Year: 2019

  • Things To Do After a Hurricane or Flood

    Things To Do After a Hurricane or Flood

    In 2011 it was Hurricane Irene; in 2012 it was Sandy and now Hurricane Patricia is expected to be one of the strongest hurricanes — if not the strongest — recorded in the Western Hemisphere. Even though there isn’t agreement on the causes of climate change, there does appear to be agreement that climate change is real, and the changes to our shorelines and our constructed environment are most likely to be deep. And while there’s much we can do in order to prepare our homes for all these storms, we will also need to still take care of the aftermath.

    Within this story from the Disaster Recovery archive, you will see things to do when flood waters have left homes and communities ruined and soggy — and how to begin to rebuild.

    Related: 7 Ways to Help Someone Hit by a Hurricane

    American Red Cross

    Before heading home, be sure it is safe to return. Check with your regional authorities and utility companies to make sure your neighborhood is a safe place to come back to, as downed power lines, standing water and debris present many dangers.Once you buy home, make sure the utility connections are in good condition. Gas lines, electrical connections etc., should be inspected before you proceed throughout the house. If possible, have a utility business technician or building professional (a licensed electrician, plumber etc.) assist you with the review. Even if you feel comfortable doing it yourself, having another pair of eyes appearing will help. If you’re planning to stay in your home, make sure smoke detectors and alarm systems are working.

    Know whom to contact and how. Contact your insurance carrier and stay in contact with local authorities. Before a storm hits, be certain that you have hard copies of telephone numbers for insurance brokers, first responders, building officials, medical personnel and utility companies.

    American Red Cross

    Inspect for and record the damage. Applying video and photos, record the extent of the damage to your home, neighborhood and property. Camera in hand, walk around your home, both indoors and out, to capture the harm. While photographs are great, a narrated video is better.

    When you wander around, you are going to be searching for both obvious and not-so-obvious signs of harm (waterlogged carpeting, furniture that’s been tossed about). Things such as cracks in basement floor slabs and foundation walls are signs of possible structural issues and should be addressed quickly.

    Conduct the inspection with an expert. Your insurance provider will likely make a specialist available to you, or you can certainly call in an architect or engineer who specializes evaluating properties after natural disasters. Have the expert look for damaged and wet drywall, wood, siding, roofing and so on. Document the harm. Pay special attention to the structural components (base, concrete slabs, framing). Also carefully inspect for potential problems (areas for future mould growth, roof damage, escapes).

    Bud Dietrich, AIA

    Eliminate the water. As far as you will want to get rid of the water immediately, you will need to await every one of the flood waters to recede outside before doing so. If they do, remove any water from your attic or crawl space to stop additional damage to the home’s structure. You would like to avoid putting any undue pressure on your base from groundwater.

    American Red Cross

    Eliminate the damaged contents. As difficult as it can be, you are going to need to get rid of whatever’s been ruined beyond repair. Things such as furniture, toys and carpets all have to go to prevent mould growth. For insurance purposes, record each thing you need to shed.

    Practice the disaster-recovery procedures your regional authorities have established to prevent just moving the clutter from within your home to the street.

    Bud Dietrich, AIA

    Air out and disinfect affected areas. Once the water is out along with the damaged items are eliminated, dry flooded areas using mobile fans and dehumidifiers. Be sure everything is dry prior to attempting any restoration. Use cleaning agents like bleach to get rid of any water stains and mould spores.

    Once the basement is dry, test for air quality and any evidence of damp places and possible mold spores. Use bleach or something very similar to wash up any remaining areas of concern.

    American Red Cross

    Clean up the lawn. Downed trees and loose branches, plus damaged shrubs, patios and decks, are all going to want cleaning and restoration. First make sure it’s absolutely safe to walk around your lawn. Check to make sure that there are not any branches or trees around to return and no weakened or downed power lines near. Document the condition of your house prior to cleanup. Cracked and heaved drives, paths and patios should all be recorded.

    American Red Cross

    Think beforehand. As devastating as such natural disasters are, they provide us a chance to reconstruct for the future. So unless your house is too far gone to restore, use this as an opportunity to make improvements to be much better prepared for your future. Contain a generator for emergency power in your rebuilding plans. If you are really close to the ocean, think about rebuilding the house on stilts. In fact, you might need to do these items to comply with local building codes and codes anyway.

    Nevertheless you rebuild, remember that more than likely, we haven’t seen the last of hurricanes such as Patricia.

    More: 4 Things a Hurricane Teaches You About Design

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  • Get Cookin' With the Right Microwave

    Get Cookin' With the Right Microwave

    Microwaves can be tricky for a kitchen designer. They aren’t the belles of the ball nor the cutting-edge appliance du jour. Yet most people use them and need them at a place. They also are available in many shapes and sizes, unlike other appliances. Learn about the four main types of microwaves here and get some tips about how best to pick and put them.

    Ellen Grasso & Sons, LLC

    Built-In Microwave

    What it is: Built-in microwaves include a trim kit that is often ordered separately. Any size microwave can be built in — large-capacity, high-wattage units or compact countertop units — but the trim kit permits the microwave to seem more integrated.

    Variations: Built-in microwaves can be set up on their own at a cabinet or over a single oven unit. Trim kits from manufacturers frequently come in a couple of sizes, and custom trim kits are also offered.

    When to use:
    When specifying a microwave, it is important to take into account the following:
    Can it be found in a place that is out of the cook’s way but also easy to access? I have found that near the refrigerator works best.
    Is there counter area nearby to set hot dishes on?
    Can it be in a convenient height for the whole family?How deep is your cabinet for your microwave? How does this use adjacent cabinetry? Which way would the microwave door swing? Will the door get in the way?
    Hint: Be attentive when figuring the thickness of the cabinet for your built-in microwave, and make sure you measure the plug, also. Specs can be hard, and the thickness of the plug might make your microwave not seem so built in after all.

    John Lum Architecture, Inc.. AIA

    Microwaves over built-in ovens seem better when they appear to be exactly the same width as the oven below it, which is why you might need a larger trim kit.

    Julie Williams Design

    You can put in a normal microwave at a base cabinet, but you might want to check out microwave options, which are often much simpler to use in this place.

    Sears

    Dacor Discovery Convection Microwave, Stainless Steel – $969

    Trim kits are available from many microwave manufacturers, but you can also purchase after-market kits online for a good price.

    Turan Designs, Inc..

    Over-the-Range Microwave

    What it is: In over-the-range microwaves, the microwave and stove hood are one unit. A few of these units vent, while others only recirculate air. These units are approximately 24 to 30 inches wide and are shallower than full-size constructed microwaves. The shallow size means they can be set up over the cooking surface without causing you to hit your mind every time you lean forwards to mix the tomato sauce.

    Variations: the majority of these microwaves are made to go over a 30-inch selection or cooktop and might come with trim bits to make them seem wider. Recirculation and vented options are both available. When it is a vented model, check out the wattage and CFMs (cubic feet per minute) on the hood to make sure that you’re getting the right one for your needs.

    When to use:
    If you are limited on space in your kitchen, this is a great bet. Stylewise, it proceeds to seems better in a apartment or condo than a single-family house. If you’ve got the distance, I recommend installing a stand-alone exhaust fan or hood and placing the microwave in a different place. From a design perspective, hoods control a presence and seem more substantial over a range than a microwave-hood combo. Additionally, microwave-hood combos tend to be somewhat less powerful, since they have lower CFMs. The same is true of recirculating hoods, which have charcoal filters and don’t actually port to the exterior.

    IKEA

    Framtid Microwave Oven With Extractor Fan – $249

    Over-the-range microwaves are very similar in style and are shallower in thickness to fit under a normal wall cabinet. The shallower depth allows for them to be put lower over the cooking surface (24 inches off the cooktop) than a normal hood (30 inches over the cooktop).

    Rebekah Zaveloff | KitchenLab

    Drawer Microwave

    What it is: A drawer microwave permits for base cabinet setup. Because it pulls out, the switches are positioned higher, making it simpler and easier on the back.

    Variations: A few manufacturers today make these, but they’re not exceptionally different from one another except in fashion. Typically they arrive in 24- or 30-inch wide options and fit inside a standard base cabinet. If you are using cabinets from a stock cabinet company, make among those cabinets will work with the device you’ve selected.

    When to use: Some homeowners actually struggle with microwave place; placing it in the wrong place can actually ruin the kitchen’s aesthetic. Installing the microwave anywhere below eye level can enhance the design of a wall cabinet or tall cabinet arrangement.

    Erin Sander Design

    Drawer units won’t ruin the hardness or hardness of a kitchen. Additionally, it is handy to have the counter area directly in front of you when you’re handling a hot dish.

    AJ Madison

    Sharp Insight Pro Series Built-In Microwave Drawer – $734.30

    A 30-inch drawer unit works very well below a wall mount. The 24-inch versions are more streamlined and suited for individual base cabinets.

    Insignia Kitchen and Bath Design Studio

    Countertop Microwave

    What it is: These are the traditional, everyday, what-you-grew-up-with type of microwaves, intended to sit on the countertop and plug right in. You might even use these as built-in units by adding a trim kit.

    Variations:
    Dozens of options for wattage, size and finish are available. There does not appear to be much standardization for this appliance.

    When to use: I love to put countertop microwaves in markets, on shelves with cookbooks or hidden away behind a pocket door or cabinet door. I rarely put a countertop microwave to the true counter.

    Sophisticated Construction Inc..

    This microwave sits only on a shelf, with open shelves over, creating a breakfast-bar feel.

    Heartwood Kitchens

    You could also conceal one behind a pocket door or a uphinged door.

    The French Tradition

    In my old apartment we had ours concealed in the pantry like this, and I loved it. A little warning about putting a microwave at the pantry: The pantry might end up smelling like the sandwhich your warmed up for lunch.

    AJ Madison

    Viking Professional Series Countertop Microwave Oven

    Most manufacturers make countertop microwave versions which can be built in or utilized as stand-alone choices.

    Tell us Where would you keep your microwave?

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  • 12 Layout Features That Bring Spanish Taste to a Kitchen

    12 Layout Features That Bring Spanish Taste to a Kitchen

    Whether you are arranging a brand new Spanish-style kitchen or remodeling an older one, these 12 layout features will allow you to capture the rustic warmth and charm of the unique architectural style.

    Most of these ideas — arches, stone and wood countertops, ornamental hoods, a kitchen fireplace and more — are best incorporated during the drawing phase to permit for good integration into the whole. Take a peek at these inspiration photos and tell us What is your favorite thing about a Spanish-style kitchen?

    1. Warm, distressed cabinets. Following is a chance to gratify your rustic side. Distressed closets in warm tones look great in Spanish-style kitchens. Consider knotty alder or pine with a medium-tone stain. Notice the traces of those cupboard doors.

    Godden Sudik Architects Inc

    2. Wood and rock ceilings. Typical Spanish-style houses have neutral colour schemes. Because of this elaborately detailed ceilings, like this brick barrel-vaulted ceiling, seem great.

    JAUREGUI Architecture Interiors Construction

    3. Copper sinks. I really like to utilize copper sinks in Spanish-style kitchens. This hammered island sink by Native Trails perfectly complements the oil-rubbed-bronze faucet.

    GDC Construction

    4. Stone siding. Don’t be scared to bring a bit of the outside into the kitchen. This rustic rock siding contrasts the contemporary countertops and stove, creating warmth and texture. Notice the two distinct but perfectly paired cupboard colours.

    Charmean Neithart Interiors

    5. A hood that is decorative. The stove or range hood is very frequently a kitchen focal point. Create interest with details like this piece that is carved. Timber and Mexican tiles are different materials that can showcase this area.

    Hann Builders

    6. Iron sconces. If there’s an chance for additional lighting, consider adding sconces as beams. Sconces are nice on dimmers throughout the evening hours, even when bright light isn’t necessary.

    John Malick & Associates

    7. Arches. In this generously sized kitchen, an arch separates the dining and cooking room and adds to the Mediterranean appearance. There’s another arch in the niche by the range.

    Maraya Interior Design

    8. A fireplace. If you’ve got the space in your kitchen, consider a cozy Spanish-style fireplace with banco chairs and space for wood storage.

    Tucker & Marks

    9. Soft white cupboards. I like this kitchen since it shows that white can be warm. With gentle white cabinets mixed with warm wood details, like beams and wood floors, this kitchen is cohesive and has a real Spanish aesthetic. Notice the Mexican tiles on the backsplash in silent colours.

    Don Ziebell

    10. Open cabinets and shelves. Open shelving is among those old-world details that look fresh for today. Spanish-style kitchens are simple and unfussy. I really like the casual feel of these open shelves and lower cupboards. Notice how the plaster rounds the edges of the couple door cabinets that are visible.

    Casa Solterra

    11. Saltillo floors. A hallmark of Spanish-style insides, Saltillo tiles offer you great patina and texture, and make great kitchen floors. They can be found in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, and can be sealed with a transparent or tinted sealer to provide the patina even more depth.

    CLK Construction

    12. A courtyard. If you are in the drawing phase, consider finding the kitchen adjacent to a courtyard. This is an ideal design for dining outside on warm, bright days or cool summer nights.

    Tell us have you got a Spanish-style kitchen, or do you dream of a single? Tell us about it in the Comments section below!

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  • Top 6 Hardware Designs for Raised-Panel Kitchen Cabinets

    Top 6 Hardware Designs for Raised-Panel Kitchen Cabinets

    Raised-panel kitchen cabinets are typically found in much more traditional-style kitchens and typically need more ornate and detailed upholstery to counterbalance the heaviness of this door style. They want hardware that has visual weight as well.

    Most of the time, people choose hardware that fits the kind of their kitchen — be it Victorian, colonial, Craftsman etc. — but that doesn’t mean that you can’t mix this up and violate the rules. Really like the look of cabinets? Here’s help selecting the most appropriate hardware style.

    Compare more kitchen cabinet styles

    Turan Designs, Inc..

    1. Drop Pulls

    This fashion of hardware includes a female touch. You could expect to see it on a piece of furniture rather than on a kitchen cabinet, which explains the reason why it works so well on a raised-panel kitchen cabinet.

    Knob Gallery

    Santa Fe Classic Brass Drop Pull – $45.04

    What they do for your kitchen: Insert a furniture texture to fitted cabinetry.

    That which they work well with: Traditional-style Baths, leaded glass inserts, inset cabinetry.

    GDC Construction

    2. Knobs With Decorative Backplates

    Hardware like this makes a strong unfitted, furniture-style statement. It is ornate and decorative, and often a little awkward, but it really sets the tone of a kitchen the way jewelry sets the tone of an outfit.

    Hardware Hut

    Belwith Manor House Cabinet Knob – $3.89

    What they do for the kitchen Create a proper and old-world texture by including a decorative element to each door and drawer front. They place less focus on the utilitarian function of a kitchen and much more focus on the style.

    That which they work well with: Unfitted furniture-style cabinetry, furniture-style toe kicks, glazed and stained cabinet finishes.

    Turan Designs, Inc..

    3. Accented Wire Pulls

    Simple and tasteful, accented wire pulls are a simple option for a traditional-style kitchen with raised-panel doors. Accented wire pulls can have fluted ellipses, birdcage accents or an easy bead — there are a lot of choices within this class of more traditional-style pulls.They offer only enough embellishment without being overly heavy-handed.

    Restoration Hardware

    Rosette Pull – $15

    What they do for your kitchen Add only enough embellishment and detail. They feel normal without being overly severe or stuffy.

    What they work well together: Glazed and troubled cabinet finishes, custom made wood hood surrounds, architectural details like columns, legs and fluting.

    Hardware Hut

    Top Knobs Tuscany Cabinet Knob – $10.80

    Matching knobs are usually readily available for accented cable pulls.

    Rebekah Zaveloff | KitchenLab

    4. Industrial-Style Face-Mounted Pulls

    Going industrial on a traditional raised-panel door style everybody’s initial taste or cup of tea, but it’s a refreshing alternative. Mixing industrial pulls with much more timeless knobs and latches can help to balance a look out.

    KnobsandHardware

    Sugatsune FT-1 Classic Designs Medium tug – $28.90

    What they do for your kitchen Create contrast and a little bit of aesthetic tension, where everything doesn’t match. Industrial pulls can even be glamorous when they’re at a high-polish finish.

    That which they work well with: Sleek and stylish (but not overly contemporary) stainless steel hoods, contemporary faucets, granite countertops that are thick.

    Rebekah Zaveloff | KitchenLab

    These old-fashioned window sash–fashion pulls add classic flair. Mixing sizes and profiles increases the eclectic vibe in this kitchen.

    MyKnobs

    Deltana Oil Rubbed Bronze Cabinet Pull – $29

    What they do for your kitchen: Create a classic, collected-over-time feel.

    What they work well together: Black-grouted subway tile, bronze industrial light fittings, black enamel appliances like a hood or range.

    Venegas and Company

    5. Wood Knobs

    All these have a very old-fashioned furniture style. They might not be the most practical for a high-use kitchen, particularly in a painted white finish, but they seem great.

    Hardware Hut

    Amerock Woods Cabinet Knob – $4.96

    What they do for your kitchen : Create the appearance of furniture.

    That which they work well with: Mixed wood finishes, unfitted furniture-style cabinetry, counter details like grass rack cabinets.

    JacksonBuilt Custom Homes

    6. Bin Pulls and Knobs

    We’ve mentioned in another ideabook that these look great on Shaker-style cabinets, but as you can see, this really is a really versatile design that works well on a variety of door styles.

    Hardware Hut

    Amerock Solid Brass 3-Inch Pull – $14.59

    What they do for the kitchen: Assist tone down an ornate raised panel door with their simplicity.

    That which they work well with: Knobs on white or off-white cabinetry, vintage light fixtures, wood floors, butcher block counter tops.

    Compare more kitchen cabinet fashions

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  • The Way to Read a Floor Plan

    The Way to Read a Floor Plan

    The floor plan, or strategy, is that the most typical of architectural drawings. From builders to architects, Realtors to appraisers, everyone uses a floor plan. More than likely this is because the floor plan is the one drawing which tells us the most about a house. By the kind of house to the magnitude of the house, a floor plan reveals region, structure, flow pattern, stair place, door and door locations, room design and so much more.

    While floor plans do reveal a lot about the functional characteristics of a house, they often lack the information required to describe the home’s overall feel. This is because they can’t easily show us what is going on in the next dimension. So when buying floor plan, keep in mind that you’re looking at just one view of the house and you will want to check at other perspectives to actually know all the home’s attributes.

    Having said that, let’s look at what a floor plan shows.

    Bud Dietrich, AIA

    The overall floor plan gives a flattened, two-dimensional bird’s-eye view of a floor level in the house. (Click here to view an enlarged version.) Each room is shown, as are of the doors, walls, doors, stairs, walls, cabinets, appliances, plumbing fixtures and furniture.

    The rooms have been tagged so we know where each operational area is in connection to another area. And we will have the ability to see how we can get from room to room. Because windows and doors have been shown, we can observe how each relates to the others and to other things in a space. For example, we will have the ability to see if doors and windows are aligned to create view corridors.

    I find that the best way to understand that a strategy would be to put yourself inside and “walk” around the house. As you take this virtual walk, record what you see, what you believe and how you get from room to room. Another way to comprehend the plan would be to virtually put yourself in the midst of a room and record what you find as you appear in at least four directions.

    Bud Dietrich, AIA

    Each plan should incorporate a legend that indicates what the project is and what floor the strategy is of. The legend must also incorporate the scale (1/4 inch equals 1 foot; 1/8 inch equals 1 foot etc.) where the floor plan is drawn. At times the scale can be composed out, while other situations a image scale, such as shown here, is supplied. A graphic scale is helpful once the drawing gets reduced or enlarged or changed so that putting a ruler on the strategy to measure distances no more assists.

    A legend may also incorporate a north arrow. In fact, it’s a drawing conference the top of the landing page is always north.

    Other things which may be contained in a legend are the owners’ names, the project speech, the architect as well as other designers’ names and the date (especially important with a construction drawing so revisions can be managed).

    Bud Dietrich, AIA

    Walls have to be the most important architectural element shown in any strategy. Whether exterior or interior, walls are the components that form the rooms and the overall house. Sometimes thin, like in a 2-by-4 wood-frame house, and sometimes warmer, like in a masonry house, walls should be drawn to indicate this thickness.

    Walls are drawn as parallel lines with fractures where windows and doors happen. An especially useful drawing conference that’s employed in a remodeling or addition project would be to show the existing walls with no fill between the parallel lines while showing the walls using a dark or pattern colour between the lines.

    Bud Dietrich, AIA

    While an overall floor plan is commonly at a scale of 1/4 inch equals 1 foot, certain rooms have been drawn at a larger scale — say, 1/2 inch equals 1 foot. This is how it is with kitchens and bathrooms, as these rooms are often the most complicated in a house. Cabinets, appliances, plumbing fixtures etc. can be located and clearly shown in these larger-scale drawings.

    It’s often a fantastic idea to have inside elevations drawn for these rooms. While we can see in the design where the cabinets, appliances etc. are situated, we don’t know their height, type, or design. Only within an interior elevation will we view that this advice, because this drawing looks across straight at wall or other vertical surface.

    Bud Dietrich, AIA

    Floor and windows are two of the most important elements displayed on a floor plan. Each door and window is given a place and size. While windows are displayed using three parallel lines in a wall, doors are typically displayed as a straight line perpendicular to a wall and an arc which connects on the line to the wall. The excellent thing about showing a door similar to this is that we know which side gets the hinges and which area the door opens to. For example, in this case the door leading into the cabinet is hinged on the left (if you’re standing outside the pantry) and opens to the pantry.

    Note that for the mudroom, the two doors leading into the space are straight across from each other. This creates not only a strong circulation pattern but also a sight line which reinforces the pattern.

    Bud Dietrich, AIA

    A French , or double door is signaled by two arcs and lines, as two single doorways coming together. As with a single door, the management of the door swing is signaled. In this case, the door swings to the living space, something which’s important to know when putting furniture in the room.

    Bud Dietrich, AIA

    The fireplace is just another architectural element displayed in a floor plan. It’s shown as an outer rectangle indicating the exterior wall of the chimney or fireplace and the inner rectangle indicating the firebox (the place where the fire actually burns).

    As with many such things, the strategy will indicate the relationship between the fireplace and the other elements of the space. Hence that the plan tells us if the fireplace is based in the area, between windows or anything else — all very important info. But it won’t supply any third-dimension info.

    Bud Dietrich, AIA

    A stairway is a really important architectural element. Stairs occupy a significant amount of floor area and also have an impact on headroom, therefore accurately showing the stair in design is extremely important. Drawn as a series of parallel lines, a staircase also features an arrow and a note indicating the direction of travel, either up or down.

    Modern building codes have a significant effect on the size and arrangement of stairs. From diameter to riser height to tread breadth and railing issues, no stair should be designed without a comprehensive comprehension of those codes.

    Bud Dietrich, AIA

    While ceiling alterations aren’t easily shown in a floor plan because they occur above, drawing conventions can reveal them. Dashed lines, like in the drawing here, allude to a change in the ceiling above the floor. We may not know what exactly this ceiling change is, but we know there’s a change, and we can then go to other drawings, such as a segment (a vertical slice through the house instead of the horizontal slit a floor plan is), to learn more.

    More:
    What You Can Learn From a Floor Plan
    Who Wants 3-D Design? Here Are 5 Reasons You Do

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