by Milcarsky's Staff | Feb 27, 2020 | Design, Uncategorized
Accessibility is important to any space. Whether you’re rehabbing an existing kitchen or building a home, incorporating features that will make life easier as you age is a good investment. Even little changes can make access in a wheelchair possible. Here are some kitchen design tips to consider when accommodating you or a loved one’s physical limitations.
Specialized Utensils
If you have limited finger dexterity or grip strength, investing in pans with helper handles opposite long handles can make it easier to stabilize a pot. Also keep an eye out for pans with silicone grips for comfort and ease. To avoid having to dig through a crowded drawer, invest in magnetized kitchen storage tools so handles are easy to get to.
Invest in Lighting
As we age, our ability to see is slowly reduced. Adding task lighting to your kitchen workspace can reduce the risk of injury when working with knives. To make task lighting even simpler, put these tools on a motion sensor so they come on exactly where you need them. You can also install task lighting that you can turn on via remote control. These tools will save the need to fuss with switches.
Clean and Clutter-Free
Many kitchens feature canisters and other tools that line the back wall of the countertop. However, if your mobility is limited, reaching these tools can be a challenge. To keep things organized, it may make more sense to put storage tools on a rolling rack in a lower cabinet. They would be out of sight until needed but easily accessible when the user is ready to start cooking. Improving storage access isn’t just for those with visible limitations. Studies estimate that over 11% of Americans suffer from chronic pain. Easy access to the necessary features of a kitchen would be a good investment in most any home design.
Bring Things to User Level
For users with limited strength or reach or those confined to a wheelchair, being able to bring tools to their working level is critical. Heavy duty pull-down dish racks and prep surfaces will give users of all heights a workable kitchen. Roll-out storage will also provide easy visibility for spices, tools and canned goods. This way, users can work in the kitchen on their own without having to ask for help all the time. This increases their independence.
Age, illness or injury can seriously impact our ability to function in the kitchen. It’s important to design your kitchen with accessibility in mind. By incorporating design features that allow for users of varying capacities to work in the space, you can design a kitchen that will please all cooks.
For quality appliances for your kitchen, let Milcarsky’s help you!
by Milcarsky's Staff | Dec 11, 2019 | How To's
If you love to entertain people in your house, you want to make sure that your home is equipped with the space and the tools you need to host parties. In addition to creating welcoming areas that are conducive to hosting large amounts of people, you want your house to sparkle and shine. Here are three ways that you can prepare your house for hosting parties.
Transforming Space
When hosting people at your home, you need to look at the various spaces in your house and harness the power of the biggest areas. Transforming the largest spaces in and around your home will give you the flexibility that you need to host friends and family with ease. Backyards are an obvious option because they generally have an abundance of room for tables and chairs. An outside grill gives the host a place to prepare food while still mingling with guests outside. A large family room can also be transformed into a party space by arranging the furniture in creative ways to facilitate conversation.
Kitchen Ready
As the natural gathering spot of any party, it is vital that you give your kitchen a little TLC when looking to entertain. There are a variety of ways that you can remodel your kitchen to make it more friendly to guests. For example, be sure to include a big bar area with stools so people can come and go and still have a place to sit when grabbing a drink or a bite to eat. When remodeling your kitchen it’s recommended to get multiple price quotes in order to ensure that you’re getting the best deal. Once your kitchen is perfect, be sure to stock it with a full bar and easy finger foods.
Focus on Important Rooms
When it comes to cleaning and sprucing up your house before an event, you should focus your efforts on the rooms where the guests will congregate. For example, you probably do not need to spend time deep cleaning your master bedroom. Instead, put your energy toward the kitchen, living areas and main floor bathroom. Do not neglect the entryway or coat closet when making everything look its best.
Inviting people into your home and making them feel as if they are a welcomed guest is easy if your house is ready to be the center of attention. It’s important to step outside your own comfort and ensure the people who visit your home will be comfortable as well. Creating inviting spaces and filling them with hospitality will go a long way toward hosting successful parties.
by Milcarsky's Staff | Dec 6, 2019 | How To's
New kitchen flooring can really change the overall look of your kitchen and home. Whether you’ve stuck with something more neutral or you made a leap to something modern, this is a wonderful investment. An updated kitchen can really increase the overall value of your home. Since you’ve spent the money to have something new installed, it’s important that you take care of this surface the right way. This will help protect your investment.
Good Installation
It’s important that you use a knowledgeable contractor to have your new flooring installed. According to Flooring America, proper installation is a key component in how durable and long-lasting a new floor is. If you have someone install your flooring so it has a lot of cracks or gaps, this can allow moisture to become trapped underneath the floor. This can also lead to some shifting over time that will cause the floor to buckle or crack. Always ask for references so you can check to see what other people thought about their final product.
Regular Maintenance
There is routine maintenance that will be needed for your floor over time. According to Carpet Rentals, Inc., different types of floors require different types of cleaning and other maintenance, so it’s important to get the right products to clean it so it won’t get damaged. However, floor maintenance doesn’t just include cleaning. There may be a stain, a chip or a change in the finish of your floor that needs to be addressed. It’s a good idea to have these things repaired or maintained as soon as you know there is a problem going on. If you see that an area is starting to shift in an unsightly way, see if the problem can be repaired now. If you let the problem get worse, this will only lead to bigger problems down the line that will be more expensive.
Use the Right Products
When you’re cleaning your new flooring, make sure that you use the right products to get the job done right. For example, you don’t want to use anything too harsh or wet on a hardwood floor. This could damage the finish or cause water to warp the wood. A wood floor benefits from a dry sweeping or mopping. Linoleum and tile are a bit more robust. They can be cleaned with products that were made for that specific surface.
If you’re spending the money on a new kitchen floor, it’s important that you understand how to properly take care of your floor material. You can talk to the contractor who is installing the product to find out how you should proceed with maintenance and care. After all, the floor in your kitchen is a highly traveled area. You want to keep it looking nice all the time.
A good kitchen should always have great appliances for cooking. Check out our selection of cooking ranges and stove tops!
by Milcarsky's Staff | Nov 29, 2019 | Outdoor Cooking
Creating an outdoor kitchen area can expand your overall living space and provide you with an amazing area for entertaining. The grill is the most vital part of any outdoor kitchen, so it makes sense to make the grill the focal point of the space. The good news is that there are simple things you can do to make sure that your outdoor kitchen design centers around your grill.
Organize Based on Use
An outdoor kitchen provides the ultimate open floor plan. That gives you the freedom to design an outdoor kitchen space that works best for you. Once you determine where to place your grill, think about where to store the various grilling tools and dishes you may need while cooking. The tools you use most frequently, such as a spatula, tongs and meat thermometer, should be placed as close to the grill as possible. This step will allow you to grab the tools you need while cooking easily. Items that are used less frequently, such as extra dishes and a grill brush, can be placed farther away from the grilling area.
Cabinet Space
Did you know knives are part of why restaurants charge so much for their steaks? This is because restaurants must continuously replace steak knives because they are constantly lost or thrown away. If you’re not careful, you could have this same problem with your outdoor kitchen tools, gadgets and dinnerware. To prevent this from happening, it’s vital that you include plenty of cabinets and storage space in your outdoor kitchen design. It’s also important to build your cabinets around your outdoor appliances, such as the outdoor refrigerator. This extra storage space will not only help you keep your outdoor space looking clean and tidy, but it will protect your appliances, tools and accessories from the elements.
Outdoor Lighting
There’s no reason to end your outdoor celebrations early just because the sun went down. Instead, you can spend even more time outside by installing the right outdoor lighting in your kitchen area. Make sure you have plenty of lighting in the dining area of your outdoor space. In addition, it’s important to install adequate lighting in the kitchen area, especially near the grill. The right lighting will allow the cook to grill well into the evening.
Remember to keep your focus on the grill when you’re creating an outdoor kitchen. Make sure everything else has its place and is stored properly to ensure that your grill truly becomes the center of attention. Creating the right outdoor space will not only extend your living area, but it can also increase the value of your home.
Looking for a new grill to complete your outdoor kitchen? Check out our great selection!
by Milcarsky's Staff | Nov 26, 2019 | Design
A great way to update your home and increase its value is by taking on a kitchen remodeling project. There are a number of areas of your kitchen that you can change fairly easily. Your kitchen cabinets may be one of the projects that aren’t exactly easy to swap out, but they are a big focal point. At one time, wood cabinets were the main choice for homeowners. Now, there are many other options that may be better for creating the look you’re going for.
Thermofoil
Many manufacturers are using thermofoil as a cabinet surface. This is a material that few people are familiar with — Camtech describes it as a thermoformable laminate made from PVC that can be manufactured in a variety of patterns and textures. It usually has a wood core. The quality of wood doesn’t typically matter, so fiberboard is the most commonly used. Thermofoil provides a very high-gloss sheen, working very well for a modern and vintage kitchens alike. If you crave a change of scenery later down the road, thermofoil can be painted over with little problem.
Laminate
This is a very popular material for many different areas of the home largely because of its affordability. A thin film of material is laid over an exterior surface of a cabinet. The interior of the cabinet is often made of wood or pressed wood. According to Empire Custom Kitchens & Countertops, laminate cabinet doors are easy to maintain and impact resistant. This material comes in a lot of different styles. It can even be made to look like wood. It’s much easier to maintain than other surfaces. Commonly used as a flooring option, this is the material that is used for floors that look like hardwood but are not. Laminated flooring is a lot easier to install and to take care of.
Melamine
Melamine is a plastic-like material that has been popular for many years. Melamine can be used to make dishes, cabinets, and toys. As a cabinet material, it provides a pretty robust surface that is incredibly easy to clean; you simply wipe it down periodically. Caustic chemicals shouldn’t be used because this can harm the finish of the cabinets. You could end up taking the final shine off of a product. Molly Maid recommends installing shelf liner to help keep your shelves pristine longer.
Before choosing the material for your kitchen cabinets, it’s important to think about the rest of the design that you have come up with. While laminate cupboards can be a beautiful option for a kitchen, they don’t always fit in with a style such as farmhouse décor. You want to make sure that you pick and pair everything together before you make your final installations. At that point, you can’t really affordably make changes.
Looking to refresh the look of your kitchen? A new kitchen needs new appliances. Shop our selection today!
by Milcarsky's Staff | Nov 8, 2019 | Design
Your kitchen is the busiest room in the house. If you love to cook, it also needs to be the most well-organized room in the house. Layout, features, and appliances all need to be considered when you’re planning a quality kitchen
Cabinets
Plan your cabinet layout and storage options to suit the primary cook. If you’re tall, add roll-out bins to the lower cabinets. If you’re short, consider adding pull-out bins that both extend out from the cabinet and drop to make it easy for you to see what’s inside. Reliable Iowa Construction points out that since cabinets are the most useful storage features in your home, it’s important to choose cabinets that are clean, sturdy, functional, and attractive. If your kitchen is open to the rest of the house, consider incorporating a few cabinets with glass fronts that you can use to display your most beautiful dishes.
Countertops
Your countertop surface can help or hinder your progress as a cook. Consider investing in surfaces with a high tolerance for heat and a great seal against stains. According to The Countertop Place, there are synthetic quartz countertops that tolerate heat, resist stains and can be custom-molded to suit your island or peninsula. Recent design trends are toward more muted colors on kitchen countertops. Custom quartz countertops offer excellent durability in muted colors and patterns.
Flooring
When you shop for flooring, look for something with some spring to it. You’ll be on your feet a lot in your kitchen, and your body will thank you for a floor that gives a bit. In addition, anything you drop has a better chance of surviving if it lands on vinyl or cork than if it lands on porcelain tile. Also, consider your family’s needs. If your children are small, a durable vinyl floor will tolerate drips, spills, walkers, Big Wheel trikes and other aspects of living with children. This flooring can also be easily replaced. When your kids are older, invest in your dream floor. According to Floor Critics, cork is very forgiving as a standing surface but is at risk of dents or puncture damage. It will also need to be sealed at regular intervals. Engineered hardwoods often look terrific, but they can be hard on your budget.
Your kitchen will likely see a lot of use, and your family’s needs may change over time. Plan with an eye toward updating items, such as appliances, as your household’s needs change. Each update can get you another step closer to your dream kitchen.
Create your dream kitchen by updating your appliances. Shop our Ranges & Cooktops today!
