Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Small Kitchen Furniture Designs
Style and Color for Kitchen Cabinets Design
Next consider the style of cabinet. When choosing the cabinet style consider the overall style of the home and what mood and atmosphere is desired for the kitchen. For a traditional style, look for cabinets with lots of detail and furniture-like features such as molding, corbels and cabinet legs.
For a modern look, choose kitchen cabinets with doors that fit flush to the edges of the cabinet and use sleek kitchen cabinet pulls or even no pulls at all.
Consider also whether stained natural wood, painted wood or man-made materials would look best with the overall home design. Here also, it is possible to mix and match a bit. Cabinets can be two-toned with the outer frame around a cabinet door one color contrasting with the main cabinet color. For a farmhouse or more traditional look, a single kitchen cabinet can be made to look more like a piece of furniture by using a different color or material than the rest of the kitchen and putting it on raised legs.
Kitchen Space Planning
To reduce the amount of cabinetry (and cost), consider what really needs to be stored in the kitchen and what items would be simply left unused in drawers or cabinets. Also consider items that may be used only once a year for special suppers such as Thanksgiving or Christmas and decide if they are better off stored in a storage room other than the kitchen.
The extra space freed up by using less cabinetry can help create a roomier feel to the kitchen or can be used in other ways—perhaps a cozy settee or window seat right in the kitchen or a table for in-kitchen meals or socializing.
Once your layout or kitchen floor plan is determined, the amount of available space for kitchen cabinets can be calculated. Sketch the basic outline of the kitchen from a top view and include on the drawing:
* Counters, sinks and dishwasher,
* Windows, doors and any other unusable wall space,
* All major appliances.
Next consider the style of cabinet. When choosing the cabinet style consider the overall style of the home and what mood and atmosphere is desired for the kitchen. For a traditional style, look for cabinets with lots of detail and furniture-like features such as molding, corbels and cabinet legs.
For a modern look, choose kitchen cabinets with doors that fit flush to the edges of the cabinet and use sleek kitchen cabinet pulls or even no pulls at all.
Consider also whether stained natural wood, painted wood or man-made materials would look best with the overall home design. Here also, it is possible to mix and match a bit. Cabinets can be two-toned with the outer frame around a cabinet door one color contrasting with the main cabinet color. For a farmhouse or more traditional look, a single kitchen cabinet can be made to look more like a piece of furniture by using a different color or material than the rest of the kitchen and putting it on raised legs.
Kitchen Space Planning
To reduce the amount of cabinetry (and cost), consider what really needs to be stored in the kitchen and what items would be simply left unused in drawers or cabinets. Also consider items that may be used only once a year for special suppers such as Thanksgiving or Christmas and decide if they are better off stored in a storage room other than the kitchen.
The extra space freed up by using less cabinetry can help create a roomier feel to the kitchen or can be used in other ways—perhaps a cozy settee or window seat right in the kitchen or a table for in-kitchen meals or socializing.
Once your layout or kitchen floor plan is determined, the amount of available space for kitchen cabinets can be calculated. Sketch the basic outline of the kitchen from a top view and include on the drawing:
* Counters, sinks and dishwasher,
* Windows, doors and any other unusable wall space,
* All major appliances.
Small Kitchen Design
Here are some quick tips for improving the feng shui of this important area of the home.
* Good housekeeping is good feng shui! Keep your kitchen shiny and clean for the best possible energy. A cluttered, dirty kitchen will have stagnant, dirty energy, which interferes with your ability to cook and enjoy healthy, nourishing food. When you are poorly nourished, your ability to work hard and earn a good income will suffer.
* Hidden clutter counts. An excess of stored food in the pantry or freezer can become clutter if it far exceeds a reasonable amount for your family. Old, stale food has old, stale energy, even if the expiration date is still months (or even years) away. Clean out your food cupboards and refrigerator regularly.
Good nutrition is also good feng shui, so try to add more healthy, organic foods to your diet, especially fresh fruits and vegetables. Start thinking of junk food as clutter that you are putting into your body, and maybe you'll be able to resist that next cookie or donut.
A stove that is not in good working order implies a problem with financial resources. If any part of the stove (burners, oven light, fan, etc.) does not work, get it fixed as soon as possible.
* An unused stove implies untapped resources or ignored opportunities. Even if all you do is boil water for tea, rotate which burner you set the kettle on so that all of them get regular use! And use the oven, too, from time to time, instead of always relying on the microwave.
* If you stand facing the wall while you cook, this leaves your back exposed, a position that is considered weak in feng shui. Hang a mirror on the wall over the stove so that you can see what's going on behind you while you cook.
* Hanging a mirror so it reflects the stove burners visually doubles the number of burners. This symbolizes doubling of your income; more good food = better health and strength = ability to earn a good income.
* Fire and water fight each other, so the placement of the stove and sink is important. If they are directly opposite each other, this can lead to arguments and conflict within the family. Fix this by placing something green between them, such as a green rug on the floor or a living plant on a table in the center of the room.
* The stove is symbolic of wealth, so it is important to keep its fire energy strong. Wood feeds fire, so plants or plant imagery (or again, the color green) are all good to have around and near the stove.
* Fresh flowers bring beautiful uplifting energy to the kitchen. Place a bowl of fruit, a vase of flowers, or a living plant on your kitchen table, windowsill, or wherever the layout of your kitchen allows.
* Good housekeeping is good feng shui! Keep your kitchen shiny and clean for the best possible energy. A cluttered, dirty kitchen will have stagnant, dirty energy, which interferes with your ability to cook and enjoy healthy, nourishing food. When you are poorly nourished, your ability to work hard and earn a good income will suffer.
* Hidden clutter counts. An excess of stored food in the pantry or freezer can become clutter if it far exceeds a reasonable amount for your family. Old, stale food has old, stale energy, even if the expiration date is still months (or even years) away. Clean out your food cupboards and refrigerator regularly.
Good nutrition is also good feng shui, so try to add more healthy, organic foods to your diet, especially fresh fruits and vegetables. Start thinking of junk food as clutter that you are putting into your body, and maybe you'll be able to resist that next cookie or donut.
A stove that is not in good working order implies a problem with financial resources. If any part of the stove (burners, oven light, fan, etc.) does not work, get it fixed as soon as possible.
* An unused stove implies untapped resources or ignored opportunities. Even if all you do is boil water for tea, rotate which burner you set the kettle on so that all of them get regular use! And use the oven, too, from time to time, instead of always relying on the microwave.
* If you stand facing the wall while you cook, this leaves your back exposed, a position that is considered weak in feng shui. Hang a mirror on the wall over the stove so that you can see what's going on behind you while you cook.
* Hanging a mirror so it reflects the stove burners visually doubles the number of burners. This symbolizes doubling of your income; more good food = better health and strength = ability to earn a good income.
* Fire and water fight each other, so the placement of the stove and sink is important. If they are directly opposite each other, this can lead to arguments and conflict within the family. Fix this by placing something green between them, such as a green rug on the floor or a living plant on a table in the center of the room.
* The stove is symbolic of wealth, so it is important to keep its fire energy strong. Wood feeds fire, so plants or plant imagery (or again, the color green) are all good to have around and near the stove.
* Fresh flowers bring beautiful uplifting energy to the kitchen. Place a bowl of fruit, a vase of flowers, or a living plant on your kitchen table, windowsill, or wherever the layout of your kitchen allows.
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