Kitchens

Thanks for visiting our main kitchen design page where you can search thousands of kitchen design ideas. This is where we feature everything from luxury kitchens to budget-friendly kitchens and everything in between… in every conceivable style (i.e. rustic kitchens), size (i.e. small kitchens) and color (i.e. white kitchens). We suggest bookmarking this page because as …

The waterfall island style offers a sleek, seamless surface from top to bottom! Okay, waterfall-style kitchen islands are not really wild but they are more striking in many ways. In case you’re wondering, a waterfall kitchen island is one where the top surface seamlessly continues down the side(s). Here are 30 examples of kitchen islands …

A few years back Kohler released what became a popular kitchen sink; it was the beginning of what is now known as the kitchen sink workstation (a different kind of kitchen sink to be sure… keep reading). It’s the Kohler K-5540 Undermount Workstation – here’s a photo from Amazon. Since then, Kohler has released more …

This is a joint article with contributions by both Keely Smith and Michelle Fair for a multiple projections and ideas. Another year, another set of kitchen design trends. Trends don’t pop up overnight; they percolate or materialize over time.  The key to spotting trends, whether kitchen design, bathroom design and even fashion is being able …

In addition to the usual kitchen island features such as seating and counter space, with a bit of planning you can add a good number of cool island features to get more out of your island.  These islands are referred to as multi-functional kitchen islands. Here are some ideas. 1. Garbage/recycling storage This is what …

Are you renovating your kitchen, or would you like to replace an old or damaged backsplash? You will need to know the correct amount of tile to order, and to do this, you will need to measure your backsplash. Measuring for tile is easy. A measuring tape and some calculations will give you the answer …

Introducing the Best Kitchen Faucet Brands  I’m a person who has moved over 30 times in my life. This means that I’m exceptionally good at packing, I’m even better at unpacking, and it also means that I’ve experienced so many different variations of apartments and all the little unique things that come with living in …

We got lucky with a few things about our house when we bought it this year.  None of them were the reason we bought it but we’re liking them.  Specifically, it came with a sauna. I love that. It wasn’t a requirement but it’s sure nice. Another bonus about our house is the kitchen garbage …

DIY enthusiasts know that using cabinet hinges is a precise woodworking task. Measuring cabinet hinges is an essential part of the process. You must know the sizes of the cabinet frame to understand what kind of cabinet hinges you need. There are many hinges to choose from, each used for specific designs. Cabinet hinges are …

Winter is always either here or right around the corner. Advances in wood stove design have made the appliances more efficient for heating compared to the older models. According to Penn State University, a wood stove could provide a massive discount compared to electricity or natural gas. A wood stove is a major appliance that …

There are few things as cozy as sitting in front of a wood stove with a blanket around your shoulders and a cup of hot chocolate in your hands. Wood stoves are really popular and it’s easy to see why—they’re attractive and bring a fantastic atmosphere into the home. But just how do wood stoves …

Quicklist: Types of Kitchen Knives Boning Knife Bread Knife Butter Knife Carving Knife Cheese Knife Chef’s Knife Clam Knife Cleaver Deli Knife Dessert Knife Devein Knife Diner Knife Fillet Knife Frozen Food Knife Granton Edge Knife Grapefruit Knife Jamonero Knife Oyster Knife Paring Knife Peeling Knife Santoku Knife Steak Knife Tomato Slicing Knife Dao Bao …

If you have recently received an InstantPot, or if you have had one of these pressure cookers for a while but are just looking for something new to make with it, you may want some help from a few accessories. Accessories are made by a wide variety of manufacturers, and it can be difficult to …

You’ve experienced freezer burn. You open your freezer, and pull out your favorite food. You are disappointed to discover that it looks much different than it did when you put it in.  Perhaps it’s covered in ice crystals, or the color of the food has changed. Perhaps you consider throwing it out, or perhaps you …

Kitchen cabinet accessories are only limited to our imagination and range from recycling bin roll-out to hidden wine racks, utensil storage, and more.  If you’re like me, an organized cabinet means peace of mind and greater functionality. Everything is in its rightful place and there’s no clutter. Also, accessories below me to know where everything …

In appearance, freezer paper is similar to parchment paper, but closer inspection reveals a polyethylene covering on one side. Freezer paper is perfect for freezing food, especially meats, because of its coating, preventing frost buildup and freezer burn. Paper is crucial in all phases of the food service industry, from transporting to storing and presenting …

The oven rack is such an important part of your cooking process, but it’s often, if not always, overlooked. Using an oven rack the right way can make or break your dish.  Think about it this way: you’re going to bake a pizza. Do you put it on the top rack of the oven? Of …

For years, I had a horrible habit of grabbing the nearest kitchen towel when it was time to remove something from the oven. I must admit that method resulted in a few mishaps, including mild burns.   I finally decided it was time to buy oven gloves. However, it wasn’t as simple as I expected it …

A bowl, a bowl, what is a bowl? It’s a container that contains food, right?  Why is there all this fascination with food bowls anyways? You may have noted that many restaurants serving all types of cuisine have even started serving their main dishes in a bowl. From breakfast to dinner and every snack in …

“How should you store your cutting boards? The practical way is in a cabinet with a cabinet organizer. But the intentional way is on the counter as part of your kitchen decor.” As a busy mom, I often use my cutting board several times a day. Whether I’m chopping vegetables for dinner or making sandwiches …

If you have been in your kitchen chopping vegetables or cutting into cooked meat and found that your flimsy cutting board was not working for you, it may be time to look for a butcher board.  A butcher board can provide many benefits but also requires some care to ensure it lasts as long as …

Quicklist: Kitchen Cabinet Hardware Aluminum Antique Finish Bar Handles Bin Pulls Bow Handles Brass Bronze Brushed Finish Ceramic Chrome Contemporary Copper Cremone Bolts Crystal Cup Handles Edge Profile Glass Handle Pulls Handleless Iron Knobs Marble Nickel Plastic Porcelain Resin Solid Wood Stainless Steel Traditional Transitional Zinc Most of us spend the majority of our time …

 I’ve used a lot of cutting boards in my time as a home cook and as a pizza store manager and delivery driver. I’ve used plastic and wood cutting boards as well as stainless steel work tables. I understand there are glass and marble cutting boards, too, and I would love to see a marble …

Glass cutting boards are aesthetically beautiful, but are they just style over substance? While they look more appealing than wood or plastic cutting boards, unfortunately, looks are all they have. Glass cutting boards will dull and roll knife edges, are slippery, and could potentially break. Keep reading, and I’ll explain why glass cutting boards are …

“People who love to eat are always the best people.” said celebrity chef Julia Child. She also said “You’re alone in the kitchen.” She was encouraging and forgiving of people who made small mistakes while cooking. However, there are some mistakes in the kitchen you should never make. One is cross contamination. This is the …

Plastic cutting boards have fewer food safety concerns than wooden ones, but they can be more prone to slipping. That means that while they can be the best choice for safe food handling, they might not be the safest choice for new chefs. For most of human history, people used wooden boards as a cutting …

We all know how important it is to have a cutting board in the kitchen. But what about its heat resistance? Can we use a cutting board to chop cooked food or even place hot pans on it without damaging it? The answer’s not so simple. I tell my audience when we’re discussing which cutting …

I used to work at pizza companies many years ago, and there were marked differences between them. Two companies took the food out of the oven, slipped it into the box, and then cut it. The third took it out of the oven, cut it on a wood cutting board, and then slid it into …

As an avid cook, I often get asked about the best way to care for cutting boards. And while there are a few different schools of thought on the matter, I think the most important thing is to keep them clean and well-maintained. One common question I get is whether food can stain your cutting …

Choosing hardware for your kitchen cabinets is not as easy a task as one might think. The hardware in your kitchen references any knobs or pulls you have on your kitchen cabinets and drawers throughout. How you want your kitchen to appear in style and functionality is at the core of your decision-making. Depending on …

Cutting Boards are Kitchen Essentials. While many are made of beautiful and new-fangled materials, cutting boards were originally made of wood. Many still consider the wood cutting board the professional’s choice.   It may seem surprising to learn that a cutting board (or a simple slab of wood) would need maintenance.  But the truth is …

Two houses ago we had a spectacular galley kitchen with one long, massive kitchen island with a sink. 3 weeks ago we moved into a new house with a large kitchen island with no sink. I now know firsthand the pros and cons of having a kitchen island with a sink.   My preferred kitchen island …

There are different types of range hoods, all with the primary purpose of controlling the smoke, smells, or heat from your culinary space and protecting the splendor of your kitchen. We think you’re ready to blow off some steam, so let’s examine the range of hood varieties to help you select the one you’ll be …

For a single man, I spend a great deal of time in the kitchen. I like to cook—for myself and for invited friends. Although my house is modest in size, I do have a sizeable kitchen. The space is big enough for me to work my magic on the stove and to hold court with …

Whether reconditioning a cutting board you currently have or dressing a new one, they need to be oiled no matter the wood from which they are made. Woodcutting boards can become dry with use and constant washing. If you neglect to oil them, they get dry, brittle, and can delaminate if they are neglected for …

Have you checked recently just how many different kitchen backsplash options are out there?  Choice is great and all, and I’d take too much choice over not enough, but at some point it becomes overwhelming. We just bought a new house. The kitchen is spectacular but we want to put our personal flavor into the …

It might be tempting to submerge your wooden cutting board in the dishwasher. But, it isn’t a good idea. Wood can splinter, warp and even break when exposed to moisture and high heat in a long washing cycle. Related To: Do Dishwashers Save Water? How Can I Clean My Wooden Chopping Board? Here are ways …

You might not know this, but you should always have 4 cutting boards at all times. Use separate cutting boards when preparing raw meat and veggies. To keep your kitchen as sanitary as possible, it’s best to designate one cutting board just for veggies, another just for meat, and two backups.  Cutting meats on the …

“The experts weigh in and ask, are marble cutting boards good? The answer: yes, but only for certain types of food.” I’ve been using the same cutting board for years, and it’s starting to show its age. There are scratches all over my cutting board, and it’s not as stable as it used to be. …

Many people have several wooden cutting boards in their kitchen—one for fruits and vegetables, one for raw meat, and maybe one or two more. But why do people use them? It’s not just because they’re pretty to look at; it’s also because wooden cutting boards are sanitary and safer than plastic ones if cleaned correctly.  …

“When choosing what wood is best for cutting boards, go with what the pro chefs recommend and choose maple. Hands down, maple wooden cutting boards are my go-to choice.” I knew I had officially transformed into a real adult when I became enthralled with a beautiful cutting board. The smooth expanse of end-grain walnut and maple, …

Many people believe that the holes and grooves in cutting boards are for decoration. Others think that the holes help catch food that falls off the board; this reduces the amount of food that goes into the sink. What is the real reason for the small holes and grooves in cutting boards? In this post …

Our dishwashers clean our dishes, so they must stay clean, right? Unfortunately, dishwashers can get even dirtier than the dishes we put in them. Food and debris build-up can make our dishwashers not run optimally, and even began to break down if we don’t keep them clean. But just how do you clean a dishwasher? …

There’s nothing like that first cup of coffee in the morning. It wakes us up, helps to get our day started, and tastes great. But did you know having an unclean coffee maker can actually affect the taste and quality of your coffee? Build up of minerals and organics in the coffee maker can also …

Can you remember the last time you did a deep clean of your oven? If not, it might be time to throw on some rubber gloves and get to work. The inside of our ovens can become caked with burnt food and grease residue, which can not only affect the taste of the foods we …

The kitchen sink for many families is the heart of the kitchen. You’d be surprised to know however it is the second dirtiest space in your kitchen. It’s where we wash the cake batter off of our hands, defrost the frozen chicken, and begrudgingly clean up the dishes after cooking a nice meal. All of …

It might sound unnecessary to deep clean a machine that’s function is to clean. After all, your dishwasher cleans your dishes, so it must be clean right? In a perfect world maybe, but in reality, our dishwashers can get even dirtier than the dishes we put in them. This can not only create cloudy and …

When was the last time you cleaned out your fridge? Last week? Month? Year? You could be inviting foodborne pathogens and a number of other issues into your fridge by not cleaning it often. Our refrigerators are where we store what we eat at a safe and controlled temperature, but if your fridge isn’t being …

While we use paper towels today to clean up a number of accidents, the invention of the paper towel itself was too an accident. Ever since their accidental invention, paper towels have greatly reduced the spread of germs and disease, as well as cleaning up a few messes along the way. The paper towel lets …

If you are interested in using a butcher block for cooking, then no. However, a butcher block is great for presentation and eye appeal. The material that goes into the making of a butcher block is not sustainable for the long term. It is typically a softwood that is likely to endure knife cuts, molds, …

What are tea towels? The tea towel is an inherently practical tool to have around the kitchen, whether it’s in your home or the commercial world. Learning the many different ways to implement this cloth will help you streamline your cooking process and add flair to your presentation, as well as serving to organize and …