Kitchen Renovations: Four Great Products Including Brushed Metal, Glass, Tile Backsplash

I'm always looking for great new products to add to my wish list of things I might like to try in my ongoing home renovations. Some are a little beyond my budget, but part of the joy of renovating can be finding that great, must-have appliance at a fraction of the cost, or finding a way to re-purpose or renew existing items for an even greater savings.

Though many of the items on my wish list are out of my budget range for now, if the new technology catches on and proves popular, more manufacturers will add their versions, and eventually the prices will drop into my "affordable" range. Vessel sinks were quite expensive as a high-ticket, designer item when they were in the "what's-hot" spotlight. Now there are so many lovely and affordable designs available, it's hard to choose a favorite.

One of the things at the top of my renovation wish-list is an under-mount sink for the kitchen.

Conventional sinks are most often top-mounted, and no matter how carefully they are sealed, there is always a lip for grime and grunge to collect under, no matter how carefully they are cleaned.

Under-mount sinks remove the problem from the counter top, but unless the sink is perfectly flush with the underside of the counter, which is rarely the case, it leaves a gap where dirt and bacteria can collect.

Lansen's new Edge line of stainless steel, under-mount sinks takes care of both these drawbacks in an innovative way.

Each sink is constructed with an integrated solid-surface resin rim that can be ground down to fit exactly flush with the underside of the cabinet, eliminating any gaps.

Even better, this sink can be installed with solid-surface, laminate, or granite counter tops in the same way as a solid-surface sink is installed with a solid-surface counter top.

The company has recently re-branded to Karran, but maintains the same exceptional craftsmanship that has made them an industry leader in quality and innovative design,

Folks who live in a condo or a high-rise apartment building are already aware that some high-smoke cooking practices such as searing, frying, and grilling do not work out well. So what options are there, especially if you live in a building that doesn't allow a gas BBQ or Hibatchi (a small, charcoal grill) on the balcony?

Check out this great new down-draft cook top from Jenn-Air, available in both gas and electric, and either 30 inch or 36 inch configuration. The duct-free kit available with this beautiful gas cook top will put grilling back in your culinary repertoire.

The add-on duct-free system vents into the cabinet base, where a powerful blower pushes the smoke and odor laden exhaust through a filter. The blower on the gas cook top moves the air at an impressive  rate of 425 cfm (cubic feet per minute), and for the electric models, at 475 cfm.

The system's HAPA filter (high-airflow particulate air filter) will require recharging about every three months.

Both the gas and electric cook tops are available in stainless steel finishes, while the electric cook top is also available in floating glass, and oiled-bronze.

How many times have your hands been covered with flour, or you've just finished cutting up the chicken - and you need something - a fork, for example, or a clean spoon. First, though, you need to turn on the tap and wash your hands. Then you must wipe down the faucet. Only then can you retrieve the what you needed (the fork or spoon) and go back to what you were doing.

Wouldn't it be nice if the tap would turn itself on like those sensor taps in the ladies loo at work? Well now yous can do that, too.

This fabulous new faucet from Delta, the Pilar features "The Touch₂O" technology (catchy name!) that allows the faucet to sense a touch from your wrist, elbow, whatever part of you is clean. It then turns on the water and will leave it running for 4 minutes, unless you turn it off.

It can also tell the difference between a touch and the pressure of your hand when pivoting the faucet head, so it will not inadvertently shut off.

Available in chrome or stainless steel, with modern, designer styling will compliment most decors, the Touch Faucet's batteries only need to be replaced about once a year under normal usage.

© 2010, Text by renoelle, All rights reserved