Kitchen Appliances Buying Guide : How to Choose the Right KitchenAppliances

Your kitchen appliances in your home make up the one of the largest investments for your pocket, as well as your time, which equates to functionality for your lifestyle in the kitchen. Buying kitchen appliances can be a daunting task when you look at all of the options, from energy saving, to high end designer models, to low cost models, how do you choose? Here are tips to guide your through the buying process and to help you feel informed and confident with your kitchen appliance buying decisions.




Refrigerators: With any appliance, before you get enamored with all the whistles and bells of how beautiful it looks and all of the gadgets assess your lifestyle. With refrigerators consider how many times you and your family cook and eat from home. For larger families, larger capacity units will be necessary, as well as the ability for longer preservation of food. Higher end models that offer dual refrigeration, on-door controls, and energy efficiency may be more important for your families needs. While singles or those who don’t cook a lot may prefer a snazzy stainless steel or built-in model that looks fantastic, but doesn’t need all of the accompaniments. Also consider if your home would need separate wine refrigeration storage, or possibly refrigerated drawers for easy

• Ovens/Stoves: When considering an oven and stove, think about how you typically cook and if you’re a novice or an experienced cook. The oven or stove you choose can have a great impact on how you cook and whether the energy you use to heat them is worthwhile. Convection over conventional ovens tends to use more energy but for expert cooks they enjoy the even distribution over heat and can usually cook their food faster and with more control. For those interested in buying a stove or cooktop, there are several options: induction, gas or electric all have their pros and cons. Most beginning cooks appreciate electric for its slow heat up, while experienced cooks prefer induction and ultimately gas stoves for its fast heat up and ability to cook under precise conditions.

• Ventilation system: One area of your kitchen that is forgotten when considering appliances is the ventilation system. Range hoods overhead, or down draft systems that are integral into the countertop or cooktop are great for unobstructed overhead views. Depending on the size of your stove/cooktop and if you have an integral grill, griddle, burners, and other heating elements may increase the need for higher ventilation systems overhead. Research your favored appliance manufacturer too see what type of ventilation system is recommended for your kitchen.

• Dishwasher: Similarly to your refrigerator, your family’s lifestyle will largely dictate what type of dishwasher will be ideal for your home. Lower end models tend to have simplified controls, while more elaborate ones will have energy efficiency qualities, hidden controls, and noise reduction qualities – especially helpful in small homes or open floor plans. Dishwasher drawers are also available for smaller amounts of dishware and can save water usage when you don’t have large loads to clean.

Choosing kitchen appliances for your home should be a rewarding experience but also fulfill your lifestyle and aesthetics of your kitchen. Use this helpful buying guide before you venture out to choose appliances. Also measure out the clear opening width and height of your space for the new appliances. There is nothing worse than investing on new appliances, for them not to fit in your kitchen!

Functional Kitchen Before and After By Candice Olson

When a celebrity stylist needed help making over his kitchen, he called Candice Olson. The divine designer transformed his space from 1980s and old to glamorous and now.

• By : Candice Olson

Before: Outdated and Cold

This outdated kitchen doesn't exactly say "stylist to the stars."

After: Fashionable and Functional

Enter Candice Olson who created a new kitchen that is both traditional and hip. Divine details include travertine floors, a quartz-topped island, crystal chandeliers and a stunning, silver-foil wallpaper.

2014 Kitchen Window Treatments Ideas

By : Sarah Egge 

 In a room as functional as a kitchen, which is packed with metal appliances and wood cabinets, window treatments might be the only source of softness and embellishment in the entire space. Here are the four things you need to consider when choosing kitchen window treatments.

Window treatments bring the pretty. In spaces outside the work core, such as breakfast nooks, none are better at this task than floor-length curtain panels, which offer big doses of color and pattern when they flank a large bay window or set of sliding doors. On a smaller scale, a swag of floral chintz draped over a single window can also make a bright statement. Roman and roller shades reveal texture and pattern when they are lowered, and stationary valances and cornices are like accent marks over windows you want to draw attention to. For the most decorative effect, choose fabrics that have eye-catching hues and designs, and have fun with trims, tassels, fringe, or bold banding to give the treatment a finished look.

You might be tempted to forgo window treatments in your kitchen until you realize the neighbors can see straight into your breakfast nook. When you?re reading the Sunday paper wearing your favorite fluffy robe, this might be a problem. For temporary privacy issues, which occur only when you?re feeling shy in your PJs, consider quick-draw curtains, or blinds and shutters, which close at the tilt of a wand. For consistent privacy needs, look for screening materials that let you see out and allow some daylight to pass yet block views in; try cellular shades and roller shades made from translucent or woven materials, or try sheer fabric curtain panels. However, perform a quick check before choosing: Turn on the lights in the kitchen one night, then run across the street and see what you can see through the windows with the blinds or curtains drawn.

Get inspired by this 2014 Kitchen Window Treatments Ideas from BHG . I hope that you will like and find it useful for you ... Enjoy it !!

New Kitchen Cabinet Knobs, Handles and Pulls 2014 Style

Add instant style to your kitchen cabinets with new 2014 knobs, pulls and handles.

Updating cabinet hardware is an easy way to change the overall appearance of your kitchen without investing a lot of money or time. Plus, there is a wide range of stores and online resources for finding the perfect pulls, knobs and handles to match your style. Kitchen design by Beth Haley

Dark walnut cabinetry, paired with thin bar-style door and drawer pulls, builds a modern foundation for this kitchen. Materials such as stainless steel, custom glass backsplashes and granite further the modern aesthetic while remaining elegant. Butter yellow hand-tipped leather stools add the perfect accent to the restrained color palette. Design by Gregory Augustine

Contemporary hardware in a brushed-nickel finish blends seamlessly with the gray-colored cabinets and counter, as well as the stainless steel appliances, for a soothing, unified look in this galley kitchen. Design by Nicole Sassaman

Simple round black knobs complement the black in the countertops and allow the unusual wainscoting and embossed tin backsplash to grab the spotlight in this country kitchen. Design by Sue Adams

The hammered effect on these traditionally styled Arts and Crafts knobs and pulls adds to the rustic look of the hand-hewn cabinets.

In the HGTV Dream Home 2011 kitchen, small square cabinet door knobs offer a subtle but elegant contrast to the stacked rectangular Carrera marble tile on the backsplash. Design by Linda Woodrum

Similar, subtle accent notes are made with the small button-like knobs and drawer pulls in this transitionally styled kitchen. Instead, the decorative flourishes in the granite countertops and backsplash with stainless steel tile insets add drama to the space. Design by Christopher J. Grubb; photography by Jeromy Robert

Don't be afraid to mix and match hardware styles. The hand-painted archway, the cobalt blue and accent countertop tiles, and the decorative ceramic knobs all come together to give this kitchen an authentic Mexican feel. Stainless steel contemporary-styled handles and drawer pulls make an appearance, picking up the finish on the stove hood, stovetop and light fixtures in the adjacent dining room. Design by Erica Islas

A custom copper sink and faucet are showstopping additions to this formal kitchen. The ornate cabinet hardware and elegant chandeliers further the regal feel of the space. Design by Dave Stimmel

Kitchen cabinet pulls, knobs and handles can be found in a wide range of styles, from traditional to modern to down-right funky. The colorful cabinetry paired with contemporary hardware provides visual delight in this artistic-styled kitchen. Design by Lou Ann Bauer

2014 Easy Tips for Small Kitchen Decorating Ideas

Use these tips and ideas to create a small kitchen with big style. You'll love these ideas to try in 2014! I hope you find these ideas useful and inspiring to you .... Enjoy it !!!!

By : Kelly Eagle

Showstopping Backsplash : This otherwise-subdued kitchen goes glam with stainless steel tile behind the range. In a small space, even a tiny portion of showstopping backsplash tile adds drama and personality.

Display Collections : Make use of the space between cabinets in front of a window by adding simple shelves and displaying a collection. Plus, the light coming in the window will make any collection look beautiful.

Add Accessories : Like any good outfit, a kitchen needs accessories. The wall at the end of this galley kitchen mixes hanging art with leaning frames and pretty dishware. Below, a bright red stool adds a fun pop of color.

Showcase Color : In a one wall kitchen, open upper cabinets help the room feel spacious and allow space for displaying colorful dishware, potted herbs, and accessories. Closed cabinets below are perfect for storing items you don't want on display.

Cover Walls with Color : Give walls in a basic kitchen a cheery coat of a color. In this clean-lined white kitchen, kiwi-green walls add modern flair and inspire the rest of the decor.

Choose Bold Textiles : A bold Roman shade sets the tone for this all white kitchen. Playing off the window covering, red, orange, and yellow accessories spice up the rest of the room.

Paint an Accent Wall : Add pizzazz without pressure by painting one wall in your kitchen in a bold accent color. The terra-cotta-orange accent wall spices up the otherwise subdued kitchen.

Maximize Every Inch : There isn't an inch of unused space in this kitchen. At the end of a run of cabinets, a recessed bookcase was added and is a drop point for mail, magazines, and miscellaneous papers; below is a small house for the cat.

Choose Art with Personality : Step outside the standards of kitchen art and choose unique pieces that showcase your personality. Vintage signs, classic advertisements, and art intended for other rooms of the house often look right at home in the kitchen.

Go Beyond Removing Doors : Instead of just removing cabinet doors and displaying dishes, outfit the now-open storage with textured baskets, bins, and pretty glass storage containers. The baskets add texture and color, while the glass storage containers keep what you need neatly on display.

Make the Most of Wall Space : The combination of metal shelving and a magnetic board corrals spices, tea, mugs, pictures, and recipes all in one easy-to-reach place.

Interesting Texture : In a classic kitchen with cherry cabinets, the marble countertops, gray linen roman shade, and raw-wood shelves all add interesting textures to the room. This small amount of juxtaposition with the traditional cabinets creates great contrast.

Play Up Pattern in Tile : In an otherwise standard white kitchen, the patterned backsplash tile adds personality and much-needed movement in the room. A classic black-and-white color scheme can be easily accented by different colors as styles change.

Choose Colorful Stools : The simple lines of these stools get an extra dose of style with turquoise paint. Now the stools are a focal point in the kitchen and are the perfect starting point for the rest of the decor.

Wall Decals : Whip up some whimsy in your kitchen by adding fun wall decals and colorful artwork. Decals can be swapped out at any time to make changing the look of your kitchen quick and easy.

2014 Colorful Kitchen Backsplashes Ideas

Kitchen backsplashes no longer simply protect walls from spills and splatters, a wide array of eye catching materials like glass, wood, metals and stone make the backsplash the focal point of today's kitchens.

You'll love these ideas to try in 2014! I hope you find these ideas useful and inspiring to you .... Enjoy it !!!!

From traditional tile to trendy glass and shiny metal to rustic wood there is seemingly no end of choices for kitchen backsplashes today.Tile is still the most popular backsplash material, with natural stone a fast growing second.

The glass in this blacksplash was chosen to complement art glass pieces in the homeowners' collection. To achieve the look, large sheets of glass were cut into tiles and laid individually.The challenge in working with glass is getting the best colors and control.

Handmade Tile : One of a kind backsplash mosaics can be made of ceramic tile as well. Mosaic artist Vicki Morrow of Tile Art Mosaics in Scottsdale, Arizona, designed and fabricated this backsplash for clients who collect southwestern art.

Copper Tile : Ceramic tiles covered in a thin coating of copper comprise this backsplash by Tami Holsten of Bear Trap Design. Although there is a protective coating on top, says Holsten, "Copper is a living material, so it will naturally patina over time. In my opinion, that just makes it more beautiful." When cleaning copper, she recommends using a pH-balanced cleanser as anything acidic will damage the finish.

Ceramic + Glass Tile : Can't decide between ceramic and glass? This 'Island Star Mosaic' from Porcelanosa's Victorian Collection is a combination of matte porcelain and iridescent glass, which creates subtle changes when it reflects light.

Limestone + Glass Tile : In this kitchen, the mix of materials was created not by a tile manufacturer, but by the designer. Brigitte Fabri, CMKBD, of Drury Designs, wanted to create a "castle wall" effect in this kitchen, without detracting from the room's focal point  the copper hood. For most of the backsplash, she chose a large scale 12x24 'Crema Marfil' limestone because the larger the tile, the fewer distracting grout lines, she explains. And behind the range, she used a honed glass tile called 'Malaga Cove Wings' by Stone & Pewter. To add the illusion of greater height to the 8-foot ceilings, Fabri brought the tile down as close to the range as she could and elongated the niche area all the way up to the hood itself.

Tumbled Stone + Glass Tile : Another gorgeous mixed-media backsplash: Here, glass is mixed with today's popular natural stone. To ensure that this kitchen by Remodelworks looked distinctive, the client installed glass tile behind the range to accent the 4x4 tumbled stone tile that makes up most of the backsplash. Then, interior designer Dixie Lovejoy came up with the idea of turning the tile vertically, so that it looks like a waterfall or rising steam.

Stone: River Rock : Although the most common use of these river rock pebbles is actually shower floors, photo stylist Chris Walker and her husband came up with the idea of using them as a kitchen backsplash. They asked their kitchen designer John Petrie, CMKBD, president elect of the National Kitchen and Bath Association, to install it on the walls. "The one of a kind, free flowing edges of the pebbles not only mimic the flow of soft teal veins in the dark green soapstone countertops," says Walker, "but also balance the vertical lines of the Shaker-style cabinet doors." Lesson learned: when you're shopping for backsplash materials, ask the vendor to show you floor tiles, as well. While not every product will adapt well to vertical application, you may hit upon an unusual and easily implemented idea.

Stone: Quartzite Sandstone : This textured, rustic backsplash makes it look as if this kitchen by Hamilton-Gray Design is fully constructed of stone. But, in fact, the quartzite material actually comes in pieces that are applied just like tile, making it a viable choice even in a home with plaster or sheetrock walls.

Stone: Marble Checkerboard : If you don't find marble tiles in the exact sizes and shapes you want for a backsplash, marble can be custom cut. To bring in some of the lush green landscape beyond the large windows of this home, designer Eileen Kollias, CKD, cut green and white 12-inch marble tiles into 6x6 squares with chamfered edges. The tiles are laid in a harlequin pattern than brings a bit of whimsy into this elegant home, and serves as a dramatic backdrop for prized pieces such as the homeowner's antique coffee grinder/coffee storage cabinet.

Pattern: Brickwork : Familiar as it is, a brickwork tile scheme can look fresh  if the tile itself is eye catching. The kitchen pros at Drury Designs chose this brown subway tile to add contrast to an all white kitchen and to make the space appear larger, because the glass tile reflects light. Running the tile all the way up the wall also adds dimension to the space by drawing the eye upwards.

Unusual Materials: Repurposed Plywood : If you don't want to harvest new wood for your backsplash project, you can take your cue from Karen Swanson of New England Design Works, who had her contractor rip sheets of found plywood into 6-inch wide planks, and install them 3/8" apart on the walls of this kitchen. This resourceful backsplash a modern interpretation of shiplap paneling, Swanson explains is painted with Benjamin Moore Satin Impervo paint, which makes it stand up well in a kitchen. "Painted plywood is not as 'bullet proof' as some other backsplash choices one could make," Swanson concedes. "I would suggest wiping up spills quickly and not allowing standing water next to this but then again, I also suggest that with a tile and grouted backsplash."

Unusual Materials: Chalkboard Paint : If you think all work and no play can make a backsplash dull, there are plenty of ways to bring a light touch into a hardworking kitchen. Here, designer Susan Fredman painted the backsplash with chalkboard paint, which the homeowners can use to keep a recipe handy, write family reminders, or just doodle. The best part? When they want to change the message or clean things up they just wipe the chalkboard clean.