Month : January 2018

8. Roll-Top Desk

Growing up my parents had a spectacular antique roll-top desk in they living room they had bought at some old antique store and refinished.  However, you don’t have to buy an antique one; you can still buy them new as well.

A roll-top desk is one where a hood rolls down over the desk surface to secure all contents.  While not the most practical desk, especially for computing, it can be a beautiful piece of furniture in any office, living room or master bedroom.

3 configurations:

• Drawers on both sides;
• Drawers on the left side; and
• Drawers on the right side.

7. Floating desk (a.k.a. Wall-Mounted Desks)

This type of desk is mounted directly onto a wall, completely saving all available floor space. Often mounted with shelving and cubbies, taking advantage of the vertical frame, these desks are incredibly useful for those with limited space. The floating desk is perfect for dorms or bedrooms.

6. Secretary desk

This is a type of desk topped by a hinged desktop surface, which is in turn topped by a bookcase, usually closed with doors or drawers. The whole is usually a single, tall and heavy piece of ornate furniture. There were originally for people who wanted a luxurious desk yet lacked the room for a formal roll-top model.

5. Corner desk

Corner desks can be a convenient solution to space problems in their compact iteration, or a sprawling suite of surface area in their more elaborate configurations. They can provide more desktop space in a smaller area, or a large L-shaped spread, depending on the size you’re aiming for. The best aspect is their ability to provide extra leg room.

4. Credenza desk

Credenza desks, as the name implies, combine a desk with a cupboard-packed credenza. This is a piece of furniture normally reserved for dining or living rooms, valued for its fashion and utility. When combined with a desk, you gain the benefits of both pieces of furniture, so long as you have the space to hold one.

3. Executive desk

The executive desk is the king of the home office world. With loads of drawer storage and surface area, along with an often massive footprint, these carved wood specimens impart a sense of grandeur and timeless appeal that stands apart from other styles.

Often what is pictured when considering a traditional desk, the executive desk can encompass a wide variety of styles and shapes including:

• Rectangle desk;
• L-shape desk;
• U-shape desk; and
• Massive desk systems.

2. Computer desk

In a modern home office setting, computer desks are the most practical and utilitarian of all home office desks. These provide plenty of space for both a computer tower and monitor, as well as storage for any computer accessories, cables, and peripherals you may need.

Like the writing desk, this is built for efficiency and simplicity, but with added space for hardware components. Key elements include a keyboard tray and large storage area for the CPU.

That said, more and more people no longer have large desktop computers and instead opt for laptops and tablets since they have more than enough computing power to manage everything digitally.

This potentially renders the computer desk obsolete since you don’t need the typically computer desk features such as keyboard tray and CPU storage section.  Nevertheless, you may still want a computer desk for your home.

1. Writing desk

These are minimalist, open desks with minimal storage and a large desktop. Writing desks are perfect for placing along a wall or in the middle of a home office floor. This design is better suited for a laptop than a desktop computer for office work. The direct, conservative styling works elegantly in nearly any space.

The Latest Trends in Kitchen Sinks

Kitchen sinks have come a long way. Today’s sinks are available in a variety of shapes, sizes and materials, and can include a wide range of accessories, including cutting boards, utensil trays, drying racks and colanders. Homeowners are opting for large, single-basin sinks rather than double sinks to make room for bulky pots and pans. The primary sink is often accompanied by a smaller prep sink.

Self-Rimming Sinks: Tried and True

Available in stainless steel, porcelain and enameled cast iron, self-rimming or drop-in sinks are the most popular type of sink and the easiest to install. The sink’s weight is supported by a rim that extends above the countertop surface. Durable, affordable and easy to clean, stainless steel is the most popular material for kitchen sinks.

Undermount Sinks: A Growing Trend

Undermount sinks, which are installed below the countertop, offer a seamless look and allow for easy countertop cleanup. This type of sink can only be used with solid-surface countertops, such as granite, marble or composite. Enameled cast iron, another popular material for kitchen sinks, is an affordable option available in a wide range of colors.

Integrated Quartz Sink: Seamless Design

Many quartz composite countertop manufacturers offer integrated kitchen sinks with their countertops, creating a sleek look and a seamless transition for easy cleanup.

Porcelain Apron Sink: Country Flair

Meant to resemble sinks from historic farmhouses, apron sinks add timeless appeal to a kitchen. Apron sinks are available in a wide range of materials, including porcelain, stainless steel and copper.

Integrated Marble Sink: High-End Appeal

Like quartz composite countertops, natural stone countertops can feature seamless, integrated sinks. This kitchen’s marble countertops and integrated sink add modern flair, while the seamless design makes it easy to clean.

Bamboo Apron Sink: Exotic Alternative

If you want to give your kitchen a more unique appearance, look beyond typical materials like stainless steel and enameled cast iron. This bamboo apron sink is constructed from fully matured Moso bamboo with SGS-certified safe binding adhesives and a water-resistant topcoat.

Prep Sinks: Functional and Stylish

More and more homeowners are supplementing their primary kitchen sinks with food preparation sinks, which are available in a variety of shapes and styles. This crescent-shaped sink is as functional as it is aesthetically pleasing, with its curved design and dual drains.

Iron Island Sink: Industrial Design

Made of enameled cast iron, this modern island sink offers a sleek design and a strong, heat-resistant surface.

A cooktop is a great option for adding beauty and value to your kitchen. Cooktops are cooking stoves that are independent of an oven. These smaller appliances can add versatility to a kitchen, because you have a choice to place an oven at some place other than under the stove, as seen in traditional ranges. Cooktops can be categorized according to the use of gas or electricity, ventilation type and appearance.

1. Gas Cooktops

Gas cooktops operate on natural gas or propane. These cooktops are popular among serious cooks who appreciate the preciseness and control offered by gas. Burners on gas cooktops are generally more difficult to clean, but newer cooktops feature smooth cooktop surfaces that are easy to maintain. Gas cooktops also offer the advantage of visual monitoring of the flame.

2. Electric Cooktops

Electric cooktops function on electricity, and are more environmentally friendly when compared to gas cooktops. You can reduce the temperature to lower levels as compared to a gas cooktop. These cooktops are available in coil version, or the more sophisticated smooth top type. The main drawbacks of electric cooktops are that they lack the control offered by gas cooktops, the cooking surface is slow to heat up or cool down and these appliances require the use of flat-bottomed cookware.

3. Induction Cooktops

Induction cooktops function on electricity as well, but unlike standard electric cooktops, these appliances use electromagnets as cooking elements. The electromagnets are placed under a smooth cooking surface, and generate resistance when electricity passes through them. This resistance heats up the magnetic cookware that is placed on the cooking surface, which remains cool during the cooking process. The use of non-magnetic cookware will result in a waste of electricity, as there will be no heat transfer involved. Induction cooktops offer the best features of gas and electric cooktops, and are the most environmentally friendly alternative as well. The drawbacks are the high price and the requirement of flat-bottomed magnetic cookware.

4: Cooktops with Overhead Hood

Most cooktop use an overhead hood to draw in the heat and smoke during cooking. Overhead hoods take up space that can be used for counters or overhead equipment. However, they do a good job at ventilation.

5: Downdraft Cooktops

Downdraft cooktops are appliances that use counter-level exhaust fans. The fan may be installed in the cooktop itself, behind the burners, in the center, or on the side. You can also install a separate fan next to the cooktop. Downdraft cooktops eliminate the need for an overhead hood. However, they are not as efficient at pulling in fumes and smoke as the traditional overhead hood.

6: Coil Type Cooktops

Coil cooktops are the sturdy, traditional version of cooktops. These cooktops require more effort to clean, because spills and stains can be difficult to access.

7: Smooth-top Cooktops

Smooth-top cooktops feature smooth cooking surfaces, generally made of ceramic glass. These cooktops are easy to clean because the surface is smooth and even. However, these cooktops are higher in price, and are not as tough as the coil versions. A heavy item falling on the surface can cause scratches or breakage.