Under cabinet lights: A must do!

Whether you are getting ready to do a complete kitchen remodel, build a new house or add a tile backsplash, now is the time to think about under cabinet lights. Mounted on the bottom of wall cabinets, these small fixtures add an amazing amount of task lighting and ambiance at night.

 

Xenon, LED, halogen, florescent. Puck, strip, rope, tape. The style, sizes and light color are endless. Florescent is old school and the bulbs and ballasts are not very reliable. Halogen is popular but can get hot. Xenon is newer and does not produce as much heat. LED is the new kid on the block. While expensive, the technology is improving and the cost is coming down. Look at each of the options and decide what will work best in your kitchen and for your budget. The hard part is getting the wiring in the right spot. The fixtures can be changed down the road.

 

The best way to install them is to have one switch to control all of the under cabinet lights. That requires a wire under every wall cabinet that is controlled by one switch. When you are building a new home, remodeling your kitchen or before you add a tile backsplash, that is the time to wire for it. Once that tile is on the wall, you don’t want to tear into that to get the wires in the right location.

 

            Yes, they may be nice but how much do they cost? Depending on the type of lights you use, how many fixtures you need and if you decide to do it yourself or hire someone to install them for you, you could be looking at a couple hundred dollars or a couple thousand dollars. Didn’t budget for this? Take my word for it and spend the extra money to include this. Maybe that means saving up for a couple more months before you begin your project or going with a less expensive range. Just do it. You will not be sorry.

Kitchen Fires

It’s that time of year. With cooler temperatures and holidays, baking and cooking are at their peak. According to the National Fire Protection Association, 41% of home fires start in the kitchen. Here are a few tips to avoid becoming a statistic this holiday season.

 

            -Keep items that could catch fire away from the cooktop. Pot holders, paper or plastic

              bags, towels and food packaging.

 

            - Wear short, tight fitting or rolled sleeves. Loose, dangling sleeves can dangle into

               stove burners and catch fire.

 

            -Pay attention! The leading cause of kitchen fires is unattended cooking.

 

            -Stay in the house! When simmering, baking, roasting or boiling food, check it regularly

             and use a timer to remind you that you have something cooking.

 

            -Keep a fire extinguisher nearby-and make sure everyone in your family knows where

             it is and how to operate it.

 

            -Change the batteries in your smoke detector.

 

            -Never throw hot grease in the trash can. Let it cool and then dispose of it in an old

             coffee can.

 

Stay safe and enjoy your company and the delicious baked good coming out of your kitchen!

Tile Cleaning Tips and Tricks

Guests are coming and you really need to deep clean that guest bathroom. The grout is looking a little dingy and you just can’t seem to get the scum off of the tile. Here are a few easy tips and tricks for getting that bathroom sparkling clean.

 

·         Looking for easy? Stone and Tile Cleaner by Dupont, available at Traditions in Tile, is a multi-purpose cleaner that works on all polished marbles, porcelain and ceramic tiles and natural stone. Simply spray, lightly scrub and rinse.

 

·         For a little deeper clean to help with the soap scum, try a porcelain and ceramic tile cleaner. Test a small area on polished tiles first to make sure it does not affect the finish. As always, follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

 

·         Has your grout cracked at the corners and around the top of the tub? A common occurrence as walls expand and contract, but simple to fix. Cut out the grout in those locations and fill with a sanded caulk that matches your grout color. Allow to fully dry before using the tub or shower. Traditions in Tile is a great source. Always be sure to follow the manufacturer’s recommendations.

 

·         Once you have gotten your grout or natural stone freshly cleaned, seal it to help prolong the life and keep it looking like new. Most stones should be resealed every 1-3 years.

 

Nothing feels better than a sparkling clean bathroom. Your guests will thank you.

Plan Now for Holiday Projects

Fall weather is setting in, football season is in full swing and it is time to start thinking about Thanksgiving and Christmas. Only thirteen weeks left till Christmas. Yes, I really did just say that. It may seem like a long time away, but we all know that it will be here before we know it and probably before we are ready.

 

Do you want a new kitchen or bathroom before Thanksgiving? Maybe you can’t redo the entire room but want to make some small changes. Or maybe you just want to finally get the dining room repainted. Now is the time to start thinking about it and making plans. If you begin now, you will have plenty of time to get your project done before Thanksgiving hits and then you can enjoy your new space all throughout the Christmas season.

 

Some people have said to me “But it doesn’t take that long!” Well, let’s look at that.

                                    -Tile: 4-6 weeks

                                    -Cabinets: 4-6 weeks

                                    -Wood Flooring: 4 weeks

                                    -Granite: 1-2 weeks

                                    -Painting: 2-3 weeks

                                    -Appliances: 2-4 weeks

Yes, if you choose an in stock item, the lead time might be less than that, but better to prepare for the worst and the best happen then vice versa. Make sure you clearly communicate your deadline to the contractors you work with to ensure an on-time project. That way there will be no surprises and everyone is on the same page.

 

We all know that the holidays can be a stressful time. Endeavor to enjoy this season and all of its wonderful food, people and events by planning ahead. You can thank me later.

7 Uses for Rubber Cabinet Bumpers

Cabinet Bumper- cab∙i∙net bump∙er – noun- typically a round rubber adhesive disk for use on wood, vinyl or metal cabinet doors to significantly reduce the noise of cabinet door closings and other uses. Can be purchased at any big box hardware store.

 

1. Quiet Cabinets-Place bumpers on the corners of your cabinet doors and drawers to allow them to close a little softer instead of slamming.
2. Square Pictures-prevent marks on your walls by placing a bumper on the four back corners of the frame. This will also keep it from sliding around and stay securely square on the wall.
3. Vases-Avoid scratches on your table by putting a couple of bumpers on the bottom of a vase. It won’t slide around and no more scratches.
4. Laptop- Place bumpers on the bottom corners of your laptop to prevent it from moving around on a desk or table.
5. Cutting Board-To steady a cutting board while you are cutting it, place a bumper on all four corners.
6. Stacking Glass-To keep pieces of glass from sticking together when in a pile or stored, place rubber bumpers between them.
7. Angled Plates- Do you have a plate or frame standing upright in your china cabinet or on a shelf? Keep it from sliding down by placing 2 bumpers on the shelf to capture the plate or frame in that location.

Spice it up!

            Do spice bottles come tumbling out when you open a cabinet door? Do you even know what is in the back of that cabinet? How old is that spice? Spices are one of the most difficult items to store in an organized fashion in your kitchen. Each brand has their own size bottle and some spices you just don’t use that often. What is a person to do?

 

            There are several solutions for storing spices in a more organized and easily accessible fashion. If you are considering new cabinets, there are dedicated pull out spice racks that can be incorporated in the base or wall cabinets, most commonly near the range. If you are working with existing cabinets, you can mount narrow racks on the inside of your wall cabinet doors. This may require cutting off some depth of the shelves inside that cabinet. Another solution would be to use a 10” round, plastic, lazy susan turntable, found at Target or Wal-Mart. This low profile contraption is great to put on a wall cabinet shelf and place your spices on it. Simply spin the turntable to find the spice you are looking for. If you want to get really organized, place them in alphabetical order on the turntable.

 

            Don’t despair! There are several ways to make your life a little more organized and your spices a little easier to find. If you have a unique storage solution for your spices, I would love to hear about it. Shoot me an email or call me. Best of luck on your path to better organization.

Chalk It Up!

Reader, Amy, asks, “I would like to paint the back of a cabinet that faces my breakfast room with chalk board paint to write out my children’s spelling words, verses and other reminders. My husband doesn't think I will end up liking it, doesn’t believe chalk paint really works and thinks it could permanently damage the cabinet. Please advise!”

 

Well, Amy, I have used chalk board paint on several occasions and found it to work well.

RustOleum makes a paint that can be found at Lowes, Home Depot and Walmart.

It should not permanently damage your cabinets, but you may have to paint over it a couple more times to cover up the black, if you decide to switch back to white cabinets. Make sure your read and adhere to the manufacturer’s recommendations on how many coats are needed and how to properly apply it.  Chalk board paint can also be mixed in different colors. Consider a soft gray or even red! Martha Stewart and Real Simple always have unique ideas for different ways to use chalk board paint.

 

While you are at it, consider using a magnetic paint as well underneath the chalk board paint. RustOleum also makes this product. Multi-tasking at its best! As always, you want to check the manufacturer’s recommendations and perhaps even try a sample board first.

 

Can't wait to hear how it turns out!