March 2011 Newsletter
“Making Better Homes” March 2011
Spring Cleaning Means Getting Rid of Clutter
It’s March, which means spring is now only days away (March 21, to be exact). And that, of course, means it’s time for spring cleaning. One of the main parts of cleaning your home means finding a place for all of that clutter. In the bathroom and kitchen, this means cabinets, shelves and drawers. This month, we concentrate on those three places that will help with your spring cleaning.
Bathroom Storage Options
The bathroom probably stores a greater variety of items than any other room, except possibly closets and designated storage rooms. You store everything from toilet paper to hygiene products to dirty clothes in there, tucked into every possible corner. Let’s face it: You can never have too many places in your bathroom to store things.
Many small bathrooms have just a pedestal sink, which means there’s no storage room there at all. That makes the sink area essentially wasted space. A genuine bathroom vanity is a much better choice, because it will give you drawers and cabinets for all of those cosmetics, cleaning supplies and bathroom linens. Even if you have a small bathroom, there are vanities as narrow as 24 inches in width — not much bigger than the average pedestal sink.
Some homeowners have also found it helpful to install shelves near the toilet, to hold a few smaller items. Even better though are some extra-narrow side cabinets, such as those available at HomeDesignOutletCenter.com. These are narrow enough to fit into a corner in even the smallest bathroom and give you lots more space for tucking away things.
One other suggestion: Trick out our shower with a shower panel. These not only offer controls that will give you a luxurious shower, but give you places to hold things such as soap, shampoo, etc., so you don’t wind up putting them on the side of the tub.
Kitchen Storage Options
In the kitchen, your storage options come in four basic forms: cabinets, shelves, kitchen counters, and the refrigerator / freezer. Assuming you’re not going to buy a new refrigerator, let’s discuss the other options available to you.
The key in the kitchen, unless you plan a major overhaul, is to maximize the space you have. For instance, if you do something as easy as installing to the forward edge of your cabinet tops a dish rail, this will look nice and let you store items such as your fancy dinnerware. Also, make use of that vertical space behind all doors (for instance, the basement or storage door). There are lots of over-the-door organizers available that will come in handy there. In fact, some people even side the side cabinets we mentioned earlier in these little corners. And remember, far easier than installing new cabinets is picking up a few of those easy-to-assemble shelves from Walmart or Kmart.
Short Takes:
If you have a small bathroom with a bathtub taking up a huge chunk of floor space, consider replacing it with a shower stall with a clear-glass-door. This frees up space, and the clear door gives the illusion of more room in the bathroom.
Keeping your kitchen updated doesn’t require a lot of money. In fact, if you just change decorative items to match the seasons, such as your tea towels, aprons, pot holders, and perhaps a few shelf souvenirs, your kitchen will seem fresh and new every three months.
Design Digest: Special Pilgrim’s Checklist
Special Pilgrim’s Checklist
Design Digest
“Making Better Homes” November 2010
During November, we remember the story of the Pilgrims who first moved to America from a foreign land. They earned the title “Pilgrims” because that word literally means one who travels and moves to another location. Kind of like those who move to a new home. In honor of Pilgrims everywhere, this month, we present a checklist for Pilgrims who are traveling to another place and moving into a new home.
Bathroom Checklist
Before moving day, you should have a checklist of things that the bathrooms in your new home will need. Here’s a sample of items that need to be on your checklist:
* What bathrooms are available? A master bath, family bath, children’s bath, guest bath, and powder room are possibilities. Chances are good that the new home won’t have all of these. Is there anything on that list which you need that the home doesn’t have? Then get ready for some construction.
* Will you need to expand the bathroom to make a bigger space? If you have a large family, you’ll probably need a double vanity; if the shared bathroom doesn’t have the room for a double vanity, then you might need to tear out a wall and make it bigger.
* How many people will use each bathroom? Again, this will help you determine whether you need a single vanity or double vanity, and how many side cabinets you need.
* Do you have a small child who will be using the bathroom? Then maybe a wall-mounted vanity at the child’s level is needed.
* Will anyone with physical disabilities be using the bathroom? Make sure there are handles for him or her to use, at the toilet, tub, etc.
Kitchen Checklist
* Is there more than enough room in the cabinets for your current dishes and usual food needs? It should be more than enough so that there is room to grow. If there’s not, then find some affordable cabinets online (Our website is a good possibility).
* Is the tile broken, scratched, or otherwise damaged? This is one of the most affordable and noticeable changes to make in your new home: Put in some nice, new natural stone tile.
* And of course, update your appliances. If it’s a modern-themed home, then go with the modern, stainless steel look. Otherwise, traditional appliances for themes such as traditional, early American, Colonial, antique, etc.
