Create a Low Maintenance Kitchen in 7 Steps

Create a Low Maintenance Kitchen

Every home’s social center is the kitchen. It’s a location where you plan, cook, and eat meals with your family while spending valuable time together. However, it is also a location that needs the most significant amount of cleaning and care. This amount of maintenance does not have to be the case with all kitchens; one can design a low-maintenance kitchen to simplify or eliminate many of the chores.

Having a low-maintenance kitchen can significantly reduce problems and the workload of any kitchen, some of which include:

  • Susceptible kitchen cabinet doors rout building up in the small floor tiles
  • Built-up grease due to improper hood ventilation
  • A constant need to clean because of porous countertops
  • Etc.

Designing a low-maintenance, functional, and visually pleasing kitchen may be simple, and we’re here to show you how. To assist you, we’ve compiled seven valuable recommendations for your brand-new, easy-to-clean, custom kitchen design.

1. Choose Smooth and Low Maintenance Kitchen Appliances

Easy-to-clean equipment is essential for a low-maintenance kitchen. Look for stainless steel appliances with a fingerprint-resistant coating, for example. Alternatively, use materials with smooth, easy-to-clean surfaces. Choose low-maintenance appliances that are not porous to make cleaning them with a wipe as easy as possible.

Even better, wherever feasible, buy self-cleaning equipment. These choices are available on many low-maintenance appliances for kitchen equipment maintenance. Nowadays, most coffee makers and even ovens can clean themselves. However, even with your best efforts, malfunctions and defects can occur; therefore, selecting a good home warranty provider is the best approach for a low-maintenance kitchen to protect your appliances. That way, you won’t have to worry about anything.

2. Low Maintenance Kitchen Countertops

As we mentioned in the previous kitchen equipment maintenance tip, having smooth surfaces can be a lifesaver when it comes to maintaining a clean and tidy environment for your kitchen. Because of the numerous materials available today, selecting a nonporous and stain-resistant countertop is simple.

The nice thing about them is that they can be cleaned simply with a wipe and do not require sealing. Quartz is most likely the most popular material, but you can choose a porcelain slab or a stainless-steel countertop.

low maintenance kitchens

Quartz Countertops

Quartz is composed of 95 percent natural stone and 5 percent synthetic resins. Essentially, it’s 95% natural vs 100% natural stone, making it a manufactured rather than a natural stone. Most engineered materials complement low-maintenance kitchens exceptionally well.

Low Maintenance Kitchen Countertops made of porcelain

Porcelain is a manufactured material that was previously created from the mineral kaolinite. Kaolinite is a kind of clay that is also known as China clay.

Before being burned at high temperatures, the kaolinite is covered with a pigmented glaze. This ensures that the slab’s hue is consistent throughout. Veins can be visible in porcelain that resembles granite and marble. It’s nonporous and long-lasting, making it a very low-maintenance kitchen countertop.

3. Low Maintenance Kitchen Stoves

Speaking of low-maintenance appliances and countertops, one of the most important things to focus on when designing a low-maintenance kitchen is the stove. Choosing an induction stove has a significant effect on low-maintenance kitchens. The surface of an induction cooktop is entirely level and smooth. This makes cleaning more manageable than a gas stove, which has recessed regions and difficult-to-reach grates.

You may clean an induction cooktop by wiping it down with a smooth surface. However, if you like to cook with gas, the ease of cleaning the induction surface may not be enough to persuade you to give up your beloved gas burner. If this is the case, you must decide which is more crucial to you.

4. Keep the Lights Away from the Stove

Another thing to remember when considering the stove and overall kitchen design is not to place lights around the stove. Because cooking produces oil which can, in turn, produce a residue, anything that is hung near the stove will rapidly acquire all of it on its surface.

 A practical, low-maintenance kitchen option is the Recessed lights or lights incorporated into your exhaust hood are your best alternatives for illuminating the stove. You can even hang pendants, sconces, and tiny chandeliers a few feet away from your range, such as over the kitchen island or in the breakfast nook.

5. Use Cabinetry as Much as possible.

One of the most basic recommendations for creating a low-maintenance kitchen is to customize your cabinetry and extend it to the ceiling. You won’t have to clean the regions above your upper cabinets this way. You know how easily grime and dust accumulate in these locations. This will save you a significant amount of time and work.

You may even plan your low-maintenance kitchen with no upper cabinets. Of course, this is only viable if your bottom cabinets and pantry have enough storage space. Although you may have less storage space, you will have an open and airy low-maintenance kitchen, and cleaning a flat wall is usually much more straightforward than kitchen cabinet hardware.

6. Avoid Open Cabinetry

It is vital to have cabinetry as much as possible, but open cabinetry can have many issues and qualities conflicting with a low-maintenance kitchen. No matter how beautiful open shelves seem in your kitchen, dust, grease, and filth may gather on them. Furthermore, dust and grime will collect not just on the shelves but also on everything you store there.

As a result, dusting the shelves requires not only shifting articles around but also dusting the things themselves and making anything other than a low-maintenance kitchen.

7. Having Extra Trash Bins Can Improve the Effectivity of Low Maintenance Kitchens

There was no clear rule regarding having only one garbage can in your kitchen. As a result, don’t be afraid to place second trash can anywhere you might need to dispose of waste or food scraps.

For instance, beneath the sink, near the refrigerator, the dining room table, the pantry, or wherever else you believe you may require it. You may even design your ideas and have them made by pros.

5 Best Kitchen Islands for Modern Homes

best kitchen islands

A kitchen island is a countertop item accessible from all sides and not surrounded by walls. However, selecting the best kitchen islands might be tricky. They can be portable or stationary and range from a modest tiny work surface to a big unit almost entirely self-contained.

The best modern islands for kitchens are essential because they are among the most in-demand elements for modern or refurbished kitchens since they may significantly improve the space’s functionality and comfort.

However, selecting the best kitchen islands can be difficult because your selections range some features of the best kitchen islands consist of:

  • Small movable objects
  • Built-in appliances
  • Custom kitchen plumbing
  • Electrical wiring

But one thing to remember is that even the best kitchen islands will feel awkward and out of place if not implemented correctly. For example, choosing the best kitchen island available may be too big of an option for your household, therefore, feeling out of place.

Bi-level Kitchen Islands

One of the best kitchen islands is the raised bar island. This layout has a long and slender island that complements an open-concept floor plan. A raised bar island has two levels and is an excellent choice for entertaining. The upper level can function as a bar where your guests can drink and converse, while people cooking in the kitchen can still chat with everyone in the living or dining room, but the raised bar helps separate the kitchen from the other spaces.

The bottom level includes a workplace where you may face your guests, while the top level has a bar that can be utilized as a buffet or extra seating area. Like other best kitchen islands, this design splits a vast space, dividing the kitchen from the living or dining spaces. It’s also one of the best kitchen island alternatives for adding a sink on the lowest tier.

Circular Islands are Perfect for Modern Kitchens

A circular island is the second item on our best kitchen islands list that fits well in a tiny kitchen. This distinctive design may not be as prevalent as its rectangular version, but it’s still incredibly artistic and valuable. The circular surface allows easy prep, and some bases have curved cabinets or built-in appliances.

It’s also one of the best kitchen islands for displaying ornamental dishes or glasses on its open shelves. If you don’t have an island in your small kitchen, make use of the extra space by adding a round wooden table. The round counter is one of the best kitchen islands to give a warm touch to the area, tempting you to pull up a chair and enjoy your meal there.

modern kitchen island

Movable Modern Kitchen Islands

Another one of the best kitchen islands for small kitchens is the movable kitchen island. A moveable kitchen island allows you to move your workplace to any location in the kitchen, making meal preparation more convenient. Rolling carts are more like moveable prep spaces kept to the side of the kitchen rather than openly and permanently displayed. They’re also visually appealing.

Movable kitchen islands have progressed significantly, and many shapes and sizes exist. These might be one of the kitchen island ideas for tiny kitchens, as they can be brought out just when needed.

What Materials do Movable Kitchen Islands Come in?

Simple models with metal frames and shelves are available, as are farmhouse pieces with butcher’s block counters and luxury styles with granite tabletops. One feature that makes this kitchen island one of the best kitchen island designs is the option of having professional appliances or more basic tools like built-in wine racks and cupboards made of premium kitchen cabinet hardware.

The Best Kitchen Islands With Storage

A storage cabinet island might help maximize your kitchen space if you value organizational space. The best kitchen islands with closed cabinets offer greater storage space for large and difficult-to-organize pots, pans, and bakeware. Many versions include built-in cabinets but personalizing your kitchen island design allows you to be creative and decorate your modern kitchen with an open mind.

Some of the best kitchen islands incorporate shelves in addition to cabinets. Smaller islands may feature one or two modest shelves for glassware storage, but larger islands may have lengthy, statement-making shelves. This island style is also an excellent way to embrace the open shelving trend without committing too much. According to Apartment Therapy, purchasing an island with shelves allows you to experiment with the open shelf trend without giving up your top kitchen cabinets.

beautiful kitchen islands

Modern Kitchen Islands for Galley Kitchens

The Galley-style is one of the best kitchen islands since it is more practical than attractive. This thin shape is typical in compact kitchens and gives additional counter space in tight quarters. The modern islands, however, can be selected if you want to transform the kitchen’s appearance. In rare cases, one can add cupboards or shelves inside the island.

The galley island is often small, making it harder to install larger appliances or features, such as sinks or stoves, than the other kitchen island ideas. But don’t worry; what it lacks in appliance installation, it makes up for in-home décor, and you have more alternatives to design possibilities for this island style.

You may experiment with different colors in your kitchen to achieve the most unique and best kitchen islands. You may use any size or shape of the island to produce a noticeable variation in color on the building itself. For example, if your kitchen’s main color scheme is white, your island can have a blue foundation with a marble or light granite surface. If your walls are dark, the kitchen island might add a vivid flash of color.

What is the Trend for Kitchen Cabinets in 2021? (Part 2)

Repaint kitchen cabinets

The trend for kitchen cabinets in 2021 is pretty impressive for people who prefer to create a modern-looking kitchen for their houses. Interior designers describe kitchens as the heart of any home where occupants and guests spend their time enjoying food and gatherings. Thus, creating aesthetics for this area is a must-do for every homeowner. Custom Kitchen cabinets with various materials, including MDF panels (Medium Density Fiberboard Panels), plywood, hardwood, etc., are elements designers utilize to enhance the area’s beauty. Furthermore, leaving out the kitchen cabinet doors when renovating the place is not a wise choice. Knowing the trend for kitchen cabinets in 2021 will help homeowners create better-looking and sleek areas for eating and hanging out.

As told in part 1 of this article, drama is the trend for kitchen cabinets in 2021. We discussed various design trends and their unique characteristics. Some of the most modern designs in 2021 include Slab door kitchen cabinets, transitional cabinets, open frame systems, etc. Additionally, currently, people are looking for assorted door designs such as raised panel doors which are also very trendy. However, other factors are left to discuss: the trend for kitchen cabinets in 2021 from a color and layout perspective.

The Color Trend for Kitchen Cabinets in 2021

In classic kitchen designs, interior designers used stained natural wood cabinets, which is not the case in 2021. Currently, custom-cut kitchen cabinets and doors are including in colors. As stained wood designs are still popular, more people prefer adding pops of hues and colors to their kitchen. Cool-toned products are the trend for kitchen cabinets in 2021, including grey, blue, green, and two-toned hues. The followings are the best colors to choose for kitchen cabinets this year.

  • Blue: The main characteristic of this color provides a classic, cool and light look for the cabinets. Most blue kitchen cabinets are not cerulean but rather a grey-based navy, making them more neutral for the area. This color also provides a requiring contrast for stark white kitchens and can create a slightly darker feel. Additionally, these are a great look for people who want to create a more relaxed area for their homes.
  • White: Cabinets with a white finish are modern, sleek and tend to brighten or open up a place that might otherwise seem dark or small. White kitchen cabinets pair perfectly with most of the popular designs. Moreover, kitchens with white cabinetry involve better flexibility with their plans and dress up areas with a high-end appearance. White colour products continue to be the trend for kitchen cabinets in 2021.
  • Green: Popular home improvement projects have shown that green kitchen cabinets can considerably enhance the area’s beauty. Olive green cabinets are trendy in vintage and contemporary kitchens as they can be a reminder of the 70s while keeping the place light and airy. Designers prefer to utilize emerald green for trendy kitchen cabinets to create more dynamics and a dramatic feel.
  • Two-toned: Kitchen cabinets with tow-toned color often feature a white upper section paired with a darker base area. For lower hues, greys and blues are suitable, but canary yellow, dark purple and mint green are also practical.
  • Gray: One of the trendiest colors used in interior designs in 2021 is grey. This hue is a perfect alternative for those who prefer neutral colors but are not fans of an extreme industrial appearance.
  • Natural Wood: Most people love the rustic yet industrial look, and for those who want to bring natural elements inside, wood products with natural textures for cabinets is a perfect choice. Similar to grey kitchen cabinets, the wood can create a dramatic yet modern vibe for the interior.

Best Kitchen Layouts in 2021

Using the best trendy kitchen cabinets in 2021 without having a perfect layout design is useless. Thus knowing a few of them will help homeowners in their projects. The most popular kitchen layouts include:

  • The one wall.
  • Gallery layout.
  • L-shaped and U-shaped kitchens.
  • Island kitchen layout (very trendy in 2021).
  • The peninsula.

However, they are two other kitchen cabinet layouts that are currently very popular.

Mixed Cabinet Styles: This kitchen layout makes the area feel larger and provides an eye-catching element for the place. Its upper section features open-concept systems, and base cabinets have entirely different styles, such as slat cabinets. Moreover, this layout is popular in industrial and rustic style homes which is very trendy in 2021.

Floor-to-Ceiling Cabinetry: This layout is the perfect solution for the best use of kitchen space. It provides storage for all dishes and can be a suitable way to manage a part of the pantry. Having a floor-to-ceiling system will make the room feel taller. Additionally, it allows for cabinetry size variations and creates a unique design element for the home. However, this layout is more practical for larger kitchens.

Constructing Frameless Kitchen Cabinets (Part II)

Constructing Frameless Kitchen Cabinets

Constructing Frameless Kitchen Cabinets is a popular carpentry process for creating practical products for the interior. These products have modern, functional, and European style designs that can improve the house’s aesthetics and interior decoration. However, their design’s main functionality is for the kitchen. Manufacturers and carpenters produce these modern works with various wood materials, including MDF panels and Plywood.

Constructing frameless kitchen cabinets requires years of practice and experience. However, many people want to create their kitchen cabinets with MDF of other wood materials without hiring professionals. Thus, we decided to provide the required information for constructing frameless kitchen cabinets for such people. In part 1 of producing frameless kitchen cabinets, we discussed the basics of the carcass of the cabinets and the base options that the product can have. Thus, this part will provide more information about the process, including the frameless kitchen cabinets back options, tools for making them, and precise steps to complete the production of these functional materials.

Kitchen Cabinets Back Options

When constructing frameless kitchen cabinets, the cabinetmaker has some practical options for creating the back section of the product. Each method and option have exceptional stability and functionality.

  • Full Back: Carpenter can choose to make a full back with the same MDF panels or Plywood used for the kitchen cabinet. This configuration will provide an enclosed product with excellent strength, which is essential when installing heavy countertops or supporting heavy appliances. However, this method can be costly, but the carpenter can lower the expenditure by precisely planning the cutting method with a CNC router.
  • Nailed Back: Some people don’t mind if their cabinets have a back part or not. The nailed back option is the best for saving more MDF panels and other materials. Instead of having a full back, this method features creating two nailing strips out of the MDF panels for the top and bottom of the back, so there is a point to affix the kitchen cabinet to the wall and provide strength and rigidity to the product.
  • Economic Nailed Back: In some cases, people prefer to have an enclosed back system, but they also want to save money. Thus, it is better to use nailery as the previous method and utilize a piece of MDF panel on the back of the kitchen cabinet to provide a finished look. In addition to the lower cost of this method, it also provides a lighter product.

Tools and Materials Needed for Constructing Frameless Kitchen Cabinets

Like producing any other products, some essential tools and materials should be available for constructing frameless kitchen cabinets.

Tools: There are various tools available for making a cabinet that carpenters should have. However, the essential ones are table saw or circular saw while having a guide for making accurate cuts in the material. Other tools that can be practical are jig types and combination squares.

Materials: Experts always recommend using MDF panels or Plywood materials for both interior doors and kitchen cabinets. These materials come with different appearance grades and can accept various finishes. When using MDF panels, it is better to glue the joints and utilize appropriate pocket screws.

Steps of Constructing Frameless Kitchen Cabinets

Constructing frameless kitchen cabinets for different trendy layouts requires some essential steps. These steps will help cabinetmakers to achieve the best results for their kitchen cabinets.

  1. Calculating Kitchen Cabinet and Component Dimensions: The dimension that the cabinet maker needs for creating kitchen cabinets is the height, depth, width, component dimensions, bottom dimensions, shelf size, back and back dimensions, stretchers and sub toe kick measurements. The application determines the product’s height, and the depth has standard numbers, including the kitchen cabinets door. The cabinet depth is also equivalent to the preferences. The other dimensions are all depending on the first measurements. However, it is better to consult with professional cabinetmakers for better measures.
  2. Attaching Side To Back: This step starts with applying edge banding to the front of both kitchen cabinets sides. Then drilling pocket holes around the top and sides of the product’s back is necessary to attach it to one side.
  3. Attaching Bottom: Next step involves applying edge banding to the front of the bottom section and drilling pocket screw holes for connecting the bottom to the side and back section of the cabinet. Using a square is essential to make sure the alignments are appropriate.
  4. Fixing Other Side: Now it is time to settle and attach the other side to the cabinet assembly utilizing the previously drilled pocket holes.
  5. Stretchers Attachment: Attach the edge banding precisely to the front section of the two stretchers and then drill pockets holes for attaching them to the cabinet. For the first drawer, the bottom stretcher on the front is utilized.
  6. Installing Sub Toe Kick: The sub toe kick helps support the kitchen cabinet and adds rigidity to the finished kickboard after the installation process.
  7. Drilling Shelf Pin Holes: The last step is to drill holes with a jig in the back and front of each side of the kitchen cabinet for shelf pins. After drilling, install the shelf by applying edge banding to the front of the frame and inserting its hooks in the appropriate locations.

Constructing Frameless Kitchen Cabinets (Part I)

Frameless Kitchen Cabinets

Frameless kitchen cabinets are European style products that interior designers offer for their customers to enhance their kitchen aesthetics and functionality. These frameless products are ideal for the kitchen and practical for the bathroom, office, home theatre, and other renovations. This article is not just about constructing these practical products, but it contains everything you should know about these particular products.

Many people desire to make frameless kitchen cabinets for their homes, and learning the constructing process is often challenging due to the shortage of information on the internet. Therefore, people should search and read a lot to find and combine the requiring information for creating these practical products. Thus, we decided to provide all the information you will need, and we tried to make things easier for you.

Frameless kitchen cabinets are affordable and easy to build. They are beneficial for the homeowner by providing extra storage space over face frame cabinets. They are various methods that are used to build frameless kitchen cabinets. However, they all follow the same principles. Construction of these products is relatively straightforward, and the most challenging aspect is planning and sizing.

Frameless Kitchen Cabinets Carcass

Frameless kitchen cabinets have a more contemporary appearance and can be dressed up with elegant doors and trim for having a more classic feeling. The essential step of creating these practical products is building the cabinets carcass. The cabinet carcass is the main body or box of the product, which does not contain doors, drawers, boxes and fronts. It is possible to configure this structural piece in different methods to allow drawers and doors to suit your needs.

The most straightforward kitchen cabinet design to install and provide strength is creating an entire back cabinet carcass with MDF panels or other robust wood materials. It should consist of top stretchers, and it can be constructed from a single sheet of MDF panel. The carcass often has some essential parts, including two sides, shelf, bottom, back, sub toe kick and three stretchers.

Base Options for Frameless Kitchen Cabinets

Each system has its unique benefits and limitations. There are four separate ways to configure the lower section or the base of the frameless kitchen cabinets. These base producing methods are as followed:

Standard Base in Frameless Kitchen Cabinets

The standard base used in frameless kitchen cabinets has the sides and back of the product extend down to the floor. This type of base is notched in the front for providing a toe kick. A sub-toe kick in this system can provide additional support for the bottom and makes it easy to apply finishes such as decorative baseboard with MDF panels over a continual stretch of cabinets for a seamless appearance. Building this type of base is relatively tricky and utilizes a bit more MDF or plywood material. However, it can provide a single kitchen cabinet unit with advantages and fit the area’s layout. It is essential to remember to shim each kitchen cabinet individually for making it level. Most of the semi-custom kitchen cabinets available in the market are constructed with this method.

Common Base Without Toe Kick

Some interior or kitchen designs do not require a toe kick when they need a built-in cabinet system. This type of base has pros and cons similar to the standard base system, except it does not involve toe kick. Instead, this method accommodates with a decorative MDF panel or plywood with the same kitchen doors thickness. They are applied all over the base of all frameless kitchen cabinets after the installation process is completed.

Separate Base Platform

One of the best ways to construct frameless kitchen cabinets is using the different base platform technique. This system consists of a frame made up of hardwood flat panels, MDF panel, or plywood top providing toe kick with various heights. The most noticeable advantage of this technique is that the cabinetmaker can level the platform before installing the products. Then the only thing required is to place the kitchen cabinets on the panel without having to do much if any extra levelling. This type of base system is also more substantial and more stable than other types attached to the cabinets. Additionally, it is possible to create toe kicks on the sides of the frameless kitchen cabinets where necessary, such as the end of a kitchen island or a cabinet run.

There are other essential things to discuss the frameless kitchen cabinet construction systems we have provided in the second part of this article. We recommend you read it if you consider making a perfect cabinet for you your kitchen or you need to know how manufacturers create them.