New England Kitchen Design Center

WHAT’S IN THAT DRAWER?

NewEnglandKitchen — Fri, 04 May 2012 12:32:36 +0000

The dishwasher drawer is making its way into newer kitchen designs and remodels because people find it easier to use than standard dishwashers. Instead of bending over to load or unload a traditional dishwasher, the drawers can be installed higher as a “under the counter ” cabinet. Then it is like a drawer to be pulled out to get to the dishes and glassware. These dishwasher drawers are perfect for smaller loads, and dirty dishes do not have to accumulate until there are enough of them to run a wash. These drawers can be designed to be stacked, or placed high and side by side – which really eliminates the need for bending! Another efficient idea is to place one dishwasher drawer on each side of the sink!

WATERED-DOWN RESULTS

NewEnglandKitchen — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 17:14:44 +0000

Considering the fact that nearly 30% of the indoor water used in the typical American home comes from toilets, a bathroom renovation offers a great opportunity to start saving this valuable natural resource and also money! When choosing a new toilet, make sure to look for products with the WaterSense label. This label assures you that the water-saving toilets have not sacrificed quality or performance. The design of these WaterSense products reduces water usage from 3.5-5 GPF (gallons per flush) typical of older toilets to 1.6 gpf, the current federal standard. There are still over 100 million older, non-conforming toilets that can be replaced to get this 20% improvement. The new high efficiency toilets rely on either gravity or compressed air to move water and waste out of toilet bowls.

DO YOU HAVE CLEARANCE?

NewEnglandKitchen — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 21:17:21 +0000

If you are adding an island in your new kitchen design, keep in mind that the walkway space between the island and adjacent wall cabinets should be 42 inches wide. If you are including a dining counter in the island, plan on having 60 inches of space between the walls and the dining counter. Remember that the higher an island dining counter is, the less overhang it needs because diners’ knees bend less on tall stools. If your

counters will be a standard 36 inches from the floor, it should extend out 15 inches from the counter. If you raise the height to 42 inches from the floor, it only needs to extend outward 12 inches. The distance between the countertop and the seat remains the same – 12 inches. You can try to keep all these rules straight – or head over to New England Kitchen Design in Monroe CT where the experts will assist you with these calculations!

NOT MERELY CABINETS BUT FURNITURE!

NewEnglandKitchen — Sat, 24 Mar 2012 14:31:21 +0000

Furniture -style kitchen and bath cabinetry has been a choice for some time, but no longer limited to just “bun” feet. Homeowners can choose between details such as rope molding, crown molding and other trim features that add an elegant and distinguished look of fine furniture. If you fancy the renaissance style of years go by, there are cabinets with graceful curves and ornate leaf designs Fine cabinetry does not need to be ornate, it can capture the simple but distinguished Shaker style, or the simple, clean crisp lines of Mission style giving the cabinets a minimalist style. Whatever your preference in furniture type cabinets, you will receive expert guidance by visiting New England Kitchens Showroom.

Laying Out A Plan

NewEnglandKitchen — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 14:04:53 +0000

The most important aspect of a kitchen’s layout is its “functionality”. Even kitchens with tremendous amounts of space can fall short if they are inefficient in design. So when designing your kitchen, keep in mind that one of the most popular features in recent years in a revival of the “walk -in” Pantry. If there is room for one, a pantry can make a huge difference in long-term storage capacity. This helps to free up the main body of the kitchen. Also remaining popular are kitchen islands, especially if they are outfitted with raised “public” sides that conceal food preparation from guests. Adding a prep sink to the island, along with extra cabinet space also enhances the island. And if you do not have space in your plan for a walk in pantry, consider installing a pantry cabinet at the end of a cabinet run.

DON’T GET UNHINGED!

NewEnglandKitchen — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 22:00:44 +0000

Hinges you cannot see, know as “concealed hinges, or European hinges” don’t just give cabinet faces a smooth, uninterrupted look. They offer a surprising range in adjustability. Occasionally, the “travel” range of a cabinet door needs to be limited so it will not cause damage to adjacent walls or cabinets. In this case, a “low-angle” hinge which opens 90-100 degrees will be best. Normally, the standard angle hinge of 105-120 degrees will be chosen. However, when a wide opening is needed, a “wide-angle” hinge beyond 120 degrees is the one to use. And if you are choosing a cabinet with rollout shelves, you will need a hinge that opens to 170 degrees to open without interference. So here are all the angles: a closed cabinet door is zero degrees, and when opened, they will range anywhere from 90-170 degrees, depending on the need.

FULLY IMMERSED IN LUXURY

NewEnglandKitchen — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 00:31:53 +0000

If you are attracted to the restful, meditative soak, consider outfitting your new or renovated bathroom with a soaking tub. These deep tubs are reflective of Japanese culture and are often equipped with a seat. While some are actually large enough to accommodate entire families, most are single-person tubs that are perfect for smaller bathrooms. The emphasis is on sculptured beauty and they are available in materials that range from coopered-wood slats, stone, composites and metals. Those made of fiberglass are sometimes designed to be installed over existing shower drains, which helps in reducing the cost and complexity of installing a new floor drain. If space is limited in a small bathroom, consider shoehorning a corner tub into an unused corner.

AN AFFORDABLE LUXURY

NewEnglandKitchen — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 19:57:04 +0000

What would be more desirable than including a luxury item in your bathroom remodel that also has a great practical purpose? We are talking about towel warmers that double as a heat sources like a radiator does. Who won’t love reaching for a clean warm towel when their shower is done! In the meantime, it has been keeping the bathroom toasty warm too. The heated towel warmers are available in either hot-water models that are plumbed in place, or electric models that are easily wired into place. These towel warmers are often artfully designed, adding an element of beauty too. These “multi-functional” accessories look and perform at a level that far exceeds their cost. The towel warmers are even available in programmable models, if you want to make sure your early morning shower is a “warm” experience!

Choose Like the Professionals

NewEnglandKitchen — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 22:34:11 +0000

Do you consider yourself to be a serious cook? Let’s compare your wish list to what the professionals demand in their kitchens. To begin with, the “work triangles” need to be tight and out of the way of the general foot traffic. This means the sink, range and refrigerator should be close to each other, keeping everything within easy reach. Secondly, there should be enough space carved out for “prep”, where ingredients are assembled, prepared and plated. Then the storage issue is best solved by designing in a “butler’s pantry” if enough space is available. In modern homes, butler’s pantries are usually located in transitional spaces between kitchens and dining rooms, and used as staging areas for serving meals. They commonly contain countertops, and storage for tableware, serving pieces, table linens, candles, wine, and other dining-room articles.
And finally, a clean-up area with a secondary sink and countertop and even an extra dishwasher gives the kitchen the ultimate in efficiency!

Best Designs in Kitchens

NewEnglandKitchen — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 23:40:45 +0000