Entries Tagged 'lighting' ↓
June 7th, 2011 — cabinets, design, kitchen, lighting, tip of the day
So from today, I start a new series on kitchen planning topics: let’s collect the knowledge, pepper it with a few ideas. Here are the things you should consider – first, when planning your kitchen lighting.
What are the most common kitchen lighting errors made when planning the lighting?
- The most common lighting error is trying to light all your kitchen with one hanging lamp in the middle of your room. Not only does the single light become a source of glare any time you look into the kitchen (from the dark to the light.. you planned to use a biiig light, yep?). You also won’t get the needed light on your countertops. Every time you try doing any work you are working in your own shadow. Continue reading →
June 6th, 2011 — budget, cabinets, color, design, kitchen, layout, lighting
This gorgeous cottage kitchen wasn’t always this stylish and functional. With no room to cook, cramped counter space, its owners knew they needed to renovate the kitchen of their 1935 cottage in upstate New York.
So where did they start? From scratch! Since any upgrades would be a waste of money unless the quite bad layout was replanned, they began discussing the kitchen layout. The first step was to alter the floor plan in the 8×10-foot galley kitchen to add the space they needed. Continue reading →
January 18th, 2011 — accessories, budget, cabinets, faucets, kitchen, lighting, planning, remodeling
As house values are down across the board and loans / mortgages are harder to get, homeowners are finding few easy-money options for grand remodels. But hey, you probably should not do that anyway! Instead, why not go after projects that cost less, or even garner practical savings and keep their value much better when it comes time to sell.
This is very true for kitchens: usually oneof the (if not THE) most expensive room in your home, a remodel can even cost anything upwards of $50.000 – which can be as much as 10% of the value of your home. Instead of spending a ton of money, let’s see a few options on modest, practical, recessionproof improvements that build a home’s long-term value while conserving energy or just allow you to rest and enjoy your kitchen.
January 11th, 2011 — cabinets, color, design, kitchen, kitchen island, lighting, planning
Are you considering building a new kitchen or remodeling your existing one? If so, it makes sense to keep up with the latest trends, if for nothing else, to check what you’re likely to find in the stores this year.
Here is a list of kitchen trends for 2011
1 Curved shapes become the ‘new minimal’
Kitchen designers starting to introduce curved shapes to the kitchen, just like other parts of the house. Gone are the days of sharp and straight and blocks look, as it’s now being replaced by soft appearance. The easiest way to add curved shapes and bump up your kitchen with a contemporary look is through the introduction of rounded sinks, maybe bowed cabinet, curved faucets. If you can afford a bit more, think about adding a curved kitchen island (be careful though, it better harmonizes with your kitchen still). Continue reading →
January 1st, 2011 — budget, cabinets, kitchen, lighting, remodeling
When you want to re-decorate your kitchen, first one tends to think the improvement of the kitchen in terms of big-ticket things such as new appliances, like replacing the old oven, a new refrigerator, or painting the walls, installing some extra cabinets (not always a good idea!) and more. However, we very rarely think changing the lighting of the kitchen – but it is an equally important feature! Lights can not just light up (ehmm..) your kitchen, but change the style, the mood, and even the colors!
When talking about kitchen lighting, several factors come into play: lighting should properly illuminate the room, but it should not be so bright that it hurts the eyes. Kitchen lighting should be installed in a way than every corner receives optimal light, and work can be done without straining the eyes.
Continue reading →
December 22nd, 2010 — cabinets, color, design, glass, kitchen, lighting
Open shelves seem to be a growing trend in kitchens. Despite the desire for clarity and minimalistic space in modern kitchens, open shelves manage to escape this trend.
Open shelves add an offhand, casual note to an otherwise sterile kichen and keep essentials within easy reach at the same time.
Open shelves are not easy to manage though. Here are a few tips to keep them tidy:
Continue reading →
December 12th, 2010 — design, kitchen, kitchen island, lighting, steel
Pot racks are used to be part of every kitchen. Do they have a place in a modern one?
There’s something unusual about pot racks in a kitchen. They probably went out of fashion quite a while ago (at least regarding ‘mainstream’ kitchens) However, many modern kitchens I see in catalogs often seem sterile and you’d never know whether anyone did ever cook anything there. But whenever I see a kitchen with a pot rack, it suggests to me that this is a real kitchen…where people cook, eat, gather. It makes the kitchen space feel used, living, sizzling with fresh food. Pot racks are a beautiful way to showcase your cookware, especially if you have a beautiful collection. And besides being a decorative element, pot racks are also quite functional.
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October 10th, 2010 — kitchen, lighting, planning
Did you ever wonder how some kitchens look like they belong on the pages of a glossy mag or in one of those lifestyle TV shows? Most of the times the simple reason is that they use lighting effectively. And that’s about it. Kitchen lighting design is key.
Well planned lighting can turn even the most drab space into a chic interior, and similarly, poor lighting can completely ruin even the most stylish decor. So I feel it’s quite astonishing how many kitchens rely totally on ambient (mostly overhead) lighting. Sure, you can go to the other extreme and illuminate your kitchen entirely with decorative lighting – as pretty as using candles – cosy if somewhat dim. Plus look out for your fingers when trying to chop something.
An important feature of all good kitchen lighting schemes is the use of numerous light sources. Kitchens are fundamentally work areas and require task lighting which typically needs to be placed between you and the items you are working with. If the main lighting in the room is located in the middle of the ceiling then you will find yourself working in your own shadow.
Continue reading →
August 29th, 2007 — design, kitchen, lighting, planning
Lighting is usually the last thing you consider and the first thing you cut from the budget. But to look its best and function well, your kitchen must be properly lit — and that involves more than just throwing a few stylish fixtures on the wall. A good plan blends lighting into the architectural and decorative details of the kitchen
Continue reading →
August 7th, 2007 — kitchen, lighting, planning
Your kitchen is one of the most important areas of your home. This is exactly why you should design it to provide maximal comfort and efficiency? If you are not happy with your current kitchen, you should consider redesigning it to suite your taste.
One of the most forgotten, but crucial element to having the kitchen of your dreams is good lighting. Most people spend all their time focusing on the rest of the kitchen, such as the cabinets, counters, appliances, etc. As a result, they forget about this important, yet most often forgotten part.
When looking for the right kitchen lighting, first decide what kind of atmosphere you want your kitchen to have. Kitchen lights come in an infinite number of varieties, so it is important to know what you are looking for first.
Continue reading →
