Category — Kitchen Remodeling / Renovation Ideas

I’ve had some sort of water leak going on under the kitchen sink for a while. One day last week the opportunity to address that leak finally arose. It was a perfect day for an indoor DIY project - rainy.

LOCATING THE LEAK

One of the first steps involved with repairing any leak is to locate the source of the leak. In this situation, I needed to empty the contents of my kitchen sink cabinet so I could get in there for a better view. (Sort of looks like I needed to do some dishes too!)

To locate the source of a leak it’s always best to start with a dry area, if at all possible. After removing the sink cabinet contents, I thoroughly wiped the water supply lines and the inside of the cabinet dry with a towel. Starting with a dry area allows you to easily see new drips.

I turned on the cold water tap and let the water run for about a minute. No leak. Next I tried the hot water tap. Ah hah - there it was! I turned off the hot water tap, and with a dry paper towel, wiped off the current drips, then turned the hot water tap on again to see exactly where it was leaking from. My first thought was that the water was leaking at one of the connections between the faucet and the water supply lines. As it turned out that wasn’t the case. Upon closer inspection, the drips appeared to be coming from within the kitchen faucet itself. Like many people, I turned to the web for repair help, but the only leak repair instructions to be found were for dripping spouts or leaks at the base of the spout. My kitchen faucet was leaking underneath. Looked like I’d be replacing it. [Read more →]

What’s wrong with this picture?

If you said the gap between the cabinets over the kitchen sink, you’d be 100% correct! The other thing that’s been driving me crazy is the lack of lighting above the sink and over the counter top work areas on either side of it.

I’ve decided to bridge that gap and add some lighting to the kitchen while I’m at it. The kitchen cabinets aren’t necessarily to my liking, but one step at a time folks! This is a quick fix intended to improve the appearance and efficiency of my kitchen until such time as I can afford to do a more major renovation (or I move).

The Whole Process Including Pictures

Because the kitchen cabinets are melamine, I chose to use that same material for my mini renovation. Before buying any material, I carefully measured the gap and planned not only the design of the bridge, but also how I would support it between the two wall mount cabinets. With my plans formulated I headed to the closest Home Depot. [Read more →]

This is in response to a reader’s inquiry about using the color black on a beadboard backsplash in her kitchen. Specifically, she wanted to know if a black beadboard backsplash with oak kitchen cabinets and a sunset gold granite countertop would work with off-white trim and baseboard molding. My response is a definite yes! [Read more →]

Outfit your outdoor kitchen and lounge area with comfortable and casual outdoor furniture and fixtures.

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Why An Outdoor Kitchen?

In my humble opinion, an outdoor kitchen is all about enjoying ‘the conveniences’ associated with indoor meal preparation, dining and entertaining, in an outdoor setting. Cooking inside then transferring the food outdoors is simply not efficient. It also means that at least one person is stuck inside on cooking duty while everyone else is outside having fun. With an outdoor kitchen no one misses out on any of the action.

Outdoor Kitchen Trend

Designers talk about making your outdoor rooms an extension of the home. Just how much of an extension is really up to the individual’s wants, needs, desires and budget.

As the popularity of outdoor kitchens has grown, so too has the number of companies who specialize in outfitting this space. From elaborate outdoor food prep areas to luxurious outdoor seating and dining areas, their design ideas and high-end products are guaranteed to impress. Unfortunately, they can also leave you with a less than impressive balance in your bank account.

This post is for the average Joe (or Joanne) who doesn’t have loads of cash to throw around, but would still like to enjoy the benefits of an outdoor kitchen and backyard time spent with family and friends. The following is my list of tips and ideas on how to build an outdoor kitchen without breaking the bank.
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Don’t get stuck in a ceramic tile or porcelain tile kitchen backsplash rut! We did a little virtual shopping and came up with a some other backsplash material options. Just as material options vary greatly, so do their prices. We’ve tried to focus our attention on options that are budget-friendly and stylish - not to mention easy for the do-it-yourselfer to install herself/himself. For each material example discussed, we have included a source, material size information and basic pricing.

A quick look at these kitchen backsplash pictures just might have you heading in a new design direction. [Read more →]

Looking for an inexpensive stainless steel kitchen backsplash? A stainless steel backsplash can be an expensive option. We looked at various options for stainless steel backsplashes and found that the prices for the stainless steel alone can be very cost prohibitive $170.00 to $330.00 for one 30″ x 24″ panel at one source. If you’re not feeling terribly confident about working with stainless steel yourself, add onto that the cost of having it professionally fitted and installed and you could be looking at hundreds of dollars. As the expenses add up a stainless steel kitchen backsplash doesn’t equate to a very budget-friendly backsplash option. And then we visited Ikea. [Read more →]

Don’t think you can afford a new kitchen backsplash? Think again! A faux tile backsplash is by far the least expensive backsplash option and quite simply the easiest to create. With just a few tools you’ll be well on your way.

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