If you’re like many Americans, chances are you’ll be doing at least a bit of extra cooking during the holiday season. That means you’ll want to make sure your kitchen is properly ventilated so you don’t set off the smoke alarms or inhale all that smoke.

Ventilation is a necessary part of any commercial kitchen, but it’s sometimes overlooked for the home kitchen. Many kitchens have exhaust fans over the stove, but is that enough? Despite what you’ve been told, you should turn on the exhaust fan anytime you use your burners or oven because the device removes heat and odors. Exhaust fans also work to prevent moisture and grime from building up on nearby surfaces.

One of the most important jobs an exhaust fan can do is removing very fine airborne particles that are created when foods are cooked. Those particles contribute to indoor pollution if they aren’t removed. Exhaust fans help reduce carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, and other hazardous products.

If your home doesn’t have a range hood or vent, or it simply isn’t doing the job, there are a number of things you can do to improve your kitchen’s ventilation. There are many home range ventilation systems that can be purchased and installed to improve cooking conditions. Here are some other things you can try:

• Open windows and use a window fan

• Use an air purifier

• Use other fans nearby (ceiling fan, bathroom fan, etc.)

• Use a splatter screen to control grease

• Wipe down kitchen cabinets often

At Blue Water Kitchens & More, we will work with you to design and discover your new kitchen. We offer pre-made kitchen cabinets you can install yourself or have us install for you. We also offer several styles of countertops to help you realize your dream kitchen. Call today for a free consultation at 810-958-3193.

Even though the traditional white colored kitchen is still pretty popular, too much of the color can make the kitchen feel a bit cold. In order to keep your kitchen feeling warmer and more inviting, you should consider adding some color without having to totally ditch all of that white.

Updating your cabinets can bring a fresh new look to any kitchen. Natural white still works as a good base color for walls as well as ceilings and trim, but white cabinets can make the kitchen feel too cold and sterile. To warm up the kitchen just a bit, try a warmer-toned grey cabinet.

Ultracraft cabinets are available in a variety of colors and offer 75 door styles available in wood, metal, and many more options. When you combine that with the wide variety of colors available, you get more than 10,000 unique door-style and finish combinations.

For a kitchen that’s primarily white, you might want to think about accent colors for your cabinets including lighter shades of blue, green, or red. If you’re looking for a color that’s trendy, consider Ultra Violet. The color was named as Pantone’s Color of the Year for 2018. This bright shade of purple is described by words like dramatic, thoughtful, and provocative.

The color Ultra Violet is also associated with inventiveness and imagination. The blue-based purple focuses on what lies ahead, artistic expression, and spirituality. Using this color in your kitchen can bring some life to a room that may have become a bit boring.

Blue Water Kitchens & More offers custom and semi-custom kitchen cabinets as well as countertops, fireplaces, and much more. In addition to Ultracraft Cabinets, we also offer kitchen cabinets by Five Lakes Cabinets, Decora Cabinets, Diamond Cabinets, and Homecrest Cabinets. Give us a call today for a free consultation at 810-958-3193.