A beautiful garden creates an atmosphere of peace and tranquility in us. Through our evolutionary history, a green environment has meant plenty of water and food, and is therefore deeply comforting for the human mind. Keeping a garden, even a small one, can go a long way in promoting out mental wellbeing. However, today’s increasingly urban environment means lesser and lesser space available for a personal garden. This space crunch is bringing out tons of innovative ideas to the surface, with people adapting to their shrinking spaces, while still managing to have nice green spots. While indoor plants are nice, functional ones are even better. Have you ever considered growing an herb garden? No space? No problem. Your kitchen could turn into a lush green garden in just a matter of weeks. All you need is some wall space or a window sill that gets a bit of sunlight every day. While a few mason jars on the window sill come readily to the mind, it is the wall space that will truly bring your kitchen garden to life. Wall gardens tend to be small leaning bins that are attached to a vertical spine, that you can install on to a sunny spot on your wall.

Often people who try to maintain discipline and order of cleanliness in their entire house like bedrooms, bathrooms, or the dining table, forget about the space under the roof, which feeds every member in the house the kitchen. The ignorance of this fact leads to numerous problems that the person could not initially imagine. This article intends to highlight a few problems associated with a dirty kitchen and a few tips to maintain the order in the kitchen, as it is with the rest of the house. Foodborne diseases According to the US Center for Disease Control, there are approximately 76million reported cases of foodborne diseases each year. Viruses and bacteria causing foodborne diseases are spread by hand to food contact. A few viruses are listed here Escherichia coli is found in uncooked meat and fish, which tend to cause the hemolytic uremic syndrome. Contaminated utensils and kitchen gadgets also carry bacteria, which may easily lead to diarrhea. Oil deposition It is a commonly noticed fact that continuous cooking leads oil deposition on the ceiling, stoves, and lights in a very sticky form. This makes the decorated kitchen look very ugly, and its foul has a repelling effect. The paint on the ceiling and the walls are completely transformed.

Remember when kitchens used to be large sunny rooms with a table and vast countertops and innumerable shelves? If you are feeling nostalgic at the thought, chances are you live in a compact little apartment or condo, where space management is almost a survival skill. Nevertheless, small spaces are no reason for despair, but are challenges to be met head on. Today, tons of possibilities exist, that could turn your tiny kitchen into a cozy little domestic haven. First things first. Maximize your shelf space. Depending upon the space available and your aesthetic preference, you can decide to choose open shelves or wood- or glass-covered options, but you need those shelves. Don’t be afraid to do ceiling-high cabinets. A smart librarian-style rolling ladder will help you reach those upper shelves where you will store items of infrequent use, and the ladder will add a touch of whimsy to your little kitchen. Next, drawers below the countertop. Tiny ones for cutlery, bigger ones for cups and plates, and even a drawer for your trash. We loved a smart idea where a cutting board is fixed a few inches above an open trash bin, with a wide hole in the board to push waste into the bin.

Nowadays, when building one’s kitchen, a person looks for ideas wide and long as to how their cooking space can be transformed into a tranquil and wonderful area. There were days when the classics were followed when it came to designing a kitchen. The age-old accessories were the only ones deemed necessary to make the space complete. An almost boring and mundane structure was followed for decades, unchanged and unmodified. However, with the advent of the modern generation, designers have begun modulating their ideas as per the growing demands of new trends from would be customers. One such item on the shelf is kitchen island. The term itself defines the plan half way. It’s an island structure in the middle of the kitchen. This structure helps give the kitchen a regal look, but sticking to the aesthetics and the fact that the island is not just an accessory of show, it’s a built-up space which can be positively used for the most important of tasks. In terms of definition, a kitchen island is a modern and functional space where elements like a kitchen table, a gas top, or a cutting section can be put. There are various designs of kitchen island ideas on the table, but the one that will fit right on spot of the puzzle depends on a wide array of factors.

Kitchens are the most sensitive to poor upkeep, quickly spiraling down into a health hazard. After all, you don’t have to be a germophobe to want clean surfaces where you handle your food. While it is easy to go ballistic with chemicals in the process of sterilizing your work surfaces, you also need to think about ensuring that those harsh chemicals don’t find their way into you or your family. Thankfully, the balance between clean kitchens and a low or no toxic load is not hard to achieve. The secret is ensuring that you have the right surfaces, and the right cleaning agents. First of all, get rid of plastic. Plastic surfaces including cutting boards are easily damaged by knives, and food and germ build-up inside these grooves are quite hard to clean. Use wooden cutting boards instead, as they are less prone to knife damage, and further, bacteria that get into these grooves don’t multiply, and die out in a short while. The same is true of countertops. Wood surfaces are classy and traditional, and are easy to maintain. Use white vinegar to wipe wooden surfaces, to restore their natural dark hue and gloss. Stones are also popular choices for kitchen surfaces, with granite, soapstone and cultured marble being top choices.

Redesigning or building yourself a new kitchen? Or gifting this special place to a loved one? The heart of every home – the kitchen – is a space you spend time in everyday. Whether you are a passionate culinary artist or a transient hungry visitor, you would no doubt, rummage through kitchen cabinets. Either to remove and use stuff or replace them in the organized shelves of your cooking space, cabinet knobs and pulls are a practical addition to every cupboard in the kitchen. Contributing a striking presence in the kitchen are designer hardware. Resembling jewelry in its function to finish off a great look, Top Knobs cabinet knobs and pulls are truly a class apart. Their outstanding creativity and design sense that embraces both traditional styles and chic, contemporary trends, appeal to the young and old alike. Top Knobs & Pulls is a new offering from Knobbery.com KE Cabinet Hardware that focuses particularly on the Top Knobs brand of decorative hardware. Specializing on solid, unique styles of knobs and pulls that matches any pattern or design of kitchen, Top Knobs displays hundred of products in a wide variety of finishes. The option of physically stepping into their Baltimore, Maryland store or going online conveniently at www.topknobsandpulls.com to view and shop for all that your inspiring kitchen cabinets needs, is up to you to decide.

You have lived in the same house for years now. It is comfortable, it is where your family sleeps and eats, it has hosted a dozen holiday feasts, and is a storehouse of so many memories and some serious junk! It is amazing how quickly things accumulate around the house knick-knacks that you zombie-shopped, clothes that you don’t wear anymore, re-gifted gravy boats and china that you don’t even like. Especially the kitchen is prone to such clutter, not just in terms of appliances and equipment, but also in terms of design. A clutter-free minimalist kitchen is more than skin deep, and penetrates all the way into the functional design and the aesthetics of the space. To begin with, get rid of the superfluous things. Dinner sets and cutlery you rarely need more than 10 each, even if you are a big on hosting. Give away the rest, or if you really hate to part with them, put them away in storage. Next, how many makers do you have? Ice cream maker, coffee maker, bread maker and the like? Keep one. Just one, and get rid of the rest. In future, never buy anything that is called a maker. The same is true of the small gadgets electric egg beater, garlic press and a 10-piece mandoline slicer.

Outdoor kitchens are among the favorite things that a homebuyer would love to have. A house with perfect and comfortable outdoor kitchen is a great deal. But you must understand the difference between the types of materials and techniques first in order to crack a great deal. Here are some amenities and brands that are worth noticing. If an outdoor kitchen sale is going on, make a list first of “to ask questions” and then check the list properly so that no point is missed. Things to help furnish your outdoor kitchen It’s all about your choice and budget. The brand and appliance style are some points which determine the decision when you’re opting for buying appliances and kits from an outdoor kitchen sale. Henceforth, narrow down your choices first so that you can purchase good and effective appliances. Grill islands, counters, and storage: When purchasing for these, it’s important to check the counter dimension as this must be at least 36 inches in height and 24 inches in terms of width. You can go for porcelain or stainless steel and cement surface, although tile and plastic are also options you can consider. The choice of choosing the material for your outdoor kitchen depends entirely on you.

The kitchen is the soul of a home, and any theme or look that you are deciding for your home isn’t complete unless it is extended and established in the kitchen. In a way, kitchens can pose a challenge, because there are so many elements here by default there is the counter-top, the sink, shelves and cabinets, appliances and equipment, and to top it all, there is the challenge of establishing an overarching look that catches the eye, despite so many elements. You might have the perfect appliances, the proper flooring, the sideboards and everything. Have you given the kitchen backsplash panel a thought? Not only does it add to the beauty of the kitchen, it also has its practical uses. If you wish to opt for the perfect kitchen backsplash panel, keep reading. You must first take into account how much space is available in your kitchen, and how much light it gets. Next, what are the key materials used? How much storage do you have, and need? Then, decide what you need to do. Does the look you have in mind require dramatic changes, or will small alterations and upgrades do the job? Once you know this, you are all set to start.

If you are a stay-at-home parent, a domestic god(dess) or even just a plain home body, home is where you spend most of your day. The spaces we occupy shape us over time, quite literally. While the professional world has realized the importance of ergonomics, homes are yet to catch up. Especially if you are someone who enjoys cooking a lot, it is important that you pay attention to the ergonomics of your kitchen. You are going to be standing there for long periods of time, working with your hands, chopping, kneading and washing. If your kitchen isn’t aligned to your physique, this can build up into strain and pain in the neck and shoulders, poor posture or a bad back. Have you noticed that installation of countertops, for example, rarely involve a conversation about the height of the user? Especially if you are quite petite, high countertops can create strain in your calves and shoulders, because you are often on your tippy toes, or are hunching your shoulders. Use a step-stool if you need to stand in one spot for a while, like at the stove or the island. Similarly, cabinets and shelves should take into account your height.

Kitchens usually have high ceilings, and there is a need for additional lighting on certain cooking areas for better performance of activities such as chopping. While ceiling lamps provide consistent illumination, there is a need for hanging lights that focus on individual regions inside the kitchen. It should be kept in mind that hanging lights placed inside the kitchen are different from those placed in the rest of the house since they are made of a tougher material to tolerate vapors emanating out of the cooking stove. Hence, apart from being aesthetically pleasing, the kitchen pendant lights also have to be resistant to moisture and other foreign elements. Kitchen pendant lights are mostly affixed to counters since they are pretty simple to install and do not require an electrician in most cases. The main reason why these hanging lights are so popular in the kitchen is that no other light fixture comes as close to the cooking surface. Hanging bulbs radiate light of high intensity over a small region and therefore do not require supportive lights. A single hanging light works pretty well to lighten up one corner saving on money as well as electricity. Hanging lights made from different materials such as brass or wood can be purchased from the market to coordinate with the theme of the kitchen.