Monday, June 28, 2010

Dishwashers Recalled

On June 3, the Consumer Product Safety Commission issued a voluntary recall for several makes and models of dishwashers manufactured under the Maytag umbrella. These dishwashers had a price tag between $250 and $900, and were sold between February, 2006 and April, 2010.

The brands include:
  • Maytag
  • Amana
  • Jenn-Air
  • Admiral
  • Magic Chef
  • Performa by Maytag
  • Crosley

It seems that there is a chance that the heating element in the dishwasher could fail and start a fire. To date, the CPSC has 12 reported incidents of such fires.

To determine if your dishwasher has been recalled, first find the serial number. See the photo below to locate it.

Then compare your serial number to the list posted at the CPSC website

If you have any other questions, you should contact Maytag at either (800) 544-5513 anytime, or visit the firm’s website at www.repair.maytag.com

Now, Almost EVERYTHING is 10% OFF

No sooner had I posted an article about one cabinet company’s promotion, I’ll be darned if I didn’t get two more promotions that are just about the same. Now I can legitimately tell you that nearly every cabinetry option can be had for 10% OFF.

In addition to StarMark’s fantastic promotion, these manufacturers have jumped on the bandwagon as well:

UltraCraft Cabinets
10% OFF of all wood doorstyles
(July 1 thru September 31)





Designer's Choice and the
Presidential Collection’s
Great American
Red White and Blue Sale
10% off of all cabinetry orders - including thermofoil and closets
(June 28 thru July 31)

 

So if you've been thinking about any of these projects:
  • Kitchen
  • Bath
  • Closet
  • Home Office
  • Pantry
  • Home Entertainment Center
  • Hutch
  • Bedroom Built-ins
  • Laundry Room
  • Pet Center
  • Anything else involving cabinetry
 Just to show you that these cabinets cover almost the entire spectrum, take a look at the image below. Find the quality level you wish to be at, and then select the appropriate cabinet line.



 
Now is the time to do it. I've never seen a better time to buy cabinets. But you better hurry - these prices won't last forever! Contact Duncan's Creative Kitchens for more details.

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

StarMark’s 10% Off of Everything SALE

StarMark never ceases to amaze me. When we started with them 16 years ago, it was a simple, semi-custom cabinetry line. Since then, it has turned into a full-fledged custom operation that produces fine furniture quality cabinetry at semi-custom prices.

In the last couple of years, StarMark has introduced inset cabinetry doors, exotic veneer finishes, Old World style distressing, and now custom color matching.

Did I mention that all of this is available from a company that is still 20%-45% less than the other custom cabinet manufacturers?

Now they’ve done one better – from now until August 16, StarMark is taking 10% off of the entire cabinet line: all the doorstyles, accessories, finish upgrades, customization – everything! A straight 10% off – that’s totally unheard of in the kitchen design community.

By the time you finish adding up all the savings, there is no way another custom company can touch them. I’ve run the comparisons. With 10% off, StarMark competes with the price of my budget-conscious cabinetry offerings.

So kitchens, bathrooms, home offices, wet bars, you name it. If it’s StarMark Cabinetry, there’s 10% off in it for you. Talk about an affordable custom cabinet!

But you better hurry, when summer is over, so are the savings. Everything from StarMark is on Sale – but only until August 16. (contact Duncan's Creative Kitchens)

Thursday, April 29, 2010

Exorcize Your Closet Monster

Do you have one? You know, one of those closets – the kind that makes you cringe when you open the door? Have you lost articles of clothing (or maybe even one of the grandchildren) somewhere in the closet, never to be seen again? Well, it’s spring. Maybe it’s time to tackle that monster in your closet and get organized.

First off, you’ve got to get everything out and tossed into one of three piles: “Keep”, “Donate”, and “Toss”. If you want to keep it, no problem. If it’s time to get rid of it, then be honest – if it’s wearable, you can donate it to your favorite thrift store or have a garage sale to get rid of it. If it’s seen better days, then throw it out. If you’re like me, the next thing you have to do is actually drive the ‘Donate’ things to the thrift store and drag the ‘Toss’ pile to the curb. (If I save it to do later, it will just end up back in the closet until I get time to ‘deal with it later’.)

Next, looks at the “Keep” pile. Decide what needs hangers, what goes on shelves, which items would be best stored in drawers, and if you need any ‘special’ storage for some items. Once you have your inventory, then you can get to work on deciding the best remedy for your storage needs. There are all sorts of boxes, bins, hooks, and tags you can pick up at housewares or container stores to suit your situation.

A more permanent solution might be to install a closet system to solve your storage problems. They can range from simple shelves and coat storage for the excess stuff in your hall closet, all the way to a fashionista’s master closet dream. The choice is yours. If you’re handy, you can tackle this yourself. If you hire a professional for this, they will sit down with you, evaluate your storage needs, survey your closet inventory, and tame the closet monster you’ve been living with all this time.

So steel your nerves, fling open the closet doors, and kick that closet monster out once and for all.

Cleaning Kitchen Cabinets


A clean and happy kitchen is a wonderful thing. Unfortunately, they don’t yet clean themselves. Nobody likes it, but we all have to do it from time to time. People always call and ask how and what they should be using to clean their cabinets. Really, there is no specialized equipment necessary – just some everyday things you already have, a little elbow grease, and a couple of quick techniques will take care of your everyday cleaning requirements. Read More

Monday, March 29, 2010

Champagne Tastes on a Beer Budget


After the Party - Dealing with Countertop Spills & Stains

It’s a question I get asked all the time – “How do I get a (fill in the blank) stain out of my granite countertop?” Well, there’s a pretty simple formula that takes 5 minutes worth of work, a few basic ingredients, and a little bit of patience that will tackle most of the spills that cause granite countertop owners headaches. Read More