March  2003  Issue 9

Give Your Bathroom the "Royal Treatment"

Here ye, here ye! Just because you sit on the throne doesn't mean you're the queen (or king) when it comes to cleaning your bathroom. Fear not, for we have assembled important information so that you can give your bathroom the royal treatment.

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It's Come Along Way, Baby!

What's the greatest invention of the 20th centure? The automobile? The computer? The Polio vaccine? Your mother might argue that it's the dishwasher. What began as a simple concept is now so full of features and options that choosing one can be challenging. Here are five factors to help you narrow the field.

1. Noise

• Check the thickness of the insulated pad surrounding the dishwasher; the thicker the quieter.

• A higher quality motor will often be quieter.

• FYI, all dishwashers are going to make some noise.

2. Washability/Performance

• Higher temperatures + longer wash cycles = cleaner dishes.

• A 3 level wash system (upper & lower wash arms plus a center water tower) is recommended.

• Smaller holds in the spray arms create greater wash pressure. Be sure there is a quality filtration system so that food particles don't clog the wash arms.

3. Disposer

• Check if there's a built-in-food disposal. This features eliminates the need for pre-washing. Without this filter would have to be cleaned periodically.

4. Interior Space

• Racking systems differ in all models/brands affecting loading versatility

• Adjustable upper rack, fold-down times, and an additional third rack are a few of the cool new features to help save space.

5. Cosmetic

• Does it excite your eyes?

• Interior control buttons and cabinetry fronts will help your dishwasher blend into the background.

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Think your kitchen is too small for a dishwasher?

Think again. How about a kitchen sink that doubles as a dishwasher? Great, but where can you find it? New York...London...Paris? Nope. Here's a hint...'where did you go to high school?'

Yep. The always hip St. Louis Missouri. RSI is one of only 11 places in the country where you can see (and purchase!) the new KitchenAid Briva. Here's the concept--it's a double bowl sink with a lid on one side; shut the lid, and voila! clean dishes. It doesn't slice or dice but it will wash five place settings in 18 minutes. It's a great solution for small kitchens, a great companion to a full-size dishwasher, and you won't break your back loading and unloading because it's at counter level. Come in and check it out.

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Kitchen & Bath Goddesses

We created this column as a venue to answer your kitchen & bath questions (also because we wanted to be goddesses of something). If you have a kitchen or bath remodel question please email it to mbittle@rsikb.com.

Q: I'm in the market for a new kitchen and have some ideas for the design. What I don't know is where to find "expert" advice on how much that advice might cost. Can you help? (Clueless in The Kitchen)

A: It's helpful when clients bring ideas for their new kitchen or bath, but we certainly don't expect them to design it. In fact, put the pencil down and back away slowly. Now that calmer heads have prevailed, here are a few options.

Option #1 (A fine, workable option)

Consult an Interior Designer or Architect for a kitchen layout. Fees for their services will range on average between $1,500 and $2,500. You will own the plans and can then purchase products and installation services from anyone.

Option #2 (Pick this! Pick this!)   

Use a kitchen and bath design center. They specialize in kitchen design and will be far more knowledgeable about the work flow, storage space and functionality of your new kitchen; translation--this is what they do! Will you pay big bucks for this fabulous functionality? We think not. Most kitchen and bath centers require a design deposit that they apply toward your purchase of a new kitchen. Fees often range between $250 - $750. The kitchen designer will usually, over the course of a few appointments, create computer-generated pictures of your new kitchen as well as a detailed installation layout once you purchase your products.

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Hot Spots

Opens this April Viking Culinary Arts Center A Viking appliance store dedicated to cookware, appliance demos, and cooking classes. Located in Brentwood Square Shopping Center at Hwy 40 and Brentwood Blvd. Feb. 26 - Mar. 3, 2003 HBA Spring Home & Garden Show America's Center Visit www.stlhba.com for more info May 2nd - May 18th St. Lois Parade of Homes Visit 100's of new homes in the St. Lois area between Log on to www.stlhba.com to learn more.

 
 Cool Sites

1] www.kitchenaid.com 
Highlights the new Briva sink/dishwasher. Check out pictures and feature details.

2] www.hgtv.com
Enter "bathroom cleaning" in the search box to find detailed advice to make your bathroom sparkle.

3] www.appliance.com 
Compare and contrast features on every appliance under the sun.

 

Backwards & Forwards
a publication of rsi kitchen & bath
8110 eager road
st. louis, missouri 63144
314.644.5500 www.rsikb.com 

chief editors=jenny hagin  jhagin@rsikb.com  & 
megan bittle   mbittle@rsikb.com 
donna minard dminard@rsikb.com 

graphic design = debbie swift/entheos design debbieswift@sbcglobal.net