Basic Kitchen Design – Start Planning Your Dream Kitchen

Thinking about remodeling your kitchen?  Here are a few basics and recommendations from the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) on space requirements and layouts.  Get out your tape measure, sharpen your pencil and start planning.

The classic kitchen design is based on the “work triangle” that ties together the refrigerator, the cooking area and the sink for convenience and efficiency.  Distances from the center of each area should be no more than 9 ft and no less than 4 feet.  It’s best to vent your cooking area to the outside, but if you have a window you will probably want to put your sink under it.

NKBA recommends 13’2” countertop frontage for workspace.  A space of at least 36” in your main work area is helpful, and you’ll need a minimum of 15” of countertop next to the oven and fridge, so you have a spot to place things you are transferring in or out (hot dishes, a cold gallon of milk). 

Islands are a versatile addition to your kitchen plan.  They can accommodate eating, a sink, a cooktop or just a large workspace.  An island can also provide extra storage space.  Most kitchen cabinets will put your counter height at 34 to 36” high, so if you are planning a breakfast bar, you’ll need to drop the height down to 30” or use taller bar stools.

Storage is another main component in kitchen design.  NKBA makes recommendations based on kitchen size as to how much shelf and drawer frontage is needed.  So, for a large kitchen (over 350 sf) you would need 2000”.  This would take into account the width of each individual shelf and drawer in the kitchen.  Remember to use your corner space for storage.  There are decorative shelving options, specially designed lazy-susan corner cabinets and pull-out shelving for base cabinets that put corners to good use.

These basics should get you thinking about how your dream kitchen will function and how much space you need.

Arizona Monsoon Season and Your Home

Monsoon season is upon us in Arizona, bringing torrential rain, dust storms and potentially hail.  Last year hail damaged thousands of homes in the Valley, and the sudden storms that occur in Monsoon can cause problems for homeowners.  There are some things you can do to lessen the impact of Monsoon rains and wind on your home.

Tree limbs can come down easily in a storm, and it’s not unusual to see trees uprooted in our area, because of their shallow root systems. Keep trees, especially fast-growing types like mesquite, trimmed and keep branches away from the roof. Stake young trees to keep them stable during high winds.

Check your roof periodically for any signs of areas that could leak during a heavy downpour.  Check for cracks around the chimney, vents, skylights, etc.  Flat roofs can be patched and cracks filled with caulk, and tile roofs should be inspected and any loose or broken tiles replaced.

Because the ground is so hard during the summer here, it cannot absorb the amount of sudden rainfall that comes in a monsoon storm.  Water running off of your concrete surfaces like patios, driveways, walkways and pool decking will accumulate.  Drains can be added to concrete surfaces if there is a run-of problem, or you can install PVC pipe for a drainage system to send water to a safe spot away from the house.  Be sure your landscape is graded properly as well.

Be prepared for power outages during Arizona monsoon season, and use surge protectors in your home to protect your valuable electronics. 

The best thing for homeowners to do during monsoon season is to stay safe and aware.  Inspect your home and yard after a storm and stay on top of any minor repairs that should be made at that time.

Attack Grubby Grout This Summer

Do you ever pull up a corner of the area rug on your tile and see the difference between the grout color under the rug and the grout in your traffic areas? Sometimes it looks like two completely different colors of grout, just due to a build-up of dirt in your grout. There are a number of techniques you can use to remove stains and dirt from your grout.

For smaller surface stains, you can use a pencil eraser or a small piece of folded sandpaper to rub the stain from the grout. Liquid solutions that can be applied to grout stains include a bleach and water mix, or a white-vinegar and water solution applied with baking soda. A toothbrush can be used in grout lines to scrub in the solutions before rinsing with clear water.

For larger areas, grout can be cleaned with an “oxy” solution. Apply the solution and let it work on the grout for 20-30 minutes before rinsing. Once your grout is clean, you can keep it clean by adding the oxy powder to your mopping water, allowing the oxygen ions to penetrate the grout before rinsing.

Tough stains and years of traffic might require removing and replacing grout. You can do it yourself with a grout removal tool, and a carefully matched grout. If you are considering replacing a large area of grout, you may want to consult a professional. The new grout can be sealed to help reduce staining.

Treat Your Garage as a Part of Your Home

Your home’s garage can make a world of difference in terms of a first impression or “curb appeal”. Starting out with top quality garage doors in a style that is in keeping with your home’s design shows that you consider your garage an important part of your home.

There are a variety of styles and materials available today that can bring style to your garage. Lodi garage doors feature steel, composite and solid Western Red Cedar garage doors in different sizes and combinations to suit your garage. According to Remodeling Magazine’s annual report, replacing garage doors is one of the top two highest cost- to-value projects homeowners can do.

The garage isn’t just a dirty, outdoor storage space – it is an extension of your home that should be maintained in the same way you would keep up your home’s main living space. It can also feature expertly designed storage space and work space for projects. Garage cabinets come in a variety of finishes to create functional and stylish storage and workbench areas to keep things organized and easily accessible.

Durable, easy to clean epoxy coating for your garage floor is a composition of multi-layer vinyl chips embedded in a pigmented base coat and sealed with successive coats of clear glaze. Lodi offers a range of granite and solid color epoxy looks. The epoxy finish makes cleaning the garage easy and actually prevents staining and tire marks, keeping the garage looking as good as your house.

Take a look at your garage and once you’ve decluttered, consider bringing your garage up to a whole new level by treating it as the newest room in your home.

Can Pest Management be “Green”?

Believe it or not, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has created a Pesticide Environmental Stewardship Program, and one valley pest management company was one of the very first to become a member of the Program. Invader Pest Management has submitted their five-year goals to the program, and is also in the process of becoming Green PRO certified through the National Pest Management Association. Green Pro certification requires strict compliance with comprehensive standards for safety and reliability.

Many homeowners do not want potentially harmful chemicals used on their property if it is not absolutely necessary. Invader uses a strategy called Integrated Pest Management (IPM), which uses a variety of methods to control pests while reducing reliance on pesticides. IPM begins with knowing pests! A thorough inspection of the home and property by an Invader professional can identify sanitary and other conditions that attract or enable pests to enter your home. By addressing these issues first, pests can be stopped before they become a problem. Non-chemical controls such as glue boards can be used if necessary, and certain biological controls such as aphids and pheromones are often effective against pests. Use of low-impact materials is discussed with the homeowner, and the Invader professionals keep up continued monitoring and communication with the homeowner.

The company has a variety of programs available to homeowners, including the All Green Program, which is 100% organic, using only natural plant oils and extracts recognized as safe by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The professionals at Invader can work with homeowners to discuss the best options for whatever pest issues they may have at any given time.

Taking care of the environment and maintaining a healthy home environment has become increasingly more important to homeowners, and companies like Invader provide a great option for going green.

Smart Technology for your Home

There are so many ways to update your home with “smart” technology to program and control everything from lighting to home theaters to security and HVAC – everything that makes your home comfortable for you. You can program your blinds to open in the morning, and the coffee to brew while your favorite music starts up. The newest technology goes a step further by allowing you to control your home wirelessly from remote locations, which certainly adds peace of mind when you are away from home.

Schlage (the lock company) has developed technology to control and monitor locks, cameras, indoor and outdoor lighting and your home’s thermostat, all from computer or web-enabled cell phone. The company has partnered with Trane and allows users to adjust the temperature of their home remotely using the Trane ComfortLink Remote Thermostat. The programmable thermostat can save up to 15% on energy consumption compared to a non-programmable thermostat. You can also program lights and appliances to be off when not in use, saving more on your energy use.

Schlage’s applications allow you to open doors in your home remotely, change or add user codes, and receive text or email notifications when your locks are opened. You can start with just one wireless lock and add more to your system as you need, so your wireless smart technology is totally customized.

Big Savings with Little Changes to Appliances

This summer, concentrate on making some simple changes that relate to your household appliances, and see how much you can save on your energy costs. Start by keeping your fridge and oven doors closed. Don’t cool off in front of an open fridge door, and even though the kids are home, try to avoid opening and closing the fridge door frequently. Letting the cool out will cause your fridge to work harder to stay at the proper temperature. Of course, heating up your oven and opening that oven door will heat up your kitchen, requiring your air conditioning to work harder. Use your microwave or enjoy the outdoor barbeque instead of cooking in the oven.

Remember that “It’s a Dry heat in Arizona” so why not put it to use? Don’t run your dishwasher’s dry cycle – let your dishes dry naturally. Let clothes line-dry instead of running your dryer this summer – you’ll keep the house cooler and save on dryer energy costs.

If you are heading out of town to escape the heat, you can set your fridge and freezer a little bit higher since they won’t be opened up at all. APS recommends 42 degrees for the refrigerator and 5 degrees for the freezer. If you’ll be gone long-term you can clean it out and turn it off altogether. You can turn your hot water heater off while you’re away, or use the “vacation” setting if your heater has one. Before you leave on vacation, be sure to turn off electrical items such as computers, printers and unplug small appliances. Use only lighting needed for security, and set it up on timers. Paying attention to the little things can make a big difference in your energy bills this summer.