Kitchen Layout Mistakes to Avoid

Posted on September 23, 2016March 29, 2023 by TSGiM

A poorly designed home can be a major source of frustration, with some rooms being far more frustrating than others when they have built-in layout mistakes.

A bad kitchen layout is without rival as the source of grief and domestic tension. No, this is not overdramatizing, and if you ever lived in a house with a bad kitchen design, you understand perfectly just how true this is.

The kitchen is where the food gets stored, cooked, and often eaten. The potential for a mess in a kitchen is huge, and that’s why if you have one room you decide to invest in – your best choice would be be kitchen renovations over any other remodeling project.

Here are the things that can drive a homeowner insane – each of them warranting a full kitchen remodeling project.

An Obstructed Kitchen Triangle

The sink, stove and fridge – the three cornerstones of any kitchen since the invention of electricity and plumbing. Unlike the bermuda triangle, this one is easy to navigate – but only if it is clear of stuff that can get in the way. Kitchen isles, for example, can be a blessing or a curse, depending on their positioning between them. This also includes countertops that service the triangle – there should be several around the sink, and a few prep spaces between the stove and fridge. The space should also not be too small (less than 10’) or too large (25’ or more).

Insufficient Storage Space

This is the next culprit that can make your kitchen hard to use. If you have inadequate or poorly planned storage in your kitchen, things are going to be hard to store. The result is either you have to get rid of half your cookware, or you have a sprawling mess that slowly spreads all over the place threatening to invade other rooms if it’s demands are not heard. There is hope, of course, even if your kitchen is on the small side. A Toronto kitchen remodeling professional can redesign the cabinetry in a way that makes use of every single cubical inch of space, leaving none wasted. Modern clever contraptions – levers, rails and swivels can make deep cabinets more accessible, using all the space they have to offer minus the backache of crawling into them every time you need to get something from the far corner.

Inadequate Lighting

Let’s leave the cave lighting to the mancave. A kitchen is a workspace, first and foremost. And just like any workspace, it has sharp tools, work areas and lots of materials, most of which are organic. Working in the dark or half-dark in this environment is not only frustrating, but can be potentially dangerous and definitely messy. Any good kitchen remodeling project includes not only a strong area light to flood the entire room, but also well-positioned focus lights for every work area.

Poor Ventilation

Lingering odours of last night’s cooking can spoil even the most spectacular kitchen design. A good, well-placed vent and adjacent windows will save your household from smelling like the inside of a restaurant kitchen. Including a good ventilation system in your next Toronto kitchen remodeling project is an investment not to be overlooked. In addition to the very real contribution of keeping the air fresh, it will keep your fixtures and appliances functioning longer, saving your money on repairs and replacements.

If you are ready to start, and need a professional, or simply wish to discuss options and deals, the professionals at Royal Home Improvement are here for you. Your dream kitchen is a phone call away.

Contemporary Kitchen Remodelling Ideas

Posted on September 10, 2016March 29, 2023 by TSGiM

Kitchens are extremely fun to remodel. There is no other room in the entire house with as many possibilities for combining luxury, gadgetry and style in such a creative fashion.

If you are contemplating a kitchen renovation with a modern design, here are a few trends the industry is enjoying today and will likely take with it into 2017, and well beyond.

Gray is Back and it is the new White

Colors are fading from the definition of what’s modern, and a dignified gray look is taking their vacated place. Even homeowners who usually go for white cabinets are starting to lean towards gray in their choice for what to paint the kitchen. Grey is not as prone to look dirty as white, and does not resemble a bare plaster wall. It has depth, and combining grays of different shades, cleverly offset with black trim – will create a subtle, yet very rich effect.

The Fashion of the Function

Hardware companies designing cabinets constantly come up with new, more durable and far more efficient mechanisms you can install on, in, or onto your cabinets and drawers. Mostly, it’s hydraulic rails and hinges that pop up and fold in at the touch of a button, and the way they slide open is also a marvel – they move out and out of the way – which makes them a true asset in small kitchens. Don’t underestimate the value of customizing your drawers to fit your specific needs!

Happy Sink Colors

Color is coming back to the one place where it was never expected to pop – the sink. Well, it’s about time the dull, purely utilitarian stainless steel dishwashing basin was replaced with something happy and pleasant to the eye. Subtle hues are the main trend, but since ceramic sinks can be any color, we also anticipate new trends in this part of the kitchen renovation project, taking more to color than may be expected initially.

Size Does Matter

When most of the modern kitchen is moving towards subdued colors, the shapes and sizes are where you can make your kitchen remodeling project really shine. No, we’re not going back to the bombastic trends of the 60-s, but large light fixtures and massive bar chairs are in, and are a great way to add a presence to your kitchen design.

Substitute Materials

Yes, real marble, granite and wood will always be the most desired surface materials, but with the granite look-alike counters and amazing, so convincingly wood-looking laminate cabinetry, there is hardly a reason anymore not to save a pretty penny and go for the substitutes.

Automation Trends

Yes, it’s the 21st century and what kitchen is the same without energy saving light switches that are only on when someone’s there, sensor equipped faucets that wait for you to simply gesture for them to turn on the water, ice-cube dispensers in the fridge and meat thermometers with a phone-alert app that lets you know the roast beef’s ready. There is more, much more, but you get the picture. And the beautiful part is those things are not even that expensive anymore!

Want to get your kitchen renovated with the best kitchen remodelling crew in Toronto? Call Royal Home Improvements now and we’ll take care of the rest!

4 Ways to Brighten Your Kitchen

Posted on November 21, 2014March 29, 2023 by TSGiM

The winter months can often seem dark and gloomy. Depending on where you live, the winter cold will set in and your family will be stuck indoors for a few months. Many people have a hard time dealing with the shorter days. One way to brighten your kitchen in the winter is by brightening up your home! The kitchen is a central location for many homes. There are many ways that you can make your kitchen more colorful.

1) Add some light to the room
Adding light to the room can really brighten up the space! Change out those old light fixtures or add a skylight if you can. Even something as simple as pulling your blinds up can let more light in. Some people choose to add spotlights in certain spots. This is a great option and helps you see what you are doing better.

2) Add some color
Painting is another simple and easy way to brighten up your kitchen. Choose bold, rich colors to add some life to the kitchen. Fresh, light colors will also liven up a kitchen. Be sure that you pick colors you like. Do not worry about whether the color is fashionable or not. You can also hang up decorations to add some color to your kitchen.

3)Add plants
Purchase a few plants that you can keep on the counter or on the floor. Plants are an easy way to make your kitchen a little less gloomy. Those long winter months can also be brightened with a vase full of daisies!

4)Tile back-splash
A back-splash is another easy way to brighten the kitchen. There are several kinds of back-splash that come in a variety of colors. You could do all white, all teal, or mix it up with lots of colors. The possibilities are endless!

Choosing The Right Kitchen Countertop

Posted on November 10, 2014March 29, 2023 by TSGiM

Locating great kitchen counter tops is a lot easier than you may believe. With affordability, fashion, and function, shoppers now have a multitude of choices. This article can assist you in making a good choice when choosing the best kitchen countertops.

Granite Countertops. Accessible in a variety of colors, granite countertops last long and are aesthetically pleasant. They are immune to water spots, heat, and the routine wear and tear.

Marble Countertops. They are quite pleasant to the eye and very resistant to heat and water. Semiannual cleaning and resealing are usually needed. They are rarely scraped and often quite pricey.

Engineered Stone. It has a smooth finish and involves very little maintenance. It is immune to stains, heat, and bacteria. Engineered Stone countertops tend to possess the exact same vibrant appearance as Marble or Granite countertops.

Stainless Steel. Stainless Steel is the most recyclable of all materials. Stainless Steel is presented as a green alternative for the kitchen. Additionally, it adds a contemporary touch to any home. A very small amount of care is needed.

Concrete. Concrete comes in any color and has a modern feel. It is resistant to heat and is a permanent fixture. Concrete counters can stain rather easily and are extremely heavy when attempting to setup.

Butcher Block Counters. These counters are an excellent eco-friendly selection, since no new trees are required to be cut down for manufacturing purposes. Butcher Block Counters are moderately priced and scratches can be removed by simply sanding the wood.

Laminate Kitchen Counters. It offers an assortment of shades and designs. These counters are a very easy to keep clean and extremely affordable. It’s also an excellent do-it-yourself job. Trivets are recommended to prevent heat damage.

Soapstone Counters. Soapstone Counters are visually appealing. It is highly resistant to heat and spots, although prone to breaking and can be quite expensive to fix.

Solid Surfacing Countertop. Solid Surfacing Countertops are also called Corian countertops. This material features an enormous variety of shades as well as designs. There is usually very little maintenance, and it is immune to stains and heat.

Even though deciding on the best countertop for the kitchen will often be challenging, replacing kitchen countertops is among the most effective ways to modernize the design of your kitchen and add value to your property.

Top Three Kitchen Renovation Mistakes

Posted on September 25, 2014March 29, 2023 by TSGiM

You may look at an old kitchen and think its no problem renovating it. So you go about it. The tear out looked easy, but it becomes difficult. When it comes time to rebuild, the stumbling blocks became almost monumental. Key mistakes makes even minor tasks turning into a major difficulties.

1. Lack of Planning

A lack of planning is a top mistake made. When it comes time to tear out the old, plumbing and electrical fixtures have to be disconnected first. If it’s an old house, it may have just one whole-house water shutoff. Electrically, it may have just one breaker for half the house. You have to plan for this, and take the correct course of action, such as installing more shutoffs, even before the tear out begins.

2. Unforeseen Difficulties

Many problems pop up as the work is progressing. For example, a hidden wasp’s nest may be encountered during the tear out. Pipes may have asbestos insulation, requiring a HAZMAT crew to tear them out. The mistake of not expecting the unexpected leads to time delays and the project going over budget.

3. Shoddy Workmanship

Another key mistake is to trust a “hack” to perform quality craftsmanship. Shoddy workmanship leads to call backs (if they ever come back) and lawsuits. Plumbing connections may drip, cabinets may be out of square, and tiles may fall off in a month after the “craftsmen” leave. Not investigating the building contractor thoroughly before the job begins leads to trouble.
This is just the tip of the iceberg. When you do a kitchen renovation job, it starts on a blank pieced of paper even before the job begins. You have to account for even the small details, such as walls being slightly out of square. If you decide to do it just as it goes along, it will lead to nothing but troubles and headaches.

Always trust the professionals when it comes to your kitchen renovation.

Category: Kitchen Renovations