Go Green in the Kitchen

Helping the environment is something we all strive to do and, fortunately, there are things we can do in our day-to-day lives to help contribute.  Even if you’re not out there cleaning rivers and lakes or participating in environmental conservation activities, your little green ways at home can create a huge impact.

Making your kitchen greener can be a great step toward a more eco-friendly lifestyle. Not only will it help the environment, but it will also save energy, reduce your bills, and allow you to enjoy a healthier life. Below are some ideas for becoming greener in your kitchen:

• Purchase kitchen appliances that have an Energy Star sticker. This will guarantee that what you are using is energy-efficient. In addition, use your appliances wisely, so you don’t waste energy.  For example, avoid opening your freezer or refrigerator until you are sure of what you want to get, so you don’t let all of the cool air out.
• Use sturdy kitchenware.  If you purchase kitchenware made of cheap materials, don’t expect it to last long. Sure, low-quality utensils will work fine in soups, omelets, and fried foods, but when it comes to tough cooking, they usually wear down. Spend a little bit more money to invest in higher quality kitchen ware that will last you a long time.  This will not only save you money in the long run, but it will reduce your garbage waste.
• Avoid using bottled water. Some kitchens use bottled water for kitchen use and consumption. If your tap water is not as clean as you would like, use a filter instead. That way, you don’t have to buy any more water bottles, which is more cost-efficient, and you reduce the amount of non-biodegradable plastic waste that you put into the environment.
• Take your cooking outside. Since it’s summertime, seize the opportunity to grill outside and reduce your electricity bill by not using your large kitchen appliances.  It will also encourage the rest of your family to go outdoors and enjoy the summer air, thus reducing the electricity consumption in other rooms as well.
• Use small appliances instead of bigger ones. The smaller they are, the less energy they consume.  For example, try using a small toaster oven or microwave instead of your large main oven when possible.
• Waste nothing. As much as possible, avoid wasting things inside your kitchen. That means no food waste, no excess packaging or plastic bags, and no throwing things away before they have been fully used. You can reuse a lot of items like cans, bottles, and plastic bags, or you can recycle them via your local pick-up service or drop-off locations. For organic waste, create a compost for your garden.
• Use green cleaners. Avoid buying cleaners that have chemicals in them because they not only harm the environment, but they can also pose a major risk to your family. Also, use cloths and rags when cleaning instead of disposable paper towels.
• Buy organic and eat green. Introduce your family to healthier green dining with organic ingredients that are good for the body.

Jennifer Fields
Oklahoma City & Edmond Real Estate Agent
405.330.00

How to Make Your Kitchen Cabinet More Useful

Extra work space is always valuable in the kitchen, especially if the area is already on the small side in the first place. You have to have somewhere to prepare food and cook, as well as a place to store all of your cooking utensils and appliances. That isn’t always an easy task, however, and simply “storing” things on the counter often results in clutter.

Fortunately, there is a solution. Kitchen cabinet doors do not have to be restricted to simply serving as a barrier. They can also provide extra function and space by utilizing hooks, bins, and racks.

Below are some helpful ideas on how you can make extra use of your cabinet doors:

• Use them to hold keys. Instead of tossing keys into a bowl or dish, attach hooks to the inside of a cabinet door and hang your keys in there. Not only does it free up counter space by no longer having a dish laying around, but it also keeps the keys out of view and makes things look less cluttered.
• Attach a calendar to the outside. The kitchen is the gathering center of many homes, and if you often find yourself trying to keep up with school meetings, important events, and family schedules while in that room, placing a calendar on one of your cabinets is a great way to stay up to date with everything. Likewise, it is a great place to hang a notepad for your to-do lists.
• Add a towel rack. Place a towel rack either inside or outside your cabinet door for easy access during food preparation.
• Install a kitchen clock. A small wall clock on the outside of your cabinet door is a great way to keep track of the time while cooking. It’s also a way to get around limited wall space.
• Attach a cork board or blackboard to the inside. This can serve as a memo board for you, or you can write notes and reminders to yourself or other family members and keep track of things like to-do lists and grocery lists. Just be sure to verify the measurements of your door before you buy the board.
• Install racks or bins for extra storage for small food items like spices and canned foods. Make sure that you use a sturdy rack and that it can easily fit into your cabinet when the door is closed.
• Attach cup hooks for your small cups and mugs.
• Attach a wire basket to store extra plates and other flat items.
• Install a small mirror in case you need to make a quick touch up before you take food out to serve your guests.

Jennifer Fields
Oklahoma City & Edmond Real Estate Agent
405.330.0031

Seven Design Tips to Make Your Small Kitchen Look Bigger

Small kitchens may seem like a huge impediment for homeowners who desire larger kitchen spaces because they prohibit them from having the appliances and necessities that they want, and they often end up looking cluttered.  However, even if space is limited, there are still ways to make your kitchen look larger than it is.

Here are seven design tips to follow to make your small kitchen appear bigger:

• Use of space. Consider the essential usage of your kitchen and determine your needs inside the space.  Do you need a huge freezer and refrigerator or will a regular sized refrigerator with a small freezer on top suffice?  Is a dishwasher necessary or can you settle for manual dishwashing in the kitchen sink?  Do you need an oversized oven or will a regular sized oven do? Identifying these needs will help you buy only the things are essential to your activities and get rid of the unnecessary things that may take up more space in your kitchen.
• Mirrors and reflective appliances. Mirrors and stainless appliances reflect light and imagery, which creates the  illusion of a larger space. Opt for these materials where possible.
• Lights and bright colors. Creating the impression of natural lighting can make your kitchen space look bigger. Colors that are cool to the eyes, such as light blue or light green, will make the walls look like they are receding, thus creating an illusion of more space.
• Open spaces. Closed spaces, such as cabinets with closed doors, can make a room appear narrow.  If you open up the spaces, by replacing solid cabinet doors with glass ones, for example, it will give the impression of more space  Your eyes will be able to pass through spaces more easily because they will flow together.
• Natural light. Bringing in more natural light can enlarge a small space. Do away with heavy and dark curtains or other window treatments. As much as possible, open your windows or use no curtains at all. If privacy is your issue, cover your window with light-colored sheer treatments.
• Smaller furnishings and appliances. Instead of the standard big kitchen island in the middle of the room, use a narrow but long table. This will free up more floor space and still give you a functional workstation.  Also, buy smaller appliances, so there is more available free space for cooking or additional appliances.
• Glass materials. Using glass materials for your cabinet doors and countertops will allow light to bounce around and brighten the room.  If you have a kitchen door, you can even convert it into a glass door, so you can look out to other areas of the house.

 

Jennifer Fields
Oklahoma City & Edmond Real Estate Agent
405.330.0031

Zoning Your Kitchen for More Organized Activity

Our home is our haven from the busy lifestyles, and it is a place where we can relax and simply enjoy the company of our loved ones. However, even if we consider our home the best place to relax, there is still one area of the house that has a lot of activity – the kitchen.

The kitchen is one of the busiest areas of the house not only because we prepare food, cook, and clean dishes there, but also because lots of other activities take place there as well, such as homework, snack time, browsing the internet on our computers, reading the paper, etc.  Because the kitchen is, in many ways, the central hub of the home, there is only one way to make everything flow seamlessly – it’s time to zone your kitchen.

Assigning zones in your kitchen will help organize things.  Zones will set specific functions for each particular area of the kitchen, so activities appropriate for a certain zone can only be done there and will not, therefore, disrupt other activities that are going on simultaneously in other parts of the kitchen.  By creating, many activities can be accomplished in the kitchen at once, and everyone can maintain their sanity.

Some common zones inside the kitchen include the prep work zone, the cooking zone, the cleaning zone, and the storage zone. The prep work zone is where we prepare our food for our meals, so it normally has easy access to water, food, and utensils. Where we cook our food is in the cooking zone, usually where the stove and oven are located.  The cleaning zone is basically where we clean our dishes, so it must include sink and dishwasher areas.  Finally, the storage zone is where we keep our food and kitchen essentials, and it is usually made of up cabinets, drawers, and pantries.

Other zones inside the kitchen include a dining zone, a home office zone, a serving zone, a baking zone, and a kid’s area. These zones are sometimes incorporated inside the kitchen, but are secondary options due to space limitations.  For instance, if you have a larger kitchen, you can add a dining zone, a home office zone, or a kids’ area, but if you have a smaller kitchen, sticking with the basics of a prep work zone, a cooking zone, and a cleaning zone may be best.

Keep in mind also that kitchen zones that are similar in function are best situated beside each other. A prep work zone may be perfect between a cleaning zone, so you can easily clean mixing bowls, and a cooking zone, so you can continue preparing other food items while you cook. A serving zone can sometimes be used as a dining zone if only your immediate family members will be eating the meal.

Once your kitchen is divided into different zones, you can rest assured that your kitchen activities will be done in a more systematized, interference-free way.

Jennifer Fields
Oklahoma City & Edmond Real Estate Agent
405.330.0031