by Milcarsky's Staff | Sep 20, 2019 | How To's
When it’s time to update your kitchen flooring, it’s a good idea to consider your future in your current home. Are you planning to sell in a few years, or will you continue to live in the place? Do you have children now, or do you plan to start a family? The answers to these questions will help determine how you should handle your kitchen. Your kitchen is a hard-working room, so your flooring choices will need to be both practical and durable.
Vinyl
Sheet vinyl is a great choice for kitchen flooring. Sheet vinyl is now available in a wide variety of patterns and tones, including stylish wood tones and patterns. Spills are easy to clean up, and a quality sheet vinyl product will tolerate children and pets. Best of all, sheet vinyl products are often built with a bit of a cushion, so dropped items may survive the fall. Replacing a sheet vinyl floor can be done quickly, so you can upgrade this product if it becomes damaged or worn.
Laminate
Click-together laminate flooring is a great choice for kitchens as well. If you have an area that’s prone to stay wet, such as because of a dog watering dish or a plant stand, you’ll need to put a rubberized mat under the water dish to avoid water seeping under the laminate sections. However, the layered construction is designed to tolerate a great deal of traffic. This construction style gives this flooring product a great deal of spring and bounce, so if you like to go barefoot, this may be the floor for you. Laminate flooring is quite durable and is resistant to scratches, stains, surface burns, and fading, in addition to being easy to clean.
Marble and Tile
Solid-surface products such as marble and tile are an ideal choice for kitchens that need to stand the test of time. Designers are using marble to great effect in many homes. You will need to make sure that your floor is extremely level if you are installing large tiles or pieces of marble. It should also be noted that this is a very hard surface, and some people, especially the elderly, may have trouble standing on it for long stretches of time. Stain-resistant grout makes keeping these floors looking great a snap.
Your kitchen floor will need to take a lot of wear, tear, and spills. By investing in a flooring product that serves you and your family’s needs, you can make your life easier. Sheet vinyl is a great option for growing families whereas laminate or tile can be a great choice for singles and empty-nesters. Choose the flooring that is right for your family and lifestyle.
One of the most important parts of upgrading a kitchen is choosing new appliances. If you’re on a hunt to find the finest appliances, look no further than Milcarsky’s Appliance Center!
by Milcarsky's Staff | Aug 30, 2019 | How To's
Rethinking how you use your kitchen will allow you to leave a smaller carbon footprint. Unfortunately, many people who want to have a more environmentally-friendly kitchen don’t know where to start this process. If you count yourself among those who could use a little coaching in this area, you’ll appreciate the following three tips.
Choose Energy-Efficient Appliances
The kind of appliances you select makes a big impact on how much energy you use in the kitchen. You should consider investing in appliances that are energy-efficient, but you should also do more than that. For example, if you have a stew to prepare, don’t cook it on the stovetop. Instead, pull out the slow cooker and do it in there. It requires less energy than the stove does, and the clean-up could be easier as well.
When you’re considering appliances for your kitchen, look not only at your big appliances but also the secondary items like the toaster. Careful selection of these items could save a lot of energy.
Composting
Composting has a number of significant benefits. If you plant a garden and add your own compost to the ground, the soil will be much richer in nutrients. Less of your garbage will go into landfills. In light of these benefits, it’s worth it to set up a composting system.
If you’re not yet composting, your garbage disposal offers you an alternative for getting rid of food waste. However, that doesn’t mean everything should go in there. SouthGate Companies says that non-food items such as bones and popcorn kernels shouldn’t be put through the disposal. This causes a lot of wear and tear on the system, which makes it break down sooner.
Embrace Reusables
Richly Rooted advises that employing reusable containers</a> means that you won’t automatically turn to throw-away sandwich bags and the like. However, there’s more to it than that. If you use items like beans and rice, buy them in bulk and store them in glass jars or metal containers. This saves you from having to continually bring small, disposable bags of these items home. Those bags create excess waste that eventually ends up in a landfill. To prevent even more waste, you can also wash and reuse sponges and invest in a lunchbox and thermos.
Making your kitchen more environmentally friendly takes some forethought. It also takes some investment. Good energy-efficient appliances make a big difference when your utility bill comes each month. Additionally, composting and employing reusable items can save you money while helping keep your waste to a minimum.
by Milcarsky's Staff | Aug 28, 2019 | How To's
Smart home gadgets are increasing in popularity, ease of use and quickness of setup. What many people may not initially realize is that smart home gadgets are not just for indoor use anymore. While indoor gadgets like thermostats are still a great idea, your outdoor areas can now become an important part of your smart home. From security devices to keep you and your family safe to gadgets that can help you maximize your space and fun, outdoor gadgets are a smart investment.
Sprinkler Controller
If you have or are considering an irrigation system for your lawn, a smart sprinkler is a clear choice. Just like smart thermostats can give you precise control of your HVAC system from anywhere, so a smart sprinkler system will provide for your irrigation controls. Gone are the days of your sprinklers spraying water while mother nature also rains down. App control, auto-scheduling and up-to-the-minute weather alerts will give you full control of your system, saving you time and money, according to Skydrop. Additionally, some smart sprinklers can be advanced enough to give you water metrics, root depth on your grass, predictive analysis and more.
Porch Camera
According to Safety.com, outdoor cameras are built to withstand the elements and permit you to communicate with people at your door. Whether an overhead angle smart cam or a smart doorbell cam, these devices can help enhance your home security in a big way. Many smart cameras and doorbells will allow you to get real-time visuals on your porch and front door area and even allow you to talk with someone on the outside, regardless of where you happen to be. Additionally, these cameras can usually be hooked up to some type of digital storage, allowing you to view or review footage in the case of a problem or accident. It’s even possible that installing security features such as a smart camera system could reduce your home insurance rates.
Smart Grill
Digital appliances are a hot commodity for cooking inside your home, and now they can also be found outside with smart grills. Now your phone joins tongs as an essential grilling tool, as you can fire up your app to help you cook and barbecue perfect. Available in a wide variety of grills and smokers for a range of price points, the smart grill can revolutionize your backyard cookouts. With abilities such as remote starting, alerts to flip or remove your food, heat control and remote monitoring, you are now able to more freely move about instead of being tied down as you flip those dogs and burgers. Smart grilling can make the whole process of an outdoor cookout easier and safer.
Smart Lock
Standard doorknob and deadbolt locks have been a standby for home security seemingly forever. However, even these long-time technologies can be upgraded to become a part of your smart home using smart locks. The smart lock replaces your old deadbolt with a digital version that opens and closes the bolt via an app. No more needing to hide a key for strangers or thieves to find, and you can even open the lock remotely to let people in, such as kids, housekeepers or dog-sitters, according to ZWave. Combine with a home cam system as mentioned above to have complete front door security and peace of mind.
Smart Bulb
This smart feature can be both indoor- or outdoor-capable. When using these advanced lights outdoors, make sure that your smart bulb is rated for outdoor use. Smart bulbs are simply a Wi-Fi-capable light bulb that you can connect to your smart home setup. Plug it into the socket and it will give you the ability to control the bulb through a handy app. Features such as scheduling, dimming without needing dimmer switches, remote access and turn on, color changing and even the ability to function as a speaker and use voice controls are all options, depending on the bulb.
As technology marches ever onward, it helps to be up to date on the latest and greatest home innovations. Whether you need security upgrades or just want to make a space easier to use, smart gadgets can get the job done for you. Just remember to follow proper Wi-Fi and internet security protocols with your gadgets and you will be all set towards some major upgrades to your exterior environment.
by Milcarsky's Staff | Jul 30, 2019 | Appliances
For many families, the kitchen is the heart of their home. It’s where food is cooked and enjoyed and where family and friends hang out. But the unfortunate fact remains that the kitchen is also one of the most dangerous places in the house. Here are three common kitchen hazards:
Sharp Objects
The number of sharp objects found in the kitchen seems endless.They include not only knives; forks; and kitchen shears; but also mandolines; pantry cutters; pizza wheels; the blades of blenders, garbage disposals, and food processors; skewers; and those corn-shaped picks that hold corn on the cob. The shards of dropped plates and glasses are a serious danger to bare feet. A lid from a freshly opened can could deliver a nasty cut. Even the edges of a counter can be sharp.
Mitigate the risk of injury by putting sharp things back in their place when they’re not in use and never letting younger children handle them without supervision. Children and adults should know the proper way to handle sharp objects, according to Plan to Eat. You should also make sure that broken glass or ceramics should be swept up and never handled.
Hot Surfaces
Injuries caused by heat aren’t just limited to putting a hand on a hot stove burner, a hot oven grill or a hot pot or pan. Grease fires can shoot up in an instant. In some homes, the water that comes from the hot water faucet can cause injuries. According to GBW.Law, coffee makers contain scalding hot liquids that can result in life-altering injuries if spilled.
To lower the risk of injuries caused by heat, turn the handles of pots and pans inward so they aren’t bumped into or grabbed by curious children. If a pot or pan comes out of the oven, leave a dish towel on the handle or the lid to indicate that it’s hot. Don’t allow anything flammable near a heat source.
Hazardous Materials
Some cleansers kept in the kitchen are especially dangerous because they smell good to children and pets. One way to lower the risk of hazardous materials according to My Rolling Hills Farm is to keep them in a separate cabinet away from any food or cooking equipment and to put a lock on the cabinet doors where they’re kept. They must always be kept in their original container or in a container that’s clearly marked.
The kitchen can be a scary place, but it shouldn’t be. Things that cut and slice, poison, and burn are everywhere. But a few simple precautions can make sure the kitchen remains the warm and welcoming place it was meant to be.
A great part of an inviting kitchen is new appliances. Check out our selection of cooking appliances today!
The Milcarsky's Appliance Centre' team wants to help answer any questions you may have. We'd also like to let you know when we publish a new blog post or have some great news to share.
by Milcarsky's Staff | Jul 19, 2019 | How To's
When should you renovate your home? The fact is, most remodeling projects and the costs associated with them tend to be seasonal. Here’s the best time of the year to invest in materials to save money on design projects.
Spring: Outdoor Kitchen
Springtime is ripe with deals for outdoor kitchen remodels. As you gear up for backyard BBQs, consider equipping your outdoor space with the essentials to make al fresco dining more enjoyable. Keep in mind that the idea is to bring the entire dining experience outside. Accordingly, an outdoor kitchen should have all the conveniences of its indoor companion, including a stove and a refrigerator. Milcarsky’s Appliance Centre’ offers everything you need to design a fully functional outdoor kitchen. Prices for these luxury appliances start around $1,500 but the cost will depend heavily on the item and the number of pieces.
Summer: Bathroom
Take advantage of the bright sun and long daylight hours. In the summer, you can open the windows for ventilation and get more work done in natural light. On average, it costs between $1,250 and $3,500 to remodel a small bathroom. Look for deals for projects you can complete in less than a day or weekend. Simple projects like painting, replacing fixtures, and installing a new door cost significantly less while improving the look and feel of the space. If you are looking to change up the feel of your bathroom, changing your shower enclosure can provide a new aesthetic.
Fall: Indoor Kitchen
Cooking holiday meals can be downright chaotic if you have limited space, subpar appliances, or cabinet doors falling off the hinges. Fortunately, you will find fairly inexpensive kitchen furniture, cabinetry, and appliances when the leaves start to change colors. According to Fixr, most kitchen remodels run between $75 to $250 per square foot. You can cut these costs by taking an assessment of the space to determine what needs an immediate upgrade. The last thing you need is for appliances to malfunction in the middle of preparing your signature dish.
Winter: Laundry Room
Often laundry rooms come as an afterthought in home design. For this reason, they may lack the brightness and organizational space found in other rooms. Mills Custom Homes says that adding shelves, paint, or wallpaper can breathe fresh life into a laundry room, giving it character and additional utility for under $500. You can also change up your laundry sink if you are looking to improve the utility of your laundry room. If you tackle laundry room renovation in the winter, you’ll be ready in time for spring cleaning. Avoid sticker shock and plan ahead. Otherwise you may put off renovations, which could lead to costly repairs.
by Milcarsky's Staff | Jun 29, 2019 | How To's
Many homeowners would like to upgrade their kitchens but believe they do not possess the funds necessary to do so. However, the kitchen you envision for your home won’t necessarily require a second mortgage on that home. The following ideas will allow you to update your kitchen without causing yourself financial strain.
Refinish the Walls
Sometimes all that is required to make your kitchen look brand-new and beautiful is a fresh coat of paint. You will need to scrub the walls of your kitchen to make sure all grease and food particles have been removed before trying to add paint to the surface. It would probably also be a good idea to do a little sanding before applying the primer. Don’t forget to tape around the perimeter of the area you wish to paint. In this case, you don’t want to color outside the lines.
Replace Your Countertops
If your kitchen countertops no longer match your vision for the space, they’ve become a problem to maintain or they’re too badly damaged, it’s probably time to replace them. Upgrading your countertops can wildly transform the look of your kitchen and even affect your home’s resale value. When comparing materials for your new countertops, consider not only their beauty and attributes but also how much effort it will take to maintain them. For example, marble or granite countertops will need to be polished from time to time. These materials also tend to be more expensive. Look into laminate, ceramic tile, engineered stone, or even wood instead.
Replace the Flooring
You can purchase many kitchen flooring materials such as vinyl, ceramic tile, cork, or laminate without breaking the budget you set for your renovation project. All of these options perform well in kitchens and are available in a variety of styles. Vinyl is particularly easy to install, and in many cases, it constitutes the most economical choice. Laminate is also a cheap option, but it’s not as durable as some other materials.
Refinish the Cabinets
Your kitchen can sometimes be upgraded substantially by simply refinishing the drawer fronts and cupboards. You can put the finishing touches on the project with new pulls and knobs. If the cupboards are not in very bad shape, you will only need a little paint or stain and some elbow grease. If they are in good shape but need a little more work, you can also reface them, which is much cheaper than replacing them entirely. Cabinets and drawers with more damage will require more attention. Homeowners often put off the kitchen upgrades they desire for fear that they won’t have enough money to complete the renovation. The four kitchen remodeling projects we’ve outlined here will provide you with a significant upgrade to your cooking space without breaking the bank. 
If you really want to make a practical and lasting impact on the functionality of your kitchen, it’s definitely worth it to invest in quality appliances. Visit Milcarsky’s Appliance Centre’ for ranges, cook-tops, and more! Milcarsky’s has been a Central Florida staple in the appliance business since 1985. We serve the Orlando, Tampa, Melbourne metro areas areas and beyond … There is no substitute for experience!
