A Guide to Mastering the Wet Bar

The holidays are upon us! If you enjoy entertaining often, you’ll need a wet bar for thirsty guests. Whether you want it to be in the rec room or in the kitchen, here’s a guide to mastering your beverage-prep area:

• Be selective with the materials options. Keep the cabinetry, countertop, backsplash and other elements matched with both aesthetics and functionality. If your wet bar will be located in your kitchen, it should blend well with the overall kitchen design.

• Wine collection is becoming a mainstream coast-to-coast. When storing vintage in the house, keep it in space that don’t get a lot of moisture. For an instance, you can place an open wine storage above a wet bar.

• Opt for glass-front cabinets to showcase your glassware and collectibles. A dedicated fridge (or an ice maker) just for drinks is another handy addition. Get something that perfectly fits your space.

• Get a bar faucet – it can be in the same product line as your kitchen tap for continuity. Also, consider a coordinating sink that has better finish and is easy to maintain.

• Use a customizable drawer insert for storing wine charms, corkscrews, bottle stoppers and other essentials.

• Decide on the layout that works for you. For example, an L-shaped wet bar allows you to have more space for prep duties.

• If your wine fridge doesn’t have enough space to hold all your wine bottles, built-in racks or countertop models would be your best bet.

To learn more tips for setting up a stylish home bar, click here.

Prepare Your Kitchen for Christmas with These Tips

With Christmas just a few days away, it’s time to furnish, decorate, and prepare your home for the guests and festivities. If you’re hosting a party, your kitchen will certainly be the heart of the home. Be sure your kitchen is ready to do the job – it’ll save you time and stress.

There are simple ways to prepare your kitchen for the festive celebration:

Get organized. Remove unwanted clutter and organize your pantry. You can also make small changes, like adding dividers and recycling bins.

Mark out a triangle. Make your kitchen layout work for you. Remember the basics: The three main zones are storage (fridge/freezer and dry storage), washing (sink, dishwasher) and cooking. But you can also think about other tasks such as making coffee or tea. If you think something’s getting in the way when you carry out a task at hand, move that a little bit.

Add a splash of color. Give your kitchen a festive feeling by indulging in some Christmas-themed pieces, such as holiday jars, snowflake printed pot holders, and colorful candy containers. These small changes can make a difference and can spruce up any traditional kitchen.

Use festive lighting. This is a great way to create an inviting atmosphere whether you go for modern spotlights or a classic chandelier style. Also, perfect lighting makes you look great for Christmas dinner pictures!

      

Brighten your kitchen cabinets. If you have glass-front cabinets, stock them with seasonal accents or try dressing it up with patterned wallpaper.

Spruce up the countertops. While you want to keep your countertop clear for the busy season, you can add simple accents like cookie jars, holiday greenery, or a lush arrangement using colander. If there is plenty of space, you make a small Christmas village.

Milan Stoneworks wishes you a wonderful holiday season! Call us if you’re planning to upgrade your kitchen after the busiest time of the year!

Seven Hot Tips for Fireplace Remodeling

Do you have a gas-burning fireplace or a wood-burning one? With fireplace season upon us, you may think of remodeling your living room where you can plan cozy evenings. Ideally you want this and everything that surrounds it to complement the overall look and feel of your home. If you love sitting in front of a roaring fire, these tips will warm up your home remodeling project:

• When updating or building a fireplace, consider the style, cost and installation process.

• Decide what kind of fireplace you want to have. Browse photos of different fireplace styles in the magazines or on the web, then save your favorites. Contact a pro to get started.

• Choosing the right facing is a big decision. A slab of granite, marble, or another solid surface creates minimalist and dramatic aesthetic. If you need help in selecting and installing a slab, click here.

• If you are replacing an existing fireplace surround, check if the new one is compatible with the fire type. Some surrounds may not be heat-resistant and are designed for ornamental use only.

• Stone surrounds come in standard sizes and style but they often are custom-made. They need to be broken down into sections, which means that the assembly involves joining these sections together.

• If you’re remodeling the whole room (making changes to the walls or adding hardwood), it is best to do the fireplace first.

• Be sure to comply with building regulations governing the construction and masonry of fireplaces and chimneys. Installation of a new fireplace or reconstruction of an existing one will need to be inspected by the local building safety department.

Are you planning on remodeling your living room? Let Milan Stoneworks ignite your old fireplace.

Outdoor Kitchen Winterizing Checklist

There’s still time to winterize your outdoor kitchen and keep it in tip-top shape for next year. If you have an open-air cooking area, you’ll want to make sure all equipment, appliances, and surfaces are protected from wind chills. These essential steps will help you prevent damage and avoid costly repairs:

• Switch off power to all appliances and electrically powered units - unplug them or turn off the circuit breaker.
• Shut off water - an indoor shutoff valve comes in really handy because it won’t freeze.

• Any residual water might freeze causing the pipes to crack, so be sure to drain all water lines. Leave drain valves open for outdoor sinks, refrigerators, and ice makers.
• Do not cover outdoor refrigerators and ice makers as moisture can get trapped under the cover and might put electrical parts at risk for damage.
• Remove ice from trays and ice maker bins. The interiors should be free of any residual moisture.

• Clean the grill, cabinets, and refrigerator. Remove any spills and crumbs. Finish things off with a good stainless steel polish.

• Cover sinks to avoid debris settling in the basin. Disconnect hot and cold water supply lines. Remove the faucet and store them indoors.

It is important to note that minimizing exposure snow in general will prolong the life of anything, including your countertops. Cycles or freeze/thaw are the biggest culprit and you can minimize the damage by following these tips:

• It's a good idea to cover your countertops during winter months to offer protection against wind, snow, ice, and water. You can have a custom cover made for your countertop to keep the stone surface dry.
• The weather will wear down the surface finish and this requires having countertops re-polished.
• Seal stone countertops to protect the surface, otherwise, you’ll end up with leaf stains, or cracked and chipped counters from freezing moisture. We recommend Dupont StoneTech Professional BulletProof Stone Sealer for granite and marble countertop.

Make sure you do these things before winter so you can enjoy the snow and without worrying about your outdoor kitchen.