Author: primeone

While probably not top priority when designing your kitchen, the type of lighting you choose is an important decision – one that will affect how much you enjoy your new kitchen space.

Unfortunately, it is sometimes easy to overlook lighting until most of the budget has been eaten up by other expenses. The problem with doing this, though, is that you end up leaving one of the most important kitchen components to chance.

Proper lighting is vital to the safety and functionality of any kitchen, as well as the joy of spending time there.

If you are thinking about renovating your kitchen, one consideration you’ll have is whether to replace your old appliances with new ones. If it’s been a few years since you’ve gone appliance shopping, be prepared to be amazed at what’s available today.

Financing a custom-built home can be an intimidating element, but it need not be. The type of mortgage loan you seek is based on the type of new construction home you want to buy.

Designing your family’s perfect home is one of the most worthwhile experiences we can have. Not only is it fun to see our clients’ dreams become a reality, but it is also rewarding to show our customers what goes into designing and building a custom home.

NOTE: This is the first in a series of articles dedicated to building your custom home.

Building your custom home can be an exciting time! You’ve saved money, looked through dozens of magazines and online publications, and perhaps even created your own Ideabook on Houzz – all in preparation for the day when you can officially begin planning your one-of-a-kind home.

But before drawings are finalized, you’ll need to make a lot of choices – as these will affect how your home is designed and the final cost of building your dream home. First up: selecting the perfect lot.

For many of us, the month of January signifies the start of new beginnings and the time to get super-organized.

There are a lot of “organizational tips” available online, especially on Pinterest, so we thought instead of inundating you with a ton of information, we’d suggest a few that caught our eye.

Organization Tips

• Lazy Susans are a great way to keep things visible. Use one for your spices and another in the fridge.
• Need to keep a receipt? Two ideas: 1) glue an envelope to the back of your planner and stick them in there, or 2) get a separate notebook and staple them to the pages.
• Organize your pantry with snack stations. Use narrow plastic bins to make them easily accessible and visible (so you know when to stock up with more).
• Take advantage of the storage bin sales that the big box stores offer all month long. But before you just stuff items into a bin, organize them and label the bin accordingly. For example, don’t just label “Christmas.” Instead, label “Christmas: Kitchen decorations.” That way, next year you know what boxes to pull for which room.
• Spend a few hours one afternoon and organize the files on your laptop. Then make a backup of your hard drive.

Tell us: Of the hundreds of de-clutter ideas and tips, what’s your favorite? We’d love to hear!

Whether you are building a traditional custom home or a timber or log home, there are many considerations to think about and decisions to be made – including Universal Design elements. While it is not strictly for the handicapped, Universal Design can be of great benefit for someone who has mobility and accessibility issues.

What is Universal Design?

Universal Design is design that is suited for all family members. No matter what the age or ability, universal design elements ensure that all family members can effectively use the space.

When we begin designing a space with Universal Design in mind, we think about how effortlessly and easily a task can be done. The goal is to minimize lifting, reaching and stooping – basically avoid any movements that have the potential of causing a person to become off-balance and hurt themselves.

You never know when life is going to throw you a curve and someone in the house ends up with a broken leg or temporarily confined to a wheelchair, or when you may need to care for a loved one in that situation inside your home. Universal Design helps you plan for every stage in your life – from younger ages to your golden years.

Universal Design in the Kitchen

In certain areas of your house, Universal Design can play a larger role in keeping your family safe and also enhance accessibility. Your kitchen is one of those areas (the bathroom is the other).

Here are 7 Universal Design features to consider for your kitchen:

Faucets & Hardware. Does the faucet on the sink and the hardware on your cabinetry meet the “closed fist” test? In other words, can a person work them with a closed fist? Often older family members have arthritis or other issues that make it difficult to grip. Offset single-lever faucets are ideal because they can be operated with one hand and do not require the person to reach behind the sink. Another option is an electronic touchless faucet that can be activated with the wave of a hand.

Flooring. Choose a flooring surface that is slip resistant and comfortable. When selecting tiles, in this instance, a smaller tile is better because it has less surface area (which minimizes slipping); or you can select a non-slip flooring like cork, which also provides some cushion – making it more comfortable to stand on. Also, there are products on the market that can be applied to tile or stone flooring that don’t take away from the appearance yet add a tread to prevent slippage.

Counters. Design kitchen countertops, including the island, at varying heights. This allows family members who may need to sit to easily prepare meals, and further allows young children to be “helpers” at your side. From an aesthetic perspective, the variety of height also gives the space depth. The counters should also be solid surface for clean-up ease.\

Clearance. You may want to give additional consideration for knee space at the sink, cooktop and meal prep areas for a seated option.

Storage. Select cabinetry where the items inside are reachable – such as pull-out draws for pots, pans and dishes, and pull-down shelves for overhead cabinetry that make it easier to find what you are looking for. Slide-out shelves, particularly under the sink, keep everything in its rightful place and minimize stooping/reaching to find cleaning supplies.

Lighting. As we get older, our eyesight starts to fail, so integrate plenty of overhead and under-cabinet lighting into your kitchen remodel and select on/off switches that pass the “closed fist” test. Additionally, if you can, try to include more natural light (windows or skylights). Studies have shown that natural lighting has profound positive psychological benefits, especially for family members who can’t get outside as easily as they’d like.

Appliances. A number of appliances on the market today fit the Universal Design criteria and look phenomenal. When comparing appliances, it is smart to choose ones that have front-mounted controls, to eliminate reach. Here are some other items to consider when picking out specific appliances.

• Microwaves – Drawer microwaves, as opposed to over-the-cooktop ones, are simply safer. It is much easier to slide something hot out of a microwave drawer than it is to lift it out from overhead. These are also convenient for younger family members who may be old enough to safely work the microwave but wouldn’t be tall enough to reach one that is higher up.
• Refrigerator – Side-by-side refrigerators/ freezers, particularly ones that have a gallon-sized storage shelf on the inside door, are ideal.
• Dishwasher – Consider a dishwasher drawer you can load from the top.
• Oven – Choose a wall oven that has a swinging door (similar to a refrigerator door) instead of one where the door hinges down to open.
• Cooktop – Pick a cooking surface that is flat, which makes it easy to slide heavier pots and pans. You may also consider choosing a magnetic induction cooking surface because it doesn’t activate until you place the special cookware on top of the burner. Not only does it greatly reduce the chance of burns, but it also cooks faster.

When contemplating remodeling your kitchen, think of these Universal Design features you can add that will keep your kitchen approachable, comfortable and durable for all family members.