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October 15, 2019October 15, 2019

How to Create a Traditional Style Kitchen

A traditional kitchen is a beautiful and sought after kitchen style.

First off it’s important to not confuse a traditional kitchen with Old World or country style. Although, like the other two, the traditional kitchen design style is warm and classic, with elements of English and French taste, the colour palettes are different.

Todays Designer Kitchens Antique-White-kitchen-set-1-1024x528 How to Create a Traditional Style Kitchen — Antique White Kitchen by Today's Designer Kitchens

For example, instead of the brighter blues and golds you'd find in an Old World design, the traditional kitchen has soft, muted colors: creams, whites, taupes, light grays or greens.

Part of its charm, like country, is that it brings the outdoors in, so patterns can include things like plants or birds for example and the shades of nature. Natural materials on the cupboards and floors also complement the look of a traditional kitchen as do materials like marble, brick, stone and even wood on the back splash giving the kitchen a “handcrafted “ look.

Todays Designer Kitchens Walnut-kitchen-1-1024x626 How to Create a Traditional Style Kitchen — Walnut Glaze Kitchen by Today's Designer Kitchens

To create the traditional look, here are a few top tips:

Clear the kitchen space of furniture that has no defined period style or ornamentation, and get rid of contemporary or modern pieces that have simple, straight lines. Replace this with a few period pieces that you love and build a design around those by adding molding and cabinet door trim that fit this particular style. Then mix that with compatible pieces from other periods for an eclectic blend.

Consider using a pattern when designing the flooring, such as a basket weave or random pattern with wood. If it's stone, such as limestone, the irregular shapes of the natural stone itself can help create a more natural look and feel to the room.

Look for furnishings with carved legs, columns and turnings.

Use fabric to bring color into the room. Pick nature scenes for curtains and cushions and mix them with stripes, not geometric shapes or designs, which do not fit well with this style.

To create focal points wherever you look in the traditional kitchen, have fun with the knobs on cupboards by choosing different designs, shapes and colors for each door panel. Mix and match wood stains or paints.

Avoid streamlined hardware. Choose faucet fixtures and other hardware, such as light fixtures, that have shape and detail.

If you can afford to leave these out, skip anything made of lacquer, veneer or laminate.

The team at Today’s Designer Kitchens are experts in creating the kitchen of your dreams no matter what the style.

If you are thinking of starting a renovation project, why not start the process off with a FREE in-home consultation. We help our customers through the entire process of their project with design, supply and full installation and work with all scales of projects and budgets.

Call us M-F 905-641-2284 or email us for an appointment at: info@todaysdesignerkitchens.ca. We look forward to hearing from you.

October 9, 2019October 5, 2020

Kitchen Renos – When Should I Take Out a Wall?

You Want More Kitchen Space

Larger sized kitchens are desirable for many reasons including a chef in the house who enjoys the extra space for cooking, to a larger sized family that needs to access it regularly.

Todays Designer Kitchens Walnut-kitchen-1-1-1024x626 Kitchen Renos - When Should I Take Out a Wall? — A Walnut Glaze Kitchen from Today's Designer Kitchens

Removing a wall is sometime the best solution in cases like these when there are no other options in the current layout to increase kitchen functionality.

You Want to Combine the Dining/Kitchen Space

Depending on your home's layout, the dining and kitchen areas may naturally flow better with an open space and make day to day activities easier and more enjoyable.

You are OK with a More Involved Renovation Process

Removing a wall an be very gratifying in your kitchen renovation outcome , but keep in mind it will take more time to complete the job . Issues like whether or not it is load bearing and also if it contains wiring, plumbing etc., in the wall you want to remove means professionals need to take time to ensure the perfect result.

You Would Love a Kitchen Island

Todays Designer Kitchens qtq80-ggvunA-1024x774 Kitchen Renos - When Should I Take Out a Wall? — An Off White Kitchen from Today's Designer Kitchens

An island has become a wonderful family gathering place for eating and sharing time in the modern kitchen layout. Sometimes the only way to gain enough space for this is to remove a wall.

You Have Considered How it May Affect Resale of Your Home

Open kitchens usually sell homes hands down. However, every market is different. If selling your home in the not too distant future is something you have thought about, make sure an open kitchen plan is something that is desirable in your neighbourhood.

A local realtor can definitely steer you in the right direction if you ask them!

Final Thoughts - A kitchen wall removal can be a great way to renovate your kitchen and give you lots of added features, but it is not necessary or desirable for every project.

Make sure to have a professional consultation on your plans to make sure it's the right choice for your home!

The team at Today's Designer Kitchens in St. Catharines provide full service design, supply and installations of gorgeous kitchens on a budget. Please contact us for a free in-home consultation and we will help you figure out the ideal layout for your home!

Call us M-F 905-641-2284 or fill out the contact form below.

We look forward to hearing from you!

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September 30, 2019September 30, 2019

The L-Shaped Kitchen – What is It?

L-Shaped Step Shaker White Kitchen by Today's Designer Kitchens.

The popular L-shaped kitchen layout is a standard design for many home kitchens.

The L-Shape Design has been around for a long time and its stylish functionality continue to make it a popular choice.

What makes the L-shaped kitchen design so functional is that it has a sensible work triangle to the preparation, cleanup and cooking areas.

The shape simply refers to the floor plan layout and does not constitute any additional restrictions or requirements passed that.

To get a proper L-shaped design, the kitchen must be built at a corner where two walls form a perpendicular angle and where one wall is twice the length of the other.

The L-shape is often used in smaller kitchens that cannot incorporate an island or G-shape.

Below, a diagram that shows the layout of a L Shape kitchen and its work space flow.

Todays Designer Kitchens L-SHAPE-diagram The L-Shaped Kitchen - What is It?

An L-shaped kitchen also provides a lot design flexibility. Cooks love this basic layout, as it reduces the walking time between kitchen stations.

It makes it very easy to create an ergonomically efficient kitchen triangle, with the refrigerator, stove, and sink arranged in the classic three-point shape.

At Today's Designer Kitchens in St. Catharines, we have had the pleasure of installing many L-Shaped Kitchen layouts as shown in Step Shaker White Cabinets in the main picture.

If you are ready to create a gorgeous, budget friendly, functional kitchen, why not start the process with a free in-home estimate today.

We design, supply and fully install with our one stop shop service.

Call us M-F: 905-641-2284 or email us directly : info@todaysdesignerkitchens.ca

September 17, 2019September 17, 2019

Farmhouse Sinks – Things You Might Not Know!

A classic farmhouse sink is a very popular choice with our customers right now (as seen in one of our Step Charcoal Grey Kitchens here)

Farmhouse sinks are beautiful, but before you make the choice on this pricey kitchen feature, there are a few factors you should consider that a lot of folks don't know so let's explore.

Dishes Will Break More Easily

The deep basin of a farmhouse sink—the same reason this style sink is ideal for washing dishes—makes it more likely you'll accidentally break glasses and dishes knocked over into the porcelain bowl.

It Will Get Stained (And Potentially Chip)

If you opt for a classic white porcelain farmhouse sink, it's very likely to get stained, and it will require regular cleaning to keep it sparkling. Scrubbing the sink with baking soda will help remove sauce stains, yet this mild abrasive won't scratch the surface. If you don't want to commit to cleaning your sink often, you may want to consider getting a farmhouse-style sink in another material besides porcelain, such as stainless steel.

There Are Other Options Besides Porcelain

When you think of a farmhouse sink, it's likely a pristine white porcelain one that comes to mind. But there are many other options available, so be sure to pick one that best matches your kitchen design and lifestyle.

For example, stainless steel is durable and won't chip like porcelain. Copper is another popular option for its beautiful colour. If you want the look of porcelain but at a slightly lower cost and with less maintenance, fireclay could be your best bet. A polished marble farmhouse sink adds a luxurious look to a kitchen, but it comes at a higher price and will need to be resealed every few years.

A Fire clay Sink below in a Off White Cabinet is stunning and functional.

Todays Designer Kitchens fireclay-300x293 Farmhouse Sinks - Things You Might Not Know!

Consider Your Kitchen Habits Before Choosing Single vs. Double Basin

As with many types of sinks, farmhouse sinks come in both single- and double-bowl designs. This choice should be considered as carefully as the sink material. Think about the way you cook and dish wash. Do you do a lot of food prep in your sink? A large single-bowl sink could be the right choice. Do you like to tackle some of the dishes while dinner is cooking? A double-basin sink that lets you wash dishes on one side without disturbing the rinsed salad greens on the other side could be for you.

Counter tops

If you're planning to upgrade to a farmhouse sink in your current kitchen, you may have to change your counter tops. Because farmhouse sinks are wider and deeper than standard sinks, your counter top (and potentially the cabinets below) will need to be adjusted to make room. And if you're installing a heavy porcelain or stone option, you'll need to check that the cabinets below can handle the weight, or else they may need to be reinforced.

Still on the fence with your sink renovation?

At Today's Designer Kitchens we assist folks all the time to make sure they get the right products that fit their lifestyle.

Now is a great time to consider a kitchen renovation if you have been thinking about it.

We guarantee the best price and service in the Niagara Region for design, supply and full installation of quality kitchens.

We would be pleased to give you an estimate to get things going.

Please Email us HERE

September 12, 2019

The Galley Kitchen

Step Charcoal Grey Galley Kitchen

If you have small kitchen and want to maximize the space, then a galley design might be right for you.

Below, a diagram of the basic galley kitchen layout.

What Is a Galley Kitchen? A galley kitchen consists of a single wide lane with appliances and cabinets on either side. It helps maximize efficiency and control the flow of traffic through the kitchen. It follows the design idea of the work triangle where the three most used appliances (stove, fridge and sink) form a triangle in the kitchen. Often, the stove is on one side and the sink and refrigerator on the other.

Timeless Design If you have a galley kitchen, then you’ll probably have a mix of open and traditional shelving. Vertical shelving is most often used because if makes use of the space better than horizontal shelving. The open shelves are used for easily grabbed items. Sometimes glass can be used to open up the space visually as well.

Organization Is Key When you have a galley kitchen, organization is an important part of keeping the kitchen functional and efficient. The vertical cabinets often have baskets that hold necessary utensils and cooking tools. Since space is at a premium, get rid of any appliances that you don’t use much.

The goal of a galley kitchen is to have as much functionality as possible while maximizing the space available. It’s important that counter tops and cabinets don’t have clutter, or you’re defeating the whole purpose of having this style of kitchen.

Todays Designer Kitchens galley-kitchen The Galley Kitchen

Step Shaker White Galley Kitchen

Top Reasons To Consider a Galley Style Kitchen:

– appliances will be within close range of each other, ensuring it is easy to reach everything without needing to travel much.

-due to the smaller footprint of a galley kitchen, the kitchen triangle will often fit naturally into the design – meaning your fridge, sink and oven are conveniently close to each other

-galley kitchens tend to be cheaper, because they usually require fewer cabinets and do not require any corner cabinets or specialized accessories – like wire work.

-fewer areas grouped closely together also means that they are easy and quick to clean.

-large homes as well as smaller ones can look great with a galley style kitchen

If you are considering a kitchen makeover and need assistance with layout ideas, call the team at Today's Designer Kitchens in St. Catharines and we would be happy to assist.

Call: 905-684-5484 M-F 10-5 pm.

Email: info@todaysdesignerkitchens.ca

September 5, 2019September 5, 2019

Great Ideas for LIGHT in the Kitchen

U Shape Shaker White Kitchen

The days are getting shorter, and darker faster. Is there any way to change things in the kitchen to compensate for this loss for the next 5 or 6 months?

Yes! Here are a few tips from our designers at Today's Designer Kitchens.

WINDOW TREATMENTS

Remove them entirely to allow more natural light into the kitchen. Even a few inches of a valance extending into the window will have a noticeable difference.

The removal of the fabric will add a clean, spacious look and will reflect more light into the kitchen immediately.

Todays Designer Kitchens qtq80-6cjayd-300x199 Great Ideas for LIGHT in the Kitchen

DECLUTTER

The change of seasons is always a good time to reassess what is clutter and what is needed, especially on the counter tops.

By de-cluttering you are opening up your space and visually making it lighter and brighter.

LIGHT COLOURS

Light colours enhance a feeling of spaciousness in a room that has lots of visually heavy design elements.

This time of year, why not try to incorporate light colored accessories, dinnerware, placements, even rugs into the kitchen in the "dark months".

Finding the light by using light colors and whites will collectively add more light into the kitchen and will lift your spirits. Think spring and summer style - really!

LIGHTING

While it's not so easy to add light fixtures into the kitchen for seasonal reasons, make sure that adequate natural and artificial lighting is seriously considered in the kitchen planning stage.

CLEAN

Making your kitchen sparkling clean and fresh smelling (think citrusy scents like lemon) is an incredible way to enhance the feeling of a light and airy kitchen.

Overall, there are many things that can be done in your kitchen for brightness during the darker months so we hope this has been helpful in giving you some ideas.

If a bright NEW kitchen is on your mind, now is a fantastic time to renovate and the team at Today's Designer Kitchens would be pleased to assist.

Call 905-641-2284 (M-F 10-5 pm) or email: info@todaysdesignerkitchens.ca

About Today's Designer Kitchens

Located at 239 Carleton Street in St. Catharines, ON., we are a full service design, supply and install kitchen renovation company that specializes in budget conscious projects whether small or large in the Niagara Region.

www.todaysdesignerkitchens.ca

August 26, 2019August 26, 2019

The Advantages of a 4-Inch Backsplash

The 4-inch backsplash had been a standard in general construction installations for many years (as shown in the picture above) and many people love it.

Just to be clear the 4 inches refers to the length of the extension of the countertop itself that runs flush with the wall.

Here are a few things to consider about this style for your project.

Budget Friendly

A 4-inch backsplash is cost effective. It is made of less material than a half- or full-height backsplash and as a result, costs less to fabricate and install.

Simple

It has a clean straight line design that complements many different types of kitchen themes and design tastes.

Blends Well

When this backsplash is made from material that matches the countertop itself, it creates a pleasing and uniform look.

Keeps Wall Clean

The 4-inch backsplash does provide protection for the walls, from splatters and other kitchen activities.

Cozy

It can also make a large kitchen feel cozier. By covering part of the wall, its height alters perception and makes walls seem shorter and a ceiling seem lower.

Are Their Drawbacks to this Counter Style?

As the saying goes "beauty is in the eye of the beholder" and with this said, some people do not like this counter style as they consider it a dated look for a counter (other's love it though)!

The other main drawback of this counter is that it is limited in the amount of wall protection it gives as it is lower than some other styles.

As with all design choices in a kitchen, it is really up to you as to what you like and what works with your daily kitchen regime.

There are many styles and materials available when it comes to choosing a good counter.

If you need assistance with this, or perhaps you need a full scale renovation of your kitchen space, the team at Today's Designer Kitchens in St. Catharines, ON are pros at designing, supplying and installing beautiful kitchens on budget and on time.

Call or email us for an in-home estimate today.

Call: 905-641-2284.

Contact by Email: .

August 16, 2019August 16, 2019

Exploring The U Shaped Kitchen

U Shape Shaker White Kitchen

U-shaped Kitchen:

The U-Shape Kitchen is a popular layout that has stood the test of time.

Space and storage can be maximized in this layout, it is ideal for the 2 cook household with its counter space and it even can be a place to eat with an island addition.

Essentially, the U-shaped kitchen can offer the best of all worlds. You will have all the space you need to make sure that you can use the kitchen to its full potential – perhaps separating the cooking and preparation areas and giving yourself ample storage space, but the space in the middle is yours to play with.

This is ideal for the home owner that likes to not only spent lots of time in the kitchen making meals and baking but also sees it as a communal family room where everyone can get together.

Todays Designer Kitchens ushapediagram Exploring The U Shaped Kitchen

U Shape Layout

U-shaped kitchen advantages

-Counter space

-Easy for two or more cooks to operate at once.

-U-shaped design helps to keep traffic out…

-Incorporating a kitchen island keeps cooking social

-can work in various space restrictions

Now sure about the kitchen layout that works for your home? The team at Today's Designer Kitchens are highly experienced in assisting our customers design a layout that works for their unique needs.

There are many other layouts that can be considered as well.

For all your kitchen renovation needs in the Niagara Region, we are a full service design, supply and installation company that work in all project scopes and budgets and would be pleased to assist in your remodel.

Please contact us M-F 10-5 pm: 905-641-2284 or email us directly for an in home consultation: info@todaysdesignerkitchens.ca

About Today's Designer Kitchens

We are a full service design, supply and installation company with a dedication to keep projects on time and on budget.

Serving the Niagara Region, our showroom is at 239 Carleton Street in St. Catharines.

www.todaysdesignerkitchens.ca

August 6, 2019August 6, 2019

Making Open Concept Kitchens Work

Step Shaker Brilliant White Kitchen

Popular and gorgeous, there are a few key things to consider in an open-plan kitchen:

Materials can be used to create connections; the dining table or chairs could be in the same wood as a solid wood breakfast bar on an island, for example.

Colour is also a crucial element to think about when linking separate areas and can also be used to define the space. For example, colour used in a back splash in the kitchen might be picked up in the dining area on a feature wall.

Function: Think about how you use your kitchen and make sure your design matches your needs. For example; are you a serious cook with a need for lots of prep space; do you do a lot of entertaining and need a dedicated dining area; do the family often congregate in the kitchen – a large island may provide a perfect solution.

Focal Point: If your kitchen is to be at the centre of your family activities in an open plan room then make sure the kitchen cabinetry looks as good as possible, as it is part of your general living space.

A good design team will help you think through all your options at the planning stage and will come up with creative ideas and solutions to help you make your open-plan space as cohesive as possible.

At Today's Designer Kitchens, we make the process simple by giving our customers an in home consultation.

Then we design a kitchen that works perfectly for your unique tastes and needs, supply all the materials to make it happen and install it from start to finish at a price point that will leave you smiling.

Serving Niagara Region, please call us today to start the process: 905-641-2284, or email us at: info@todaysdesignerkitchens.ca

Off White Kitchen

July 30, 2019

Top Tips for Creating Kid Friendly Kitchens

White Shaker Kitchen

If you're considering remodeling your kitchen and there are children in the family you may want to consider these kid friendly features:

Round edge details. When you choose your counter top surface, you'll have plenty of options for the counter top slab edge details. We recommend using a style with a rounded edge, which is much more forgiving on heads that bump against them.
Hygienic options. Kids spill and drop- and in a busy family kitchen, Quartz and Corian are excellent counter top solutions because they're virtually indestructible, easy to clean, maintain and are hygienic.
Lowered countertop heights. Consider lowering a section of countertop to a child-friendly height. By having a kitchen surface well within their reach, children can safely prepare their own food without stretching or standing on other furniture - making them more accident prone.
Touch-free faucets. Kids have a hard time turning faucets on and off, and can accidentally kick on water hot enough to scald. Touch-free faucets are the solution and can be pre-set to a safe "start temperature" that can be changed once the faucet is on and running.
Kid-friendly storage. Dedicate a drawer and/or cabinet in the under-cabinet section and organize it with kid's plates, bowls, cups, and utensils, as well as some of their favorite snack items. Refrigerator drawers can be great for this too. That way, kids have everything they need at a safe level.

Todays Designer Kitchens qtq80-Kphjgz Top Tips for Creating Kid Friendly Kitchens

If you are looking to remodel the kitchen and you need some kid friendly features, the team at Today's Designer Kitchens have lots of experience finding the perfect balance of form and function for any busy family.

Email: info@todaysdesignerkitchens.ca