Create Stylish & Modren Kitchen

The kitchen occupies the most vital place in the house. It is a place where artistic sense, expediency and functionality merge. Kitchen spaces should be clutter-free and cost-effective. The general concept of a kitchen executed with civic details has been replaced by the concept of modular kitchens or prefab kitchens. Ease of maintenance should be given priority while selecting the furniture. All kitchen designs should be planned to suit an individual's cooking style, family size and lifestyle. Kitchen designs, whether new or remodeled, is a process that involves both the planner and the owner. There may be many reasons for remodeling your kitchen. Insufficient space, outdated decor, poor lighting fixtures, and impractical layout are common motivations. Cool, light, or dull colors; minimal contrasts, light tints not only expand space but also heightens the ceiling and lengthens the room. FLOORING : Your flooring choice is important as it will set the tone for the whole kitchen. The textural quality of the floor appeals to the eye and has a radical effect on how we perceive the room as a whole. In kitchens, the two most elegant floors are ceramic or vitrified tiles / slabs. Ceramic tile is a premium product for a kitchen and as such represents an impressive upgrade over any other floor. The only disadvantage is the cold feel.
CEILING : Ceilings in kitchen should be as high as possible to avoid carbon accumulation. Lights should be concealed in the ceiling above the cutting platform and preparation counter to enhance efficiency and highlight the recipe. Exhaust fans and chimney are more than a necessity to remove smoke.
FURNITURE : Pre-fabricated kitchens have now become an accepted feature, especially in places like Pune. Units for the floor and wall, deep units to accommodate electrical appliances and gas trolleys, and a wide choice of accessories in the form of wire baskets, carousels, adjustable shelves and pullout units characterise the basic modules in a pre-fab kitchen. These well-organized kitchens can suit the requirement for any household kitchen.
Pre-fab kitchen units can be made of powder coated trolley system, stainless steel trolley system (wire or pipe products), or can be a combination of both. Instead of wood, they are made of steel pipe structures, which are very light and easy to maintain.
Modular compartments in drawers have made life very easy for women in the kitchen. Systematic division of spaces for dishes, quarter plates, bowls, cutlery, spoons, vessels and containers of various sizes has helped in time and space management. Maintenance of these things is very easy.
Steel sinks are in today, and are available in different sizes. Sinks with drain boards and cutting boards are also available. Even small dustbins are made available in sinks to throw the waste. Aquaguard provisions can be made above the sink. Crushers can also be provided below the sink for crushing the waste to avoid problems in drainage.
DESIGN AND STORAGE : The standard layout sequence for any kitchen should be: Storage, sink, preparation, serving, eating, oven/gas. All equipment's which you use regularly in cooking must be placed within an arms distance of the gas.
TIPS : 1)If your going for a modular kitchen or getting it done by a carpenter, its better to get the drawing done by the readymade kitchen retailers. 2)Create good counter space in the kitchen. It makes working comfortable. It is also useful foresting hot dishes and jobs like dicing and chopping. Convert one of the counter tops into a breakfast bar. High stools could be placed on either side or same side. 3)If your kitchen layout permits, then you should have a sink, refrigerator and hob in a triangle. 4)In a galley kitchen, the hob and the sink should be on the same side. 5)If complete cabinets cost too much, opt for a few open racks. Use glass shelves, which are cheaper, classier and also less obtrusive. 6)If you have trouble bending then place the oven at your waist level. And have a counter/table next to the oven. 7)The fridge and the microwave should be close to each other to allow easy working. 8)Use the window ledge to place little pots of the flowers. Grow your herb garden in your kitchen. 9)If you cant have a window, have a half wall of glass/glass bricks at least. Natural light cheers up space wonderfully. 10)If you go for colourful walls, keep the base and wall units in muted colours. 11)You can use silver-finish handles on kitchen cabinets as their finish lasts longer. 12)Sleek metallic handles keep the look light and airy. Refer http://www.mumbaiproperties.info/ for further information on this.

by James Mahoney
Authors Note: The National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) defines a "small" kitchen as one that is 150 square feet or less. If like most people you have a small kitchen, then being able to design the ideal kitchen can be less a problem of expense and more of a problem of what you can fit and where.

It's hard to overcome the feeling of not having enough space in a small kitchen. The (NKBA) recommends using unique storage solutions, mixing natural and ambient lighting, and carefully choosing your appliances. If you can learn about how to use the right design ideas in creating a more spacious space you can go from thinking only of making do with little, to being able to actually love and accept what you have
If you have a small kitchen to design then the problem of designing a great kitchen boils down to just what you can fit and where. There are many different cabinet designs and surface patterns that can help you provide your small kitchen design with a sense of space.

To create the small but efficient kitchen design, you need to work on three major areas of small kitchen design: storage, lighting, and appliances.
Small kitchens may seem to be a very difficult design challenge, but they can also be functional, beautiful and efficient. Even with a small budget and building restrictions, you can find that there are many options open to you to transform your kitchen into something more ideal for your needs.
To create a more spacious look for your small kitchen design the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) recommends designing more unique storage solutions, mixing natural and ambient lighting, taking advantage of more space saving appliances, and adding personalized touches.
A small kitchen design requires creativity in coming up with storage solutions. Some ideas to try include:
1. Putting an island in the center of the kitchen that can provide freestanding storage that is also convenient from any spot in the kitchen.
2. Using a galley kitchen design in which the cabinets and appliances line up on either side of a corridor can work out very well for a small kitchen space.
3. Today's appliance manufacturers have come up with more compact space-saving appliances make small kitchen design easier, such as refrigerators that are 24 inches deep instead of 30 inches deep, as well as appliances that can be hung underneath cabinets like microwaves.
4. Other small kitchen design tricks to create an eating area in the kitchen include using a drop table or a small sized round table with two small chairs that can be tucked into a corner. Or a built-in counter along the wall with chairs to provide an eating nook.
5. Another interesting challenge in small kitchen design is creating an illusion of space with under cabinet lighting or under the counter. With the proper type of lighting the kitchen can be made to appear larger and more pleasing.
6. The use of light colored cabinets with glass doors.
7. Installing deeper counters that can accommodate more appliances and increase work space.
8. Flooring tiles can be placed on a diagonal, and in a galley style kitchen hardwood flooring can be run the length of the kitchen.
9. For storage you can hang up pots and pans. This is a perfect way to free up cabinet space, and they add a certain charm and character to your small kitchen design. The insides of cabinet doors can be used to hang up everything from utensils, oven mitts, and other miscellaneous items. Pantry storage with units that go all the way to the ceiling with the upper cabinets to provide more space for seldom used items while making the lower cabinets more accessible with rollout shelves, lazy susans, and tilt-out bins.
10. Install a large kitchen sink, since larger sinks are considered to be more practical than small sinks when it comes to cleaning pots and pans.

Whether you desire a cheerful '50s retro space or a graceful Victorian renovation, the vintage kitchen is the style for a chef who wants the special charm from a past era. A '50s kitchen conjures up ruby, yellow and turquoise shades while subdued colors mark the Victorian palette. Stock the ultimate vintage kitchen with the ultimate finds from the era you want to portray.

Casual and cozy, the English country kitchen combines traditional style with a bit of farmhouse flair. A crisp, clean color palette, vintage furniture and flowing drapes in casual flower and fruit prints give you simple ways to add the style to your kitchen. If you're making major changes, stick with easy-to-care-for surfaces, like subway tile and stone countertops, and pick cherry cabinets to add warmth to the space.

The cottage kitchen is all about simplicity. Relaxed and informal, this easygoing style is perfect if you want a relaxed feel to your kitchen. Look for cabinetry and furniture in light woods or paint your existing pieces in a low-sheen white. Requisite open shelving lets you display your dishware, collections or family heirlooms.