Q. What are the benfits of an undermount sink?
A. There are basically three types of mountings for sinks – drop-in, flush mount and undermount.
A drop-in sink simply drops in on top of the countertop. These are more difficult to clean as you will have a small space between the back of the sink and the backsplash that collects water and is difficult to reach.
A flush mount sink (which is less common, but becoming more available) drops in but sits flush with the countertop. This is a beautiful look, but be cautious of the countertop material. Not all countertops can be fabricated to support or accept a flush-mount sink.
An undermount sink is the most sanitary option for a sink. The sink sits between the bottom of the countertop and the top of the cabinet, thus it is “mounted under” the countertop. Because there is no lip or small gap between the sink and countertop, splashed water can be easily swept back into the sink. There is also a wider space between the sink and backsplash (and no lip) making it much easier to clean. Perhaps the biggest advantage is there is no need to take a toothpick to clean the perimeter of the sink where the “gunk” collects because the sink now sits underneath the countertop. Brilliant!!
Until next time,
Renovate Kate
Friday, July 24, 2009
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Designing a Kitchen? Cabinets First!
Why should every kitchen design start with the cabinets?
Every kitchen design should start with the cabinets because your cabinets are the most permanent furniture pieces in your home. Floors, countertops, faucets and certainly paint will come and go over the years, but your cabinets will more than likely be in your home for an average of 30 to 40 years!! Don’t assume your kitchen has been “designed” simply because you purchased a set of plans. More than likely, not a single thought has been placed on storage, appliance layout or accessibility!
Cabinets should be built with very specific storage needs in mind…a place for large pots and pans, spices, cutlery, dish towels and pot holders, etc. What if you want a place for a small television in the kitchen? Where does the microwave go? Will you be living in the home the rest of your life? Will it be functional for all stages of life? How will you reach items in the upper cabinets? Should your plates and glassware be in the base cabinets so every member of the family can reach them? Will the placement of your appliances meet your needs?
It is well worth the small investment to hire a professional kitchen and bath designer to ensure your cabinets are not only beautiful, but - more importantly - functional.
Until next time,
Renovate Kate
Every kitchen design should start with the cabinets because your cabinets are the most permanent furniture pieces in your home. Floors, countertops, faucets and certainly paint will come and go over the years, but your cabinets will more than likely be in your home for an average of 30 to 40 years!! Don’t assume your kitchen has been “designed” simply because you purchased a set of plans. More than likely, not a single thought has been placed on storage, appliance layout or accessibility!
Cabinets should be built with very specific storage needs in mind…a place for large pots and pans, spices, cutlery, dish towels and pot holders, etc. What if you want a place for a small television in the kitchen? Where does the microwave go? Will you be living in the home the rest of your life? Will it be functional for all stages of life? How will you reach items in the upper cabinets? Should your plates and glassware be in the base cabinets so every member of the family can reach them? Will the placement of your appliances meet your needs?
It is well worth the small investment to hire a professional kitchen and bath designer to ensure your cabinets are not only beautiful, but - more importantly - functional.
Until next time,
Renovate Kate
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Flooring Under a Dishwasher...Yes or No?
Q. Should you put flooring under your dishwasher or not?
A. Yes. If you set your dishwasher on an unfinished floor, then lay your flooring material, you will not be able to pull out the dishwasher should you ever need to service it. Why? The countertop will prevent you from lifting the dishwasher up over the flooring. Be sure to allow enough height (typcially 34.5") between the FINISHED floor and the bottom of your countertop to fit your dishwasher. You may need to raise up or “shim” your countertop to allow enough space. Ask your flooring installer and your countertop installer about this prior to any work being done.
If you have questions about this topic or would like advice about any of your residential or remodeling projects, write me and I'll be happy to answer you.
Contact me at
http://www.renovatekate.blogspot.com/
www.twitter.com/renovatekate
And check out my website at www.constructionology101.com
Until next time,
Renovate Kate
A. Yes. If you set your dishwasher on an unfinished floor, then lay your flooring material, you will not be able to pull out the dishwasher should you ever need to service it. Why? The countertop will prevent you from lifting the dishwasher up over the flooring. Be sure to allow enough height (typcially 34.5") between the FINISHED floor and the bottom of your countertop to fit your dishwasher. You may need to raise up or “shim” your countertop to allow enough space. Ask your flooring installer and your countertop installer about this prior to any work being done.
If you have questions about this topic or would like advice about any of your residential or remodeling projects, write me and I'll be happy to answer you.
Contact me at
http://www.renovatekate.blogspot.com/
www.twitter.com/renovatekate
And check out my website at www.constructionology101.com
Until next time,
Renovate Kate
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Cabinets 101
Since the warm weather has arrived, everyone is ready to remodel. It's been a busy week of helping clients plan, design and estimate their upcoming remodeling projects. I have a method of designing a new kitchen that is simple and always works.
After my initial consultation with a client, we set a date to go "shopping." This is a chance for me to get to know my client's taste in decor and help them find a style for their new space. I always, always, always start with cabinets.
Cabinetry is what I refer to as the permanent furniture of the house. Sofas and carpet can come and go, but the cabinets you select today will be in your house an average of 25 to 40 years. This is not a place to skimp on budget nor in your time researching, analyzing or selecting your cabinets.
Because the cabinets will be the last element to change in your house, this should be your foundation for selecting all other surfaces. There is also a process I use in helping the client make their choice of cabinets. First, I start with the style of the door. Does the client prefer a raised panel door, a recessed door or a slab door? Raised panel doors, especially with decorative moldings, are typically seen in more traditional settings while recessed doors with little to no molding will work for a shaker or mission style home. Slab doors, doors with no detail at all, are usually used in modern homes for a sleek, contemporary look.
Once the door style is selected, it's time to select the wood species. There are so many wood species available in today's market that it can be a little overwhelming. However, like the door styles, certain species lend themselves to certain design styles. Maple, cherry and birch are smooth woods with little graining and have a more clean or elegant look. Oak, pine and alder woods have more distinctive graining and usually offer a more rustic feel to cabinetry.
Now that a door style and wood species have been determined, it's time to select a stain color. Stain colors will vary greatly depending on the type of wood taking the stain. For example, the same stain called "honey" will look very light with a yellow or gold tone if applied to maple. The same exact stain applied to a cherry door will look deeper and darker and pull hints of red tones out of the wood. This is because maple is, by nature, a lighter, more golden wood and cherry is naturally darker with more red in its base. People are also often confused by the word "cherry." If a cherry cabinet is mentioned, most people will visualize a very dark red/brown color. But keep in mind that cherry is a wood species, not a color! Light stains on cherry wood can produce a beautiful light to medium tone and is not dark at all.
Congratulations! You have now built a foundation for building the rest of your kitchen. With your style defined by the door, the wood species and stain color selected, you can now take your door and begin coordinating it with your countertops, flooring, backsplash, paint colors and appliances. This will ensure that all the elements will flow naturally and beautifully and the kitchen of your dreams is now within reach.
If you have more questions about selecting cabinets or what to do next, please leave a comment below, or twitter me at renovatekate.
Until next time,
Kate
After my initial consultation with a client, we set a date to go "shopping." This is a chance for me to get to know my client's taste in decor and help them find a style for their new space. I always, always, always start with cabinets.
Cabinetry is what I refer to as the permanent furniture of the house. Sofas and carpet can come and go, but the cabinets you select today will be in your house an average of 25 to 40 years. This is not a place to skimp on budget nor in your time researching, analyzing or selecting your cabinets.
Because the cabinets will be the last element to change in your house, this should be your foundation for selecting all other surfaces. There is also a process I use in helping the client make their choice of cabinets. First, I start with the style of the door. Does the client prefer a raised panel door, a recessed door or a slab door? Raised panel doors, especially with decorative moldings, are typically seen in more traditional settings while recessed doors with little to no molding will work for a shaker or mission style home. Slab doors, doors with no detail at all, are usually used in modern homes for a sleek, contemporary look.
Once the door style is selected, it's time to select the wood species. There are so many wood species available in today's market that it can be a little overwhelming. However, like the door styles, certain species lend themselves to certain design styles. Maple, cherry and birch are smooth woods with little graining and have a more clean or elegant look. Oak, pine and alder woods have more distinctive graining and usually offer a more rustic feel to cabinetry.
Now that a door style and wood species have been determined, it's time to select a stain color. Stain colors will vary greatly depending on the type of wood taking the stain. For example, the same stain called "honey" will look very light with a yellow or gold tone if applied to maple. The same exact stain applied to a cherry door will look deeper and darker and pull hints of red tones out of the wood. This is because maple is, by nature, a lighter, more golden wood and cherry is naturally darker with more red in its base. People are also often confused by the word "cherry." If a cherry cabinet is mentioned, most people will visualize a very dark red/brown color. But keep in mind that cherry is a wood species, not a color! Light stains on cherry wood can produce a beautiful light to medium tone and is not dark at all.
Congratulations! You have now built a foundation for building the rest of your kitchen. With your style defined by the door, the wood species and stain color selected, you can now take your door and begin coordinating it with your countertops, flooring, backsplash, paint colors and appliances. This will ensure that all the elements will flow naturally and beautifully and the kitchen of your dreams is now within reach.
If you have more questions about selecting cabinets or what to do next, please leave a comment below, or twitter me at renovatekate.
Until next time,
Kate
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Are you, like, a good communicator?
I gave my first Toastmasters speech last night and, although I am at ease speaking in front of a crowd, something very strange happened on the way to the podium. I found myself practicing nervous habits I never knew I would have.
This happens to me in my golf game. I practice swinging at the ball a dozen times, and it's perfect every time. Put the ball in front of me, and something goes terribly wrong.
I was not at all nervous in the hours, minutes, or even seconds leading up to my speech. But once I reached the lectern and began speaking, I forgot my words, I began to clutch the podium, started shifting my weight, found myself stammering and starting over, even (gasp) pawing at the ground with my foot much like an agitated horse! Who was this horrifically uncomfortable, blabbering orator who had taken over my body and my mouth?
Somehow I managed to get through my speech and was ready to hear my critique. Prior to my presentation, I had asked my evaluator to be very forthcoming - even brutal - in his evaluation as I wanted to know my mistakes and learn from them. Although he did have a few areas of improvement for me, he and the other audience members said I looked very poised, completely at ease, had a good, strong speaking voice and thought the speech was swell.
Huh?? This is all very nice to hear, and perhaps my nervousness was not as obvious to my audience as it was to me, but I learned a lot about myself in that brief six minutes. The lesson for me was that communication is far more than the words we say. It's in our posture, the confidence in our voice, our eye contact, and the way we dress. Sometimes how we say something can override what we say, which could work for us or against us.
This is not new information. I've known these things most of my adult life. But as prepared as I was for this moment, one never knows one's response in a scary situation until one is in the midst of it. I think I know what I would do if an intruder broke into my house in the middle of the night, but until I'm faced with that situation, I guess I really don't know how I will react. The same goes for public speaking.
Next time, like my golf game, I'll try to remember all those little tricks that will help me hit the "sweet spot." Keep my eyes off my notes, my weight off the lectern, my feet planted firmly on the floor, and just enjoy the game. Perhaps there will be a day when my speech won't "shank" and it will be worth all the practice I've put in.
Until, like, next time,
-Kate
This happens to me in my golf game. I practice swinging at the ball a dozen times, and it's perfect every time. Put the ball in front of me, and something goes terribly wrong.
I was not at all nervous in the hours, minutes, or even seconds leading up to my speech. But once I reached the lectern and began speaking, I forgot my words, I began to clutch the podium, started shifting my weight, found myself stammering and starting over, even (gasp) pawing at the ground with my foot much like an agitated horse! Who was this horrifically uncomfortable, blabbering orator who had taken over my body and my mouth?
Somehow I managed to get through my speech and was ready to hear my critique. Prior to my presentation, I had asked my evaluator to be very forthcoming - even brutal - in his evaluation as I wanted to know my mistakes and learn from them. Although he did have a few areas of improvement for me, he and the other audience members said I looked very poised, completely at ease, had a good, strong speaking voice and thought the speech was swell.
Huh?? This is all very nice to hear, and perhaps my nervousness was not as obvious to my audience as it was to me, but I learned a lot about myself in that brief six minutes. The lesson for me was that communication is far more than the words we say. It's in our posture, the confidence in our voice, our eye contact, and the way we dress. Sometimes how we say something can override what we say, which could work for us or against us.
This is not new information. I've known these things most of my adult life. But as prepared as I was for this moment, one never knows one's response in a scary situation until one is in the midst of it. I think I know what I would do if an intruder broke into my house in the middle of the night, but until I'm faced with that situation, I guess I really don't know how I will react. The same goes for public speaking.
Next time, like my golf game, I'll try to remember all those little tricks that will help me hit the "sweet spot." Keep my eyes off my notes, my weight off the lectern, my feet planted firmly on the floor, and just enjoy the game. Perhaps there will be a day when my speech won't "shank" and it will be worth all the practice I've put in.
Until, like, next time,
-Kate
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Creating Cocoons in a Scary World
I've been spending the day reading Faith Popcorn's trends for 2009 (again) and considering the direction our emotions and spirituality are leading us.
It's interesting to me that in times of horrific crises (911, natural disasters, etc.) we all have a basic instinct to run home...back to our nests, our cocoons, away from the scariness of the outside world. And it seems that the crises in our lives keeps growing in numbers. Perhaps not at the level of earthquakes and tsunamis, but certainly in the stress that comes with the thought of losing a steady job, a home, a child's education fund, or a retirement fund.
But I'm finding that people are not only running to a physical home, but an emotional and spiritual base as well. Ms. Popcorn talks about anchoring, cashing out and clanning. If you're not familiar with these particular terms, you can probably figure out via your own experiences what she's talking about.
"Anchoring" is reaching back to the past for things that made us feel secure in our childhoods so we can face an unknown future. I often find myself wishing for a simpler time, when kids could play with their friends three blocks from home and mom never had to worry about their safety.
"Cashing Out" is giving up certain social "to do's" to live the life you really desire; i.e. the New York corporate lawyer who leaves his practice to start his own river-rafting tour company on the Colorado River. I have already experienced this transition. Four years ago I left the comfort of a steady paycheck to "do my own thing." I became increasingly unhappy with corporate America and decided I was ready to work my tail off for ME this time!
"Clanning" is a loneliness trend. Despite our crazy schedules and "over-stimulated" lives, we still find ourselves struggling to connect to other human beings on a personal level. Clanning is trying to find like-minded people looking for commonality without going outside your cocoon. This is why social networking sites are taking off so quickly. We can make that connection and talk about the most intimate details of our lives with others, yet never have to leave the comfort of our home.
I'm curious to see how the next five to ten years will impact our lives. Will financial crises, natural disasters, political upheavals, religious wars and other stressful situations force us even further into our homes or cocoons where we'll have to settle for virtual relationships, or will we quickly tire of being afraid of the outside world and begin to crave even more face-to-face contact with others.
What do you think?
Until next time,
-Kate
It's interesting to me that in times of horrific crises (911, natural disasters, etc.) we all have a basic instinct to run home...back to our nests, our cocoons, away from the scariness of the outside world. And it seems that the crises in our lives keeps growing in numbers. Perhaps not at the level of earthquakes and tsunamis, but certainly in the stress that comes with the thought of losing a steady job, a home, a child's education fund, or a retirement fund.
But I'm finding that people are not only running to a physical home, but an emotional and spiritual base as well. Ms. Popcorn talks about anchoring, cashing out and clanning. If you're not familiar with these particular terms, you can probably figure out via your own experiences what she's talking about.
"Anchoring" is reaching back to the past for things that made us feel secure in our childhoods so we can face an unknown future. I often find myself wishing for a simpler time, when kids could play with their friends three blocks from home and mom never had to worry about their safety.
"Cashing Out" is giving up certain social "to do's" to live the life you really desire; i.e. the New York corporate lawyer who leaves his practice to start his own river-rafting tour company on the Colorado River. I have already experienced this transition. Four years ago I left the comfort of a steady paycheck to "do my own thing." I became increasingly unhappy with corporate America and decided I was ready to work my tail off for ME this time!
"Clanning" is a loneliness trend. Despite our crazy schedules and "over-stimulated" lives, we still find ourselves struggling to connect to other human beings on a personal level. Clanning is trying to find like-minded people looking for commonality without going outside your cocoon. This is why social networking sites are taking off so quickly. We can make that connection and talk about the most intimate details of our lives with others, yet never have to leave the comfort of our home.
I'm curious to see how the next five to ten years will impact our lives. Will financial crises, natural disasters, political upheavals, religious wars and other stressful situations force us even further into our homes or cocoons where we'll have to settle for virtual relationships, or will we quickly tire of being afraid of the outside world and begin to crave even more face-to-face contact with others.
What do you think?
Until next time,
-Kate
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Spring Has Sprung!
Flowers are blooming, birds are singing, trees are budding, and everyone has a sense of new beginnings, and new beginnings is why I love spring so much. It's a chance to renew, reinvent, and make some much needed changes.
If you're like me, you have spent the last few miserable winter months inside looking around your home thinking it could use more than just a good cleaning. For me, I decided I hated the banister on the staircase, the stain on my wood floors, the color of my walls, and some of my over-sized furniture. So, I have already taken down the banister, selected the new paint colors and brushed samples on the wall, and am searching online for "the perfect sofa."
I'm energized by the thought of a "new" home, even if it means just a few cosmetic changes. But a few cosmetic changes can change the entire look and feel of your home, your sense of comfort, and, most importantly, your overall attitude.
Let the painting begin!!!
Until next time,
Kate
If you're like me, you have spent the last few miserable winter months inside looking around your home thinking it could use more than just a good cleaning. For me, I decided I hated the banister on the staircase, the stain on my wood floors, the color of my walls, and some of my over-sized furniture. So, I have already taken down the banister, selected the new paint colors and brushed samples on the wall, and am searching online for "the perfect sofa."
I'm energized by the thought of a "new" home, even if it means just a few cosmetic changes. But a few cosmetic changes can change the entire look and feel of your home, your sense of comfort, and, most importantly, your overall attitude.
Let the painting begin!!!
Until next time,
Kate
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