Under-Cabinet Lighting For Your Kitchen Remodel

Why Under-Cabinet Lighting?

Under-cabinet lighting is added to kitchen cabinetry to provide two types of lighting; task and ambiance on the countertop area. Typically in the kitchen the underside of the wall cabinetry can be a dark shadowed area that makes working difficult, this is why the underside of cabinetry provides the ideal location for task lighting. Under-cabinet lighting will reduce these shadows by the cabinetry from the ceiling or pendent lighting. By Illuminating the backsplash this creates can help display your beautiful tile or stone and layer your lighting. The layering of lighting is a method of using all available lights in the kitchen and simply dimming them to create a layering effect for mood or ambiance. 

Under-Cabinet Lighting Types

The best lighting fixtures can be purchased at your local lighting design centers, it is recommended that you allow a licensed electrician install the lighting in your home. The lighting availability from these suppliers may use one of three types lamps: LED, incandescent, or fluorescent. These types of lamps influence the performance of the lighting fixture; including the amount of light, the lamp's color, the life of the lamp or fixture, and the lamp's energy usage. Don't know which lamp is best for you? We recommend consulting your local electrician or lighting design store.

Incandescent lamps

Incandescent lamps are the most common types of lighting in kitchens. These lamps come in a variety of selections for under-cabinet lighting; bi-pin,  festoon, and wedge. These selections are available in many different wattages and correlated color temperatures (CCT). CCT refers to the color of the light, (for example, a warm golden tone vs. a clean white tone). Halogen and xenon, are the two most popular because they have a higher CCT, keep in mind these lamps are a cleaner looking white or less golden in appearance. Incandescent lamps are readily available, inexpensive, and easy to replace when one burns out. However, these types of lights have the shortest life spans and the highest energy use of the three types of lamp available. Xenon lamps tend to have the longest life span and can cost about 60 cents more per bulb, depending on the manufacturer. 

LED       

LEDs have quickly become popular for a variety of task lighting uses because of their low energy use. these types of lights are the brightest, have the longest life span, but can cost up to three times more the incandescent lighting. Unlike incandescent and fluorescent lamps, LED lamps typically do not burn out, these lights usually have a 50,000 lamp hour rating. White LEDs can be a bluish-white in color appearance than incandescent lamps, though a warm-white LED that looks like the incandescent are becoming more common. White LEDs are generally available in the same color range as fluorescent lamps and can even be purchased in many other different colors such as; blue, red, orange, yellow and green. When selecting the lighting for your kitchen remodel, the best thing you should keep in mind is will this fit into my existing cabinetry configuration?

Fluorescent Lamps

Under-cabinet fluorescent lights are available with linear fluorescent lamps and compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs). Linear fluorescent lamps are the most popular type of fluorescent lighting for under-cabinet fixtures because they have a low profile and can allow the installer to conceal them behind the cabinet light rails (trim). Fluorescent light fixtures can be links together to create one long strain of lights or be broken into numerous single light fixtures. Newer fluorescent lamps have many improvements over older designs, including choice of light color (from warm to cool), good color rendering, these lighting fixtures run cooler and quieter than the older fixtures.

In conclusion I hope this article helped solve your decision making process when you go to make selections in your kitchen remodel. If you have any further questions please fell free to contact us at any time.

For more information on this topic, visit the source of this article at http://elementkitchen.com/remodeling-articles/145-under-cabinet-lighting-for-kitchen-remodels.html

The 4 Most Common Kitchen Remodeling Mistakes

What’s the secret to a successful kitchen remodel? Knowing what mistakes to avoid! Almost everyone who has been through a remodel has a war story to share about what they’d do differently. Whether it’s the neighbor’s never-ending remodel, or the friend of a friend whose contractor couldn't get along with the architect, keep your dream kitchen from becoming a nightmare by protecting yourself from these common first-timer mistakes.

 

Mistake #1: Micro Before Macro

While it may be true that your appliances are dated or that your countertops are unattractive, most people don’t focus enough on the big picture. It’s essential that you determine the lifestyle objectives you want your kitchen to hone before you choose its design elements. Why? These objectives can determine the exact types of materials, appliances, and layouts that you should and shouldn’t choose. (Soapstone, for example, is a beautiful counter material, but it requires lots of care—and might not be the best choice for young families.)

Bottom line: Determining your desired kitchen lifestyle before choosing the design elements will save you time and money down the line.

 

Mistake #2: Thinking Fad, Not Function

 “Beware of the ‘what’s in’ kitchen,” says certified kitchen designer Jennifer Reed. The average kitchen renovation should last 12-15 years, so the last thing you want is for it to feel dated before it’s even paid for. Beware of too-trendy colors and shapes that likely have a short shelf life. Extras like wall-mounted pot fillers are probably only necessary for top-of-the-line chefs; trendy chandeliers might make a statement, but they typically don’t provide appropriate lighting for the space. Similarly, don’t fall prey to over-customization. What works for you today may not work for the next owner of your ho­­me—or even your own family as it grows and evolves. “Be true to the bones of the house,” Reed says. So before you commit to fancy bells and whistles, consider long-term consequences.

 

Mistake #3: Not Hiring Multiple Professionals

People often think that doing it yourself is the cheapest route. Not so! Varying aspects of the kitchen require professionals with specific expertise. A kitchen designer is not an architect, an architect is not an interior designer, and a contractor is not a kitchen designer. Hire skilled (and licensed) professionals who not only understand lead times for your selections but can also test-drive your budget to make sure it’s sustainable. On the note, don't assume that a big-box retailer offers the most bang for your buck, says certified kitchen designer Jennifer Gilmer. “There’s nothing more satisfying than someone who thinks that they can’t afford design services walks into a showroom and discovers they can redo a kitchen within their budget,” she says. In addition to recommending reputable contractors, savvy design professionals can help homeowners make informed, cost-saving decisions—like swapping a kitchen island for a handsome chef’s table or butcher block—that will keep the aesthetic high, prices low and value priceless. 

 

Mistake #4: Letting a Contractor or Design Professional Make Decisions For You

Although it’s tempting to delegate all decisions to the experts (decision-making fatigue is quite common in kitchen renovations!), ultimately it’s the homeowners who best understand their own habits. Is the kitchen also your home office, or do you include the kids in dinner preparations? Those activities might dictate choosing a raised island bar versus a flat island. Also important, says certified kitchen designer Susan Serra, is to visit showrooms, flip through magazines, and educate yourself about materials, fixtures, products and costs, “so you will have authentic opinions” when it comes to decision time with design professionals.

Bottom line: Assess your real needs—or even better, what you don’t need—and convey them with confidence.

For more information on this topic, visit the source of this article at http://www.cultivate.com/articles/4-most-common-remodeling-mistakes

Creating a Whole New Sense of Space for the Homeowner’s Needs In Mind

This 1990’s family room in Lake Oswego was, let’s just say it … UGLY. Instead of pulling out the whole fireplace and starting new (costly), Revive came up with a design plan to repurpose elements of the brick into the new. The top part of the brick was removed and a new surround with fine wood moulding detail now encases the fireplace. Even above inside side the niche has recessed panels. The custom built cabinets on either side of the fireplace give the homeowners plenty of storage and displaying shelves for their treasures and family portraits. The nasty old carpet was removed and replaced with 3 ¼” red oak planks, blending into the adjacent kitchen flooring and refinished for a cohesive look. Ten new can lights installed on dimmer switches help create a chosen ambience when needed. 

Before

During Remodel

During Remodel

Detailed Moulding

 

Bathrooms of the future – saving us water and giving us so much more
Im always on the lookout for surveys and stats that tell us a little more about how we want to live, rather than the way we currently do- they can be a fascinating insight for any designer particularly those interested in the Future Home.
Well this week its bathrooms.

A recent survey of 1500 home owners by bathroom manufacturer  Ideal Standard gave us an interesting insight as to how the great unwashed, will be washed in the future. A few highlights:

• 29% of us agree that our current bathroom does not have enough storage space

• 47% would like the bathroom of the future to be more spacious

• 19% want an adaptable bathroom

• 32% would like their bathroom to be safer

• 78% wish they could waste less water

• 37% would like future bathrooms to be powered by renewable energy

• 41% of people in the UK use the bathroom as a place to think

• 25% use it as a place to relax

Quite viably they predict that the future bathroom will remember individual users using intuitive technology to help make the experience easier for the young, elderly and those less able.

They predict (much less viably!) that bathrooms of the future will be mould-able, flexible and adaptable. You will be able to define the shape of the fixtures you require simply by ‘shaping them in the air’ , perhaps…..

Bathrooms of the futureHowever what is clear is that  bathrooms are becoming more sociable spaces- more open, allowing for interaction and relaxation. As we try to fit as much family time as possible in to our hectic lifestyles, the bathroom scene is changing. Seating is a great idea in a bathroom, especially if you have a young family, children’s bath time can be a family event and having seating allows for you to join in comfort, without kneeling over the edge of the bath . . .

As we all know technology is rapidly taking over our lives and it’s starting to appear in the bathroom too, perhaps the one place where you thought you could escape it? But perhaps it has some smart benefits particularly  if  it is an an area for monitoring health and well being also. As we mentioned previously Toto have designed a toilet which will monitor your blood pressure, BMI, blood sugar levels and weight. All this data can then be transferred to your computer to be monitored via Wi-Fi.
 Today the average person brushes their teeth for only 46 seconds! This toothbrush from Beam and free App for your smartphone helps you to brush your teeth for the recommended two minutes with an easy to use timer and helps you to monitor your oral health. The App comes complete with brushing goals and incentives making it a good idea for children to help them learn. The App also allows for you to play your favourite song while you brush and alerts you when it’s time to change the brush head. The charts produced from the App can be easily sent to your dentist before your check up.
A questionable example of technology taking over is this bath from Brazilian design company Innovative House (Ihouse). The bath allows for you to start it remotely via an App on your Smartphone and then alerting it once it has reached the pre-programmed water level. A warming feature will also keep the water at your desired temperature throughout. But do we really need to turn on our baths on before we’re home, and what happens when it goes a little crazy as we all know technology can?
I’m sure most of us are guilty of singing in the shower and quite a few of us probably even have a radio in the bathroom to sing along to too. This rechargeable battery powered shower head from Kohler Moxie allows for you to combine your radio and shower head in one. It functions via Bluetooth from a device up to 32 feet away and has a 7 hour battery life, when you can simply unscrew the speaker and put in on charge until the next shower.
However, having music playing whilst we shower may lead to us staying under the running water for longer than anticipated. This shower timer from Pebble is a great little device which monitors water going down the plug hole. The product remembers the first shower and then uses this as a benchmark to monitor water flow, it then alerts you via a simple traffic light system flashing from green when you start, through to red when you should finish. Each time you shower the pebble takes a fraction of time off from the previous shower helping you to save water without thinking about it.
Looking further into heat recovery Dutch Solar Systems have created a shower drain heat recovery unit which is able to recycle the heat from drain water into a sustainable source of energy. The system can recover roughly 59% of the heat from your shower water.
Over 60% of the UK is considered to have hard water, which over time can block and scale up water pipes and heating systems, leaving behind a mineral build up and reducing the efficiency of not only your taps and shower heads but importantly your hot water tank. This will most likely lead to the product needing to be serviced or replaced in less time than if it were to be installed a soft water area. Having just had a Kinetico water softener installed at home, the befits are clear particularly on my shower screen which now doesn't need regular cleaning!. It uses the kinetic energy of flowing water to power itself instead of electricity and accurately meters the water to determine when it’s time to regenerate allowing for less waste and greater savings. Also thanks to its compact size it can be installed without taking up lots of space in your bathroom.
As we know plants are important to have around the home to help filter out the harmful off-gases produced from cheaper furniture manufactured from particleboard, often with a waterproof plastic veneer. These tiles from Maruja Fuentes are a great concept; the fish scale shape comes complete with a small pocket, suitable for growing small house plants. An interesting wall feature and air purifier in one.
And lastly we love this product- the interactive mirror from POSH (dodgy acronym though) comes complete with a self-contained multi-touch option. With connections via Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and Ethernet, the mirror has an app store which allows for you to download the latest news whilst you are getting ready in the morning, watch television and check in with your social media sites among many other options.

The future bathroom, so much more than just the smallest room in the house; its a place to relax, splash around, invigorate, check out your health, cut down on resources even spend some quality family time in. its too good an opportunity to waste!

For more information on this topic, visit the source of this article at http://www.oliverheath.com/blog/2013/02/bathrooms-of-the-future/