The truth about your small kitchen remodel

The truth about a small kitchen is that it will not be the jack of all trades. You will have to give up the idea of doing homework here, paying bills here, and recipe searching in your small kitchen. The design goal for your small kitchen must be to achieve an effective small kitchen, not multipurpose space. There is nothing wrong with a kitchen that is just that, a kitchen. The design factor is a lot tougher already when you have to fit a functioning kitchen into a small space, but small changes can make it even better than a large kitchen.  When designing a small kitchen think of: size, color, light and function.

So focus first on function, making sure you have the appliances and work areas you need. You may be able to save a bit of space by using scaled-down or innovative appliances, including refrigerator and freezer drawers and pint-sized microwaves, stoves (some with just two burners) and single sinks. The function is there, without all the square footage! If workspace is at a premium, consider a small-scale island or a counter-topped cart that can be rolled away into a closet when not in use. Now just because you need to really hone in on function of your small kitchen does not mean you have to lose any space to style. The color of walls, appliances, and counter tops, bar stools, and backsplash can change the mood of your pint sized kitchen. Going with more pale colors can help with light, but don’t be afraid to go bold and add color and mix your patterns. Using the same color and style of fixtures and cabinet knobs can unify a design when you are using different textures and patterns in your small kitchen.

Tiny kitchens can feel claustrophobic if there are upper cabinets towering over you in such a small space. Most of the time cooks can’t even reach those upper cabinets anyways, and in a small kitchen there isn’t much room for a stool or ladder. Skip the excessive cabinets and opt for a more spacious approach with open shelves. You can also use magnetic knife strips, pot racks and give your kitchen a designer way to show off your favorite dish sets and even artwork. And like any other room, your small kitchen needs great lighting that you can use for cooking and for atmosphere. Fluorescent lighting, which casts a bluish light impacting the colorization of objects in the room, including the food, is frequently found in kitchens. To counteract it, consider hanging pendant lights that bathe your eating area in a more appetizing color. Tip: Try using glass doors from the kitchen into the next room or to the outside, this will increase light in the kitchen and also give the illusion of more space.

Don’t let small spaces give you design block. No matter a small galley kitchen or small apartment kitchen – you can make your design amazing if you trim the fat and keep your design neat.

Counter-Top Appliances you must have in your kitchen

From blenders to espresso machines, these small appliances add big convenience to your kitchen. Trust me when I say, I have tried to live without a few of them and it was not something I recommend. #1 Slow Cooker: This bad boy is a must have in your kitchen, and will never steer you wrong. The best feeling is coming home after a long day at work to dinner being cooked and ready to plate. (Of course you had to put a few things inside it and turn it on before setting it) Our busy Los Angeles lives leave us very little time to eat, unless we plan ahead or grab food on the go. The Slow Cooker is great for stews, one pot meals, and a whole slew of recipes - even bread! Get your hands on the Cuisinart voted best slow cooker of the year.

#2 Blender: Now I know you are thinking of hosting a margarita party in your new kitchen remodel, a blender is a must to accomplish this. The high power machines reduce fruits and veggies into healthy smoothies and crush ice into snow cones.

#3 Stand Mixer: Two words, Stand, Mixer. Once you have one you will never, I repeat never, go back to mixing by hand and whisk again. It's the ultimate machine to have. You can mix your favorite brownie batter, whip up some pizza dough, whisk soft meringue peaks - not to mention you can get attachments like an ice cream maker and ravioli press. Start out with a KitchenAid Stand Mixer and you will not be disappointed.

# 4 Coffee Maker: I know you are all thinking, "why wasn't a coffee maker #1 on this list?" Well that would have been to obvious, and I almost was inclined to make it the last on the list due to the fact that it is almost expected to be #1. Now that we are talking about your start to the day machine, today's coffee makers are not the old pot and coffee grounds your parents grew up with. We are talking a plethora of coffee makers that whip your creamer, froth your mild and brew cafe that has the local coffee shop jealous. We could write a whole blog dedicated to coffee makers if we really wanted to. But, this must have counter-top appliance is a must. I'm not sure a kitchen in america is lacking this appliance.

#5 Toaster Oven: Why do I need a toaster oven when I have a microwave? Because there will be a day when you want something toasted, and not nuked. For instance, left over pizza must be thrown into the toaster oven to avoid that soggy grease soaked crust. Another reason you need a toaster oven is due to the fact that you can cook almost anything in it!

This list covers strictly the must haves, and not the wants! There is a whole other side to appliances and specialty items you want to have. For this and more tips on remodels and decor - check out our blog.

Counter-Top Appliances you must have in your kitchen

From blenders to espresso machines, these small appliances add big convenience to your kitchen. Trust me when I say, I have tried to live without a few of them and it was not something I recommend. #1 Slow Cooker: This bad boy is a must have in your kitchen, and will never steer you wrong. The best feeling is coming home after a long day at work to dinner being cooked and ready to plate. (Of course you had to put a few things inside it and turn it on before setting it) Our busy Los Angeles lives leave us very little time to eat, unless we plan ahead or grab food on the go. The Slow Cooker is great for stews, one pot meals, and a whole slew of recipes - even bread! Get your hands on the Cuisinart voted best slow cooker of the year.

#2 Blender: Now I know you are thinking of hosting a margarita party in your new kitchen remodel, a blender is a must to accomplish this. The high power machines reduce fruits and veggies into healthy smoothies and crush ice into snow cones.

#3 Stand Mixer: Two words, Stand, Mixer. Once you have one you will never, I repeat never, go back to mixing by hand and whisk again. It's the ultimate machine to have. You can mix your favorite brownie batter, whip up some pizza dough, whisk soft meringue peaks - not to mention you can get attachments like an ice cream maker and ravioli press. Start out with a KitchenAid Stand Mixer and you will not be disappointed.

# 4 Coffee Maker: I know you are all thinking, "why wasn't a coffee maker #1 on this list?" Well that would have been to obvious, and I almost was inclined to make it the last on the list due to the fact that it is almost expected to be #1. Now that we are talking about your start to the day machine, today's coffee makers are not the old pot and coffee grounds your parents grew up with. We are talking a plethora of coffee makers that whip your creamer, froth your mild and brew cafe that has the local coffee shop jealous. We could write a whole blog dedicated to coffee makers if we really wanted to. But, this must have counter-top appliance is a must. I'm not sure a kitchen in america is lacking this appliance.

#5 Toaster Oven: Why do I need a toaster oven when I have a microwave? Because there will be a day when you want something toasted, and not nuked. For instance, left over pizza must be thrown into the toaster oven to avoid that soggy grease soaked crust. Another reason you need a toaster oven is due to the fact that you can cook almost anything in it!

This list covers strictly the must haves, and not the wants! There is a whole other side to appliances and specialty items you want to have. For this and more tips on remodels and decor - check out our blog.

Remodel with material you can be proud of

Counter tops good for the environment When looking for quality countertops for your home remodel why not choose a material equally beautiful as it is good for the environment? Eco conscious home owners are turning to recycled material for their home projects these days. Some of the most unique and cutting edge countertops are made from recycled material. Ecofriendly design doesn’t have to be boring. Don’t think for one second that you are losing out on style and statement by going green! You can easily find amazing countertops that match your design idea as you can countertops that are not so great. You may want to check out materials before you select your cabinets. And hey, you never know, you may find something better than you expected.

Go bold: go ecofriendly!

You can easily find materials for countertops that are almost 100% recycled or manufactured using less energy, such as wood countertops.

I know, I know, I am talking about being environmentally friendly and then I mention cutting down trees for your countertops. But there is such a thing as wood countertops made from “sustainably harvested” wood material. This means that manufacturers are aware of when to use a tree and the impact it will have on the whole forest,  versus cutting down a huge field and having devastating effects on the wild life and earth. This also ensures that they used hand saws to remove the trees with no gas powered polluting machines. This helps save wood as one of our natural resources. Look for the SFI or FCS seal of approval before you buy. Wood countertops also cut down on the amount of chemicals being washed down storm drains into the ocean. They only need to be cleaned with soap and water due to the inherent natural properties that protect them against bacteria growth. Plus you will always have a built in cutting board with this solid countertops.

One sleek countertop that should never be used to cut on is stainless steel. Stainless steel countertops are becoming ever more popular for their shiny look and because they are comprised of a large amount of recycled material. Stainless steel is not only durable and non-pourus it is also fully recyclable at the end of its usable life. When you use a recycled material to create a new product it takes less energy as you would use when dealing with raw materials. Saving energy means lowering pollution rates as well.

Other options for ecofriendly materials for countertops are Terrazo and Recycled Glass. Terrazo was originally only seen in Italy, but is making its way into American kitchens with great force. Terrazo is made from recycled materials such as: marble chips, crushed stone, glass, metal and even seashells. It can be made custom and in any color you could imagine. Some even use it as flooring, but that’s another subject. Recycled glass countertops are a great way to green your kitchen also. Not the color green of course, unless that’s what you want! 100% recycled material and one of the best options if you are worried about the environment.