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Tag: Styles
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8 Tips For Adding a Functional Kitchen Island
Adding a functional kitchen island changes the heart of your home in so many ways. All without altering the structure, in most cases. A functional kitchen island provides more workspace, storage and seating just to name a few advantages. Here are eight tips for adding a functional kitchen island to your home and reaping the rewards immediately.
1. An Area for Seating and Eating
In many homes the kitchen island takes the place of the dining table. Adding a functional kitchen island for seating and eating makes the most of a smaller kitchen and helps you take advantage of a kitchen with a little more space.
A very versatile and multi-functional island is the dual height island. This allows an elevated eating area and, on the other side, a prep area. Your guests can keep company while you prep the meal or the kids have a place to enjoy an after school snack or do their homework while you get dinner ready on a busy weeknight.
Extend your eating area when you add a functional kitchen island with a dual height island. Make sure there’s a recessed area beneath for comfortable stool or chair seating.
2. Double Your Storage Space by Adding a Functional Kitchen Island
With proper planning adding a functional kitchen island will really boost your storage space. Of course the inside of your island is where you’ll store those everyday accoutrements that make meal prep a breeze, but the exterior side of your island allows you to store those items you use for times like holidays or when you entertain. You could even incorporate shelving at either end of your island for cookbooks or spices. Everything is within reach yet stored away and organized. Adding a functional kitchen island is a wonderful way to increase the storage in your small kitchen without the time-consuming hassle of a major renovation.
3. Outlets Galore
Many building codes require your island have an electrical outlet. But, you don’t necessarily need to stop at one outlet. Add extra electrical outlets to your kitchen island to ramp up the functionality. Use the outlets or your kitchen mixer, a coffee station or any appliances that aid in meal prep or cooking. And these days we all need all the outlets we can get to plug in phone chargers and keep our devices ready.
4. Adding a Functional Kitchen Island and Additional Refrigeration
Do you want to provide your family with an easy access way to grab a cold drink or a snack without disrupting your workspace? Add a refrigerated drawer or a small beverage fridge on the exterior of your island. For a single-sided island place a small refrigerator toward the end for minimal intrusion. When entertaining, guests can get their now beverages without disrupting any food prep.
5. Out of the Way Microwave
Much like the addition of a mini-fridge, wine fridge or refrigerated drawer, am in-island microwave lets your family and friends heat up a cup of coffee or snack without disrupting the kitchen activity. Tucking a microwave into an island keeps it off the counter and frees ups more workspace for you. And moving the microwave for above the stove gets rid of the confining visual clutter.
6. Customize Your Workspace by Adding a Functional Kitchen Island
For the home chef a kitchen island with upgrades that help in meal prep is a gift. Specialized surfaces such as butcher block or soapstone provide an area just perfect for rolling out the flakiest piecrust or kneading a scrumptious loaf of artisan bread. A more durable quartz countertop takes a beating and still looks lovely.
A warming drawer in your kitchen island keeps dishes ready to serve. A second dishwasher is ideal for large families and busy home entertainers. Energy efficient induction cooktops are never hot to the touch as they use a magnetic field to transfer heat. Make meal prep so much easier by installing a prep sink in your island.
7. Trash and Recycling Drawers
Whether double sided or single sided your kitchen island is a handy place to install separate drawers for trash and recycling. Easy-to-use drawers with a foot latch to accommodate full hands means environmentally conscious easy clean-up!
8. Adding a Functional Kitchen Island with Proper Lighting
Every cook appreciates the right lighting to get the job done. Of course overhead lighting is essential to aesthetics and tasks and under cabinet lighting also creates a mood. Combine pendants (But pay attention to the sight lines.), recessed spotlights and cabinet lighting for the best illumination options.
A Functional Kitchen Island That Meets Your Needs
When adding a functional kitchen island be creative and keep your family’s needs front and center. For more information on customizing and adding a fictional kitchen island to your home contact Quad City Kitchen & Bath today. We offer experienced design professionals to help you find the ideal island addition to your kitchen. Don’t wait another minute for the kitchen of your dreams.
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7 Secrets for Easy to Clean Kitchen Cabinets
Kitchen cabinets are essential to an organized and easy-to-use kitchen. Everything you need is within easy reach and your cabinets help keep your kitchen looking “company worthy”. With the kids back in school and the holidays fast approaching now is the time to do a thorough cleaning of the kitchen and get ready for all the hustle and bustle the heart of your home is sure to have in the weeks ahead.
Keeping your kitchen cabinets clean is something most homeowners in the Quad Cities struggle with. Busy kitchens make messes, that’s a fact. Somewhere along the line your kitchen cabinets will see splatter, a build-up of cooking debris and the usual dust and grime. Our kitchens are meant to be used. and they are often a magnet that draws everyone in. Maintaining the neat and orderly appearance is necessary. Doing so with ease is a big plus!
7 Tips to Easy to Clean Kitchen Cabinets
Cleaning your kitchen doesn’t need to be a major event. Instead of spending precious hours scrubbing and cleaning your kitchen cabinets why not adopt these tips for keeping your cupboards and drawers clean and sparkling like new?
- Select a Simple Style with Minimal Detail: Ornate cabinets with raised panels and attract dust and debris. Simple styles of kitchen cabinets, such as traditional Shaker, sleek contemporary or flat panel are far easier to clean and keep clean. Opt for a stain or paint that has a glaze. This fills in any wood grain cracks and corners that attract dust.
- Choose Sleek Flush End Kitchen Cabinets: When you select your kitchen cabinets you’re have the option for matching ends or flush ends. Matching ends bring a certain amount of elegance to the project but like your cabinet doors they require maintenance. Flush ends are plywood made to match the color of your cabinetry. The smooth and sleek surface is quicker to clean.
- Keep it Simple: Even if you only use your kitchen as a gathering spot and not so much for cooking you do want it to be easy to clean. Ornate designer details such as corbels, crown or light rail molding, decorative shelving or decorative legs are touches that add to your kitchen style. However, a lot of these design trimmings come with a cost for maintaining the look. Dusting the trim is time-consuming and tedious but needs to be done regularly. Another option is to incorporate designer accents in other ways. Upgrade your lighting, choose on trend colors or a showy dining table.
- Stain over Paint: Both stains and paint have pros and cons. They both show fingerprints and food splatter but, depending on the finish, stain is much easier to keep clean. Additionally, stain is easier when it comes to touch-ups. Should the surface of your kitchen cabinet get scratched it’s easier to spruce it up with stain. Many kitchen cabinet manufacturers provide touch-up kits for that very reason.
- Beef Up Your Hardware: Flush cabinets have a certain appeal but if you want to reserve the look of your drawers and cupboards add knobs and drawer pulls. Not only will the addition of drawer pulls and cabinet knobs limit fingerprints but they slow down wear and tear. And today’s selection of knobs and pulls is plentiful. It’s easy to upgrade with stylish pulls and knobs for your kitchen cabinets.
- Stay Away From Glass Door Fronts: Farmhouse style and vintage looks may be all the rage right now but the practicality of glass-front cabinets in a busy kitchen is not all that. Especially when it comes to cleaning all those panes. If your glass cabinet fronts have mullions expect to attract even more dirt and dust along with the smudges. And don’t forget that glass doors mean you must keep everything in the cupboard neat and tidy.
- Minimize the Open Shelving: Open shelving is another trend that designers embraced over the past decade. Open shelves and floating style shelves provide a great way to display your favorite stylish cookware and the like. But, the open shelves require more time-consuming cleaning. Not only do you need to clean the shelves themselves but the items displayed on the open shelves as well. For all the decorative panache open shelves bring to the kitchen the trade off in maintenance isn’t worth it for most busy homeowners. Opt for other decorative touches reflected in your lighting and appliances, dining table and accessories.
More Time to Enjoy
Life is too short to be bogged down maintaining your kitchen day in and day out. When you proactively choose quality kitchen cabinets that are easy to clean and make your kitchen appealing and welcoming you make life easier.
At Seiffert Kitchen & Bath we offer our customers a wide selection of kitchen cabinets that are as beautiful as they are durable. Our design services is ready to assist you in choosing the right style for your home that’s lovely, functional and easy to clean. Contact Seiffert Kitchen & Bath today.
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8 Trendy Kitchen Themes That Never Go Out of Style
Kitchen themes run the gamut from retro and mid-century modern to farmhouse and quirky, quaint country style. Choosing from the many popular kitchen themes is overwhelming. Especially when you want your investment to stand the test of time.
It’s no secret to residents of the Quad Cities, or across the country that kitchens are the new “family rooms.” Even as we all endured being together for 18 months we still enjoy cooking together, grabbing a snack and talking at the kitchen counter and just being in the heart of the home. If you have any doubt, think about the last gathering you attended in someone’s home. Where did everyone congregate? The kitchen!
Kitchen Themes that Impress
Given that your kitchen is the busiest room in your home, and knowing that a kitchen renovation is a pretty big investment you want timeless style that looks as lovely today as it will ten years from now. And from a resale perspective you absolutely want your kitchen to look inviting to any potential buyers.
In the absence of a crystal ball, it’s difficult to know what will be popular in the years to come. One thing you can count on? Some kitchen themes never go out of style. Themes that combine form and function, panache and purpose, style and savoir faire are always on trend.
8 Kitchen Themes That Never Go Out of Style
When planning the kitchen of your dreams, you want a space that combines functional and efficient meal preparation with an easy, casual and inviting gathering area. A space that reflects your lifestyle and incorporates features unique to your taste. Bear in mind square footage is a factor. But with the right design team and classic design essentials you’ll be celebrating in your perfect kitchen in no time.
Mid-Century Modern
At first glance many mid-century modern kitchen themes appear to be throwbacks to a bygone era. But look closer. The sleek style and functionality of the mid-century theme is quite dramatic, very high-end in appearance and in no way is it commonplace. For those who appreciate kitchen themes that are timeless yet on trend consider incorporating the elements of a mid-century modern kitchen design.
Modern Farmhouse
As kitchen themes go this one is among the most popular today. Detractors of modern farmhouse kitchen themes keep predicting elements of this lovely homage to grandma’s house are played out, but those elements are timeless. White subway tile is still one of the top requests for backsplash. The homey combination of industrial, rustic and modern style offers both function and flair. Clean white cupboards, quartz or butcher block countertops, dual sinks, flat black hardware and bead board or shiplap are hallmarks of the modern farmhouse style.
Contemporary
Not to be confused with the mid-century modern kitchen theme, contemporary kitchen themes rely on modern touches, fixtures and features but with a softer look. Your contemporary kitchen uses modern technology throughout. Maybe a high-end convection cooktop? Sleek stainless steel appliances, state of the art dishwasher, wine fridge, quiet-close drawers and cabinets make contemporary kitchen themes trendy yet timeless.
French Country
For those whose tastes tend to be less subtle and run more to iconic a French country kitchen is one of the preferred kitchen themes. Distressed finishes on cabinetry and floors, warm wood elements, natural stone, wrought iron and regal fixtures work to evoke an old-world charm. Antiqued hardware and a warm color palette make your guests imagine they’re in Provence. And what Provençal kitchen is complete without a wine fridge?
Scandinavian
Minimalism is a popular trend today and Scandinavian kitchen themes certainly apply the rules of minimalism to your space. Natural-toned wood, or stark white cabinets, neutral colors, natural textures and simple hardware all elicit images of the land of the midnight sun.
Retro Kitchen Themes
A blast from the past in design only, retro kitchen themes shouldn’t be confused with mid-century modern. The retro kitchen gives off a much more 1950s/early 60s Betty-Crocker-meets-Mad-Men’s-Betty-Draper vibe. Tile countertops, recessed lighting, linoleum or painted wood flooring, an apron-front sink and appliances that only look vintage merge to make you think you’ve time-traveled. You and your guests will fall in love with this charming retro style.
Modern Country
Not to be confused with modern farmhouse, modern country is its own style. With the modern country kitchen themes, you get a little bit of the traditional white or neutral cabinetry and simple hardware, but then there are pops of color in certain elements. Think appliances in your favorite hue, anything-but-white subway tile, a rustic barn wood island, painted wood floor and other old-timey features and you’ll definitely be on theme for your modern country kitchen.
Traditional
Classic, timeless and enduring are all terms people use when discussing their idea of traditional kitchen themes. You can never go wrong with tried and true elements such as shaker cabinets, soapstone countertops and marble backsplash. Black, white, dark wood and simple-yet-elegant lighting are common features of the traditional kitchen. White appliances complete the look of traditional kitchens.
Design Help for Your Kitchen Renovation
When you remodel or renovate the heart of your home, choose from kitchen themes that withstand the test of time. Those that employ elements and features that hold appeal today and tomorrow. And for help with your kitchen design or any of your home renovation needs turn to Seiffert Kitchen and Bath. We stand by you every step of your kitchen renovation.
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Choosing the Perfect Cabinet Door Type and Style For Your Davenport Kitchen or Bathroom Design
Cabinet Door Types
Following are descriptions of the most common cabinet door types.
Full Overlay Doors
Full overlay has doors and drawer fronts almost completely covering the cabinet face. This leaves minimal visible gaps, usually as little as 1/4″ to 1/2″, between each cabinet door or drawer. Full overlay doors add a more sleek modern look to a traditional door design.
Partial Overlay Doors
Partial, or traditional, overlay cabinetry was the industry norm for many years. The door only partially covers the cabinet face frame, leaving gaps around the door and drawer where applicable. As the name suggests, this door style lends itself well to more traditional tastes.
Inset Doors
Inset cabinetry style is significantly different from overlay door styles. The door and drawer fronts sit flush with the face frame inside the cabinet face frame openings. Inset doors offer a very smooth, classic profile to a historically expensive craftsman style.
Cabinet Door Styles
Raised-Panel Doors
In a raised panel door, the center of the panel is higher than its edges. This style is used to create square, arched, and cathedral door styles. The raised-panel door style has been the most common traditional cabinet door style for many years. Raised-panel door styles generally offer the most detail in the profiles and contours of the center panel and the door frame.
Recessed Panel Doors
The recessed, or flat-panel, door style is a flat panel held inside the perimeter of a door that is recessed between the stiles and rails. The recessed-panel door has the most flexibility when it comes to design and is a good choice if you want to be able to change the look of your kitchen down the road.
Slab Doors
Slab doors are very much what they sound like. One slab of wood makes up the entire door or drawer front. Slab doors do not have a frame face and the doors are usually attached directly to the cabinet sides. The slab door is generally associated with a contemporary style and modern design applications.
Variety of Cabinetry Options
Regardless of your cabinet door style or type choice for your Davenport kitchen or bathroom design, there are plenty of options you can personalize. Most doors come in a variety of colors, finishes and wood types you can select to make your cabinets conform to your personal design needs.
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