Traditionally, cabinets were completed using unfinished wood in the interiors. In stock cabinetry options, this typically meant lower-quality plywood or even particle board on the bottoms. The wood was a little rough, unattractive and it was a catch-all for dirt and debris. So, back in the "old days" there was a right-of-passage performed by homemakers when they moved into a new kitchen; they lined cabinet shelves and drawers with shelf liners.
There are very specific building codes that apply to kitchen electrical outlets, the bulk of which are dedicated to keeping homes free from shortages, outages and electrical fires. In most cases, outlets will never be more than 24-inches from one another. You can use this basic rule-of-thumb to estimate how many outlets will be installed in your kitchen based on the perimeter wall/countertop measurements.
Prior to the invention of ground-fault circuit interrupters (GFCI) and other electrical plug and circuit innovations, electrical shocks and burns were fairly common. Even today, thousands of Americans are shocked and/or burnt in their homes as a result of faulty electrical switches, cords and plugs, as well as outdated or misused outlets.
When we hear the same question, multiple times, from different customers - we know it's time to blog about it. Such was the case when we were hearing about whether or not soffits can be removed, and such is the case with today's topic: Is a stove hood absolutely necessary?
Most homeowners select the same color or finish for cabinetry in their Chicago kitchen design, but having the same style and color is by no means a design rule. In fact, as kitchens get bigger and bigger - and part of an open floor plan - we notice an increase in homeowners that choose to vary their cabinet door styles, or who select a different color or finish for upper and lower cabinets or between the cabinets and the kitchen island.
The classic "work triangle" has been a Chicago kitchen design classic for several decades now. The goal was to keep the most important food preparation elements - fridge, stove and sink - within a short distance away from one another, using an equilateral triangle as the ideal. Work triangles made navigating the kitchen more efficient for the cook.
Before you ever determine which door and drawer styles you want for your Chicago kitchen cabinet design, take a step back and think about different door and drawer types and how each one is best suited for your kitchen layout.
Lighting is such a fundamental part of a room's design, especially the kitchen. Not only does it provide enhanced function and ambiance, the right (or wrong) lighting layout or selections can take a perfectly good kitchen remodel and make it wonderful, or it can leave it feeling like a dark and cave-like space. Fixture selection is also important because stylish lighting elements add that little something extra, an eclectic flair and/or a bold pop of color, that energizes the space.
Before you ever choose a single slab of granite or the layout for your custom kitchen cabinets, the single most important decision you'll make in regards to your Chicago kitchen remodel is Who you choose to remodel it. The Who in the remodeling equation is essential; not only should your kitchen design and build team work with you ever step of the way, their experience, existing vendor relationships, reliability and craftsmanship make all the difference in the final product.
Ready to select the tile for your upcoming remodeling project? Brace yourself; there's a lot to choose from. Rather than going in with "The world is my oyster..." mentality - which can lead to hours of pouring through thousands of tile samples, we recommend narrowing the selection for your Chicago kitchen and bath remodeling project ahead of time. This way, you'll spend your valuable time browsing tile samples that are realistic for the scope of your project.
