Remodeling Services Blog

How to Design a Cottage Kitchen

2011-12-19T17:27:00.000-08:00

How to Design a Cottage Kitchen:
What makes cottage kitchens so charming? Is it the relaxed feel? The cozy sense of space? The invoked memories of cookies in the oven or a big pot of soup on the stove? Whatever it is, the cottage look never goes out of style, and it’s not as hard to achieve as you might think. Here are a few tips for getting the cottage kitchen look.

Go white.

Many, though certainly not all, cottage kitchens are built around white cabinets. White is traditional, looks fresh and clean, and gives you maximum flexibility for changing up accessories either seasonally or whenever the fancy strikes.

Details matter.

Plate racks, glass doors or open cabinets and shelves that show off bright dishes and heirloom treasures add color and a sense of history. Cabinets are often accented with corbels and crown molding, and hardware is more likely to be door pulls rather than knobs.

Gather around.

Even the tiniest cottage kitchens often have a breakfast nook or a couple of stools pulled up to an island or peninsula, because cottage style is all about welcoming friends and family.

Incorporate nature.

Because cottages are on the small side, cottage life often extends to the outdoors with patios and flower and vegetable gardens. Bring the outdoors in with fresh flowers, houseplants, dried herb bouquets or bowls of fruit.

Layer comfort.

Rag rugs or other floor coverings add color and warmth, as do curtains or Roman shades. Top chairs and barstools with cushions, and prop a pillow in the breakfast nook or windowseat.

That’s all it takes to start your cottage kitchen makeover! Leave a comment and let us know what you love about cottage style.

35 gifts for the home recommended by Consumer Reports

2011-12-19T17:11:00.001-08:00

35 Gifts for the home recommended by Consumer Reports

ADVICE ON PAINTING YOUR HOUSE

2011-09-23T06:53:00.001-07:00

Expert advice for painting your house http://ping.fm/1M0s9

Turning a Basement into an In-law Suite: Six Elements of Successful Conversions - Fine Homebuilding

2011-07-19T16:41:00.000-07:00

Converting a basement can be one of the most cost-effective ways to create an in-law unit. Correctly done, it is also one of the least expensive to heat and cool, because temperatures will be moderated, to a degree, by the basement's contact with the earth. The crux of a successful conversion is how un-basement-like you make it feel. In other words, it depends on how much sunlight, fresh air, comfort, and ceiling height you can get into the space. Below are six common conditions you may encounter when converting a basement into an in-law unit and what to do about each.

While you're on vacation, save on energy at home

2011-07-10T05:54:00.000-07:00

While you're on vacation, save on energy at home

Remodeling market shows signs of life

2011-05-16T12:30:00.001-07:00

Remodeling market shows signs of life

from Consumer Reports News by Consumer Reports News

Remember back in 2006, when you couldn't walk down the street without hearing the pounding of a hammer or the buzz of a saw? Remodeling activity, like the housing market, has taken its licks of late. That stands to reason, since real estate turnover is a major stimulus for home improvement. First, sellers make minor upgrades to improve a home's marketability, then buyers undergo major ones to make the home their own.
While the housing recovery is proving uneven at best, there are signs that remodeling activity is starting to heat up. The Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University predicts that remodeling will rebound in 2011 after a three-year downturn. The latest Remodeling Market Index by the National Association of Home Builders reached its highest level in four years. And the most recent Residential BuildFax Remodeling Index rose 20 percent year-over-year in February to 95.1, the highest February number in the index since 2006.
How is remodeling rebounding without a bump from existing home sales? As part of Consumer Reports annual kitchen remodeling package, which will be online and on newsstands in early June, we've been speaking with contractors and designers from around the country to get a sense of who's doing what and why they're doing it.
Pent-up demand is a big part of the equation. When appliances fail and cabinets start falling off walls, remodeling takes on a certain imperative. There's also a small, but growing sense of optimism among consumers about the housing market. “Many of my clients expect to sell again in the next five years,” says Beth Stribling, a kitchen designer in Fort Worth, Texas. “They know they’ll have to do the kitchen sooner or later, so they might as well do it now.”
Then there's the cohort of older homeowners who put off moving to a smaller home after their equity and retirement accounts were wiped out or severely diminished, by the financial crisis. They're having to stay settled without settling for less, according to Duo Dickinson, architect and author of the forthcoming book, Staying Put: Remodel Your House to Get the Home You Want (Taunton Press, 2011).

If you're gearing up for a remodel, for whatever reason, include Consumer Reports in your list of resources. Our online Ratings are updated continuously, so you won't miss out on the latest and greatest appliances, materials, and more. And we'll continue to report on the latest remodeling trends no matter which way they go.

2011-05-16T07:07:00.001-07:00

While you're on vacation, save on energy at home http://ping.fm/YDcmA

Kitchen Design- Applying Universal Design

2011-05-14T09:17:00.001-07:00

Kitchen Design--Applying Universal Design http://ping.fm/56xtM

High cost of going green

2011-05-14T08:58:00.001-07:00

The High Cost of Going Green - AARP The Magazine http://ping.fm/MGEFE

Do green cleaners really work?

2011-05-14T08:26:00.000-07:00

Facts: Some "green" cleaners, such as the Clorox Green Works line made from a component found in coconuts, do little more than help remove dirt. They don't disinfect — nor do they claim to — so they don't kill germs. But many other natural cleaners, both those you can make at home and those you can buy at the store, can disinfect as well as clean, says hygiene expert Donna Duberg, assistant professor of clinical laboratory science at Saint Louis University. And they do it without exposing you and your family to harsh chemicals found in commercial cleaning products that can irritate your skin, eyes and lungs.

Natural cleaners can disinfect as well as clean. — Rita Maas/Getty Images

For example, simple and inexpensive white vinegar is very effective at killing E. coli, salmonella and shigella bacteria, says Duberg. "It's good for nearly everything — from soaking the vegetables to washing the floors," she says. "Mix it with enough baking soda to make a paste and you'll get the scum out of your bathroom."

Karyn Siegel-Maier, author of The Naturally Clean Home, suggests making your own disinfectants by combining vinegar with essential oils such as rosemary, thyme or basil. In studies, basil oils have been shown to kill E. coli, listeria and salmonella bacteria. Siegel-Maier also recommends using tea tree oil, a natural mold killer. She cleans her kitchen with a homemade cleaner made from Castile soap, a little water and 15 or 20 drops of basil or rosemary oil. Seventh Generation's line of green cleaning products uses a thyme extract called thymol to disinfect.

Studies show that when it comes to killing germs, commercial disinfectants do pack more of a punch. But Duberg questions whether you need to bring such intense firepower to simply clean your counters, especially considering the potential side effects. Instead, she says, practice prevention. Clean regularly and you won't need industrial strength cleaners to cut through the grime, she says. And when you do spray your surfaces, let them stay wet for at least a minute before wiping them down. "Vinegar is almost 100 percent effective at killing germs if you leave it on for at least 60 seconds, and it leaves a nice shine," says Duberg.
Cynthia Ramnarace writes about families and health.

Remodeling Services Blog

How to Design a Cottage Kitchen

Go white.

Details matter.

Gather around.

Incorporate nature.

Layer comfort.

35 gifts for the home recommended by Consumer Reports

ADVICE ON PAINTING YOUR HOUSE

Turning a Basement into an In-law Suite: Six Elements of Successful Conversions - Fine Homebuilding

While you're on vacation, save on energy at home

Remodeling market shows signs of life

Remodeling market shows signs of life

Kitchen Design- Applying Universal Design

High cost of going green

Do green cleaners really work?

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