Simple Kitchen Makeovers

The kitchen is definitely the busiest room in the house as it serves a lot of function - from cooking to eating, entertaining, and family gatherings.

Although a kitchen remodel is one of the most expensive home improvement projects, it is a great way to give dull kitchen a new life. Many homeowners choose to repaint walls, change cabinet hardware, and upgrade appliances to freshen the look. Here are more options for simple upgrades:

Redesign the work triangle
Creating an efficient kitchen mainly depends on layout options for a perfect work triangle. The kitchen work triangle connects the three main work areas - the sink, the range, and the refrigerator. You don't want these cramped, blocked, or too far apart.

Read more about kitchen layouts and work triangles

Create a space for your kids
Consider adding a few stools in the kitchen where your kids can have an informal place to eat. Make sure you keep snacks and beverages within their reach.

Modify existing cabinets
Sturdy wood cabinets go for a long run. You can also replace the knobs, pulls, and hinges and consider a fresh coat of paint to brighten up old cabinets. For a brand new look, refacing can be done or you can change the doors if possible.

Make appliances look new
You can simply replace worn-out stove knobs, burner plates, and glass cooktops which can be ordered from the manufacturer. If you want to show your DIY prowess, you can transform outdated appliances including your fridge, dishwasher, and oven using cabinet fronts, specialty appliance paint, and stainless steel films.

Give an old floor a new life
Refinish hardwood floor and add stenciled borders or stain it with the color of your choice. To bring back the original luster of stone flooring, consider hiring a professional.

Spruce up your counter
There are many ways where we can help revamp your kitchen with new countertops. We can professionally polish your existing solid surface or stone countertop to remove marks or install a brand new countertop you’ll surely love. You can also replace your sink, faucet, and backsplash to complement the overall look.

Do you have a dream wish list for your kitchen? If you can dream it, we can make it! Visit www.milanstoneworks.com today or call 503.232.6206 for a no obligation quote for your new kitchen.

How to Choose the Right Kitchen Faucet

If you’ve been reading our blog over the past few months, you probably know your options for countertops and some great picks for kitchen islands, sinks, and backsplashes. In this post, let’s talk faucets.

Whether you are replacing an old faucet or selecting a new one for your remodeling plan, there are different factors to consider. Because faucets are one of the most frequently used fixtures at home, they should be selected to complement your kitchen sink.

So what constitutes to a good faucet? Before the water starts to flow, take a look at this guide on getting a high quality faucet:

• When replacing an existing faucet, make sure the new one has the same number of holes in the deck of the sink. For faucets with integrated handle and spout, one hole is needed for the handle/spout and another separate hole for a sprayer. Traditional faucets usually have three holes for the taps and spout and a fourth for a sprayer. For a new sink, you can put any holes you need to fit in the faucet of your choice.

• Most faucets have either one handle that you can turn directionally to adjust water temperature or two handles to mix in hot and cold. Other one-piece faucets have a handle attached to the faucet unit or are placed to the side in the same position of the sprayer. A variety of faucet handles to choose from include the classic rounded X-shaped tap and an easy-access lever shape.

• Consider a sink sprayer to wash down any collected food waste from the sink. Some newer models have sprayers integrated right into the faucet itself. You can also add a soap dispenser which is mounted alongside or near the spray.

• A standard kitchen spout rises only a bit higher than the body of the faucet. If you use bulky pots and pans, you should get a tall, curved neck faucet to easily rinse big pots thoroughly.

• You may opt for a water filtration faucet mounted directly to your sink and have it attached to the faucet itself with a built-in filtering mechanism. Think about the maintenance requirements as well.

• Some faucets can be mounted from the top while others are from the bottom. There are different types of faucet mechanism - ball valve, ceramic disk, compression valve and cartridge. Choose whichever appeals to you as it won’t necessarily make a big impact in functionality. Take note that some are easier to repair than others.

When carefully selected, a good faucet can offer exceptional day-to-day convenience in the kitchen. Look for quality features, style and finishes that matches your overall design.

Come and visit Milan Stoneworks today - we’re glad to help you on your next kitchen remodeling project!