Your Holiday Organizing Checklist

Holiday parties can be a blessing and a curse -- sometimes the prep can get overwhelming. Get started now by tackling this pre-party to-do list. Getting your infrastructure organized before all the activity begins will ease party prep later, and you might even start off the New Year organized, too.

Eclectic Kitchen design by Los Angeles Interior Designer Charmean Neithart Interiors, LLC.

1. Organize your pantry. Whether you're hosting a party or having family stay for a few days, it's easy to spend a lot of time in the kitchen. Make cooking easier for all with a spic-and-span pantry. Clean out all those random boxes and cans, and organize items by type to make them easy to find.

Modern Bathroom design by Other Metros Building Supplies Lowe's Home Improvement

2. Clean out the linen closet. Make sure you have a neat and tidy space for guests to access towels, extra sheets and other necessary supplies. If you don't have a dedicated linen closet, clear out a space in a small closet or bathroom cabinet where overnighters can grab an extra pillow or towel without having to knock on your bedroom door.

Modern Living Room design by Raleigh Fireplace COASTROAD Hearth & Patio

3. Get your fireplace ready. For those lucky enough to have a fireplace, you'll want to make sure it's in tip-top condition for winter nights. Clean out your glass or louvers, and make sure a professional services your wood or gas fireplace before you get a roaring blaze going.

Contemporary Home Office design by Baltimore Kitchen And Bath Innermost Cabinets

4. Declutter your junk drawer. Despite your efforts to keep your junk drawer hidden, the drawer's often prominent placement (near your front door or in the kitchen) means guests are likely to happen upon it at some point. Save yourself a little embarrassment and keep necessities at hand by getting your favorite junk drawer into shape.

Contemporary Kids design by San Francisco Architect Cary Bernstein Architect

5. Tidy up kids' spaces. Even though it might not stay clean for long, it's worthwhile to make the effort and get your children's play space under control before the holidays. Using organization techniques that'll encourage kids to put things away may help the space stay tidy -- at least until the end of the day.

Contemporary Closet design

6. Clean out your coat closet. It's time to get rid of those wire hangers and piles of snow gear to clear the way for visitors' outerwear. Don't forget to clean the space, too -- dust, sweep and give everything a good wipe down.

Eclectic Bathroom design by Other Metros Media And Blogs Michelle Hinckley

7. Organize the bathroom. Getting your guest bathroom ready for the holidays means more than doing just a quick wipe down. Make sure it's clean and organized so visitors can find what they need without having to dig through piles of old lotion bottles.
Use the holidays as an excuse to get your bathroom exactly how you want it -- toss out old beauty items, wipe down drawers and shelves and put hand towels and other necessities where they're easy to get to.

Traditional Bathroom design by Architect Sarah Susanka, FAIA

8. Double-check safety precautions. Keep first aid kits fully stocked, check smoke and carbon monoxide alarms and make sure your home is ready for rough weather. Guests will stay comfortable, and you'll have peace of mind.

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*article source:  foxnews.com

Kitchen Cabinets

Exploring Your Door Style Options

Structure
The doors can be mounted in different ways, creating a distinct look to certain cabinet collection. The face frame is the part of the kitchen cabinets that make up the foundation. Overlay is the term used to describe how much of the face frame is visible, while the covered portion is referred to as the reveal.

• Partial overlay is the most common door style option where the doors are mounted on the face frame, leaving one inch of reveal.
• Full overlay is designed to have the doors almost entirely cover the reveal. Though more common in frameless or “European” kitchen cabinets, this can also be seen in framed cabinet units. Hinges are concealed and less than an eight of an inch is left between one door to another.
• Inset is as door style option where the doors are attached within the rails and stiles,lying even with the front portion of the cabinet box. However, a common problem with this is that humidity and constant change in temperature can cause rubbing between the stiles and the door.

Form
Kitchen cabinets come in various panel designs that are made more interesting in an endless variety of rich finishes. Your door style options include:

• Slab – which as the name suggests, display clean lines and simplicity.
• Recessed panel offers a picture-frame look with its flat panel fixed within a mounting constructed with miter and tenon joints.
• Raised panel features panels that generally measure between  ½ and ¾ inch in height, creating a bulging quality to the doors. This is then made more dramatic by a routed edge profile, making kitchen cabinets in this door style option truly elegant.
• Curved panel showcases decorative raised panels that loop upward in gentle arches.
• The cathedral panel can either be raised or recessed, with a cathedral-type arch crowning the door design.
• Beadboard panel is typically found in recessed panels and makes use of routed beaded details to achieve a casual country look.

Depending on the architectural style of your home and kitchen, you can choose from different door style options to complement with the rest of the designs and décor, helping you achieve an overall look and feel that is tasteful. Perfect for modern set-ups, contemporary kitchen cabinets are made distinct by their simple, basic lines that make the collection appear sleek and streamlined. There are also designs that can be used for a variety of architectures from traditional, cottage, transitional or modern kitchens like Shaker and Mission door style.

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Article source: craftsmennetwork.com

Five Tips for Choosing a Kitchen Remodeling Company

There are many considerations when considering a partial or full remodel of your kitchen.  In addition to cabinetry and appliances, it’s good to think about the space itself, and how it meets your needs for space, food storage and preparation, and energy efficiency.  If your kitchen is a primary gathering place in your home for entertaining your family and friends, an update should include a focus on making this room an inviting spot as well. 

1. What are your remodeling needs?  Even if you’re trying to replace outdated appliances, keep in mind that a new refrigerator, stove, hood, sink and microwave oven may be somewhat larger than your current appliances.  You may have to reconfigure the space of your kitchen to accommodate some, or all of these.  Also, Energy Star Appliances will add value to your home, and lower your energy costs while giving your home an EPA Environmentally Friendly upgrade.  Be sure to determine what your most basic needs for a remodel are–the “must haves” before you continue to the smaller renovations.
2.  Plan your budget to include low-end, middle, and high-end renovations.  This will give your kitchen contractor a basis from which to work, and will open your options a great deal.  While you may not be able to afford a premium remodel, there are many opportunities to move funds within your budget to allow for some high end renovations while saving money in other less-crucial areas.  Explore all your options and choose a contractor who will work within your budget without trying to “up-sell you” on costly, often unnecessary upgrades.
3. Interview two to three different companies and consider only companies that:

• Offer many choices, styles, and brands
• Provide free estimates
• Understand your budget and show you the math to prove they know how to stay within it
• Are licensed, bonded and insured, and provide numerous references from satisfied customers
• Have experience in a variety of remodeling styles and approaches, including energy saving green building practices
• Guarantee their work to completion on the projected date, and guarantee your complete satisfaction
• Have received awards for excellence in design, service and customer satisfaction

4.  Keep it simple.  In order to avoid becoming overwhelmed with all of the choices that exist, narrow your search to companies that are local, highly rated for satisfaction, affordable while promising quality work within your budget and time frame, and who listen and communicate with you throughout the process.  Choose the company that understands your style, and with whom you feel most comfortable.
5.  Be flexible with your design plans.  Many kitchens can be designed various ways to accommodate your evolving needs.  Be sure to find a kitchen design company that can offer you many different floor plans, cabinetry designs, kitchen counter options, and appliances while staying within your budget.  A creative designer will help you think outside the box, and offer you the latest in affordable design choices, hardware, tile, flooring and appliances.  Knowing your personal style, favorite colors and preferences for appliances ahead of time certainly helps your designer in the initial consultation, but avoid being rigid.  Having several preferences can open the door to options, and may just save you money.

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*article from http://www.greensborocabinetrydesign.com/