We love finding creative uses for common household items. Take coffee, for example. It's delicious, and for many of us, it's the fuel that keeps us going throughout a hectic day. And better yet? You can use it to stain wood like kitchen cabinets.
Using coffee as a wood stain will certainly smell better than your conventional options--and you won't have to worry about harsh fumes, either.
Here's How!
1. You'll want to pile your coffee grounds into a large French press or glass jar. Then pour hot water over the coffee and allow it to steep at least a few hours, but preferably overnight. Feel free to tweak your stain color--the more coffee you add, the darker it will be.
And keep this in mind - one gallon of coffee stain will cover about 100 square feet of cabinet or surface area.
2. Once the coffee is ready to apply, strain it so all of the grounds are removed. Remove your cabinets and lay them out on newspaper to protect the floor. You may want to coat the cabinets with a paint stripper to remove the current color. If you want to skip this step, make sure the cabinet surfaces are clean before you apply the stain.
3. Use a lint-free nylon rag soaked in stain to apply it in even strokes on the cabinet. Then you can gently wipe the stained area with a clean rug to remove excess stain. Once the stain has completely dried, apply a clear sealant to protect the cabinet's surface.
What do you think of this project? Will you be whipping up a batch of coffee stain?
Coffee grounds are also great for gardening.
Photo: Flickr.com/ayelie
No matter if you have a galley-style kitchen or an expansive professional one, something every chef or baker of every level is looking for is more storage in the kitchen. Typically, this would involve adding more cabinetry, shelves, containers, or other items that can easily take up precious square footage and aren't always ideal solutions. However, we think we found a genius project to help you create near invisible storage with what you already have under your cabinets.
The idea is simple -- most standard built-in cabinet systems actually sit on a riser of sorts, leaving a good three- to four-inch average gap of unused space under the interior shelves. This project from The Family Handyman helps to actually utilize that space for narrow storage items -- think cutting boards, cookie and muffin pans, or even things such as storage bags, reusable grocery bags, and kitchen linens.
If you can't afford a kitchen remodel but want to change the look of it, you have a few options in updating your space. The best part about these projects? Not only are they affordable, but they're quick, so you can implement a budget-friendly makeover in a few hours or a weekend.
Quick Kitchen Projects:
1. Write On The Refrigerator. If you have a dated refrigerator and can't afford to replace it yet, jump on the trend to paint your appliance with chalkboard paint. This hides how old the refrigerator is while giving it a practical, fresh look. You can pick up a quart of chalkboard paint at your local hardware store. Two to three coats create the best chalk writing surface.
2. New Knobs. Hardware is like the jewelry of cabinets. By changing old knobs and pulls with new, stylish ones, you can really impact the look of your space. New hardware can get pricey if you are looking for extra details so if you're on a budget, look for something shiny and sleek.
The Kitchen and Bath Industry Show (KBIS) was great this year! Beyond seeing some unique products from the top manufacturers in the country, we spoke to a lot of designers and bloggers who provided us with some real insight to where they feel the industry is headed and what trends are hot right now.
As always we wrap up our trade show coverage with our favorite picks.
Cambria Quartz Countertops
This man made countertop material is stain-resistant, non-porous and maintenance free. It also contributes to LEED certification. What more do you want in a kitchen countertop material? At KBIS they introduced 38 new colors, some of which mimic carrera marble and various shades of granite.
TOTO Luminist Vessel Sink
These sinks look TRON inspired. A LED illuminated ring is now a sink. Cool in a club, yes? Cool in your home, maybe?
