by Diane Plesset | Archive, Additions and New Homes, Appliances and Plumbing, Bathrooms and Kitchens, Building and Remodeling Plans |
Buying Appliances Can Be Fun
Homework? That word conjures up old anxiety for many of us. Math assignments, no one to help. All-night cramming for a chemisty test. The homework required for buying appliances is a totally different thing. I’ve broken down selecting and buying appliances into simple steps that will reduce or eliminate the anxiety for you, assuming that you haven’t hired a kitchen designer or a contractor yet. Here’s a list of steps to help you:
- Discuss appliances with your family and decide what appliances are needed and wanted (see information below).
- Find some alternatives on manufacturers’ websites; a complete list of appliance manufacturers and links is on the Wikipedia site.
- Create a “wish list” of appliances. Most sites will show the suggested retail price. This will help you establish a realistic budget.
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by Diane Plesset | Archive, Accessibility, Function, Safety, Sustainability, Technology, Additions and New Homes, Appliances and Plumbing, Bathrooms and Kitchens, Building and Remodeling Plans, Cabinets, Colors and Decorating, Countertops, Flooring, Lighting and Electrical, Tile |
Your Kitchen Style Must Complement Your Home and You
Whether your home is traditional, transitional, Craftsman, contemporary, or some other style, your kitchen must have 
architectural integrity with your home. Why? Because your kitchen is the heart of your home, it needs to blend with and complement the surrounding rooms. You may like many different styles, but you chose the style of your home because it represents and fulfills you. With emphasis on ROI, it makes sense to have your kitchen style be consistent with your home, so you can sell it faster and for a higher price. Can you imagine how out of place the kitchen project featured in this tip would be in a traditional home — or as out of place as a cat at the Westminster Dog Show!
Generally speaking, the cabinets, countertops, backsplashes, and flooring determine your kitchen style. Accent lighting can also be a visual cue. Here are some characteristics of different architectural styles, and features that will help your kitchen style blend with your home, with links to show examples: (more…)
by Diane Plesset | Archive, Accessibility, Function, Safety, Sustainability, Technology, Additions and New Homes, Bathrooms and Kitchens, Building and Remodeling Plans, Lighting and Electrical |
Accessible Bathrooms Should Whisper “I’m Here To Help You In Every Way Possible”
The major purpose for creating accessible bathrooms is to help people perform daily health and personal-care needs without minimizing their personal value. What’s the 
important feature in a great accessible bathroom? Humanity! There are required features, of course, but they don’t have to be a reminder that the person who needs them is in-valid. Quality of life, and personal esteem are too often the lowest-priority features. Other terms used synonomously are barrier-free design, aging-in-place design, and lifetime livability.
Here are features that accessible bathrooms should have:
- Doors:
- 32″ wide, minimum. There are offset hinges to make the net opening of 32″ wide doorways more accessible.
- Pocket doors are good, but have limitations regarding location, and pulls may be hard to grip.
- 36″ wide doorways are better.
- Easy-to-grip lever handles.
- Wheelchairs and walkers:
- 5′ turning radius (without a lot of “back and forth” maneuvering).
- Floors:
- Same level on both sides of a doorway.
- Slip-resistant hard surface that will allow wheelchairs and walkers to glide effortlessly.
- No area rugs. (more…)
by Diane Plesset | Archive, Additions and New Homes, Bathrooms and Kitchens, Building and Remodeling Plans, Remodeling Budget |
A Remodeling Budget Can Be Hard To Determine
Your remodeling budget will allow you to do everything you want, or it will limit you and require you to make serious tradeoffs. Every remodeling project is different, although there may be similarities. If you’ve never remodeled a home before, you may feel overwhelmed and fearful of making expensive mistakes. Here are some tips to help you get from where you are now to understanding and setting a realistic remodeling budget. (more…)
by Diane Plesset | Archive, Accessibility, Function, Safety, Sustainability, Technology, Appliances and Plumbing, Bathrooms and Kitchens, Building and Remodeling Plans |
Do You Want Multiple Microwave Ovens In Your Kitchen?
Most of us have a microwave oven that we use regularly. Why would multiple microwave ovens help the function of our kitchen? If you’re planning to remodel your kitchen, this article may help you think about and plan for an additional microwave.
The History of Microwave Ovens
Microwave ovens have been a popular convenience in residential kitchens since Amana started selling them in 1967. Homeowners liked the ability to quickly thaw frozen food and bring liquids to a boil faster than a tea kettle (more…)
by Diane Plesset | Archive, Accessibility, Function, Safety, Sustainability, Technology, Bathrooms and Kitchens, Building and Remodeling Plans, Contractors |
Remodeled Angular Kitchen Was A Big Challenge! 
The remodeled angular kitchen functions and looks great, but the original kitchen looked and felt like an after-thought. The function was impaired by multiple 45- and 90-degree angles. Homeowners wanted their remodeled angular kitchen to work for them daily, and provide a functional area for multiple chefs and servers when they entertained. Their kitchen wish list included the following features: (more…)
