The Bridal Registry Guide: Things to consider when building your wedding registry

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If you are finally getting ready to say goodbye to your single life and plan a fantastic wedding, chances are that you have a million things on your mind. Indulging your oddest whims in different department stores by spending a lot of money that you don’t really have is probably the last priority on your to-do list right now.

But what if the items that you are craving for at the moment could actually come from your closest friends and family members who want to help you build a new life with your better half? From this standpoint, creating a wedding registry is a smart move.

Following a well-organized, manageable Goodearth Bridal Registry will allow your wedding guests to select the most inspired must-haves and surprise you with the perfect gift. On top of that, a registry will enable you to determine who bought what (in case the card vanishes into thin air) and enjoy your first days as a married person without being forced to deal with returns or duplicate present issues. Wondering how you could prevent tiny mishaps that could compromise your wedding registry creation and management efforts? If so, here are a few things that you should consider.

Start Early. Early planning has its benefits. Just think about it: some of your closest friends and family members will want to surprise you with the coolest, most practical and sleek gifts as soon as you announce your engagement. This is precisely why it may be a good idea to create your wedding register early (preferably a couple of weeks before your engagement party) and list a few essential items that you want to get your hands on. It’s never too early to start, especially since you can add your favorite picks, like those gorgeous dinner sets for instance, which is more or less a pretty essential part of any lavish wedding and edit your register later on.

Register at Multiple Locations. Why limit your options when you can register at multiple stores? According to Real Simple, it would be best to stick to two or three department stores, taking into consideration that handling multiple bridal registries can be stressful and time-consuming.

Focus on Everyday Items That You’ll Actually Need. These days, you can register for everything your heart desires: from socks to stocks. Some financial institutions even open bank accounts enabling guests to deposit money for grooms who are saving up for a place of their own. Other couples choose to redirect their guests’ contributions to their non-profit of choice. If you are expecting less conventional presents, remember that some of your guests may want to offer you traditional gifts, like a colorful, custom made dinnerware or luxurious bedding for instance; this is why you should also register at a large chain store to expand your options and keep all your categories of guests happy. At the end of the day, you can satisfy your philanthropic needs. If you want to receive everyday items from your guests, it is advisable to focus on elements with a prominent practical value. Always put usability above looks and ephemeral trends. For instance, expensive china with an elegant design is definitely more useful than a wine fridge, especially if you only drink beer. Analyze your real necessities and expectations before editing your wedding registry.

Let Your Guests Know Where You Have Decided to Register. If you want to comply with the complex and at times hard to decipher wedding etiquette, you shouldn't use your wedding invitations to let your guests know where you have chosen to register. Even so, most stores distribute information cards that could be distribute to your guests by your shower hostess. If you don’t want to send out any cards, you could always rely on word-of-mouth. Your closest relatives and friends will gladly transmit this vital piece of information. Also, you should know that most stores ensure guest access, making it easier for your loves ones to find your registry and discover your wishes.

Choosing the right recliner for you

There’s no shortage of riser recliner chairs on offer these days. In fact, there’s now a dizzying array of these products to choose from, which can make deciding which versions to buy difficult. However, as long as you know what to look for, you should end up with the ideal riser recliner for you.

To help you along the way, took a look at this brief guide.

 Comfort and ease of use

Of course, you’ll want your new seating to look the part, but the first issues you should consider when perusing your options are comfort and ease of use. After all, if you get a product that ticks both of these boxes, you stand to significantly enhance your quality of life.

To avoid disappointment, you should make sure that the chair you buy is a suitable height, width and depth. Also, bear in mind that the item must be able to fit within the space you have in mind, and you’ll need to make sure that there’s enough space around the seat for you to be able to get into and out of it comfortably.

Take care to find out how simple each chair is to use as well. You don’t want to be fiddling around with complicated systems or searching for awkward levers. The best products boast simple controls, allowing you to rise and recline with total ease.

In addition, consider how far from the wall you will need to place your chair in order to recline on it. Some products can be positioned within a few inches of walls and this can make arranging lounge furniture much easier.

Massage functions

All riser recliners make sitting down and getting up easier. However, some of these products also offer massage functions. The very best of these systems can provide effective relief from a range of medical conditions, including back pain, arthritis, sciatica, hip pain, varicose veins, night cramps, poor blood circulation, spinal disorders and water retention. They can also speed up recovery after certain sporting injuries and they can help to reduce feelings of stress and anxiety.

Even if you don’t have any of these health problems, the technology enables you to enjoy on-demand massages. At the press of a button, you can relax and unwind in the comfort of your living room.

Style

There is no need to compromise on style simply because you’re after practical seating. As long as you know where to look, you can take your pick from an array of attractive chairs that perfectly complement your decor. It’s worth paying close attention to this issue. After all, you might have your riser recliner for many years, so it’s important that you like its appearance.

General quality

Last but by no means least, consider the general quality of the products available. Certain chairs look great at first glance, but quickly lose their appeal once they start malfunctioning or coming apart at the seams. Remember, these items are supposed to make your life easier and more enjoyable. They should not be a source of stress.

Luckily, it’s now easy to find excellent quality riser recliners that exude class and that function perfectly. For example, the products on offer at www.adjustablebeds.co.uk come in a range of styles and fabrics and they boast a number of impressive features. Their Cyclo-Therapy massage system offers the ultimate therapeutic massage and they benefit from Easy Reach technology, meaning you can position them close to your walls.

As long as you consider all these factors when you’re searching for a riser recliner, you can rest assured you’ll be thrilled with the results.

Enhance the aesthetics of your bedroom with a contemporary, sliding wardobe

A bedroom looks best when it has less furniture and more space to walk around freely. Apart from the necessary things, there should not be anything in the bedroom. However, in a typical house, you will never find such an ideal bedroom. There will be closets, wardrobes and whatnot, making the bedroom as much like a store room as anything else. Wouldn't it be nice if you could actually find the secret of getting the ideal bedroom in your house?

Well, the secret is a sliding wardrobe. So what exactly is a sliding wardrobe? These are wardrobes that have sliding doors to create more space in the bedroom. If you have seen a traditional wardrobe, you would have noticed the swinging closet doors that often created an obstruction and needed more space to make way for the whole door to be opened. But with innovation and new style, the sliding wardrobes have become very popular among families especially, because they can keep all their clothes in one place.

Types of sliding wardrobes

With the introduction of sliding wardrobes, various experiments were done with their design and style and ultimately three different types of sliding wardrobes were introduced. The following are the three types of sliding wardrobes that are swarming the market these days:

• Glass-type sliding wardrobes - These wardrobes blend well with any bedroom and if there is a theme for the bedroom, then there's nothing like it. If you go to an interior designer, this is probably the first thing that he or she will suggest you to buy. If you want to add a unique style to the doors, then choose from the smoked glass panels - they look gorgeous on these wardrobes. However, while choosing the glass do ensure that you choose Plexiglass and not some other glass. Plexiglass is known for its durability and would suit the wardrobe to perfection.
• Mirrored sliding wardrobes - These wardrobes are made of glass materials and have a reflective film on the back of the glass panel. The whole concept of this wardrobe is very smart as the big mirrors are crafted to act like sliding doors. It makes the wardrobe look so much bigger due to its reflective nature and the craftsmen that designed this feature did nothing extraordinary, but simply replaced a few parts with glass and played with the reflection; as simple as that.
• Wooden sliding wardrobes - These are the most common type of sliding wardrobes that you will find in the market. These are simple, yet elegant and are made of dense wood such as teak, mahogany and maple. Unlike other sliding wardrobes, you will find a lot of designs in this one. The doors can have an additional touch of beauty with crafted wooden panels or louvered closet panels. But, it all depends on the manufacturer whether he can put these innovations in his work or not.

Sliding wardrobes are available for online order as well since the reputed names like SKON Design have marked their presence online. Depending on the colour theme of your room you can browse the internet and order the best sliding wardrobe. Suppose you have a white theme for your bedroom, and you happen to live in Dublin. Simply, go online and search with white sliding wardrobe in Dublin and you will find the names of the companies who have the wardrobe with the specification you just gave. Searching on the internet helps you see the entire structure of the wardrobe very easily, and you also get to compare the price with other online stores providing the same thing. Sliding wardrobes have immense benefits, and it is the latest trend in the market. It would be wise to select this wardrobe if you are looking to buy a new one.  

Different types of cookers and ovens

If you’ve decided your tired, old cooker or oven needs replacing and it’s a long time since you visited an appliance store to check out the different types available on the market, you may be confused about the choices. However, at online retailers such as Appliance World, due to the extent of their product range, you’re sure to find one that will suit your needs perfectly.

Gas

Powered by mains for the majority of people but occasionally using bottled gas, cookers and ovens using gas have long been a popular choice for households. Quick to heat up and easy to control as it’s a much more visual cooking method than any of the electrical choices, gas cooker tops and electric ovens such as the Siemens built in ovens are a popular combination for many kitchens requiring a sleek design. The only real disadvantage to using a gas cooker is that there’s more parts to dismantle and clean with the rings are they will need washing regularly to remove the fat and food residue otherwise they can quickly become blocked.

Induction

Induction uses very powerful electromagnets, and these are underneath a glass surface which is manufactured from smooth ceramic. When turned on, the induction power comes from an electromagnetic field. The field causes heat to be created, and this is then transferred to the pan or pot on the stove. There’s no heating element and no burners underneath. The way the food cooks is through a rise or fall in the amount of electric power. It’s also possible to buy induction cookers which are manufactured from cast iron.

The main positive aspect from using induction to cook with is that they are really safe – with particular reference to children. There’s so little chance of burns happening accidentally, because the heat moves from the field to the cookware and there’s no stovetop to heat up. As it’s electrically powered, there’s never a worry about a gas leak.

Induction power is very energy efficient, and food doesn’t take so long to cook. It’s also a very easy to use the kind of heat as temperature control is easy, and changes in the heat take place very quickly.

Because of the glass top, they are very quick and easy to clean – a wipe with a soft, damp cloth, and the job is finished. They also suit modern, sleek and contemporary designed kitchens.

However, some people feel there is a possible issue with radiation, but research evidences this to be very low. You’ll need to buy pots and pans which have either iron or stainless steel bottoms otherwise the magnetic field won’t be created, and there’ll be no heat. The cookware bottoms also have to be flat to ensure even distribution of the field.

You’ll need to be careful with the surface. Be careful not to crack the glass with cookware or to drag anything across the top otherwise you’ll end up with scratches.

Ceramic top cookers

Ceramic cooker tops work through the installation of metal coils or halogen lamps placed under a piece of ceramic glass. They work through electricity and heat up when switched on. Heat produced then goes into the glass surface and then into the pan.

A ceramic cooker cools down very fast and so is very safe – particularly when just switched off. As with induction, there’s no worry about gas leaks. This is an energy efficient choice with very dense heat in a focused spot.

Cleaning is easier – a damp, soft cloth is all that is needed, but they do need to have spills removed immediately to prevent burn marks.

Using ceramic may mean buying new cookware as they require heavyweight pans for good conductivity covering the whole surface. They are easily scratched and broken in a similar way to induction. Whilst they cool down quickly, they are slow to heat up, and temperature changes are felt not to be quick enough for many people when cooking and needing to up the heat.

How to choose the best kitchen layout design for your home

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Kitchens are the central hub to your home and one to be proud of at that. Whether you are building your home or you want to remodel, once you get to your kitchen you can become overwhelmed and you may find yourself asking the same specific questions repeatedly. Do you really need a new kitchen? Do you know what kitchen shape you’re looking for? Is the layout you’ve picked suitable enough for your needs?

L-Shaped Kitchens

If you have a large family and a large kitchen space, the L-shaped kitchen will work wonders and even leaves enough space for you to have an island in the centre. It works well for a multipurpose kitchen and even more so if you have two cooks. Though, you will want to ensure that you leave sufficient space between your island and/or peninsula and any cabinets that you

U-Shaped Kitchens

The U-shaped kitchen is quite similar to the L-shaped though instead of two wall surfaces, you will have three and typically with one major appliance on each wall. For example; you will have the stove one on, the dishwasher in the centre next to the sink and the refrigerator on the other. Taking into account your kitchen space, there may also be room for you to add an island.

I-Shaped Kitchens

A single wall kitchen which is also known as the I-shaped kitchen is more suitable for a single dwelling and you may find these in apartments where more often than not, the space that you have available is drastically less from that of a standard house. It won’t provide you with an overly efficient workspace, though if it is just you in the home and most times you are cooking for one, this might not be a bad option for you and sometimes it is the only option.

Galley Kitchens

Most of the time these type of layouts do offer efficiency and a simple plan. For the better part, the appliances will stand in a single line along one of the kitchen walls while the other is used for preparation and may host the sink. With modern styling and a more open concept, turning the back wall into booth-like seating is also something that is possible with the addition of some high

There are always going to be certain aspects that you want to take into consideration when planning your kitchen, no matter what your pre-chosen layout is. Keeping your sink and dishwasher close to one another will help with easier cleaning and organize your cabinets and drawers. Keeping your glasses near the fridge, your pots and pans near the stove and your cutlery and dinnerware near one other will make for easier access. Common washing machine problems usually mean that the machine needs to be pulled out from the wall, so make sure this is possible after you have installed it. The more time you put into planning your kitchen and the more organised it actually is, the smoother you will find things running. The last thing you’re going to want to do at the end of a long day is run around your kitchen more than you need to.

Your modern kitchen: top design ideas and inspiration

Modern kitchen designs change as frequently as diets and appetites. But, if you’re feeling sour about your current décor, sweeten the interior with the following kitchen inspirations.

Go Tech

Get high tech, opting for appliances with LED screens, range hoods that pop out when needed, and lighting that suits activities and moods of inhabitants. Stainless cooktops make maintenance easy and one-press oven options keep cooking convenient.

Out-the-Door

Those with kitchens adjacent to patios and outside decks, double or triple the size of the food serving area, purchasing wine cabinets, grills, and seating sets that endure all weather.

There are no limits for those who want to transform an outdoor area into a kitchenette space with mini fridges, outdoor dishwashers, and wet bar.

Up and Away

Finding a place for needs in tight spaces is a problem for apartment owners and city dwellers. Fix a number of shelves in your kitchen, fitting pots, pans, dishes, seasonings, and other needs into small spaces. Make a small kitchen larger through do-it-yourself strategy and rearrangement.

The Little Things

Updating major appliances is expensive but making a change in the handles and cabinet knobs also makes a huge difference in perception. Choose polished metal to transform the face of cabinets and drawers with minimal investment.

Fresh Paint

Change the ‘feel’ of the room with a fresh coat of paint, reading up on the psychology of colours. Blues relax inhabitants while bolder reds liven the room and keep visitors attentive to in-kitchen goodies and conversation.

Window Smart

Be smart about the little things, like changing the colour of drapes and introducing designer blinds. Get deals on popular products at Super Blinds Mart.

Designer Jars

Find eye-catching jars at kitchen suppliers or ask a creative friend to paint the outer surface of a number of store-bought cans. Customise containers that hold sugar, pepper, and other cooking ingredients.

Floor Focus

Focus on the kitchen floor, choosing a number of woods that make cleaning easy and floors beautiful. Alternatively, tile can be produced to look like wood, providing the appearance but costing only a fraction of the price.

Clean Countertops

Choose all-black or pure white countertops to counter other colours in the room. Alternatively, pieces of granite enrich the look of dated counter surface and cabinet faces.

Backsplash

Get inventive with tiles, creating a colourful backsplash. Fix your kitchen with art as well as a fresh design idea. Use tiles to include the names of friends, family members, and pets.

On an Island

Hire a carpenter to build a small island, creating more space for food preparation and storage. Creative providers fix pull-out shelves, extensions, and seating surfaces to serve as a mini kitchen table, especially useful to those trying to save space.

Get Hood

Range hoods have been stealing the show when it comes to modern kitchen refurbishments. With a number of model, placement, and exterior options, a well placed and designed hood becomes the crown jewel of the room.

Musically Inclined

Traditionally, the kitchen is a place for family and friends to come together. Today, Internet, smart phone, and big screen TV options steal away from time together. Make the room more inclined for habitation through buying video and audio components like iPod player/speakers and using iPads as small-screen televisions.

Kobey Hennessy is always renovating, whether it is his home, or one of his friends or relatives houses. An avid writer, too, he loves to share his ideas with others by posting a various blog sites.

Family-friendly kitchens: warm and cozy inspiration for your cooking place

The kitchen is the hub of many homes and there is probably a constant stream of people traffic as people invariably gather around where the food and drink can be found.

Sometimes the layout of a kitchen needs updating to accommodate a growing family or maybe because it is starting to look a little tired. Here is look at how you can transform your kitchen into a warm and inviting family-friendly space, where everyone will feel at home.

Colour scheme

The layout of your kitchen is important and it needs to help you to cook and socialise with ease by making the best use of the space that is available, but to get the look and feel just right you need to make sure that you choose your colour scheme with care.

Yellow can give your kitchen walls an instant uplift, as it has the ability to give even the smallest space a sunnier disposition and it works well when you use the hue to paint the back walls behind shelving. Red and orange are also classic warm colours and all three of these colours certainly have the capacity to make a room feel more inviting and warmer.

Red might be a bold choice for some people in the kitchen, especially when you consider that it is the colour associated with stimulating appetite, so for a country kitchen style you should probably consider a lighter shade or colour that is not quite so overwhelming.

If you really want to use warm and cosy colours in your kitchen but would prefer to keep your keeping space a little more neutral, you may want to consider brown shades like chocolate chip or coffee with contrasting neutral colours like creamy white, which may be how your work top or cabinets have been finished.

Open-plan kitchen diner

If you have a kitchen that is large enough to provide a dining area within the kitchen then this is very often the modern solution for many households who have moved away from using a separate dining room to eat on a daily basis.

Plenty of seating is always going to a good idea especially if you have a family that is prone to large gatherings and enjoying mealtimes as a great way of catching up on the day’s events. You find some great seating options at a site like Swivel UK, where you can draw some inspiration and decide which particular style or finish would work well in your kitchen space and colour scheme.

An open-plan area with plenty of seating choices will encourage everyone to hang around after dinner is over and not only does it provide a great family-friendly solution, but the added bonus is that this type of kitchen setup is always very attractive to house buyers.

This means that you are potentially adding value to your home with an attractive open-plan kitchen and with a warm and cosy colour scheme to draw everyone in, no one will be too keen to stray away from the hub of the house.

Josh Burke is passionate about functional and beautiful home spaces. When not working with clients revitalizing kitchens, basements, and bedrooms, he loves blogging about his inspirations and tips he's learned over the years.

Top 5 Energy Efficient Appliances of 2014

Home appliances account for most of the energy that you use in your home. One of the best ways to reduce your electric bills is by using energy-efficient appliances. These appliances apply advanced technology, allowing you to enjoy better performance. Here are the top 5 green appliances based on information compiled from 3 of the top professional home appliance repair and maintenance providers.

The Whirlpool Gold ® Series Dishwasher with Sensor Cycle

This dishwasher automatically selects appropriate wash and dry settings. The Whirlpool Gold ®Series dishwasher with sensor cycle cleans tough stains 35% better compared to other appliances. It uses adequate amounts of water, time, and energy, allowing you to make significant savings.

It has an efficient wash system that allows you to clean a full load with less energy and water compared to other models.

This dishwasher comes with specialized options that allow you to clean a small number of dishes while still remaining energy efficient. Its Top Rack Wash helps you save energy and time because it can wash dishes placed at the top. This means that you don’t have to load dishes until you have a full load. It will also automatically determine how much water and time is required to wash the dishes on the top rack.

Its AnyWare™ Plus silverware basket allows you to free up additional rack space. The basket easily fits in the door or lower rack, allowing you to wash more dishes in a single load.

Its upper rack is adjustable and you can easily pull it in and out when you want to change its location to suit the size of the items you want to wash.

The Kenmore Elite 4.7 cu. ft. High-efficiency Top-Load Washer

This washer has an Energy Star ® label, making it an ideal choice if you are looking for a green appliance. The Kenmore Elite 4.7 cu. ft. top-load washer offers superior fabric care as one of its signature features. It applies Smart Motion technology that allows you to use 6 washing motions. It also has 14 wash cycle options and 5 temperatures, allowing you to save on energy, water, and time when cleaning your clothes.

This 4.7 cu. ft washer can accommodate large items such as bedding. It comes with an in-built heater that automatically warms water to allow enhanced cleaning. The heater will raise the water temperature quickly. This means that each fabric gets customized cleaning.

Information on the “Whirlpool Gold ® Series Dishwasher with Sensor Cycle” and “Kenmore Elite 4.7 cu. ft. High-efficiency Top-Load Washer” provided by: Accredited Appliance of Phoenix.

The Kenmore Elite 29.2 cu. ft. Side-by-Side Refrigerator with Genius Cool™

This is an Energy Star compliant stainless steel refrigerator that is designed to offer better performance. The GeniusCool™ relies on two evaporators that cool the freezer and refrigerator separately. This means that your vegetables will remain crisp while your frozen items are protected from freezer burn.

It comes with the CrisperKeeper™ drawers that absorb the natural gas emitted by vegetables and fruits when they are ripening. This helps to keep your produce fresh for a longer period.

This refrigerator offers you more storage space but it still remains in the standard 25 cu. ft. footprint. It also features the CleanFlow™ Air Filter that is used to circulate air. It is more effective at reducing food odors compared to using baking soda.

The refrigerator door can store about 8 gallons of milk. This is remarkable when it is compared to other side-by-side refrigerator models.

It also comes with SmartSense™ Temperature Management that is designed to detect temperature changes in the appliance. This feature automatically adjusts cooling to ensure foods are stored at the most appropriate temperatures. Your foods will stay fresher for longer periods in this appliance.

The refrigerator also comes with the Kenmore® dispense system, allowing you to get filtered water. You can customize the system to get preset water amounts based on your preferences.

The Thermador 36” Masterpiece Series Electric Cooktop with Touch Control and Bridge Element

This cooktop comes in an elegant design and offers precise control and excellent performance. The Touch Control feature offers 17 power settings, allowing you to save energy when cooking or warming food. It has a panel lock, timer, and 9 cooking settings, fast preheat setting, and keep warm setting.

It has the Triple Element feature that is designed to heat various types of cookware efficiently. The size of the cookware will determine how much energy is used to heat it, allowing you to gain significant energy savings.

This is one of the few cooktop models that come with a bridge element. A dual-zone element is integrated, making it easy for the appliance to heat cookware that have unique diameters. If you have oblong cookware, this appliance will come in handy when you are cooking or warming food considering its one of only a few that can do it with ease.

Information on the “Kenmore Elite 29.2 cu. ft. Side-by-Side Refrigerator with Genius Cool” and “Thermador 36” Masterpiece Series Electric Cooktop” provided by Appliance Repair Specialist of Tampa.

The Sharp R930CS 1-1/2 cu. ft. 900-Watt Convection Microwave

This is a stainless convection microwave oven that is usually used as a countertop unit but you can also have it built in. The Sharp R-930 uses 900-watt to function. It comes with more than 10 power settings. This oven has an interactive display with smart and easy sensor settings.

It has a turntable that allows food to heat evenly, reducing the amount of energy used. This appliance can also crisp, brown, bake, and broil different types of food. It’s definitely the best appliance to use when you are making popcorn.

This convection microwave oven can accommodate a 13” cake pan and standard roasting pan. It comes with additional racks that allow you to bake two different dishes at the same time.

You can use this microwave oven to cook meats such as chicken, sausages, and steak. It comes with the Sensor Cook feature that allows efficient cooking. This feature is designed for cooking hot dogs, frozen entrees, and vegetables. All you have to do is place the items on a plate and select the Sensor Cook option for the particular food item and the appliance will do the rest for you. The sensor settings offered by this appliance allow you to realize significant energy savings when used regularly.

And there are no protruding parts on this appliance, making it easy for you to clean it up with some paper towels or damp cloth.

Information on the “The Sharp R930CS 1-1/2 cu. ft. 900-Watt Convection Microwave” provided by AAA Appliance Service Center.

Can different types of kitchen tiles have different hygienic qualities?

Kitchen tiles come in a wide range of assorted colors and designs. They even vary a great deal in their sizes, ranging from exceptionally small mosaic tiles to larger ceramic tiles that measure one square foot each. In addition, kitchen tiles are used in a variety of different locations.

They can be used on the walls, on splash backs, the floors and, as always, the counters. However, there is one thing that they should all have in common. They should all be designed with hygiene in mind, and as such it should be easy to clean them and keep them free of bacteria.

For instance, kitchen tiles such as large ceramic tiles that feature deep grout can sometimes be a problem. Therefore, according to Yorkshire Tile, the grout should be finished with an antibacterial coating in order to ensure that bacteria cannot get deep into the grout and cause problems later on. This is important regardless of the location of the tiles, but it takes on a special importance when the tiles are used on the counter or in some location where the bacteria could possibly come in contact with food or food preparation areas.

In addition, it is important for you to choose the right types of kitchen tiles. The website www.tiles.org.uk focuses on the importance of choosing the right type of tile for the job that it needs to do. The website also directly ties this information in with following proper hygienic practices in the kitchen.

For example, ceramic tile is relatively easy to clean and it is easy to keep disinfected. Again, the problem usually occurs when the grout is porous and is not finished with antibacterial coating. This can easily be corrected by using the proper techniques for the grout. Furthermore, tiles that offer a mosaic appearance that are sold in sheets are easy to maintain and keep clean because they only offer the appearance of grout while the actual surface is completely smooth. These are easy to install and also easy to keep disinfected.

Choosing the right kitchen tile is vitally important, both for aesthetic purposes and to ensure that food preparation areas are kept as sterile as possible, and that the tile itself is not causing a problem related to hygiene in the kitchen.

A great first step towards finding the right tile is to know how you can protect it and keep it clean before you even use it. According to www.countrycustomtile.com, the sealant that protects against fungal and bacterial cultures is an impregnating seal, which works by seeping deep into the grout and tile and bonds with the molecules within. Remember that sealer need only to be applied on water-based grouts; epoxy-based grouts are already protected.

Clean the area carefully before laying the sealer down, and once it has set, make sure that it is dry before using it. One last precaution is to let your grout sit for a full two weeks before applying the sealer. And finally, if you are using a top coat sealer, it is not recommended for glazed tiles, as it will not stick well.

Blending in — creating a pleasant but practical kitchen

Julia Child's kitchen

It’s said that the heart of the home is in the kitchen, and that’s certainly true. The focal point of many family gatherings, the kitchen is often just a buzz of activity. Especially if you've got to cater for a large family, making sure your kitchen is well-planned out can prove a real time saver when it comes to maintaining a clean and hygienic atmosphere. Even if you’re just cooking for one, you really can’t underestimate the relaxation a few enjoyable hours in a neat kitchen can provide.

Kitchens should be designed, keeping not only aesthetics in mind, but also efficiency. Ensure that appliances are sensibly located – especially the main essentials like electric cookers, refrigerators, etc. — and workflow will be so much smoother. In fact, this is probably the most important factor while designing a kitchen.

Aesthetics are important, too. Taking the time to reflect on how you’d like your kitchen decorated is certainly worthwhile. Your kitchen has to be somewhere you enjoy spending time, and if you've got kids, making sure it’s attractive for them, too, is a neat little trick to encourage them to help with the washing up! The counter tops, the colors of the appliances, the color of the backsplash — coordinate them all to make your kitchen a pleasant room to spend time in.

Making sure the kitchen is easy to clean will help hugely, too. Alright, that carpet might look great in the shop, but when it comes to mopping up spilled sauces and wine, you’ll definitely be thankful for easy-wipe surfaces! Tiles come in such a variety of designs and colors that the hardest part of your job will be choosing what you want. Tiled floors, once laid correctly, can last a lifetime, so it’s really essential to think carefully about how you want your kitchen to look today.

The appliances in the kitchen should also be coordinated with each other. If space is at a premium, buying an electric cooker with an oven makes sense. Preferably, choose appliances of the same brand, since it makes servicing them easier and you can often get good discounts when you buy more from one company.

Keep enough space to move around the room. Try to make a small eating space in the kitchen by putting an island with stools or a small table. Put up some colorful accessories such as pictures and plants to enliven the atmosphere.

These are but a few of the many ways in which you can make your kitchen the happiest place in your home. Apply them and you’ll feel less like you’re slaving away at a stove, and more like you’re improving your quality of life.