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 Kitchen Color Trends and Tips

 

Every homeowner knows that the kitchen is the perfect place to please the palate. But it can also be the perfect place to add character with the color palette. When remodeling the hub of your home, choosing the right colors is an important part of the decision making process. But how do you choose colors that are compatible with your space and your taste?

Cabinetry Color vs. Wall Color
Painting your kitchen walls is an easy way to add color and personality to your space. Soft blue wall paints, which are calming and easy to live with, are also versatile as they work well with both light and dark cabinetry. The color can balance cabinetry with a darker finish, such as cherry spice, or accent cabinetry with a lighter finish like maple butterscotch.

Go Bold
If you prefer the colors in your home to be trendy, consider using dramatic hues to brighten up your kitchen walls. “Bold, ethnic colors such as red and gold, the colors of China, are expected to gain interest because of the upcoming Olympics, while botanical greens are strong partly because of the environmental movement,” says Edwards. If you are not quite ready to make such a bold commitment, buy a small container of paint and test it on an inconspicuous area of the wall to see how it works with your kitchen and your style.

Mixing Finishes and Countertops: How to Avoid a Color Trap
Another simple solution for taking a kitchen from drab to dazzling is to mix cabinetry finishes and/or countertop colors. Mixing finishes and countertops is a surefire way to avoid the common color mistake of matching everything. When everything in a room is the same color, it becomes either too intense or too bland.

To avoid this color trap, choose two finishes that balance one another. Combining a maple cream or natural maple finish on the main cabinetry with a cherry chocolate finish on the island adds depth and pulls the entire room together. Or, keep the finish the same on both and use contrasting countertops for the main kitchen and the island to achieve the same balance.

For another fool-proof solution, black countertops combined with white or cream cabinetry create a timeless look. The black and white trend has made a big comeback in the last year.

It’s the Little Things that Make a Big Difference
If you do not want to transform your entire kitchen into a colorful oasis, but still want to show off your style, a little bit can go a long way:

* Incorporate a backsplash in a patterned, multi-colored, or even metallic tile to easily add personality without committing to a full-on color renovation.

* Include glass front cabinetry, such as an open or mullion frame door, to create a dramatic backdrop for your vibrant glassware.

* For a quick and easy color pick-me-up, change your cabinet hardware; add colorful art prints; or invest in some bright appliances such as a toaster, food processor or mixer.

While a lot of thought and consideration should be put into the color choices of your kitchen, it does not have to be an overwhelming process.

 

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Kitchen Color Trends and Tips

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Tip of the Month

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Ask Dave

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From Tamaria’s Kitchen

 

 

 

THE

BUILDING INSPECTOR

OF

CONNECTICUT

 

TIP OF THE MONTH

 

Coffee Grinder Minder

Are you a real gourmet coffee aficionado -- someone who grinds their beans for maximum flavor and savors every last drop?  Here's one more thing that's good to know.  To keep on brewing a kinder, gentler cup of coffee, you should take a cup of white rice and run it through your grinder about once a month to both clean it and sharpen the blades. Then unplug it (if it's electric) and brush out any residual rice and any old stale coffee remnants. Once clean, you're good to go for another month’s worth of your favorite gourmet coffee.

 

 

1929 East Main Street #108

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Dave

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                                          Dave Muirhead—President

                                            Building Inspections, Inc.

 

Q:   What is asbestos?

 

A:  Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral. The distinguishing feature of asbestos is its long, thin fibers.  These fibers are strong, fireproof, impervious to chemical corrosion and poor conductors of heat and electricity. These properties make asbestos ideal for use in a wide variety of products. Products containing asbestos are referred to as "asbestos containing materials" (ACMs).

What products contain asbestos? The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency classified asbestos in three categories:

 

 

 

 

 

• Surfacing materials: These materials are sprayed or troweled onto surfaces, often for fireproofing.

• Thermal system insulation: These materials were used as insulation to limit heat transfer in heating andcooling systems.

• Miscellaneous materials: This category includes all other uses of asbestos. Most of the materials in this category are nonfriable.  The EPA makes a distinction between friable and nonfriable ACMs. If a product is friable, it can be "crumbled or reduced to powder by hand pressure."  Some uses of asbestos in homes are vinyl floor tiles and glue; ductwork or piping for furnaces and air conditioners; simulated ashes and embers in gas log sets; paint and wall patching compounds; roofing; siding; and insulation. 

How can asbestos be harmful? To be harmful, asbestos fibers must be inhaled. To be inhaled, the asbestos fibers must be airborne. There are several diseases associated with exposure to asbestos. The following are three of the most common.

• Asbestosis: Asbestosis is a scarring of the lungs that results in difficulty breathing. Asbestosis progresses slowly, often taking 15 to 30 years to become noticeable.

• Lung cancer: Lung cancer also can take 20 to 30 years to show up after exposure to asbestos. Smokers

exposed to asbestos are 50 times more likely to develop lung cancer than nonsmokers.

• Mesothelioma: Mesothelioma is a cancer of the lining of the chest.

What do I do if I have asbestos in my house? Since disturbing asbestos can release more fibers, the EPA generally recommends leaving asbestos-containing materials alone. If you have to disturb the materials during renovation, consultation with a qualified asbestos abatement contractor is recommended.

For more information: www.epa.gov, or call the Consumer Product Safety Commission, 1-800-638-2772.

 

 
A conclusion is the place where you got tired of thinking.
From Tamaria’s Kitchen
Seafood Linguine Fra Diavolo

 

INGREDIENTS:

  • 2 tablespoons, plus 1 1/4 teaspoons salt, divided
  • 1 pound linguine
  • 6 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
  • 2 sliced red jalapenos
  • 3/4 pound medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
  • 1 tablespoon Essence, divided
  • 1 cup small diced onion
  • 2 tablespoons minced garlic
 
  • 2 1/2 teaspoons crushed red pepper flakes, or to taste
  • 2 cups canned tomato sauce
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 12 littleneck clams, scrubbed
  • 1/2 pound mussels, scrubbed and de-bearded
  • 1/2 pound calamari, bodies diced into rings, with the tentacles
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley leaves
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan, optional

 

      

Bring a large 1-gallon pot of water to a boil, add 2 tablespoons of the salt to the pot and place the pasta in it. Cook, stirring occasionally, until al dente, about 10 minutes. Drain and then transfer pasta to a large bowl and drizzle with 1 tablespoon of the olive oil. Toss to coat the pasta well, then set aside.

As the pasta cooks, set a 14-inch saute pan over medium-high heat and add the remaining olive oil. Once hot add the red jalapenos. Season the shrimp with 2 teaspoons of the Essence, add the shrimp to the pan and cook for 1 minute. Turn the shrimp over and cook another minute. Remove the shrimp from the pan and set aside as you prepare the sauce.

Place the onions in the pan and cook until wilted, about 3 to 4 minutes. Add the garlic and saute until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the red pepper flakes and saute briefly before adding the tomato sauce and tomato paste. Cook the sauce briefly, then add the clams to the pan. Cover the pan and cook the clams for 1 minute, remove the lid, add the mussels to the pan and replace the cover. Cook the mussels for 2 minutes, remove the lid and season the calamari with the remaining 1 teaspoon of Essence before adding them to the pan along with the seared shrimp and the pasta. Continue to cook the pasta, tossing to blend the pasta with the sauce, and season with the remaining 1 1/4 teaspoons of the salt, about 2 minutes. Garnish the pasta with the chopped parsley and cheese and serve.

         Serves 4