7 Tips to Keep Your Kitchen Organized During Thanksgiving

Now that Turkey day is rolling around, your kitchen may take a heavy hit. From appetizers cooling to flour and sauce spills, it’s a challenge to contain the mess. These tips will help your day go smoothly as possible:

Write down your menu. Post it somewhere in your kitchen to make things a little easier for you to remember. Add a timetable and prepare a cooking schedule. 

Start clean.  As you prepare a variety of dishes, your tables and countertop may be filled quickly with food items. It will help to remove the clutter and unnecessary items beforehand. Go through your entire kitchen and make room for extra food prep area. It’s also a good idea to start clean when it comes to your oven and stovetop. Doing so will eliminate fire risk from food and grease.

Organize your refrigerator. Be sure to clean out the fridge a few days before you begin cooking to make room for make-ahead dishes and leftovers.

Set your Thanksgiving table early. Organize your serving dishes and utensils and fill it with your favorite decorative pieces to reflect the warm colors of the season.

Check if your countertop is sealed. To keep your countertop in good shape during the holiday preparations, check if it is sealed. Drizzle some water onto the counter. If it beads up, you’re good to go. If the water seeps in, it's time to reseal.

Be prepared. It’s inevitable that the messes will accumulate as you work with all the cooking. Stay on top of the messes by wiping down countertops and cleaning up spills immediately. This will eliminate tough cleaning at the end of the day. Also, place a trivet or hot pad below hot crock pots, pans, and electric skillets to prevent damaging your counter.

Show your countertop some TLC. Accidents happen. If you notice any scratch or etch marks, polish them right away. Look for products designed for cleaning your countertop surface.

Milan Stoneworks wishes you a Happy Thanksgiving! We’re grateful for amazing customers like you!

Ten Easy Kitchen Projects to Spruce Up Your Home

For most homeowners, the kitchen is the most important room in the house. It’s a place to cook meals, bond with the family, entertain guests, you name it. This can also mean that there’s a lot of stuff to fix, replace, organize, and clean! And you need to stay on top of what needs to be done. Here are 10 simple projects for your kitchen:

Get a new kitchen sink. This is probably the stuff that gets used the most so it’s very important to get the right one for your space and replace it if necessary. These easy tips will help you choose the right sink

Replace your kitchen faucet or pick a new one. If you have a broken faucet that can’t be fixed, you can replace it or pick a different type to help define the style of your kitchen. Take a look at this guide on getting a high quality faucet

Install a kitchen backsplash. This can either be a relatively simple DIY project or a work with the help from a professional contractor. This is a great way to change the look and feel of your kitchen. Here are a few tips to help you navigate through the process

Add storage to your backsplash. Now that you’ve got a new backsplash installed, you want to make better use of it by adding storage for hanging pans, pots, and utensils.

Reface or paint your kitchen cabinets. Refacing is an affordable way to give your gloomy cabinets a new life. Or if refacing isn’t your style, clean them and brush on some new paint. This is another budget-friendly option than replacing.

Get new cabinet knobs and pulls. There are a variety of styles to choose from and a new kitchen hardware can make a big impact on the look and feel of your cabinets and the entire room.

Organize everything. This is an easy weekend task that you can accomplish. Arrange the pantry, shelves, drawers, counter, and appliances and keep everything in order. That way, you can maximize your storage space.

Clean tile grout. No one enjoys cleaning grout. It can be a tedious work especially when it contains hard-to-remove stains. But it doesn’t have to be complicated. A store-bought tile grout cleaner offers good results, or you can use something homemade.

Make a stand for tablets and cookbooks. If cooking apps and recipe books are a must-have for your kitchen, making a stand or purchasing one is a practical solution. This little accessory can make your life in the kitchen a breeze.

Put a fresh shine to old counter. Give your countertop a new sparkle by cleaning the surface with soapy water and a dedicated cleaner. For an instance, you can keep your granite in tip-top shape with these tips.

If you are looking to replace your countertop, visit www.milanstoneworks.com or give us a call for your free estimate today!

Finishing Touches You Can Add to Your Remodeled Bathroom

An appropriate element to a newly renovated bathroom can help define the overall style of your bath. That’s why it’s essential to choose accessories that complement the traditional or modern feel of your home.

Here are some finishing touches you can add to turn your basic bath into a relaxing retreat:

Bath hardware. You can cleverly use a few bars and shelves to make daily routines easier. You can install a robe hook right where you need it, place shelves for your toiletries and grooming tools to minimize clutter, or add grab bars for extra help when you need it. Or simply replace the knobs and pulls, drawers and door handles for easy upgrades.

Use these tips to plan a functional master bath

Lighting fixtures. Add ample lighting to illuminate a space and make it more attractive and inviting. Bright, warm colors are recommended to enhance the beauty of everything in the bathroom. Choose one that fits your taste and will get you ready for your close-up. You can add a classic and elegant touch with a chandelier, while recessed lighting provided a clean, modern look. Installing a dimmer on the light switch is another option,

Mirrors. For spaces with limited windows, you can place multiple mirrors up to make the room seem a lot brighter.

Additional storage space. If you have a small bath, take advantage of wall space or use vertical shelving. They key to making a petite room look bigger and brighter is to organize it efficiently.

Decorative elements. Scented candles, soaps, artwork, and other add-ons can add glamor to your bathroom and turn it into a spa retreat. Also, a little luxury won’t hurt. Here’s how to create a relaxing retreat

Are you planning to create a new bath, spruce up an existing one, or go for a full-scale remodel? Let Milan Stoneworks do all the work so you can focus enjoying your cozy nook. Visit www.milanstoneworks.com and check out our portfolio for more bathroom improvement ideas.

Get the Dream Kitchen You’ve Always Wanted with These Tips

To create your dream kitchen, you should have a clear vision. It all boils down to making smart choices and staying within the budget.

Whether you're redecorating or totally remodeling, these tips will get you started:

Get measurements. You should have a clear idea of the dimensions of your current layout. A tape measure is going to be your best friend.

Weigh the pros and cons. Determine what you like about your existing kitchen features and what you like to improve on.

Set goals. Make a list of all your makeover plans - from simple tasks to accomplish, overhauls, and the decorative elements.

Create a collection of stylish ideas. Save or print out photos of kitchen setups from magazines, websites, or you can even snap a shot of kitchens you come across at you’re the homes of your friends.

Prioritize your goals. Define your priorities while being realistic and keeping practicality in mind.

Decide what you can afford. You should be able to come up with a reasonable budget and make a sound investment. After deciding on the general layout, you’ll need to determine the components that go with it. The choices for countertops, faucets, sinks, cabinets, flooring, lighting fixtures, backsplash, kitchen island, and appliances are many so you need to choose wisely.

Be patient. Remodeling usually takes time so be sure to plan adequately and anticipate the days you are not able to use your kitchen.

Let’s build your new kitchen that feels like home! Visit www.milanstoneworks.com for a free estimate.