Some advantages of butcher block countertops have that other countertops don’t is that it can be sanded down and refinished or oiled if it becomes stained, scratched or otherwise damaged.  No other countertop, including more expensive ones such as granite, marble, and corian, can claim this advantage.  Even when it is sanded down, it doesn’t have that patched up look.  It looks completely new!  Regular maintenance on the countertops helps to minimize the need for the whole countertop to be sanded down.  Routine light sanding with a block sander and applying mineral oil about every six weeks will keep the butcher block countertop looking great.

Another advantage of butcher block countertops is that a home owner will get an extremely pleasing look for a fraction of the cost of other countertops.  A person may choose to just do a portion of their countertop in butcher block, such as an island or area by the stove.  The great thing about butcher block countertops is that it goes well with other types of countertops and a vast array of appliances.   Also, sharp knives will not become dull after repeated use on the butcher block countertop. Remember that butcher block tops require maintenance to keep them sanitary and looking new for years. It is important to use cutting board oil regularly to make sure you can achieve the look, and food ready surface you are looking for.

Some of the sturdier butcher block countertops are made of Hard Rock Maple or Appalachian Red Oak.  If left unsealed or oil-finished these types are perfect for preparing and cutting food directly on them.  If a homeowner chooses another type of wood, especially expensive, exotic woods, he or she may want to consider having the countertop sealed and not use it for cutting on.  Most special order woods are not strong or hard enough to cut directly on them and can become damaged beyond repair if they are repeatedly used for such type of work.

So if you are shopping for a new kitchen countertop, you might want to consider the beauty, practicality, and durability of butcher block countertops..

It doesn’t matter if there is a lot of wall space or just a little, you’ll want those walls to support your new decorating scheme and you will be pleased at  just how much of an improvement new wall decor can make in your newly remodeled kitchen.  So coordinating the wall treatment style and color with your new cabinets and counter are very important.

If you’ve never hung wallpaper, be assured it is relatively easy to learn, yet it takes a lot of patience and attention to detail if you are working with patterned wallpaper because you have to know how to match the seams.  There are about 4 different pattern types when it comes to wallpaper such as straight across match, free match, random match and drop match.   So if  the wallpaper you have chosen to use does have a pattern, it might be a good idea to  buy some cheaper paper that is going out of stock and practice a little bit on a separate piece of plywood until you get the hang of it.  So gather your materials and read through the instructions and manufacturer’s guidelines before starting.

Depending on the size of your kitchen and the walls that will be covered, you probably should plan on allowing at least of couple of days for this particular project to be finished as there are several steps you must do in order to get your walls ready.  If you replaced your sheet rock during your remodel, then you will need to prime the wall first with wallpaper primer to seal the drywall and this also helps the paper adhere to the wall.  If you didn’t replace the drywall, then you just need to make sure it is free of dirt, sand and smooth any chipped paint and using a puddy knife to apply spackle over any holes or cracks and then lightly sand those areas until the surface is smooth.    Also remove any electrical outlets and light switch covers.

It is a good idea to start and finish your wallpapering in a corner near the curtains or behind the door just in case of any mismatching.  That way it won’t be so obvious.  Also, the focal point of the room should have the least seams and the first strip should line up with the last strip of wallpaper you hang allowing for the pattern to match up at that place.  Be sure and pay attention to matching your pattern as you cut and hang each strip.

After all is said and done,  and you are ready to replace your plug plates and light switch covers, you might also think about covering them being careful though to match the pattern on your wall.  But whatever you decide,  just don’t get in a big hurry and work slowly to avoid making any costly mistakes and you will really appreciate all your hard work when looking at your new beautiful kitchen.

So to get the kitchen of your dreams, it would be reasonable to get knowledgeable professionals to give you some design ideas as well as types of cabinet material that would fit your budget and blend into your already existing kitchen.  Also, keep in mind that in an open kitchen that leads into a living room or dining room, islands can be a nice way to break up the space and add extra seating and storage. So after all the ideas and suggestions are given, you decide that for the way your particular kitchen was designed, you have more than ample room to add an island.

Here are a few good reasons why putting in an island works.  First, they work because they can be accessed from all sides like a regular kitchen table.  Second, they become the focal point of a kitchen because they have the look and feel of furniture, rather than just a component.  Third, they can accommodate multiple cooks, kids doing homework, etc…

Now, what kind of island do you want. You may want to decide on a typical simple flat surface counter to match the countertops of all your other cabinets which are laminate, therefore making it easy to match. Kitchen islands can be custom-made using a variety of materials for the base and the countertop.  Or this may be a project you may want to take on yourself.  Either way,  it is a simple solution and contributes a simple elegant look to the kitchen.  This would also add much added working space and storage areas.  To add personality and style, you can add architectural details such as bump-outs, corner posts, inset areas and open shelving.

Also keep in mind your own personal entertaining style.  Do you entertain a lot, and does everyone tend to gather in the kitchen?  You may also want your new kitchen to be casual, not formal.  With hundreds of options for your new countertops, it’s best to narrow the scope by deciding on your color scheme and then picking the texture that best suits you.

Keep in mind that countertops are made of lots of different materials – solid surfacing, natural or engineered stone even ceramic or glass tile.  But if you are looking for the best selection or colors and patterns and the lowest price, laminate is your choice.  There is a large variety of patterns and colors that range from vibrant pure colors to many patterns that simulate the look of stone and wood – at a fraction of the cost that you would pay for real thing.

When it comes to the edging of your countertops, formica countertops offer more choices than other materials.  It comes in a wide range of rolled edges as well as beveled.  And only laminate can be formed into a seamless cove backsplash to keep all those nasty spills form going behind the cabinets.

Several things you want to keep in mind when installing laminate countertops in the proper way of keeping them clean so they will last and stay as beautiful as the day you installed them.  If you stay on top of it, cleaning is simple and easy.  Just use a damp cloth or sponge with a mild soap or detergent.  If you get a didfficult stain such as tea or coffee, it can be removed by using a mild cleaner and baking soda – mixing to achieve a paste consistency and using a stiff nylon bristle brush.  Don’t scrubb to hard and do so for about 15-20 strokes so as not to scratch the finish.

Some recommended household cleaners are Formula 409, Dawn, Glass Plus, Fantastic, Windex, Pledge, Mr. Clean and Top Job.  Beware of acidic or abrasive cleaners as they can damage laminate surfaces, so do not use them.  Also beware of hair, textile and food dyes as these too can cause permanent damage.  If you do have one of these spills, you would want to wipe it immediately with dishwashing detergent or an all-purpose cleaner.  Be sure to always rinse the surface several times.

Sure, every place you go sells some kind of expensive or maybe not so expensive window cleaning solutions that are supposed to be streak free.  Well you can make your own solution at less than half of what you would have to pay for something from the store.  All you need is a bucket or large spray bottle depending on how many windows you have, vinegar , antibacterial liquid dish soap , water and plenty of old newspapers.    I prefer distilled water as it will cut down on the minerals in the mix and prevent water spots from appearing later on.  The dish soap will remove any wax buildup that may be on your windows from previous cleaning solutions bought from the store which causes your windows to streak.  That’s right – the wax buildup causes the window streaking!  So don’t be afraid to add the soap.

If you have a lot of windows I would suggest that you do half of the house one day and the other half the next and be sure to do this on a day when it is not too sunny as the sunlight will tend to make it more difficult to tell if you are doing a good job and if you are getting off all the streaks.  Also, it is good to wipe off the dust and debris from the window seals and frames before you start your actual washing of the glass.   It is easier to use a bucket of your solution if you have a lot of windows to clean on the outside.  If using a bucket, add about one cup of vinegar to very warm water and about 1/4 cup of dish soap.  If using a spray bottle, use about 2-3 tablespoons of vinegar and about 8-10 drops of liquid soap.  If you don’t like the idea of using vinegar or can’t take the smell, try using lemon juice or club soda instead.

Now that you are ready to go to work, just wrinkly up the old news papers and dip them in the solution and start cleaning.  I suggest that you do the outside windows in a horizontal direction and the inside of the window in a diagonal direction as this will help you see if there is any streaks in the windows.  Once you wash one, go behind it with a dry newspaper.  If you don’t like the idea of using newspapers, you can also use large coffee filters which are relatively inexpensive and work very well as they are lint free.

As an added bonus and a great shine to your fresh clean windows, use a chalkboard eraser (the real ones make with wool) on them after you have dried them and see if anyone notices!

So now that everything is outside and clearly visible, start by sorting everything into categories to make them easier to find.  Maybe now would be a good time to think about perhaps having a garage sale and making a few extra dollars so you can purchase some shelving, hooks and plastic totes with lids to store your remaining items in.  If you don’t like the idea of a garage sale, maybe you could just donate your unwanted items to some charitable organizations who could use them.

Now that you have a system going and everything is in it’s category, start by putting those items that are not used as often in plastic containers and be sure and label the container as to what in inside.  It is good to keep a running inventory of what is in each container for easy access.  You can either put these containers up on a shelf out of the way or you can just easily stack them up against the wall out of the way.  If an item is too big for the container, make a special spot for it on a shelf and label the shelf as to what goes there so after it has been used you will know exactly where it goes when you put it back.

If you have lawn and or garden tools such as a shovel, rake, hoe or broom, etc.,  it is a good idea to put them on hooks on the wall near the exit to the outside where they will be used.  You can even outline them on the wall with a marker if you like so you know exactly where each one goes and if something is missing you know it by just looking at the picture on the wall.

We all know that bicycles take up a lot of room, so why not invest in some large rubber coated hooks that are make specifically for this and hang them from the ceiling.  You will be amazed at the space that this will leave you.  If you have small children with small bikes,  it may be easier to leave them down on ground level, but go ahead and hang the adults bikes.

If you have a large collection of nails, different kinds of screws, nut and bolts, a simple solution to this problem is to put them in glass jars with lids and label what is in each jar.   A good sized jar to use is baby food jars, so if you have any friends or neighbors with babies, just ask them for a few jars and I’m sure they will be glad to share with you.  You can actually get a piece of plywood and screw or nail the lids to each of the jars on it and then hang the plywood on the garage near the rest of your tools and then you can fill each jar with whatever you want in it and then just screw the jar to the appropriate lid for easy access.