Bamboo and you

There is a really great article in this month's Colorado Homes & Lifestyles Magazine about Bamboo, and how eco-friendly it is. If you are looking for durable bamboo products, Complete Kitchens recommends bamboo cabinetry by DSWood, bamboo composite EcoTop countertops by Klip Biotechnologies, and bamboo kitchen accents and tables by Kirei.

Before and After

Cabinetry: MidContinent
Door Style: Copenhagen
Stain: Fireside

Kitchen Design and installation by Complete Kitchens

Kitchen renovations

What should be the priority in considering a kitchen remodel? Many people have the urge to upgrade just their countertops to give their kitchen an updated look - less invasive and (perhaps) less expensive than new cabinetry. But here are some things to consider before putting in a new granite countertop over your existing cabinetry:

• A new countertop will constrain your ability to alter your kitchen layout to match the needs of your family and design trends
  
  
• Countertops are difficult to reuse in a new kitchen layout
  
  
• In terms of resale value, you will probably get more value from being able to sell your house with a "new kitchen cabinets" rather than just a "new countertop"
  

I suggest you start your remodel or upgrade by developing a wish-list for how much you want to spend on updating/remodeling your kitchen, defining what you don't like about your current kitchen, and determining what is most important to have in your new kitchen. The designers at Complete Kitchens can try to achieve the goals on your list with respect for your budget.

What it might be for, Part I

Cooking. Here are some of our favorite cookbooks:

The Joy of Cooking, by the Joy Family. Traditional, tried-and-true, reliable, makes a great wedding gift.


How to Cook Everything, by Mark Bittman. Good for the beginner-intermediate cook, innovative, reliable. Also makes a good wedding gift or family heirloom.

Great Vegetarian Cooking Under Pressure, by Lorna Sass. The recipes in this book are easy, delicious, colorful, and healthy. If you don't have a pressure cooker, get one! And it works even better on an induction cooktop.

The websites for each of these books have recipes you can try-before-you buy. Have fun!