Kitchen Island Design Ideas - The Look, Size, And Features

By Steve Ecclestone

Kitchen island design ideas not only include choosing the right look for your kitchen but choosing the correct size for your floor plan and the correct features to satisfy your needs.

Fortunately, because 80% of all home buyers consider kitchen islands to be essential, manufacturers offer islands in a design and style to suit nearly every taste.

You don't have to be a new home buyer to consider a kitchen island, though.

Older homes with awkward kitchen floor plans or oversized kitchens, apartments with limited or open-space design, or renovated kitchens with odd dimensions may all inspire a kitchen island design idea that will benefit the overall design.

A Style For Every Size

The dimensions of a kitchen are an overriding concern in choosing a kitchen island. Large islands are very helpful in creating a cooking 'room' within the room that separates the cooking area from the eating area.

Additional options like breakfast bars and installed appliances can help achieve the 'triangle' design of sink-stove-refrigerator that is considered one of the top kitchen design ideas.

Apartments and condominiums with open-space design can use a larger kitchen island to divide the kitchen area from other living areas.

Some kitchen islands are wheeled and can be moved between meals to convert needed space into multi-use areas.

Smaller islands are very versatile, particularly if wheeled, and can be used where large islands won't fit; often two small islands work better than one large island.

Islands are available in many styles and designs that are sure to complement your own design ideas.

Contemporary, Traditional, American Folk and French Country, Avant Garde or Hip, and others are all popular styles.

Many kitchen islands are wooden and use Northern Maple, Red Oak, Poplar, Birch, and plantation-grown exotic woods, but others are constructed of stainless steel, some combining wood with stainless steel.

Island tops are usually hard wood, granite or marble, stainless steel, or butcher block, which is usually Hardrock Maple fastened end or edge grain to prevent cracking and warping.

Steve Ecclestone is webmaster at Kitchen Island Ideas

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/

7 Sure-fire Ways Of Reducing Your Home Insurance Premium

(I know this article doesn't have anything to do with home make overs, but you can use the savings for new furnishings!- Jeanette)

7 Sure-fire Ways Of Reducing Your Home Insurance Premium
By Bill Smith

Home security improvement:

All insurance companies will happily offer you a discount for
burglar alarms and smoke detectors. Homes with fire and burglar
alarms that communicate with a third party monitoring company
receive a higher discount on their insurance premiums.

When possible, choose a higher deductible:

To reduce your premium, it is best advised to increase the
deductible to the extent you can afford. Your home insurance
premium will fall by as much as 20% if you increase the
deductible from $200 to $1000.

Multiple insurance – Same provider:

If you consolidate your home insurance and auto insurance with
one insurance company, expect a premium reduction between 10 –
15%. This also means you are making one payment for all your
insurance needs. Consolidate and win.

Discount for non-smokers:

Some home insurance companies will offer a non-smoker discount
to the tune of 15%. Check with your insurance company if they
offer a non-smokers discount.

How far is the fire station?

If you live more than 5 miles from the nearest fire station and
more than 1,000 feet from a fire hydrant, you can expect a
higher premium. Also if you live in the country, you will
probably pay higher insurance rate than if you were living in
the city.

Type of construction:

The construction type of your home also plays an important role
in determining your insurance premium. A wood frame home will
cost more to insure than the one built mostly of concrete.

Claims free record and renewal discounts:

If you have not had a claim under your current home owners
policy for the past 3-5 years, you will get a 15% discount on
your premium. Expect additional discount if your policy has
been in force with the same insurance company for 3 years or
more.

Conclusion:

I am hopeful you have gained preliminary knowledge on the
subject of home insurance premiums. With these helpful tips you
will be able to understand and demand discounts on your home
insurance premiums. Good Luck!

About the Author: "@Copyrights 2005" - Bill A Smith is an
insurance agent and insurance advisor for Sunshine home and
auto insurance services. Bill has over 10 years of experience
in providing insurance services to clients. Sunshine Insurance
Services provides auto, home, health and life insurance to
businesses and individuals. Visit us at http://www.sunshineinsuranceservices.com/

What is the secret to good interior design?

The secret to your home's interior design is Love.

If you love yourself, you create a home for your happiness.

If you love your family and friends, you create a home for their happiness.

The next step of love is to be grateful for your home. Gratitude lays the foundation for creating glorious spaces to share your love.

The final aspect of love is joy. Homes designed for joyful living are not decorated for prestige and show; homes designed for gracious living are decorated for happiness and the joy of life!

Interior Design Psychology Tips for Decorating Your Home with Love

1. Don't clutter your home with too much decorating. The important accessory in your home is you and your family or friends. Select quality furnishings for comfort, beauty, function, and emotional support.

2. Create spaces that support your emotional well-being and productivity. Determine the activity of a space and choose design details that support this use. For instance, soft gray walls in home offices give support for creative writing while slate blue striped walls offer organized tranquility.

3. Give tribute to your family heritage. Honor your ancestors by using design details that tie to your sense of tradition.

4. Bring Mother Nature indoors. Green foliage represents life and growth. People have an innate sense of feeling connected to the earth. As a bonus, houseplants help keep the air fresh.

5. Add your personal touch and creativity. Design a stencil from a loved object or make a stained glass window. Feel connected to your home through physical work and your daydreams of the next improvement.

Celebrate life; love your home.

Joy to you!

(c) Copyright 2005 Jeanette J. Fisher. All rights reserved.

Joy to the Home.com

Summer Cooling Tips

We just returned from Las Vegas where the temperature soared to 120 degrees Fahrenheit. There's nothing like 120 days and 100 degree nights to make home seem cool.

However, our days of 106 still feel HOT. Besides air conditioning, there are some interior design tricks that make your apparent room temperature feel cooler. Apparent room temperature means the way you perceive what you senses tell you, not the actual air temperature.

Make your eyes tell your brain that you feel cool in your rooms. Lighten up your accessories. Store extras that you don't need; uncluttered space feels lighter. Also, store dark colored accessories. Add refreshing green ferns and tropical plants.

Next, think about what your sense of touch tells you. Change out heavy fabrics until the weather changes.

Your sense of smell also influences the coolness. Use essential oils that remind you of the seaside or forest.

Your sense of hearing can play a role in coolness, too. Besides a water fountain, aquarium bubbles and soft tropical music also help refresh.

Don't forget your sense of taste. A tall glass of fresh lemonade or cold sherbert in a chilled sundae dish makes you feel pampered, which goes a long way towards making you feel comfortable during these hot days.

Enjoy summer!

Copyright (c) 2005 Jeanette J. Fisher
Joy to the Home
Design Psychology for Glorious Living and Top-Dollar Sales

Wabi Sabi and Design Psychology

Create a joyous home celebrating life combining Wabi Sabi and Design Psychology principles. Read about Wabi Sabi and its differences to Design Psychology.

Joy to the Home Journal and Free Reports

Thank you for subscribing to my newsletter. The promised report "What is Design Psychology" will be made available next week.

We didn't expect so many subscribers. It's impossible to send each of you the report individually by email.

Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Jeanette