Archive for January, 2010
January 30th, 2010 | 
Author: Found throughout the American South, the shotgun house floor plan has its roots in West Africa and the Caribbean. Fleeing the revolution in the 1800s, Hatians introduced the long, narrow houses to New Orleans and their popularity quickly spread to mill towns and cotten plantations all over the South.
The shotgun house floor plan may the the only African American house plan that exists. Although the name sounds as though it was dreamed up by the National Rifle Association, the shotgun house was so named because of the liner arrangement of its rooms. In theroy, you should be able to fire a bullet through the front door and it would go through the house and straight out the back door.
Long associated with poverty, the shotgun house floor plan is now becoming respectable and even chic in some cities older districts. Architects, artists and community groups are working hard to restore the old homes into designer homes as symbols of both black and local heritage and pride. The shotgun house floor plan is the latest cause in the fight to preserve and restore some inner city communities.
With their typical one room wide and 3 or 4 rooms deep design uninterrupted by hallways, shotgun house floor plans can be as simplistic as a child’s drawing while retaining the integrity than many other floor plans don’t possess. Raised on piers, shotgun house floor plans allow for air circulation both under the house and as a cross-ventilating breeze. This design is well suited for the Southern climate. Porches provide much needed shade from the sun and encourage interaction between neighbors.
Though in the past shotgun house floor plans have been equated with slum areas, community groups in Houston, Texas are working hard to rennovate the remaining shotguns houses in the inner city areas of the Fourth, Fifth & Sixth Ward. The largest concentration of shotgun house floor plans were in a historic section of the Fourth Ward between downtown Houston and River Oaks called “Freedman’s Town”. The first preservation ordinance was passed a mere five years ago to preserve the 30 remaining shotgun houses in the area. Most had already been torn down and replaced with larger homes.
Many people living in the area want to see the old shotgun houses refurbished though there is some dispute as to the true historic value of these old homes. The shotgun house floor plan is an important part of African American history and should be preserved as a symbol of pride and survival.
According to feng shui, the kitchen represents nourishment and prosperity. Good nutrition is always associated with health and wealth. By designing your kitchen in accordance with the principles of feng shui, you may assist in your own prosperity and health.
Feng shui is a rather complicated theory presented by various schools, where tips are usually given for a particular house and the individuals living in it. Despite this, there are basic principles applicable to any kitchen, which will help to make it a feng shui kitchen.
Location: This does not always depend on us. However, if you are building a house or you have the option of re-planning, you can build the kitchen in the right place – the rear of the house, or at least, behind the central axis of the house.
It’s considered a negative if you see the kitchen as soon as you enter the house. This may encourage you and other residents to eat non-stop. It may also cause your guests to leave immediately after eating. Even if your kitchen is in the front, do not panic, because there are certain techniques that will help to reduce the possible negatives. You can hang beaded curtains or blinds on the kitchen door. You can also place something bright and distracting diagonally across from the kitchen, such as a painting.
Color Palette: Try to avoid red and orange hues in the kitchen, because they can provoke controversy. Try to use white, light green and light blue, to balance the elements of Fire and Water. For the same reason, try to use the utensils, appliances, and accessories made of stainless steel.
The positioning: One of the most important principles is that the one who cooks is in the dominant position. That is, standing behind the stove or table, you should be facing the door. This may be difficult to achieve in small kitchens; if you have a small kitchen, you can hang a mirror or other object with a reflective surface over the stove. The mirror can be of any size, but the larger the better. It’s good if the kitchen is spacious and has a wide doorway – in this case, you do not feel isolated.
According to experts, a feng shui kitchen should be based on a triangle – the refrigerator, stove and sink should form the angles of a triangle. The distance between them should be about 6 feet – this will ensure maximum comfort with minimal repetitive movements. This arrangement will also help to separate the elements of Fire (stove, microwave oven) from the elements of Water (refrigerator, sink). They can also be separated with the Wood element, such as wooden furniture, a plant or images of plants.
The stove should not stand next to the window, because heat represents prosperity and wealth, and nobody wants their wealth to fly out the window. The feng shui kitchen has to be kept clean and tidy. If anything breaks, try to get rid of it as fast as possible.
Summer is coming! Now is the time to think of adding a custom outdoor kitchen to your home. With an outdoor kitchen you can have tons of fun entertaining your friends this summer. Imagine enjoying a gentle summer breeze as you serve a quality meal of delicious steaks or ribs.
Don’t let the cost of an outdoor kitchen scare you away. While it is true that it will cost a few thousand dollars, you will be adding to your home’s property value and you will be the envy of the neighborhood. You will probably find that once you have an outdoor kitchen, your yard will become the most popular destination for your friends because it you will be providing a fun, relaxed atmosphere.
When you are planning a custom outdoor kitchen, remember that you can have it as plain or as fancy as you would like. There are so many options available that you will be able to stay within your budget without sacrificing beauty. A good place to start your research for an outdoor kitchen is the Internet. Just go to your favorite search engine and type in, “outdoor kitchens” and you will find plenty of manufacturers. There are even some manufacturers who have websites that will help you plan a custom outdoor kitchen.
A benefit of having an outdoor kitchen is that it is easy to prepare any food you want without having to stay in a hot kitchen. Outdoor kitchens have cooking, storage and refrigeration space and even a sink. So all your cooking and cleanup can be done outside without having to run to the house all the time.
There are two options for building your outdoor kitchen. The first to have it built without a roof. One disadvantage to this is that you can only use the kitchen when you have good weather, but on the other hand, this is much less expensive. The second option is to build it enclosed. This is the more expensive option, but it is very practical because you will be able to use it, no matter what your weather is. You just need to decide what would be best for you and what you can afford. The other thing to keep in mind is how much you want to increase your property value. If you really want to add value to your home, you should consider the enclosed option of custom outdoor kitchens.
No matter what you decide on, this is a great time to be thinking about building your own custom kitchen so get going on it now in order to enjoy it as soon as the great weather comes.
The logical way to attack a small kitchen renovation is by maximizing the space already available. You will make the most of your remodeling budget by modifying the existing room plan by constructing it fit your wants and life style.
After you have given some consideration to maximizing area you have, try to enlarge your kitchen plans. Perhaps your kitchen has a connecting breakfast nook or cozy dining space. These are perfect places to add space to your new design. Try to expand your existing kitchen space. Opening up your floor plan and creating an eat in style of kitchen with seating room at an island or peninsula type of cabinet plan rather than a table and chairs in a near by room works well. If space is still tight check out utilizing an island mounted on casters that can easily be rolled out of the way when not in use. Does your current design allow you to open up an existing wall and put in a built in pantry?
You should also consider the idea of getting rid of any kitchen soffits and running the new cabinets all the way up to the ceiling. While things on the top shelves may be tougher to reach on a regular basis this is the logical storage area for seasonal items or things you don’t use on a regular basis like a fondue pot, wok or trivets.
Add to your counter area by opting for appliances planned for small-scale kitchens. Installing a new microwave range vent combination unit can open up valued counter area where the microwave once sat. Pay special attention to the various choices available for under cabinet appliance units. Perhaps a television, electric can opener or even a computer can gain you extra counter top area.
Check out a counter depth refrigerator. These refrigerators are planned not to exceed the depth of a common work top and will provide more kitchen floor room than typical refrigerators that are 30 plus inches in depth. Remember to use the area above the refrigerator. Install full depth cabinet atop the refrigerator into the kitchen plans rather then a standard 12 inch deep cabinet.
Light and color can play an important role in producing the perception of more space. A bump-out kitchen window or even a sky light can add to the bigger feel you want to make in your new kitchen. Dark colors tend to close in a space. Select light wood tones or light stain hues for the cabinets. Lighter and neutral tints are perfect for tiny spaces but feel free to jazz it up a bit. Take the opportunity to toy with some warmer colors. Add some bolder colors to a tile backsplash. Bright yellows, electric blues and bright orange are good options here. Try out lighter paint in your new space to give it the perfect look and feel.
Implement these tips to your tiny kitchen design. You might just realize you have more space than you think and you will certainly delight in using your bigger more beautiful kitchen.
Outdoor kitchens offer you to have a outside kitchen of your selecting for those hot nights when inside is too warm and sticky for cooking. The outside kitchen is perfect for entertaining guests at parties and barbecues, or just for your family dinners.
With so many different outdoor kitchen designs on hand on the open market, the buyers have the chance to play with different elements and mix designs so as to give the kitchen of their dreams. Depending on the use particular of the open-air kitchen you are looking for , the weather conditions in your area and the space of the intended kitchen, you may select anything from a traditional looking country kitchen plan to a modern day outdoor kitchen global with state of the art appliances.
Magazines about home improvement and home design, interior design advice, gardening and landscaping continually provide articles and tips for choosing a neat outdoor kitchen and how to cut down money while after all getting the of high quality possible. Many of these magazines also recommend the finest places to obtain price estimates and practical knowledge from known outdoor kitchen designers. There are many outdoor kitchen designers who can help develop a customized outdoor kitchen plan tailored particularly to each individual need, including colors, appliances, over all look and functionality.
If you will consult an outdoor kitchen designer, you can see the finish result of what the kitchen will look like through a computer-generated program. Because the outdoor kitchen designer is a expert when it comes to his field, you may also be able to value some treasured tips and ideas on how to conduct the outdoor kitchen even more functional.
There are things that you should keep in mind, for example that it is effective to guarantee that, before choosing an outdoor kitchen, you take into good judgment your budgetary constraints. Among knowing how much you have to spend before entering an outdoor kitchen design showroom, you will be less very likely to over spend.
While you talk with an outdoor kitchen designer or a showroom sales person, make sure that you remember to mention the sum of money that you plan spend on your new outdoor kitchen. There are inexpensive kitchens on the market. But beware of cheap kitchens, as they are less likely to stand the test of time. After you have researched the company that you intend to purchase the outdoor kitchen from, you will have a good idea of the quality of their kitchens and what others are saying about them.
Do your research and look around, some places are far cheaper for the same products or styles of kitchens. Never commit yourself to the first kitchen that you see. Ask questions about the kitchen, such as the kind of warranty offered on the appliances or work tops, how long it will take to be completed and are installation overhead affiliated when it plays a part in the outdoor kitchen expense or will they be extra.
Select your outdoor kitchen carefully and you will be enjoying the freedom of eating outdoors on summer nights and entertaining your guests while showing off your brand fresh outdoor kitchen.