In a recent Home Design Trends Survey conducted by the American Institute of Architects, the kitchen is the “key element” in home design. Kitchen space and amenities are increasing, and homeowners are looking for ways to do even more in the kitchen.

The kitchen typically is the most trafficked room in the home. Families eat, entertain, do homework, and work in the kitchen. Homeowners don’t want kitchens separated from the rest of the house. Many want to integrate the kitchen into other rooms, such as the family room or dining area. Others want to implement aging in place fixtures and features, such as lower or higher countertops and cabinets. Still others want to implement “green” features into the home.

Renewable materials like bamboo are growing in popularity, according to a majority of residential architects. Bamboo flooring, for instance, is greener than hardwood flooring. Bamboo plants require less growing time, and the whole plant isn’t sacrificed in providing the raw materials for the floor the way trees are. And homeowners can save energy in the kitchen with Energy Star rated appliances.

Energy Star is a joint program between the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Agency that rates appliances according to how much energy they save.

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This Old House is running a series on layout ideas for the kitchen. In one example, they extend the idea beyond the kitchen to the patio.

Outdoor living has become popular. As a result, homeowners are in the market for nice yet affordable outdoor furniture like dining sets, sofas, chairs, benches, and hammocks. Laying out and decorating an “outdoor room” can be easy, and it doesn’t have to break the bank.

For example, This Old House features a simple layout for the patio. A dining set is the focal point. Depending on the size of your family, the dining table may seat four or six or eight. Another outdoor accessory is the grill, large, medium, or small. Grills range from basic, low-cost charcoal grills to elaborate, feature-packed gas or electric units.

One thing that would make serving easier if you’re preparing food in the kitchen and bringing it outdoors is using levers on the doors instead of standard knobs. Levers require no twisting. Just pull it down, and the door opens. Incidentally, levers are part of “universal design,” furniture and fixtures made to be accessible for all users, regardless of age or disability.

Creating and designing outdoor living space can be as simple as investing in a grill and dining set. If you’re still shopping for yours, swing by Home Click for some of the best deals on the web.

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May is National Barbecue Month, and this Sunday is Mother’s Day. Mark both occasions with a fabulous Sunday brunch-style barbecue!

If you forgot that Sunday was Mother’s Day, it’s not too late to come up with a way to celebrate. Skip the crowded restaurant this year and grill your mother’s favorite foods at home.

Brunch falls between breakfast and lunch, and it’s usually served on weekends. Typical meals range from Belgian waffles topped with fruit, scrumptious omelets, Eggs Benedict, and French toast. With the same cooking tools used in the kitchen, you can prepare all of these dishes on a grill. Use a skillet to cook omelets on the grill. You can also make French toast in the same skillet. The Cast Iron Frying Pan with Removable Handle is designed to be used on a grill. The removable handle eliminates the need for a pot holder, a safer option when cooking on a grill.

Prepare waffles with a dedicated waffle grill or use the outdoor grill. You can brown sausages or cook bacon and ham on the grill, too.

Mother’s Day and National Barbecue Month couldn’t come at a better time. Treat your Mom to a barbecue treat this Sunday.

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Just in time for summer is the Frozen Concoction Maker - Fiji with Free Lime Tray, a featured product this week at Home Click.

The Frozen Concoction Maker mixes ice and ingredients with the simple flip of a switch. Much better than a mere blender, this unit has an ice-shaving and blending mechanism. The Frozen Concoction Maker comes with pre-set buttons to prepare margaritas, daiquiris, coladas and smoothies. Control strength and thickness with easy automatic controls. The set includes a glass pitcher for serving, a large capacity reservoir for holding ice for mixing, a measuring shot glass, salt rimmer tin, coasters, and party guide.

Get the summer party started right with the Frozen Concoction Maker, which retails for $379.

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A firepit is a stylish and functional option for the patio or landscape. Enjoy chilly nights even more with an elegant firepit to keep you warm, and in some instances, prepare your meals. 

The Dual Deck Grill/Firepit keeps you warm and grills up your favorite foods. The versatile firepit easily converts into a grill, which uses charcoal, has dual adjustable cooking surfaces and .16-inch steel construction. The grill includes a chopping board, drip collector, ventilation system, and stainless steel racks.

Traditional firepits look like the wood-burning Four Seasons Cast Iron Firepit and 24-inch Copper Firepit. Firepits run on natural gas, propane gas, and wood. They’re available in a variety of styles, including stand-alone and table top units. The Gel Fueled Outdoor Firepit Table is a smoke-free pit with real-looking logs and weather-proof table made of Asian hardwood. Running on flame-free gel-fueled cans, the firepit includes a firebox, fireplace grate, small pine cones, and lava rock.

These are a few firepit options available. Save money and space with a combination grill/firepit or opt for a stand-alone unit for the yard or built-in table unit for a deck or patio.

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Refrigerators are available in a wide range of styles and prices. If you’re in the market for a new one, and it’s been years since you bought one, you should educate yourself about the different types of refrigerators available.

For example, top freezer refrigerators, perhaps the most common type, are ideal for smaller or narrow spaces. According to Consumer Reports, these are less expensive to run and provide more storage. Drawback? No water dispenser. Bottom freezer models are also less costly to run, and they’re great for consumers who like to have frequently used items at eye level. Drawback? No water dispenser.

Side-by-side refrigerators typically have water and ice dispensers, and they’re best for kitchens that can’t accommodate doors that swing wide. Drawbacks? Side-by-sides can be expensive and may require more repairs than other models. Built-in refrigerators are the most expensive, but they are truly the more stylish option. With their cabinet-like interior storage space and cabinet-like façade, these units blend in better.

Source: Consumer Reports

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The affordable and high quality Stainless Steel Tank and Filtration System by InSinkErator is a featured product at Home Click. Designed for InSinkErator Instant Hot Water Dispenser faucets, the tank and filtration system goes under the kitchen sink to provide water for an add-on dispenser. The unit has a 2/3-gallon capacity and provides 30 percent more near-boiling water at 200 degrees Fahrenheit than previous models.

Retailing for $208.20, the InSinkErator system is equipped with a thermal protection feature to guard against overheating and demand-flow deliverance. The system provides 60 cups of near-boiling water an hour.

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Picture yourself eating your favorite seafood. Your container of warm butter (for dipping, of course) has gotten cold. At this point, some people would get up and heat up more butter or skip it for the rest of the meal. But there’s another option: butter warmers. We’re not talking about small saucepans for heating butter, but tiny containers with tiny burners underneath.

Aside from being very cute, butter warmers eliminate the need to interrupt meals to prepare more melted butter. It’s not an earth-shattering problem by any means, but if it makes life easier, why not? Buy several butter warmers so each guest can have his/her own. Use a Sterno or tealight candle at the base of the container to keep butter warm.

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Your home renovation budget is limited, and you want to know which projects will be worth the time and money required to undertake them. How do you know which renovations will result in big payoffs when and if you’re ready to sell your home? Here are a few home renovation projects almost always worth your time and money:

According to Remodeling’s report on cost versus value, replacing siding produces the third largest recoupment value. Durable and weather-resistant siding is a good investment.

If you don’t have a backyard deck, put it on your improvement to-do list. Adding a deck will not only give you more outdoor living space, but you may recover 85.4 percent of the cost of wood when it’s time to sell your home.

The kitchen is easily the most heavily used room in the house, and improving this room is where you’re almost guaranteed a nice return on investment. According to the National Association of Realtors, renovating the kitchen brings good value. Paint the room, install new countertops and cabinets, and buy new knobs and pulls for doors and drawers.

Source: Macedonia Online

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We’re observing the made-up-by-me Celebrate Singles Day here at the Home Style Forum. For people cooking for one and/or live in homes or apartments with small kitchens, small and double-duty appliances can save space and cut down on waste. For instance, the Stovetop Espresso Maker frees up counter space and gives espresso drinkers the option of making their own high-quality espresso right at home.

The Stovetop Espresso Maker has a capacity for nine cups, but users can opt to make one. Made with cast aluminum with an ergonomic soft grip handle, the espresso maker is safe to use on gas, electric, and ceramic cooktops. The unit retails for $18.95.

For convenient, on-the-go coffee making, the Golf Ball Travel Press Coffee Maker fits the bill. Just add ground coffee or tea leaves and hot water. Press, and have your fill of delicious coffee or tea. The press is travel-ready and holds 16 ounces of liquid. The Golf Ball Travel Press Coffee Maker retails for $6.

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