calgary custom kitchen design

3 Helpful Ways to Reset Your Kitchen for the New Year

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The holidays are a busy time of year, and even the most prepared household experiences a disruption in routines. There’s a general sense of disorder when the festivities are over. So, as the new year approaches, we long for a fresh start. Taking some time to reset your kitchen will help you step back into normal (or new) routines with ease.  3 Quick Tips to Help Prepare Your Kitchen for a New Year These three simple tips are all you need to get your kitchen in order and help you set up for a successful start to the new year with less stress. 1. Plan Some Meals You need to eat. Period. After turkey feasts, limitless chocolate, and way too much of our traditional holiday goodies, we’re stuffed to the brim. So we sink into our easy chairs and declare, “I won’t need to eat till next year!”  But the reality is, you’ll wake up tomorrow and your body will … Read more

Is a u-shaped kitchen layout right for me?

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What kitchen design layout is right for you? Many factors determine the answer to this question. This post focuses on the u-shaped kitchen layout to help you decide if it’s right for you. We’ll look at the pros and cons of a u-shaped kitchen layout and give you some tips to make a u-shaped kitchen work for you.  What is a U-Shaped Kitchen Design Layout? A u-shaped kitchen layout has 3 connected sides that form a “u” or horseshoe shape. This layout provides an open feel, allowing you easy access from the wide open end and plenty of freedom to move around and work in the middle space. 5 Advantages of a U-Shaped Kitchen Layout Why would someone choose a u-shaped kitchen layout? What are the benefits? Let’s look at 5 pros.  1. Abundant Counter Space Because a u-shaped kitchen has 3 connected walls, this layout provides plenty of counter space. This allows multiple work areas and can accommodate more … Read more

How to Make Your Kitchen More Kid-Friendly

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A timeless family-friendly kitchen design can support family connection. In this post, we want to focus specifically on kids in the kitchen. Let’s explore how you can encourage your kids to be in the kitchen—and why you should want to.  9 Benefits of Kids in the Kitchen Perhaps the most obvious benefit of involving kids in cooking is that you have help and won’t have to do all the work yourself. But there are so many more reasons to cultivate kitchen confidence in your children! The advantages are life-changing and long-lasting. Lay a foundation for a healthy lifestyle When you include your children in the preparation of family meals, snacks, and packed lunches, they learn how to make healthy food choices. You can explain why you use fruits and vegetables and talk about a balanced diet. Teaching your children to cook at home gives them the skills necessary to avoid processed foods or resorting to a fast food diet.  Expand … Read more

Relationship Matters: How the Manufacturer of Your Kitchen Cabinets Impacts You

Whether you’re getting a new kitchen or embarking on a kitchen renovation, the relationship between the kitchen cabinet manufacturer and your kitchen designer and supplier has a significant impact on the quality of your kitchen and your experience during the entire process. Most homeowners don’t think much about their cabinet manufacturer. You’re understandably more concerned about choosing the right designer for your new kitchen. That’s one of the most important decisions you’ll make in this process! The right kitchen designer will instill confidence and help turn your kitchen dream into a reality. But there’s more to a great kitchen than the design. You want quality cabinets that fit your budget and you want the entire process to be as stress free as possible.  This is where the relationship between the cabinet manufacturer and your kitchen designer and supplier makes all the difference.    Manufacturer Matters The manufacturer of your kitchen cabinets matters just as much as the designer and supplier, … Read more

Custom Cabinets vs Stock Cabinets: What are the advantages?

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Your kitchen cabinets are like permanent furniture. They dominate the look and feel of the space, and you want them to last a long time. They are truly an investment. So as you shop for kitchen cabinets, you may wonder about the differences between custom cabinets vs stock cabinets. What’s the best option for your new kitchen or kitchen renovation? Custom Cabinets vs Stock Cabinets: 4 Key Considerations Cabinets are essentially boxes and doors with shelves and drawers. A cabinet seems like a simple thing, yet there are many factors that make the difference between a quality cabinet and one that’s basically disappointment in a box. The manufacturing process determines the design, style, functionality, cost, and quality of your kitchen cabinets. Let’s look at 4 key elements of a cabinet to compare custom cabinets with stock cabinets.  Materials Joints Hardware Selection Stock cabinets are mass produced, and therefore more affordable than custom cabinets, but they’re only available in predetermined sizes … Read more

10 Places to Put the Microwave in the Kitchen

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Wondering where to put the microwave in the kitchen? You are not alone. It’s a common conundrum.  Moving your microwave to a new spot can get complicated quickly. The electrical outlet complicates things. If there’s no outlet in a convenient location for the microwave, rewiring turns a minor location shift into a massive job requiring a professional.  Fortunately, there are plenty of options for ideal microwave placement! Here are 10 places to put the microwave in the kitchen. Elevated Locations  An overhead microwave keeps your countertop clear and saves space. Here are 5 overhead spots for your microwave.  1. Over the range  This is the most common choice in kitchens. Position your microwave above the stove to keep it up and out of the way. This makes access easier and saves space.  Be sure to consider the size of your microwave. Too large, and it’ll overwhelm the space; too small, and it’ll look awkward here.  2. A drink station A … Read more

10 Practical Design Ideas for the Awkward Kitchen Corner

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The corner space where two banks of kitchen cabinets meet is called a “blind corner”. It’s often wasted space because it’s deep, dark, and inaccessible. Even when the design provides access by including a cabinet door, it’s difficult to reach items stored at the back unless you have exceptionally long arms and flexibility.  There are many tried and tested solutions to the blind corner cabinet conundrum. Here are 10 of our best practical design ideas for the awkward kitchen corner.  1. Lazy Susan A lazy susan is the classic go-to for corner cabinets. Spinning shelves allow you to access anything in the cabinet without having to reach. This type of cabinet typically has a bifold hinged door. There are 3 main types of lazy susans: Full circle shelves set back into the cabinet so the door can fully close Pie-shaped shelves to allow for the folding door Pie-shaped shelves attached to the door so they automatically pull out when the … Read more

How to use the work triangle & zones for the perfect kitchen layout

How to use the work triangle & zones for the perfect kitchen layout

When you renovate your kitchen or design the kitchen for your new home, you want the perfect layout. A new kitchen is a big investment, so you want to be sure it’s going to be both beautiful and functional.  The kitchen work triangle and kitchen zones are two concepts that can help you plan the perfect kitchen layout. What is the kitchen work triangle? For the last century, the kitchen work triangle has been the standard for kitchen design. It’s like an imaginary line between the sink, the cooktop, the fridge, and back to the sink. Basic guidelines for the kitchen work triangle are The position of the cooktop, sink, and fridge creates a triangle pattern.  Each “side” of the triangle should be between 4-9 feet. The sum of all 3 sides of the triangles should not be less than 13 feet and not over 26 feet. There should be no obstacles intruding the triangle (such as cabinetry, island, or … Read more

How to Choose the Best Countertop for Your Kitchen

How to Choose the Best Countertop for Your Kitchen

Remember the days when laminate was the only option you had for your kitchen countertops? Things have changed! With so many surfaces available today, you might wonder how to choose the best countertop for your kitchen. In this post, we’ll look at what you need to consider when choosing your kitchen countertops, and the pros and cons of the most common countertop options.  5 Things to Consider When Choosing Your Countertops Choosing the right countertop for your kitchen is about so much more than picking a color or pattern that matches your cabinets.  1. Maintenance Maybe it’s because laminate is so easy to maintain, but it surprises most people that some countertop surfaces require ongoing maintenance. Any natural stone requires regular maintenance to ensure it stays properly sealed, for example.  2. Cost Cost is an obvious factor to consider when choosing your countertops. You can stick to your budget and have the best countertop for your kitchen. Modern countertop surfaces … Read more

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