Kitchens

A new study, conducted by a producer of granite worktops in the UK has compiled a list of the most sought after features people want in their dream kitchen. Granite worktops, range ovens and a modern design topped the list for home owners if money was no object.

The AGA cooker is a stored-heat oven invented in 1922 by the Nobel Prize-winning Swedish physicist Dr.Gustaf Dalen, who also founded the AGA Company. Tremendously popular with middle England and country dwellers, so much so that when novels are written about life in the English countryside, they have become known as “Aga sagas”. (more…)

The focal point for any home is normally the kitchen and at party time the kitchen is usually the place where most people congregate! If perhaps you may be considering a makeover for your kitchen, we offer ten suggestions that are the trends for this year, 2015.

There’s no really easy room to choose flooring for because they all present their own challenges – it would be nice to have a plush living room carpet but pets and children could ruin it, while bathroom floors have to be capable of withstanding the effects of ever-present moisture in the form of water or steam.

Lighting is sometimes overlooked when updating a kitchen but is an important factor to the functionality and practicality of the kitchen. Having a lighting plan is the best way of creating the right amount of light to the specific areas of the kitchen that need it. A common problem that most people have is trying to light the whole room with just one ceiling mounted light. This creates an overpowering glare in some areas and dark shadows in others that can ruin the look and practicality of the kitchen.Instead of using one light for the kitchen it is recommended to use multi-layered lighting for different areas of the kitchen, these include:Task lighting – task lighting is situated above work areas including worktops and the cooker. These lights are particularly effective when mounted below the overhead cabinets and create an illuminated area for chopping, cooking and preparation work.Ambient lighting – ambient lighting is used to provide a warm glow that fills the room whilst softening shadows. Ambient lighting provides a warm and inviting environment and are usually placed in the ceiling.Dimming lights – the ability to adjust the lights depending on the situation is ideal in a kitchen setting. While cooking or cleaning you may like to have more light, while dining or relaxing the lights can be dimmed to provide a more intimate setting. Adding a dimmer switch to each type of lighting will give you the best range of possibilities for your kitchen.

The modern cooker hood is an essential; way t o keep steam and cooking smell from the kitchen and finding its way into other parts of the home, fitting an appliance such as this is not difficult. The hood is normally supplied with a template used for positioning the Brackets and screws. The hood must be at least 750mm above a gas hob and 650mm above an electric hob.There are two types of cooker hood, one which ducts the air to the outside, the other is simpler and recirculate air through a charcoal grill which cleans it. Extraction hoods must be situated against an outside wall or the ducting will be needed. Naturally you must calculate the size of hood needed to do the job properly, this is called a CFM rating which is cubic feet per minute and would need to be twice the square footage of the kitchen. If you are fitting an extractor hood you will find that the ducting pipe will have to be bought separately. If you have wall cabinets be aware that ducting may have to be fed through them to the outside wall, and in this case serious consideration should be given to one which re-circulates the air. Naturally all electrical work must be carried out by a fully qualified electrician.

A kitchen is one of the most important rooms in any house.  It can be the heart of the home, and some may feel they need to renovate it at some point.  There are many ways you can improve your kitchen, but you will also need some tools.To improve your kitchen, you can have new cupboards put in that are more modern in order to give it a fresher look.  You can also have granite tops installed as counter tops and even renovate the kitchen so that each and every appliance has its own designated spot.  A countertop stove is one of the most modern appliances and looks sophisticated.  Most countertop stoves come with an oven and hob.There are many materials and tools that will be needed in order to improve your kitchen.  Some of these materials will include cupboard doors, nails, handles and hinges.  You will also need tools, such as drills and hammers.  Some people may also prefer using strong wood glue.  When it comes to improving your kitchen, make sure you have a well thought out plan on how you want to renovate and improve it.You do not want to get halfway to discover that it will not work out.  Be sure to have a qualified plumber do all the plumbing and a qualified electrician to take care of all the electrical aspects, including wiring.  By hiring qualified tradesmen, you will have the peace of mind knowing it was done properly.  Improving your kitchen takes time, a lot of planning and the right set of tools.  A filled up and functional toolbox will be beneficial.  You may need to visit a DIY depot for anything else you might need.

Butt HingesButt hinges are found everywhere, from jewellery boxes to back doors.  They are a traditional type of hinge that is easy to obtain and fit.  Simply line up the hinge, frame and door, and then mark where the hinge will go and how deep the recess needs to be.  Before cutting the recess, you should score along the surface of the wood.  This will stop it from splintering.  Use a chisel to cut the recess.  When the recess has been cut, you can screw the butt hinge into place. Flush HingesThe difference between flush hinges and butt hinges is that flush hinges only have a recess cut out of one side and the hinge folds into one single width.  The advantage of flush hinges is that they can be screwed straight onto the surface of the cupboard and they do not need to be sprung.  They are good for fitted wardrobes and cupboard doors.Piano HingesPiano hinges are made from steel or brass and are great for supporting a door along its whole length.  They therefore provide extra strength.  They are ideal for blanket boxes and doll house fronts.Cranked Hinge A cranked hinge looks like a butt hinge when it is closed.  However, the hinge will enable the door to be opened an entire 180 degrees. Concealed Cabinet HingesConcealed cabinet hinges are used for cabinet doors, which close at the front of the cabinet.  The door side will be secured with a round boss held in place with screws.  The side is secured in place with a baseplate.  This can be altered both horizontally and vertically, enabling you to align a row of doors.  The hinges are usually sprung, so that they will close automatically.

Depending on where the blockage is located, it may be your responsibility to clear it. This article tells you how to locate and clear a blocked drain. Locating the BlockageThe first task is to find out where the blockage is located. To do this, open the inspection chamber in your garden. There may be more than one and if there is you will need to open them all until you find a clear one. Once a clear one has been found you need to go back to the one before it, which is where the blockage will be.  Using Drain RodsIn order to remove the blockage you will need to use drain rods. To start with you must screw two of the drain rods together and then attach a work-screw head. Push the rod to the bottom of the chamber and feel around for the channel, which is located at the bottom. You should then slide the rod along the drain leading to the clear chamber. You might need to add more rods as you go. Rotate the rods until the water level drops in the chamber. Once this has happened you will know that the major part of blockage has been cleared, but it may still be necessary to use a plunger to remove any remaining debris from the pipe.Remember SafetyBefore removing the inspection cover from the chamber, make sure there are no animals or children around who could fall into it. Always wear protective gloves and wash your hands thoroughly after working with drains and toilets.

Many people routinely clean their sinks, but they overlook the strainers.  If you notice an odour coming from the sink even after it has been cleaned, the smell could be coming from the strainer.  It is a good idea to get into the habit of cleaning the strainer on a regular basis.  You may think that the strainer is just there to catch food particles, but the strainer is actually designed to prevent clogs and damage to pipes and drains.When you clean your sink after daily use, make sure to wipe down the strainer as well.  Use a soapy cloth to do this.  Cleaning the strainer will remove grease and build-up that could eventually have a negative effect on how water drains from the sink.  Always remove food and debris from the strainer each time you finish cleaning the sink.  By allowing food to remain in the strainer, you will promote bacteria growth.If you notice the drain having a strong smell, the smell could simply be bacteria in the drain pipes.  By pouring a cleaning product down the drain, you will also be cleaning the strainer at the same time.  After pouring any cleaner into the drain, make sure to let the hot water run for a few minutes.  This will help to activate the cleaner and kill any bacteria in the drain and on the strainer.

Aluminium blinds in your kitchen are an ideal neutral option to use that is unlikely to go out of fashion, and aluminium kitchen blinds are easier to clean than those made from soft fabric materials.  These blinds provide a cooling effect that will also complement any colour scheme you can think of.  This is essential if you are someone who tends to redecorate your kitchen frequently.  If you are a little unsure of your initial colour scheme, aluminium blinds are an ideal solution, as they will blend with any colour scheme you select.  You can change your mind later without having to choose new kitchen blinds to match your latest experiment in interior design.  In addition, if there are family members of varying ages in your household, you are unlikely to find another product with such universal appeal, as most people will find that aluminium blinds help to create a fresh and spacious feel to the room, regardless of the weather outside.  Another bonus in the selection of aluminium blinds for your kitchen, is that they are extremely lightweight and can be handled easily by young and old alike, even when they need cleaning or dusting.  At the same time, blinds made from this material are not at all flimsy or easy to break, so you need not worry that they will become easily damaged with excessive use in one of the busiest room of the house.