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Create a traditional kitchen full of personality and style

Kitchen Remodeling Tips:

Kitchen RenovationThe kitchen is the heart of the home … the place where memories are made while cooking, eating and sharing stories around the table. Since so much time is spent in this room, it’s important to have a kitchen that fits your personality. There are many styles to choose; but traditional remains one of the most popular because of its timeless, classic look. If you’re updating your kitchen, here are some tips to create a space that reflects your personal style.

Color matters. The right paint colors are integral to achieving the traditional look. Select paint colors that are warm and inviting like cream, taupe and gold. Light colors are popular in the kitchen because they provide a feeling of cleanliness and make the space feel larger. Infuse your room with a few stylish touches by incorporating accents in darker or richer shades, especially in the furniture, wood trim or flooring.

Quality fixtures. When designing your new kitchen, don’t overlook the faucets. They get used many times during the day – needing to withstand heavy usage and tie into the overall design of the kitchen. Growing in popularity are motion-activated faucets, like Moen’s easy-to-use MotionSense technology. The Brantford pulldown faucet adds timeless appeal as the spout enhances the curvature of the faucet body and handle, giving any kitchen a beautiful look with the ultimate convenience of hands-free technology.

For an even more elaborate style, the new Weymouth collection offers an enduring, Victorian design with functional details, such as its high-arc spout. Signature styling elements include a decorative top finial and a refined shepherd’s spout. The detailed design of both faucets will provide extra luxury and serve as the perfect focal point at the sink.

Kitchen-designStorage with flair. Replacing cabinets is usually the most expensive part of a kitchen remodel, so take your time and choose carefully. First, think about the color and the type of wood. White painted cabinets with intricate details and raised-panel doors are a popular choice for traditionally styled kitchens. Adding eye-catching details also goes a long way. Be sure to finish the top of the cabinets with decorative molding or swap wood-fronts with glass panels. And, since it’s all about the details, choose decorative knobs and pulls, as well as a towel bar or towel ring that match both the style and finish of your faucet to add fashion and function.

Luxury countertops. Granite, Quartz and butcher block are great choices for countertops. According to the National Association of Home Builders, granite is the most desirable, must-have kitchen feature. This is likely because it’s scratch- and chip-resistant, not to mention this material is a classic design choice that withstands the test of time.

Butcher block not only adds a warm look to your kitchen, it’s also functional as it provides an ideal area for chopping food. Plus, these countertops are easy to clean – just use soap and water. For added appeal, use two types of materials, one on the main countertop area and another on the kitchen island.

Decorative lighting. Since the kitchen is the place you chop and dice, not to mention socialize with loved ones, you need both ambient and task lighting. For ambient lighting, consider a chandelier. Hang it over the kitchen island or the dining space to add a sophisticated touch. Task lighting should be brighter: use pendants and recessed lights over workplaces like countertops, the sink and stove.

We specialize in Kitchen Remodeling & Renovations!  Give us a call or contact us via email to schedule your free in home consultation.

Turn a Small Space into the Best Kitchen

Tips To Transform Your Small Kitchen

kitchen designHave you been planning to transform your small space into the best kitchen there is but don’t have an inkling where to begin?

A small space does not have to hinder you from creating an eye-catching and impressive kitchen. With just a bit of ingenuity and a whole lot of creativity thrown in, you can easily turn a small space into an area that is both functional and fun.

Transform a small space into an aesthetically-pleasing and functional kitchen by taking the following tips in mind.

  1. Make use of illusion. Make your kitchen look longer by installing floor tiles diagonally.
  2. Install more counters. Since storage is of vital importance, make sure to place adequate counters to make room for more appliances and work space.
  3. Make use of the centre area of your kitchen.  Place an island in the middle (that should be convenient from any area in the kitchen) to supply additional storage space.kitchen remodel with island
  4. Provide the entire area with adequate light. Painting your kitchen with dark colours might make it look compact, however with light beams coming in, it will definitely appear bigger than it seems. Keep window treatments to minimal to make room for sunlight.
  5. Use downsized and compact appliances. Many appliance suppliers provide more space-saving appliances to help small kitchen designs easier to implement.  They provide 24 inch deep refrigerators rather than 30 inch deep ones. Also, it is advisable to place your microwave underneath the cabinet to save more counter space.
  6. Use proper lighting. Most kitchens appear too compact and small because they are often filled with inappropriate lighting. Create an illusion of space by putting fluorescent lights under the cabinets and pendant lights on the ceiling to expand the entire space visually and make it appear more pleasing.
  7. Ditch the solid cabinet doors. And replace it with glass ones instead. Glass fronts help lighten the appearance of cabinetry. They allow the eyes to see right through the back thereby making your kitchen appear more spacious.
  8. Make use of a pullout cabinet. Pull out cabinets come as double purpose storage. They can be drawn towards the centre if you need to use them and put them away afterwards when not in use to save more space.
  9. Get rid of the mess. Avoid cluttering the counters, cabinets and shelves. They make your kitchen appear compact. Display only a few necessity and standout items and remove the rest.
  10. Direct the eye upwards. Pick patterns and colours that make the gazes go towards the ceiling. Create vertical lines on the wall and ceiling boards to create an illusion of greater height.

Small spaces might come as a design challenge. But with a few tricks up your sleeve, you’ll definitely know how to make an impeccably efficient, functional and eye-catching kitchen.

Author bio of Isabelle Clibborn

Isabelle Clibborn works for Authority Specialists as a content writer for over three years. She has a penchant for writing about SEO, social media and blogging.

When not busy typing on her computer, she’s probably playing her favourite instrument – the piano. She likes sharing advice and experiences she’s learned when she was still working at a psychiatric facility. Being a wife and a mother of two beautiful daughters, she always spends quality time with her family every time the weekend rolls around. She currently resides in the beautiful city of Melbourne. Get in touch with her at IsabelleClibborn@authorityspecialists.com.

Isabelle Clibborn for Able Doors – Able Door Services is the trusted name when it comes to domestic and commercial roller shutters. They’ve  just about seen it all from designing smart access points for new facilities to replacing outdated commercial roller doors or automated car-park systems.

Ready to update your kitchen?  Call Bruzzese Home Improvements and ask about our current special offer for kitchen renovations!

 

 

10 Big Space-Saving Ideas for Small Kitchens

Just because you don’t have room in your kitchen for a six-burner stove, double-bowl sink or Sub-Zero fridge, it doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice function or style. Here are 10 ways to max out space in your kitchen, from chic small-scale appliances to innovative storage options and details that make all the difference. We hope at least one of them inspires you.
1. Small but mighty appliances. Revamped vintage appliances, like the stove shown here (a 21-inch vintage O’Keefe and Merritt), and vintage-look ones, like this fridge (from Elmira Stove Works), can be found in smaller sizes that don’t sacrifice style. High-end makers like Bertazzoni and Viking also make small-space models, so even serious cooks can find something that fits the space and works hard.
2. Single-bowl sink. Simply going with a single rather than double bowl for the sink can save you a foot or more of counter space. Small-scale single-bowl sinks come in all styles — a farmhouse style like the one shown here still feels capacious.
3. Undermount sink. If you really want to save every possible inch, go with a small, single-bowl, undermount sink. You’ll eke out a smidgen more workspace on the counter beside the sink, because the edges of the sink will be concealed.Stove: 24 inches, Bertazzoni; sink: Blanco
4. Wall-mounted storage. Have a slender bit of blank wall? Don’t just hang up a calendar or artwork — make the most of the available space by mounting rows of racks on the wall from floor to ceiling. Drape towels over a bar, use S-hooks to hang kitchen tools and install a magnetic knife rack.
The same idea works equally well for pots and pans — don’t stop at one row; use all of the space you have! And notice that in both of these photos, the homeowners painted the storage wall black (chalk paint would be nice too), which makes the arrangement feel more intentional and hides scuff marks.
5. MacGyver-style island. Instead of lining up everything galley style, try opening up the room and putting all of the necessities in a compact all-in-one island. The custom island shown here contains a sink, a stove, a range, prep space, storage for pots and pans, knives, spices and garbage. As if that weren’t enough, the opposite side has space for a few people to perch on stools.
6. Pullout pantry. No room for a proper pantry? A slim pullout one can be tucked into the tightest spaces, and even items way at the back are easily accessible.
7. Minimalist hardware. It may seem like a small thing, but in a really narrow galley kitchen, it’s easy to knock into bulky knobs and handles. Keep things looking and feeling sleek by choosing slender, minimalist pulls. High-gloss cabinets and proper lighting also help open up the tight kitchen here.
8. Cabinets to the ceiling. Why stop a foot short when you can take the cabinets all the way up? Even if you can’t easily access what’s in the top cupboards, in a small space it’s still worth having the storage option. Having ceiling-height cabinets also helps visually expand the space.
contemporary kitchen Contemporary Kitchen
9. No door. Removing the kitchen door is so easy and helps a small room feel much larger. Better still, have the opening widened or a wall removed. Opening up the kitchen is about more than style — having extra space to move around in will help keep two cooks from bumping into each other quite so much.
10. Make paring back an art form. Keep the best and ditch the rest. Keep only the best knives, your favorite set of glasses, the most adorable teakettle, the most frequently used kitchen tools and so on. Be ruthless about purging clutter. And it wouldn’t hurt to choose clear glass and acrylic for the items you keep on display — transparent items make a room feel more spacious.
Article courtesy of Houzz.com, By:

I’m a Houzz Contributor, and the blogger behind Lolalina… More 

What Countertop Material is Right for your Kitchen?

The Workbench Life: Home

Comparing Countertop Materials

By Mindy Pantiel for The Workbench Life

Good looks play a major role in selecting kitchen countertop materials. But when you consider that the average counter endures hot pots, greasy foods, sharp knives and wine spills on a daily basis, durability and maintenance are essential factors, as well. To help you decide what countertop material is right for your kitchen, here’s a guide to some of the most popular options.

Laminate

Thanks to advances in printing technology, today’s laminates mimic stone, metal or wood with ease. Made with layers of paper and melamine resin, laminate kitchen countertop options are highly affordable and stain resistant, but can be damaged by sharp knives and hot pots. In general, the thicker the product, the more long-lasting it will be. Cost: $22–$52

Solid surfaces

Solid surfaces, such as Corian and Staron, also imitate the look of stone, but have the advantage of being colored throughout, so scratches can be sanded away. That said, solid surfaces do scratch easily, but the colors don’t fade with age and there are design options that resemble glass or concrete. Cost: $70–130

Granite

Often considered timeless and elegant, natural granite comes in literally thousands of colors. Heat and scratch resistant, it will repel stains when properly sealed, but is among the most expensive kitchen countertop options and is costly to transport. Cost: $95–225

Marble

“As long as it’s sealed and well-cared-for, marble is a beautiful surface — especially in a traditional kitchen,” says Certified Kitchen Designer Patti Weaver of Creative Design Solutions in Niwot, Colorado. Marble is a porous countertop material and requires regular maintenance and resealing for food safety. Available in white, black, gray, green and pink, it’s another classic material that never goes out of style. Cost: $127–$250

Engineered stone

Formed from quartz and a binder, engineered stones, such as Caesarstone and Silestone, have nonporous surfaces, making them more stain resistant than natural stone, but not necessarily less expensive. “While granite can definitely bring a unique pop of color to a room, I’ve been moving toward more environmentally friendly alternatives like Cambria,” says Weaver. “It’s a great granite look-alike, and it’s made in Minnesota.” Cost: $105–$187

Ceramic tile

Budget-friendly ceramic tile comes in a variety of colors, shapes, textures and sizes, making it easy to coordinate with different design styles. While resistant to heat, scratches, stains and moisture, the tiles can chip or crack, and the grout requires routine cleaning to prevent stains and mildew. Cost: $23–$124

Wood

Nothing warms up a kitchen like wood, and a practical butcher block is an ideal surface for chopping food without dulling your knives. Over time, the long-lasting countertop material also develops a beautiful patina. Properly sealed, wood countertops are sanitary for chopping meat, but they are vulnerable to moisture, heat, acid and stains, so routine maintenance is essential. Cost: $32–$200

Concrete

If you are looking for a good looking complement to other countertop materials like wood and stone, durable, heat-resistant concrete might be the answer. An extremely versatile material, concrete can be tinted and sculpted for maximum design possibilities. On the downside, it requires sealing and regular maintenance to combat stains and water. It’s also extremely heavy. Cost: $75–200

Green alternatives

A number of environmentally friendly options are available on the market. A blend of bamboo, recycled paper and wood fiber EcoTop offers good looks at a reasonable $35 a square foot. Another eco-conscious offering, Fuez, is a mix of glass, fly ash, stones and shells that is more durable than marble but needs to be sealed upon installation. Made from 60–80 percent recycled materials, it is manufactured in Portland using 100 percent wind energy. Cost: $80

Like this article? Get more by following us @WorkbenchLife  or friending us on Facebook at The Workbench Life.

Mindy Pantiel frequently writes about home-related repair for design and architecture magazines.

Kitchen Remodeling – What to Consider in Creating an Amazing Kitchen

A kitchen is rightly called the heart of a home. It is the most vibrant part of your home, where the family enjoys spending time together while cooking meals and dining. A kitchen renovation not only makes your lifestyle easy but also increases the value of your home. A renovated kitchen enhances the appearance of the entire home. If you are planning to remodel your kitchen, certain factors need to be kept in mind.

kitchen remodeling project

Make your Kitchen Spacious so that you can walk around freely

Factors to consider when remodeling a kitchen:

Use good quality materials:

When good quality materials are used to create the hinges and drawer slides, it will prevent the sticking of drawers.  Do not choose drawers that are made up of particleboard or are stapled together. Choose wood veneer for the interiors of the cabinets since it has more durability than particleboard, MDF, laminate or melamine.

Determine heights for the cabinets:

In case you have 8 foot ceilings, choose cabinets that reach the ceilings. Such cabinets offer more space for storage allowing you to utilize the extra space in walls for open shelves or artwork. In case your ceilings have a height greater then 8 feet, leave a space of about 15 to 18 inches above cabinets.

Choose between painting and staining:

Though stained wooden cabinetry looks good, most of the finishes do not last long and cannot be altered easily. Painted cabinets present a unique personality to the kitchen.

Choose an attractive countertop:

Stained wood and white Carrara marble present a look reflecting warmth and elegance. Counter-tops also look good when made up of plastic laminate, Wiarton limestone, soapstone and honed Kirk stone slate. They present a sophisticated appearance to your kitchen.

Install a suitable island:

Do not ever place a bulky cube at the center of your kitchen. Islands are better that are open and airy in look. Do not place appliances on the island. However, if you wish to use the island to hold a cook top or a dishwasher-sink combo, try to lend a light look to it.

Avoid overdoing the details:

Design accents like plaster moldings on the cabinet fronts and pediments on stoves can prove to be an excess of decoration. An important thing to keep in mind is that your kitchen style should fit the style of the rest of the home.

Avoid materials that need excessive maintenance:

Materials having textured surfaces like tumbled marble, brick, terra-cotta and slate can camouflage the odd spots but are quite difficult to clean. Instead, materials with smooth surfaces coming in light colors like ceramic floors or white laminate counters can be cleaned easily but are quite transparent. You need to keep your kitchen neat and clean so it is better to go with materials offering ease of cleaning and requiring less maintenance.

Conclusion:

These are the basic factors to keep in mind when remodeling your kitchen. The consideration of these factors will help you to build a kitchen with greater functionality as well as enhanced aesthetics. Incorporate unique designs in your kitchen so that it reflects your individual tastes and preferences.

Mary James is an experienced writer about basement remodeling. She suggests visiting Charlotte remodeling or finishing  by finelineconstruction.net  for more useful information about basement construction and remodeling.

Summary: A renovated kitchen is more comfortable to work in and also increases the value of your home. The renovation should be carried out faster considering the tips listed above.

Are you thinking about renovating your kitchen?  Give us a call at 914-576-2572 for a free in home estimate.  We’ve been helping families in Westchester County create their dream kitchens since 1957! Gary B.

Kitchen Gadgetry: Unique, Useful and Fun

kitchen gadgetCooking can be a daily chore or an experience to be embraced. Gadgets in the kitchen can make the difference. Whether to make your cooking experience easier, more convenient or just more fun, gadgets can be exactly what you’ve been looking for. Some are simple and inexpensive but nevertheless extremely helpful in the kitchen. Other gadgets require more expense and/or space to accommodate into your kitchen design. Let’s start with some simple gadgets that might help alleviate the stress of cooking.

Digital Meat Thermometer

This gadget helps measure the exact degree of cooked chicken, roast or turkey so it does not become overdone and dried out. It can also be used as a measure for the warmth of the water when dissolving yeast so it’s not killed by overly warm water.

Silicone Baking Sheets

If baking is your forte, silicone baking sheets will help those cookies slide right onto your cooling racks. Being eco-friendly, silicone baking sheets eliminate the expense and waste of using parchment paper.

Kitchen Tablet Mount

Using technology in the kitchen is becoming truly necessary—after all, Pinterest has all the recipes you could ever want! Because of this, the tablet is becoming a fixture in the kitchen. To protect your iPad or tablet, install a mount that will keep it at eye level and out of the mess of cooking.

Parchment Cooking Bags

These handy cooking bags make cooking without extra butter and oil a reality. They can be used to cook vegetables, as well as fish and meat. They help keep the moisture in food without any added fat.

Herb Mill

If fresh herbs are used frequently in your kitchen, an herb mill is the gadget you need to get the freshest chopped herbs into those recipes with just a turn of the wrist.

Pasta Maker

There is simply nothing as delicious as freshly made pasta. A pasta maker is a must if you’re taking on the task of creating your own spaghetti, ravioli or fettuccine. Simple to use and fun, the pasta maker is worth it, eliminating the need to roll pasta by hand.

Some gadgets that help make the kitchen the room of choice are not as inexpensive and simple, but definitely can make the kitchen a happier place!

Pot-Filler Faucet

With a gallon of water weighing in around eight pounds, this gadget is a wrist saver. The faucet is plumbed right behind your stove, making it a convenient tool with which to fill a pan right on the stove (and no spilling!). Many models come with swing arms so they can be out of the way when not in use.

Beer Tender

If someone in your home enjoys a frosty mug of beer, this appliance will please. Basically, it is a small appliance for your kitchen that refrigerates your beer, keeping it at the perfect temperature (37.4 degrees) for optimal enjoyment. Beer is drawn right from the tap, making it extremely convenient. The cooling system is quiet but effective at keeping a brew nice and frosty!

The kitchen has always been the nucleus of the home: it’s where you gather with your loved ones with few distractions. With so many new, unique and innovative gadgets available today, that nucleus can keep getting stronger!

This article was provided by Chase Roberts, home and garden expert and kitchen gadget guru. If you’re looking for replacement parts for a kitchen appliance, Chase suggests checking out http://www.yourspares.co.uk/.

 

Choosing a Boiling Water Tap

quooker-basic-boiling-hot-water-tap-pro3-vaq-mediumBoiling water taps are popular in the UK, Australia and the US. They vary according to options, make and model; the simplest supplement would be to use your existing sink arrangement. More complex taps have options for chilled, cold, hot and boiling water—it can be purified or filtered, and the most advanced among boiling taps have touch screen interfaces. Below, you’ll learn some of the benefits of the boiling water tap and the primary differences between brands.

Hot Water When you Need It

As you may already know, a boiling water tap will give you instant hot water for soups, drinks, noodle dishes and flasks. It can reduce boil time for vegetables by up to half when compared to a gas or electric hob. With a boiling water tap, you’ll never need to wait for the kettle again!

Hot Water Taps Offer Filtering

Depending on your home’s plumbing, the water coming out of your new tap can be purified and filtered. You have a variety of options which depend on whether you want to purify all the water that comes into your home or just that which comes out of your tap. Every Quooker tap filters lead and other solids like limestone. There are even reverse-osmosis systems which also remove fluoride, chlorine and other impurities before your water is heated or chilled.

Add on to Your Sink, or Start Fresh

When you decide to add a boiling water tap, you can either install it in your current kitchen sink or you can buy one including a drip tray. If you’re a more advanced user, you can replace your existing hot/cold tap with a four-in-one setup which includes hot and cold, as well as chilled and boiling water. The highest-end taps from Quooker and other makers include features such as sparkling water dispensers and countertop touch panels. With a new hot water tap, you’ll have so much more than just a kitchen sink!

Like many other modern kitchen appliances, boiling water taps are very energy efficient because you’re only heating the exact amount of water you need. They’re vacuum-insulated and the best models consume just pennies in energy when in standby mode. The taps come in stylish designs to complement any kitchen and some are even height-adjustable.

There are a multitude of uses for a hot water tap from Insinkerator, Franke or Quooker, and users are coming up with new ones each day. You can boil water for the perfect cup of English tea, or you can easily blanch vegetables, cook pasta or heat up serving ware. Making coffee and preparing baby formula is a breeze! You can do all this and more in just a moment with a boiling water tap and, with its growing popularity, we can expect to see it become a regular feature of most kitchens in the years to come.

Guest Post By:

Article written by A. Elliott; a writer with an interest in home improvement and interior design.

Have questions?  Please comment below or contact us for more information.

Chef-inspired tips for a cleaner, more efficient kitchen

Tips for a cleaner more efficient kitchen:

Chef-inspired tips for a cleaner, more efficient kitchenIf cleanliness is next to godliness – as the old adage goes – than a clean kitchen is simply a divine place to be. It’s the room in your home that gets the most intense use, so keeping your kitchen clean can be a challenge. You can make kitchen cleanup a bit easier if you take your cleanliness cues from professional chefs.

In a professional kitchen, cleanliness is not only a vital health issue, it directly impacts the efficient operation of the kitchen and everyone who works in it. Here are five tricks professional chefs use to maximize cleanliness and efficiency in their kitchens:

1. Don’t touch – From the culinary student who chops the onions for the French onion soup, to the chef that cooks the food and puts it on the plate, every team member in a professional kitchen knows that touch spreads germs. Home chefs can reduce the spread of germs in their own kitchens by minimizing the need to touch key tools, like the faucet.

Touch-free faucets, like Kohler’s Sensate Touchless Kitchen Faucet, allow you to control the flow of water in your kitchen sink without ever having to touch a potentially germy surface. A state-of-the-art sensor allows the faucet to respond in 20 milliseconds, and eliminates the need for bare-skin taps or awkward waving to activate the sensor. To learn more about the latest in kitchen faucet design and technology, visit www.Kohler.com.

2. Always be prepared – In professional kitchens, staff use separate cutting boards – and often utensils – for preparing meats, vegetables and fruits. Storing utensils, pots and pans according to their tasks facilitates quick and easy access when preparing food. Mis-en-place (pronounced meez-ahn-place), a French adage and popular chef’s practice, involves gathering all ingredients and implements needed before cooking begins. With everything in its place, you’ll be able to move smoothly and efficiently through a recipe without halting food prep to dig through the refrigerator or pantry.

3. Countertop savvy – Countertop savvy goes beyond just keeping them clean. Just as you use separate cutting boards for meats and vegetables, consider the value of task-specific countertop surfaces. Avid bakers, for example, can benefit from marble countertops because the material helps keep the dough cool. If such an installation falls outside your budget, consider a marble pastry board instead. Place it on the kitchen table to transform your eating area into an impromptu bake station. Bonus: rolling dough on a surface slightly shorter than standard 36-inch countertops provides a more comfortable, ergonomic experience.

4. Work the triangle – You may be familiar with the concept of the work triangle: arranging the refrigerator (food storage), sink (food prep area) and range (cooking space) in a triangle configuration makes the kitchen more efficient. But improving efficiency in your kitchen encompasses more than just the arrangement of these three key areas. Expand the concept to include other items that fall into each of these categories. For example, positioning the pantry beside the refrigerator ensures food is stored in the same general location – and increases the efficiency of your triangle flow. In short, the fewer steps taken to navigate the triangle, the more efficient it is.

Ready to make YOUR kitchen more efficient?  Give us a call at 914-576-2572 or contact us for your free in home estimate!

Today’s dream home utilizes modern technology for increased functionality

Today's dream home utilizes modern technology for increased functionalityThe number of improving housing markets expanded for a sixth consecutive month in January 2013 according to the National Association of Home Builders/First American. With this positive sign, it’s an interesting time for homeowners to consider investing in high-tech home upgrades that not only increase their home’s value and simplify everyday tasks, but also create a dream home ambiance for the entire family to enjoy.

From lighting fixtures that turn on at your expected arrival to heated bathroom floors that warm up just before your alarm clock goes off, it can be surprising how one or two high-tech luxury upgrades can transform the functionality of your home.

According to Jack Thomasson, HGTV Dream Home House Planner, to get the biggest bang for your buck, the key is to start adding these updates where it matters the most.

“The kitchen is the perfect place to apply technology that connects our home to our lifestyle,” says Thomasson, “When applied properly, technology in the kitchen can have a greater impact than when applied in any other room of the house.”

For example, the simple addition of a new faucet with touch technology, like those found in the 2013 HGTV Dream Home, can add ease and efficiency to everyday tasks. By allowing- the water flow to be activated with a simple tap anywhere on the faucet, handle or spout, faucets like the Delta Cassidy single-handle pull down kitchen faucet with Touch2O Technology, help homeowners conserve water and -avoid unwanted messes while entertaining.

This ease and efficiency added by touch technology is being incorporated into new homes at rates never seen before, as more and more consumers use the technology on a daily basis to interact with smart phones, ATM machines, tablets, computers, printers and other devices. It is now possible to utilize touch technology on tablets and smart phones to remotely adjust lights, monitor room temperature, or even summon a hidden flat screen television. Not only are these tools adding time-saving solutions but they are also providing new energy-saving benefits that can be felt on your water, electric and natural gas bills at home.

While only about 3 percent of homes in the U.S. include these automation systems today, this percentage is expected to grow by double-digit rates as the global home automation industry is anticipated to become a $35.6 billion industry by 2016. Fueled by the latest mobile apps, homeowners across America are controlling their interior and exterior lighting, unlocking the front door for guests and arming their security systems and more with a simple touch.

Whether updating an older home or evaluating options for new construction, people have many options when it comes to incorporating technological upgrades in the home and as the market continues to grow, more exciting options will emerge. Homeowners now know they need not wait to add smart functionality and style today to create their dream home of the future.

Do you think you’ll add any of these new technologies to your home?

Gary Bruzzese

Organize Your Home With Decluttering

Organize Your Home With DeclutteringDecluttering the home is a tough task for almost everyone because it involves parting with items we are used to and organizing the entire area in a better and more functional way. Effective decluttering has plenty of benefits – for our health, mood and the functionality of the home as a whole.  A decluttering project can make your home look much better and the results will be visible.  Decluttering doesn’t have to be a fast-paced process, but you have to be realistic about things and get rid of those that you never use.  Here are some of the rules of decluttering which will help you significantly:

1. Furniture:   You need to use your furniture pieces for what they are intended. If the kitchen table is used more for storage or a dumping area, you know you have a problem. It’s a place to cook and have a family meal, not store items. The kitchen is a focal area in every home and should be used accordingly. Make a habit of cleaning the kitchen table and only put items that add beauty to it – a bowl of fruit, a vase with flowers, a box with bread, etc.

2. Treasures:   If your home is cluttered it’s difficult to spot the actual treasured possessions. Take them out from Organize Your Home With Declutteringdrawers and declutter the shelves one by one. You don’t need that many things all over the place to have a beautiful home. In fact, a more minimalist design is always the better way to organize your possessions.

3. Time:  When the home is decluttered, you can clean and tidy up easily, which leaves you more time for other things like simply sitting down and relaxing. Moreover, it will make the rest of the family more inclined to help you after seeing the benefits of the decluttered area.

4. Guests:  With a clean and decluttered home it’s much easier to invite guests on a regular basis and not start with tidying up all over. This can even improve your social life.

5. Health:  One of the biggest benefits of decluttering the home is the much cleaner living environment, which is medically proven. These benefits on the health include: reduced stress, better sleep, less depression, less colds and flu, easier breathing, immune system that’s more resilient to illnesses, cleaner skin, more motivation, healthier plants and more. All of these benefits are enough to show you how important decluttering is for having a clean and healthy home.

Organize Your Home With DeclutteringDon’t postpone this task anymore and look for other storage options for all those items that keep lying around and cluttering the rooms. Once you organize your home properly, you will be astonished at how much better you feel at home and wonder why you haven’t done it earlier.

Guest Post By:

Bio: Ella Andrews is a content writer who has great flair for decoration and interior design. She is always searching for new challenges. Therefore her present article is focused on house maintenance related theme.

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