Owner: Elegant Kitchen Cabinets Blog URL:http://www.elegantcab.com/blog/ Join Date: Mon, 29 Jan 2007 01:32:57 -0600 Rating:0 Site Description: Learn about kitchen remodelling. How to prepare for it, and how to take care of your kitchen after it. Site statistics:Click here
Keeping Granite Countertops Clean 2007-01-29 06:54:28
Are your granite countertops starting to seem dull as a rock?
Don’t let your new countertops keep you from cooking! Granite
countertops are meant to be used, since they’re incredibly durable and scratch resistant. Maintaining and restoring granite countertops is quite simple.
(more…) Read more:Clean
Cherry Cabinets with Giallo Veneziano Countertops 2007-01-28 01:10:58 A beautiful kitchen with Shaker Cherry
cabinets and Giallo
Veneziano countertops and a full backsplash. We choose a rosy ceramic floor, with a design that wasn’t too busy, to complement his cabinets.
(more…) Read more:Cabinets
Keeping Granite Countertops Clean 2007-01-29 06:54:28
Are your granite countertops starting to seem dull as a rock?
Don’t let your new countertops keep you from cooking! Granite
countertops are meant to be used, since they’re incredibly durable and scratch resistant. Maintaining and restoring granite countertops is quite simple.
Clean
As You Cook
The best way to keeping granite countertops clean is to wipe up a spill soon after it occurs. Acidic liquids can eat through the protective sealant of the granite. Dried on food and liquids are hard to remove since you can't use abrasives on your countertops. Since granite is porous, stains which get past the protective barrier can be permanent!
Stay Shiny and Streak-Free
To clean granite and keep it from becoming permanently stained, you should use cleaners designed specifically for granite countertops. You can wipe down the counters with a wet sponge and mild anti-bacterial dish detergent, and then follow up with the cleaner. It leaves the surface of the granite shiny and wi
Cherry Cabinets with Giallo Veneziano Countertops 2007-01-28 01:10:58 A beautiful kitchen with Shaker Cherry
cabinets and Giallo
Veneziano countertops and a full backsplash. We choose a rosy ceramic floor, with a design that wasn’t too busy, to complement his cabinets.
Before the Remodel
You can see below what his cabinets use to look like:
Read more:Cabinets
Sabino's Oak Kitchen Cabinets 2007-02-01 21:16:01 Sabino desired a beautiful kitchen to display her jar collection and more counter space. We designed the kitchen to have plenty of display areas: in a sink loft area, more counterspace, and large glass doors. She proudly invited us back to her home to show us her oak cabinets, topped with emerald pearl granite countertops, and gave us the history of her jar collection!
To give her more counterspace, we designed an island and incorporated a microwave-hood. She loves all the extra room she has and we hope you’ve enjoyed viewing her kitchen!
Read more:Kitchen
, Cabinets
Save Money on Granite Installation 2007-02-03 06:26:55
A useful ally in your battle against kitchen countertops
A simple way to save money on granite installation is to remove and dispose of your old countertops and prepare the half-inch plywood base yourself. HGTV explains part of the process.
Our granite installers typically begin with the "demo" (demolition) of the countertops and put in a half-inch plywood base to support the granite. We bring the granite countertops directly to the worksite to measure and fit them, to reducing the inconvenience of not having kitchen to the shortest time possible.
Then, all that's left is for you to enjoy your new countertops! Read more:Money
, Installation
, Granite
Microwave your sponge to kill germs 2007-02-03 06:11:27
Germs galore in these yellow breeding grounds
A study in the Journal of Environmental Health discovered that microwaving a damp sponge for two minutes will kill around 99% of the germs!
Just be sure to dampen the sponge to avoid risk of fire.
Warmth and Light: Maple Cabinets 2007-02-03 22:15:44 The theme of this kitchen is warmth and light. The Giallo Florito granite countertop is a great complement to the maple cabinets. Large glass doors display our client’s artistic tastes and hobbies.
Glass cabinets with ceiling lights to display artistic tastes
Details
Cabinets
: Maple
Raised Panel
Countertops: Giallo Florito
Read more:Warmth
Maple Cabinets for a High Ceiling 2007-02-03 21:46:30 Jimmy’s one of our favorite people, and we were very happy to design his kitchen. Our design incorporated staggared wall cabinets to use his high ceilings to his advantage. The kitchen feels cozier because the ceiling looks closer with great decorations.
The maple cabinets make great use of the counter space
Details
Cabinets
: Canadian Maple
Raised Panel
Countertops: Granite Emerald Pearl
Read more:Ceiling
Anurag's Oak Kitchen 2007-02-03 21:29:34 Anurag believes in simplicity and a modern look with the traditional influences from Oak kitchen cabinets. He loves having guests over, so this kitchen leaves plenty of room for a dining table. The stainless steel appliances fit in well with the emerald pearl countertops.
Oak cabinets with modern simplicity
Details
Cabinets: American Red Oak Raised Panel
Countertops: Emerald Pearl granite countertops
Read more:Kitchen
Are You Getting the Most Out of Your Kitchen Remodel? 2007-02-09 06:39:52
Scenario: “I’m 100% sure to make money if I remodel my kitchen!”
Are you planning to sell your home? Imagine how disappointed you'd be after spending tens of thousands on your kitchen remodel and not sell your house for the results you wanted.
According to the Cost Analysis Report by Specpan Market Research, the average amount lost to a major kitchen remodel is an incredible 19.6%. We can teach you how to beat the average and get the most out of your money by knowing three things:
1. Know your Neighborhood
Since resale value is a major factor if your decision to remodel, you should get a free estimate of your kitchen and ask an experienced realtor about the prices in your neighborhood. Alternatively, you can check Domainia to see how much houses in your neighborhood have sold for. Rising house prices will typically return your investment.
2. Know the Trends
Although the national average for a kitchen remodel typically returns less than the cost, the Pacific Read more:Kitchen
, Remodel
Do you know these Guidelines to Kitchen Design? 2007-02-12 14:00:59
There’s lots of room for multiple cooks in this kitchen
A lot of design goes into a kitchen. While some are intuitive, the National Kitchen
and Bath Association standardizes the minimum distances.
Instead of going through a whole list, here’s a few of the more important design areas:
1. The Work Triangle consists of the cooktop, refridgerator, and the sink. There are the “work horses” of your kitchen, so we minimize excessive movement and give you a good flow.
2. Walkway Clearance matters when you have an island or a peninsula in an enclosed space — aim for at least 36″. In higher traffic areas, or with multiple cooks, that number bumps up to 42″+.
3. Appliances, such as the microwave, should be placed in high traffic areas. You don’t want to have to walk all the way across the kitchen just to use the microwave for two minutes. Read more:Guidelines
, Kitchen Design
See How Easily You Can Make Your Stainless Steel Sink Shine 2007-02-21 01:26:00
A dull stainless steel sink can regain its former glory easily.
Do you wish your stainless steel sink looked as great as it did when you bought it? Before you dash out of the house to buy an overpriced cleaning product, simply take a look around your kitchen:
The Materials
You probably already have the necessary items to clean your sink:
Scrubber (non-abrasive, e.g. sponge or cloth)
Vinegar
Baking soda
Olive oil
That's all you need to clean your sink! You're one step closer to restoring your sink.
Clean It
You may skip subsequent steps if your sink is cleaned to satisfaction, but they should all be done before shining it. There are only three steps to cleaning your sink:
The Presoak: Clean with soap (liquid detergent works well) and hot water
The Rub-down: Moisten a cloth with white vinegar and scrub the sink.
The Polish: Sprinkle baking soda and scrub with a damp sponge or cloth, then polish dry with a paper towel.
Grab that olive oil and get ready to shine.
Shine
It
Afte Read more:Easily
, Steel
How to Use Ikea’s Free Kitchen Planner for Visualization in Three Steps 2007-02-27 20:42:49 Ikea has a free Kitchen
Planning Tool, which looks like a stripped-down version of our design software. It’s a nice tool to play with, but ultimately, it can only give you an idea, because the cabinet templates are not stock cabinets. We can beat out many prices because we can design your kitchen using standard sizes. Stock cabinet sizes usually start at 9″ and increase every 3″ up to 42″.
However, you can see how appliances and furniture (tables, chairs) fit in with your cabinets, so you can get it here. The following is just a few quick instructions to get you started:
1. Pick Your Room Size
You should already start at this window when you launch the program. In addition to typing in the size, you can also click-and-drag the walls to a smaller or larger size.
2. Furnish Your Room
Near the top, click the second icon from the left to furnish the room.
In the bottom left white box, double click “Kitchen and Dining.” You’ll see a list of Read more:Visualization
, Three
What Everybody Ought to Know About Giallo Veneziano 2007-03-04 20:35:58 Giallo
Veneziano is one of our most popular granites, because it goes so well with a many woods due to its varying gold and brown color.
Where Does Giallo Veneziano Come From?
Giallo Veneziano is a granite from the mountains of Brazil and is an orthogeneisses rock, which means Giallo Veneziano is metamorphized lightly-colored magma under high pressure.
Other types of granite formation create different types of granite through different types of rocks or way of formation, such as Paradiso (migmatites, slight melting of gneisses), Santa Cecila (garnet gneisses, richer in garnet).
What Cabinet Colors Go Well With Giallo Veneziano?
▪ Shaker Cherry
▪ Raised Panel Cherry
The gold color is a nice contrast, while the browns in the granite complement the cherry, which exemplifies its natural wood by not making it a flat color.
▪ Birch
The brown in our Birch Cabinets complement the brown in the granite
▪ Honey Maple
▪ Natural Maple
▪ Canadian Maple
The gold color in this gra Read more:Everybody
If You’re Remodeling with Home Depot, You May Be Getting Cheated 2007-03-07 08:06:50 Customers who put blind faith in a large national company may be getting cheated. According to an NBC Home Depot
Investigation, some Home Depot
contractors have been trained to overcharge their customers for things not even installed!
“I’ve been taught and trained to rip-off customers,” says a former employee for US Home Systems, a nationwide subcontractor that sells refacing jobs for Home Depot. NBC4 spoke with numerous employees of the company.
“You were told to intentionally inflate the estimate,” Grover asked the former employees.
“Correct,” they replied.
…
“Are you saying thousands of people have been ripped off,” Grover asked.
“Yes,” the insiders replied.
Home Depot must live up to its reputation and not take advantage of its customers. It’s easy to trust a well known name, so it’s important to get second opinions or learn about what’s being done. Price is a factor in choosing your remo Read more:Remodeling
Do You Make This Mistake About Floor Tiles? 2007-03-26 22:23:29
Do floor tiles leak water? One of my clients was erroneously told that water will seep through tile grout and tiles. Some people may think that either the tile or the grout is porous. Why do people think ceramic countertops leak?
Is it the Tile?
A tile is a manufactured piece of hard-wearing material such as ceramic, or stone. The word is derived from the Latin word tegula, meaning a roof tile composed of baked clay.
Clay creates an impenetrable barrier to water. People who see water leak through clay are actually looking at cracks that form if the clay is greater than six inches. Since tiles range from 1/4″ to 3/8″ thick, there are cracks will not form.
Is it the Grout?
Tiling grout is a cement-based or epoxy construction material used fill voids, and seal joints. Grout is generally made of a mixture of water, cement, sand and sometimes color tint which is applied as a thick liquid and hardens over time. The grout will not crack since it sets within the 1/4&Pri Read more:Mistake
, Floor
, Tiles
4 Secrets to Buying Cheap Kitchen Cabinets 2007-04-08 23:31:51
1. Go Independent
The best way to get cheap kitchen cabinets is to choose an independent cabinet store that doesn’t merely carry brand names. Do you want to pay brand name prices for the same cabinet? Chances are, many independent cabinet stores are can get you a great price, sometimes as little as 20% the price of Kraftsmaid or Mill’s Pride cabinets. You can, many times, haggle at these stores and get close to their wholesale price, so definitely try to get a better deal.
2. Know Your Quality
The main thing to look for is the cabinet box. Although Kraftsmaid offers 100% wood cabinets at an high cost, most cabinets have the wood frame and door, while the rest of the box is 1/2″ plywood (aka “5-ply”). Avoid getting MDF, a type of compressed wood backing for the cabinets, since these can sag after a while.
Some cabinets come from China, but the wood is still top quality because it’s gathered from their respective countries and is shipped to Chi Read more:Secrets
, Buying
, Cheap
, Kitchen
, Cabinets
Four Easy Steps to Guide You on Your Kitchen Remodel 2007-04-29 23:40:07
Planning does not have to be this hard
How do you avoid a kitchen remodel disaster? I’ve had a client walk into my showroom, upset and frustrated. His contractors, after working on and off for six months, suddenly quit. His house was a mess.
Imagine how disappointed you’d be when you’re standing in the ruins of your half-finished kitchen, without a plan to finish. Remodel
ing without a plan is like a cooking a complex meal without a recipe.
So, here’s four easy steps to guide you on your kitchen remodel:
1. Make Your Budget
There are many products on the market today, but prices can vary drastically depending depending on materials, quality, additional features, and brand. As you shop around, you will notice that some options can differ in price by two to three times. Our cabinets, however, are typically within 30% of each other, depending on the style or wood choice.
It comes down to what you want. An honest and realistic budget allows accurate plannin Read more:Guide
, Kitchen
Know the Differences between Giallo Veneziano and Giallo Florito 2007-05-15 15:53:20 Have you ever walked into a store thinking you’re going to buy something you saw online, only to find that it’s it’s completely different from what you wanted?
Imagine your kitchen with the perfect granite color, down to the details of the variation per square foot. See yourself ordering your granite over the phone, walking in and discovering that the granite is completely different from what you had in mind.
Thinking all granite is the same is like thinking all people are the same. There’s definitely a clear distinction between the two Giallo
’s below, but these granite variations were chosen show just how much they can differ. It’s understandable that some people can confuse these because both their names contain Giallo, which means “yellow” in Italian.
However, Giallo Veneziano and Florito have subtle differences and similarities:
Giallo Veneziano vs. Giallo Florito
Giallo Veneziano
Giallo Florito
Location
Brazil and Italy
Bra
Why You Need A Double Sink 2007-05-30 09:52:45
A double sink is more useful than a single sink
Are you wondering whether to install a single sink or a double sink for your kitchen remodel?Imagine the convenience of chopping up your carrots, and sweeping the carrot-end into a garbage disposal.
Switching to a double sink, after using a single sink for so long, is like gaining a helper in the kitchen who organizes your cleanup.
Nearly 80% of kitchen remodelers at Elegant Kitchen Cabinets choose a double sink. Although you can get large single sinks at a premium, double sinks are normally larger.
Double Sink Advantages
Double sinks have the following advantages over single sinks:
Normally larger, allowing two users
Second drain allows for garbage disposal
Organizes your pots, pans, and dishes for cleanup
A wide sink allows two people to clean dishes at the same time. The second basin normally has a garbage disposal attached to the drain. An undermount sink is useful because you can sweep food right into the basin, avoiding the
Eat During a Remodel Like You Still Have a Kitchen 2007-06-19 14:41:01
Versatile cookware like the Foreman Grill can feed a family during your remodel.
What would you do if you couldn’t use your kitchen for two weeks?
Imagine you’re in the middle of your remodel and sick of takeout. Most families resort exclusively to takeout during their remodel, but you don’t have to be one of them.
Here’s a few ways you can convert your existing rooms into temporary kitchens:
Freeze Cooked Food
Cook and freeze meals in advance, then reheat during the remodel. Alternatively, you can shop at places like Trader Joe’s to buy prepackaged food. Throw it in your versatile cookware to get almost the same dinner experience!
Check out the McCormick website to get recipe ideas during your remodel.
Use Versatile Cookware
You won’t be able to access your gas while you’re kitchen under remodel. Here’s a couple of electric appliances that will be useful during your remodel:
Rice cooker
Microwave
Crockpot
Foreman Grill
Electric Sk Read more:Remodel
, Kitchen
How to Avoid Gapped or Cupped Hardwood Floors 2007-07-03 15:37:04
These hardwood floors are getting the airflow necessary to acclimate
Why do some hardwood floors cup or gap over time, while other floors stay flat?
The Hardwood
Installer tells us a story about two identical situations and the benefits of acclimation.
Imagine waiting ten years to finally install hardwood floors only to have them shrink or cup.
Hardwood floors expand and contract depending on the environment, so installers acclimate the hardwood floors before installing.
What’s Acclimation?
Acclimating means to get the hardwood floors use to the environment. The climate in which your hardwood floors are delivered may not be the same environment that your floors are going to be in the rest of the year.
If your floors are being delivered on a damp day, they’ll absorb the moisture in the air and that could lead to cupped floors later on and gaps.
Stack your hardwood floors like the above picture and acclimate for around 72 hours.
Do you have any experiences with your hardwo Read more:Avoid
, Floors
Three Steps to Clean Your Crusty Microwave in Five Minutes 2007-08-16 13:11:19
What is that unrecognizable odor in your microwave?
Your microwave was originally clean, but the smells of various foods have slowly comingled.
Imagine returning your old microwave to its immaculate, sparkling clean glory in only five minutes.
I found this microwave cleaning tip on TipNut and I couldn’t procrastinate any longer! So, here are three steps to get rid of that gunk:
1. Prepare the Vinegar (30 seconds)
There are a couple of choices to get vinegar and water in your microwave:
A bowl of vinegar and water
A sponge with vinegar and water
I chose to use a bowl with vinegar and water, but you can kill two birds with one stone and clean your sponge if you use the second option.
2. Microwave on High (3 minutes)
Put the bowl or sponge of vinegar and water into the microwave and set it to three minutes. Although rare, you should be aware of superheated water in the bowl, or your dried sponge catching on fire.
3. Wipe down (1 - 3 minutes)
This will take 1 - 3 minutes depend Read more:Three
, Clean
Don’t Use DesignMyRoom.com For Kitchen Design 2007-09-09 18:21:51
DesignMyRoom.com can yield some silly, but fun, creations
Have you wanted to design your own kitchen, but don’t have the tools?
My 3D CAD software frequently impresses my clients, because my software lets them design in real time. I can rearrange cabinet layouts, change countertops, and appliances with only a few clicks. They can tweak the kitchen to their heart’s desire.
DesignMyRoom.com locks you into their set kitchen layouts and carries a poor selection of countertops.
Start your project
Hit “Start a project” at the top. They only have a couple pictures of kitchensI chose from their stock photos and used kitchen cabinets, but you can design any room you want.
Drag and drop your countertops and floors choices onto the photo. Unfortunately, there aren’t any granite countertops. The appliances are mostly modern, so those going for a rustic look will be disappointed.
Show off your project
Register and save your project so you can show off your cra Read more:Kitchen
, Kitchen Design
What You Need to Know Before Buying Kitchen Cabinets 2007-10-03 18:39:10
What do you know about these kitchen cabinets?
Your home is a representation of you, and in it you have probably spent thousands of man hours and thousands of dollars to make it the home that you’ve always wanted. Many people focus on their bedrooms and basements before turning their eye to the kitchen, but when the inevitable comes it is almost certainly a home-changing event. The kitchen, as you can imagine, is the most popular room in your home. Yes, the kitchen and the main bathroom are the two rooms that will be the most trafficked. Your kitchen, of course, will be used by all members of the household, and the bathroom will be as well. These two rooms should be the two that look the best, even if it’s just for appearances sake.
When it comes down to choosing kitchen cabinets that suit your needs there are a few things that you should know beforehand:
1. Ensure that proper support is in place
Different materials and types of wood have different weights, so it is important Read more:Buying
, Kitchen
, Cabinets
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