Kitchen Living by Duenas: Kitchen Lighting

Kitchen Living by Duenas: Kitchen Lighting: Description: Accent lighting is important for creating a pleasant ambiance inside a room or for creating a comfortable and practical decor t...

2020 Kitchen Ideas

Kitchen ideas 2019

Why is the kitchen most important part of the house?

1  The Kitchen is the heart of the home

They say the way to a man’s heart is through the stomach. Therefore, if food draws a woman close to a man’s heart, then the room where food is prepared should be the heart of the home.  Whether small or large, even if it’s just a small portion where a stove is placed, the kitchen is the hub of the home. It is where the meals are created – it fuels the bodies, minds and souls of friends and families.

2  Kitchens are no longer solely for cooking

The true function of the kitchen has changed over time.  Before it was only used for cooking, however, these days it’s a space to bond, create, innovate and spend time. Kitchens are not sedate and quiet rooms. They are rooms filled with energy, aroma and texture. They were created with a purpose, one purpose in mind. They were created to be utilitarian spaces

3  The importance of kitchen size today

Today the importance of a good sized, productive kitchen is cannot be underestimated. It is, according to many, the most important room of the house. In today’s real estate, a house’s resale depends greatly on its kitchen. Its location and functionality is key. Older kitchens must be made to look newer, more streamlined and more modern. For resale purposes, it is not unheard of for sellers to bring in new accessories; paint and appliances are brought in to help the sale.

4  Today’s kitchen is much more than a kitchen

Today’s the kitchen is the family’s living space. There is the kitchen area – the designated cooking space – thoughtfully, carefully planned and laid out. Then there’s the dining area within the kitchen, usually large enough to hold a table that comfortably seats 6 or more, and finally, in many of these larger kitchens, is the sitting area, so that in effect, the whole family can hang out together while cooking, working or relaxing. Many new homes embracing the more casual lifestyle are being built without a dining room or formal living area. For those who enjoy entertaining and do so often, even the homes with formal dining and living areas find that the crowd usually gathers in the kitchen.

4 Health benefits of Grilling

The interior design of your kitchen needs to have a balance of beauty and resourcefulness. The kitchen needs to be built to your needs and a well designed kitchen will increase productivity while cooking. Keeping that in mind, are you someone who is in the process of rebuilding your kitchen but can't decide whether to have a grill setup or not? Let us help you make that decision with 4 health benefits to using a grill in your kitchen.

1. Less Butter = Fewer calories

Whether you are new to grilling or refer to yourself as a grill master, not overcooking your food is a vital step. In normal day cooking to add moisture to your cuts of meat and veggies, you'll reach for common ingredients such as butter or cooking oil. The Benefit of having a grill is that the grill retains the moisture and would require less butter which equates to fewer calories and ultimately a less unhealthy dish.

2. Grill Retains Nutrients

Tossing your cut of meat on the grill will actually preserve more riboflavin & thiamine and your vegetables will retain more of their healthy nutrients, which makes it easier to enjoy a mean part of your healthy diet.

3. Fat cooks off

Have you ever cooked a burger on your stove-top ? If yes, you will agree that at the bottom of your pan theres a pool of fat that is always re-absorbing itself to the meat being cooked. When you grill your meat, the grill will let the excess fat drip off the grates and you'll end up with a healthier option.

4. Vegetables Detox

Grilling vegetables will act as a passive detox to your system. Vegetables are not only low in calories but they are high in fiber which is perfect to make you feel full while still helping you lose weight.

Those are just 4 healthy reasons why to consider including a grill inside your kitchen or even adding easy access to a grill outside. Don't forget outside grilling can always be accompanied with outdoor activities which helps in keeping active and bonds family and friends together !

5 Tips for Kitchen Renovations

5 Tips for Kitchen Renovations

As a homeowner, the time to consider kitchen renovations will come when, you have lived in a house for years, when you buy an old house, or when you want to sell the house. The kitchen is one of the most important part of the house if not the most important as it can add great value to your home.

For those of you who are contemplating renovating your kitchen, here are the 5 tips you might want to consider:

1. Imagine and plan ahead. How do you want it to look? what materials or appliances do you want to use? how do you want to design it ? etc. Sketch your desirable kitchen as it viable to set your goals before you actually start working on it to avoid costly replacement once it's in production.
   
2. Consider quick renovations. In many cases, we have to fight with our budget. There are so many things we can do to the kitchen and the costs can be extremely high if we want everything to be done perfectly, using expensive materials. Focusing on what we want the most is important whether you want to replace your dirty sink or you want to build more cabinets for extra storage space. For those of you who have a tight budget, here are some quick renovations you can consider:

• Upgrade appliances: Dishwasher, stove, fridge
• Replace countertops
• Replace lighting
• Change the wall/cabinet colours

Those small renovations can be done quickly, are less expensive, yet they can give you the new kitchen feel.  

 

3. Optimize kitchen layout. You want to think how you work in the kitchen. You want to place the sink next to where you would cut your vegetables so you can wash them. Dishwasher should be also located near the sink so you can easily put your plates in the dishwasher after you rinse them. It is good to have a seasoning cabinet close to the stove so you can season your food while you are cooking. You don’t want to have your food storage next to the stove because the food can go bad faster.
   
4. Avoid adding square feet and a corner sink. Both adding square feet and a corner sink can be a very complicated job and pricy. Try to find additional space by eliminating closets or hallways rather than adding square feet. The countertop must be constructed to keep any joints far away from the sink. This is because of the moisture that can build up around the sink. In some cases the countertop will have to be custom built and this will cost more.

5. Consider having an island. If the space allows, having an island can be beneficial. It is not only convenient to have extra space to prepare your meal, but it also brings people together around it. You can have a bigger space to bake or you can use it as an appetizer table when you have people over.

Best Beverage for Breakfast

Most of us in the mornings feel thirsty and want to start our day with something that can support us for an energetic day. Coffee is a popular beverage for breakfast that nobody knows about its benefits. Drinking the right beverage can give you energy and make you feel fresh for the rest of your day. There are some other nutritious beverages for the morning that can provide you with sufficient amount of nutrition.

Coffee

Coffee is one of the perfect beverages to start your day with. It does not only keep you awake but also makes you smarter!  Caffeine is the active ingredient in coffee. Caffeine has proven affect to improve mood, alertness and mental performance.

Even small amounts of caffeine can achieve these high effects. The most proper dose of coffee per day must be 38-400 mg which is roughly 0.3 to 4 cups of coffee per day depends on its strength.

Also coffee has been recommended for fat burning and increasing metabolic rate by nutritionists.

Coffee is a rich source of antioxidants which may reduce cavities, boost athletic performance, stop headaches and decrease diabetes and liver disease risk.

Chia Seeds

Chia seed is full of nutrition and is one of the best sources of fiber. Viscous fiber absorbs water, which increases the volume of food moving through your digestive tract and helps you feel full and satisfied.

Chia also contains essential fatty acids alpha-linolenic and linoleic acid, mucin, strontium, Vitamins A, B, E, and D, and minerals including sulphur, iron, iodine, magnesium, manganese, niacin, thiamine, and they are a rich source of anti-oxidants.

By eating Chia seeds you can reduce your hunger, along with improvements in blood sugar and blood pressure.

One serving of Chia seed provides almost 4 grams of protein. Therefore for an optimal breakfast you can make Chia pudding that contains more than 25 grams of protein.

Green Tea

Green tea is more than just green liquid; it is one of the healthiest beverages on the planet because it contains large amounts of important nutrients. Many of the bioactive compounds in the tea leaves and loaded amount of polyphenols which work as powerful antioxidants do make it into the final drink.

Green tea contains caffeine and it provides about half the amount caffeine in coffee per cup.

Green tea may be especially helpful against diabetes as it is a hydrating calorie-free beverage whose consumption is recommended up to eight cups per day.

Protein Shake

Drinking protein shakes or smoothies is another great way to start your day. If you exercise regularly, you may need more calories and protein. Protein shakes can range in their protein content, but all contain some carbohydrates and maybe a little fat. 

There are several types of protein powder, including whey, egg, soy and pea protein. However, whey protein is absorbed the most quickly by your body.

Additionally whey protein reduces appetite more than other forms of protein. If your goal is to lose body fat, change to a protein shakes that's mainly protein, has fewer carbohydrates, and only a little bit of fat. It can also preserve muscle mass during weight loss and aging.