Kitchen counter-tops- Different materials to choose from

Kitchen Countertops

There are so many options you have when looking for kitchen counter-tops.Kitchen counter-tops are manufactured in different materials like stone, corian, quartz and laminate. Natural stone remains a popular choice when it comes to choosing the material for kitchen counter-tops. The functionality and beauty of stone counter-tops easily makes them a preferred choice for kitchen counter-tops. However, other materials are also popular. They are further explained below.

Quartz 

A large range of Kitchen counter tops are manufactured in quartz material. Many popular brands produce kitchen counter-tops in quartz material. Counter-tops made from quartz material are known to be sturdier than granite and are also resistant to most types of bacteria. There are also different colour options when it comes to choosing counter-tops in quartz material and you can easily select the colour of your choice. Quartz, as a material is known to be homogenous and have a firm and tight graining pattern. Some manufacturers also provide quartz counter tops in colour's which might not be available in natural stone. 

Corian 

Corian is another solid material that is used to produce kitchen counter-tops. Many people are unaware about the features of corian material but it is also an extremely good material for kitchen counter-tops. Counter-tops made from corian are known to be resistant to staining and this material does not require sealing. Another good thing about corian material is that it can be moulded into any shape and thus you can get a sink and a counter-top in whatever shape you want. This flexibility of having the counter-tops in any shape is not given by any other material.

Two simple ways to save space in your home

Home renovation is a much debated subject. What designs one may like for their home may be completely detested by another. When it comes to designing small homes, you need to extra careful as even a small mistake can end up making the home look claustrophobic. Not all of us are blessed with large homes but one should not lose heart just because your home has small space. There are many things you can do that can create an illusion of a larger area. Some of these things are explained below...

De-clutter

The first thing you need to do is get rid of all those unwanted things that are unnecessarily acquiring space in the room. Get a large box, dump in all the items that are not needed and be super specific about what accessories and artefacts adorn the room. When you cut down on the number of accessories in the room, it creates a lot of free space and this gives your room a neat appearance. You will be amazed at the amount of space saved but removing all the unwanted accessories. 

Do away with window treatments

If your room size is small, absolutely avoid going for large, bulky window treatments for your room windows. These bulky window treatments not just block out the limited light entering your room but also eat up a lot of space in the room. Instead of the window treatments, you can simply opt for light curtains, blinds or shutters. They do not take a lot of space and also provide right amount of privacy required in the room. If you are flexible with your budgets, then you can also go for custom designed blinds for your windows. You can choose the material, size and the shape of the blinds that you want for your windows. 

Tiles for industrial spaces

Industrial Flooring

Industrial flooring has to be chosen wisely as it will be drawing a huge number of footfalls. The flooring for industrial spaces has to be durable enough to last for a long time without getting spoilt.

Unlike the olden days, when there were limited options for industrial flooring, the market is now buzzing with a variety of industrial flooring types available. There are different types of industrial flooring available, in diverse textures, materials and designs. It is important that you select an appropriate type of tiles for your industrial space. Tiles meant for a hospital would not be suitable for a restaurant or a shopping mall.

Factors to consider 

Before you start looking for tiles for your industrial space, you need to get answers to a few questions. You have to first decide what type of industrial space need to be tiled, what will be the type of usage of the tiles- whether the flooring will attract a lot of traffic throughout day or will there be heavy traffic only at certain periods. You also need to determine how often you will be cleaning the floor tiles. If you plan to clean the tiles once in a week, then it is good to opt for stain-free tiles. You also need to chalk out how often will you be changing the tiles and what extent of durability are you looking at. Lastly, you have to figure out what extent of moisture will the tiles be subjected to. If the flooring will be subjected to a high amount of moisture, then it makes no sense to opt for tiles that have high water absorption rates.

Industrial tiles from Endura

Industrial tiles from Endura come with a lot of features and benefits. They are designed to withstand a high amount of traffic and also have an abrasion free surface apart from being anti-skid. If you are looking for industrial tiles, then look for Endura tiles marketed under H & R Johnson (India).

Hiring a contractor for kitchen design job ..

Kitchen Decor

When designing your kitchen, you surely want good praises from family members as well those who come visiting your place. Someone who exclaims ‘wow’ on seeing your kitchen is surely a sign of good kitchen designing. If you are confused as to how to design the kitchen the right way, start by taking an elaborate look around your kitchen. Identify the focal points in your kitchen. When you look at your kitchen, pretend as if you are seeing it for the first time. You may sometimes feel the need to hire an interior decorator to remodel your kitchen. On other occasions, you may feel that a good DIY job can do the trick for your kitchen.

Hire a contractor

When you intend to take up the task of remodelling your kitchen, it always helps to have a good piece of advice from a professional. You can always ask the local kitchen contractor to come over and have a look at your kitchen. The contractor can give some expert inputs that can help you design a dream kitchen. The contractor will be able to give a long term perspective when it comes to designing the kitchen space.

You have to have a deep understanding of what will work for your kitchen and what ideas do not fit well into your budget. Your contractor will provide you with a lot of alternate designs if you are looking to redesign your kitchen on a small budget. Thus, if you do not have enough knowledge about DIY projects, it always makes sense to hire a kitchen design contractor who will know the nitty gritty of kitchen styling and décor.

Choosing right sanitary ware for your bathroom

Johnson Sanitaryware

When choosing bathroom sanitary ware, you have to be extra careful because they should not just be pleasant to look but also be practical to use. A little technical knowledge while choosing bathroom sanitary ware always helps and ensures that you make the right purchase. Though you may lay more importance on the design and the colour of the sanitary ware, other things like ease of cleaning, resistance to breaking, ease of fixing should also be considered. Some of these factors are explained below.

Ease of cleaning

The one important factor that needs to be considered while buying sanitary ware is the amount of cleaning required to maintain them. Frequent use of abrasive solvents and bleaches can make the surface hoarse and also affect the glaze of the products over time. This reduces their smoothness and they become more susceptible to absorbing dirt and dust. If the sanitary ware has to be used in commercial spaces, then they should be checked for their ability to get rid of cigarette stains. Leading sanitary ware brand Johnson Sanitary ware provides accessories that can help to get rid of harsh stains and marks with minimum cleaning.

Resistant to deformities

The strength and design are two major factors that you have to take into consideration while choosing bathroom sanitary ware. Your bathroom basins and toilet bowls should not just be scoring high on the design but should also be strong enough to endure chipping and breaking. Two factors that contribute the most to breakage and chipping are sharp edged designs along with incorrectly fitted accessories. If you opt for sanitary ware from leading brand like Johnson Sanitary ware, then you can be assured that the accessories you choose are subjected to quality control and are manufactured using the best and the latest technology. Always look for Johnson Sanitary ware label while purchasing sanitary ware for your bathroom.

Three features of vitrified tiles ...

Vertified Tiles

If you are wondering what tiles to opt for your flooring and walls, then vitrified tiles are an excellent option. Vitrified tiles are manufactured with the latest technology and they offer a host of benefits. Some of their features are listed below.

High quality

Vitrified tiles are manufactured in such a manner that their quality standards are notches above the standard floor and wall tiles. Latest technology combined with advanced craftsmanship has resulted in superior quality vitrified tiles unmatched by most other types of tiles.

International expertise

For manufacturing vitrified tiles, advanced technology is borrowed from different countries like Italy and Ukraine. Ball clay is imported from Ukraine and this coupled with the modern technology to produce vvitrified tiles in the longest kiln in India and subjected to a temperature of 1200 degree calices makes these tiles extremely strong. As vitrified tiles are subjected to very high temperatures during production, they turn out to be absolutely moisture proof and do not soak in or retain moisture. Their zero percent water retention quality is what makes them a viable choice of flooring in commercial establishments like restaurants, high rises and offices.

Stain and scratch resistant

Vitrified tiles easily score over other tile options when it comes to being scratch and stain resistant. They are also a preferred flooring option compared to marble and other types of flooring. As they have a high modulus of rupture, they are strong enough and can easily resist stains and scratches. As they can easily repel scratches and stains, they are known to have along shelf life which makes them a favoured option for commercial establishments where changing flooring frequently may not be a viable option.

Few reasons why you should opt for ceramic tiles...

Ceramic Tiles

Many of us are not aware that ceramic is an aesthetic, strong and enduring flooring and wall material. Tiles made out of ceramic are known to add a beautiful appeal to homes and other establishments. Ceramic tiles not just look good, but are also resistant against most types of wear and tear suffered by other flooring types. Some more benefits of ceramic tiles are explained below.

Long shelf life

Ceramic tiles are manufactured in such a manner that they have en extremely long shelf life compared to all other types of flooring. Ceramic tiles last for a long period of time and you do not have to worry about installing new tiles for a long time to come once you have installed ceramic tiles.
Resistant to fire
Another important feature of ceramic tiles is that they are designed in a manner which makes them fire-proof. They will not catch fire under any circumstances. Also, they will not give out toxic fumes and harmful gases which may be bad for small kids or senior members in the home.

Anti –skid surface

Ceramic tiles are produced in a way that their surface prevents slipping or skidding. If there are small children or senior members in the home, you may be worried about their safety. Ceramic tiles are coated with an abrasive grit which is added to the glaze. Some other types of ceramic tiles have studs, ribs or an orange peel finish added to the texture. This makes the ceramic tiles anti-skid and you will not slip on them even if you walk fast or run.