pink Bedroom Remodeling ideas

pink Bedroom Remodeling ideas,A little paint is an easy way to transform the look of your room. It’s one of the least expensive ways to makeover your kitchen because all of the other renovations require a certain budget and skill level. You might not be able to do anything about your floors or tile work but you can change the rest of the room to compliment it.

pink Bedroom Remodeling ideas

pink Bedroom Remodeling ideas

Decide on how you want to feel in your space. The kitchen might be your retreat. Then you might want to go with a Zen vibe filled with bamboo accents and a subtle green wall color. If you are the main cook or the only cook in the house then the kitchen might be the only place where you have total design control. This is an opportunity to finally get that pink room you’ve always wanted. You can pick a bold fuchsia for a modern palette or for more of a Shabby Chic look try a pale pink. You don’t want the room to be too feminine so skip floral print curtains. Instead accent with more masculine black and stainless steel accents for a contemporary look.

pink Bedroom Remodeling ideas

Warm colors are generally more appetizing but you might be afraid of overwhelming your space with a bright tone. You don’t have to use the primary colors of red and yellow. Instead, you can tone down the looks a lot. Try pairing gray cabinets and countertops with a more subtle yellow for an interesting color palette that is still neutral. You can use peach or flesh tones instead of a bold orange. This will really pop against white cabinets even though it’s still a neutral.

pink Bedroom Remodeling ideas

When you are decorating an item around your room such as a blue counter it’s easy to go overboard. You might think, “What matches with blue? More blue” This can actually kick an item you don’t like such as your countertops into overdrive. Then the whole room will be overwhelming. Instead bring in neutral paints and warm wood tones to compliment the color and turn it from a liability into an asset.

pink Bedroom Remodeling ideas

Kitchen color ideas can save you tens of thousands of dollars on a costly remodel. It’s an opportunity to really explore design and how you relate to food. You can use paint on the trim, cabinets and walls. You can even use it on the floors if you have wood floors. You could paint a diamond checkerboard pattern or use stain or glaze for a country effect. Make the checkerboard as large as possible so the room doesn’t seem too busy and it will also save you a lot of work.

pink Bathroom Remodeling ideas

pink Bathroom Remodeling ideas,Remodeling the bathroom can be a fun experience. When browsing interior design magazines, internet sites and even watching television shows, you’ll be bombarded with a number of bathroom design ideas to last you several lifetimes. Of course, with every remodel project there are a certain number of regrets that are inevitable. However, doing a little research beforehand can help prevent you from making certain mistakes.

Tip #1: Choosing Colors

First and foremost, remember that certain fixtures in the bathroom should likely remain neutral unless you plan on remaining in your home until your dying days. If you plan to resell, neutral fixtures in your bathroom will bring you more money for your home.

pink Bathroom Remodeling ideas

pink Bathroom Remodeling ideas

Bathroom designs should incorporate hues such as white, off-white, grays, creams, ivories, black and browns. Certain shades of blue or green may also be acceptable in some instances, but try to avoid overly personal colors such as hot pink, neon yellow and so forth, as these may prevent future sales.

Tip #2: Sometimes Trends are Okay

Certain bathroom fixtures, such as the faucets, shower head and light fixtures, can easily be swapped out. Therefore, choosing trendy fixtures is perfectly acceptable, as they can just as easily be swapped out as they were put in. This is especially true if your fixtures are a bit too trendy for buyers. Swapping them out is inexpensive and can help create more neutral bathroom designs which of course, may be more enticing to buyers.

pink Bathroom Remodeling ideas

Tip #3: Spa Like Bathrooms Sell

If you’re planning to sell your home within the next several years, consider creating a spa like bathroom. Spa style bathroom designs are not only trendy, but when done correctly, they can also be extremely timeless. Choose soothing colors and clean, crisp fixtures for an easy spa style bathroom that will wow buyers.

Tip #4: Don’t Forget the Accessories

When finishing up bathroom designs, many people forget to incorporate various accessories into the space. This includes adequate storage for personal items, such as makeup, cotton balls or cotton swabs and so forth.

pink Bathroom Remodeling ideas

Since it’s often recommended against choosing permanent bathroom fixtures, such as the toilet or bathtub, in trendy colors, accessories are a perfect way to incorporate color into the space and can easily be swapped out or removed if necessary.

Tip #5: When in Doubt, Consult a Professional

The truth is, bathroom designs can be a tricky situation. If you’re ever stuck with your design, not sure that something will work or just plain stumped, consult a professional. Even if you only pay for a few hours of their time, they may inspire you or help you revamp your design, or simply point you in the right direction.

Renovate large Bathroom idea

Renovate large Bathroom idea,Before you start with your bathroom renovation, you are required to consider a few things. Let’s explore them out.

Since you spend a lot of time in the bathroom, your bathroom must always look attractive and lively as that would directly have an impact on your psychological mind. A dull and lifeless bathroom is indeed stressful and depressing.

Bathroom renovation is a challenging task in case you are really taking the job seriously. You have to keep in mind several aspects of bathroom remodeling and designing before you actually start with the work.

Renovate large Bathroom idea

Renovate large Bathroom idea

Things to Consider for Bathroom Renovation

The very first aspect that you have to deal with is the size of your bathroom. How big is your bathroom? If you have an extremely small bathroom, avoid planting unnecessary furniture. Fix in that are required and not simply for the sake of decoration. In case of a large bathroom, fit in furniture of the size in sync with the area of the bathroom available.

Be sure of the lighting of your bathroom. For that, be aware of the exact position of the bathroom. Find out the points on the walls that would lead to the best illumination.

Renovate large Bathroom idea

Do not hesitate to fit in lights wherever required. The bathroom is the place where you actually get ready. Ample lighting is required since you prepare yourself before moving out.

Lighting should not only be of artificial ones but also of natural light. For natural light make sure of the placement of the window. Proper amount of sunlight will also keep your bathroom free from germs.

Renovate large Bathroom idea

In fact, a good mix of artificial and natural lights would do wonders in your bathroom. Relying only on artificial lights can make your bathroom too bright. On the other hand only natural light can make your bathroom appear dim and dull looking.

Since you would be carrying out the entire renovation work all your own, search out for tips everywhere. Get hold of a good magazine on home improvement or watch television shows that would educate you on bathroom remodeling or renovation. Taking some guidance from veteran or a professional designer would definitely be a good help.

renovate small bathroom ideas

renovate small bathroom ideas,Remember that the kitchen is one of the most important parts of the house. If you’re planning to renovate, you need to consider your reasons for doing so as well take into consideration all necessary elements. The goal is to improve the small space you have through a sound kitchen plan backed up by reliable remodeling ideas. Here are some effective tips.

How is Your Work Triangle?

One of the main reasons why people renovate their small kitchen is because their work triangle is not functioning very well. The spaces between the three main points namely the refrigerator, the sink and the oven are not well balanced so time preparing meals, storing and getting items and cleaning up materials may take more time and space. At present, your kitchen may have a disrupted work triangle or do not work within a triangle at all which requires renovation.

renovate small bathroom ideas

renovate small bathroom ideas

You need to decide if you want to do the renovation yourself or hire a professional who can do it for you. Your choice may depend on your knowledge, skills and budget. It is recommended to at least have an expert approve the layout design that proves to be the most convenient for your available space. Your kitchen plan should properly determine the cooking center, preparation center, cleanup center and storage center. Classifying these areas properly will maximize space, save time and make all persons using the kitchen comfortable.

renovate small bathroom ideas

What Do You Need to Renovate?

Renovating your small kitchen may mean adding new structures or items to increase storage or holding space or tearing down structures and removing items to free up more working and walking space. Cabinet installation is one of the most basic procedures included in a renovation plan. Adding more cabinets or improving the depth of existing ones will improve functionality since you will be able to store more or bigger items. You may also renovate or fix the cabinet doors, knobs and style to improve design.

renovate small bathroom ideas

You can remove some structures to maximize floor space depending on the type of layout you want. This could mean tearing down a wall or two or a built-in counter or removing a standalone cabinet. The work triangle should have enough floor space where one can do tasks efficiently without being interrupted by others. Renovations can also be done to enhance floor space like adding an island which will serve both as a storage area as well as direct traffic to keep others off the work triangle. Aside from floor space, you also need a lot of counter space to work on. You can install more countertops, a larger sink or a built-in oven.

bathroom remodel ideas small space

bathroom remodel ideas small space,Not all bathrooms can be lavish spaces with whirlpool tubs and two separate vanities. For some bathrooms, space is at a premium and knocking out walls is not an option, but remodeling must be done. Small bathroom remodeling presents its own complications, but with the right information, a small bathroom-remodeling project can shine.

Before beginning your small bathroom remodeling, design a floor plan that maximizes the room’s useable space. Don’t be afraid to design up by incorporating free-floating cabinets. Use mirrors to stretch a small bathroom’s space, and keep the color scheme simple. Keep a small bathroom bright, fresh, and inviting with coordinated colors and accessories.

bathroom remodel ideas small space

bathroom remodel ideas small space

Pare down the scale in your bathroom. Big items take up more space in the bathroom and look bulky. Corner sinks are simple and small. These sinks free up visual space below, but don’t provide the counter space and cabinet space that a traditional sink provides. Another option is a pedestal sink. These sinks have a more classic design and are free standing. Wall-mounted sinks save space but do not have counter space. Both types of sinks do not provide storage space underneath. Most home-improvement stores stock smaller sinks, or you can custom order one from a cabinet shop for a price.

bathroom remodel ideas small space

A simple way to conserve space is to do away with a tub and just use a shower. Smaller tubs, however, are available, although most cannot handle whirlpool faucets. Any tub less than five feet long will probably spill the water sprayed by the whirlpool faucets.

Pick a toilet that can sit close to the wall to conserve space, and the size of the seat and tank design determine just how much space the toilet will use. Also pay attention to the size of the home’s original toilet. Older homes have toilets with 10 to 14 inches between the wall and the toilet drain, but newer homes typically have 12 inches. The wrong toilet won’t fit. Buying a toilet with a low tank takes up less visual space and compact toilets leave more room, but as with any small bathroom remodeling project, use these suggestions to find a toilet that is both stylish and fits in the room.

bathroom remodel ideas small space

Finally, limit what you bring into the bathroom. To save space in a cramped bathroom, for example, it may be best to have a dressing area in a bedroom. Limit the number of accessories — clutter can easily make a small bathroom look smaller.

Planning a small remodeling may take extra planning, but the resulting clean, beautiful, an uncluttered bathroom will be an inviting space.

small bathroom remodel modern

small bathroom remodel modern,Not all bathrooms can be lavish spaces with whirlpool tubs and two separate vanities. For some bathrooms, space is at a premium and knocking out walls is not an option, but remodeling must be done. Small bathroom remodeling presents its own complications, but with the right information, a small bathroom-remodeling project can shine.

small bathroom remodel modern

small bathroom remodel modern

Before beginning your small bathroom remodeling, design a floor plan that maximizes the room’s useable space. Don’t be afraid to design up by incorporating free-floating cabinets. Use mirrors to stretch a small bathroom’s space, and keep the color scheme simple. Keep a small bathroom bright, fresh, and inviting with coordinated colors and accessories.

small bathroom remodel modern

Pare down the scale in your bathroom. Big items take up more space in the bathroom and look bulky. Corner sinks are simple and small. These sinks free up visual space below, but don’t provide the counter space and cabinet space that a traditional sink provides. Another option is a pedestal sink. These sinks have a more classic design and are free standing. Wall-mounted sinks save space but do not have counter space. Both types of sinks do not provide storage space underneath. Most home-improvement stores stock smaller sinks, or you can custom order one from a cabinet shop for a price.

small bathroom remodel modern

A simple way to conserve space is to do away with a tub and just use a shower. Smaller tubs, however, are available, although most cannot handle whirlpool faucets. Any tub less than five feet long will probably spill the water sprayed by the whirlpool faucets.

Pick a toilet that can sit close to the wall to conserve space, and the size of the seat and tank design determine just how much space the toilet will use. Also pay attention to the size of the home’s original toilet. Older homes have toilets with 10 to 14 inches between the wall and the toilet drain, but newer homes typically have 12 inches. The wrong toilet won’t fit. Buying a toilet with a low tank takes up less visual space and compact toilets leave more room, but as with any small bathroom remodeling project, use these suggestions to find a toilet that is both stylish and fits in the room.

small bathroom remodel modern

Finally, limit what you bring into the bathroom. To save space in a cramped bathroom, for example, it may be best to have a dressing area in a bedroom. Limit the number of accessories — clutter can easily make a small bathroom look smaller.

Planning a small remodeling may take extra planning, but the resulting clean, beautiful, an uncluttered bathroom will be an inviting space.

Floor Design Ideas

Floor Design Ideas,Kitchens have so many design options that they are literally never ending. Kitchen design ideas include features such as cabinetry, tiles, counter tops, appliances, hardware and fixtures. Each feature on its own has a multitude of design options and the possible combinations are endless. Two identical kitchens with only one different feature can look like very different kitchens when finished. Because of the vast number of design options, thoroughly research what products are available on the market and get a fairly good idea what it is you are looking for.

Floor Design Ideas

The main feature in any kitchen is the cabinetry. It is more often than not the first thing that people notice in a kitchen. The layout of the cabinetry is unique to each kitchen. Measure the size of your kitchen and determine the types of cabinets and where you would like them placed. If you have a solid wall with no windows, doors or appliances opt for floor to ceiling cabinets full of drawers for storage. Include a broom or cleaning closet in these cupboards. Glass fronts in corner cabinets are a popular design feature. Cabinets have a wide variety of door styles. There are recessed, flat paneled and raised cabinet doors. Each of these options comes with several design choices. Once you have picked the design of your cabinets you need to decide on the stain that suits your kitchen space.

Opt for lighter colored stains for smaller

kitchens to keep them feeling open and

spacious.

Floor Design Ideas

Counter tops are also an important feature in a kitchen. They too are highly visible. Counter tops should be chosen for durability as well as looks. Granite counter tops are the most popular choice today. You may also choose from engineered stone, ceramic tile, laminates, wood and stainless steel. The material and colour of your counter tops should compliment your cabinetry, backslash and tiles. If your kitchen is a large room but does not have a lot of counter space you might want to consider adding an island for additional space. Not only does an island adds counter space but also storage space.

Floor Design Ideas

Flooring is an integral kitchen feature. Most kitchens are done with ceramic tile flooring but wood floors and laminates are growing in popularity. Many kitchens have tiled backslashes. Be sure that the tiles used in your backslash compliment the flooring. Besides the type of flooring you use, you must also pick a color of tile, wood or laminate as well as texture. Quite often a kitchen with light coloured cabinetry will look best with a slightly darker floor and vice-versa. Contrast between the cabinetry and the flooring, no matter how small, creates the illusion of depth.

Floor Design Ideas

The kitchen design ideas listed above are just the tip of the iceberg. We haven’t even touched on cabinet hardware, lighting fixtures, sinks and taps, paint colors or appliances. Matching appliances are ideal in any kitchen. Stainless steel appliances are a favorite because they match just about any kitchen design. Families with small children may wish to consider black appliances since stainless steel shows fingerprints. Put as much thought into the small features as you do the larger ones. Something as simple as buying the wrong cabinet hardware can ruin the look of the completed project.

Corner Kitchen Designs

Corner Kitchen Designs,With a home’s living room traditionally being the gathering place for the family, ensuring that it has a comfortable and relaxing atmosphere is fairly important. Not only will good decor go a long way to making any visitors feel comfortable, it also enables everyday family members to quite happily spend a lot of time in it. If you feel that your own living room is lacking a little spark, the good news is that it’s reasonably inexpensive to decorate a traditional living room and transform it from something bland into something far more stylish.

Corner Kitchen Designs

The first thing to do is give it a fresh coat of paint. Many people overlook the importance of changing your surroundings from time to time. Not only does it prevent you from stagnating in the same atmosphere, it also gives you a sense of achievement and the resulting sense of satisfaction within yourself. Bright colors are a good choice here, since the living room is normally the one with the most windows and sunlight.

A yellow or similar happy color is a good

starting point.

Corner Kitchen Designs

Once you have chosen the color you’re happy with and repainted the walls, the next thing to do is look at your existing furniture. This doesn’t mean you need to necessarily buy a new three piece suite, or spend excessive amounts of money on new coffee tables or similar. The great thing about decorating a living room is that you can keep within traditional styling and merely update a little. So, if you have a wooden coffee table, for instance, sand it down and give it a different color varnish or wood stain. The effect will be immediate, and it’s very inexpensive.

Corner Kitchen Designs

Decorating a traditional living room calls for time tested and trusted designs in furniture so even your years old sofa can be made-over. If it’s made of material, you can now buy bespoke fabrics and have them measured to fit, and in the space of a few hours, you have a completely new sofa that you yourself have had a part in designing. Once again, going for more natural, cream-colored materials can offer a living room a whole new perspective.

Corner Kitchen Designs

Consider changing your light fittings too. It’s more than likely that your light switches are the same as the ones when you first moved into the property. Therefore, drop in to your local DIY or hardware store and treat yourself to a more stylish brass or dimmer-effect switch system. Once installed, they will bring out your new paintwork even more.

Corner Kitchen Designs

If you have the room and enjoy reading, think about putting a bookshelf into place as well. Not only does this help fill some space if you’re out of ideas, it also gives off the impression of a family who enjoy spending quiet, yet quality, time together, perhaps discussing the latest book they are reading. At the end of the day, the choices are limitless – the only thing you need to remember when decorating your traditional living room is to express your own personality, as this is where you’ll be spending many an hour.

Backsplash Oven

Backsplash Oven,There are many reasons why people are choosing granite countertops. Many of the reasons include the benefits, installation issues, and cost. You have made an excellent decision to use granite for your counters. The best decision with the installation of granite counters is to use a licensed contractor for the job.

Cost of Materials For Granite Countertops

Granite can vary in cost. It may depend on the type of granite that you choose and the type of finish you select. However, installing granite requires more than just the granite slab or tiles. There are many other materials that you need to purchase for the installation of your new countertops like a 25 lb. of thin set mortar ($10), a 5 lb. bag of unsanded grout ($5), a quart of polished sealer (25), a roll of fiberglass mesh tape ($5), a trowel ($5), a putty knife($5), a honing stone($7), a grout float ($5), caulk that matches the color if you are using tiles ($5), and plastic spacers ($5). All of these materials will be needed for installing granite countertops and you should consider the costs when you are budgeting for your new counter. You also might need a tile saw. You can purchase one for around $275 or you can rent a saw from many places for around $45 for each day. The cutting should be able to be done in one day. You also need to estimate the lumber materials that you will need to purchase also. The materials that you will need include a full sheet of ¾ inch plywood. Every 8ft. of countertop that you have you will need one sheet. You will need a sheet of Denshield to back the tile for every 5 ft. of counter that you have.

Roofing nails and screws will be needed for

securing purposes.

Backsplash Oven

The cost of granite differs by the type of granite that you decide on. If you would like a solid surface granite countertop then you will pay around $125 per square foot. If you are thinking about tiles on your counter then the costs will run around $60 per square foot. Tiles can be very cheap or they can be expensive. It depends on the type and texture of the granite. The finish you would like for your counter will make a big difference also and will increase the price. Many people prefer the faux finish which can cost you approximately $80.

Installation Costs For Granite Countertops

There are many things that you need to think about when you hire a contractor to professionally install your granite countertops. Hiring the wrong person could be disastrous and cost you more money in the long run. You should find out how long the contractor has been in business so you can be sure that they have been in business for a while. This will also verify that they are well-established. You should also verify if they have any complaints against them through consumer protection officials. You want to verify how many projects the contractor has completed and ask to see a portfolio of the work they have done. Some contractors take pictures of their finished work and this will give you a good idea of what you have to look forward to when it is finished.

Backsplash Oven

You should also ask for a list of references and you should verify all of them. Don’t just take their word for it. Call everyone. If the contractor is going to be using other sub-contractors to help them with the project, you should meet them and make sure that you feel comfortable with them in your home. Verify that everyone who will be working in your home is licensed and that they are all covered by insurance. You can protect yourself by asking to see a lien waiver to verify that the contractor doesn’t owe anyone any money. A contractor should have personal liability insurance that will cover damage to property and anything else that could happen.

Backsplash Oven

When you pay the contractor for the work completed, verify that you are satisfied with the work done before you make a final payment. You should limit the down payment to as little as possible and if you are asked to be paid in full then you should go with someone else. You can work with the contractor and set milestones for payment. This means, as the contractor completes defined amounts of work, and then you pay them. You should also always avoid paying cash at all costs. You should also have a contract that clearly spells out all of the work that will be done for the countertops. Be sure that warranties are defined for the materials and the work done. Also be sure the contractor cleans their mess of excess materials and things before they leave.

Backsplash Oven

When you hire a contractor to install granite countertops in your home, the price may vary by how experienced the contractor is and how large the counters are. The price can range from $700 to $1500 and higher. If you decide to install granite countertops on your own, then you can be looking at prices from $500 to approximately $700. It is usually not recommended to install granite counters yourself. This is because you should have skill when you are cutting granite and installing a counter. The cost of mistakes with granite might cost you more than what you can afford. It is always better to hire a professional contractor to install granite in your kitchen.

Backsplash Oven

Choosing granite countertops for your kitchen is the best decision that you can make to beautify and increase the value of your home. We wish you the best of luck in finding the slab of granite that is right for you and your home. You are sure to find it.

Standing Kitchen Cabinets,If you are planning to open an espresso bar/coffee shop, then developing an efficient store design and layout will be one of the most important factors in positioning your business for success.

Speed of service is critical to the profitability of a coffee business. An efficient ergonomic store design will allow you to maximize your sales by serving as many customers as possible during peak business periods. Even though your business may be open 12 to 16 hours a day, in reality, 80% of your sales will probably occur during 20% of those hours. Coffee is primarily a morning beverage, so your busy times of day (those times when you are most likely to have a line of waiting customers), may be from 6:30AM to 8:30AM, and then again around lunchtime. If you have a poor store layout, that does not provide a logical and efficient flow for customers and employees, then the speed of customer service and product preparation will be impaired.

Think of it like this; if someone pulls open the front door of your store, and they see 5 people are waiting in line to order, there’s a good chance they’ll come in, wait in line, and make a purchase. But, if they see that 20 people are waiting in line, there is a high probability that they may determine that the wait will be too long, and they will simply get coffee somewhere else. This is money that just escaped your cash register! And, if they come to your store multiple times, and frequently find a long line of waiting customers, they may decide you are not a viable option for coffee, and will probably never return. Poor design slows down the entire service process, resulting in a longer line of waiting customers, and lost sales. So in reality, your daily business income will be dependent upon how many customers you can serve during peak business periods, and good store design will be essential to achieving that objective!

Standing Kitchen Cabinets

The financial impact of a poor store design can be significant. For the sake of this example, let’s say the average customer transaction for your coffee business will be $3.75. If you have a line of waiting customers each morning between 7:00 AM and 8:30 AM, this means you have 90 minutes of crunch time, in which you must drive through as many customers as possible. If you can service a customer every 45 seconds, you will serve 120 customers during this 90 minutes. But, if it takes you 1 minute 15 seconds to service each customer, then you will only be able to serve 72 customers. 120 customers x $3.75 = $450.00 x 30 business days per month = $13,500. 72 customers x $3.75 = $270.00 x 30 business days per month = $8,100. This represents a difference of $5,400 in sales per month ($64,800 per year), coming from just 90-minutes of business activity each day!

Standing Kitchen Cabinets

So how should you go about designing your coffee bar? First, understand that putting together a good design is like assembling a puzzle. You have to fit all the pieces in the proper relationship to each other to end up with the desired picture. This may require some trial and error to get things right. I’ve designed hundreds of coffee bar over the past 15 years, and I can truthfully tell you from experience, it still usually takes me a couple of attempts to produce an optimal design.

The design process begins by determining your menu and other desired store features. If you plan to do in-store baking, then obviously you’ll need to include in your plan an oven, exhaust hood, sheet pan rack, a large prep table, and perhaps a mixer. If you plan to have a private meeting room for large groups, then an extra 200 sq. ft. or more will need to be designed-in, in addition to the square footage you are already allocating for normal customer seating.

Your intended menu and other business features should also drive decisions about the size of location you select. How many square feet will be required to fit in all the necessary equipment, fixtures, and other features, along with your desired seating capacity?

Typically, just the space required for the front of the house service area, (cash register, brewing & espresso equipment, pastry case, blenders, etc.), back of the house (storage, prep, dishwashing and office areas), and 2-ADA restrooms, will consume about 800 sq. ft. If space for extensive food prep, baking, coffee roasting, or cooking will be required, this square footage may increase to 1,000 to 1,200, or more. What ever is left over within your space after that,

will become your seating area.

Standing Kitchen Cabinets

So, a typical 1,000 sq. ft coffee bar, serving beverages and simple pastries only, will probably allow for the seating of 15 to 20 customers – max! Increase that square footage to 1,200 sq. ft., and seating should increase to 30, or 35. If you plan to prepare sandwiches, salads, and some other food items on site, 1,400 to 1,600 sq. ft. should provide enough space to seat 35 to 50, respectively.

Next, you will have to determine the tasks that will be performed by each employee position, so that the equipment and fixtures necessary to accomplish those tasks can be located in the appropriate places.

Standing Kitchen Cabinets

Normally, your cashier will operate the cash register, brew and serve drip coffee, and serve pastries and desserts. Your barista will make all your espresso-based beverages, tea, chai, hot chocolate, Italian sodas, as well as all the blender beverages. If you’ll be preparing sandwiches, panini, wraps, salads, snacks and appetizers, or will be baking on-site, then a person dedicated to food prep will be necessary. And, if you anticipate high volume, and will be serving in or on ceramics, a bus-person/dishwasher may be a necessity.

After you have determined what you will be serving, the space you will be leasing, and what each employee will be responsible for, you will then be ready to begin your design process. I usually start my design work from the back door of the space and work my way forward. You’ll need to design in all of the features that will be necessary to satisfy your bureaucracies and facilitate your menu, before you make plans for the customer seating area.

Standing Kitchen Cabinets

Your back door will most likely have to serve as an emergency fire exit, so you’ll need a hallway connecting it with your dining room. Locating your 2-ADA restrooms off of this hallway would make good sense. And, because delivery of products will also probably occur through your back door, having access to your back of the house storage area would also be convenient.

In the back of the house, at minimum, you will need to include a water heater, water purification system, dry storage area, back-up refrigerator and freezer storage, ice maker, an office, 3-compartment ware washing sink, rack for washed wares, mop bucket sink, and a hand washing sink. Do any food prep, and the addition of a food prep sink and prep table will be necessary. If doing baking, gelato making, full cooking, or coffee roasting, all the equipment necessary for those functions will also need to be added.

Standing Kitchen Cabinets

After all the features have been designed into the back of the house, you will then be ready to start your design work on the front of the house service and beverage preparation area. This area will probably include a pastry case, cash register(s), drip coffee brewer and grinder(s), espresso machine and grinders, a dipper well, possibly a granita machine, blenders, ice holding bin, blender rinse sink, hand washing sink, under counter refrigeration (under espresso machine and blenders), and a microwave oven.

If serving food beyond simple pastries and desserts, you may need to add a panini toaster grill, a refrigerated sandwich/salad preparation table, soup cooker/warmer, a bread toaster, etc. If you plan to serve pre made, ready to serve sandwiches, wraps, and salads, along with a selection of bottled beverages, an open-front, reach-in merchandising refrigerator should be considered. Serving ice cream or gelato? If the answer is yes, then an ice cream or gelato dipping cabinet will be necessary along with an additional dipper well.

Finally, when all the working areas of the bar have been designed, the customer seating area can be laid out. This will, of course, include your cafe tables and chairs, couches and comfortable upholstered chairs, coffee tables, and perhaps a window or stand-up bar with bar stools. Impulse-buy and retail merchandise shelves should be established, and a condiment bar should be located close to where customers will pick-up their beverages.

A quick word about couches, large upholstered chairs, and coffee tables. Living room type furniture takes up a lot of space. If you plan to be opening evenings, and will perhaps serve beer and wine, and having comfortable seating will be important for creating a relaxing ambiance, then by all means do it. But if you have limited seating space, and are not trying to encourage people to relax and stay for long periods of time, then stick with cafe tables and chairs. The more people you can seat, the greater your income potential!

Features from the front door to the condiment bar should be arranged in a logical, sequential order. As your customers enter the front door, their travel path should take them past your impulse-buy merchandise display, and the pastry case, before they arrive at the point of order (where your cashier, cash register, and menu-board will be located). Exposing customers to your impulse items and pastries, before they order, will greatly increase their sales. Then, after the order and payment has been taken, they should proceed down-line away from the cash register to pick-up their beverage, and finally, the condiment bar should be located beyond that point. Be sure to separate your point of order from the point of product pick-up by at least six feet, otherwise customers waiting for their beverage may begin to intrude into the space of those ordering.

Standing Kitchen Cabinets

Don’t make the mistakes that many inexperienced designers commonly make. They arrange these features in a haphazard way, so that customers have to change direction, and cut back through the line of awaiting customers to proceed to their next destination in the service sequence. Or, wanting to make their espresso machine a focal point to those entering the store, they place it before the cashier along the customer’s path of travel. Customers inevitably end up trying to order from the barista before they are informed that they need to proceed to the cashier first. If this happens dozens of times each day, confusion and slowed beverage production will be the result.

On the employee’s side of the counter, work and product flow are even more important. Any unnecessary steps or wasted movements that result from a less than optimal design will slow down employee production. All products should flow seamlesly in one direction towards the ultimate point of pick-up. For example, if preparing a particular item is a 3-step process, then placement of equipment should allow for the 3 steps to occur in order, in one linear direction, with the final step occurring closest to the point where customers will be served.

Equipment should be grouped together so that it is in the immediate proximity of the employee(s) who will be using it. Beyond the actual equipment, empty spaces must be left on the counter top to store ingredients and small wares (tools) used in product preparation. Counter top space will also be needed where menu items will actually be assembled. Think of the grouping of equipment for different job functions as stations. Try to keep different stations compact and in close working proximity to each other, but make sure that there is enough space between each so that employee working-paths don’t cross, which could contribute to employee collisions.

Creating defined work stations will allow you to put multiple employees behind the counter when needed. When it is busy, you may need to have 2 cashiers, another person just bagging pastries and brewing coffee, 2 baristas behind the espresso machine, a maybe even a dedicated person working the blenders. If you’re preparing sandwiches and salads to order, then another person may need to be added to handle that task. Keeping your stations in close proximity to each other will allow one employee to easily access all equipment during very slow periods of business, thus saving you valuable labor dollars.

Standing Kitchen Cabinets

When you arrange equipment in relationship to each other, keep in mind that most people are right handed. Stepping to the right of the espresso machine to access the espresso grinder will feel more comfortable than having to move to the left. Likewise, place your ice storage bin to the right of your blenders, so when you scoop ice, you can hold the cup or blender pitcher in your left hand, and scoop with your right.

As you create your store layout, the equipment you select should fit your space and the needs of your anticipated business volume. A busy location will most likely require a dual or twin, air pot, drip coffee brewer (one that can brew 2 pots at the same time), as opposed to a single brewer. If you anticipate selling a lot of blended and ice drinks, then an under counter ice maker, one that can only produce 100 pounds of ice or less per day, will not be sufficient. You should instead locate a high-capacity ice maker (one that can make 400 or 500 lbs. per day) in the back of the house, and transport ice to an ice holding bin up front. Plan to bring in frozen desserts and ice cream? Then a 1 door reach-in freezer in the back of he house will probably be inadequate for you storage needs, so you’ll need to consider a 2 or 3 door. I always recommend a 3-group espresso machine for any location that may generate 150 drinks per day or more. And, I can tell you from experience, you can never have too much dry or refrigerated storage space!

Make sure that any equipment you select will be acceptable with your local bureaucracy before your purchase and take delivery of it. All equipment will typically need to be NSF & UL approved, or have a similar, acceptable, foreign certification equivalent. Your bureaucracy will most likely want to see manufacturer specification sheets on all equipment to verify this fact, before they’ll approve your plans.

ADA (American’s with Disabilities Act) compliance will also come into play when you are designing your coffee bar. In some areas of the country, this will only apply to those areas of your store that will be used by customers. However, other bureaucracies may require your entire store to be ADA compliant. Following are some of the basic requirements of compliance with the code:

All hallways and isle ways must be 5 feet wide (minimum).

All countertop working heights must be 34 inches high (instead of normal 36 inch height).

18 inches of free wall space must be provided on the strike-side of all doors (the side with the door knob).

All hand-washing sinks must be ADA friendly.

All bathrooms must be ADA compliant (5 foot space for wheelchair turnaround, handrails at toilet, acceptable clearance around toilet and hand washing sink, etc.).

No steps allowed, ramps are OK with the proper slope.

If your space has multiple levels, then no feature may exist on a level where handicapped access has not been provided, if that same feature does not exist on a level where it will be accessible.

You can find the complete regulations for ADA compliance at the following website:

http://www.access-board.gov/adaag/html/adaag.htm

Beyond the basic Equipment Floor Plan, showing new partitions, cabinets, equipment, fixtures, and furnishings, you’ll need to produce some additional drawings to guide your contractors and satisfy the bureaucracies.

Electrical Plan

An electrical plan will be necessary to show the location of all outlets needed to operate equipment. Information such as voltage, amperage, phase, hertz, special instructions (like, “requires a dedicated circuit”), and the horizontal and vertical location of each outlet, should all be specified.

A small, basic coffee shop might get away with a 200 amp service, but typically 400 amps will be required if your equipment package will include items like an electric water heater, high-temperature dishwasher, or cooking equipment (ovens, panini grill, etc.).

In addition to the electrical work required for your coffee business-specific equipment, you may need to adjust existing electrical for additional or reconfigured lighting, HVAC, general-purpose convenience outlets, and exterior signs. Also, have your electrician run any needed speaker wires, TV/internet cables, and cash register remote receipt printer cables at the same time they are installing electrical wires. Finally, make sure your electrician makes provisions for lighted exit signs, and a battery-powered emergency evacuation lighting system, if needed.

Plumbing Plan

A plan showing all plumbing features will be necessary. At minimum, this should show stub-in locations for all needed water sources (hot & cold), drains, your water heater, water purifications system, grease interceptor (if required), bathroom fixtures, etc.

Standing Kitchen Cabinets

While a typical P-trap drain should be acceptable for most fixtures and equipment, some will require an air-gap drain. An air gap drain does not go through the “S”-shaped twists of the P-trap. Instead, the drain line comes straight down from the piece of equipment or fixture, and terminates 2 inches above the rim of a porcelain floor sink drain. This porcelain drain basin is usually installed directly into the floor. The air gap between the drain line from your equipment or fixture, and the bottom of the basin, prevents any bacteria in the sewer pipe from migrating into the equipment or fixture. I drain the following pieces of equipment to a floor sink drain when creating a plumbing plan:

espresso machine

dipper wells

ice maker

ice holding bin

food prep sink

soft drink dispensing equipment

To save on the life of your water filtration system, only your espresso machine and coffee brewer should be supplied by with treated water. Coffee is 98% to 99% water, so good water quality is essential. Your ice maker should only require a simple particle filter on the incoming line (unless your water quality is terrible). There is no need to filter water that will be used for hand and dish washing, cleaning mops, flushing toilets, and washing floors!

Be aware that many bureaucracies are now requiring a grease interceptor on the drain line from your 3-compartment ware washing sinks and automatic dishwasher. A grease interceptor is basically a box containing baffles that traps the grease before it can enter the public sewer system.

Also understand that a typical retail space will not come equipped with a water heater with enough capacity to handle your needs. Unless your space was previously some type of a food service operation, you will probably need to replace it with a larger one.

If cutting trenches in the floor will be necessary to install porcelain floor sinks, a grease interceptor, and run drain lines, then establishing a few general purpose floor drains at this same time behind the counter, and in the back of the house, will prove useful. Floor drains will allow you to squeegee liquids away when spills occur, and when washing floors.

Finally, if you added some new walls during your remodel, you may need to have the fire sprinkler system for your space adjusted or reconfigured.

Cabinet Elevations

Drawing cabinet elevations, (the view you would have if you were standing in front of your cabinets), will be necessary for your cabinet maker to understand all the features they will need to incorporate into your cabinet designs.

These elevations are not meant to be shop fabrication drawings for your cabinetmaker, but merely serve a reference, showing needed features and desired configuration. Where do you want drawers, and under counter storage space; and, where do you want cabinet doors on that under counter storage? Where should open space be left for the placement of under counter refrigeration and trashcans? Will cup dispensers be installed in the cabinet face under the counter top? These elevations will provide your cabinetmaker with a clear understanding of all these features.

While your kitchen base cabinets at home are typically 24 inches deep, for commercial applications they should be 30 inches deep, and 33 inches if an under counter refrigerator is to be inserted. Also, when specifying the size of an open bay to accommodate under counter refrigeration, be sure to allow a couple of inches more than the physical dimensions of the equipment, so that it can be easily inserted and removed for daily cleaning.

Standing Kitchen Cabinets

Dimensions Plan

You will need to create a floor plan showing all the critical dimensions for new partitions, doors, cabinets, and fixtures. This will, of course, help make sure that everything ends up where it is suppose to be, and will be the right size.

A final thought about design; unless the space you will be designing is a clean vanilla shell (meaning, nothing currently exists in the space, except perhaps one ADA restroom), you will have to make sure that all the features that you are considering keeping, will be acceptable with your local bureaucracy. Many older buildings were not designed to present codes. If the business type remains the same (your space was occupied by a food service establishment before you), then some times any non compliant features will be grandfathered-in, meaning you don’t have to bring them up to current requirements. But don’t count on this! You need to check with your bureaucracies to make sure. More and more I see bureaucracies requiring new business owners to remodel, so that all features are compliant with codes. This means you may have to rip-out bathrooms and hallways, add fire sprinkler systems, and provide ramps where there are steps. Better you know all these things before you begin your store design!

I always tell my consulting clients, that if I produce a perfect design and layout for them, they will never notice… because everything will be exactly where you would expect it to be. Unfortunately, if you create a less than optimal design for your coffee bar, you probably won’t realize it until you start working in it. Changing design mistakes or inadequacies after the fact, can be extremely expensive. Not correcting those mistakes may even cost you more in lost potential sales. For this reason, I strongly suggest using an experienced coffee business space designer to create your layout for you, or at very least, to review the design you have created. Doing so will payoff with dividends.