So go ahead, put your fears aside, get the essentials on the design and decorating elements and design your own kitchen. Include in it everything that you have ever dreamed of having in your kitchen including that state of the art kitchen sink. And after that you can go about revealing to everybody that you have one of your very own designer kitchens. There truly is no need to let them in on the secret though - that you are the design mastermind behind your wondrous interior designer kitchen.
Help Installing Vinyl Floor Tiles
Thursday, January 18th, 2007
Question: How do you measure and cut the stick-on tile, like around a toliet? I know there is a way to get the measurement that isn’t a straight line. It’s been a long time ago since I have done it. Please lay out how it is done. Thank you.
ToolTalk says: To my knowledge there are no secrets. I take some of the wax-paper backing from an already-placed tile and lay it where the cut tile will be installed. With a permanent marker I mark approximately where the tile needs to be cut. Once I have a rough pattern, I lay that on top of the new tile and cut the profile out with a scissors or knife. Be sure to leave the backing on the tile you are cutting (this provides some flexibility to “dry fit” the tile and to make the cut more specific). For the best look, you can empty the toilet and remove it from the floor, cut the tile up to the drain flange and set the toilet back on top of the tile. Taking this extra step will give your tile a professional look. Good luck!
What to Do with a Wine Rack — When You Don’t Drink Wine
Wednesday, January 3rd, 2007
Maureen writes: My husband and I are purchasing a home that has custom made cabinets in the Kitchen which includes a custom made wine rack. Neither my husband nor I drink and will never use the wine rack….I was trying to get some ideas on how to decorate since it can’t be removed. I was thinking about maybe stuffing each bottle holder with greenery and flowers. Can you help me with some ideas?
DesignTalk says: Let’s toast to your new kitchen — because custom-made cabinets are a real treat! We think the wine rack will be a unique addition to your home — especially because you won’t be using it for wine. We have lots of ideas for the wine rack, with one important rule. Whatever you put in the rack, try to keep the collection uniform. Mixing dishtowels with magazines and more will look cluttered, while a grouping of a single type of object will be an eye-catching display.
Here are some tasteful collections for your wine rack:
- Add color to your kitchen by filling the wine rack with bright dishtowels in two or three accent colors. This is the time to toss the old, torn towels into the rag bin, and splurge on fresh new style for your new kitchen. Simply fold the towels once or twice, then roll to fit the wine rack. Not only will they look great, you’ll save cabinet space as well.
- Or, opt for all-white towels for a crisp and clean display and old-fashioned style.
- Get a head-start on your resolution to be more concerned about the environment: fill your wine rack with rolled-up linen napkins, and add luxury and eco-style to every meal.
- Favorite cooking magazines will find a home when rolled into the wine rack slots. Having the magazines close might encourage you to try more new recipes, too.
- If you have serious newspaper readers in the house, neatly roll the newspaper by sections into the wine rack slots. Being the first to get the comics is another challenge altogether.
- Fill the bottle-size racks with bottles of another kind. Store juice spritzers, gourmet and natural soda, and even coffee syrups, and be ready to entertain family and friends.
- Look for tall storage containers that will fit in the racks and store pasta, rice, dry beans, popcorn, candy and more.
- Display vintage collections like bottles, tea towels, or kitchenware.
We can’t wait to see your beautiful new kitchen! Please send us photos of your creative ideas and wine rack display.
To our readers:
Fab Friday Finds - Bountiful Bundts
Friday, December 8th, 2006
We are having our cake — and eating lots of it, too — with these cool new Bundt pans. From adorable mini-Bundts to fairytale cottages and football stadiums, we’re going to be baking Bundts for every party this season.
Some of our favorites:
Bundt Quartet Baking Pan - We’re going to bake individual coffee cakes for Christmas morning, and mini-fruitcakes for all our friends. You can’t beat petite when it comes to pastries.
 
Fairytale Cottage Bundt Pan - This year, no more wrestling with graham crackers and frosting to make gingerbread houses. I’m keeping the construction easy, and spending time on the candy with this lovely little cottage. “That’s one gumdrop for me…one for the house…”
 
Stadium Bundt Pan - Cheer the home team with a stadium full of fans decked out in your team’s colors.
 
With all the options for fun bundt cakes — who needs fruitcake?
Fab Friday Finds - iPod @ Home
Friday, November 10th, 2006
iPods are great for long car rides and great for the gym. But what about using them in the place you are most…at home?
I have 14 GB of songs (19.3 days worth of audio, at least that’s what iTunes tells me) so I’m pretty much set. I don’t have a real need for a radio or a CD player, but that would be nice just in case I want to listen to Saturday night Jazz. I just need to figure out how to play my iPod out loud at home.
In our kitchen — the centerpiece of our house — we installed a stereo with a jack for the iPod. We put the stereo in the cabinet above the microwave and drilled a hole to the top of the cabinets. Since the tops of our cabinets are exposed, we ran the speaker wires through to the top of the cabinet. So you couldn’t see the stereo, but you could hear the sound perfectly.
This model is excellent and even comes with the white look you would expect to mesh with the iPod design.
I really like that the iPod docking station charges my iPod so it’s ready to go in the morning. And I can also play my old .mp3 CD-ROMs straight from the CD player. This is handy when I’m at home and my wife is out jogging with the iPod.
And with the subwoofer, you will hear a deeper bass that will open up a new dimension to the music in your iPod.
Bottom line: Getting a stereo for your home with an iPod docking station is a really great way to get the most out of your music, keep your iPod charged, and fill your home with your favorite tunes.
Window Treatments for Three Rooms
Monday, November 6th, 2006
Cheryl writes: Hi, I need some help decorating. I need drapes for the following
rooms, but someting classy.
- Family room carpet and sofa is beige, and the lamps are a rustic-antique type. Do you think red drapes would help?
- My dining room has one bay window, and my dining set and china is cherry wood.
- The sitting room has a mint green sofa and grey chairs.
Landon at DesignTalk suggests:
- Drapes in a shade of red would be a lovely accent to your beige sofa and carpet. The traditional style of these Carlisle panels would coordinate well with your antique lamps, and the gorgeous red drapes would introduce a fashionable color scheme to the room.
- Plaid is always in good taste for the kitchen. These classic plaid curtains come in several color options, as well as solid patterns if you prefer. Any of the available colors would work well with your cherry dining set.
- Consider neutral window treatments in this room because the sofa is mint green. If the drapes are too bright or have too much pattern, it could overwhelm the room. Cool white walls would keep the clean, simple look.
Good luck with your decorating project — and please send us photos of your updated rooms!
Fab Friday Finds - A Cooler Way to Store Wine
Friday, October 27th, 2006
Last Thanksgiving, you should have seen my fridge. Jam-packed with everything from cranberries to Jello salad, squeezing in a few bottles of wine was a joke. Chilling the bottles in an ice bucket left a sloppy mess, and lukewarm wine isn’t the best for every vintage.
This year, I’ve got a solution. The Louis Philippe wine cooler is on its way to my home in time for our family’s favorite holiday. Not only will we have well-chilled wine, but I’ll have a stylish new side table to display pies and other goodies. I was a bit concerned about a buzzing, humming, rattling unit with the quality of a dorm fridge, but this cooler is made from semi-conductor technology for low noise, no freon and no vibration. Not to mention, a stylish espresso finish to coordinate with my decor and an adjustable temperature for red or white wine.
Sitting down to turkey, all the trimmings, 14 different side dishes, and a glass of well-chilled wine? I’ll lift my glass for that.
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