Kitchen Layout Options

Text by Blair Korchinski

The modern kitchen offers a variety of layout options. Which you choose will depend on your lifestyle as much as anything else. There are some considerations you should keep in mind when making your choices, however.

The first is that the kitchen is, above all else, a work area. In days past, that meant layout was determined by what was known as the work triangle between the refrigerator, the oven and stovetop, and the food preparation area. A secondary triangle between the garbage, sink and dishwasher was formed if possible. If the kitchen included a dining area, it was generally placed at one end of the room, with the work area at the other. This limited layout options. A u-shaped work area with the dining area near the kitchen entrance was common. Things have changed though.

The change that may be most significant is the number of appliances in the modern kitchen. In addition to a range and fridge, we now have bread-makers, slow cookers, microwaves, and deep fryers. Small appliances like the toaster may be replaced with larger items like the toaster oven. A cappuccino maker may now sit beside the traditional coffee maker. You may also want a television or computer in your kitchen. It is important to keep all of this in mind when planning your layout. You may want to modify the work triangle to suit the style of cooking you do most, or use a work line or square instead.

You will not only need space for all of these appliances, but electrical outlets and, in some cases, plumbing connections. Modern ranges and cook-tops require ventilation to the outdoors. Cable outlets for televisions and computers may be needed. Considering these things before you begin building will save you money and aggravation later. Storage is always a major issue in kitchen design. You should ensure that storage areas are easily accessible, with storage for items used on a regular basis closest to the work area and those used less often placed farther away.

Lighting also needs to be carefully planned. Gone are the days of a single fixture in the middle of the room, Today’s kitchens use low-voltage task lighting in combination with multiple ceiling fixtures to provide light where and when it is needed. By keeping your lighting needs in mind from the beginning, you can avoid having dark areas later and conserve energy over the long term.

Changes in eating habits have also changed kitchen layout. Roasts are still prepared, but stir-fries and ready-made meals that require only a stovetop are now much more common. As a society, we also barbeque a lot more now, often with part of the meal being cooked outside and the rest being prepared inside. Busy families often eat at different times and large, sit-down meals are less common. Families are smaller as well. These are all things that need consideration when planning the layout of your kitchen. An island with a small breakfast nook may be more practical for your lifestyle than a large table. Easy access to the barbeque area may be a prerequisite or something that you never use.

Adjacent rooms and the square footage available also affect kitchen layout. If you have a formal dining area, it should be easily accessible from the kitchen. You may want to consider a countertop or pony wall to make the transferring of food and dining ware as easy as possible. If you entertain a lot, you may prefer an open area that allows you to converse with your guests during meal preparation and clean up. Sometimes this will even encourage your guests to lend you a hand. If you have a tendency to leave dirty dishes in the sink for two or three days, you might prefer a kitchen closed off from the guest area.

One thing that hasn’t changed is the need to bring food into the kitchen on a regular basis. It is best to have a clear path between the entrance where you will be bringing groceries in and the kitchen.

While there are no hard and fast rules, a little forethought can save you a lot of problems later on and help to ensure that your kitchen suits your needs. Consider your lifestyle as well as your dietary likes and dislikes. It is your kitchen and unless you plan to sell your home soon, you should design it to suit yourself.

Bathroom Makeover Timeline

Text by Blair Korchinski

Bathroom makeovers are always a challenge. If you only have one bathroom, or one full bathroom, they are even more challenging. Even if you have multiple baths, it is likely that members of your household will end up sharing facilities they aren’t used to sharing. Careful planning will minimize the length of time you have to live without a bathroom.

For the purposes of this example, we’ll assume that you are doing the carpentry and drywall yourself, but have hired subcontractors for the plumbing, electrical, and tile work. Remember that because of the small size of the room, it is likely that only one contractor can work in there at a time. We’ll also assume that this is a complete makeover, with every fixture and one wall being moved.

Week One

Day 1: Have the plumber and electrician cut off service to the bathroom being renovated. If  possible, they should keep any service to the rest of the house operating.

Begin demolition. Remove toilet, sink and tub.

Strip flooring to sub floors.

Day 2: Finish demolition. Remove any walls that are to be relocated. If supporting walls  are being removed, remember to install temporary supports.

Inspect all inner walls, sub floors and joists for water damage.

Day 3: Begin rough carpentry.

Replace or repair any damaged sub floor, joists, or wall studs that need to be replaced.

Build any new walls.

Day 4: Continue rough carpentry.

Build any rough openings for windows and doors.

Day 5: Prepare floors as per instructions of the flooring contractor.

Install new window.

Week Two:

Day 6: Have plumber and electrician rough-in plumbing and wiring.

Day 7: Continue electrical and plumbing rough-in.

Day 8: Have inspection done.

Begin insulating outer walls.

Day 9: Finish insulation and install vapor barriers.

Begin installing wallboard, as per the instructions of tile installer.

Note: It is important that you use the right type of wallboard in the right places when doing a bathroom makeover.

Day 10: Begin taping and applying drywall compound.

Week 3

Day 11: Finishing taping and sanding.

Begin painting (primer coat).

Day 12: Finish painting.

Install tub, shower and vanity with sink.

Install cabinetry.

Day 13: Tile around tub.

Tile vanity.

Day 14: Tile floor.

Day 15: Tile grouting. (caulking)

Week four

Day 16: Touch-up painting.

Install toilet.

Have plumber make final hook-ups and install fixtures.

Day 17: Have electrician make final hook-ups and install fixtures.

Apply caulking.

Install door and door trim.

A bathroom can be done much more quickly of course. A bath and kitchen contractor may be able to complete a project like this in as little as week, assuming that everything goes exactly as planned.

Most major makeovers run closer to a month though, especially in older homes where more carpentry work tends to be needed. The small room means that there is seldom more than one thing happening at a time.

Redoing your bathroom, especially if you make an average room into a luxury room, is well worth the time.

Innovations in Kitchen Appliances

Text by Alison Macpherson

There’s a whole new generation of kitchen appliances on the market that are worth taking a look at, if only for entertainment purposes. Gentlemen, I’m talking to you. Thanks to a marvel of technology, you can now watch television sports on a TV screen strategically located on the front of the fridge that holds your beer. The side by side 27 cu. ft. Second Generation TV Refrigerator by LG not only has a cable ready 15” LCD screen on the front but also a USB port for uploading digital photographs. You’ll never miss a second of the action and those pesky fridge magnets will be history.

If it’s been a while since you shopped for appliances, you’ll be amazed at the innovations in features, looks and functionality in the equipment that keeps and cooks your food. Here are highlights of a few other eye-catching models.

Perhaps more practical than a television, other technology has found its way into the refrigerator. KitchenAid models may discourage the more indecisive members of your household from gazing into the fridge for too long, since there’s a built in alarm that goes off when the door is left open. Also in the “cool” category you’ll find drawers that can be purchased in pairs for a secondary kitchenette, a bar or entertainment area where you want a few cold beverages or refrigerated snacks in a handy spot. Various brands and styles are available including models that can accommodate a custom front to match your cabinetry.

There’s an amazing array of choices for cook tops and ovens, whether you prefer built in or free standing appliances. A versatile line of products by Miele in their “combiset” program allows you to customize your cooking area. Individual components include electric and gas burners, griddles, pot rests, a fryer, barbecue (with lava rock), electronic scale and even a sink that can be configured to suit your particular cooking style. You can choose two, three, four or more of these components, installed side by side or with counter space between them for chopping and grating your culinary masterpiece. In the free standing range category, a beautiful piece of cooking equipment is the Viking Professional Series 48″ VDSC Range. With two ovens, its most interesting features are the convection defrosts setting and convection dehydrates setting. The gas burners have automatic electric spark ignition so there’s no energy wasting pilot light left burning.

Innovations from Dacor seem designed for the sleek, trendy home or condo with two very nifty items. Their microwave-in-a-drawer ™ is configured to fit in a non-traditional spot and Dacor’s compact dishwasher would be a great mate in a smallish kitchen. At just 24” wide with a stainless steel front, hidden controls, stemmed glass support and adjustable top rack, it’s a perfect choice for the space deprived home.

In the looks department, kitchen appliances have evolved again since the popularity of stainless steel. Jenn-Air has come out with a classy looking “floating glass” finish that’s a bit softer looking than stainless and just as easy to clean. At the opposite end of the design spectrum, vintage look fridges and stoves by Elmira Stove Works offer red, pink, turquoise and other retro colors that transform your kitchen into a 50’s style diner.

Most premium brands are offering other kitchen components that are not standard fare such as warming drawers, built in “coffee systems” that grind the beans to your specifications, and cooling systems designed for wine storage. Our appetite for custom kitchens is also seen in the many options for stylish hood fans in interesting materials and shapes that better complement high-end appliances.

If a dream kitchen is on your wish list, there are plenty of other choices besides what’s available in the popular department stores. True, a full set of premium appliances could set you back $20,000 or more, but amortized over 5 or 10 years, it’s an investment that provides delicious returns every day.

Plumbing Options – Copper vs. Plastic

Text by Blair Korchinski

1Technology often changes the choice of construction materials. Two decades ago copper pipe was not only state of the art when it came to plumbing, it was the only choice. Not so today. We have a choice between copper and a range of plastics.

How does one choose? As with most renovation choices it is a matter of weighing the pros against the cons in your particular situation.

Copper is familiar to most people and some feel it is more durable. Plastic products transfer less temperature, and are more energy efficient as a result. Some areas still restrict the use of plastic products through building codes.

Copper is inexpensive, but takes some skill to work with. If you are doing the work yourself, you must not only learn to properly solder joints, but must buy a torch, a pipe cutter, emery paper, flux and solder. Your choice of joints is limited to the selection carried by your local plumbing supply and home store. Flexible copper tubing, while available, kinks easily and is not recommended for some applications. Joints must often be soldered in tight areas and there is a risk of fire. Leaking joints can be difficult to repair, especially for the novice.

The other side of copper is that it is readily available and has been in use for long enough that the codes are well-developed and easy to follow. Learning to solder fittings properly is not difficult and one can become proficient at it with practice. The tools and materials needed are inexpensive and readily available.

In many renovations copper is the choice made because it matches the existing plumbing. This makes joining it to existing plumbing extremely easy, but adaptors to join copper to plastic piping are available.

Plastic piping is becoming more and more common in both renovations and new construction. It is easy to use, quick to install, durable and adaptable.

There is more than one kind of plastic piping suitable for plumbing use. The most common are CPVC (Chlorinated Poly Vinyl Chloride) and PEX (cross-linked polyethylene) tubing. Other types include PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride), ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene), and polyethylene. These latter types are most often used for non-pressure applications such as sewage, industrial applications where potability is not a concern, and underground applications where exposure to UV rays is not an issue. For the purposes of this article, we will deal only with CPVC and PEX products.

CPVC is generally available in non-flexible plastic piping. It is inexpensive and easy to use. Pipes and fittings are joined using glue that permanently welds the pipes together. To make a joint the pipe must first be cut with a pipe cutter or hacksaw, any burrs or rough edges sanded off, the pipe and fitting cleaned with a special solvent, then the proper glue applied and the pieces joined together. It is easy to do and, while attention must be paid to detail and you will become more proficient with practice, it requires no special skills.

When cutting CPVC piping, it is imperative that all cuts be straight, and that the proper solvent and glue be used.

PEX tubing is flexible enough that it can be gently curved around corners, reducing the number of joints required. It is joined together with fittings that require no glue or solder joints, and is even available in color-coded rolls to differentiate between hot and cold water lines.

Installation is easy and requires no special skills. The required tools are available at retail locations where the product is sold.

When using PEX, is important that you purchase the recommended tool for the fittings you are using and the brand name of tubing that you have purchased. While the differences between the fittings and pipes may seem minor or non-existent, using the wrong tool to create a joint can lead to leaks. It is also important that you use the proper tubing for your application as not all PEX products are recommended for the supply of potable water. Your local plumbing supply stores or home centre will be able to point you to the proper materials and tools for your application.

As with copper and CPVC plumbing, care must be taken to cut all PEX tubing in straight, 90-degree cuts and to follow all of the manufacturer’s instructions.

Plumbing is fairly easy no matter which product you choose. Your choice should be made according to local code, your personal skill level, and your personal preferences. No matter which you choose, if done properly, plastic and copper piping will both give you years of trouble free service.

The Modern Bathroom – Making Your Home Spa Wish List

Text by Alison Macpherson

The smallest room in the house has become a big focus for creating a home environment that promotes relaxation. From twisting, twirling water in the bath to racks that warm your towels, there are more luxurious options than ever before to transform an ordinary bathroom into a corner of paradise. And now, bun-warmers are no longer found only found in the kitchen. What’s on your wish list?

Whether you’re starting from scratch in a new home or renovating an existing bath, you’ll need to become familiar with terms like “vertical spa” and “shower panel” to help you choose just the right look and luxury for your bathroom. But before you get carried away with dreams of waterfalls and heated floors, check your bank account and line of credit. Depending on your expectations, your home spa experience could rocket from $1,500 to $15,000 in a single shopping trip.

Once you’ve decided how much money to dedicate to creating your spa, make a checklist of components you’ll need to evaluate and choose. Depending on the scope of your project, this could include flooring and wall finishes, tub, shower, sink and toilet fixtures and nuts and bolts items like faucets, fans, shower nozzles, pumps and switches. Don’t forget to add finishing items such as lighting, towel bars and mirrors.

Beyond the components that go into your bathroom, there will be costs related to installation. This can be a significant portion of your budget if you’re renovating a bathroom in an older home. Electrical, plumbing, heating and carpentry experts don’t come cheap, so thoroughly explore these costs when determining how your budget will be spent. If you’re undertaking a complex renovation, employing a reputable contractor with plenty of experience in bathroom renovations is a wise choice. Creating a spa in a newly built home is easier and you may choose to have the help of a designer only.

Next, do some price checking on the elements you want and prioritize them to determine which features are most important. This will help refine your budget by assigning dollar amounts to the various components in your bathroom project. Now comes the fun part of finalizing your wish list with the makes, models and colors that will go into your personal oasis.

If you’re at the upper end of the scale of elaborate home spa options, a spacious steam shower with multiple shower nozzles is a “must have”, along with a separate jetted tub. Add radiant heat in the floor, a seat warmer for your toilet and a towel warmer in drawer or wall mount form and you have all the makings for top notch pampering. Flooring and wall finishes like ceramic, porcelain tiles and marble are popular or you might consider a wood laminate floor for a warmer look. Pay particular attention to lighting options that allow you to create the right mood for relaxing.

In the mid range, what’s likely to give you the most mileage is sticking to options that require the least amount of labor and products that fit your space without much customizing. If you can wait and watch for special pricing on big-ticket items and be flexible with color choices of your fixtures, that can help too. If you’re choosing to splash out on either the tub or the shower, base your pick on which will give more value for your personal priorities. If the shower tops your list, it should at least have two showerheads with settings to customize the water flow to your liking. Don’t be shy about getting into the tub in the showroom to give it a test drive for size and comfort.

An economical solution to getting a touch of the spa treatment at home is as simple as a few amenities that go a long way. Even the basic bathroom can be made more comfortable with a quality showerhead with massage jets, adjustable lighting, relaxing colors, scented candles, plush towels, accessories that make you feel good and lots of storage to keep it uncluttered. Top it off with a beautiful, comfortable robe for a spa package that’s soothing to both the soul and the pocketbook.

Regardless of the amount you intend to spend on creating your spa, if you set your budget, work your wish list within that range and look after your top priorities first you’ll already have a start toward making your home spa a successful project.