Remodeling the kitchen is the trend when we upgrade our homes.

If you’re shopping for a new home, chances are, whether you cook or not, the kitchen is an area of great interest. The bathroom is also likely high on the list to inspect. That’s because we spend a lot of time in both of these rooms, socializing and taking care of the, ahem, important stuff.

These two areas of homes are so vital that there’s even an association to educate, certify industry professionals, and promote ideas for these rooms. The National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA), founded in 1963 as The American Institute of Kitchen Dealers, has nearly 40,000 members. Earlier this year it released its top trends for kitchens and bathrooms for 2010.

Finding what you like in a home is most important but if you’re considering a resale in the future, understanding what appeals to the masses can help. Here, then, is a look at some of the top trends from NKBA.

Concealed Kitchens. This doesn’t mean that you walk into a home and can’t find the kitchen. Instead, the kitchen area blends with other areas of the home. Formal dining spaces often aren’t used much. But when a home has a kitchen that opens to a great room, it allows far more flexibility for people’s lives. What may be concealed are items such as commonly used appliances. Ultimately, the harmonious blending of color, design, and functionality make kitchens aesthetically pleasing and useful. NKBA writes in a press release that, “Clean structural lines coupled with sleek color palettes enable the space to establish a distinctive identity, without overpowering the surrounding rooms.”

Thirst-Quenching Stations. NKBA writes that beverage stations, complete with under-counter refrigerators that hold beverages and wine, are a new element in many kitchens. Exemplifying our attachment to our morning ritual, many of these beverage stations include a coffee station (“simple single-pot coffeemakers to larger units capable of espresso, latte, and cappuccino”), states NKBA. The design typically includes space for stemware, beverage mugs and glasses, and condiments. This setup allows people to gather to quench their thirst while being out of the way of the chefs.

Rounding Out the Edges. Think soft geometry. Countertops, islands, archways, and even light fixtures, are being designed with soft, round edges. According to NKBA, “The introduction of rounded islands and countertops carves a smooth-flowing traffic pattern throughout the room, while an appropriately placed arch will bring an overall softening to the more angular fixed features that are typical in kitchens and baths.”

Varied Heights. No more monotony. Kitchen countertops, islands, and even walls are being designed for specific purposes and that means their heights are varied. The various heights create “a beautiful counterbalance.”

Asian influence. There has long been a fascination with Asian countries and now it seems that the impact of Japanese design is showing up in subtle ways such as “clean lines, open spaces, and neutral color palettes with bold splashes of color in select areas,” according to NKBA. The association says oftentimes there will be “one strong anchor piece of Japanese origin” that designs are built around.

Whether you’re shopping for a new home or thinking of remodeling your current home, remember that trends do change. However, those that tend to stick are the ones that combine pleasing looks with highly functional features.

Written by Phoebe Chongchua as found in Craig Lilly’s Newsletter.

DIY Home Improvements

A few months ago, my husband wanted to research raised bed gardens. In the past, he would have headed for the bookstore or library for books on the subject. This time, he turned to YouTube where he found many how-to videos. Some were helpful and presented the exact information he wanted.

DIY Network, affiliated with the television HGTV channel calls itself the “go-to destination for rip-up, knock-out home improvement.” Its 2857 subscribers and millions of visitors must agree. The site shares tips, an archive of HGTV shows, experts and hosts, a video library and hundreds of home improvement ideas from the basics to more complex projects. DIY Network is one of the largest and fastest-growing digital networks and leader in ratings for home improvement.

DIY Network is user-friendly, easy to navigate and you can find exactly what you need for your project. The only downside is remembering the instructions, and following step-by-step if your project is not near your computer. At DIY Network, you can find more than 20,000 projects with detailed instructions.

Expert Village is another highly visited and popular YouTube channel presenting a wide variety of videos and answers to household dilemmas. Expert Village claims to have had 19 million visitors to its site.

Calling itself the “World’s Largest How-to Site on How to Do Just About Everything,” eHow.com offers 100,000 how-to tips and ideas on every subject. The disadvantage is not knowing if the person posting the how-to is an expert. At DIY Network, you can put more trust in the knowledge base of the hosts.

Finally, Helium.com has opened a zone for how-to articles, some featuring YouTube videos. Growing in popularity, this site provides how-to guides on many different topics, some of them related to home improvement.

Whatever you choice for instructions, use the video and information to supplement what you have found in other resources. There is no substitute for having thorough written instructions and photos that you can take with you to the site of your home improvement. Depending on having a computer present and running might not be possible. And always choose video instructions with an eye toward safety. If the “expert” isn’t wearing goggles when using power tools, or giving safety instructions along with the step-by-step directions, seek a different video.

For more articles by this author, go to Helium.

The first step is to check to see what the problem is. If you turn on the disposal and it makes a noise, then most likely it is just jammed. If it doesn’t make a noise, then there is a possibility that the circuit breaker has been tripped. Check your electrical panel, and reset the circuit breaker. Now look under the unit, and you’ll see a small red reset switch. Press this button or flick the switch and it will turn the unit back on. Turn on the disposal again and it should either hum to designate that it is jammed or it should work properly. If it still doesn’t turn on, then you have a much bigger issue and should contact a professional in order to remedy the issue.

The first step when doing anything with the disposal is to ensure that the power is shutoff to this area of the house. This means that you are going to wait to turn off the circuit breaker, located in the electrical control panel. Once this is in the off position, flip your disposal to on to release any remaining power in the line. You’ll hear you disposal slightly engage, hum, then nothing. This is a sign that it is completely off and that all the power is purged from the line.

After doing this, I generally turn off the water as well. You really don’t need to do this, but as a common practice, I have just gotten used to doing it. This prevents you from accidentally turning on the water in the process and creating a mess to go with your problem.

After you have done both of these steps, take a long handle, like a broom handle or something similar and place into the disposal. NEVER USE YOUR HANDS! While placing it in there, gently try to rotate the blades. If you can easily rotate the blades and don’t feel anything in the way, there is something bigger wrong with your disposal and you should call a professional. If you notice blockage, then you have an obviously jammed disposal.

To clear the jam, take an allen wrench and attempt to clear the jam manually by inserting it into the bottom of the disposal spinning the blades until they come free and can rotate completely. Now again take the broomstick handle and jab at the jam downwards to make sure you clear it from the blades. After you have done this, you can reach down inside the disposal with a set of long nose pliers and pull out whatever is causing the blockage. I generally wear nose plugs because I often get sick by the smell and sight of what comes out. It can be pretty disgusting at times.

Now, turn the water back on and turn on the cold water. By doing this, you will harden any grease inside the disposal, which will allow the disposal to break it up, which it can’t do when the grease is loose and warm.

Turn on the electric, test it out and it should work. If it doesn’t work, then repeat the process ensuring that you have indeed removed all of the blockage. If the problem persists it is a sign of a much bigger issue and will require a professional for assistance.

WARNING : Never use chemicals to clean out your disposal, this could cause a variety of issue within the system.

For more articles by this author, go to Helium.

If you’re tripping your main safety circuit box that could be a sign that you’re overloading the electrical outlets and an indication that an electrical contractor should examine your wiring. Oftentimes, homes are renovated several times without any electrical wiring updated. Yet, this is a part of the house that can cause huge problems if it isn’t kept up-to-date.

Outdated circuit boxes
When a home hits the 40-year mark the biggest area of electrical concern is the circuit breaker box. Zack Israel, owner of Mike Electric, says that when the circuit box becomes outdated, “it doesn’t do what it’s supposed to do.” He says that as the house ages, the brand of the circuit box becomes obsolete “and today, a new generation of improved boxes is being installed.” Israel cautions homeowners about the danger of not replacing an old and outdated circuit box. “If the breaker doesn’t trip then the wire might melt and cause a fire,” says Israel.

Kitchen wiring upgrades
An area of an older home that typically needs upgraded wiring is the kitchen. “The kitchen is an area that always needs to be upgraded after 40 years. Several decades ago we didn’t have microwaves and all the appliances that we have today,” says Israel. He says that what can happen if the kitchen wiring isn’t upgraded is that when appliances are used, the circuit breaker trips or, even worse, it doesn’t trip at all. “So the kitchen is an area that you want to upgrade and bring more power to it,” he says.

The electrical code requires two circuits of 20-amps, 120 volts for GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter) receptacles for the kitchen/eating area. However, more might be necessary depending on appliances being used.

Heavy-duty appliances need dedicated outlet
A common problem for homeowners occurs when there isn’t proper distribution of the electrical circuits. Israel says homeowners often don’t understand this. “Let’s say for example that [depending on the weather] a homeowner tries to use a portable air conditioning system or heater and plugs it into just any plug – and boom! there’s no power – it trips the circuit. This is common. People don’t know that they need a dedicated circuit for that kind of appliance,” says Israel.

Wire insulation cracks
Another big problem for older homes is that electrical wiring insulation cracks. “Especially in the ceiling lights, the heat from the light rises into the box and causes the wiring insulation to crack,” says Israel. When homeowners consider tackling the task of rewiring their home they’re often overwhelmed by it—feeling like it will be too expensive and too much trouble. While it is true rewiring can be a major renovation that, in some cases, even means the homeowner must leave the home for a period of time – due to electricity needing to be turned off or just the inconvenience of living with workers in your home — the end result of peace of mind from knowing your electrical system is working properly and no longer at risk of causing a fire – (a major concern of home insurers) – is well worth the expense and any temporary hassles.

Written by Phoebe Chongchua as found in Craig Lilly’s Newsletter.

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