by Milcarsky's Staff | Sep 1, 2020 | Design
The kitchen is the center of the home, but a generic kitchen doesn’t feel very homey. You want your kitchen to feel unique to you. But how do you do that?
Appliances
One way to make your kitchen unique to you is to buy appliances that you like. These appliances can all be a single color, or your kitchen could have a spectrum of color in its appliances such as having a red toaster, a blue microwave, and a white refrigerator for a red-white-blue feel. Your appliances should also be easily accessible to you. If you need a coffee maker daily, but never use a mixer, your coffee maker will be in a prominent place on your countertop and a mixer will be gone or out of sight.
Cabinets
You also want to make your cabinets feel unique to you. This could be the color, the design, even the doorknobs of the cabinets. You can repaint all the cabinets any color you choose. You can add your preferred type of doorknobs to the outside of the cabinets. You can even change the location of the cabinets to better fit your style. Redoing the cabinetry can also add value to your home. For example, some cabinet features can add up to 20 percent more value.
Decorations
Another way to express your personality and make your kitchen unique is to decorate it. Decorations could include a theme or be knick-knacks from your childhood home. For example, if you like the style of a farm kitchen, you could have a rooster wall piece, and egg-shaped salt and pepper shakers. You could also include a barn door that slides out to cover the pantry. You can add wallpaper or even just pictures on the walls. You can also add curtains unique to you. If you want to put in the extra effort, you can also repaint your entire kitchen to express your personality. If the kitchen started off as a pale green and you want to paint it a bright yellow, go ahead. Make your kitchen yours.
The kitchen is the heart of the home. It is a place where people want to come and gather, and it’s also a place where you’ll spend a lot of time. So take the effort and make your kitchen feel like it is the only kitchen in the world that is well and truly yours.
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by Milcarsky's Staff | Jun 4, 2020 | How To's
Painting or repainting your kitchen walls can be an exciting and fun process. However, there are many questions you have to ask yourself and many tough decisions to make before you can start actually painting.
Choosing a Type of Paint
Choosing a type of paint can be tricky, and color is not the only factor to take into account—for example, you can choose oil-based or latex paint. Used for both interior and exterior painting projects, latex paint is a popular option. It is easy to work with and dries quickly—a good option for painting walls and ceilings. Oil-based paint yellows over time and is worse for the environment. However, oil-based paint can be more durable than latex paint. Both kinds of paint come with pros and cons; weigh the positives and negatives when deciding which type of paint to use for your project.
Choosing a Finish
Next, you need to choose a finish. There are many types of finishes which work well for interior walls, but not all work equally well for kitchen walls. For example, although a flat finish is great for some interior rooms, it does not clean well and is therefore not ideal for kitchens or bathrooms. Semi-gloss and high-gloss finishes tend to be better options for kitchens because they are easier to clean.
Semi-gloss and high-gloss finishes have higher sheen levels. The higher the sheen level, the higher the shine and durability. However, durability does come with costs: for example, gloss finishes reflect light, which can accentuate even minor flaws in the paint.
Coordinating Colors
Another important thing to consider when choosing your new paint is coordinating colors between the cabinets, countertops, finishings, flooring, and walls. It could be a good idea to stick to a specific color scheme for the entirety of the room. Choose multiple paint colors, then test them on the walls of your kitchen in order to see how different colors and shades go together with the rest of your room. In addition, consider whether or not each color works well with the color of adjacent rooms.
Selecting a new paint for your kitchen walls can be fun, but it can also be complicated. If you follow these steps and keep in mind the benefits of different kinds of paint, different finishes, and coordinating colors, the process will become far less complex. Choosing the right paint can be a breeze.
For everything else you need in your kitchen, we’ve got you covered. Take a look at all the cooking appliances we have available!
by Milcarsky's Staff | May 5, 2020 | Appliances, Design
Renovating your kitchen is often the last project to tackle in a house. Unfortunately, because the kitchen is the room that works hardest in your home, this renovation is often the most disruptive. Before you tackle this area, it’s important to consider what you need from the space now and what you’ll need in the future.
Determine the Layout
The wide variety in kitchen cabinet styles and countertop options means that you can create any number of designs for your kitchen. Islands can be movable or permanently placed, and some appliances such as dishwashers can be portable or countertop. Before you tear into any kitchen renovation, spend some time in the space determining the footprint or layout. Consider work triangles. For example, raw ingredients come from one corner of the triangle (refrigerator), and tools are collected from another corner (cabinet). Cooking is finally accomplished at the third corner (stove).
Don’t Forget the Walls
Drywall can get pretty beat up when you’re moving large appliances around. When stripping the walls, check for any potential damages to the drywall in order to prevent further problems down the road. Additionally, if you have to open any walls to run power, water or gas lines, you may need to patch or repair the sheetrock before setting cabinets and appliances in place. If you do end up opening a wall and running new utilities, take photos of the changes for future reference before you seal up the opening. Provide these images to the new owners when you sell the house.
Work Slowly
If you’re doing any of the work yourself, do your best to work in a slow, organized fashion. You can save money on the project by doing your own demolition but not if you hurt your back moving the refrigerator. Reduce lifting requirements for cabinets by undoing the hardware and removing the doors. Before you pull the screws, set a brace or a block under the cabinet so you can lower the casing gently. Keep your walking paths clear of debris, tools and supplies. Finally, always wear your safety gear to protect yourself.
Renovating can be exciting. If you have a clear vision of how the new space will work and how much easier cooking and cleanup will be when you’re done, your renovation will be worth the hassle, mess and disruption. Be certain to spend a lot of time in the space determining the best working layout before you get started.
If you’re looking for some new appliances to put in your renovated kitchen, take a look at our cooking appliances!
by Milcarsky's Staff | May 1, 2020 | Appliances, How To's
The kitchen is an area of the home that should be cleaned quite regularly. Since you’re doing a lot of gathering and cooking here, it’s important that you don’t have germs and bacteria-harboring here. If you’re not a fan of using harmful chemical cleaning agents in your home, there are a number of safer alternatives that you can use. They will do the job just as well, but you won’t be inhaling anything that could be carcinogenic.
The Sink
A kitchen sink can get pretty grimy. After all, this is where you do your dishes, wash your dirty hands and handle raw ingredients. Depending on the type of material that your skin is made out of, there are some natural methods of cleaning you can use. Stainless steel can be quickly cleaned with a baking soda paste. The abrasive nature of the baking soda will quickly clean off any caked up messes. According to FirstKey Homes, if you’re worried about a clogged drain, pouring half a cup of salt down the drain followed by hot tap water can break down clogs in the sink caused by fat, oil, and grease.
The Stove and Oven
Even a brand new stove and oven can quickly get messy. If you’re someone who likes to cook, there are likely baked-on messes inside your oven and on your stovetop. A stovetop with coils can be taken apart. You can clean each part with soap and water. Reassemble when everything is clean and dry. A flat top stove is also easy to clean. Wet the top of the stove. Sprinkle a little bit of baking soda on it. Use a soapy sponge to move the baking soda around. Leave it on the stovetop for 15 minutes before wiping it clean. It might take a few times rinsing with clean water to remove all the soap and baking soda.
Flooring
If you have vinyl flooring in your kitchen, this is one of the easiest surfaces to clean. Use a sponge or rag with soapy water to wipe everything down. You can use a dry cloth to absorb any excess moisture. Wood or laminate flooring should be wiped down with a dry cloth regularly. Tile is very durable. According to Rainbow International Restoration, you can clean it with a diluted mixture of vinegar and water.
The kitchen is a common focal point in a home. If you want your kitchen to shine while paying attention to the health of you and your family members, think about alternatives to harsh cleaning products. There are plenty of ways that you can change up your cleaning routine.
If you’re ready to update your kitchen with some new appliances, we have a great selection! Take a look at all the cooking appliances we have to offer!
by Milcarsky's Staff | Apr 8, 2020 | Design, How To's
More and more people are taking an active approach to decrease their personal impact on the environment. One way to do this is to change the way you do things in the kitchen. While all kitchens will continue to register some impact on the environment, there are a number of steps you can take to minimize these effects and help to conserve the global environment for future generations.
Reduce Your Water Usage
You can conserve water in the kitchen by making a few small changes. One suggestion is not starting the dishwasher until there are enough dishes to make a full load. You may also want to refrain from thawing frozen foods with water. You can leave these foods in your refrigerator overnight and achieve the same results.
New faucets are also something to consider if you want to save water in your cooking space. There are several benefits of installing new faucets that can help make your kitchen more sustainable. Some new faucets will help with water usage by reducing the maximum flow of the faucet. A new faucet will also eliminate any drip that is present with your kitchen sink that might be wasting water.
Use Natural Cleaning Products
Green cleaning products are available for you to clean your kitchen without the use of chemicals that can harm you, your family, and the environment. These cleaners are made using substances that are nontoxic and biodegradable. Sustainable manufacturing practices are also used in the making of green cleaning products. Other benefits of using natural cleaning products include better air quality in your kitchen and support for an anti-bacterial environment.
Use the Whole Plant
It is possible that you are one of the countless people who cut the greens from their beets or chops off the top of a celery stalk before eating it. There is no reason to throw these plant parts into the trash. If you do not wish to eat these parts of the plant, they can serve a variety of other purposes.
The number of ways you can productively use vegetable scraps is seemingly endless. Some suggestions include making vegetable stock, creating body scrubs, and using them in compost.
Transitioning to a green kitchen is a solid way to do your part to protect the environment from the burden placed on it by human beings. If you are unsure where to begin this transition, the three suggestions explained in the article are a great place to start.
Looking for energy efficient appliances for your home? Browse options here.
by Milcarsky's Staff | Apr 7, 2020 | Appliances, How To's
If you love to cook but haven’t lately due to poor kitchen design or other undesirable kitchen issues, this article will get you excited about cooking again. Small changes in your cooking space can spark new motivation from within to feed your body along with providing plenty of nurture to your inner spirit as well.
Update Your Kitchen Aesthetic
One simple trick to boost motivation to spend time in your kitchen area is to update your current kitchen aesthetic. Outdated cabinets, countertop surfaces and even color choices can make the space feel ordinary and rather boring. Dark finishes make a small kitchen feel smaller.
If your kitchen tends to be on the tinier size, remember that dark finishes make a small kitchen feel smaller. Consider adding a beautiful backsplash in a more modern design and hue to transform your ordinary kitchen space into an extraordinary place everyone in the family will want to be.
Invest in New Appliances
Nothing will date a kitchen more than old-fashioned kitchen appliances. Upgrading your current undesirable appliances should be thought of as a smart investment. The decision to invest in new appliances can increase your overall home value and make it easier to store, prepare food and cook as an added bonus.
Newer energy-efficient refrigerators, microwaves, stoves, various ovens and even dishwashers can also save a homeowner a lot on the usual energy bills. Many kitchen appliances today can be customized to fit various sizes and decor themes. In addition, newer appliances are apt to work better resulting in less food waste due to inconsistent temperatures in an older model refrigerator unit.
Install Custom Kitchen Cabinets for Better Storage Space
The installation of gorgeous custom kitchen cabinets instantly improves the appearance of the space while providing ingenious new spots for storage space. The right cabinets can make your kitchen cleanup a breeze. Get personalized storage spots to hide away the usual kitchen clutter that can discourage even the best of cooks from embarking on a serious cooking spree.
Create a kitchen that is truly the heart of your home. Consider adding a space saving island that can double as a food prep station and extra seating while adding even more storage space. With a bit of thought and creativity, your dream kitchen can finally come to life just as you’ve always imagined it to be.
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