How to choose a chimney/extractor hood

With the kitchen increasingly becoming the focal point of family life, the ambiance is extremely important. The quality of the air in your kitchen is influenced by many things, including humidity, grease particles, dust, smells, smoke and waste heat. It is advisable therefore to ensure that “used” air is regularly cleaned and or replaced.

Composting Update!

Way back last year, I had posted about my green ambitions here. Well, happily enough, nature has not disappointed and I have me some organic manure for my fledging garden.

I must admit though, its terribly icky and smellier than promised, but totally worthwhile. No fertilizers, no pollution. Just good ole nature!

Get out of the dark and into the light!

So your new kitchen has been installed. You have the exact colours that you liked, everything is just as you wanted, but WHY is it not looking as good as the same one you saw in the showroom?? This is a common  problem that is often overlooked but is of utmost importance- aesthetically and practically- and that is lighting.

Proper lighting goes a long way in bringing warmth and beauty in any space. Much of the warm, homey atmosphere in your kitchen comes from the way light and shadows fall. Read more to understand how to take care of lighting in your kitchen ….

Whats cooking in 2011?

I think design and especially kitchen design is at one of its most exciting times and is undergoing a sea of change as we speak (or as we write?).

Opulence no longer carries the same perceived style as before. While we see a greater emphasis on clean lines and clutter free looks we also see appliances, hardware and fittings getting more sophisticated than ever before.  There is also resurgence in interest in cooking and baking.

People are taking to the kitchen in droves and becoming master chefs  to impress! So here is my take on the kitchen trends to look out for in the future.

Garbage on my mind

Well – composting to be more precise!  One of my (read-my only) resolutions for 2011 is to ‘reduce-reuse and recycle’. I know it’s something that most everyone is talking about, but I seriously wanted to stop reading about it and DO something!

So this weekend we bought our very own compost pit! I had seen a version of it years ago and after a lot of failed promises of getting to it, we finally bought one. Here it is nestled in a corner of our terrace garden.

Can’t wait to get started! Here’s hoping for a greener 2011.

So, check out this great website which sells these products and gives a whole lot of info on everything from managing waste to making your life greener and prettier!–http://www.dailydump.org/

Pantone Honeysuckle –Colour for 2011

For 2011, the color of the year is honeysuckle, a warm pink that straddles the line between coral and poppy red. Since I’m not such a pink lover, I wonder how this colour will be used in interiors and especially in kitchens. Here is how you can use pink in your kitchens … 

Lights, chandeliers and action?

The other day we went to look for lights for it and quite frankly I was just blown away by some of the pieces! At the moment I’m in love with chandeliers; so much so that I want to put them everywhere. From kitchens to bathrooms to terrace gardens. I just love the character and whimsy it adds. Of course you have to have the scale and proportion to pull off something fabulous like that, but I’m seriously coveting some of these pieces.

Read more to see a small round up of chandeliers in kitchens.