With Spring lurking around the corner we are all feeling the need to get our homes cleaned out and organized. Or maybe you are like me and a little bit OCD! There is nothing better than to have your surroundings organized and orderly. It simply makes life easier, more efficient, and instead of spending that extra five minutes looking for the matching lid to a storage container (we’ve all been there) you can spend it doing something fun outside in the Spring sunshine!

This recent phase of purging and donating unused or unwanted items from my home inspired me to share with you my favorite organizing gadgets. First thing first is the kitchen. Instead of being uninspired by the mass chaos of your cabinets…and ending up ordering out…try organizing your pantry and cabinets with the following:

Pull-out drawers that you can retrofit to just about any kitchen cabinet. This is a great, and affordable, option to keep your pots, pans, containers, and their corresponding lids organized.

Air-tight canisters for food items that you can actually see which may motivate you to use what you have and cook dinner in tonight.

Do you find yourself buying multiples of the regularly used spices because you can’t find or can’t remember what you have? If this is the case then I have to share with you that this organizer, the spice stack,  is my absolute favorite. Add a label to each slot for quick access in the midst of cooking. This is also a great use for that high cabinet above the range that you can reach but can’t necessarily see what is in it.

And finally, if you find that leaving a wet sponge on the edge of the sink isn’t the best way to keep things clean then I suggest the organizing basket that suctions right to your sink. It’s convenient and allows the sponge to dry properly between uses. One more tip, instead of throwing out the sponge after several uses simply toss it in the dishwasher for sanitizing. I also recommend the new Scotch-Brite greener clean sponge made of recycled agave plant that you can easily find in the cleaning utensil department at Target. As a side benefit it is a neutral color that isn’t the weird neon 80s pink or purple that most sponges are.  

Hopefully you will find these inexpensive organizing tools as priceless as I do. Look for a post this time next week about organizing other parts of the home…it isn’t always just about the kitchen!

Happy Spring Cleaning!

As a follow up to the Kitchen Cabinet Facelift recent post I thought I would share more about phase two. The second step to improving my kitchen included the replacement of the countertop, sink, and fixture.

Before… 

This was a DIY project as well but I like to call it a DIY-WF (with family). My Dad helped me to replace the old outdated and damaged laminate countertop which was much appreciated and it saved cash in the budget.  This part of the project could not have been completed without him.

First thing first we pulled the old countertop out and replaced it with a new laminate surface. My finish of choice was from Formica in Basalt Slate with a Honed Finish (upgrade) and a bullnose edge detail.

I selected this laminate because at first glance you don’t realize it is laminate. The honed finish creates a tactile texture to the slate look finish. The visual texture isn’t too busy therefore it isn’t cheesy faux like some of the laminates in granite finishes have a tendency to be.

The second selection was the Quartz sink. This option is ideal because it is dark like the countertop which creates a single visual plane. In a small space a greater sense of openness is created. The Quartz is so easy to maintain and always looks clean not to mention it is highly durable and doesn’t provide the tin sound that stainless steel can sometimes do when the water is running.

Last but not least is what I consider to be the jewelry for the sink, the faucet. The fixture is in a brushed nichol finish and the traditional modern style adds vintage style.

The finished kitchen project is a perfect compliment to the gray cabinets and is quite possibly the best transformation in my home to-date.     – Thanks Dad

After…

For more on Phase One check out the posting, Affordable Kitchen Cabinet Facelift at http://theidesignbox.com/?p=395  

With this posting I participated in Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch. For more on Metamorphosis Monday, December 7th go to: http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/2009/12/welcome-to-47th-metamorphosis-monday.html

You know those off-the-shelf from the big box home improvement store oak cabinets that seem to appear in every apartment, inexpensive contractor re-do, and unfortunately unsuccessful remodels completed with little or no taste…I mean budget? You know the ones…and unfortunately the previous owner installed them in my nearly 100 year old home. Nothing about these cabinets leant themselves to the charm and period of my home that was built in 1911.

The starting point:

Being budget conscious, sticking to my intention to reuse something in perfectly good and usable shape, and desiring that designer touch that gives also honors the period of my house I decided to give them a fresh look.  I gave my cabinets an affordable face lift by removing and painting each door as well as adding glass inserts and hardware for added style.

The final result:  

How did I accomplish the affordable face lift of the oh-so-average oak cabinets? Here’s how…

A gallon of primer and a gallon of oil based Benjamin Moore paint (stinky yet extremely durable), new cabinet hardware, reeded glass inserts, a tube of silicon glue, a handful of foam paint brushes (eliminates appearance of brush strokes) and a few pieces of middle grade sand paper did the trick. 

What is priceless is my friends’ reactions which have included comments such as “You did this? Yourself? They look brand new!” which makes me even more appreciative that I completed this project myself.

In approximately a week the kitchen cabinets were complete and I had a whole new look that provided a period yet modern feel to the typical oak cabinets. The only task I hired out was removing the existing panels in the upper cabinets where I later installed the reeded glass inserts. For a step-by-step process email me at questions@theidesignbox.com

 Insider DIY Tips For This Project: 1. Number the door fronts so they go back in the same place and are easy to level when you reinstall them.  2. Take the already cut cabinet doors to the glass shop so the glass inserts fit perfectly. This eliminates unfortunate errors in measuring.  3. Paint the insides of the doors and cabinets for a more professional appearance.

Check out more DIY Projects where I’m participating in ”Do It Yourself Day“ at A Soft Place to Land!

The kitchen is often the heart of the home and typically in the heart of the kitchen is the kitchen island. It can be the primary work space, entertaining area, and may even serve as a great place to dine. Considering adding an island to your kitchen? Then be sure to think about and be inspired by the following tips:

Tip One:The use of an island works best in a larger kitchen that has an L-Shape, U-Shape, or G-Shape layout. They will not work in a Galley layout and an island will become an obstruction if the kitchen is too small. You may also want to consider a movable island that will allow you to tuck it away when it is not in use.

Photo Credit: Houzz.com 

Tip Two:If the island is large enough and part of the built in cabinetry you may want to consider adding a second sink, the cooktop, perhaps the dishwasher, or even an under-counter microwave drawer. The addition of any of these options is typically driven by how you will utilize the counter space on the island. Will it be for baking? Prepping nightly dinners? Or a nice gathering space for extra dining? The use will help dictate the type of storage and/or appliances added to the island.

Photo Credit: Houzz.com

Photo Credit: Houzz.com

Tip Three:If you do consider adding a cooktop to the island don’t forget to provide proper ventilation with a hood overhead or a downdraft vent that is built into the cooktop.

Tip Four: Islands are a great opportunity to add extra storage space. Consider the open shelving on a kitchen island for cookbooks, the small appliances you would like accessible but may not use on a daily basis, or even an opportunity for an artful display of an accessory or two.

 Photo Credit: Ballard Designs.com 

Tip Five: Use the incorporation of the kitchen island as an opportunity to make a statement. It doesn’t have to match the rest of the kitchen. Perhaps it is a unique piece of furniture 0r a different finish or color. The countertop material can also be unique and does not have to match the rest of the kitchen. A great idea is a butcher-block top for chopping and prepping food. If you bake a lot you might want to consider granite or marble.

Photo Credit: Elle Decor.com 

If you select the type of  island for your kitchen  based upon the primary use and if it is designed correctly it can create a more functional and welcoming space overall. Follow your heart when choosing the style and finishes and your kitchen island will become the focal point and great gathering space for friends and family. Simply be inspired by the kitchen island and make the heart of your kitchen the heart of your home!

Photo Credit: Houzz.com

Typically I like to think outside of the box and try something new with a design project to see if it will work. However, in some cases it is still best to adhere to basic rules of design. After all there are reasons they exist right?

For example, I’m currently working on a suggested space plan for a Design Inspiration Box (DIB). The room is an enclosed kitchen that is in much need of a re-work to be light, bright, and open. In an effort to minimize some of the major construction I elected to keep the sink as close to it’s original location as possible. Primarily this decision was to reduce the cost of moving plumbing which can be expensive. I labored and labored over how to layout the room, choosing what I “thought” was the best location for the sink. When I thought I had completed the preferred kitchen layout it still felt wrong. So what did I do?

Like any good designer we rely on what we have learned through formal education, experience, and sometimes trial and error (most won’t admit the latter). In this situation I turned to what I learned in design school and after reviewing the basic rules laid out by the NKBA (National Kitchen and Bath Association) I realized I was so caught up in saving money I overshot the simple rule of the work triangle.

What is the work triangle? Some of you may have never heard of this before and in that case you are hearing about something completely new today. However, for those who have a mild interest in interior design, have purchased a home, enjoy cooking, or simply watch HGTV on occasion realize there is this thing that everyone calls a work triangle. If you have heard of it already you may also be learning a little something new today because I’m sharing with you a real and actual “rule” of good kitchen design:

There are three major work centers in any kitchen: ONE the primary sink, TWO the primary cooking area, and THREE the refrigerator. The sum of the three distances you travel between each primary work center should not add up to more than 26 feet. Additionally, no single leg of the work triangle should measure more than 9 feet or less than 4 feet. If this seems like just words perhaps the following image will help to clarify:

Just simple math right? I’m sure most have never REALLY stopped to actually measure the work triangle but you have definitely noticed when a kitchen doesn’t work efficiently. When this formal rule of design, the work triangle, is applied you will find that the kitchen simply works.

Thankfully, all I had to do was move the sink to the left by 24 inches and all was resolved… not to mention all other kitchen design rules also remained in tact.

Below is a picture where you can see a work triangle that will definitely work. In kitchens such as this one it is often simple to see efficient use of simple design rules, even without having them defined in black and white.

Photo Credit: HGTV, Kitchens by Jean Alan, Interior Designer,  Jean Alan Inc.