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Published on Oct 02, 2008

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It is no doubt that the kitchen is the center of the home because of its function and its location on the floor plan. Ranch style architecture offers an open floor plan with a minimum amount of walls. This style of plan is very popular in today’s home design. At the center of the open floor plan is the kitchen which can be viewed from the dinette, family room, great room, and dining room. Because the kitchen can be viewed from so many areas, it must be beautiful as well as functional.

A kitchen backsplash appeal is a guaranteed way to upgrade the look of your kitchen without breaking the bank because you don’t have to change the entire “kit and kaboodle” meaning the cabinets and appliances.

There are several reasons to consider a new backsplash to enhance your kitchen:

• Backsplashes have a height location that is at eye level.
• Backsplashes are generally 18 inches from the lower counter top
to the upper cabinet. The standard height makes for easy
material selection.
• Old backsplashes can be removed and new backsplash installed without
altering the function of the kitchen.
• Backsplashes of bright colors or exotic materials will draw the eye away
from dull or out-dated cabinets.
• Backsplashes can be made of any material that is durable and easy to clean.
• Backsplashes love mixing different materials and sizes, bargains from a close out sale can create a work of art.
• Backsplash materials range in cost and can be made beautiful on any budget.
• Installation of a backsplash can be a “do it yourself” project.

Note: I recommend that you plan your backsplash design before you start the installation. Use a rigid material such as cardboard or plywood to create a template by cutting the material the height and width of the backsplash. Draw your design on the template or place the actual material before starting the installation; this is a guaranteed method to size up your design.

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Cecil Says

The living room is the embodiment of your good taste and an introduction to your style. For anyone who visits, the living room may not get much use, but it does make an impression.

-- Cecil Hayes

Using Color



Use a maximum of three colors per room. This does not apply to shades of a color, nor does it apply to neutrals, such as white, beige, black, gray, or brown. Hard-surface items such as tables, consoles, or wood items are generally considered neutrals. Select one color that can be used throughout several rooms in your home. This will pull the entire decorating scheme together. Otherwise, you may have a series of beautiful rooms that don't seem to cohere overall.

It's All in The Details



Flooring is available in a variety of materials, and there is no hard-and-fast rule for combining materials within an installation. You'll want to keep function and overall design aesthetic in mind. You'll also want to make sure that you keep the floor height level when combining different flooring materials such as tile and wood, carpet and tile, or other combinations-uneven transitions between flooring materials create tripping hazards. In addition, you should be aware of the cleaning requirements of each material that you plan to install.

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Wallpower



PANELED WALLS. The rich look of wood can be enjoyed in any room of the home. Gone are the days when its use was restricted to the library or the den. There's no need to limit yourself or your imagination anymore. Achieving full wall coverage with wood is not as difficult as one may think, and even a small amount of wood appled to the wall in this manner is strong enough to create a rich, inviting interior. Various types of wood applied to a plywood backing are available. Usually these are veneers laminated to panels approximately 4 feet wide by 8 feet high. These panels can be either glued or nailed in place and then finished as desired. All in all, it's a fairly simple process, and one that I think only enhances a room