Sunday 26 August 2012

Designing Your Kitchen to Reflect Your Needs


In order to design your new kitchen, you first need to sit down and decide two things........ 


  1. You will need to know how much room you have to put your kitchen in.  
  2. You'll also need to know what you want to be able to do in your kitchen!


If you're looking for a lot of food preparation area, for example, you'll want a different kitchen design than somebody who is trying to find space to fit lots of food and cooking utensil storage.


Once you've decided on the basic layout for your kitchen, then you'll need to think of what appliances you're going to put in there.  You'll need to make sure that there is enough room in your kitchen for the refrigerator and oven – and probably a dishwasher as well.  Therefore, once you have a general idea of where you want to put your appliances, you should decide exactly which models will be put in and get the exact measurements from the distributor.

Remember to take into consideration the "work Triangle", using a triangle to plot the best location for your appliances in the room. You don't want to be taking lots of extra steps to the fridge, every time you need something for the dish you're preparing.

Then, once you have the measurements for those appliances, you'll be able to decide how to finalize the rest of your kitchen design, adding cabinets etc. to fill the spaces between appliances.  

Some things that you should consider regarding the design of your new kitchen are how difficult it will be to install or repair the appliances that you have in your kitchen.  If you make it difficult to reach the back of your refrigerator, you'll have a hard time getting back there if it ever needs to be repaired.

Additionally, you should avoid having gaps between counters in areas where you will be cooking or washing dishes often.  The reason for this is that gaps allow food or water to get down into hard to reach places – which means that when you finally do get to that part of the floor, it will be even messier than you would have expected and may even be an invitation to unwanted pests.


You will next want to consider what activities you will need included in your design, will you be having dinner for a family of four, or will a breakfast bar for two suffice for your family? Will you need office space for a computer or space for a T.V. included in the design? Now is the time to consider these things, not the day after the cabinets are installed.
There are two main things that you should think about using while you're designing your kitchen.  The first is always a good step – that's just using a pencil and paper to draw out what you want to put in there.  However, if you don't trust your artistic skillsArticle Submission, you can also find online programs that will help you make a great kitchen design.

If you'd rather have help in designing your kitchen and implementing your plan, feel free to contact us here at Lakeside Interiors and we'll be happy to assist you and even give you a computer rendering of what your kitchen will look like when it's completed.



Lakeside Interiors specializes in renovating existing kitchens as well as bathrooms and basements so, if you aren't looking for a "full contact" DIY experience, get together with us and we'll make your dream kitchen a reality for you!

We are now available on facebook as well as on linkedin. Like us on facebook and follow us on linkedin!

While you're on the site, feel free to download the FREE E-book there to help you with your bathroom renovation plan, more books are in the planning stages, but I started with bathrooms.

Get all the latest Home Maintenance tips and articles delivered right to your inbox by signing up for our free newsletter. 

If you have any questions you'd like answered or you would like to see an article on a particular subject, feel free to ask in a comment window or contact us directly.

If you would like advice concerning your summer project or you would like a cost estimate for a project you are considering, please don't hesitate to contact us.

Lakeside Interiors dedicates a portion of its profits to the community we work in by using our skills to assist the elderly or disabled free of charge. If you know of someone in your area who could use our assistance, please let us know. 

This article was published by:
Keith McGorlick,
Author, Blogger,
Home Improvement Expert &
President of, Lakeside Interiors
Windsor & Barrie Ontario
705-881-4456 in Barrie or,
226-946-9651 in Windsor or,
To receive this blog in your inbox,
Insert your email address at the
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To receive our FREE weekly,
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Wednesday 8 August 2012

Bathroom Renovation Makeovers, the Project of Choice in Windsor & Barrie


Whether your motivation is to enhance your usage experience or to enhance your home's resale value,  a bathroom remodel project is one of the best investments a homeowner can make. In terms of maximizing the benefits, few can argue that renovating your bathroom will offer the most bang for the buck in terms of payback when it comes time to sell while allowing you the extra comfort and enjoyment while you are still in your home.

Much like a kitchen, the bathroom tends to be one area where potential home buyers have strong emotions. A functional and stylish bathroom can literally make or break the deal when you put your home on the market. But resale potential is not the primary reason to consider your bathroom renovation. Sure we all would like as much money as we can get, but why not enjoy your home to the fullest while you are still in it? Plus, with the economy in a down trend, more and more people are choosing to spruce up their existing homes instead of moving to a new home. You can save a lot of money by remaining in your home and simply improving it instead of moving. For the long-term, that decision makes a lot of sense financially.

Your renovation project can be as simple or elaborate as you desire. It is amazing what a new mirror and a new coat of paint can do for a bathroom. If your budget and energy allows, you can get really ambitious and knock out walls, install a new tub or shower, add new cabinets, and a number of other things. The only limit to your project will be budget and imagination.

Before you begin any project, you need to plan carefully. the last thing you want to do is begin a bathroom renovation that renders it useless for weeks because you didn't realize the impact of changes you made or because you ran out of funds before you finished. The best way to avoid these types of planning mistakes is to use the services of a professional contractor. A professional will know the process, know the right subcontractors, and be able to steer you towards a successful completion. If your project is relatively small, then you can probably do it yourself without any help. But when pipes need to be moved or electrical outlets need to be moved, unless you really know what you are doing, do not attempt these types of tasks by yourself. Always leave these types of jobs to the professionals.

A bathroom renovation can make a big difference in your enjoyment of your home while adding potential resale value. If you don't have the bathroom of your dreams already, look into an upgrade. Whether you want a major facelift or just new counters and lights, you will be happy you did. And the older and more worn your current bathroom is, the more you will probably enjoy your new one. The best part is that there are many options available regardless of your budgetFind Article, just get creative and enjoy the experience.

Lakeside Interiors specializes in renovating existing bathrooms as well as kitchens and basements so, if you aren't looking for a "full contact" DIY experience, get together with us and we'll make your dream bathroom a reality for you!


We are now available on facebook as well as on linkedin. Like us on facebook and follow us on linkedin!

While you're on the site, feel free to download the FREE E-book there to help you with your bathroom renovation plan, more books are in the planning stages, but I started with bathrooms.


Get all the latest tips and articles delivered right to your inbox by signing up for our free newsletter. 

If you have any questions you'd like answered or you would like to see an article on a particular subject, feel free to ask in a comment window or contact us directly.


If you would like advice concerning your summer project or you would like a cost estimate for a project you are considering, please don't hesitate to contact us.

Lakeside Interiors dedicates a portion of its profits to the community we work in by using our skills to assist the elderly or underpriviledged free of charge. If you know of someone in your area who could use our assistance, please let us know. 



This article was published by:
Keith McGorlick,
Author, Blogger,
Home Improvement Expert &
President of, Lakeside Interiors
Windsor & Barrie Ontario
705-881-4456 in Barrie or,
226-946-9651 in Windsor or,
To receive this blog in your inbox,
Insert your email address at the
top of this page.
To receive our FREE newsletter click here.