The days of the formal dining room are, for better or for worse, in the rear-view mirror. These days, if you do a lot of entertaining, chances are it’s in your kitchen, not in a separate room. The kitchen is becoming a larger and more open space, not one where one person cooks in isolation but an area where families and friends can talk, eat, and drink together. Of course, this shift means t

It’s fairly common knowledge that one of the fastest, easiest, and least expensive ways to enhance the appearance and value of your bathroom is to add new bathroom tiling, or replace your existing tile. But picking just the right bathroom tiles – the style, color, material, size, and installation type – can be a little confusing. Though it’s a relatively inexpensive change,

I’ll admit, I was thrilled beyond belief the first time I moved into an apartment that had a dishwasher. After years of hand drying and bickering over dish duty with numerous roommates, that one slightly undersized appliance seemed like a godsend. But having lived in several dishwasher-free places since, I realize I haven’t missed it. You see, I’m a pre-washer. Even when I had a

Debating whether or not to cut that additional hole into your granite? Deck mounted soap dispensers have their lists of pros and cons, but for the right person they can significantly improve the kitchen experience. No more sticky slippery soap bottles around the kitchen sink. No more brightly colored eyesores. The quick pump dispensers revolutionize the sink area. Many disgruntled users complain t

Once you have the right tools, installing knobs and pulls in the kitchen is a breeze. Drawers and cabinets achieve a brand new look with only a couple hours of work. Its much less expensive than replacing the counter tops or building an island. However, unless you are just replacing old knobs with new ones, you will need a power drill, a ruler and a pencil. Whether it is something as simple as pla

They are a breath of fresh air in the world of design. These Elica range hoods come in designs that tell the story of their maker’s foresight and talent. They are gorgeous, unique, efficient, and clever additions for any kitchen. In a country where we are encouraged to express our individuality, Americans often desire a style that’s a little different. Elica makes each of their range h

Owning a trash compactor in your kitchen is a fabulous luxury, and it is a kitchen addition that is good for the environment and the future of our planet. Broan is a big name on the scene of trash compactors, and they claim their units can reduce six thirteen gallon bags of garbage into one ten gallon bag of compact trash. This company has been perfecting their trash compactors for forty years. Br

Have you been splashing water on the floor so much the linoleum is starting to warp? Do you find yourself calling the plumber twice a week and facing his judgmental glare? It’s not you. It’s the sink. And don’t worry. There’s a way out. Is your sink basin large enough? If you cook for a family, your pans are going to be larger, and those are a pain to wash in a tiny sink. W

Yearning for some extra surface area for food prep? If your kitchen table is perpetually covered in mail and sweaters, you might enjoy having a breakfast nook for backup. A kitchen island provides extra room and storage. You can start a wine cabinet, use the drawers for your more ambiguous utensils, or install a stove top and a range hood above to add intimacy to the kitchen workspace. After worki

Of course we know the obvious benefit, that range hoods ventilate odor and smoke from the kitchen. The other benefits of a range hood include preventing grease deposits all over the kitchen. It also sucks out the heat that emanates from the stove, which is particularly nice in summer. Best of all, the ventilation prevents that awful chain of events in my apartment where the room gets all misty, th