Kitchen Ideas and Design Tips

 Designer Amanda Nisbet

This really isn't meant to be an "eye candy" kind of kitchen post (we'll have to save that for another day! :-) ) but hopefully you will be able to find some creative ideas, advice, tips and resources that will be of help to you.

Shelves mounted on the backsplash...

myhomeideas.com Photo: John Granen

Shelves on the window...

myhomeideas.com Photo: Jean Allsopp

After I started this post, I received my October issue of House Beautiful. In the issue, they highlight the Kitchen of the Year and have 50 ideas for your kitchen. There is also an interesting interview with Ina Garten and interior designer Robert Stilin. One of the tips that Robert had for renovators was: "Don't do all new stuff... It's nice to mix elements. Old furniture has a sense of warmth and realness. It takes off that hard edge..."

Canadian House and Home Photo Ted Yarwood

Love these pull-out willow basketsHouse Beautiful

Painting cabinet interiors. Using glass front cabinets. House Beautiful

Kitchen or mudroom pet station anyone?bhg.com

2 kitchens from The Woodshop of Avon.

To view photos larger and see more kitchen inspiration, click on site,

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KITCHEN DESIGN TIPS: Jamie Goldberg of Jamie Goldberg Kitchen and Bath Design, LLC has a great blog called Gold Notes where you can find some informative posts on kitchen design. Here are just a couple of the ones that I thought you may find helpful: Sensible Style: 10 Small Kitchen Tips and Sensible Style: 10 Most Common Kitchen Problems and How To Avoid Them.

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PAINTING KITCHEN CABINETS

here is a "how to" guide.

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HGTV has a ton of information on backsplashes.

Some inspiration/information, some DIY.

photo from HGTV.com Designer Candice Olson

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BHG's 30 Ways to Store More in Your Kitchen

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I've seen the options/resources below in kitchen design magazines. I haven't used them or researched them, but thought they looked interesting.

• Granite Transformations - installed over your existing countertop.
• Liquid Stainless Steel (GIANIgranite.com)
• Paint-on granite (GIANIgranite.com)
• Peel and stick backsplashes (acpideas.com)

(EDIT: About an hour after I originally posted this I was catching up on the blogs I follow and noticed that The DIY Showoff did a post today about a kitchen makeover using liquid stainless steel and paint-on granite! How awesome is that? Be sure and check it out...)

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DIY KITCHEN MAKEOVER BEFORE AND AFTERS

Click HERE and HERE to see some amazing DIY kitchen makeovers.

This one is just a little play kitchen, but how creative!