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Make a small kitchen look larger

Where do you spend most of your time when you're home? If your family is like ours, it's probably in the kitchen. But no matter how large a kitchen is, it never feels big enough. Several years ago we remodelled our kitchen; I completely redesigned the floor plan

The renovations included knocking down a wall (we had the best time doing the demolition), installing a garden window over the sink (we lowered the bottom of the window to be even with the countertop), adding an island with an overhang (with room for three chairs or stools) and putting in a food prep peninsula at table height (it has an overhang with room for three or four stools). Here are several ideas to make any kitchen feel and look larger. Remember, you don't have to go for all of them. Any one of these suggestions can make a difference.

Create more storage. For better storage and to save space, install a base cabinet that has the cabinet door attached to rollout shelves instead of swinging open on hinges. Store your most used appliances in this convenient cabinet. When the shelves are pulled out, you can easily reach items stored in the back of the cabinet.

Re-do cabinets. Add glass fronts on wall cabinets or replace solid cabinet doors with glass fronts along one wall. It gives a more open feeling to the room.

Add light. Consider under-the-counter lighting; the kitchen will appear larger. Also, use light colours when decorating and lighten cabinets and countertops.

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