The Kitchen Consultant: a common-sense guide to kitchen remodeling Review

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(More customer reviews)Over the past two years, my wife has purchased about every kitchen remodeling book there is (at least a dozen) and I've read every one. "The Kitchen Consultant" is clearly the best of the bunch if you're looking for practical, useful information about the many options and decisions that come with kitchen remodeling.
This book is NOT a kitchen design book and it is NOT loaded with beautiful kitchen photos (there are some drawings), and it is NOT a do-it-yourself remodeling manual, but it does what none of those kinds of books (at least that I've seen) do---it clearly explains how to find and work with a good kitchen designer, how to find, evaluate and work with a professional remodeler, and how to make informed choices about things like lighting, ventilation, cabinets, countertops, sinks, flooring, and appliances (there are chapters on each of those categories).
This book is obviously written by someone who knows his subject intimately (the author is a professional kitchen remodeler with 20 years of experience) and is able to present all the information it in a clear, organized, and easy to read manner.
Reading this book is like having a friend who is an experienced contractor come over and help you not only sort out all your options, but also give you his professional opinion and point out some things you may not have considered, but should.
The Kitchen Consultant helped us to make a lot of decisions. For example, it settled a long standing dispute my wife and I have had about the kind of refridgerator we should buy.

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Readers will find an expert guide through the kitchen remodeling jungle in The Kitchen Consultant. This book contains the wisdom of seasoned kitchen remodeling contractor Herrick Kimball and the input of more than two dozen kitchen consultants from across the U.S. Readers will find advice on design, products, prices, suppliers, contractors and work specifications. Written in an engaging, conversational style with friendly, rendered drawings, this book makes the kitchen remodeling process flow smoothly. Helps readers:-- Decide how much remodeling they can do for themselves and what to leave to the professionals.-- Determine the cost vs. payback of a kitchen remodel in home resale value.-- Save money by avoiding common kitchen remodeling pitfalls.-- Choose the best appliances for a budget and compare common kitchen materials.-- An informative resource for the homeowner and a valuable reference for the professional.

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Big Designs for Small Kitchens Review

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(More customer reviews)Photos from different angles of a few kitchen never used to prepare a dinner for more than two people [if that].
Very,very little copy on the photos.
No layouts.
Somewhere in the past some ideas shown may have been good as Epcot Center displays but not even applicable to a single person's basic loft needs today.
Somebody got carried away with themselves when this book was published.

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The book proposes straightforward, efficient and attractive solutions for kitchens in small spaces. One of the chapters could feature the manufacturers and even include kitchens not only from homes but also from caravans, sailboats, restaurants, mobile homes, home studios...a truly practical book offering solutions.

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Country Style Kitchens: An Inspiring Design Guide (Schiffer Design Books) Review

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(More customer reviews)The ideas in this book are very inspiring. If you are looking to build a new kitchen or just re-design the one you have, buy this book for some GREAT ideas.....you won't be disappointed.

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This book explores one of home design's most enduring style trends as it applies to the kitchencountry style dcor. Appealing to many because of its traditional flair, handmade accents, and cozy atmosphere, country inspired interiors are rich in a sense of history and generational experience. Almost 200 gorgeous color photos of country style kitchens have been compiled to inspire homeowners, designers, architects, and builders with hundreds of ideas in colors, finishes, cabinetry, countertop materials, lighting, and flooring. The book's resource guide provides contact information of the manufacturers, designers, and architects whose work is featured in the book.

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European Style Kitchen Designs Review

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(More customer reviews)I bought this book hoping it would provide some design ideas - I am a Cajun cook who is rebuilding the kitchen in my post-Katrina flooded house in New Orleans. The book resembles nothing like the kitchens I've used in France. Rather, the effect is California chic, with very traditionally American cabinetry, marble and granite countertops, "islands" in the middle, and so forth. The sources given in the back of the book are nothing more than a list of American companies in the business of selling high-end domestic kitchen cabinetry and so forth. The words "inspired by" are the dead giveaway that this is not the real thing, and has no value in actual planning for a traditional cook. The photography is very nice. If you enjoy flipping through contemporary design magazines, and you have no interest in really cooking but want a domestic-only kitchen "showplace," maybe you will enjoy this book. Past that, don't bother.

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Explore the rich heritage Old Europe has offered for designers of today's high-end kitchens. Enjoy rooms replete with details carefully drawn from stately homes in the Mediterranean hill towns of Provence and Tuscany, the Moorish influences of Spanish Haciendas, the elegance and extravagances of Parisian apartments, and the time-honored traditions of panelled estates of Britain. The appliances may be professional grade stainless steel, yet the hand-carved wooden corbels, wrought-iron fixtures, and the stone-cobbled floors evoke a heritage hundreds of years in the making. This luscious collection of nearly 200 images takes designers and homeowners on an inspiring tour of over 100 kitchens that will inspire your journey to import the old world's long-lasting charms and elegance into your own home.

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Southern Kitchens and Dining Spaces: Design, Inspiration, and Hospitality from the American South Review

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(More customer reviews)This book is beautiful from cover to cover. You can draw even the smallest ideas for your kitchen from this book. There is a measure of comfort in each kitchen space showcased and a little something to please anyone from the traditional kitchen to the most modern. I have enjoyed reading and flipping through this book over and over again, and you will too.

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Gracious living, southern style
A home is more than a compilation of beautifully designed spaces; it is a place to entertain and share our lives with family and friends.Nowhere is this mindset more evident than in the kitchens and dining spaces of today's American south, where the culture of the table and the social aspect of design are key requirements to southern living. Graciousness is a quality that has special meaning in the south, and Southern Kitchens & Dining Spaces showcases the region's well-known hospitality in page after page of kitchen and dining room designs from the most sought-after designers and architects.Style sidebars, including entertaining ideas, decorating tips, storage/organizing solutions, and accessory ideas are interspersed through the text to show readers how to bring southern style into every aspect of their lives.

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Kitchens: A Design Source Book Review

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(More customer reviews)I checked this out from the library hoping to find some good ideas for a kitchen remodel. This book is full of showy kitchens that no real cook would tolerate. If you want you kitchen to look pretty, modern, or authentic, this may help you. If you want to use your kitchen instead of just dressing it up to look nice, buy another book.

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The kitchen is increasingly recognized as the heart of the home. No longer simply a place for cooking and storing food, the kitchen is also where meals are served and family and friends congregate, so there is every reason that it should be as stylish, comfortable, and functional as any other room. Vinny Lee opens with a chapter on planning, to help you identify your own needs and priorities, and then provides a survey of the four principal styles--Traditional, Simple Country, Simple Modern, and New Professional. She then takes a comprehensive look at the elements, such as lighting, countertops, sinks, appliances, and storage, with a multitude of creative ideas for decorating and adding colour. "Kitchens: A Design Source Book" is the one book you'll need to achieve a great-looking kitchen in which you can comfortably cook, eat, live, and work.*Revised and updated edition of this bestselling title.*Whether you are remodeling an existing room or starting from scratch, this invaluable guide will help you create your ideal kitchen.*With stylish photography by James Merrell.

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Traditional Style Kitchens: Modern Designs Inspired By The Past Review

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(More customer reviews)Traditional kitchen styles blend modern amenities with historic elements to feature both practical cooking arrangements and stylish décor - and what better place to integrate the two purposes than with a look at Melissa Cordona's Traditional Style Kitchens: Modern Designs Inspired By The Past. From artifacts and decorations to built-ins popular in past eras and blends of antique design touches to modern settings, color photos and plenty of completed designs provide homeowners with many new options.


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Traditional style kitchens blend convenient modern amenities with details that invoke a sense of history, craftsmanship, permanence, and warmth -- including painted and distressed finishes, furniture-grade cabinetry, natural textures, and concealed appliances. Early American, Colonial, Victorian, Shaker, and Arts & Crafts, in addition to Traditional Country and Farmhouse kitchens are shown in over 150 gorgeous color photos. Hundreds of ideas in cabinetry, hardware, light fixtures, appliances, and flooring are featured. Whether you're restoring or renovating a historical home, or want to add nostalgic charm to your contemporary kitchen, this book will provide inspiration with so many Traditional style kitchen designs right at your fingertips.

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Cook Best of Kitchen Design Review

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(More customer reviews)The book showcases the best of kitchen design- a must for everyone looking for exceptional ideas, and planning for a new contemporay , functional, interesting kitchen space.
Not your grand mas kitchen!!!!

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The new importance of kitchens today as a place to spend leisure is reflected in its architecture and design: first of all it means that creative solutions need to be found to smoothly integrate the kitchen with the dining and living areas, and at the same time its appearance needs to aesthetically match the style of ones home. Kitchens today can be trendy, puristic or cosy, but they must be always functional. Cook! Best of Kitchen Design presents 40 projects that show the different ways architects and designers are striving for intelligent and sometimes also surprising concepts.

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Plan Your Kitchen: hundreds of design combinations at-a-glance (At a Glance S.) Review

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(More customer reviews)I've been looking through books for the last year and a half because we're remodeling our kitchen this fall. This book falls in the bottom 20% of all the books I've poured through. By page 150 I found exactly one idea that I found interesting enough to flag.
The book is laid out with the idea that there are four types of kitchens: traditional, country, shaker and contemporary. They offer pictures of cabinets, sinks, etc. and indicate which category they fall into. I have found many, many examples of cabinet pulls and counter top choices, etc. that are repeated over and over again - perhaps a way to fill space in the book? I'm not sure. I do know that most, if not all, the useful information in this book could be found by picking up some current kitchen ideas magazines at your local discount store OR by picking up some information flyers at your local home improvement store (i.e. Lowe's, Home Depot).
Advantages: It is spiral bound and lays flat when opened. And, this book's sections are tabbed for easy access. Also, in the back there is a layout grid and design template (however, these are not rare in kitchen design books)

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Renovating your kitchen can be an exciting but overwhelming experience. From deciding cabinets and countertops to hardware and appliances, the options available to homeowners today can create an endless number of possibilities. Plan Your Kitchen takes the anxiety out of kitchen design by bringing together the most popular options into one handy guide that makes designing your ultimate kitchen easier.

Plan Your Kitchen features:


An easy flipbook format that uses the most popular flooring, walls, and cabinetry options to create hundreds of kitchen combinations


A wide variety of popular kitchen styles including country, traditional, Shaker, and contemporary


A gallery of appliances in different sizes, styles, and colors that will fit your lifestyle and needs

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A Complete Guide to Kitchen Design with Cooking in Mind Review

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(More customer reviews)Don Silver's book was a well anticipated arrival, but alas much of a disappointment. As one who is designing a kitchen at present for a house to be built in the next few months, I was a let down by the book's content.
Let's start with the good stuff. The first chapter on design basics is great, though Silver's makes a big deal about "breaking free of the kitchen triangle". As one who has lived for the past seven years with an island in the way of the refrigerator, I would have welcomed the "kitchen triangle"! While there are other workable solutions--and he introduces them--the old triangle has survived for a good reason and it is not as bad as he indicates, and is certainly necessary in some cases particularly where kitchen size is an issue or limitation.
Silver introduces some great concepts such as the 30" deep counter, two sinks, etc. but spends far too much time on silly mundane issues like a cursory review of cabinets (visit a Home Depot and or pick up a few cabinet catalogs and you'll get much better and more detailed info) and a tired review of pots and pans (!) which should be very old hat for anyone going so far as to buy this book.
More annoyingly, Silver consciously avoids mention of any brand names! It would be worthwhile to review some, particularly when he has such a penchant for separate "char-grills" (which I have yet to see in ANY appliance store). For example, I'd like to see a review of issues like flame spread and cleanability. My own homework revealed that while a Dacor gas cooktop looked great, the flame spread was too big for normal pots and pans; Viking's non-sealed burners looked "cheap", made out of stamped stainless and would be difficult to clean.
Lastly, the illustrations for the most part looked amateur.

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This book is the first guide to kitchen design from a cooking perspective.As the only book for the homeowner who wants a kitchen that is beautiful and that cooks beautifully, it takes the most complex room in the home and addresses its function as well as its form. With forty years of experience in the design and cooking fields, Don Silvers has discovered that most people have no idea of the pleasure that can be added to cooking in the right kitchen. This book will add new joy to cooking for every reader, even those who have previously disliked cooking.

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Joan Kohn's It's Your Kitchen: Over 100 Inspirational Kitchens Review

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(More customer reviews)I am re-doing my circa 70's kitchen and didn't know where to start for ideas. Most magazines don't have enough examples of full kitchens. Joan Kohn shows all types of kitchens, big, small, upscale and practical. The photos are great too. She shows many materials and finishes that I hadn't even thought of. It's like having 50 magazines in one book - only better!

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The star of HGTV's "Kitchen Design" helps readers plan their dream kitchens.--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Small Kitchens: Making Every Inch Count Review

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(More customer reviews)This book spells out EXACTLY how to design a kitchen that works for you, without spending the equivalent of a year's tuition at an Ivy League college. Packed with incredibly useful information and superb illustration, the unswerving focus on creating the most efficient kitchen possible is the perfect antidote to the excesses of current kitchen design trends. Using Murrell's insights and ideas anyone can get a better kitchen for free, just by rearranging their working centers according to the ideas and insights Murrell details. We are overjoyed by the kitchen we created IKEA cabinets and some desparately needed new appliances. This book should be a classic - if you have a small kitchen and a small budget, it will give you both hope and help!

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Kitchen Makeovers for Any Budget: Layout, Design, Build Review

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(More customer reviews)Instead of being filled with a bunch of flashy images, this book gets down and dirty and provides the information needed for redoing an existing kitchen or building new.

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Redo or new? Get it right the first Time

Author Chris Gleason designs and builds kitchens for a living. In Kitchen Makeovers For Any Budget he offers his advice and how-to knowledge to help you make the correct decisions about whether to re-face or paint your present kitchen cabinets, add new appliances and cabinets, redo the workflow, move walls, etc.

Kitchen Makeovers For Any Budget includes four complete remodeling projects; each one deals with a particular aspect of demolition, design and/or accessorizing. The companion DVD focuses on the design, workflow and accessories available to maximize your space and provide convenient storage solutions.

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New Built-Ins Idea Book: Media Centers Nooks & Crannies Window Seats Kitchen & Dining Areas Work Centers (Idea Books) Review

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(More customer reviews)The two Taunton books that I've bought (Built-Ins and Trim) are excellent books. The images that are chosen are great, and really do give you ideas (maybe too many). The write-ups are succinct and straight-forward. I've bought 6-8 interior decorating/design books in the last few months, most are disappointing, but the New Built-Ins Idea Book is excellent. You will not be disappointed.

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Do-it-yourself home projects have become a national pastime, and nothing satisfies that urge more then creating built-ins. The fact that they are a permanent part of a house makes it more critical that they be done with as much skill and imagination as possible. That's where the New Built-Ins Idea Book comes in. Written by Sandor Nagyszalanczy, a former senior editor of Fine Woodworking magazine and an acknowledged expert in the field, this illustrated guide shows step-by-step how to create built-ins that are both practical and appealing. Here are hundreds of design ideas for projects for every room of the house, including kitchens, bathrooms, libraries, kids' spaces, dining rooms, bedrooms, and the increasingly popular media spaces. The book shows a wide range of possibilities for incorporating built-ins, from niches to bookcases to spaces that replace those stacks of clothing in the closet. Complete coverage of materials, lighting, color, and hardware, along with careful, comprehensible drawings and photographs, is included.

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Candice Olson Kitchens and Baths Review

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(More customer reviews)Love this book. Great design ideas, as always from Candice! Only complaint is that if you watch the show, some of the kitchens in here will not be new to you.

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Popular TV star Candice Olson shows you how to create your dream kitchen and bathroom
Kitchens and bathrooms are the most commonly renovated rooms--and also the best investment with the highest payback value upon resale. This book is chock full of tips, inspiration, and ideas from popular TV star Candice Olson, whose designs have wowed fans around the world. Brimming with hundreds of full-color, before-and-after photos of Candice's stunning room makeovers, the book gives advice for choosing colors, materials, and furnishings to make any space shine. Divine Design Tips for the Kitchen & Bath from Candice Olson 1. Taking the time to plan for adequate lighting in any space is critical, but never more so than in the kitchen and bathroom. Just spend some time really evaluating your lighting needs. What elements of a room do you want to play up? Aside from a central ceiling fixture, consider task lighting under kitchen cabinets, wall sconces on each side of the bathroom mirror, or accent lighting to play up stunning artwork or furniture pieces.2.Today's kitchen and bath tiles come in a never-ending array of colors, but there is one thing you should remember when selecting tiles for showers or kitchen counters. Simply put, unless you're going to take the time to wipe down the shower every day, stay away from dark tiling. 3. In this era of environmentally friendly design, the lowly dimmer switch has come a long way! Today you can purchase dimmer switches that can be pre-programmed to automatically change the lighting level in a room. With the touch of a button on the wall or the click of a remote control, different lighting levels can be called up. 4. Many elements of a bathroom have a 'cold" feeling: think tiles, chrome and porcelain. To balance with warmth, try painting the walls in a warm color. Vary textures by adding shaggy rugs, bamboo baskets or intricate fabrics. Plants are a great addition to a bathroom, either wall mounted or in pots on the counter. 5. Busy homemakers, here is your first mission: go on a hunt for wasted space. If you have an area adjacent to or in the kitchen - whether the corner of a laundry room or an under-utilized wall--you can create a kitchen office that really cooks! 6. When redesigning your kitchen, new cabinetry will be your biggest expense. Even if you need to scrimp in other areas, be sure to invest in quality cabinets now and you'll reap the benefits for years to come. 7. Gone are the days when whirlpools were the hallmark of a luxurious bathroom. These days, air tubs are the new way to soak away the stress of your day! Tiny jets create zillions of little air pockets that massage your entire body, without the sting of a blasting water jet. But if showering is your thing, check out the latest 'rain" shower heads - flat round fixtures which come in a variety of widths. They provide a steady, gentle-yet-invigorating flow of water for the perfect shower experience! 8. There's no doubt that when it comes to interior design, the hottest color right now is green. With the mounting evidence of global warming, recent energy crises and other environmental concerns, interior design has an important role to play. When choosing materials for your renovation projects, look for products that will have the smallest environmental footprint possible.

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The Smart Approach to Kitchen Design, Third Edition Review

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(More customer reviews)I had to use this book for my Kitchen and Bath Design class and I love it. It is easy and fun to read, the pictures are amazing and point out how the different elements look when used in the space. It is very truthful in the pros and cons of different materials and walks you through each aspect of kitchen design from choosing a layout and style to the materials that are available. I would recommend this book for anyone who is interested either in a career in design or if you want to look at remodeling your current space. I also have the Bath Design and will be purchasing the Small Spaces book from this series very soon.

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The Smart Approach to Kitchen Design showcases the latest trends and technology and explains how to design a kitchen like a professional.

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Kitchens That Work: The Practical Guide to Creating a Great Kitchen Review

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(More customer reviews)I've bought just about every kitchen remodeling guide out there, and a huge stack of kitchen magazines. I wish I'd found this book earlier in the process -- it's by far the best. Practical advice and methodology on every step of the process from space planning to a great system for coming up with a workable color scheme (I was REALLY going nuts over this aspect, and now have an aesthetic approach that makes sense). Little things that other books don't discuss, like planning for the space needed to open cabinet and appliance doors, and what's considered a practical width for passage between a stove and an island, and setting up a working temporary kitchen for use during the project. It discusses all options and doesn't necessarily embrace all the latest fads. Do you need an island, or will it just clutter up your floor plan? It prepares you for what to expect during the process -- hiring contractors, the delays, when to order things, should I hire a designer or an architect? Or neither? And what's the difference? Lots of color photos and diagrams, discussion of various materials, relating your remodel to the architectural history of your house -- I could go on. All in simple, thoughtful, common-sense prose by authors who've apparently been there many times and know the joys and the pitfalls -- and have a great sense of design. You won't regret getting this book.

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The kitchen is the social center of the home -- a place for eating, a place for working, and a place to organize everything from spices to household finances. Because kitchens serve so many different needs, creating a new kitchen that not only serves these many needs but works well is a major challenge.
Featuring over 200 color photos, illustrations, and charts, Kitchens That Work uses a lifestyle design model to guide the reader through the complex process of designing and creating a great kitchen -- one that works for everyone living in the house. The book guides the reader through each step of the process, from initial planning through the many material and design choices made along the way. Especially helpful is the unique insider's perspective on finding, evaluating, and managing kitchen contractors.

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