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!
by Milcarsky's Staff | Nov 7, 2019 | Appliances, Uncategorized
The first time ammonia was used for refrigeration, it was 1876. America was celebrating her centennial, and Ulysses S. Grant was wrapping up his last term in office. Even though it has now been used for a little over 140 years a refrigerant in industrial applications, it still remains popular today. However, there is still some debate as to whether it works in all circumstances. Are you wondering if ammonia would work for you and your industrial refrigeration requirements? Here are some pros and cons to consider:
Pro: More Efficient
Ammonia is widely recognized as one of the efficient energy applications out there. First of all, Ammonia is 3–10% more efficient than the standard CFC refrigerants. Secondly, ammonia usually beats their DX R404A counterpart by a good 15–20%. Ammonia is even more efficient when it is paired with NH3 and CO2.
Pro: More Environmentally Friendly
An ammonia refrigerant is better for the environment. One of the reasons is that ammonia is classified as a natural refrigerant. Ammonia also has a Global Warming Potential (GWP) and an Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP) that is equal to zero. Another great thing about ammonia is that it is a renewable resource. Ammonia consists of one nitrogen atom bonded to three hydrogen atoms. More and more individuals are recognizing ammonia as an effective green alternative fuel. Indeed, there are so many things you can do with it. You can burn ammonia, store it, ship it, or even convert it back into hydrogen and nitrogen. Additionally, although fuel cell cars seem to be a dying trend in the United States, Japan is still interested in this product and they continue to eye ammonia as a fuel choice for this efficient mode of transportation.
Con: Toxic
Unfortunately, ammonia is poisonous in high concentrations. It can be extremely hazardous to humans, and it definitely should be kept out of the reach of young children. Moreover, you should never mix ammonia and bleach. Even though ammonia will generally leave behind a foul odor, you shouldn’t take any chances if you are using this as a refrigerant. It’s always a good idea to label your pipes, but ammonia pipes, in particular, should always be marked.
Though figuring out which component is best to use as a refrigerant may be difficult, it’s important to figure out what will work best for you and your company. If you keep all of these factors in mind you will be better equipped to determine if ammonia is the right component for your industrial refrigeration system.
For all your refrigeration needs, Milcarsky’s Appliance Centre is here to help. Check out our selection of refrigerators!
by Milcarsky's Staff | Oct 16, 2019 | Design
There are lots of great reasons to update your kitchen. Walking into a newly refreshed room every morning is an incredible mood booster. A properly done upgrade increases the value of your home. No matter the reason for your update, there are a few tips to remember.
Your Appliances Need Love Too
Old cabinets, floors and countertops can definitely make a kitchen look dated. But remember to think about your appliances as well, as they can have good resale value. Appliance details, such as color and size, go in and out of style. Honestly assess whether your stove and fridge look outdated or even damaged. If your dishwasher always seems to need repairs, this may be a good time to replace it. Even if your older appliances are working well, they may use too much energy. Replacing them with more energy-efficient models will lower your utility bills and can increase the value of your home.
Make Room For Storage
It seems there’s never enough storage space, especially in the kitchen. As you’re replacing and updating items, make sure you have enough room for all your cookware and other items. Sometimes going for a sleeker, simpler look can cost storage space. If your new countertop or cabinets will take up less room than the old ones, think about using an island or moving cart for extra storage. Proper storage is particularly important if you have a small kitchen. Adding a shelf or two to unused corner spaces can help.
Don’t Overdo It
Putting too much work into a house can get in the way of a quick sale at a fair price. If you use a lot of high-end materials, you may have the nicest kitchen on the whole block, but you probably won’t get that money back when it’s time to sell. Making a home too upscale potentially increases the value of your home above the other homes in the neighborhood, which can make it hard to sell. Choose a more modest approach for your upgrade. Ask yourself if everything really needs to be replaced. It’s possible that you need only a few new touches to improve the look of the room.
Changing minor items, such as light fixtures or wall color, is a less expensive way to overhaul the look of your kitchen. Or, rather than replacing entire cabinets, you may decide to update just the cabinet doors and hardware. You can also change other smaller items, like rugs and curtains, for a seasonal pick-me-up.
Food is central to life, which means that a good portion of your life is spent in and around the kitchen. Whether you’re moving soon or staying put, updating your kitchen with a new look can be an invigorating way to refresh your environment.
by Milcarsky's Staff | Oct 1, 2019 | Uncategorized
Your laundry room needs to work for your household. However, with a little thought and some flair, you can make the room a fun spot to be. From colorful sorting bins to clever storage tools, you can make your laundry room more than just a spot for dirty clothes.
Make it One-of-a-Kind
Do you have space for some unique modifications? What if you added a laundry chute or even a slide? Even if a chute won’t work, consider setting up fun multi-colored bins that you can use to sort items quickly and efficiently. Finally, don’t use this space just for laundry. You may find a spot along the wall where you can add a craft table or a desk for handling household bills.
Hang Art
In addition to adding a fresh coat of paint, try incorporating themed art into your laundry room. Crafty folks might even enjoy creating dryer lint art for the room. Another option is to create a corkboard for lonely socks to hang out while looking for a mate.
Change the Lighting
Because you may be working over your head folding sheets and towels, consider adding recessed lighting to your laundry room. If you’ve got a folding counter, task lighting fixtures or pendants close to the wall would also be a great addition. Finally, consider adding motion detector lighting to the area so that you can leave the laundry room confident that the light will turn off on its own if your hands are full of clean clothes.
Add Storage
If your laundry room is very small, it can be hard to find a spot to store things. Try adding a rolling or pull-out rack that can fit beside your washer or dryer. It’s also critically important that you consider your safety when setting up storage shelves because products like bleach and large bottles of soap can be difficult to handle if stored on high shelves. For lighter objects such as boxes of dryer sheets, try an over-the-door shoe holder. If you’ve got space for a large shelf unit, you can set up an overflow pantry. This would be a great place to store extra toilet paper, paper towels, and other nonperishable products that you can stock up on when on sale.
A well-organized and well-decorated laundry room can make this chore easier to manage and more pleasant. By putting the storage options in this space to use, you can stretch your budget and save yourself some time.
When it comes to quality laundry appliances, we’ve got you covered. Take a look at our selection!
