DO consider taller kitchen counters, 42 inches rather than 36 inches high. The extra height provides more cupboard space and eliminates unnecessary bending and crouching, especially for those who are taller than average (which is five feet nine inches for men, five feet four for women).
DO get smart about garbage and recycling with the addition of designated chutes that lead from the kitchen directly outside into covered waste bins. It sounds complicated, but it isn't. Consult a qualified builder to link interior and exterior through a small hole at counter height. Install wheels on the bottoms of the cans outside so you can roll them curbside when required.
DO add heat in unexpected places. Nuheat (nuheat.com), a B.C.-based company with dealers across Canada, uses wafer-thin electric technology to deliver consistent warmth to every room in the house. Love the look of granite countertops but find them too cold? Consider a thin electric mat beneath the countertop (terrific where there is an eating counter) to create a much warmer spot for children to enjoy an afternoon snack or do homework. Love claw-foot tubs, but hate that the metal surface allows the water to chill quickly? Cover the bottom of the tub with a Nuheat mat and it will keep the water warm for up to an hour and a half!
DO make laundry less daunting by placing the washer and dryer adjacent to a bedroom or bathroom. Many homeowners are installing stacked washer/dryer sets in the kitchen as well.
DO conceal a drawer or cupboard beneath stairs, within a bookshelf or behind a painting to hide valuables.
Read more in Decorating & Design and Design Lesson
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