The concept of universal design is used to create kitchens that offer the greatest degree of accessibility to the largest number of people (with or without disabilities). It’s a smart method to use during remodeling since it can increase the resale value of your home. A universal kitchen design may also permit you to “age in place” rather than moving to a retirement home. With cabinets in particular, having everything within easy reach minimizes the risk of injury.

Ideal Placement and Accessories

If you are having new cabinets installed, the lower ones should be set 6” off the ground. Put roll-out shelves in these cabinets so you don’t have to bend, twist and reach for cookware. Lazy-Susan rotating trays are an excellent accessibility option for corner cabinets.

Bonus tip: Replace round knobs with easy-to-grasp pull handles to make opening cabinet doors easier.

Pull Down Shelves

Upper cabinets should be no more than 10” deep and no higher than 48” above the floor. If yours are higher and you are just repainting but not replacing them, consider adding pull-down shelves. These metal shelves are hidden in the interior of the cabinet. They pull out and then down, locking into place so you can find what you need. A gas assisted device carries the shelf back inside the cabinet when you are finished.

Have you ever wanted to watch your favorite cooking show in your kitchen instead of on the sofa? You could try out the techniques those super-chefs demonstrate with all the utensils, ingredients and appliances you need in arm’s reach. Or, maybe you like to hang out at the breakfast bar with your friends instead of watching sports in the living room with the guys. Install a TV in the kitchen and you can choose whatever entertainment you want.

TV Lifts Save Space in your Kitchen

With counter top space at a premium, you will want your TV monitor tucked out of sight when not in use. This will also protect it from the occasional cooking accident that ends up with oil spatters or mashed potatoes on the walls. You have several choices for hiding your flat panel plasma TV.

Drop Down TV Lift

A rising TV lift can be incorporated into your center island. This is the best location if you want to install a large screen. The surface of your island will still be flush so it can be used as a workspace. The hinged section of marble, granite, wood, or laminate concealing your TV will simply open up with the press of a button from your remote control. A scissor or telescoping lift brings the monitor into view.

Drop down “lifts” operate in the opposite direction. You can mount this kind in the ceiling or have it drop down to counter level from inside a kitchen cabinet. These are a great solution for smaller screens. Here are some extra tips for making the right choice:

• Always choose a lift that is designed for the size and weight of your plasma screen
• Measure the inside dimensions of your island or cabinet twice before purchasing your TV and lift
• Avoid buying a lift that has plastic parts – these will break easily
• Have your lift professionally installed to preserve your warranty

Getting your pantry organized and making small improvements lets you stock more of the items you need without using up valuable cabinet space in your kitchen. Using air tight, stackable containers for storage is a good start. To really maximize your available space, you need to create unique shelving solutions.

Screw small wire organizer shelves (the kind with a lip to keep things from falling off) onto the inside of the pantry door. Or, install a hook. Here, you can hang your fly swatter or a plastic grocery bag holder. Since the door will swing opened and closed, don’t use this space to store anything breakable. Also be careful not to add too much weight.

Pantry with Unused Space

Use a lazy Susan for areas that are difficult to reach. This round, turning storage mechanism can give you easy access to items that you keep on high shelves. Instead of having to climb up a stepstool to see which jars or boxes are tucked in the shelf corners, you can simply turn the lazy Susan to present one item after another until you find what you need.

Install custom sliding or pull out shelving in other strategic places in your pantry. Often there is wasted space between items that are stored on one shelf and those on the next shelf above. This approach will help eliminate these unused areas.

One of the biggest dead spaces in a pantry is the center. This space needs to be open so you can walk in and out easily. However, you can hang baskets, dried herbs, and ropes of onions from the ceiling taking care to place them where you won’t bump your head.

Choosing a kitchen sink faucet that suits your needs can make food prep an enjoyable task and dishwashing less of a chore. Function and style are blended in modern faucet designs, so you don’t have to sacrifice one for the other. If you are replacing the basin at the same time, be sure to select one with the correct number and placement of openings to accommodate the faucet of your choice.

Basics

Single Lever Faucet

A long necked faucet that arcs high over the sink is probably the most popular style for today’s kitchens. It is easy to maneuver even large pots under this type of fixture – especially if you have a double basin sink. This type of faucet can be installed with ornate hot and cold temperature knobs to the right and left of the central fixture.

If you like one-handed temperature and flow control, pick a faucet with a single adjustment lever incorporated into its base. For an old fashioned look with a modern finish, consider a pump handle style in oil rubbed bronze. Matte black and ivory are other alternatives to stainless steel and chrome on some high-end brands.

Accessories

A sprayer is a must-have for cleaning your sink and prepping soiled dishes for your dishwasher. You can install a separate retractable sprayer. Or, choose a faucet that features a pulldown sprayer head for a more streamlined look.  A soap dispenser can be hidden under the sink with a push nozzle located by the faucet for easy dispensing. Choose a standard sized faucet if you plan to install a water filter or want to hook up a carpet shampooer.

A wet bar is a very useful addition to your home if you entertain regularly. The best spot for your wet bar depends on where you have an available water supply. That’s why kitchens are an optimal location – you can simply extend an existing line to bring water to the bar sink. This makes installation simple and relatively inexpensive.

You can make your wet bar a free-standing island or build it onto the end of a counter. Installing it as an extension to your breakfast counter is another option. Just be sure to leave enough room for a walkway at the end. Otherwise the flow of traffic into and out of your kitchen may be impeded – something you definitely don’t want during a party.

To maintain consistency, it is best to apply the décor theme from the rest of your kitchen to your wet bar. You may also add a few more exotic touches. Try an ornate chrome faucet, drawers with vintage glass pull knobs, or a marble counter top to give the area a sophisticated look.

Wet Bar Essentials

Besides a sink, there are a few things you should definitely include in a fully functional wet bar. An icemaker, a refrigeration unit, and storage space for glasses are must have items. Depending on your beverage preferences, you may also want a wine rack or a full-fledged liquor cabinet. 

Don’t feel like you have to add an ice bucket, espresso machine, and other accessories unless you have enough room. You don’t want your wet bar to be cluttered.

Contact paper is a useful item for redecorating kitchens. It can be used in cabinets and on pantry shelving to provide semi-permanent protection from scratches and stains. High quality contact paper can be easily wiped down and sanitized. It can be installed in old or new cabinets on top of the bare particle board or over a coat of paint.

You can choose contact paper in a wide variety of patterns and colors. If your cabinet exteriors are painted white, a bright gingham or flowered contact paper provides a surprising contrast. There also specialized types of film lining that are skid resistant or have bug repellant properties.

Removing/Replacing Old Contact Paper

Is there already contact paper in place that you don’t really like? You aren’t stuck with it. A few removal tricks can make redecoration quick and painless. Use a hair dryer to warm the surface of the old contact paper and restore some flexibility in the plastic film.

The heat will also melt the underlying adhesive just enough so that a corner will easily peel back. From that corner, you can work the hair dryer gradually over the entire surface. Pull the contact paper off at the same time with your other hand. Work slowly so that the old paper is less likely to split into fragments as you peel it off. Once the paper is removed, residual adhesive needs to be wiped away. Use ‘Goo Gone’ or another citrus type cleaner.

Let the surface dry completely before attempting to put in the new contact paper. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for installation. Use a soft cloth to smooth the surface of the paper with gentle pressure from the palm of your hand.

Once all the bubbles are gone from underneath the paper, carefully trim away any excess with a pair of sharp scissors. A nice even edge on the contact paper will make your kitchen cabinets look professionally redone.

Keeping your kitchen sparkling and spotless is a never ending task. Food crumbs, spills, and spatters just seem to get everywhere. If this room isn’t well lit, all that wiping, sweeping, and scrubbing may still leave debris behind. This is one good reason to add under-cabinet lights.

These shine a spotlight on your food prep surfaces making it easier to achieve the highest standards of cleanliness. Of course, extra lights also help during cooking. They can make it easier to read instructions in your cookbook. Being able to see your cutting board more clearly might save you a finger as well.

Unfortunately, you can’t just plug under-cabinet lighting into a standard wall outlet (it’s not safe). You need to draw power from another source. If you are comfortable working with wiring and transformers, you can install these lights yourself following the manufacturer’s instructions. Otherwise, hire an electrician to help you out for an afternoon.

Types of Lighting

The 3 most popular types of bulbs are fluorescents, xenon, and LED. Fluorescent bulbs can look like regular task lamps – a long bulb of whatever length you require. Xenon and LED lamps are usually circular “pucks” that offer spot lighting. With many brands, you can connect these pucks in a series to illuminate the entire length of your cabinet from a single power source.

Most under-cabinet lights for kitchens have a slim profile that makes them virtually invisible after installation. Others are designed to be recessed. In this case, you will need to cut holes in the bottoms of your cabinets as part of the installation process.

A pot rack is one of those upscale kitchens accoutrements that are frequently featured in the movies and in interior design magazines. The shiny set of a dozen or more burnished copper pots and pans are always perfectly flawless. That’s your first clue what you are seeing is a fantasy rather than a reality.

Take out your own pots and look at them. Do they have any scorch marks, stains, or mineral build up? That’s the authentic look of well worn cookware. You might not want to display them prominently in your kitchen. For the Southern Living kitchen look, you would need to buy a matched set specifically for show.

Your other option is to embrace the homey, eclectic look by mixing cast iron, stainless steel, and copper pieces. This is the way to go if you are more interested in the functionality of the pot rack than in the aesthetics. Either way, the placement of your pot rack will play an important role in how happy you are with this kitchen accessory.

Avoid Common Pitfalls

The #1 mistake homeowners make is installing the pot rack where it gets in the way of other activities. Hanging it over a center island may seem like a brilliant idea – until you actually add the pots and pans. Then, if you didn’t allow sufficient height you will end up banging your head on this suspended cookware. In contrast, a rack that is hung too high will make it difficult for you to reach items when you need them.

Putting a pot rack near the stove will mean you have to constantly wipe splatters off the saucepans. Instead, choose a low traffic area. Consider a wall rack rather than a suspended circular “chandelier” style rack if you have a smaller kitchen. This will minimize pans banging against each other and becoming dented if they are jostled.

Galley kitchens are a common feature in many smaller homes. This type of layout is designed to put everything within easy reach and take up as little square footage as possible. However, a narrow kitchen is the bane of existence for couples who love to cook together. Even with the recommended 48” walkway for a two person work area, you will find yourself bumping into one another. If you are holding a knife or a pot of boiling water when this happens, it can spell the end of a happy relationship.

Is there is an adjoining wall separating your kitchen from a living area? Take it down – assuming it isn’t a load bearing wall. Relocate the appliances to one side of the new, larger area to form an L shaped layout. Or, if your dining room is larger than your kitchen, simply swap rooms. Both of these remodeling options will require rewiring and plumbing updates, but you can incorporate your existing appliances into the new layout.

Upgrading Offers Decent ROI

Sometimes, homeowners use a kitchen remodel (including new, energy efficient appliances) as a way to increase the resale value of their home. According to the 2008-2009 Cost versus Value report, most of the cost of this type of major remodeling job can be recaptured during a sale. Of course, this varies depending on the condition of the real estate market in your area. Whatever your reasons for upgrading your kitchen, you can’t go wrong with more space and better appliances.

Nothing starts off a chilly winter morning like a hot pot of coffee. But, what do you have to go through to reach it? If your trek takes you barefoot across ceramic tiles in your kitchen, you will appreciate the ingenuity of under-floor heating. This idea dates back to the era of the Roman Empire (the same civilization that invented indoor plumbing). These days, you have two options for keeping your toes toasty – electric and hydronic.

Electric

This type of radiant heating system generally features cables fixed in a looping pattern on a mesh backing. Some manufacturers recommend placing a cork layer or other insulator between your concrete foundation and the heating system for greater energy efficiency. The cable matting is laid down over this substrate and affixed firmly to it. Thinset mortar is poured and leveled as usual (taking care not to damage the underlying electrical system). Finally, the tile is laid down, grouted, and sealed.

An electrical floor heating system can also be used under stone, marble, or wood flooring. Some manufacturers make a product that is simple enough for a DIY job. However, you will want a licensed electrician to handle connecting the heating system to your house’s wiring.

Hydronic

A hydronic system runs heated water through metal pipes to achieve a radiant heating effect. This application is not limited to kitchens and bathrooms but can be used throughout the house as a substitute for traditional central heating. Some products feature piping laid down in grooves cut in aluminum coated wood panels. This increases the efficiency of heating compared to pipes set in gypsum concrete. Carpet as well as hard flooring surfaces can be installed over these floor boards.

Your kitchen is the one room in your home where you probably make the most mess. Hot grease spatters from frying pans, mashed potatoes spin off the mixer beaters, and water splashes out of the sink when you are washing dishes. This means moisture resistant, easy to clean surfaces are a must.  Paint doesn’t react well to constant scrubbing, so it isn’t the best finish for this area. This is one reason backsplashes are often used as an alternative to painted surfaces in kitchens.

Installing a kitchen backsplash is a fairly simple DIY project that can spruce up the area behind your stovetop/sink or above all your countertops. Here are a few materials and design ideas to consider:

Stainless Steel

Brushed stainless steel is long lasting and attractive. You can purchase it in sheets that are flat or embossed. This material is easy to install – use a construction adhesive to glue it in place. Add a decorative molding around the edges or just caulk them. Wipe down stainless steel with a damp cloth and a gentle detergent to remove food splatters.

Decorative Tile

This is the most versatile option for your kitchen backsplash. Match the tile to your flooring or any other feature/decoration in the room. You can create a geometric pattern using tiles of different sizes or colors. Or, you might prefer a mural of fruit or a Tuscan countryside. It is important to measure and place the tiles carefully or you will end up with a crooked design. The grout will need to be well sealed (and cleaned frequently) to prevent staining.

Smooth Stone

If your kitchen countertops are high quality granite, you may want to simply continue this effect up the wall for a seamless backsplash effect. You can also top a low granite backsplash with marble tiles for a sophisticated accented look.

It’s very important to get organized.  It creates more space in your living area as well as leaves you with a feeling of accomplishment.  The need to get things in their place seems to run wildly around this time of year since a new beginning is just around the corner, being that it will be a new year and all.

The first step to organization is visualizing a space to look the way you want to see it as the end result.  This will help you get started.  Maybe you have a closet with so many clothes in it, you don’t end up wearing anything but the same 5-7 outfits day in and day out because you don’t realize some of the other options you have available.  Perhaps you have a laundry room that has become a collect-all area.  First things first, look at the space the way it is disfunctioning now and envision how you would like it to function in the future.

A good rule of thumb is “if you haven’t used it in the past year, throw it out!”  This may not always be true of everything.   There may be a plumbing snake packed away in your attic that you really needed when the toilet got backed up a couple of years ago.  You may not have used it since but the chances that a drain or two will again get clogged in your lifetime warrant keeping that plumbing snake around.  Plan on storing it in a garage on a top shelf somewhere or in a corner.  Don’t forget where you put it though, otherwise you could find yourself running out to the hardware store unnecessarily someday to purchase another.

So pick a space to tackle be it a garage or a closet or an entire room.  Focus on that one space for now.  A lot of times folks get so into organizing that they try to take on too many projects at a time.  This will undoubtedly leave your home in a state of disarray.  Decide if you will be taking the items that are to be gotten rid of to a local charity or if you will try to resell them.  I generally go for the charity option.  It’s great to see your old junk being put to good use by someone that really needs it.  If you decide to resell I would say try to take the online approach with this.  Use a service such as Craigslist or Ebay.  Have a digital camera on hand so that you can document these items to catalog online later.

Next, enlist help!  Going through old goods is always more fun and much quicker and easier to do with friends or family.  It can really make for a fun event.  Also if this person does not live with you they may find that some of your old belongings could be put to good use in their home.  This will save you time and energy when it comes to getting rid of the items.

Then you will want to get a large box or a few garbage bags ready.  Start going through the items one by one and separating them into groups of things to be kept or given away.  I suggest moving all items out of the space temporarily even if they will be held onto.  This way you will have a completely empty space to return them to when you are finished.  This will enable you to recreate the space and make it “new” compared to the way it may have previously been set up.  You may find that that some of the kept items don’t belong in this space after all and they may be better stored elsewhere.

Finally, recreate the space.  In order to do this you may need to make some changes.  You might see once it is cleared out that you need more cupboards in a kitchen in order to properly and neatly store items, or you may find that a closet, garage or utility room needs more shelving options.  If this is the case rectify this situation by having the items needed installed or purchased.  Bins and tubs make storage easier as well.  You can mark on the outside of them with a Sharpie marker for easier location later.  For example you may have a bin marked “Winter Clothes, Christmas Decorations,” etc.

Now that you have refurbished this space it will become more functional and you can rest assured that you will now be easier able to find those items that had all been lost in the midst before.