Kitchen Renovations and Island Creation

Most homeowners could rhyme off a list of things they would like to change in their home design or decoration. One of the most rewarding projects I have worked on in recent times was a do-it-yourself kitchen island. By following the instructions below, you will be able to transform your simple kitchen into an island oasis…or something like that.

If you are like most homeowners, you have spent a fair amount of time in antique markets looking for that perfect new addition for your home. The next time you are out at the antique market or even a local garage sale, keep your eyes open for an old buffet. You can likely find one for less than 50 dollars, and it could well become your favorite piece of furniture.

Most buffets were designed to rest against a wall, and they generally have a cheaper wood covering the back side. When you get the buffet home, remove the cheap back board and start cleaning it up. I would recommend replacing the back board with tongue-and-groove pine. It is relatively cheap, and it looks great!

If the buffet is in poor condition, why not consider painting it? There are some wonderful colors available in paint today, and you could really have some fun with it. I particularly enjoy the paints that leave an aged, antique finish.

Next, you will need a piece of plywood for the top surface of your island. It should be cut so that there is approximately three inches of overhang on all sides. Once you have the plywood cut to the right specifications, place it on top of the buffet and secure it with screws.

Now it is time to edge the top with molding that matches the thickness of the material you are going to use for the surface. We chose to use marble tile, but you can feel free to use stone or ceramic. Tile the top surface as you would any other tiling job.

There are a number of ways to increase the functionality of your new kitchen island. One such way is to install a towel rack on one end of the island. Another option is to add some hooks on the opposite end that can be used to hang pots and pans from. Beyond that, you can always add new hardware to dress it up some more. Happy building!

About The Author

Savi Decoursey is an interior designer in Toronto, Canada. When she is not consulting with her clients, she is a writer for kitchencabinetsanddesignsonline.com

Luau Party Ideas For An Enchanting, Tropical Island Party

Aloha! Here are a few ideas for an enchanting, tropical island paradise. The natives are restless...start planning your exotic luau today. Wikiwiki! (Hawaiian for hurry!)

Welcome each guest with an "aloha" and a kiss on the cheek. Hand a lei to all guests, and a silk flower for the women to put in their hair.

Other nice touches are grass skirts to wear or as table decorations.

Think balmy and exotic! Bright and colorful is sure to set a tropical ambiance.

Palm fronds and palm trees should line the area. You can create grass huts out of grocery bags by cutting it into thin strips, and hanging on a card table.

Nylon fish nets and seashells are a great accent. You will want to make sure you have plenty of tropical flowers, whether fresh or silk.

Line the area with brightly colored fish and inflatable palm trees. The table decor can include tiki statues, as well as tiki torches for an evening ambiance.

Here are some ideas for enticing cuisine:

Spiced pork
Rice
Steamed vegetables
Barbeque foods
Fresh fruits- pineapple, strawberries, melons, papayas
Fresh vegetables
Crab salad
Roasted bananas
Macadamia nuts
Hawaiian sweet bread

The best drinks include Margaritas, Mai Tais, Pina Coladas, Bahama Mamas, and Frozen Daiquiris.

Get your cameras ready for limbo and hula dancing contests!

I hope this helps spark some fun ideas for your upcoming Hawaiian luau party. Aloha!

About The Author

Dee Schrock has put together hundreds of theme party tips and fun ideas for easy (and budget conscious!) party planning.

Visit her website www.fun-theme-party-ideas.com for tons of popular theme party ideas, including decoration, costume, game, and party drink ideas, as well as printable invitations.

Save Money Cutting Your Home Energy Bill

Heating bills are rising up in every part of the country and the trend will continue because of World energy demands. The average US household expense on energy bills is estimated at 6% of the income in 2005, compared to 4% in 2003. Owners of efficient new houses spend considerably less than the people living in old houses. Financial burden due to increased energy expenses can be reduced by weatherizing and conserving.

Your house can be energy deficient in plumbing, insulation or heating. In many old houses, the biggest problem is not the cold air coming from windows but the air filtration from the basement due to floor joists and the structures supporting the floor. In an average American home, 50%-70% of the energy used goes to heating and cooling. If your house is built before 1980, it may no have adequate insulation. While most owners focus on attic insulation, they should not ignore the basement ceiling. Fiber glass is not a good insulation material as air flows right through it. Use spray foam or cellulose as an insulation materials for proper insulation.

Caulk and weather-strip all doors and windows that leak air. Look for all plumbing, ducting and electrical wiring the penetrates through exterior walls and seal those to prevent hot air leaking out. Keep the flue damper tightly closed when the fire place is not in use. If you are planning to change windows in your house, shop for insulating windows and install them as tight fitting as possible. You can use heavy duty clear plastic sheet to the inside of your window and seal them properly to prevent any leak.

Another areas where home owners can focus to reduce their energy bill is conservation. If you have an old thermostat, replace it with a new electronics control thermostat with digital readouts.. An electronics control thermostat is more precise than an dial type thermostat. Better, yet, is a programmable thermostat that you can program for the different hours of the day and night. Replace air filters regularly. If your house has a hot water radiator, bleed it once or twice during the winter season. If you don't know how to do this, search in the Internet or get the help of a professional.

When you buy new appliances, look for the "Energy Star label. Energy Star labeled appliances are certified to be energy efficient. Most appliances now display a bright yellow and black Energy Guide label. These labels will tell you the average energy consumption cost of the appliance. While shopping for any appliance, do not forget to take into account this cost as another factor to evaluate before you make your final decision. You can find more energy tips at www.eere.energy.gov/consumer/tips.

About The Author
Dr. Deepak Dutta is the creator of www.semanticbay.com - an interactive social network website based on user shared text and picture contents on any topics. Website creators, publishers, and maintainers can promote their website at SemanticBay.com using website articles. Users can join for free, invite friends, maintain buddy lists, rate contents, comments on contents and earn points.

Essential Cleaning Tips for the Kitchen

Cupboards and drawers should contain items that are grouped together.

Store items where you use them. Put your plates near the table, knives near island or cutting counter, glasses near the fridge, and coffee items near the coffee machine.

Clean and organize your fridge and freezer just like you would any other cabinet: grouping like items together. Search for things that are not being used once a week on trash day. If you don’t use it, get rid of it.

Seasonally used items are better stored in a basement or attic.

Have countless cookbooks in your kitchen? Go through and find which ones you use regularly. The others can be stored or given to a friend.

Only keep the glasses that you regularly use. The others can be place in storage.

There are several specialty organizers available for cabinets. This can help you to organize and avoid stacking.

Most of us have lists in the kitchen. They range from the grocery list, to-do list, and notes to family. I recommend buying a magnetic clip for the fridge to hold all of those lists. That way, you’ll always know where it is.

No more junk drawer! Just use any type of plastic basket or organizer for your junk drawer. Place all similar items in the same cubby. Then, remember to clean it out once a month.

Want to get rid of those tupper ware stains? Now you can! All you need to do is put your stained bowls outside in the sun or in front of a sunny window for a few hours. Walaa, your tupper ware is looking like new again. Kiss those tomato based stains good bye :)

About the author:
GranMamma is the webmaster at www.babynamebox.com- Where you can explore over 6,000 baby names and their meanings. Read articles ranging from parenting and family to home and garden or find the perfect recipe. Be sure to say hi to GranMamma!

Top Ten Items To Keep Your Home Organized

Even the most frugal person I know will occasionally splurge on an item that will help her keep more organized.

Here are some of my favorite organizational tools for the home.

1) Lazy Susan
Thanks to the soul who invented this little item! They're cheap, and help keep spices, bottles, and condiments neatly arranged and at your fingertips. Use them in the pantry, in cabinets, on the kitchen table - they're absolutely life savers when it comes to staying organized.

2) Plastic Basket for Lids
Plastic containers - a double edged sword! One the one hand they keep me organized and save tons of time in the kitchen, especially. But searching through ten thousand lids that don't fit can drive a person nutty. I use a plastic basket for all my lids so they're in one spot when I go looking.

3) A Triple Swing-out Towel Holder
Put these under your kitchen and bathroom sinks to save space and keep your sink area uncluttered. Use it to hold towels, cleaning rags, trash bags, etc.

4) Place a few strong adhesive hooks in the laundry room - these can be used for hanging coats, clothes, etc. Hooks are great to hang up mops, brooms and other cleaning supplies, too.

5) Plastic Baggies with Zipper Locks
How did our ancestors survive without them? Baggies are perfect to store small toys, puzzle pieces, and any little items that go together in one spot. The two-gallon sized ones are my favorite.

6) A Labeler
These don't have to be expensive to work. And having containers and shelf spaces labeled is a great way to help children keep their items organized, as well as yourself. Do yourself a favor – use a labeler for a week, and you'll wonder hoe you ever lived without one.

7) A Compartment Tray for Your Junk Drawer
Occasionally, I actually open my junk drawer to search for something! Having miscellaneous items in little compartments of the tray will save you time and frustration when you go searching.

8) A TV Remote Holder
How much time have you wasted looking for this little item? Make or purchase a holder for your remote, or put velcro on the back and stick it someplace near the couch.

9) Laundry Sorting Bin
Less than ten bucks, these bins help keep your dirty laundry organized, so that when you're ready to wash the whites, they're all in the same spot. No more digging through a giant hamper to find the right clothes! This makes laundry time so much simpler!

10) Two-tiered Spice Racks
These cabinet organizers save time and hassle in the kitchen. How many times have you searched for the oregano - behind the cinnamon, no - the nutmeg...Wait -where was the nutmeg? You get the idea.

These items are by no means all the great organizing tools out there, but they're my choices for time saving and hassle free living!

About the author:
This article courtesy of www.patio-furniture-guide.net

Double The Storage Space In Your Bedroom Closet

Everyone needs more storage space, right? Well a good closet organizer can double the storage space in your closet and make it easier for you to find just what you need.

There’s 2 basic types of closet organizers. One is actually more like closet furniture and has built in drawers cubbies and of course poles to hang your clothes. These can run you quite a bit of money but do a great job to organize and beautify your closet and will be durable enough to last a long time. A less costly alternative is found in wire closet organizers that offer almost the same amount of organization but aren’t as pretty and may not wear as well. Both kinds will work with a walk in closet or a simple reach in closet.

When buying an organizer system for you closet, you want to keep in mind what kind of clothing you have and how much of it. Do you have tons of shoes, but not a lot of shirts? Then you'll want more storage units for shoes. If you have a lot of hats, scarves and purses, make sure you design in storage space for those. Your organizer system should be customized to the types of clothing and accessories you own as much as possible.

There are many different storage units you can incorporate into your closet design to make things easier to find and also give you more storage space. Some of the organizer units you might want to think about include:

Shoe Cubes - each cube fits a pair of shoes and they stack on top of each other so all your shoes are available at a glance
Shelves - for folded jeans, sweaters, purses and hats
Tiered Tie Racks - for ties, scarves or belts
Drawers - for those personal items you don’t want to leave out in the open
Slide Out Bins - great for laundry, just slide them out and bring them down to the washer.

A well though out closet organizer design can double or even triple your storage space. Don't forget to add stacked rods for your shorter items to hang on top of each other which gives you twice as much space in the same linear area.
About the author:
Lee Dobbins is editor of Bedroom Designs and Decorations where you can find great bedroom design ideas for dozens of bedroom themes.

Need More Room in Your Closet? Try a Custom Closet Organizer

How much time do you spend searching for lost items? If you’re like most Americans, you probably spend about four weeks a year just looking for things. Much of that time is spent rummaging through the closet, tossing aside old clothes and worn-out shoes. Imagine what you could do with that extra time.

From kitchen pantries to bedroom closets, from children’s closets to office space—all closets could benefit from organization. Well-designed closet organizers can be bought from local home improvement stores and department stores. However, if you have special needs or simply desire a one-of-a-kind closet, custom closet organizers are available to custom fit closet space of any shape or size. Custom closet organizers are designed to fit your specific needs.

Some companies offer an online “design wizard,” allowing you to put in dimensions of your closet and the desired components. You can choose the type of material, color, and style. You can also select the types of knobs or handles desired. Available accessories include belt rack, tie rack, jewelry tray, hooks, drawers, and shoe racks. The wizard will then show a drawing or picture of the proposed custom closet. Upon approval, the company will send you fully-assembled pieces. You simply have to install.

Another option for custom closet organizers is to have a professional closet consultant come to your home or office. This person will evaluate your space, your décor, and your needs. Based on your budgetary constraints and your design requirements, the consultant will make recommendations for a custom closet. They then build the pieces (or have them built) and install. These people generally charge per hour in addition to the cost of materials and commission.

With custom closet organizers, you have some options that are not normally available at the local home improvement store. For example, islands and benches can be installed in large closets to create a dressing room. Dressers can be placed inside the closet to free space in the bedroom. This is especially helpful in smaller bedrooms or for customers with large beds.

With a larger budget, you can create a truly unique closet for any room.

About the author:
Closet Organizers Info provides detailed information on bedroom, kids, custom, wood and walk-in closet organizers for sale. Closet Organizers Info is affiliated with Original Content.
Circulated by Article Emporium