Blog - Todays Designer Kitchens

December 6, 2019December 6, 2019

Exploring HDF Kitchen Cabinets

HDF Cabinet Doors or High Density Fiberboard Cabinet Doors are everywhere these days in kitchen and bath design. Why? Because they provide the best look for the price and hold up exceptionally well to daily use.

A high density furniture grade core is a quality material made from real hard and soft wood fibers pressed together by high pressure and temperature. This process renders the boards much more durable and resistant to cracking and warping than even solid woods.

This makes HDF a fantastic choice for busy families as well as people who want a long lasting hard wearing kitchen for many years to come.

At Today’s Designer Kitchens, we have many customers who prefer the look and price point of this type of kitchen cabinet ( a Step Shaker White Kitchen is pictured above).

Add complementary hardware to the doors and one would be hard pressed to tell the difference between HDF and expensive alternatives.

As each customer prefers their own unique style, we work with a variety of suppliers to ensure we have cabinets that suit everyone from modern to traditional to solid wood and more.

If you are considering a renovation and are looking for a complete kitchen design supply and install solution, we would be happy to come to your home to give you a free estimate.

Please call us directly at 905-641-2284 or fill out the contact form HERE.

November 25, 2019November 25, 2019

The Pros and Cons of Stainless Steel Appliances

We do many kitchen renovations and although there are many choices of finishes on the market when it comes to appliances, stainless steel is the most popular.

Today we will examine some of the pros and cons of stainless steel and explore whether or not it may be a good choice for your home.

The Pros of Stainless Steel Appliances

It looks fantastic. Stainless steel is the go-to option if you want your kitchen to look modern, sleek and shiny. There’s a reason it’s still the top choice of many kitchen designers.
It’s resistant. Because of its elemental makeup, stainless steel is very durable. It fights off rust, fire and heat which makes it top-choice for those who want an appliance that will last and not show wear and tear.
Long wearing. If your goal is to have an appliance that lasts as long as possible on the inside and out, then choose stainless.

The Cons of Stainless Steel Appliances

It shows smudges. It’s well-known that stainless steel appliances leave marks from handling. Luckily, there are tricks to assist (a light coat of car wax to the appliance, dried and buffed will ward off most prints). However if you have kids the smudging will be an issue that will need to be cleaned regularly.
Expensive. Stainless is often the most expensive option for appliances in the kitchen.
(Sometimes) It’s non-magnetized. Some stainless appliances aren’t magnetic which can be a pest if you like to post things on the fridge.

Bottom Line – Stainless steel is a beautiful choice that will last a long time if you don’t mind cleaning it and investing in a more expensive appliance finish!

Not sure where to begin? We assist our customers in all steps of the renovation process including design, supply and installation.

Start the process with a FREE in-home consultation in the Niagara Region by contacting our team at: 905-641-2284 M-F 10 AM-5 PM, email us at info@todaysdesignerkitchens.ca .

We look forward to helping you make the sound decisions that will increase your home’s value and make it all that it can be!

SET UP A FREE IN HOME ESTIMATE

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November 11, 2019November 11, 2019

Kitchen Cabinets: Reface vs. Replace

There is a lot of information buzzing out there about refacing cabinets instead of replacing them when a kitchen remodel is in the horizon.

The main argument is that by refacing, money will be saved. So let’s take a look at the options.

Refacing your cabinets is basically replacing the doors and drawers, leaving the cabinet box as is, and sometimes refinishing the exterior. By downsizing the amount of new materials and labour involved, yes there will be some money saved. But is it worth it?

A refaced room means everything must stay where it is and you have no room to change the layout.

By replacing your existing cabinetry on the other hand, you can play around with your floor plan. Maybe moving a few cabinets around to change the look completely and making it more functional to your needs.

Also, if you are refacing old cabinetry in your home, consider this: Cabinetry over 20 years old will have inferior drawers, tracks, and hinges. This is true even for older expensive custom cabinets. Yes your cabinets will look better, but will they work well?

Also consider that refacing a kitchen with design and functionality issues and then proceeding to purchase expensive countertops, appliances, flooring, and fixtures will cost nearly as much as a new kitchen and leave an elephant in the middle of your renovated room.

Today’s Cabinetry has Revolutionized Renovations

In the last few years inexpensive well made cabinetry has become available at a fraction of the cost it once was. These less expensive cabinet lines use the top of the line drawer boxes, tracks, and hinges.

Bottom Line:

If you go to the expense of refacing and still end up with a nonfunctional kitchen, you’ve wasted your money.

If you are interested in exploring economical options for new kitchen cabinetry, the team at Today’s Designer Kitchens specialize in high quality low priced products that will give you a brand new functional kitchen inside and out.

Todays Designer Kitchens espresso-w Kitchen Cabinets: Reface vs. Replace — Step Charcoal Grey Kitchen

Not sure where to begin? We assist our customers in all steps of the renovation process including design, supply and installation.

Start the process with a FREE in-home consultation in the Niagara Region by contacting our team at: 905-641-2284 M-F 10 AM-5 PM, email us at info@todaysdesignerkitchens.ca .

We look forward to helping you make the sound decisions that will increase your home’s value and make it all that it can be!

Set up a Free In Home Estimate

Book Now

November 1, 2019November 1, 2019

Design Tips for Kitchen Cabinets

The kitchen is the heart of any home and cabinets are the focal point of the kitchen!

The cabinet style and color establish the look of the entire kitchen space. They also represent a large portion of your renovation budget, making them an important consideration in the remodel process.

So, with that in mind here are some top tips from Today’s Designer Kitchens to assist you in your cabinet selection:

Quality

Purchase good quality cabinets that will last over time with daily wear and tear. Solid wood and High Density Fiberboard are two excellent choices that we offer and both ensure you will have great looking cabinets for years to come.

Function

How do you use your kitchen? The design of your kitchen cabinets should accommodate your cooking habits and needs.

Think about a design plan that will make it easy to reach all the areas of the kitchen you use most. Cabinet designs can include handy pull-out drawers, trash pull outs, spice cabinets, wine racks and the list goes on. So why not incorporate that into your plan as you design your new space?

Size

It is important to have sufficient space inside the kitchen so make sure not to overdo it and get too many cabinets that will limit your area. Measure your kitchen carefully, and make sure your kitchen cabinets go in accordance with the dimensions of the room.

Consider tall cabinets only if you have high ceilings and even think about the counter tops colors and the visual impact of the designs. Too busy can sometimes make a room feel small.

Storage Space

The perfect kitchen cabinets design should be functional with lots of storage nooks that use all the space wisely.

For example, you can utilize dead corners with Blind corners cabinets or Lazy Susan cabinets to give life to these hidden, unused places. Also, utilize your drawers to its fullest potentials by separating and dividing it into compartments. This will create more space and keep your drawers organized.

Cabinet Handles

When selecting handles, knobs and hinges make sure they are good quality and can stand up to the continuous opening and closing motion. Good quality will also look better over time.

Glass

You can opt for glass cabinets in certain spaces just to make a beautiful contrast and create an airy and open feeling in the place. Glass cabinets can also make a beautiful display area where you place all your unique items.

In conclusion, remember that choosing the right kitchen cabinets take time, effort and money, so take your time, study the available options, figure out your needs and then establish the styles that you like that will blend in well with your home’s decor.

For total peace of mind, consider hiring a full service design, supply and install company like Today’s Designer Kitchens. We are experts in all kitchen projects in all price points!

Start the process with a FREE IN HOME CONSULTATION today in the Niagara Region. Call: 905-641-2284, email us at info@todaysdesignerkitchens.ca

OR fill out the form HERE for a quick response.

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!

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.

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.

1 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.

2 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.

3 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.

5 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.

6 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.

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.

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.