You put time and careful thought into selecting your kitchen cabinets, so naturally you want to keep them looking their best. The maintenance of your cabinets does not have to be a difficult or time consuming task. With some regular cleaning and care, you can keep your cabinets looking beautiful for years to come.

Cleaning your wood cabinets can be as simple as wiping the surface with a clean, damp cloth, then drying immediately. If you feel like you need something more than just water to cut through every-day soil and grease, a product such as Murphy’s Oil Soap (containing no wax or silicones) is a perfectly acceptable option. However, you may find that a mild dishwashing detergent is just as effective. Wipe clean with a damp cloth and dry thoroughly. Using a dish cloth is not recommended for cleaning your cabinets as it could contain grease or detergent remnants.

If your cabinets are laminate, thermofoil, or painted, most non-abrasive cleaners are okay, but avoid any cleaner with acetone, ethyl alcohol, or mineral oils as well as any harsh solvents or abrasives as they can be damaging.

Abrasives in cleaning are not the only elements that can cause damage to your cabinets. Water and moisture in excess can compromise your cabinet’s finish and possibly the wood itself. With that in mind, promptly remove any excess liquid and do not drape dish towels over cabinet doors.

By following these simple tips, your kitchen cabinets can maintain their original beauty and be an investment of which you can be proud for many years.  If you have other questions about kitchen or bath cabinetry, please give us a call at our Carmel Indiana showroom.

Picking a kitchen sink is a relatively simple process, right? Actually, it’s more complicated than you may think. With a myriad of options in everything from how it’s made to how it’s mounted, you have more than a couple decisions to make when choosing the right sink for your kitchen. Let’s break down some of your options.

Material

• Stainless Steel- A long time favorite, this sink still remains very popular today. Often more affordable than other materials, stainless steel is also heat and stain resistant. When shopping for a stainless sink, look for one with a lower gauge number. This indicates thicker steel which will be less likely to dent or vibrate when a disposal is running. 16 or 18 is a desirable gauge number, and the 300 series offers the best protection from corrosion and staining. The negatives of stainless would be its vulnerability to scratches and its propensity to show water spots.

• Solid Surface- These sinks are made from the same material as the countertops of the same name. When paired with a solid surface countertop, the result is a sleek, seamless appearance without the presence of any ridges or edges. Minor scratches or cuts are oftentimes repairable. Negatives would include the price tag, which is higher than that of other sink choices. Also, they do not tolerate high heat well, such as that of a pot transferred directly from a stove.

• Quartz Chip- Made by combining crushed quartz with resin filler, this sink is extremely durable and should last a long time. It is non porous and highly resistant to stains, scratches, and chips. The heat resistance of the quartz sink surpasses that of solid surface. Its hardness may be the only downside. If a dish is dropped in a quartz sink, your sink will survive, but your dish will not!

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  Cast Iron- This is one of the oldest materials used for sinks, and its popularity endures. Like the previously mentioned quartz sink, the cast iron sink is also incredible durable and long lasting. Behind the appealing glossy finish is a tough stain resisting surface. Minor scratches and chips can be repaired, and maintenance is relatively easy with this sink. The downside to cast iron is that the enamel can chip. This exposes the iron underneath which can begin to rust over time. The weight of cast iron also makes installation trickier, especially if being installed as an undermount.

   

Installation

• Self Rimming- More commonly known as a drop-in sink, this is the most common sink choice in many homes as well as the easiest to install. A cutout is made in the top of the countertop, and the sink is lowered into the cutout. The flanges of the sink that overlap the cutout are the sink’s support. They also, unfortunately, form a barrier between the countertop and sink that catches unwanted crumbs and debris while cleaning.

• Undermount- As opposed to being installed from the top, an undermount sink is attached from under the countertop. This eliminates the metal lip of a drop in sink and permits you to brush crumbs or liquid from the countertop directly into the sink without any interference. 

In addition to the variety of choices in material, there are many accessories and options to make your kitchen sink more functional and versatile. In our next blog, we’ll discuss different sink sizes as well as the little “extras” you can add to give your sink some personality. Please give us a call or stop by our Carmel, Indiana showroom to learn more about choosing the right sink for your remodeling project.

In many areas of life, we tend to think in terms of the here and now. This is often evident in the areas of buying, building, or remodeling a home. We seek out design elements that are representative of our current stage of life. Life, as we know, is fluid and ever changing. Our situation today may not be our situation tomorrow. That is where Universal Design comes in.

Popularized by architect Ronald Mace, Universal Design is the idea of taking a space, then designing it in such a way that it is functional and practical for all age groups, ability levels, and life stages. With Universal Design, you are designing your home so that it not only works for you today, but also in the future. You are planning with tomorrow in mind.

Universal Design does not need to be clinical or institutional-like in appearance, nor should it be. When implemented correctly, its features will flow smoothly into the overall design of the house, almost to the point of not noticing them. There are a number of areas within the bathroom where you can implement Universal Design and demonstrate that functionality can also be stylish.

Here are some of the ways to bring this design concept into your home’s bathroom.

• Open space is ideal as it allows for greater mobility. For example, you need 5 feet of open space for a wheelchair to make a 180 degree turn. Obviously, not every bathroom will be able to accommodate this, but the idea is the more available open space, the better.

• Wall mounted sinks or floating sinks are both attractive and stylish while also providing needful open space underneath.
• Taller toilets, ranging in height from 16-18 inches, can be much more accommodating than those in a standard size. Look for the option of a “no slam” lid when available.
• In terms of the shower, there are a number of ideas to keep in mind. For starters, a curbless shower, which has no rim or lip on the floor, is an excellent option as it removes what could be a potential tripping hazard. Installing both a shower bench and a hand held shower head will make the shower usable for all age demographics while also providing elements of safety and convenience. 

• Grab bars are excellent safety features for all ages, yet they have the reputation of looking unattractive and institutional-like in appearance. Today’s grab bars come in a variety of designer styles, allowing them to integrate seamlessly into your bathroom décor.
• When choosing faucets or controls, consider single lever style. They are the easiest for all hand sizes and strengths to operate. This is also true when choosing door handles.

• Slip resistant tile is a must in a bathroom with universal design. An appropriate choice would be either a non-glossy ceramic tile or a unique mosaic. The more grout lines you can add, the safer your floor will be as they will provide more texture and better grip when wet.

Working with a knowledgeable designer will help create bathroom space that will be both beautiful and functional for years to come. Please give The KitchenWright a call if you would like to learn more about Universal Design.