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Posts Tagged ‘kitchen’

Tiling a Kitchen

July 9th, 2012 by steph

It’s no secret that kitchens can be very messy areas of the home from time to time; with so many delicious concoctions, soups and sauces being splashed around in various pans, pots and blenders, it can be difficult to keep the walls spotless. Modern fitted kitchens commonly incorporate an easy-wipe ‘splashback’ which is designed specifically to create wall space that can be situated next to cooking stations. These tiles walls can be a life-saver, so older kitchens that are due a facelift could really benefit from this.

In this quick, step-by-step guide we’ll be looking at the best way to begin tiling a kitchen; so without further delay, grab your overalls and let’s get started!

A Few Things worth Noting

Cutting tiles to fit around small corners or rounded edges can be more complicated than it may seem, so removing obstacles from your walls such as under-cupboard pelmets can prove to save a lot of time and effort. Pelmets are easily removed by simply unscrewing them from the base of the cupboard.

Measure the thickness of the tiles you have and compensate for this space by removing the equivalent at the ‘wall end’ of the pelmet. Plug sockets and fittings should also be removed, so also be sure to isolate the socket before any fittings are removed and wires are exposed.

Measure the width of the splashback area; be sure to find and mark the centre as this is where we will begin tiling from; taking a spirit level, mark a straight vertical line through the centre of the splashback area and straight to the bottom.

Be sure to get a ‘notched’ trowel before you begin, this will allow you to notch the adhesive quickly and properly.

Getting Started

Now the preliminary steps are taken care of, we can start to apply our adhesive; you needn’t use too much at once, applying it to a small area at a time allows you to take your time with each section. Be sure to apply the adhesive away from the edges of the splashback area; this will prevent you from having to use tile cuts (smaller pieces which have had to be cut to fit the small area that remains untiled). Once your area of adhesive is applied, you can begin to notch it (with the notched side of your trowel and place tile spacers at the base of the wall, keeping the tiles a suitable space from the bottom (which can be filled with sealant later).

When tiling a kitchen, each of the tiles applied to the wall must be spaced out with a tile spaced placed in the cross section located at the meeting point of 4 tiles. Tiling a kitchen requires lots of time and attention, you may find it beneficial to tackle one section at a time and leave each to set before returning to take on the next section.

Once the base has settled you can begin to move upward and outward, under cupboards and meeting the corners of the wall.

Finishing the Job

It is extremely likely that you will need to use cuts when tiling a kitchen, so be sure to accurately measure the space that remains to be filled as you begin to approach the end of the wall. Account for the space needed for filler (typically the width of the limbs on your tile spacer) on either side of the tile and then deduct this from the overall width or height of the tile.

So there we are; some preparation tips to ready you for the mammoth task that is tiling a kitchen!

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The Modern Kitchen: Keeping the Balance

May 4th, 2012 by steph

Kitchens have heaps of potential when it comes to creating a stylish and modern space in your home; new styles in kitchen appliances, furniture, colour schemes and fixtures allow owners to create a wider range of themes and styles than ever before. There is however, the danger of going a little too far with your chosen theme by substituting substance for style.

Less is Always More

The key to creating a stylish kitchen that radiates style is subtlety; by replacing old features that serve a practical purpose you can add modern features, colours and styles without overly filling the space with clutter.

Source features and fixtures that express the design you are trying to convey; if you are looking to create a kitchen that is at the cutting edge of modern interior design then features such as the Deva Edge 118 Mixer Tap are sure to enhance the overall effectiveness of the kitchen’s appearance. The sleek, chrome appearance of a feature such as this adds to the effortlessly cool feel commonly found in modern bathrooms. Alternatively, those who are looking to create a more traditional, vintage kitchen would be better suited to fittings such as the Sagittarius Churchmans Kitchen Bib Tap and Stand, as a piece like this evokes a much more ‘classic kitchen’ feeling and yet supplies modern day quality and craftsmanship.

Colour Scheme Supreme

A stylish and contemporary kitchen requires a sleek, modern colour scheme to play host to your new range of features, fixtures and fittings. If you successfully choose a colour scheme that goes hand-in-hand with your new kitchen features then the finished product will be a truly remarkable sight, but if you choose a colour scheme that somehow contradicts the theme you have conveyed through your kitchen furniture and features it’s likely the finished product will look messy and inconsistent.

Modern, chrome fixtures and furniture is extremely versatile, they do not clash with any colours or patterns as such, but the ‘feel’ they give off is what we’re trying to match here. Intense, detailed floral wallpaper or curtains are usually features in more classic or ‘vintage’ kitchens, and white wooden furniture would be much better suited here. For the contemporary kitchen which features many chrome and metal features, a simpler colour scheme is much more effective.

If you are looking to create a kitchen with a bright, ‘summery’ appearance then vibrant colours such as light greens and dark blues can work well with the modern fixtures available for kitchens today. If you are looking to create a more contemporary kitchen with that slightly futuristic edge, adopt a mainly black or white (or a careful combination of the two!) for maximum effect.

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Small Kitchen Design

April 23rd, 2012 by steph

Finding new and innovative ways to ensure each room in your home is as stylish and aesthetically desirable as possible is always a hot topic for homeowners. As popular styles and fashions change over time, it’s important that homeowners source modern products and fixtures which accentuate a contemporary style of interior design they are trying to create; this is all well and good in rooms and areas which have a lot of open of free space to play with, but smaller more compact rooms require a much more tactful approach.

May cottages, bungalows and standard homes all over the UK come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and it’s not uncommon for them to feature a smaller, compact kitchen. Transforming smaller kitchens such as these into a suave, sleek looking room requires a little forward planning and good use of organisational skills, so with that in mind let’s take a look at a few great small kitchen design ideas that radiate style without compromising on space!

Contemporary Fixtures

The small fixtures and features in your kitchen can have a huge influence on the style and ‘feel’ of the rest of the room. For example, choosing to add some of the Tapshop321 Traditional Kitchen Taps, your kitchen would evoke a classical and almost ‘vintage’ feeling; whereas a piece from our ‘modern kitchen taps’ range would add a more current and contemporary hint to the kitchen.

There are many styles in kitchen fixtures that you can incorporate into your small kitchen design, but it takes some forward planning to decide what theme you wish to adopt. Swapping out your standard old washbasin for a new countertop (of the same size, we’re trying to save space remember) and new fitted round basin can add a stylish new feature that your neighbour’s standard fitted kitchens certainly won’t have!

Use of Colour

When planning out your small kitchen design, try to incorporate a new colour scheme that fits perfectly with the theme you are looking to create. If you wish to create a light, summery kitchen the light tones of green or standard neutral cream, white or even peach tones may sit well in your home; alternatively a more modern and contemporary kitchen would likely benefit more from a black and white colour scheme, or a more vibrant red. Either way, is sure to carry the colour throughout the kitchen, if you can replace kitchen cupboards and draws with some which adhere to the colour scheme, you will add heaps of style to the room without taking up any extra space.

Add some colourful finishing touches to your rough draft of your small kitchen design by sourcing some kitchen accessories that continue the colour scheme and theme; dishcloths, cutlery, crockery and matts can all be bought to match, and if done correctly will add the perfect finishing touches to your kitchen.

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Taps and Different Finishes

July 19th, 2010 by Mark Farrell

For a small item, a tap is quite big in the whole kitchen or bathroom scheme and over the years, it has developed from its humble beginning. In recent years, choosing taps is not simply about function anymore but also about the style. There are not only two or three choices but hundreds of kitchen taps and they’re now exciting kitchen accessories that can be a statement piece instead of being a simple tube.

Taps come in so many different finishes with cutting-edge design and high performance technology and they set trends. There are even taps with LED lights, provide perfectly boiled water, with shower head attachments for the kitchen – so many are available that they can really assist with particular schemes.

If you are looking for inspiration on different tap finishes, below is the list of available finishes in the market.

Shiny finishes
Chrome finished taps became a standard in the 1930s and still the most popular finish as they can be sleek, traditional or minimalist. Chrome is a high shine finish and is durable and tarnish resistant and easily obtainable on a low budget.

Polished Nickel is shiny like chrome with a golden glow. It has a sophisticated look and works well with both traditional and contemporary styles. If left, this will develop an aged patina which is almost the same as what you see in older silver ware, although it is simply restored if maintained properly by polishing regularly.

Stainless Steel finish is perhaps the luxurious alternative if opting out of chrome taps. Stainless steel offers exceptional quality and long lasting finish which is slightly more stylish and hard wearing than a chrome finish.

Polished brass provides a more traditional look, although can be mixed with a contemporary sink for an up to date look or with a shaker or wooden theme for a Victorian look in the kitchen or bathroom.

Matte or subtle lustre finishes
Pewter is a brushed finished nickel that brings warmth and softness, especially in the bathroom. It works well with white tiles as background and also coordinates with granite countertops and splash backs. Pewter will not show water spots of fingerprints, so it does not look too dirty when forgetting to polish the taps.

Bronze is available in a variety of shades from light bronze to dark bronze. Dark bronze has a rich chocolate finish that gives it a bold and distinctive colour and it’s a highly luxurious classic choice.

Other finishes available in the market are gold, hammered nickel brushed stainless steel. There are also enamel colours that give you more choices if you want statement colours in vibrant shades.

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