by Debra on Saturday, November 21, 2009
My older ranch style house had a tray ceiling hiding in the kitchen. After my ceiling remodel I had a few options for Tray Ceiling Lighting.
Under all the tacky plastic and wood lattice dropped ceiling were 6 huge florescent lights. Granted the kitchen area was full of artificial light… but the dated fixture helped keep this kitchen dated and drab.
The ceiling fan had oak blades with wicker caning inserts and brushed brash accents. Ugly…
After ripping down all the light fixtures and the ceiling fan… I could see how big the tray ceiling was. I “wished” out loud that the “tray” was slightly larger.
Be careful what you wish for! Ha… Next thing I know my contractor was digging into the ceiling to see how much larger he could go without affecting the critical house supports.
As luck would have it… we could tear out some of the ceiling so that the drop matched up with the other architecture of the kitchen area.
Visually this made the room seem taller and larger. We had already started to choose the location of the can lighting… so now the design had to be entirely changed.
Plus… wiring needed to be stretched to fit into the new space without adding junction boxes. It’s all a logistical nightmare and I was happy that it was someone else’s job to figure it out.
I am certainly the idea girl – NOT the detail person. :0)
Plus – for another added stress test… I wanted my old antique iron chandelier hanging in the tray ceiling.
We have a mobile island at this time. The island is a butcher block topped open shelving unit on casters… so I don’t have to worry about exact placement to co-ordinate with centering on an island.
The addition of crown molding was exactly the right finishing touch. The entire ceiling is painted the same light color… but I might follow my own suggestion: Tips For Painting A Tray Ceiling.
7 can lights are on a dimmer with the chandelier on a separate switch.
We found the “curly” energy efficiet light bulbs in the can lights worked really well for light and they are now available in a dimming format.
The kitchen does look more modern now. I do still have the old Formica counter and dated appliances… but I’m taking all my remodeling in baby steps.
At least the Tray Ceiling Lighting worked out perfectly.
UPDATE: Charlene sent in a picture of her tray ceiling remodel:
I did the very same thing to my kitchen in a house that we recently sold.
It was an older house and I did not want to spend a lot of money on it but the ceiling was too low!
We tore out the lights and put white bead board on the top with the canned lights and a pot rack. I attached
A picture that is not really good but you can see I had the same scenario.
I really love the Country French Look in this kitchen. By raising the ceiling – you had room for that great pot-rack which just gives the entire room it’s focal point! Love this… thanks for sharing.
UPDATE:
Captain Drywal sent my a comment with a picture:
I had indirect lighting in my kitchen (dated of course) so i removed the old and put in the new. Instead of wood trim i used radius curved corner beard on the edges. —NO laughing at the red cabinets, sometimes you have to try bold.
Love the wood edge on your tray ceiling.
It looks clean and “finished”!
The red and white cabinets with the yellow walls look bright and fun!
The light fixture is an unexpected addition… It looks like it would give great task lighting.
Thanks for sharing!
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by Debra on Wednesday, October 14, 2009
What’s the best choice in kitchen sinks? Should you install a top mounted sink or an under mounted sink?
Up until a few years ago – we only had one choice in sinks – all sinks were top mounted. We could choose from stainless steel, porcelain or cast iron. Remember the first time you saw a cobalt blue sink in a design magazine? It was probably a top mounted sink.
Top Mounted Sinks
A top mounted sink is installed in the counter with a lip that hangs over the counter to hold it in place. They are easy to install because the faucet holes are already in place. You can install the faucets and drain “stuff” right to the sink before it’s even installed on the counter.
Sink manufacturers provide the installer with a template. The idea is to just cut a hole in the counter using the template as a guide and drop in the sink. Easy!
The plus side of a top mounted sink is they are cheap to install and they come in more styles. Top mount sinks are easier to replace but the edge of the sink is difficult to keep clean. The grout or sealer often needs to replaced because 
dirt and food particles collect and can’t be easily wiped away.
The new style of vessel sinks are also called top mounted sinks… but that’s a different story. 
Under Mounted Sinks
Under mounted sinks give a more modern – clean lined look. If you have a traditional style kitchen choose a top mount sink… a stainless undermount sink will look to sleek.
The faucets are mounted in the counter top material so your choice of styles will be limited.
If you are looking for ways to cut the budget in a kitchen remodel… a top mount sink is the way to go.
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by Debra on Friday, October 9, 2009
Remodeling doesn’t simply happen over night. It’s a process. Some of it fun. Some of it painful. And by painful I mean all that stretching and reaching as you paint the walls and move furniture around.
Of course it can also mean replacing old furniture with something new and fun. Woo HOO!!! Let’s go shopping!!!
This is me with my shopping gear… A large Purse that holds my camera, my water, measuring tape and my credit card. Plus I have my faithful notebook.
Okay..okay..it’s just not that easy.
There are definite steps you’ll want to take prior to walking in to a furniture store. You can’t go off all “willy-nilly” or you’ll end up with pieces you don’t need and pieces the wrong size.
Too small or too big just like Goldilocks.
Here are five things you want to do before you walk out the door to go shopping:
- #1 – Make a list of exactly what you want or rather NEED. If you go off without a list of things you want and for what rooms you’ll find way – WAY – to many pieces that you just “HAVE to have”. Even for rooms you don’t really need furniture for!
- #2 – You MUST take measurements. Don’t rely on your memory to know the right size of things for your room.
For instance: Write down the length of the wall you’ll be putting the bookshelves on.
If you don’t the two bookshelves you fall in love with could be twice the size you need or can use.
Or entirely to wide making your room narrow and unable to hold the couch you just bought! Disaster!!!
**I fell in love with these bookshelves (yes… they had 2 of these huge handmade bookshelves). After I got over the pure joy of finding the “perfect bookshelves… my friend reminded me to check my notebook for size limitations. 
They just wouldn’t fit.
I find the best way to avoid these things is to make a small notebook that can hold the measurements and maybe some samples of the fabrics already in the room. So your purples don’t clash!
Have a plan and be flexible if needed. If your bookshelves are 24 inches wide rather than 16 inches wide will you still have room for the couch and awesome amoire you wanted, too?
Write down the sizes you can have for each item that you need or want and for which room. Can your new couch be 7 feet long or does it need to stay around 6 feet to fit? Can you fit that “chair and a half” in or do you need to stay with just the “chair”?
- #3 – Try to know the style you want before you ever step in to a store. If you go in not knowing what it is you’re looking for you’ll likely get overwhelmed by all the choices. Are you looking for the rustic pine furniture? When you walk in the store will you get distracted by the Moroccan pieces there, too?
I love the look of “rustic” style furniture… but in my bedroom I really want a more traditional furniture look. I’ve spent hours drooling over furniture that would never “go” in my room. Some decorators will tell you “If you love it – it will go”… I don’t believe this is true. Also… will you just “love it” today or will that love last a lifetime?
- #4 – What’s the return policy?If you buy it and get it home and it’s just not doing it for you, can you return it?
- Is there a restocking fee?
- Do you have 30 days or 60 days or 90 days or 10 minutes?
Find out and write it down. Don’t rely on your memory to keep track of each stores policy.
If they have it in writing – get it! (It’s often right on the receipt). That way there is no mistaking which store said what.
Keep all your receipts on your bulletin board and write it down on your calendar 10 days before time runs out. That’s D-Day….Decision Day. Does it stay or go?
I’ve had to return furniture because it doesn’t fit or it isn’t really my style. Don’t be afraid to “wait for the perfect piece”.
- #5 – Why I Use A Camera! I can’t remember anything. I don’t trust my memory and why should I? I have my notebook and a camera.I take pictures of furniture and price tags. One or two shots of the furniture piece and then a close up shot of the price tag. Make notes if you can of the way the picture “differs” from the actual piece of furniture. We found that the camera images were showing a red tint that wasn’t visible on the furniture in the showroom.
When you are reviewing the photos on your camera… you will see the piece of furniture and right after you will see the price tag.
The tag often has the name of the store and the actual measurements of the piece. (Don’t rely on these measurements if you are actually purchasing the item… take your own. We did find discrepancies).
One more Tip from my friend (who was shopping with me) -
“Ask For Extra Discounts”
She helped me save hundreds of dollars on this shopping trip by just asking that question.
Plus… we saved a few hundred more by skipping the delivery fees and moving the furniture ourselves.
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