Making the Most of your Dining Room

When considering various dining room ideas, it’s important to think about the size of the room compared to the size of the dining room furniture. Dining room tables and dining room chairs must be the right scale for the size of the floor plan, or else no one will be able to sit comfortably and enjoy a meal. The general guideline for dining room chairs is to allow about two to three feet clearance for guests to get into and occupy seats. The minimum allowance for traffic around the dining room table and chairs should be approximately two feet. This will ensure for an easy traffic flow for your guests.

In addition to the size of the space, you should also consider how many people will be using the dining room. For a family of four, their daily needs are for a minimum of four dining room chairs. If guests frequently join the family for lunch or dinner, then an expandable table along with several extra dining room chairs will be invaluable. For a home with one dining area, this adjustable dining room furniture design will be even more important as the room transforms to accommodate small or large gatherings.

Dining Room Furniture Options

Dining room ideas are really limitless since the materials available for tables and chairs can range from wood, metal, glass, plastic, stone, leather, and fabric. The basics of dining room decorating involve first selecting the right table and chairs. Dining room tables come in many shapes such as round, square, and rectangle. Round tables allow for better eye contact than oblong or rectangle versions. A round or oval table will also make it easier to add an extra chair when the need arises. Square dining room tables are becoming more popular especially in contemporary dining room design. Banquette or booth designs are ideal for breakfast nooks or casual dining spaces.

Dining room chairs are often available in a matched set with a table. However, an eclectic mixture of different chairs is well-suited to a cottage, country ranch, or contemporary dining room design. One painless way to try this idea is to buy the same style of chair in different colors or finishes if that is available; otherwise, you have them upholstered or painted in several coordinating colors.

If space allows, dining room furniture should also include pieces for use as serving areas and storage. The most commonly seen dining room furniture used to serve up food include buffets, sideboards, console tables, and harvest tables. A contemporary dining room design often features a large floating shelf as a buffet area. Dining room furniture storage options for dishware and glassware include china cabinets, breakfronts, cupboards, baker’s racks, wine racks, or open shelving.

How much will it cost to install a luxury kitchen yourself?

A kitchen renovator would charge about $10-15,000 to replace a small kitchen to a basic level of service and a medium level finish. (If you would like a more accurate costing see our Kitchen Cost Calculator.)

This would include removal of existing cabinetry, appliances, flooring and wall cladding (tiles, splashboards etc), simple relocation/ replacement of walls and finishings (plastering or rendering), removal and refitting services (plumbing and electrics), installing cabinetry including bench tops, tiling or fitting splashbacks and installing new flooring, lighting and painting. If wall or window replacement is required these costs can easily go up by another $5000.

By DIY renovating your kitchen, designing the layout, demolishing cabinetry, and removing old appliances, engaging trades, supervising renovating, and painting yourself, you could shave 20-40% of these costs.

Does your kitchen need a full re-design or just a makeover?

How much to spend on your DIY kitchen renovation, and where to spend it depends on how the kitchen is used, and how long you plan to own the house. Is it just a functional kitchen for food preparation or is also an entertaining area? If family and friends gather in the kitchen then it needs to have a different feel, with most likely with a breakfast bar, home entertainment and internet connection and more general storage or shelving.

If you plan sell the house in a year or two then it may not be worth a major kitchen renovation. However the suitability and appeal of the kitchen is one of the most important considerations for new home buyers.

Careful re-design can make a kitchen more spacious, provide more storage and be user friendly however changing the configuration costs money because it usually means new plumbing, electrics and possibly alteration to wall construction, windows and doors. You may have to strip it back to the floors and walls and rebuild it from new. But if the layout is fine, and you feel comfortable with DIY, you can renovate a kitchen relatively cheaply. A dramatic difference can be made by simply changing the colour scheme, replacing old cupboard and bench tops for new, replacing appliances exactly where they were and improving lighting.

Either way, your kitchen will be out of commission for 1-4 weeks and you need to find some other food preparation area.

The Basics

The first step is in understanding the many different names you will read when looking for information about how to buy a portable hot tub or home spa. Here are some commonly used terms:

• Home spa – generally made with an acrylic shell; surrounding cabinet may be made of wood or synthetic materials; can be used to describe an above ground, in-ground, indoor or outdoor spa.

• Hot tub – name originally given to the earliest spas that were typically round, made of wood, and located outdoors; now is commonly used interchangeably with the phrase ‘home spa’.

• Portable hot tub/portable home spa – name for any hot tub/home spa that is pre-assembled and sits above ground; actual size and features of a portable hot tub vary widely, from small tubs that weigh only a few hundred pounds and are quick to set up to large tubs that weigh several thousand pounds and require specific installation methods and electrical wiring.

• Jacuzzi® hot tub – Brand name Jacuzzi® is a well-known manufacturer of home spa systems; jacuzzi is often used as a generic reference to any home spa or hot tub

What are your needs?

As you do more research into portable home spas and hot tubs, you will find there are many sizes and features available. Here is just a partial list of common offerings:

• Four to six person, six to eight person, eight to ten person sizes

• Lounge, bench and therapy seats

• Power, circulation, foot or therapy jets

• Adjustable jets

• Electronic or pneumatic controls

• Water purification systems

• Single or dual filtration systems

• Ozonator systems

• Automatic spa covers

• Fountains

• CD/stereo systems

As you can see, there are many options for configuring a portable home spa. Remember, though, that the best hot tubs do not necessarily have the most or the fanciest features. What is most important is that you select a spa that has the features best suited to your own needs and preferences.

What is the Cost?

Cost is an important consideration when you decide to buy a portable hot tub. The initial investment can range from $3,000 up to $20,000, depending on the size, construction, and features of the spa you select. Just as important, though are the ongoing costs of operating a home spa.

Things to consider

• Water maintenance – is the chemical and filtration system robust enough to keep the water clean for the level of usage you anticipate? This will have a big impact on both regular water sanitation activities and the frequency of full water changes. Ideally, your spa should require minimal daily attention and a minimal number of time-consuming full water changes.

• Cabinet maintenance – if the cabinet is made of wood and the portable hot tub is located outdoors, plan to re-stain the wood at least once per year. If the cabinet is made of synthetic materials then periodic spraying with a hose and/or wiping off dirt is usually sufficient.

• Repairs – pumps wear out, heaters stop heating, and other mechanical problems inevitably come up. Read and understand the manufacturer’s warranty before you buy, looking for key points like coverage of parts, labor and other materials. Also, look for hidden fees and other costs you may incur if, for example, a repair technician has to travel from out of town to get to your location or if the local supplier does not keep a specific part in stock. Some warranties on portable home spas even specify that certain types of warranty repairs must be done at the spa factory, requiring you to pay for shipping to and from the factory.

In Summary

Buying a hot tub is an investment that should not be taken lightly. Take the time to research and gather information, and check out several different spa manufacturers. Careful shopping and selection of a home spa pays off in the end, though, as you end up with a portable home spa that can give you years of enjoyment.

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If you are looking for something special, this Contemporary Pacific Northwest style home provides a beautiful mix of mountain paradise & fabulous euro styling.  The kitchen & baths include state-of-the-art European cabinets/fixtures and provide a “WOW” factor. Don’t miss the loft/office area & huge family/game room, plus the beautiful decks and large yard!  A very easy walk to the village and lake.

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