Reader question: can you help me with a small kitchen layout?

Help! Can you help me with a layout design for a small kitchen? It has a lot of challenges and I don't know where to start. I sure could use Candice Olson right now! Behind one wall is the stairs to the basement, the other wall is open to the dining area. The basement wall has a recessed oven and fridge. The width of the kitchen is about nine feet and the length's about the same. There's also a door to the garage on one side. Do you have any suggestions for a layout?

Yeah, hire a kitchen designer. Good advice is never free and free advice is never good. Remember that.

If you need a referral to someone local to you, I will find you someone. If you'd like to hire me to do a layout for you I'll do so gladly but you're going to have to hire me. If you take that route, you'll get my undivided attention and commitment to your project. I will ask you questions you never thought were important but are. We're going to get on the phone and I'm going to teach you how to measure a room so that I can recreate it as it is and as it will be when this project's completed. We're going to work out every detail --we'll position every light, we'll account for every outlet, we're going to find a place to hide everything you want to hide and we'll find a place to show off everything you want to show off. By the time we're done you're going to forget who Candace Olson is.

At the end of this you're going to hold a set of my construction plans and you're going to say to yourself that paying me was the best money you've ever spent. You'll tape one of my perspective drawings to your fridge and you'll be able to see it as a completed project. You'll really see it because you're going to understand the steps it will take to make that perspective drawing come true. You're going to have my enthusiasm as we work out the details and then I'm going to cheer you on as you sail through a process that once scared the bejesus out of you. You're going to get all of that and then some, but it won't be free.

I love corresponding with the people who read this blog. It makes my day like you cannot believe to get to know people from all over who read something here and it made them think, or laugh and a lot of times it just pissed them off. All of that's cool. It's beyond cool actually.

I love it when somebody asks, "Hey Paul, are Sub Zero refrigerators worth it?" or "Should I put a wood or a stone floor in my new house?" Spouting off on topics like that gives my life richness and meaning and I'm only too happy to shoot off quickie answers.

But when it comes to asking me to be creative or to work out specifics, I have to draw the line. I make a living from my ideas and I'd starve if I gave them away. Opinions are easy but ideas take some time. That's why I charge for ideas.

BoConcept offer a great 3D space planning tool, excellent for planning the layout of your room

Roll me in designer sheets I'll never get enough.

I love good sheets. I love white on white striped Damask sheets particularly. Like everybody else with a thing for good sheets I look at thread counts as some kind of an indicator of quality. Well, it turns out that thread counts don't tell a very accurate story about a particular sheet's quality. Who knew?

I had my bubble burst and my consciousness raised by an article I read on Linenplace.com. Linenplace sells amazing sheets of high quality, check them out if you are in the market for some self-indulgence.


The Truth About Thread Count

The high thread count story hit the bedding market in the mid to late 1990s and has since dominated all conversations about sheets.  Now over ten years later it's still the focus of questions asked the most by our customers. Honestly, we wish there was a simple answer. The truth is that it's just not that simple, thread count is one metric that should be looked at when considering sheets. At Linenplace, frankly, we don't even think it's the most important one.

Sheeting Quality Indicators

• Fiber Quality
• Yarn Size
• Finishing
• Thread Count & Construction

Fiber Quality:  100% cotton sheets are by far the most popular and widely used type of sheets. (We do also like silk, cotton/silk, modal and linen; but we’re going to focus on 100% cotton.) There is a huge variety in the quality of 100% cotton sheets. The highest quality cotton is long staple cotton. Staple refers to the length of the cotton fiber; the longer the fiber the better because it creates stronger and finer yarns. Among long staple cottons, the longest are Egyptian extra long staple and Pima (sometimes called Supima).

Yarn Size:  The fineness of each yarn is what the term yarn size refers to - the higher the yarn size, the finer the yarn.  (think of men’s suiting where they often speak of 100s wool etc)  Finer yarns allow for lighter, more supple fabric. The yarn size in quality sheets is typically between 40 and 100. Up to 120s may be used also, but are pretty rare (and the resulting product very expensive). Higher thread counts are created with finer yarns, as more of them can be woven into a square inch.  Also, super fine yarns can be twisted together, creating 2 ply yarns that can then be woven into sheeting.  When 2 ply yarns are made with a very high yarn size, they make a nice product that is not at all weighty or blanket-like.

Finishing:  After the cotton yarns are woven into a fabric, the fabric needs to be finished.  This includes singeing and mercerizing.  The singeing process is vital; it burns off the tiny fuzz that can later develop into pilling on your sheets.  Mercerizing is a treatment conducted under tension, in order to increase strength, luster, and affinity for dye.  Bed linens of lesser quality may not be singed or mercerized.

Thread Count & Construction:  Thread count is simply the number of threads per square inch of fabric. These consist of vertical threads (warp) and horizontal threads (weft) woven together.  Construction refers to how the thread count is achieved (# of warp and weft yarns, # of picks in the weft, use of 2 ply yarns etc.) To achieve higher thread counts, sometimes 2 ply yarns are used and sometimes multiple yarns (picks) are inserted into the weft.  The FTC has ruled that plied yarns should each only be counted as one thread for the purposes of thread count. This is not enforced, but in response the market has moved more toward single plies with multiple picks as the preferred method of achieving higher thread counts. In weave quality terms alone, the best fabric would be made with single ply yarns and have a single pick; but the highest thread count you can get with this type of construction is about 400. Above that, 2 ply yarns and/or multi-picks must be used.

The buzz about "single ply" in the last five years or so, was a reaction to customers feeling cheated by the concept of 2 ply. (meaning a 300 thread count construction made with 2 ply yarns and called a 600 thead count) But the "single ply" concept has its own problems, as stated above. Sheets made with "single ply" yarns but with 6 to 8 picks do not necessarily result in the best feeling or highest quality weave --but they do achieve the higher thread count in a way deemed more correct by international standards and the FTC.

In a quality product, the incremental comfort value of thread counts over 300 is very little.  A 300 thread count can feel far superior to a 1000 thread count.  Thread count has become a simple metric used by marketing people to capture interest and impress with high numbers.  The problem with mass produced high thread count sheets is that to keep the price down, important elements of quality must be sacrificed, meaning in the end the customer gets a product with an impressive thread count but that probably feels no better (or even worse) than something with a lower thread count.

How does this happen?

• Weaving with 2 ply yarns that do not have a high enough yarn size so the end product feels heavy and blanket-like.
• Inserting multiple yarn threads (picks) into the weft.  These are often visible to the naked eye.  We’ve heard of as many as 8.  This practice increases the thread count but otherwise really has no practical or useful purpose. Depending on the number of picks and yarn size used it can also make the product feel heavy.

There is no simple answer to the thread count, ply and pick game; there are thousands of combinations that will make a beautiful product. We've seen excellent examples of every type of construcion (thanks to quality fiber, yarn size and finishing). Keep in mind that with higher thread counts, price and quality do tend to go hand in hand. An extremely high thread count sheet at a very low price is exactly what it sounds like: too good to be true. This is not to say that you have to spend a small fortune for quality sheets - just don't fall into the thread count trap. Unfortunately, a lot of companies don't make it easy to be well informed. At Linenplace, we do our best to present you with all the information you need to find the product that's right for you. We would like to encourage our customers to focus less on thread count and more on the other quality indicators (fiber quality, yarn size, finishing and construction).  We believe you will get a better, more comfortable product that truly represents quality and value.


All Content ©1999 - 2009 Linenplace.com, Inc.
www.linenplace.co.uk www.stickyprice.com

Heath Ceramics and Architecture for Humanity

David Nolan here, doing more than just haunting the comments section here at Kitchen and Residential Design. Recently, I contacted Heath Ceramics because I was interested in doing a post about their dual-glaze tile, which I think is a fascinating and original look for ceramic tile. Heath Ceramics had always been a tableware company to me, because out of ignorance I had only drooled over their gorgeous bowls and vases, without ever checking out their tile offerings. They sent me a little nudge through email to check out the dual-glaze tile line, and I was instantly in awe, both about the tile's great looks and the fact that I had not investigated Heath's tile offerings in the past.



This post is not about dual-glaze tile though, or Heath Ceramics' buffet of beautiful tableware. I received an email today that Heath Ceramics is donating 25% of all sales January 15th-17th at their Sausalito and online stores to help rebuild Haiti. The company is donating the money to Architecture for Humanity, which I will quote the good people of Heath Ceramics to explain:

"Why Architecture for Humanity:

AFH is a non-profit organization that brings design, construction and development services to communities in need. AFH is expanding their current efforts with Yele Haiti, the local NGO, to provide relief and recovery as well as meaningful long-term reconstruction to the Haitian community. We have an ongoing relationship with Cameron Sinclair, Kate Stohr and the folks at AFH and we really believe in their work.

The more people, the bigger the impact. We’d love your business to support this cause; visit our store(s), shop online (free shipping through Sunday) or donate directly to AFH. Either way, we hope you’ll join us in making a contribution.

Facebook, twitter, email, use your rotary phone - please spread the word…

Thank you, Heath Ceramics & Architecture for Humanity"

I had not heard of Architecture for Humanity before but after reading their website and looking at their projects, I am impressed and want to help. I encourage you to check out Heath Ceramics to admire the gorgeous eye-candy, and then spend some time getting a reality check at the Architecture for Humanity website.

Like Heath and AFH said, spread the word.

Refrigerator seal and fridge maintenance

One of my great finds on Twitter last year is Julie Warner, who Tweets and blogs for Warners' Stellian Appliances in Minneapolis/ St. Paul. Julie's as engaging as she is informative, she really knows her stuff. Warners' Stellian Appliances has been a family owned and run business since the 1950s. In an era when independent retailers are disappearing, Warners' Stellian proves that through a  commitment to community and customer alike, it's still possible to thrive. Intelligence and hard work don't hurt either. Not in the Twin Cities? Have no fear, Warners' Stellian handles online sales through their website. Check them out.

Julie writes the Warners' Stellian blog and it's always full of terrific ideas and pointers. Such was the case earlier this week when she wrote the following about refrigerator maintenance. I asked her if I could reprint it and she agreed graciously.

image courtesy of Big Chill

Refrigerator seal & fridge maintenance
By Julie Warner


Some people spend as much money on a kitchen as they do a car, yet expect to do no maintenance.

Would you be surprised if your truck engine overheated if you never changed the oil or refilled the coolant? Most also expect to rotate and replace tires and wiper blades.

You might not have spent 13 grand-something on a fridge, but I’m sure you plunked down a good amount. Here are some maintenance tips to help get your return on that investment. See my previous post,  Ice maker troubleshooting.

Moisten your gasket

A small amount of condensation on the fridge or freezer is normal, especially during humid weather and summer vacation, if you have kids who don’t know how to keep the refrigerator doors shut.

If you see more condensation than normal, check the seal (or gasket as we appliance nerds call it) for any obstructions and clear them. If there aren’t any, try moistening the gasket with Vaseline. Seriously, it works. If you don’t have any petroleum jelly, I’ve used Neosporin in a pinch (What won’t that stuff do, honestly?).

After applying a thin layer of Vaseline, organize your fridge. It doesn’t have anything to do with the seal, per se, but it will help you find what you need faster, meaning the door won’t be open as long. If Warners’ Stellian installed your fridge, we leveled it to tilt slightly back to encourage the doors to swing shut.

If someone else installed your fridge, consider leveling it in a similar way.

Clean your coils

New refrigerators have self-cleaning condensers. But if you have an old fridge, you might still have coils that need to be cleaned once or twice a year. Some fancy vacuum cleaners have attachments to suit this purpose. But otherwise, you’ll have to get a coil brush from an appliance parts store.

(If you find yourself driving to an appliance parts store to buy a coil brush, make a detour and buy a new fridge instead because yours is pretty darn old. The energy grid will thank you.)

To clean the coils, remove the base grille and use the brush or vacuum attachment to clean it, the open areas behind the grille, and the front surface area of the condenser.

If you have pets or hairy, shedding family members, take care that the area around the refrigerator stays clear to ensure proper heat exhaust. Otherwise, that thing will be running all the time.

Change the water filter

If you have a water dispenser, you likely have a water filter. Replace it every six months or take direction from your indicator light, if you have one. Or, if odor and odd taste don’t cramp your style, stretch the life of it. But seriously, beyond water quality, an old water filter can cause sediment to build up and cause problems.

There are probably seven different types of water filters. Yours is either is the top back corner of the interior, down in the kick plate, or along the top interior of the fridge. ALWAYS bring your filter into the store when you’re replacing it because we don’t necessarily know the type a filter goes with a model number we looked up in your order from two years ago. We can guess, but it’s still a guess.

After replacing the filter, flush the air from the water system (see how to purge air from the water system animation – though 4 gallons seems like overkill) to prevent dripping from the dispenser.

Defrost your freezer?

Your freezer is probably “frost-free,” meaning it defrosts itself. You may have purchased an all-freezer unit that is manual defrost for storing foods long-term, but that’s another blog post (or e-mail me).

Just take care to clean your fridge and freezer every month.

Your turn: What did I miss?

Share your tips in the comments.

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 You can find Julie on Twitter as @WarnersStellian, you can also find their fan page on Facebook. In addition to that, here's the link to their website and of course Julie's terrific blog.

Thanks Julie! So gang, chime in. Anybody have a refrigerator hint they're dying to pass along?

Haitian relief with wallpaper

The great wallpaper designer Given Campbell just came up with an original design she's calling Pat Robertsatan. It's at once an admonishment of Pat Robertson's idiotic statements yesterday and an opportunity to do something positive with all that ignorance.

Given's donating half of all the proceeds from the sale of this wallpaper pattern to the Red Cross directly. So rather than shaking your fist in the direction of Virginia Beach, why not extend a hand in the direction of Port au Prince?

Given's a gifted artist and without a doubt the most original wallpaper designer in the business. Look through her website. It's some pretty cool stuff.