Getting in Touch With your Feminine Side – the Male Kitchen
Have you ever wondered how to get your partner into the kitchen to cook with you – or even for you? Or perhaps you would just like some interest and help in choosing the next new kitchen you want. Or do you come from that not-so-rare group of males who want to own their own masculine kitchen?
Well, for all of these scenarios, there is now a solution! A range designed for a man’s kitchen. You may wonder how a ‘man’s kitchen’ can be so different from any other kitchen….
Is equality more prevalent in Europe? Who knows, but it is a German manufacturer who has come up with the man’s kitchen. Poqqenpohl, Germany’s oldest furniture company has partnered with Porsche Designs and come up with sleek and functional cabinets loaded with all kinds of bells and whistles men love.
In their eyes, the man’s kitchen is the ‘event’ room, and as such it has its own audio system and the designers strove for a masculine, no frills look. The result is a modular, spacious and extremely versatile system of frames for what Poqqenpohl believes men will feel is a stunning design concept.
Of course there is a choice of design, although aluminum profiles of different sizes makes up the basic framework of the new look and can be positioned in a variety of ways. Cabinets are designed to be positioned in a variety of different ways, rather like setting up a high tech workshop.
The Poqqenpohl/Porsche kitchen of metal or metal-and-glass frames have lighting integrated into them to offer light where it’s needed most – on counter tops.
And if guys prefer wood, there are three unique wood varieties to choose from. The result is a modular, spacious and extremely versatile system of frames for what Poqqenpohl believes men will feel is a stunning design concept.
Here is a unique touch (no pun intended!) the doors open by touch! There are no handles to choose from, the design eliminates the need for handles with cabinet doors, pullouts and drawers magically opening with the touch of a finger tip.
The kitchen boasts a hi-tech audio-video system in a built-in LCD module installed behind glass to protect the delicate components from dirt or splashing water but requires no ventilation system. And a plug-and-play solution offers options for analogue and digital connections.
These kitchens will not available in the United States for some time. They will first be produced for the mass market in spring, and will be available on the American markets by the summer of this year.
Build New Or Remodel
There are three possible scenarios involved in that question:
1. Stay where you are and renovate
2. Move to an existing house and renovate
3. Build a new house for you to move into
There are numerous considerations, not the least of which is how you feel about your existing location. That word – LOCATION – should be your primary focus. Do you prefer to remain where you are, or not? Is staying where you are an option, or are you forced to relocate due to a job change, or other issues?
If you wish to stay where you are, there’s no reason to read this article. Remodeling and/or expanding the place where you now live is the least expensive alternative – by far.
Your aggravation levels will increase during the construction, but they will do that with either of the other choices as well. If it gets to be too much, you can move to a motel for 2 months, eat dinner out every night, and still come out cheaper than either option 2 or option 3. If you want to be in your present home, case closed.
So let’s assume you have to move, and we’ll concentrate on option 2 vs. option 3. There are two important aspects of this topic which apply to both.
Advantages of remodeling an existing house:
Advantages of building new:
I’m sure you noticed that I haven’t listed costs in either list. The determining factor is going to be the extent of the renovation to the existing building. Depending upon the condition of the house, age, building codes and other factors, it can actually be more costly to remodel than to build new.
In either case, allow an extra 20% in your budget over and above any quoted costs you’ve obtained. 10% is for upgrades that you decide upon after initial pricing. The other 10% is for the rising costs of material and labor. If the price of oil goes through the roof again, 10% might not be enough.
If the older home was built between 1950 and 1978, there might be issues having to do with asbestos and lead paint. Make sure you get a professional inspection performed. You may also be required to bring the plumbing and electrical systems up to date.
In conclusion, renovating a home might be very rewarding, as well as the cheaper alternative. However, you have to do your homework before making the commitment, in order to insure that you’re not stepping into a money pit. Every situation is different. Your decision will probably come down to what your sixth sense tells you. Regardless of how you choose, anticipate that moving into a new home will take more time and more money than expected.
Charles Gueli
www.continuous-home-improvement-help.com.