Home Makeover Diva

Home Design Makeover Ideas

Kitchen Cart With Granite Top

02.17.2015 by Amanda Hartley //

Deb writes:

Diva, I am so tired of my kitchen I could scream. It’s large, yet somehow lacks countertop space. I wish I had granite instead of black laminate countertops. I’m renting so I can’t make any permanent changes but is there anything I can do to class the place up?

Deb, I know how it feels to hate your kitchen, but don’t despair there is always something you can do to make it better. For example, have you ever thought about adding a kitchen cart with granite top? This way you get more of the countertop space that is needed, as well as, the granite you’re wishing for.  And since you’re renting, a kitchen cart is something that you can take with you when you move later on. Add to that the fact that kitchen carts can get as cheap or expensive as your budget can afford and you’ve got a viable option for any modern household! Here are a few things to keep in mind before you purchase your kitchen cart.

Size Matters: The key to picking out the perfect kitchen cart is to make sure you consider the flow of your kitchen. You don’t want a cart that is too large or bulky and just gets in your way. This is why, in my opinion the most important aspect is to make sure that the cart will fit well within the classic kitchen triangle. The best way to do this is to open the doors of the oven, dishwasher and refrigerator and measure from the edge of the open door, instead of the edge of the appliance. Otherwise it could get annoying if you have to move the cart out of the way every time you load your dishwasher or take something out of the oven, let alone have to put something away in the fridge! So by choosing something that fits well within those guidelines, you’ll be preventing a size issue from occurring later on down the line.

Kitchen Cart With Granite TopWear and Tear: Another thing to be wary of is whether or not the granite countertop part of the cart has been pre-sealed. This is especially important if you are going to use it for food prep because you’ll want to protect the granite from staining. I recommend getting a good food grade quality penetrating sealer. This way you’re prepared for food handling right from the beginning. Then depending on how often you use the kitchen cart, I would recommend re-sealing it every one to two years.

Make your Own: If you can’t find one that is the right color or has the right type of granite consider making your own kitchen cart. You can make it as challenging or easy as you like. If you don’t want to have to build the cart from scratch, consider getting one that is unfinished wood and painting it the color you want.  I did this in my kitchen about two years ago and I couldn’t be happier with how it turned out. The best news is that the unfinished “wood block” looking ones are pretty cheap, too. I think the one I purchased was around $60 or $70 from IKEA. I used mosaic tile on the top of my kitchen island, but you can use 12×12 granite tiles or go to a fabricator. Most stores selling countertops will sell their small scraps cheap and if you pay a little extra, they can finish the edges so it will fit to your new kitchen cart.

The bottom line here Deb, is that you are not completely stuck with the kitchen you hate. There are “little things” you can do that may not change the entire look of your kitchen, but they will give you something to look at and be proud of everyday! Especially considering that you brought in something that is actually made of the material you love!  And if that’s not enough, I’m willing to bet that kitchen cart with granite top will become the new focal point for that area!

Do you have questions about the selecting or the installation of: tile, carpet or wall treatments (window blinds, etc)? Then email me your tale of woe (diva(at)homemakeoverdiva.com) and perhaps I will be able to answer your questions right here at the Home Makeover Diva Blog.

 

 

 

Categories // Kitchen Tags // cart, Countertop, granite, granite countertop, Kitchen, kitchen cart, Kitchen Cart With Granite Top

Kohler Purist Deck Mount Bridge Faucet

05.26.2011 by Amanda Hartley //

At heart I’m a minimalist.  So I have to share the new faucet I found by Kohler today.  It is from the Purist line and is a deck mount bridge faucet. If you are wondering what a deck mount bridge faucet is, check out the accompanying photo.  Deck mount refers to mounting to the countertop oppose to the wall. While Bridge refers to the style of the base.  Instead of the coming up in just one section it comes up from the countertop in two.  This gives it a “bridge” look.  Now that we’ve gotten the terminology straight let’s examine the other reasons why I love this faucet!

The Kohler Purist deck mount bridge faucet is a great architectural yet simple design.  Described as “classic modernity”, this is indeed a beautiful faucet.  But don’t think that is the only reason why I think faucet is noteworthy.  This design is also easy to clean with and be cleaned.  I love the “bridge” design because it doesn’t have a bulky faucet plate cover. Instead there are just two spots that the faucet touches the sink or countertop which makes it easy to clean around the faucet base.  On top of that, the lack of details in the finish also helps make the faucet easy to clean.

Kohler Purist Deck Mount Bridge Faucet

This faucet is great for helping with cleanup if you like to cook.  Especially if you are like me and end up making a big mess in the kitchen when you prepare your meal. The Purist faucet has a 10″ clearance for larger pans and pots and rotates a full 360 degrees.  This will definitely come in handy for someone with my messy kitchen skills, for those times you’ve used more dishes to make dinner than you did to eat it.

Now that I’ve admitted to be messy in the kitchen and tried to entice other messy kitchen enthusiasts to check out this faucet! Let’s talk options!  The Purist faucet comes in four finishes: polished chrome, vibrant polished nickel, vibrant stainless and matte black. The Purist also comes with a side-spray or wall mount.  Price starts at $750 and goes up to nearly $1200, depending on the finish and what option you select. Whether you like the simple minimalist design or you are also a messy kitchen enthusiast, this faucet should be definitely be on your list of new kitchen faucet contenders.

Categories // Kitchen Tags // beautiful faucet, deck mount bridge faucet, faucet, Kitchen, Kohler, Kohler Purist Deck Mount Bridge Faucet, Purist faucet, sink

SimpleMat For Backsplashes — Re-examined

01.01.2010 by Amanda Hartley //

Recently there has been some concern over just how reliable it is for those looking to install a kitchen backsplash with SimpleMat. Some of the concerns made against the product included: the glue being more adhesive than initially thought, tiles being too small, just too limiting in product styles available. Speaking for myself, I think this is complete nonsense.

First of all, if you apply too much glue, of course it is going to be next to impossible to remove later on. Yes, the titles that come with it are of a smaller style and it is true that you will have more design options should you opt for another product altogether. It is also valid to consider that the jury is still out on whether this product is going to be long term durable as other options. But considering the use of tile with the fact that people have said it is difficult to remove, this would seem to nullify that point though. [Read more…]

Categories // Backsplash, Kitchen Tags // Backsplash, Kitchen, simplemat, Tile

Cheap Cellular Shades

Cheap Cellular Shades

Today Kathy writes: Can you find cheap cellular shades? I saw your article on hunter douglas but I don’t want to spend that much. I’m purchasing them for a vacation home and don’t want to spend that much money on somewhere we only spend a couple of months out of the year. What do you […]

1 Inch Blinds vs 2 Inch Blinds

Today Thomas asks: I’m getting ready to put new blinds in my condo and I’m not sure what I want. What is the difference between 1″ blinds vs 2″ blinds? Well Thomas, that is a very good question.  It’s very difficult to decide what type of window blinds to purchase, especially if you don’t know […]

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Refinishing Or Replacing Your Bathroom Vanity Cabinet

Today Carissa writes: Dear Diva, I’ve lived in my house for 4 years now and I can’t take my master bathroom any longer! It’s fixtures are old and I’m ready for a re-do! Problem is, my budget isn’t very big. I have given it a lot of thought, and I think if I change the bathroom […]

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Healthy Carpet Choices

Today Pamela writes, Hello Diva, Please help me as I’m confused on which eco-friendly/healthy carpet to choose for my bedroom!  I know wool is good but I cannot handle the idea of bugs leaving eggs in it.  After reading the blog I know my choices are: Mohawk Smartstrand vs Dupont Sorona vs Beaulieu’s Bliss.  I even read […]

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Mohawk Smartstrand vs. Shaw R2X Carpet

Recently I found a series of videos on YouTube that reminded me of the Mac vs. Windows commercials we’ve all seen on TV. The difference however, was that these videos were for Mohawk Smartstrand vs. Shaw R2X Carpet!  Needless to say I was intrigued. With the exception of Armstrong, I’ve found that most flooring commercials […]

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