Know Your Finishes: Plywood for Modular Kitchens

Plywood is a term that we all have heard a lot of, but even then, not everyone knows what it actually is. So any modular kitchens in Kochi, Ahmedabad, Ernakulam, and other places have the most beautiful woodwork done, and they sure do come across plywood; but still, people are never sure what exactly it is.

Well, it is nothing but a really thin sheet of wood bonded together, using an adhesive. These wooden sheets used in plywood are also called veneer - another name that people recognize a lot, but don’t know what it means exactly.

Talking of plywood, there are two kinds which are used majorly in modular kitchens. One is Commercial plywood, and the other is Boiling Water Resistant plywood.

Let’s take a look at how these two differ from each other.

Commercial Plywood (MR)

MR is used to tell you, that this plywood is the moisture resistant ind. This is the type of plywood that also goes by the name interior grade plywood. It’s used when you have furniture that doesn’t come in contact with water too much or one that you plan to keep a bit away from any source of water in your kitchen.

BWR Grade Plywood:

This other kind of plywood is boiling water resistant kind - so, that's what BWR stands for. Because this one’s so efficiently water resistant, it’s a popular choice amongst many a modular kitchen owners. But, the only problem is, it tends to be a little more expensive than former kind. Another thing about these two is, that the grade of both these plywood types is just the same.

Indians call BWR grade plywood by the name Marine Ply, while in reality, there’s a huge difference between these two. Marine ply, in actuality, isn’t used for furniture at home, as much as it is used to make more heavy duty things, such as boats, and even the woodwork one finds in ships, amongst other things.

In conclusion…

When it comes to brands, there is a lot to consider. While Choosing one’s brand of choice, it is the durability and strength that should be taken into account, for the most part. These are what define the quality of plywood. It’s been seen how modular kitchens in Kochi, Bangalore, and other such big cities have owners who get cheated when it comes to the quality of plywood. It’s extremely easy to get confused by a fake kind of plywood, which has been stamped a superior brand by its vendor. So, be careful about what you buy, and keep away from substandard finishes for your kitchen.

How Modular Kitchens define your Interiors!

Modular Kitchens in Kochi have a variety of designs and patterns. They give a new look to your kitchen and your home. Kitchen is not just a luxury but a necessity to keep up with the modern and latest style. I mean today nearly every home has a modular kitchen, you cannot ignore the fact that you need to move with the changing times and fashion trends.

Modular Kitchen is the new definition of your Interiors

• They are far better when you compare them to the ordinary ones. 
• They are contemporary and elegant even when there is a space issue. They come in a variety of colors and designs to add spark to your interiors. You can use some unique color in your kitchen furniture to make it stand –out from the others. 
• It uses maximum space of your kitchen. Even if there is a small space you can easily have the fittings done there. The experts design your kitchen based on the design and structure of your kitchen. 
• The modular kitchen is easy to clean and maintain. The material used on the top cleans easily with a soft cloth and you can maintain the shine of your furniture for years. 
• They have options of spectacular designs and patters. These days even a simple modular kitchen is in trend, hence you need not worry about being simple. 
• The modular kitchens Kochi have quick installations, they do not require days to do the fittings. Most of the fittings are ready made and their team needs very little time fix the modular kitchen for you. 
• They come with long durability and sustain for a longer time. If you use good quality materials in the modular kitchen then you won’t have to look at it for years. 

Accessories give it a modern touch

Having a modern kitchen requires a few accessories to make it well-equipped.  Usually to keep the kitchen well-equipped people use accessories, but with modular kitchen they are all included. The most accessories in demand with modular kitchen in Kochi are hobs or cooking range, pull out drawers or units, cooker hoods, adjustable shelves, shutters and more. Let’s discuss a few from these. 

Hobs or cooking range: These days you will find the gas stoves; some even have electric stoves incised in the granite countertops of the kitchen. This leaves you abundant cooking space and your kitchen is clutter free. 

Units: Units are what make the modular kitchen the most favourite and demand among the people. It helps to store and also gives easy access to each item without any hassle. Be it your cutlery, utensils, grocery, etc. all can be stored in safely. 

Chimney: This is an essential for every kitchen to help keep away the smoke. The invention of electric chimneys has made life simple.

Conclusion

There are numerous modular kitchen designs available, hence you don’t need to worry about the choice and selection range. It is affordable and a luxurious part of your kitchen then redefines the interiors of your home. 

3 Styles of Bar Stools That Could Work in Your Island Kitchen!

People all around the country, their picturesque modular kitchens in Kochi, Ahmedabad, and other cities, especially the ones with island kitchens are opting for bar stools instead of regular chairs. If you’re a little confused as to what would a chair do in a kitchen, you should know you can easily make a breakfast table out of the island countertop in your kitchen. And for that table, a chic bar stool does do wonders!

We have here 3 materials that you can make these kitchen stools out of, and help give your kitchen space a brand new look!

Bistro, or Riviera

Here’s a way to give your kitchen a beautifully chic and rustic look. Having bistro-like stools for your breakfast table, waiting for your food everyday will probably feel like sitting in one of those mod French cafes, waiting for your coffee and croissant to arrive! Not only will a bistro-style give a rustic feel to the space, but in an otherwise neutral space, these bar stools will definitely provide for a creative respite.

Wicker

Many consider this to be a vintage material, but wicker makes for a great value addition even when it comes to a modern themed house or kitchen. It adds a casual tone to any theme, while blending easily with its surroundings. As for a breakfast table, you can have your wicker bar stool have a low back on it; this will allow one to have a direct view from the breakfast table to the stove, without a high backed chair or stool hindering their way. Also, a stool without a back could get a little uncomfortable to sit while having food.

You can choose to have your breakfast table installed outside, and the wicker stools will still look and feel great, especially the ones exhibiting whitewashed grey or subtle caramel hues would lend a farmhouse charm to the place. One of the best things about wicker is the way it makes its surroundings look and feel more warm than would without it; and that proves to be a great quality for new kitchen accessory.

Mixed Material, or Industrial 

Industrial bar stool is made from material that you get on combining metal and wood, or when you pair metal with upholstery. This is definitely the way to go to bring quite the warmth in the kitchen. A really interesting way to add just the right amount of drama to the space would be, having black lighting on the top, coupled with these bar stools - all of this in a kitchen space done fully in white!

You will find no problem sliding these stools under the waterfall edge of the island, therefore not taking up much of extra space in the kitchen too. Also, these stools will have industrial finishes that are already a bit distressed; so, you’ll find them easily blending with heavily used kitchen scene.

These are a few of the many style trends that you can follow without worrying about the place you’re in. They would work as good in rustic themed modular kitchens in Kochi, as they would in say, contemporary kitchens of Delhi, and so on.

Refrigerators: How to Make Them a Bit More Environment Friendly?

Modular kitchens in Kochi, and other places have owners who have started thinking in terms of environment friendliness now. They are either opting for more eco-friendly options, or looking for ways to make an eco-friendly option out of what they already have.

One of the most commonly found appliances, which also happens to be an energy hog in itself, is the refrigerator at your home. They account for at least 9 percent and can go upto 15% of the total electricity use at a place. So, how do you make your refrigerator a more energy efficient one?

One, you can look at the Stars!

Not the stars above, but the Energy Stars put on a label on the fridge. These Stars are the government’s way of advising you for or against a fridge, based on the energy standard. While this is an essential step in buying a refrigerator, you should know that not all of the appliance models with same Energy Stars have the exact same efficiency. One is always better than the other, and so on. And so we come to point number…

Two, size plays a role too.

You know how we Indians love to introduce the concept of ‘jugaad’ in everything we do; well, in the case of refrigerator, there are so many people who buy a small one and hog it up with every bit of food they can find. They are pleased at their jugaad which allows them to not let any piece of food go bad, while also not spend on a bigger fridge. But what they don’t realize is, they’re making the fridge work harder than it’s intended to, forcing it to use more energy than needed. Size of the refrigerator, therefore, matters - but it solely depends upon how you’re going to use your fridge. So choose carefully.

Three, you can’t overlook the configuration.

There are a number of refrigerator models available in the market today. Some have the freezer on the top, some have a bottom freezer, and then there are some with side-by-side freezer units. As far as the usable space is concerned in a fridge, the top freezer models give about 80%, the bottom ones 67%, and the third kind 63%. On the top of it, the side-by-side fridge models also consume about 20% more electricity than its counterparts. And again, if your refrigerator is of an even advanced configured model, chances are it will consume more energy. For example, if it has a water and ice dispenser, and the ice maker, and such other features, you will find your fridge using up around 10 to 15% more energy than it normally would.

Other things that you could do to save energy, and therefore some money as well:

➔      Do not place your refrigerator too close to any source of heat; so basically, keep it placed away from the stove or oven.  Otherwise, your fridge will have to work extra hard for no reason at all.

➔      Don’t put any food item that is too hot, directly in the fridge. Let it cool first, and get itself to the room temperature, and then proceed to put it in the fridge.

So, modularkitchens in Kochi, or wherever they might be, we can still make them all a little more conducive to a healthy environment!

How Would a High Tech Solid Surface Make a Low Maintenance Kitchen Countertop?

Everywhere you go, owners of modular kitchens kochi, Delhi, Ahmedabad, and so on, are trying to keep up with the ongoing kitchen trends. And one of the hot trends that has grabbed everyone’s attention is, getting a high tech solid surface countertop for the kitchens.

Now, why would that be? What is this synthetic material being deemed as one of the cutting-edge countertop materials?

To answer these questions, let’s begin with the basics.

How Is It Made?

It is a perfect team up of acrylic or polyester resins, pigments, and powdered fillers that when further heated at 60°C  or more, then cured, and finally cast into various shapes while being sanded on either one or both the sides, makes a solid surface kitchen countertop. To make a countertop worthy of a beautiful modular kitchen though, it would need to be more than just robust. It would have to be design worthy as well. And therefore, an acrylic-modified polyester solid surface can be given different effects, appearances, and be molded into various design figures to embody the perfect look before getting installed in a kitchen.

What Makes It So Special?

Did we tell you how they can be easily injected into a mold of your choice, to give you the design of your choice? The unique shapes and configurations that you can get with this material make it one of a kind amongst the crowd of countertop materials available in the market today.

But of course, the primary reason for choosing this synthetically made countertop is, the durability of the material, and its being non-porous. The latter quality especially helps in the surface being easily maintained; the reason for that is, it doesn’t let any bacteria or mildew in, as well as doesn’t get stained very easily.

Solid surface manufacturers are always quite keen on getting their GreenGuard approval; for that would mean, in an officially certified manner, that their countertops are a healthy and indoor-friendly choice, owing to their non porous nature and emitting chemicals at a lower level. That again makes it a very sustainable choice for any modular kitchen.

Where Could It Go Wrong?

Heat sensitivity is the weak spot for this countertop material. Unless you have the mixture for making the solid surface get heated at about 160°C and immediately cooled thereafter, the heat sensitivity of the material is nowhere better than its counterparts. Also, it is not scratch free. Working in a kitchen, knives and cutting board become your buddies for life; but you would need to keep a check on your buddies, knowing that they could do some irreversible damage to your high tech solid surface countertop.

Also, while there is a way to make solid surfaces more eco-friendly, right now the majority of these are being made from materials that we get from non-renewable resources, such as petroleum, aluminium trihydrate, and so on. The negative impact that it has on the environment is a bit worrisome; but not too much, as it can be taken care of.

Last, But Not the Least: How Easy Is It To Maintain It?

Very easy. You would not need anything more than soap and water to clean the surface on a daily basis. The only thing to take care of, is to dry the surface properly, every time you clean it. Otherwise you would be left with a countertop demonstrating a dull finish. Also, if you have used a darker color for your countertop, you won’t have too many easily seen fingerprints to clean as well.

Modular kitchens Kochi, Ahmedabad, and every other city today is moving towards a more stylish and easily maintainable future. We spend so much time in our kitchens on an everyday basis, that we need it look good and that too, always. That is why we want our kitchens to be as low maintenance as possible.

That’s the reason, with a solid surface countertop, you won’t be disappointed!

4 Easy-to-Maintain Kitchen Countertop Materials

Are there a lot of choices out there in the market, when it comes to kitchen countertop materials? Yes. And is the same for modular kitchen Kochi, or in Ahmedabad, or just about anywhere - irrespective of the place? Of course, yes.

Then how should one choose the right kitchen counter space? What should its features be? The answer to that question would be a pretty long one. But, the primary feature one should look for, would be maintenance. You are going to work extensively in your kitchen; but the working part will never be as difficult as the cleaning and maintaining part will be. And that is exactly why, our would need a countertop material that doesn't make you work too hard to keep it well-maintained.

Here are 4 of the top easy-to-maintain countertop materials that you can get for your modular kitchen.

Kitchen Counters Made From Granite

Why are granite countertops so popular? It’s like they’re everywhere! The primary reason is, that granite is really sturdy. Also, this natural stone shows a lot of character in terms of having unique grains, being available in a range of colors, and also having customizable finishes. You can never doubt the durability of granite. In terms of cost, you can easily have something really inexpensive; but if you go for a more exotic granite slab or one that is difficult to install, you may see the prices going up as well.


Kitchen Counters Made From Copper

You don’t see copper counters very often in kitchens. So, if you do get one, you might be surprised with the choice, but you won’t be disappointed. A copper countertop would be extremely easy to clean, you don’t have to work too much to maintain it. But, it can react to different substances - especially as you’d be using it in your kitchen which sees a lot of action in terms of food getting spilled or dropped over - creating a blend of greens, and browns, and matte reds even. So, that is a bit of a downside with copper. It’s also a little expensive, but as we said the low maintenance does quite make up for the cost.

Kitchen Counters Made From Soapstone

Soapstone is a material that will get you nostalgic whenever you see it. Because the last time you saw it, you were probably performing one of the science experiments at your school lab! But, don’t you let that information make you shoo away this option for your kitchen. Think of it this way - if it could handle all the bacteria and stains and chemicals, and what not - how hard would it be for a soapstone countertop to handle a mess that any modular kitchen could present with! Therefore, even if getting this material proves to be a little out of budget for you, remember - it’ll be worth every cent.

Kitchen Counters Made From Tile

One of the best things about tiles is, that they are not too hard on the pockets. You could go for ceramic tiles or the ones made from stone. If you’re one of the craftsy people, you could even go for on of the DIY options available for countertops. If there’s one thing you won’t have to worry about with tiles, it’s their durability. But the thing you’ll find worrisome on a day-to-day basis, is their maintenance; and all that grout doesn’t help either! But, you should do just fine with this incredibly durable and quite an inexpensive option, if you choose a darker grout.

Don't worry for whether yours is a modular kitchen Kochi, or some place else. These materials would prove to be A-grade, no matter what.

So, which one do you think will you go for?

3 Top Eco Friendly Kitchen Countertop Materials For You To Choose From

In a world where anything is possible, why not wor to make something amazing come true. Every which way we see, all that meets our eyes is pollution in the air, trees that need to be salvaged, waste that needs to be taken care of, and so on. We believe, we can do better. A lot better. And like every sweet beginning, we think everything good starts from one’s own home, especially one’s kitchen.

While there are a lot of people always talking about waste management system, having a kitchen garden to lessen any wastage of water, no one talks much about how we can make use of recycled material in building our kitchens. With a little research, one would come to know how you can start with your countertop, and use materials that are eco-friendly to build them. And these are materials that you can get, no matter where you are - whether it’s a modular kitchen Kochi, or some other city - with a little help,you will be able to get these.

Let’s take a look at three of those materials.

Recycled Glass and Cement Countertop

You may find this one a little on the expensive side, but as far as your commitment to your environment is concerned, you will be doing an A+ job! This material uniquely combines cement and glass that would have been previously recycled. It’s not just friendly to the environment outside, but also one inside your kitchen, because it helps in adding a lot of character to the space. Other plus sides to this material are, its customizability, and incredible durability. One of the top notch materials for building a kitchen countertop, you won’t regret choosing it.

Recycled Paper-Based Countertop

Paper, and especially recycled one, does not sound like the ideal choice for a kitchen countertop. Forget ideal; it sounds like the worst candidate ever for a job that requires sturdiness and durability. So, what is this option doing here on our list? Let’s start by saying, how big a myth it is to say that paper countertop wouldn’t be durable. Because it’s not going to be just paper. You’re going to get it blended with resins and pigment, and get an eco-friendly material that will have the look and feel of soapstone, while costing you a fraction of what actual soapstone would have costed.

Engineered Quartz Countertop

Combine ground quartz, resin, and pigments, and you get a non-porous and tough material, called engineered quartz. If you are heavily invested, creatively, into the interior design of your home, you will love the range of shades that this material provides. It would be a perfect choice for any modular kitchen, no doubt. Another plus for engineered quartz is that it’s an eco-friendly material. With our world moving towards a greener tomorrow, engineered quartz could really help with our mission to save environment.

A little research is really all that's required today to make your new kitchen eco friendly. The wide variety of material styles and costs — from salvaged wood to Bio-Glass to bamboo (shown in this photo) — means you can find just the right green countertop material for your home.

Not just these, but there are other materials as well, like bamboo, salvaged wood, bio-glass, etc. which are all available in different price ranges and styles. A modular kitchen Kochi, Pune, Delhi - wherever it might be - you really have a lot of options to choose from, if you do decide to go the eco-friendly way. Studying a little on the subject, it becomes very evident how there are a lot of ways to make our kitchen countertops, and therefore our kitchens, our homes, and then our whole society a better versions of how they currently are.