their appearance. Cracks, dents and scraps immediately show signs of wear and tear and certainly cannot be fixed with any amount of cleaning solution. If you'd like your kitchen to seem grown up and sophisticated, whether you are or are not or whether you've still got children racing around the house, consider purchasing elegant, yet cost efficient cabinet hardware. Choose a sleek dark finish that's great for hiding dings and dents. Or, if you're relatively clean, opt for a lighter finish that brightens any room. When you select your finish, purchase cabinet knobs simultaneously to make sure they match!
Control the Situation
You might not be able to control the fact that kids will track mud through the kitchen or that you'll lose track of time and burn the chicken roast, but you will be able to control the temperature in your kitchen. Oftentimes, the kitchen chef, whether cooking for ten or cooking for two, is utilizing multiple kitchen appliances that can literally steam up the room. By installing a ceiling fan, you can regulate the temperature in your kitchen without having to keep doors open or let heat out of the rest of the home. Ceiling fans are designed to work both in hot and cold temperatures. By switching the rotation button, you can change the direction the air moves, either pulling down hot air to mix evenly throughout the room, or lifting hot air up and out to create a soothing breeze. Either way, a ceiling fan might also save your local fire department a trip to your home due to excess smoke!
With these guidelines in mind, redesigning and organizing your kitchen-whether big or small-will be a breeze!
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