(ARA) ? American families are alarmingly at home in TV star Ray Romano's
chaotic on-screen kitchen. In a recent homeowner poll, one in four families
say the famous TV kitchen, with its cluttered, outdated look, is all too familiar
-- and that they need help.
Not everyone can afford the time or money to remodel or add to their kitchen,
but some simple steps can help any household curb the chaos and bring its kitchen
up-to-date without breaking the bank.
Hollywood Gets it Right, Says Expert in Organization
"Hollywood hit the nail right on the head when it designed the kitchen
set for ?Everybody Loves Raymond,'" says Andy Wells, design director for
Diamond Cabinets, the kitchen organization experts behind the homeowner survey.
"Unfortunately way too many homeowners identify with Ray's past-its-best
d?cor, disorganized look and older cabinetry."
But it's not only looks that matter. In the survey of 1,000 families, 85
percent identified better storage as critical, and more than half said storage
and updating would come first in any remodel.
"The role of the kitchen has changed, but most of them just haven't
kept up," says Andy Wells. "We now buy bulk groceries with longer
shelf lives and expect them to fit into cabinets designed for a different way
of life in the ?70s and ?80s."
With a typical remodel costing anywhere from $10,000 to $20,000, adding space
can be expensive. But it's not always needed. These four simple steps can help
homeowners update the space they have.
Plan Ahead
Sounds obvious, but in their enthusiasm to get started many homeowners skip
planning. This can be a costly mistake. Before you do anything, look at your
family's needs, both immediate and long-term. Preschoolers will soon be preteens
-- would a breakfast bar or nook be a smart addition? Also consider older family
members, who may need more space or have difficulty reaching taller cabinets
or shelving.
"Design with flexibility for the future," says Wells. "Remodeling
without proper planning too often leads to starting all over in five years.
Cabinets with adjustable or modular shelving can change with your needs, and
can help eliminate this worry.
Cut Where You Can
"There are easy ways to save money. For example, relocating windows
is a huge investment and can add upwards of $5,000. But often it's simply how
you use the room rather than the layout that needs altering."
Designers always look to put everything in easy reach through a triangular
configuration of range, sink and worktop. If you have this already, don't move
things around for the sake of change. Working with your existing floor plan
can save a fortune.
Needing new appliances will cost you; there's no way around that. But the
expense can be offset by cutting costs in other areas where it's easy to still
get great results. Demolition and tear-down is a perfect example. Remove paint,
wall coatings and plaster yourself -- all you'll need is some patience and a
few basic tools from your hardware store. A couple hundred dollars to rent a
belt floor sander is a smart investment when hiring a professional to finish
your floor can cost close to a thousand. Sand three times with 100-, 80- and
50-grit paper, and use a penetrating stain and water-based varnish for best
results. When tiling a floor or wall, choose standard tiles without intricate
borders or patterns -- it'll make locating and buying replacements much easier
and cheaper.
Think Inside the Box: Solving the Biggest Kitchen Problem
The biggest problem in most kitchens is storage. And smart cabinetry is the
solution. The right selection can add a new dynamic to the look of a kitchen,
but more important, it can double your storage space.
The trend in cabinetry is to think inside the box. Wells suggests looking
for cabinets that offer flexibility in storing items. The Logix line from Diamond
Cabinetry, for instance, is designed specifically to increase interior storage
space. Doors hold mounted wire baskets for stashing up to 45 pounds of food,
and units come with adjustable shelving and pull-out roll trays for easy accessibility.
"Measure around your appliances and fixtures and calculate just how
much cabinet space you have to play with. Don't forget about corners, odd shapes
and tight spaces. These days, cabinets come in all sizes and configurations
to maximize every available inch," says Wells.
The Base Pots & Pans Pullout cabinet offers separate storage areas for
pots and pans and their accompanying lids. And the Logix Segmented Super Susan,
the up-to-the-minute granddaughter of the original Lazy Susan, puts everything
at your fingertips with separate, fully extendable storage sections that maximize
tight corner spaces.
Everything in Its Place
Restaurant kitchens run like clockwork thanks to the same basic setup of
ingredients, seasonings and utensils at every food prep station. For professional
chefs, it's all about the art of mise en place, or "everything in its place."
"Our own homes should be like this too, and they can be with a little
effort and some simple storage principles," says Wells.
Every item in a kitchen should be stored as close as possible to where it's
used. Wall cabinetry close to a range or cooktop should be used for spices,
oils, seasonings and small cooking utensils. Store infrequently used appliances
and kitchen gadgets in base cupboards -- save the stooping and bending for them.
Kitchen knives may look great in a butcher block, but a cutlery cabinet designed
specifically for knives near the cooktop will keep them in easy reach while
clearing clutter.
These simple steps will save you money, time and effort in getting your kitchen
in shape and your life back on track. Visit www.diamondcabinets.com for more
information.
Courtesy of ARA Content
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