“WE SPEND SO much time in the kitchen,” says kitchen designer Marie Browne. “But we don’t ask ourselves, how are we using this space? How could we be using it better?”

For most households in Ireland, the kitchen is where life happens. Not just cooking, but everything from the morning scramble to afternoon schoolwork; from lazy lunches to late-night conversations. 

We asked Marie – a designer with Cash & Carry Kitchens – for her tips on designing a kitchen that makes life easier, not harder. Say goodbye to cluttered worktops and make awkward storage a thing of the past with her expert advice. 

1. First, make your ‘must-have’ list of appliances

The first step, says Marie, is to look at the things that you really need. “That’s where the design process really starts,” she says. And it’s crucial to be realistic. “If you’re a family of four, you don’t want

Hundreds of headlines blare daily warnings about the dreaded “Covid 19” pounds packed on during these long pandemic months. Americans are locked out of their local gyms and yoga studios, locked down in their homes, and locked away from friends and family members for support. What isn’t locked down are the refrigerator and pantry, and comfort food eating is on the rise. What impact is this having on your health, and what can you do about it?

Weighing In

First, the good news: “Much like the myth of the ‘Freshman 15,’ which has been disproven through numerous studies, the ‘Covid 19’ phenomenon is more myth than reality,” declares Jennifer Lombardi, a certified eating disorder psychotherapist at Kaiser Permanente’s Eating Disorder Intensive Outpatient Program in Sacramento.  That doesn’t mean

It’s the perfect time of year to cozy up with some comfort food, and Ina Garten has some tips to make your fall and winter cooking as easy as possible.

The Barefoot Contessa, as she’s known in her popular Food Network show, stopped by TODAY’s fourth hour on Tuesday to show co-hosts Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager around her East Hampton kitchen and offer some design advice.

“When I’m designing a kitchen … I think of setting the stove, the sink and refrigerator in a triangle so you can move around really well,” she explained, adding that in her own kitchen, these three appliances are “really close together, but they also have a lot of workspace in between.”

“I always like the sink to have a really nice view,” Garten, 72, continued. Her kitchen sink points to her beloved garden where she grows fresh produce and hosts outdoor dinner

We are not the only creatures that retreat indoors when the temperatures begin to drop.

During this time of the year, many rodents and insects will start entering homes looking for a warm place to spend the winter. Below are some tips to keep them outdoors. Most hardware and home improvement stores will carry the tools and materials you need to get started.

Install door sweeps or thresholds at the base of all exterior doors. Lie on the floor and check for light leaks under doors.

Gaps of 1/16th of an inch or smaller will allow insects and spiders inside, and spaces as small as the diameter of the pencil (about 1/4th of an inch), are large enough for mice. Pay attention to the door’s bottom corners, as this is often where rodents and insects enter. Fit garage doors with a rubber bottom seal. Close gaps under sliding glass doors

Around 85% of U.S. homes were built before 1980 and are now in need of improvements. And since you’re probably spending more time than ever at home, it’s likely you’ve taken an even closer look at all of the things that need fixing. You may even have a growing to-do list of all the repairs and upgrades you want to make over the next few months to improve both your property value and your quality of life.

While some jobs need to be handled by a professional, there are countless other projects that can easily be DIY’d. However, you still need to approach every renovation — regardless of its size and scope — with caution. Although over 20,000 workplace slip-and-fall injuries were reported in California during 2015, you don’t have to be on the clock to become hurt while doing a job. And unless you’d like to be one of

A pandemic, an election year, hurricanes, wildfires, social unrest—what more can we pile on to our 2020 experience? Most of us find ourselves working from home full-time while juggling homeschooling, pets, extended family and more. These are challenging times, especially for working parents. If you don’t foster healthy habits, it will be challenging to support the people around you, whether it’s family, friends, employees, clients or co-workers. That’s why it’s more important than ever to employ strategies to combat work from home burnout. Recently I connected with Denise Broady, HR expert and COO at Workforce Software, who shared her top tips to remain productive while still maintaining work-life balance.

Create a routine

Even though you might not be going to a physical office space, it’s crucial to develop a routine. Ensure you’re getting dressed every day (at least

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Los Angeles, CA ( TS Newswire ) — 30 Sep 2020

Over time, you may get tired of the same, old look of your kitchen. You should know that decorating your kitchen doesn’t need a lot of spending. With a modest budget, these 3 simple ideas will freshen up your kitchen space in a heartbeat.

Why Should You Decorate Your Kitchen?

There are several advantages to decorating your kitchen, namely:

• Kitchen decoration projects take less time and effort than renovation projects.
• A newly decorated kitchen is a cheaper way to give your home a fresh look.
• Decorated kitchens inspire and invigorate the home cook, which means more delicious meals.

3 Ways to Decorate Your Kitchen on a Budget

If you want to keep expenses at a minimum, consider these 3

Maintaining an organized home just makes life easier. When everything is in its place, you can move through your day with ease. Who wouldn’t want that? That’s why we’re taking you inside some of the most organized — and stylish — spaces crafted by some of our favorite design influencers and tastemakers. Get ready to take inspiration from the Organization Chronicles.

The kitchen is the heart of the home, and when you’re a mom of five, this is even more true. Consider the case of Atlanta-based interior designer Erika Ward, who admits it was imperative for her recent kitchen renovation to be conducive to her active lifestyle, especially now that she and her husband are working more from home.

Ward craved a comfortable yet stylish cooking space that would make it easy to prepare meals but also encourage her kids to assist with the clean-up afterwards (a.k.a. every parent’s dream).

My Google Home knows me like a friend — maybe even better. It knows my favorite music, my grocery list and what my schedule looks like from now until eternity. But the one thing tying all these tidbits together is perhaps the most personal thing Google Home knows about me: the sound of my voice. Google Home uses what’s called Voice Match to recognize who’s speaking to it and to deliver personalized results, and if you’re not using it yet, you should — especially if you live with others.

Voice Match is a great way to access your personal information while still allowing other people in your household and guests to use Google Home, but the system isn’t perfect. That said, even though there are a couple of pitfalls you’ll want to avoid with

In a small survey we carried out last month, 48 per cent of people said they had been planning a kitchen refurbishment project since lockdown. It’s no surprise really. I know my family have been spending a lot more time in our kitchen over the last few months. Now more than ever, this area really is the heart of the home. So investing in it can be really worthwhile and, if done correctly, will add value to your home and enhance your quality of life.

Ed Rhatigan of kitchen-makers Rhatigan & Hick has great advice on what to consider to set yourself up for a successful kitchen makeover.

Layout 

When it comes to designing the best kitchen layout, a simple, linear arrangement tends to function better than the more traditional wraparound L-shaped and U-shaped versions.

“Years ago everyone wanted the kitchen table right