Indoor pollution, both chemical and environmental, is a large concern for homeowners. Not only for those who deal with various allergies and respiratory problems but for those who don’t as well. The air filter uses synthetic materials to catch dust, small particles, and debris. Changing your air filter more frequently could lead to a healthier life and possibly a more inexpensive one as well.

Having a clean air filter will lead to the proper performance of your HVAC and in turn reduce costs. According to the serviceexperts.com, choosing how often you change your air filters depends on many different factors. These factors include:

• Type of filter your HVAC requires
• The overall air quality of your city or hometown
• If you have pets
• Number of occupants in your house

Obviously the worse the air quality is around you, the more pets you own, and the more people you have living under one roof, the more often you should change your air filter. Some say, change your air filter when it’s dirty but for those who do not find themselves checking the air filter every now and then a good rule of thumb is to check it and most likely change it every other month.

The problem with the $0.99 air filter is that originally is was created to simply protect your HVAC, not create a better air quality in your home. In the case of air filters, the more expensive the air filter, the higher quality you will receive. You get what you pay for so saving a few extra dollars in this category might not be to your benefit or those who dwell in your home.

In conclusion, you should be changing your air filter more than you think especially if you have pets or deal with allergies. Hopefully changing your air filter is a common occurrence for most of you but if it’s not, check your air filter and make sure you are doing your part to  create a healthy environment in your home.

The post What to Know About the Air Filter in Your Home appeared first on Kinning Design Group.

You can match.

Use the same material as your countertop. Have it cut into tiles to create different patterns. This will create a visually seamless look between your countertop and backsplash. If you have ornate cabinets this may be the way to go by drawing the eye from the countertops up to the cabinets.

You can compliment.

Take a color from you countertop and purchase a tile with complimentary and neutral colors. Don’t be afraid to mix mediums. Pick a mosaic that has glass and ceramic tiles. Another option would be to to use the same color backsplash as your countertop but buy a backsplash with texture. Mix it up to create a visually appealing, ornate kitchen.

You can create.

Believe it or not, you may want to even consider choosing a wallpaper or ornate mosaic to use as a backsplash in your kitchen. If you have a more monochromatic color palette with your cabinets and countertops, don’t be afraid to show some personality with a textured wallpaper or vibrant mosaic.

Your backsplash is an essential part in your kitchen. By spending some time deciphering what environment you want to create in  your kitchen, the backsplash you choose can be a final touch that pulls your ideas together! Don’t be afraid to do your research and choose a backsplash that fits your style and personality.

The post Choosing the Perfect Backsplash for your Kitchen appeared first on Kinning Design Group.

Technically it’s not spring yet BUT warmer weather has us thinking about clearing out and cleaning up our spaces. While we wait for March, 20th to arrive why not start planning your spring cleaning now?

Here are 5 ideas to declutter, clean up, and refresh your home for spring.

• 1. Toss it!

Get rid of clutter and open up the big and small spaces in your home. Start by taking everything off a shelf, out of a cabinet, or off a table. Clean it and then replace it with only the items you want to keep. The rest of it can either be thrown out or put in your “give-away” or “goodwill” pile.

• 2. Deep clean.

Don’t be afraid. Depending on how active your winter scrubbing was or wasn’t, maybe you should be a little afraid but it’s time! Grab that old toothbrush and clean your grout in your shower/tub and on the bathroom/kitchen floor. Scrub. Scrub. Scrub. Spring should begin with a fresh start (and a nice reward after you finish this project)!

• 3. Spend it.

After all the snow and mud brought into your house by shoes and/or paws consider getting your rugs and carpet professionally cleaned! Unless your carpet is brand new, you might not notice the discoloration but the dirt is there. Do it yourself or hire a service to get your carpet and rugs looking back to new.

• 4. Look for it.

The kitchen. You may not see it but check for dirty chair legs, dust on top of your cabinets, and scope out the various nooks and crannies in your kitchen. For the brave at heart, pull your fridge away from the wall and really get your kitchen cleaned up!

• 5. Reward yourself.

As dreaded as spring cleaning may seem, it does bring about a fresh start. Begin your spring/summer with a clean and clear home. After every project you complete, reward yourself! No rules apply to rewarding yourself so reward yourself before you start, reward yourself during the project, and definitely reward yourself after you finish.

Spring hasn’t come quite yet so start thinking ahead about some of the projects you would like to get done! Successful outcomes usually start with a plan.

Happy Cleaning!

The post 5 Ideas to Get Your Spring Cleaning Started appeared first on Kinning Design Group.

Let’s talk about door styles.

The Shaker: The shaker is a five piece flat style panel with a frame made with four other pieces. This is one of the most popular styles for kitchens today. Shaker cabinets provide simplicity and elegance. They are also easy to stain and paint.

Flat: Flat cabinets are completely flat. This lends to even further simplicity than the shaker style and can show off that amazing hardware you chose for your cabinets.

Inset: It is called an inset door because the cabinet door sits inside the frame. Although more costly than other options, it is the classic cabinet that will never go out of style.

Thermofoil: Molded out of MDF, wrapped in plastic, and baked under intense heat to create a perfect seal these cabinets are a cost effective way to get the style you want.

Many, many more door styles exist. Check out this link on Houzz.com.

Cabinet hardware.

If you are a hardware fanatic, I suggest choosing the hardware first and finding a cabinet that will compliment your chosen hardware. If you are more about cabinet style, choose the cabinets first and find a hardware that accentuates the cabinets.

Knobs, pulls, antique finishes, exposed screws, the list goes on and on. Follow this link to get some ideas!

Material and Color.

Not only do you have to choose your door style and hardware. You now have the task of decided what material and color for your kitchen cabinets.

If you’re choosing a color besides white, shaker or flat panel might be the way to go. With the simplicity of the style, the color will not overpower your whole kitchen. The current fad is to go with a white cabinet. Beautiful, simple, and maybe hard to keep clean, white cabinets look great in almost any style.

If using a natural stain or wood, all style would still look great but inset cabinets or something more ornate in style would show off that beautiful wood you chose!

For some great ideas and photos check out this link!

We would love to help you through the process of choosing your kitchen cabinets! If anything, hopefully this article gets you thinking about the endless possibilities of kitchen cabinets and get you started in the right direction. Happy cabinet hunting!

The post How To Pick Your Kitchen Cabinets appeared first on Kinning Design Group.