Kitchen

Creating a timeless kitchen space can be accomplished when incorporating and mixing different styles. You don’t need a massive budget to learn some key principles and apply them to your own kitchen. Here’s five ways you can leverage materials to create beautifully layered interiors. Contrast. Worry less about whether furniture should match and more on how different pieces can enrich each other when placed together. If you have straight lines and contemporary pieces, place a Baroque shape next to them to heighten both. Placing all similar pieces and styles together in one place could result in a lackluster design. Patina. Time plays a key role in a kitchen design. The history with antique pieces such as aged metal, worn leather or distressed wood captures the distinct richness to an interior. An abundance of glossy finishes will appear cold, you want a bit of wear to soften it. This adds the soul to a kitchen. Texture. Combining textures further enhances the soul of a space. You never want to cover everything with all wood or metal pieces. It’s much more interesting to look at the contrast of different textures. For instance, placing a blue clay against satin or a cool linen against a deeper velvet. If you find yourself overwhelmed, find a connection in tonality or color among textures. Light. Material will absorb or reflect light differently. You can create variations to enhance this further when deciding on pieces. Glass for example, can come in many different shapes and colors. Bringing in the light to a kitchen will enhance moods and bring a warmer environment to an otherwise dull space. Personality. Your kitchen at the end of the day needs to be a reflection of yourself. While it’s great to seek out materials based on their look, a personal kitchen tells a deeper story. Antiques passed down through a family or furniture purchased in memorable locations will play with the element of memory. You’ll feel happier when you look at a piece that has a deeper value to you. Sources: House Beautiful

Kitchen floors go through a lot. A flooring space must endure spills, drips, heat and dropped utensils. When deciding on a kitchen floor material, you’ll need to consider style, function and comfort. Here’s five materials you should look into. Hardwood While hardwood flooring by nature is very durable, it has its limitations in areas susceptible to moisture. Modern sealers and polyurethane finishes can aid in preserving hardwood floors longer however. The material will change over time and naturally degrade, but this can add more personality to a kitchen. You’ll always have the option of sanding and refinishing the floor to make it feel brand new. Bamboo Bamboo is actually harder than hardwood and is more resistant to moisture and water damage. It’s increasing in popularity for kitchens and is considered more durable than wood. It’s important to note bamboo is more expensive than wood and it’s harder to refinish due to the natural grain on the material. Ceramic Tile Ceramic tile is a material made from natural clay and is extremely durable for kitchen flooring. It’s also very hard and impervious to water damage. Under normal conditions, ceramic tile will maintain its appearance and function over time with little to no change. They also come in a variety of styles and colors, offering countless options. You should take into consideration that ceramic tile is a more cold material and some people can find it to be too hard. Concrete Another inexpensive option, concrete is usually already in place beneath existing floor coverings. There are many ways it can be polished, stained or treated to fit in any kitchen. This pairs perfectly with a modern-style kitchen. Similar to ceramic tile, concrete is a cold material that can be too hard for some people. Concrete isn’t everyone’s first choice, which can be a drawback when it’s time to sell your home. Natural Stone Tile Probably one of the most luxurious choices for kitchen flooring, natural stone tile is an actual rock with long-lasting durability. A natural stone flooring can be made of marble, granite, slate, limestone or sandstone. The drawback to natural stone is that the material is porous, making it susceptible to water and liquid stain penetration. Quality penetrating stone sealer can be applied annually to create an invisible coat of protection over the stone. Each stone material will have its own properties for hardness, scratch resistance and durability. Source: The Spruce

Kitchen appliances may cause issues down the road. It’s useful to know the common problems you can easily fix before calling on a professional. Here’s 10 of the most common problems you can fix in your kitchen. A Warm Fridge or Freezer. If your appliance can’t stay cool, check the doors are closing completely and the seal is tight. Pay attention to any unusual heat, drips or noises. A refrigerator condenser will generate heat but it shouldn’t be excessive. Odors in a Fridge or Freezer. This is often caused by food that has gone bad. Wash the bins and shelves with dish soap and let the unit air out, and clean the evaporator. Adjust the temperatures inside between 0 and 40 degrees F to prevent any frost build, mold growth or odors. Under or Overcooking Oven. Every oven operates differently. Investing in an oven thermometer to check temperature settings can prevent food from taking too long or burning quickly. If the issue persists, look into recalibration. Microwave Doesn’t Heat Up. A faulty magnetron could be the cause of a malfunctioning microwave. These parts can burn out if the microwave is turned on while empty. Look for a replacement of the part. Microwave Tray Isn’t Turning. If the plate doesn’t turn, look for any obstructions such as large crumbs. The motor could also be worn out, which is easily replaceable with a manufacturer part. Dripping Sink or Faucet. If your sink is leaking, clean the faucet screen. If you notice any mold under the sink check for any leaks near the drain line and pea-trap. Check the garbage disposal and water lines leading to other appliances as well. Garbage Disposal Doesn’t Work. Try the reset button first. Next, you can try grinding an ice cube or two. If you suspect the garbage disposal is blocked with food or silverware, unplug it first before trying to clear it. Range Hood Isn’t Clearing Smoke. One cause of a faulty range hood is the motor or clogged ductwork. Replacing air filters is a quick fix if there’s an excess of grease build up. Ductwork can be tricky and should be performed by a professional for any suspected blocks. Source: The Spruce

A subway tile backsplash is bound to build up grease. Follow this step by step guide on how to get those tiles shining again. What You’ll Need: Sponge Dish soap Dish cloths Lemons Vinegar Baking soda Toothbrush Grout sealer Instructions: Use a soapy sponge: With circular motions, clean the backsplash and group with the sponge. Wipe clean: Take a damp dish cloth and wipe the tiles from any soapy residue. Create a paste: For persistent grease, mix a paste with one part lemon, juice, one part vinegar, and two parts baking soda. Scrub the tiles with the paste: Take a toothbrush and apply the paste on the tiles and grout. Scrub with the toothbrush or sponge. Wipe clean: Take a damp dish cloth and wipe the tiles clean. Apply a sealer: Let everything dry completely for a few hours. Apply one or two coats of a silicone-based grout sealer to protect your grout in the future. Sources: The Kitchn

Wasting food is one of the fastest ways to lose money while also negatively impacting the environment. Before going out on your next grocery store run, read up on these 6 ways to help reduce food waste in your kitchen. Look at Your Fridge This may seem obvious, but take a look at your pantry and fridge before heading to the grocery store. Do a quick inventory count to see what you have and what you’re missing. This will help prevent purchasing unnecessary foods. You can also end up finding some ingredients that are easily turned into a meal, cutting back on the number of trips to the store. Make a List Meal prep can be an easy path to success. Planning out your meals for the week ensures your shopping list only has the ingredients you need. While you’re in the grocery store, don’t be tempted by advertisements or offers and only grab what you have on your list. Cut Back on Bulk Buying Buying in bulk may seem like a great deal, but it’s an easy way to overload your cart with things you don’t need. Even if a bag of avocados is a steal at a low price, you may not use them all up before they go bad. Buying in bulk is best for ingredients you are absolutely sure you’ll use up or will last a long time. Store Food Properly Food can go bad if it’s not properly stored to preserve freshness. Any extra fruits or veggies can be frozen or preserved to lengthen their flavor. You can freeze a loaf of bread and take out the slices a few hours before you need it. Make sure you store bananas, apples and tomatoes by themselves as these fruits emit natural gases that can spoil any produce around them. Wait to wash berries until you’re going to eat them to prevent mold. Organize Your Shelves Whenever you buy new food, bring all the older items in your pantry or fridge to the front. This will ensure older food won’t spoil and you can find ingredients that have gone bad. Cook Smarter If a recipe calls for half an onion, save the other half for a soup or stew. Save carrot tops and make a pesto instead of tossing them out. There’s great ways you can turn food you may think is waste into other delicious meals. Source: Good Housekeeping

Peeling potatoes may not be a hassle when there’s just a few. Add a couple dozen and you may be in a time crunch trying to get through them all. Follow this one trick to speed the entire process along and make life a whole lot easier. You may be boiling your potatoes after washing and peeling, but try boiling them before (or par-boil if you’ll be cooking them later on in a soup) with their skins on. After, drain and let them cool for a few minutes until you’re able to handle them. The potatoes will be more tender and the skin can be peeled easily. Par-boiled potatoes offer some benefits too. They’ll absorb less water ensuring they won’t be gluey when mashed. Potato skins also contain flavor which you will retain with this method. Source: the Kitchn

Skipping fruit may seem like the newest trend to cut out sugar, but some fruits actually contain valuable vitamins, minerals and antioxidants we need. On average only one in 10 adults get enough fruits and veggies needed in a balanced diet. This can increase risk for chronic illnesses like diabetes and heart disease. If you’re looking to cut back on carbs and higher-sugar fruits, look to these fruits instead. Strawberries. A great option for their low sugar. A cup of strawberries only has 7 grams of sugar and provides your daily recommendation of vitamin C. Grapefruit. Another great alternative to sugary snacks. The key here is portions. Half of a grapefruit contains about 8 grams of sugar. Avocados. Although it may not seem like one, avocados are definitely a fruit. They are full of healthy fats that protect your heart and lower LDL or cholesterol, plus phytochemicals that reduce oxidative and inflammatory stress. Raspberries. Berries are low in sugar with just 5 grams of sugar per cup. Also, they have 8 grams of fiber which will leave you feeling full better than other fruits. Blackberries. Rich with 8 grams of fiber and 2 grams of protein, these berries are perfect for nutrients. A cup has only 7 grams of sugar. Oranges. These fruits are better eaten whole rather than in a juice. A single orange has 12 grams of sugar with more than the daily recommended vitamin C. Sources: Good Housekeeping

Sponges are a hotspot for bacteria and can make you sick if you’re not careful. You may think if something is dirty then you should clean it right? With sponges, that’s not the case. It’s best to replace your sponge instead of attempting to clean it. Here’s why. You might have heard the cleaning tip to microwave your sponge to kill off bacteria. However, this isn’t as effective as you may think and could actually be a potential safety hazard. Microwaving a sponge can produce sparks which could damage your microwave. Unless you know the exact amount of time, and how wet your sponge has to be, it’s best to skip this idea altogether. Some sponges contain metal for scouring which is a big no-no in a microwave. While you may kill off pathogens with this method, you actually could be increasing the number of bacteria leading to some diseases such as E. coli. Bleach and dishwashers also may not be as effective. The problem is the pathogenic bacteria tend to stay behind even if these methods prove 99.9 percent effective. Our recommendation? Toss it out entirely and replace it with a new one. Researchers recommend replacing your sponge about once a week. Even if sanitizing your sponge may seem more cost-effective, it’s not worth the potential risk to your health and safety. Sources: The Kitchn

Laminate countertops have come a long way from the typical ones we often think of. These countertops are made from layers of plastic that are bonded to particleboard or kraft paper to create a strong solid countertop surface. The end result is a clean and finished surface that can imitate more expensive counters like granite or marble. The Pros Laminate counters are lightweight in nature making them easy to install. Heavier stone countertops made of granite are much more difficult and expensive to place in kitchens. A laminate counter can be installed without the need for professional help. One of the big pros to a laminate counter is of course the price point. Although it may need to be replaced more often than a marble surface, with the right care it can last for many years. The Cons One of the drawbacks of laminate is the durability. These counters can easily scratch so you don’t want to use any sharp knives directly on them. Hot items such as pots can also cause damage. Laminate is more susceptible to chipping and burns unlike a granite counter would be. Another thing to look out for is delamination. Water damage is difficult to repair and in most cases will call for the entire countertop to be replaced. Overall, these counters will have a shorter lifespan compared to stone, stainless steel or concrete. Sources: HGTV Image by Sarah Jane Christy