Pro Tip For Fitting Bar Stools In Your Kitchen Island
Creating a kitchen island for people to sit at is pretty dreamy. As long as you’ve got the right layout and more than enough room! When looking for guidelines for how many people fit at a kitchen island is slightly irritating, or at least that’s what we’ve found. Today we are breaking down how many people really fit at an island based on the island size.
The typical recommendation is to think about 28-30” per stool! That would mean you’d need a five foot island for two people. Let’s just digest that information for a minute. In our opinion that’s a whole not of wasted space. We’ve got two suggestions we stick by to guide island seating size.
Bar Stools
The size of your bar stools truly determine how many people can fit at your island. When shopping for bar stools you need to keep in mind the width of the stool. This is why paying attention to the specs is so important in the purchasing process.
Room Between
Keep 4-8” between each stool. This allows for people to move the stools in and out without being too spread apart. In a home design we are looking to make your space as functional and purposeful as possible. By not wasting space allows for you to maximize your island seating.
36 Inches is the recommended kitchen island height but we always want to make it look better.
Determining the perfect height for your island is not nearly as difficult as it may seem. As per KitchenInsider910mm (36inches) is the standard height for kitchen island. Although we all know that there’s an exception to the rule. There are a couple of things to consider as you get started. We’ve broken down everything we believe you should consider when picking the perfect height for your island and the stools that go with it.
Singular Height
Do you want your island to be all one height? Or are you looking for your island/bar to be multi tiered? This answer will lead you into almost all the information you need.
Counter Height
Typical kitchen islands start at counter height. This is because standard base cabinets come in the same size between 35-37” off the floor with the counter.
Bar Height
If you want a bar height island you are looking at 41-43” from the floor with a counter. In kitchen spaces this can happen when the outer edge of the island is raised, making your island two different levels.
When purchasing bar stools you are typically given two choices: counter height or bar height. This is where we’ve found people can get confused. Now that you know the difference between counter height islands and bar height islands I am guessing this decision just became a little simpler to figure out. You are looking to have stools that fit correctly under the height of you island, leaving enough room for your knees when sitting at your island.
Here’s how you can determine kitchen island placement and how to make it more safe and functional
The number one dream in a kitchen design is a functional kitchen island. Kitchen islands can provide additional workspace, seating and create a conversational element to the space. The obvious next question is how to determine where to place a kitchen island? There are lots of things to consider when putting an island into your plans. First, do you have enough space to add an island and still have a kitchen triangle? Keep in mind your island needs to have more than enough work space around it on all sides.
The kitchen and bath guidelines is a great resource for kitchens as it will help with the space plan in any kitchen design. Their recommendation is for a kitchen that is going to have a single cook you need 42” of space between the base cabinets and the island. If you plan to have more than one cook in your space you need 48”.
The 48” of space between the island and base cabinets is what we like to recommend to clients. It allows for easier traffic flow throughout the space no matter how your kitchen is being used. While not all kitchen spaces allow for this, we believe you can work an island into the design as long as you have a minimum of 36” from base to island with the ideal being 48”.
The other two areas you need to consider when determining where to place you kitchen island is the amount of space you have on the side of the island as a walk through, as well as on the seating side of the island. To make this easier to comprehend we broke all information into the graphic below!
Things To Consider About Kitchen Island Placement
When determining kitchen island placement, it’s important to consider how you will use the island. Here are some factors to consider:
-Know how much space do you have? The island should be large enough to accommodate the tasks you plan to use it for, but not so large that it becomes a hindrance in the kitchen.
-Based it on what type of layout do you have? If your kitchen is open-plan, an island may be a better choice than a peninsula, which would block the flow of traffic.
-What is your cooking style? If you like to cook and prepare food on the island, make sure there is enough counter space and storage.
-How many people will be using the island? If it will be used by multiple people, make sure there is enough seating.
-What appliances do you want on the island? If you want to include a stove, sink or oven, make sure there is enough room.
Once you’ve considered these factors, here are a few tips on how to determine kitchen island placement:
1. Measure your space and draw out a floor plan to help you visualize where the island would work best for you.
2. Consider the traffic flow in your kitchen and place the island where it won’t interfere with people passing by.
3. Make sure there is enough clearance around the island for appliances and people to move around comfortably and safely.
4. Think about how you will use the island and place it accordingly. For example, if you want an extra prep area, place the island near the cooktop.
Wow! It’s been 75 whole days since we started this lifestyle program. 75 days of two-a-day workouts, 1 gallon of water a day, 10 pages of reading a day, no alcohol, and healthy eating. There is a lot for both of us to take away from these last 75 days and we want to share our overall thoughts, feelings, and lessons learned from 75 Hard and our 75 Hard program results.
Water Intake
Turns out our body is made up of mostly water and most of us don’t get nearly enough water in our life daily. We broke down how we make a gallon of water happen daily in an earlier post, so check that out. This is a habit we both plan to keep, maybe not a full gallon every day but you can bet it will be more than 8 glasses! We broke this down by our individual body size, exercise routine and sex which opened our eyes to how much water we actually need. Michael will stay on track for the gallon/15 glasses of water daily while Danielle will drop down to closer to 11/12 glasses daily.
Workout Regimine
We all need to move our bodies daily. One of our goals this year is to move our body for 30 minutes every single day! Yep, every single day. Through the last 75 days not only did we prove to ourselves that we had time to workout daily we proved that we could do a total of 90 minutes of exercise a day via two workouts, one being outside in the middle of Michigan winter!
Proving to yourself that you actually have time to workout is a challenge in itself. Here’s all our tips and tricks on how we made it happen, and hopefully it will prove to you that you’re capable of doing it too! We want to develop a healthy lifestyle for our children and show to them what that looks like. We plan to continue morning workouts daily and as the weather turns, nightly walks with the boys so they can move their bodies a little more too!
Knowledge Learning
If you’re not learning something new everyday are you really living life?!? We believe knowledge is the key to life. And feeding our brain daily is not only important but essential to living a truly filled life. Our book list is constantly growing and we love sharing all the growth with each of you. Reading has always been a part of our lifestyle and one we plan to continue to keep as a nightly habit. Looking for some solid reads? Here’s our current reading list, some of which we’ve already read.
Consistency is Key
As to everything in life, if you want to create a good habit or change you need to be consistent in what you do. One thing for sure these last 75 days have provided for us is a chance to stay consistent on all the things. Allowing us to build in time for things we need to accomplish and set goals we can achieve.
Self Validation
This challenge did one major thing for both of us. It validated for us both that we are capable of following through on anything we set our minds too. There are always ways to make time. It’s just a matter of looking at how you are ACTUALLY using your time. This past week with everything happening in the world we felt we were consuming more media than normal. In fact this morning we looked back at our overall screen time on just phones alone…and, you guys, we were both up between 2-3 HOURS daily. And that is just on our phones! So we’re going to set limits to create better overall habits and allow us to prove we can create time.
Creating Habits
If you haven’t realized this yet, our number one take away from this program has been recognizing that daily habits is where true change is made. While daily habits aren’t made overnight or even in 75 days, starting with change is how we plan to form new habits and drop off bad ones. The 75 day challenge has shown us habits we want to form and we will continue to work on till they become automatic in our lifestyle.
It is worth knowing that we saw this program through from start to finish for 75 days without taking a single day off, all while running a business, growing and managing a team, being present parents and spouses, and balancing with all of the inevitable outside noise. If we are capable, you are too. And maybe 75 days is just not a fit, we get that. Start with one and make a promise to yourself to be 1% better every day. That is all it takes…
A good kitchen design comes down to one thing – does the space create a true triangle flow for easy access to the 3 main work stations inside the kitchen. This theory has been known as the kitchen triangle theory, or the golden triangle. It focuses on the range, sink and refrigerator. Each workstation should be spaced out to create – you guessed it – a triangle. We’ve broken down 4 easy to follow kitchen layouts that all work in the golden triangle.
Pro Tip
Each side or leg of the triangle is between 4’-9’
Total distance of the triangle is between 13’-26’
There should be nothing in the way of the triangle
Here are some of the best tools to use when installing tiles:
Tile is one of those projects that is an absolute skill. While we do believe you can do anything you set your mind to we also stand behind knowing what you’re good at and hiring a pro for those areas where you need help. When it comes to laying tile we rely on tile experts for all client projects. We have laid our own tile in our own home, as well as have hired pros on our team who helped us create and share the best tools for tile installation with you.
Please note there is little to no room for error when tiling. You need to be spot on with all your measurements, cuts and grout lines. Planning ahead is the absolute key to your success. Before any tile installation we have a walk through in the space and have a planning session about how the tile will be laid, what we are doing with the transitions, what pattern we are using and look over all the tiles we are using in the installation.
Below you will find all the tools we believe you need to have in your arsenal to truly install tile.
A circular saw with a hardy blade is essential for cutting tiles. The hardy blade is specifically designed to cut through hard materials like tiles without cracking them.
Mixing the adhesive is an important step in tile installation. A mixer will ensure that the adhesive is mixed thoroughly and has the right consistency.
A diamond blade is a specific type of blade that is designed to cut through hard materials like tiles. This blade is necessary for making precise cuts on tiles.
A square is a useful tool for ensuring that the tiles are installed in a straight line. You can use a square to mark lines on the surface where the tiles will be installed.
Sponges are useful for cleaning up after the grout has been applied. You can use a sponge to wipe away excess grout and to clean the surface of the tiles.
In conclusion, the above-listed tools are essential for a successful tile installation project. Investing in quality tools will save you time and money in the long run. With the right tools, you can ensure that your tile installation project is completed to a professional standard.
Types of Tiles Pattern That Looks Great In Any Space of Your Home
Tiles are a popular choice for flooring and wall coverings, thanks to their durability, versatility, and ease of maintenance. They come in a wide range of styles, colors, and sizes, making it easy to find the perfect fit for any room or design scheme. In this article, we’ll explore five types of tile patterns that you might consider for your next home renovation project.
Straight Lay The straight lay pattern is the most common and straightforward tile pattern. Tiles are laid out in a straight line, with each row being offset by half the length of the tile. This creates a uniform, clean look that works well in modern, minimalist, or traditional spaces. Straight lay is a versatile pattern that can be used with any tile shape, including square, rectangular, and plank tiles.
Third Step The third step pattern is a variation on the straight lay pattern that adds a bit of visual interest to the layout. Tiles are still laid in a straight line, but each row is shifted by one-third of the tile length, rather than half. This creates a subtle staggered effect that can add depth and texture to the tile installation. The third step pattern is a good option for large, open spaces where you want to break up the monotony of a straight lay pattern.
Herringbone The herringbone pattern is a classic tile pattern that has been used for centuries. Tiles are laid out in a zigzag pattern, with each tile angled at 45 degrees to the tile next to it. This creates a dynamic, textured pattern that can add a lot of character to a space. Herringbone works best with rectangular tiles, but can also be used with square or hexagonal tiles. It’s a popular choice for adding a touch of vintage charm to a room.
Brick Lay The brick lay pattern, also known as the running bond pattern, is a timeless option that mimics the look of brickwork. Tiles are laid out in rows, with each row offset by half the length of the tile. The result is a staggered pattern that creates a sense of movement and depth. The brick lay pattern is a good choice for floors and walls in traditional or rustic spaces. It works well with rectangular or plank-shaped tiles.
Crosshatch The crosshatch pattern is a more complex tile pattern that involves laying tiles in a grid-like pattern with a diagonal twist. This creates a geometric, modern look that can be very eye-catching. The crosshatch pattern works best with square tiles, and is a good choice for creating a contemporary or high-tech feel in a space.
In conclusion, the type of tile pattern you choose can have a big impact on the look and feel of a room. Each pattern has its own unique characteristics and can be used to create a range of styles, from traditional to modern. Whether you’re renovating a kitchen, bathroom, or living room, it’s important to consider the type of tile pattern that will best suit your space and design vision.
When it comes to installing hardware there are a couple things to keep in mind. You need to know if you are going to use knobs, pulls or both. And where you plan to place your hardware on each of your cabinets. We are going to break down all the tips on installing hardware including what you need to know, look for and have ready to make your hardware installation run as smoothly as possible!
How to Replace Existing Cabinet Hardware
Find the size of current hardware – If your cabinetry currently has knobs you don’t need to worry about this step. When it comes to figuring out the size of pulls simply measure from the center of the screw to the center of the screw. That total distance is the size of your hardware.
Use existing hardware size – When updating pulls the simplest way to do it is to replace with the exact same size. This way you don’t need to fill holes, sand, repaint or stain. It is the cleanest, most efficient way to do it.
Switch knobs to pulls – For doors it is fairly simple to add an additional hole to make a knob a pull. It is essential to use one of these handy hardware template tools to help you. There are plenty of more affordable templates on the market too, but this one is the best we have found so far. If you want to change drawers with a center knob to a pull, please see directions below to help!
Change size of hardware – If you want to change the size of your hardware you need drydex, sandpaper and the cabinet paint or stain to match the hole you will be covering. If you are attempting to change a cabinet front that is finished in a laminate or melamine you will need to either stick with the same hardware style or purchase a new front and drill all new holes.
Pro Tips for Changing Existing Hardware Size
The biggest tip we have, and one we can not stress enough, is the importance of using a hardware template to properly drill holes in your cabinets.
Measure twice, set your template guide, and then measure 2 more times…you’ll be glad you did.
Be sure to hold your template steady and tight throughout the process.
How to Install New Cabinet Hardware
Pulls
Find the size of the pull by measuring from the center of the screw to the center of the screw. That total distance is the size of your hardware.
Use a hardware template as it provides less room for error. Find the center and split the difference of the distance of the hardware from the center. Then you can drill in your pilot holes. If your cabinets are thicker you may need a longer drill bit to make sure the hole goes all the way through.
Knobs
Find placement for knobs. Not sure where you want to place the knobs? Here’s our hardware guide to help you out!
Cabinet hardware is an essential component of any kitchen or bathroom design, and it’s crucial to get the placement just right. Proper cabinet hardware placement not only enhances the aesthetic appeal of the space but also makes the cabinets easier to use. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through the process of placing hardware on your cabinets.
You know we truly believe hardware completely changes the look, feel and vibe of your space. We’ve broken down hardware into a fully comprehensive guide to help you wrap your head around the idea too.
We love how switching out old dated hardware can transform a space from dated to something new! But having your hardware placed incorrectly can quickly impact your entire vision. That’s why we’ve pulled together our cabinet hardware placement guide! These tips and tricks will make your cabinets and hardware shine like they’re supposed too!
Determine the style of your cabinets Before you can determine where to place your hardware, you need to determine the style of your cabinets. Modern cabinets typically have straight, clean lines, while traditional cabinets may have curves and decorative elements. The style of your cabinets will determine the type of hardware you should use
Choose the type of hardware There are several types of cabinet hardware to choose from, including knobs, pulls, and handles. Knobs are round, and they’re usually placed on cabinet doors. Pulls and handles are typically used on drawers and are available in a wide range of shapes and sizes.
Determine the placement The placement of your hardware will depend on the size of your cabinets and the type of hardware you’ve chosen. The most common placement for knobs is in the center of the cabinet door, while pulls are usually placed in the center of the drawer.
Consider the functionality When placing hardware on your cabinets, it’s essential to consider the functionality of the space. For example, if you have cabinets near the stove, you may want to use heat-resistant materials for your hardware. If you have small children in the home, you may want to use larger hardware that’s easier to grasp.
Measure and mark Once you’ve determined the placement of your hardware, it’s time to measure and mark. Use a measuring tape to ensure that your hardware is centered and level. Use a pencil to mark the location of your hardware before drilling.
Install the hardware Finally, it’s time to install your hardware. Use a drill to create the holes for your screws, then attach the hardware to the cabinet using the screws provided.
Cabinet Hardware Placement Guide
Pro Tips – Cabinet Hardware Placement
Drawers 24” or small need one piece of hardware. Center the hardware in the drawer cabinet front.
Add double pulls or a larger singular pull for any drawer larger than 24”.
For two pieces of hardware, take the drawer front off the cabinet and divide it into thirds. Measure to find the center of the cabinet front, then from there find the center of each side…place the hardware in the center of each side. Yeah, that is a lot of centers, we get it.
When installing one piece of hardware approximately ⅓ the width of a drawer should remain on either side.
Size up to hardware that is 8″+ for pantry cabinets.
When shopping for built-in appliances make sure to order appliance hardware
In conclusion, cabinet hardware placement is a crucial aspect of any kitchen or bathroom design. By following this comprehensive guide, you can ensure that your hardware is placed in the right location, making your cabinets both functional and aesthetically pleasing.
So let’s get right into it. Here’s our top 3 kitchen organizational projects anyone can accomplish over the weekend!
How to Organize Your Pantry
Love looking at all the pinterest worthy pantries if only we could have Marie Kondo come do our pantry too! But let’s get real here we don’t all have Marie Kondo in our life. What we do have is our skill set in knowing what we use in our pantry on a weekly basis, what we want easily accessible and how we truly use our own space. Below is what we used to organize our pantry and the steps we took to make it functional in just a couple of hours!
BEFORE
What you need:
Bins Baskets
Directions:
Go shelf by shelf removing all items one at a time.
Discard any unnecessary or old/expired items.
Once the entire pantry is empty wipe down shelves and vacuum.
Place baskets/bins on shelves to find the best format for your pantry.
Decide how you want to separate items. For example our bottom row is healthy snack options for our kids. Each bin is broken down by bags, boxes, nuts and bars. On the next shelf we have everyday items (can foods for meal prep), fresh produce we leave out (onions, garlic, potatoes, tomatoes) grains and baking all in their own bins.
Place items inside baskets/bins!
AFTER
How to Organize Your Refrigerator
Not going to lie opening a completely organized refrigerator really makes my heart happy. Maybe it’s because I can find all the things I need. Or it’s that fact that it looks so colorful and full of all the things our bodies need to truly function properly. Below you’ll find our simple way to keep your refrigerator organized and clean!
What you need:
Glass containers Plastic containers Reusable produce bags
Directions:
Go shelf by shelf removing all items one at a time.
Discard any unnecessary or old/expired items.
Once the entire pantry is empty, wipe down shelves and clean each shelf and drawer.
Prior to filling your refrigerator again decide where your items will be housed based on how frequently you eat them. For us that means eggs, extra produce, cut lemons, berries, sparkling water, kombucha, condiments, grains and kids pre packed lunches all need to find a home within the fridge.
I like to have weekly items in plastic or glass containers so they make things more convenient and I actually use them. For example, we drink lemon water daily, I pre cut out weeks worth of lemons to help ensure I have less of an excuse to not use them. I also place veggies that we will pack in lunches in containers that are easy to find making packing lunches that much easier.
How to Organize Under Your Kitchen Sink
For some reason under the kitchen sink can turn into a catch all place where items become ridiculously challenging to find! This is a simple quick fix.
What you need:
Container for cleaning products
Directions:
Empty out the entire space. Just get it a out and move it aside.
Wipe down the entire surface and sides…it gets really gross under there, so make sure to do it a couple of times. A magic eraser goes a long way too!
If you have a liner or tray, scrub that thing clean in your sink.
Go through every item that is under your sink and decide what is necessary for every day use.
We recommend purchasing a caddy of some sort to house all of your go-to cleaning products, making it easy to locate in the kitchen and carry with you throughout your home as you clean other spaces. Keep this one close up front for easy access.
Begin placing ONLY the essential items back under the sink. Leave yourself some room to maneuver around under there – no need to do all this work just to jam everything back inside.
Loving all the fun you are seeing here. We’ve got more to share with you. We’ve teamed up with some really amazing bloggers to showcase for you ways to make things in your life new again! Make sure to check out all these amazing post too!
