Decorating Tips for a Cozy Guest Bedroom

Decorating Tips for a Cozy Guest Bedroom

Whether you’re starting from scratch or making changes to a room in need of an upgrade, check out the tips below on how to decorate your guest bedroom. Adding your own personal flair is what makes your house a home, and following these key concepts can make any bedroom special.

Bed

The bed is the centrepiece of the room. It is the main staple where your guest will especially appreciate the effort it took to make it as comfy as possible. Consider which guests you typically have at your house. You may want to get a full-size bed from Signature Design by Ashley, or if you have siblings that will be occupying your guest bedroom you can opt for two twin-sized beds.

After deciding the size of the bed, choose linens for your guest to enjoy. White bedding creates a crisp and relaxing retreat. Not only is this a soothing colour, but it’s classic and will go with everything. For the last step, throw a few pillows down to complete the ultimate cozy appeal.

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Mirror

Full length mirror in the bedroom

Adding a full-length mirror in your guest bedroom will make your space feel larger. Not sure where to place it? Try hanging your mirror between two windows. Placing a mirror between two windows tricks the eye into thinking there is another window there and helps maximize natural light.

You can also place your full-length mirror across from a window to increase light and views. Reflecting a beautiful view is ideal, but placing a mirror across from any window that gets good light will make your room feel sunnier.

If you’re tight on space, add a skinny mirror or hang one on the back of a door. A well-placed mirror makes the most of a room’s natural light, enhances views, opens a small space, and adds something extra to decor.

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Lighting

Lighting in the bedroom

Lighting is always an easy way to spice up any room. You can add a subtle ambiance with different light fixtures like chandeliers, spot or focus lights. Use at least three sources of light including general overhead or pendant lighting, specific task or table lighting, and ambient candles or decorative lighting.

You can also add a dimmer, which allows you to easily change the mood and brightness of the lighting depending on the time of day. Maximize natural light by keeping your windows clean. Whatever your style, experiment with different lighting ranges including basic to bold, or dimmed to dramatic.

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Storage

Storage in the bedroom

It’s important to add furniture that allows ample storage while being multifunctional. Besides the closet, add either a Signature Design dresser or two bedside tables for your guests to unpack and store their belongings. Some beds also act as both a mattress and have storage compartments built into the bed frame.

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There are plenty of ways help turn your room into a cozy guest bedroom. Take your time and find out which ideas work best for your home. If you need inspiration, come to our store to discover our beautiful selection of furniture, accessories, and lighting from Signature Design by Ashley.

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Alex, Your Furniture Expert

Why Consistency is Important to Your Daily Sleep Routine

Why Consistency is Important to Your Daily Sleep Routine

Consistency is key. Don’t we hear that all the time when we’re trying to improve our habits? New diets, new hobbies, dragging yourself onto the treadmill every day even if you would rather work double overtime than exercise – staying consistent, they say, is always the most important part to building good habits. So why don’t we take that same advice to heart when it comes to the most important part of our daily routine: bedtime?

If you wake up feeling like a zombie every morning, or struggle for hours before slipping into the sweet embrace of sleep, it might be time to freshen up your sleep hygiene with a secret ingredient we like to call “consistency.” Let’s break down why consistent sleep patterns are so important, and what you can do to get your bedtime routine back on track.

Why We Need It

Our bodies crave consistency. It’s the reason why your stomach starts grumbling every day at around 11:59, and why we spend the rest of the day feeling out of whack when we skip our morning coffee and newspaper.

Routine helps us function more efficiently, and without those external cues, our bodies struggle to sync up with our intentions. Having a consistent daily routine lets your body know what to get ready for, and how to do what it needs to do even better.

When it comes to sleep schedules, everyone’s body clock is different, so there’s no hard-and-fast rule about when to eat or sleep or get up in the morning. What’s important is listening to your own internal rhythm when setting your sleep routine, and making a commitment not to let the stresses and concerns of the day get in the way of a restful night.

What It Does for Us

Do Monday mornings feel like the night of the living dead? Do you find yourself dozing at your desk more often than not? Yeah, those are all signs your sleep schedule is way off track. A consistent sleep schedule can be the difference between a productive day at work and a total wash, between making the most of your day off or dozing the daylight away. If you’re sleeping in three or four hours later on weekends than you do on weekdays, you’re going to spend your days off groggy and delirious, and your days on in a stupor.

A consistent sleep schedule can even affect your mood. Studies show that sleeping poorly can elevate stress and even lead to mood disorders like anxiety and depression. So, don’t settle for a chaotic sleep schedule! Not only will you feel better day-to-day if you change things up, it can actually make you happier in the long run.

Why Consistency is Important to Your Daily Sleep Routine_2

How to Get It

So, now that you get just how important a consistent sleep schedule is, how can you achieve it?

Well, it starts with commitment. Set an alarm, mark it in your calendar, heck, even write it on your forehead if you have to! Decide on set times for going to bed and waking up and stick to it, no matter the day of the week. And no, the fact that the show you’re binging just ended on the biggest cliffhanger ever isn’t an excuse to put off bedtime.

Good habits are another key to a healthy sleep schedule. The bed is not the place for stressful activities like work, balancing your checkbook, and managing your monthly calendar. Keep that far away from your mattress, and out of the bedroom altogether if possible! You want to keep your bed mentally associated with nothing but rest and relaxation.

Finally, like we said, routine is super important for establishing better sleep, so come up with a nighttime ritual that works for you. Maybe it’s having a cup of tea before bed (just remember to stay away from caffeine) or maybe it’s reading your favourite book for 15 minutes. Whatever your ritual is, keeping it consistent is the best way to make those relaxing associations stick in your mind.

It can be a long journey to creating a consistent sleep routine, but when you’re waking up every morning upbeat, energized, and ready to seize the day, it’ll all be worth it! Of course, falling asleep and staying asleep consistently can be nearly impossible without a good mattress, no matter how carefully you’ve planned your new routine. If you’re still struggling to get a good night’s sleep, it might be time to upgrade your bed. Stop by our store today to check out our selection of Beautyrest mattresses and ask our sleep experts how to revolutionize your rest!

Angela, Your Sleep Expert

How to Pick the Perfect Sheets

How to Pick the Perfect Sheets

A good set of sheets can make a big difference at bedtime. When you slip into a bed made up with sheets that are just the right weight, weave, and texture, you can’t help melting right into dreamland! But finding that perfect set can be harder than it seems.

Well, you don’t have to be Goldilocks to find those sheets that feel just right — if you start your sheet shopping journey armed with the right knowledge, that is. To help you on your path toward a better night’s sleep, we’ve put together this list of everything you’ll want to keep in mind to pick the perfect sheets.

Thread Count

Thread count is often thought of as the ultimate measure of sheet comfiness, but it might not be as important as we once thought. Thread count typically ranges between 100 and 800 threads in a square inch of fabric, with some luxury brands advertising thread counts of over 1000 — but in reality, it’s almost impossible to reach a thread count higher than 400 without cutting corners. Sheets with a thread count above 400 achieve this by wrapping threads around each other before the weaving process, which has little effect on the comfort and quality of the fabric.

That doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t consider thread count at all though — the difference in touch between 100 and 400 thread count can be significant. If you want to max out your nightly coziness, you’ll want to get a thread count of at least 200. Anything below that and you’ll definitely feel some scratchy edges.

Weave Method

This may be a new idea for the average sheet shopper, but there are actually two different weave methods that can drastically change the look and feel of your sheets. Sheets of almost any fabric and thread count can be woven using one of two methods: percale and sateen.

Percale uses a tighter weave pattern to create a crisp, matte finish. Your favourite work shirt and light, cotton sheets probably use this weave. Percale sheets are light, breathable, and perfect for warm weather.

Sateen sheets have a silky-smooth finish and are a bit heavier, making them the perfect thing to curl up in during winter. They’re prized for their luxurious lustre and elegant look on any bed.

Neither of these options is objectively better than the other. Depending on the weather and your own personal preference, either weave can make an incredibly comfy bed sheet option, but you’ll definitely want to make a note of which type your favourites are as you shop.

How to Pick the Perfect Sheets

Fabric Type

Not all weaves and thread counts are created equal! The type and quality of the fabric your sheets are made of will majorly change the look and feel of them, so be sure to get a fabric that suits your needs.

Cotton

Even within the cotton-sheet family, there are big differences between the different types of cloth. If you’re looking for peak luxury, seek out sheets made of 100 percent Egyptian cotton. But if you’re more interested in bargain hunting, common cotton and cotton blends provide much of the comfort and breathability of cotton at a fraction of the price. No matter the type, cotton is always a great choice for its reliability, affordability, and easy washability.

Linen

The ultimate summer sheet! Not only is linen light and breathable, it’s also great at wicking away moisture in warm and cool weather. It does tend to have lower thread counts though, so it can be a bit scratchy before being worn in, but once it is, linen sheets are as light and comfortable as a summer breeze.

Flannel

For winter warmth, you can’t get cozier than flannel sheets. These sheets are fairly heavy and super soft, so you can curl up feeling safe and sound all winter long. They’re easy to wash too, although they should be dried at the lowest setting to prevent pilling.

Jersey

These knit, cotton blend sheets feel as cozy and easy to slip into as your favourite t-shirt. Unfortunately, that means they’re as susceptible to stretching and holes as a t-shirt too. But they’re another great option for winter (though not as warm as flannel) and for year-round comfort on a budget.

Silk

Naturally hypoallergenic and incredibly soft to the touch, silk is perhaps the most luxurious sheet option on the market. It can even help prevent bedhead, since the fabric doesn’t catch easily on skin or hair. This super comfy fabric isn’t measured by thread count either, but instead by weight in “mommes.” So if you’re dedicated to the ultimate sleeping experience, you’re going to want silk sheets of at least 19-mommes.

Bamboo

Bamboo or rayon sheets are nearly as smooth as silk and even more durable. They’re moisture wicking, hypoallergenic, antibacterial, cozy in winter and breathable in summer … is there anything these sheets can’t do? Well, taking it easy on your wallet is one thing they’re not so good at. Bamboo sheets can be a bit pricey and difficult to properly care for, but if you’re willing to put in the work for them, they’ll last you many comfortable nights!

When you sleep on a set of sheets that feels like they were made just for you, you’ll be snoozing better than ever. So start your journey to better sleep today! And if new sheets aren’t cutting it, you might need a new mattress to go with them. Come by our store to check out our selection of Sealy mattresses and ask one of our expert associates for help picking the perfect one for you.

Angela, Your Sleep Expert

No Dish Left Behind in a KitchenAid Dishwasher

No Dish Left Behind in a KitchenAid Dishwasher

There are some rules that should never be broken; be kind to others, pick up your own trash, look both ways before crossing the road. These keep everyone civil in a society otherwise gone to the wolves. But when it comes to the kitchen, no rule is as important as this one: No dish should ever be left behind.

The problem is that most dishwashers don’t treat that rule as sacred. They’ll leave dishes behind in the dirt, with some of them getting clean and others being left to rot and never getting cleaned correctly. That’s just not a way to treat dishes! That’s why we are thankful for KitchenAid dishwashers. With KitchenAid dishwashers, no dish is ever left behind, and your kitchen utensils will get completely clean.

Let’s take a walk through some of the best KitchenAid features, and see how they’ll make your kitchen life easier and cleaner.

Better, Faster, Harder, Cleaner

If you’ve ever had to clean a dishwasher filter then you know that cleaning dishes is a dirty business. Well, KitchenAid makes that dirty business much cleaner. With a Clean Water Wash System, their dishwashers remove food particles from your washing water. This means clean water washes your dishes, and you can forget about having to clean the filter. That’s a double-kick of awesomeness!

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Professional Scrub-a-dub-dub

There are two types of people in this world: Those who believe in soaking their dishes and monsters. There are just some stains that can’t come out otherwise, but soaking brings with it its own set of challenges.

Well, KitchenAid dishwashers are also getting rid of soaking forever. With their ProScrub Option, you can say goodbye to soaking and pre-scrubbing. Instead, say hello to 40 targeted spray jets that will remove all of those sticky sustained stains you used to have to scrub by hand.

Lance Armstrong Level Cycling

You have enough decisions in your life already – you shouldn’t have to worry about trying to pick which wash cycle to use for which dishes.

What you need is KitchenAid’s Prowash Cycle. Instead of having to do the guesswork yourself, the Prowash Cycle picks the best cycle for each load depending on how dirty they are, AND makes changes on the fly to give your dishes the best clean possible. Less decisions, and cleaner dishes: That’s a great feature if we’ve ever heard of one.

No matter what you are looking for in a dishwasher, KitchenAid has a model that will do everything you want it to do, and more. Stop in today and one of our knowledgeable experts will walk you through all the different KitchenAid models, and help you find the one that will be best for you and your kitchen.

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Amanda, Your Appliance Expert

How to Make the Most of Your Refrigerator’s Crisper Drawer

How to Make the Most of Your Refrigerator's Crisper Drawer

Ah, the crisper drawer. Or, as it’s more likely known in your home, the “anything that doesn’t fit anywhere else in the fridge” drawer. Those little drawers near the bottom of your refrigerator always seem to collect things like string cheese, yogourt cups, and granola bars (seriously? Who put those in the fridge?), but what are they actually for?

It turns out, these nifty compartments serve an important purpose when it comes to keeping your food fresh!

What is a Crisper Drawer?

A crisper drawer is basically a sealed off area within a fridge set to lower or higher humidity than the rest of the unit. Some fridges come with multiple drawers with preset humidity levels, while others let you adjust drawers to any humidity level you need.

The adjustment mechanism is deceptively simple: when you set it to high humidity, a little vent in the back of the drawer closes, sealing the compartment shut. As you set the humidity lower, the vent opens, letting out some of the moisture trapped inside. Easy! But what can be slightly more complicated is figuring out which foods go where.

What to Store in a Crisper Drawer

Even though you can keep all kinds of things in your crisper drawer, you’ll see the best results with fresh produce. If you always seem to be throwing money at grocery stores and farmers’ markets, only to find your beautiful organic veggies wilted beyond reason just days later, a crisper drawer might be able to save your wallet and your dinner plans.

But before you start tossing everything leafy into the crisper, keep in mind that different produce has different needs. Some will need lower humidity and others need higher humidity, and you can do some serious damage to your food by putting it in the wrong drawer.

What to Store in a Crisper Drawer

Low Humidity

A common rule of thumb for determining what should go in each drawer goes like this: “rot, low; wilt, high.” That means foods that rot as they go bad should be kept in the low humidity drawer. Fruits and other produce that don’t lose moisture easily should be top candidates for this drawer.

These types of produce emit gases as they age, but the open vent in the back lets those gases out of the drawer, so the fruit stays fresher for longer. Here are a few things to try storing in a low humidity drawer:

  • Avocados
  • Peaches
  • Apples
  • Pears
  • Grapes

High Humidity

Leafy greens and other foods that wilt as they get older should be kept in high humidity conditions. These foods won’t release much gas while they’re being stored, but they’ll lose moisture like crazy. Keeping these veggies in the crisper drawer set to high humidity should help keep them fresh and…well, crisp!

  • Lettuce
  • Broccoli
  • Carrots
  • Cucumbers
  • Strawberries

Now quick, get to the fridge! Rearrange your drawers with all this in mind and notice how much longer your food lasts. Another pro tip: crisper drawers tend to work best when they’re nearly full. So, go crazy next time you’re feeling the need to freshen up your diet! The more fruits and veggies you can pack in, the better—as long as you remember to eat them all!

If you’re still struggling to keep food fresh, the problem might be your fridge. Come on down to our store to check out our selection of Whirlpool fridges, and ask our associates about anything and everything appliances!

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Amanda, Your Appliance Expert

How to Make a Smelly Dishwasher Smell Fresh Again

How to Clean a Smelly Dishwasher (2)

Did something die in the dishwasher? It happened. Your built-in dishwasher finally started smelling and now you don’t know what to do. It makes sense that it would start creating a strong odour. So many pieces of food, germs, and bacteria get swirled around during a dishwasher cycle, so it’s only normal that an odour would materialize. If your dishwasher ever starts to smell, here’s what needs to be done to fix the problem:

Step 1: Check the Drain Filter

This is probably the culprit. If the drain filter isn’t cleaned out regularly or even every couple of months, things can start to get pretty hairy. Mouldy particles of food may be hanging around the drain and causing the odour, so it’s best to check here first. All it needs is a little soap and water to do the trick.

Step 2: Clean the Walls

How to Clean a Smelly Dishwasher (2)

Over time, the interior walls may have picked up scum and other sorts of germs which should be washed off from time to time. Remove the racks from inside your dishwasher and scrub away!

Step 3: Wipe Off the Door Gasket

It may seem excessive, but clean it anyways. There is a slight chance the door gasket of your stainless steel dishwasher picked up food particles so it’s always a good idea to just give them a quick wipe down. Just to be safe.

Step 4: If All Else Fails…

Use vinegar to clean a smelly dishwasher

Use vinegar as your last Hail Mary to get the stink out of your kitchen appliance. All you need is 1 cup of distilled white vinegar placed on the top dishwasher drawer rack before running a full cycle. The vinegar will be tossed around inside the dishwasher allowing the acidity of the vinegar to help break down any residue. It’s also an odour neutralizer and will help get rid of any unwanted smells.

Don’t let a smell from your dishwasher prevent you from using it! A little cleaning should do the trick! If it turns out that you’re actually in need of a new one, get in contact with us, your local appliance store, to discover our selection of new GE dishwashers!

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Amanda, Your Appliance Expert

How Do Bosch Steam Ovens Work

How Do Bosch Steam Ovens Work

Steam ovens are a major kitchen appliance trend that’s been picking up steam — pun intended — for the past few years.

They’re a great way to get healthier, fresher, tastier food without having to adjust your cooking or grocery shopping habits – hence their growing popularity – but many people are still unfamiliar with the particulars of this appliance trend. So what is a Bosch steam oven, and how does it work? It turns out, this innovation in cooking tech could be the key to making the most of your kitchen.

What Is a Steam Oven?

Steam ovens are just what they sound like – ovens that use hot steam rather than hot air to cook food. They introduce a whole new level of cooking to your kitchen, and can even reheat things more effectively than microwaves, making them an awesome double whammy for your home. You can use a Bosch steam oven in place of a standard convection oven, or double it up with your existing oven for even more range and cooking power.

Cooking multiple meals in a Bosch Steam Oven

How Do Bosch Steam Ovens Work?

Most steam ovens work by siphoning water from a small water tank into a built-in boiler, heating it to 212 degrees Fahrenheit, and releasing the steam into the oven. This superheated steam is just as effective at cooking your food through as the circulated hot air that makes convection work, and is often even faster.

Some more upscale models can even be connected directly to a water line, so you don’t have to worry about refilling the tank after every meal. But for most steam ovens, no special hookups are required – just plug it in, fill up the water tank, and get to cooking, just like a regular oven.

Why Get a Bosch Steam Oven?

So why all the hype? Well, for one, just about anything you can cook in a traditional oven, you can cook better in a steam oven.

Steam ovens are generally considered to be healthier than standard ovens. The steam helps lock moisture into whatever food is being cooked or reheated, eliminating the need for extra oils and fats to keep food moist. No more getting trapped in the kitchen basting that turkey to keep it from drying out! They also help your food retain its natural vitamins and minerals, so you get the most nutritional value from your food. It goes without saying that health nuts have been going … well, nuts over these things.

The one downside of steam ovens is that, because water boils at 212 degrees, you won’t be able to easily cook foods that require being cooked at higher temperatures than that. Because of this temperature limit, steam ovens usually work best as a complement to standard convection ovens, or even better, when incorporated as a combi-steam unit, which can cook using both steam and convection, depending on the dish’s needs.

But the optimized flavour of the food that comes out of a steam oven is well worth its minor drawbacks. Even several-days-old food can be given brand-new life with a reheat in a steam oven – and the flavour only gets better for fresh dishes.

Bosch Steam ovens are a great way to give your cooking a kick and make your daily diet a little healthier too! They’re a simple addition to your kitchen, and signs point to this trend sticking around for quite some time. Plus, when you shop with us, you’ll get great deals and expert advice on Bosch steam ovens. Stop on by to see our selection and see how steam will steal your heart!

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Amanda, Your Appliance Expert

4 Ways Samsung Smart Refrigerators Can Streamline Your Planning

4 Ways Samsung Smart Refrigerators Can Streamline Your Planning

It’s not what can you do for your fridge, but what can your fridge do for you?

Grocery Shopping & Food Preparation

Samsung smart fridge helps you manage your fridge space and simplify your grocery list. Interior cameras sync with your smartphone and allow you to see inside your refrigerator from the grocery store. Make your shopping list with the built-in touch screen and transfer the list to your phone. This way, you’ll be able to shop for everything you need and will no longer struggle to remember if you’re out of milk or eggs.

If you have a hard time remembering shopping lists and cooking instructions, there’s a much easier way. Your favourite recipes can be printed on the backlit screen, allowing your smart fridge to recommend meal ideas based on what ingredients you have on hand, and what you still need to pick up. Food reminders even let you know when certain food items are near their expiration date so you can control the temperature settings to keep food properly chilled for longer. Whether you call it a smart fridge or your official sous chef, let your fridge help you decide what’s for dinner and reduce the stress of nightly meal prep.

More Family Time

samsung family hub calendar and to do list

Samung Family Hub Smart Fridges come with an extensive list of apps and special features to keep you and your family connected. Built-in calendars allow you to share schedules and weekly plans with family members–meaning no more missing appointments, double-booking events, or arriving late to the dinner table.

Set to-do lists, draw pictures, and leave homework reminders for the kids when they’re home alone. If your daily routine is hectic, set a nightly reminder for everyone to take a break and come together for mealtime. Everyone in your house will know exactly when it’s time to eat–deciding when it’s time for dishes is still up for debate.

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Plan for Fun

Watching TV on your Samsung Fridge

Most people don’t typically associate refrigerators with fun, but that’s about to change. You can play music directly from your Samsung smart fridge for entertainment, ambiance, or kitchen dance parties. If you’re still busy in the kitchen preparing the pregame appetizers and don’t want to miss a play, set up your fridge screen to mirror your television–keeping you in touch with the action taking place on the field and in the kitchen.

Another fascinating feature is the ability to browse the web. A built-in web browser allows you to research cook times, unique recipes, or help with after-dinner homework. Don’t just make plans for dinner, make plans to enjoy yourself while you’re in the kitchen.

Keep Connected

If other appliances in your home have smart features, you can sync them together to monitor your smart home setup directly from your refrigerator. See who’s at the front door when the dog starts barking, control lights and thermostats, and see into other rooms in the house to check on the kids.

A Samsung Family hub smart fridge is more than a gimmick, it helps to create a central hub for managing all aspects of your home from the most central location–the kitchen.

When you have a busy household, it pays to be smart. If you need help finding the right smart fridge to streamline your cooking and your daily routine, pay us a visit, and we’ll help you find the Samsung smart fridge that will perfectly match your needs.

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Amanda, Your Appliance Expert

3 Oven Issues That Prove You Need a New One

3 Oven Issues That Prove You Need a New One

It’s hard to say goodbye to an oven that’s been good to you for so long. But sometimes there’s just no way around the fact that your oven is ready to retire. If you aren’t convinced your oven is ready to be put to rest, here are a few common oven issues that prove holding onto this kitchen appliance is just not worth it.

It Doesn’t Heat Up

This is clearly a problem. If you have a gas range or wall oven and it’s not heating up, check to make sure there isn’t a gas line issue. If everything looks good, then there is a chance your oven needs a good look from an appliance repair service. When that situation occurs, you may be paying for new parts in order to fix your appliance, which can easily go over the price of purchasing a completely new range or oven. Just something to keep in mind.

It’s Not Cooking Evenly

oven not cooking evenly

If you like to bake, your treats all depend on the oven’s ability to cook thoroughly so that the food bakes evenly. No one wants a cake that’s mushy in the middle. Especially when you cook meat like chicken, it’s crucial that it cooks to the middle so that no one eats undercooked fowl. This, again, can get pretty pricey when it comes to purchasing new parts. Decide if you want to go through that hassle or get yourself a Samsung oven in perfect condition.

It Won’t Turn On

What good is an oven that doesn’t turn on? At that point it’s basically just another place to put your pans and baking sheets! This is something you should have looked at by an appliance service that can do the dirty work for you. No need for you to blindly touch wires that could ultimately cause shocking results. If the results are that your oven needs new parts, find out if it’s even worth the money before getting them.

An oven is an important part of your home. It brings family and friends together so when it’s out of commission, everything else feels out of commission too. We highly recommend checking out Samsung ranges and wall ovens at our store if your current oven decides to go kaput.

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Amanda, Your Appliance Expert

Downdraft Vs. Vent Hood – Which One is For You?

Downdraft Vs. Vent Hood – Which One is For You

When it comes to choosing which appliances are right for your home, it’s easy to get lost, especially while figuring out your kitchen’s ventilation. It gets a little confusing when you find out there’s more than just one kind of vent system. They both are made to remove fumes, smoke, steam, and heat and just keep the air fresh in general, but how is anyone supposed to know the difference between a downdraft hood and a vent hood for criminy’s sake? It’s not like they teach this stuff in school. Even though it’s not common knowledge, we’re here to help you understand the differences between a KitchenAid downdraft and vent hood, that way you can figure out which one will work better in your home.

What’s Good in the Vent Hood

A vent hood goes by many names including range hood, kitchen hood, and even electric kitchen chimney. These appliances are usually paired with a range, although it’s not uncommon to see them hanging above a cooktop. But what makes these odour removers so essential in your kitchen?

For one thing, a range hood is considerably larger than a downdraft hood which means it has the power to cover a larger area and significantly reduce smoke in your kitchen. Another perk of having a vent hood is that it provides better kitchen lighting. A simple switch or touch of a button allows light to shine down on where you are cooking. Vent hoods also have a knack for hiding in plain sight, and instead of looking bulky, they will add luxury to your kitchen.

The Down Low on Downdraft Hoods

Downdraft ventilation

If you’re looking for something more subtle than a vent hood, there are downdraft hoods that have the power to hide. That’s right; some telescopic downdraft vents will rise from your cooktop no more than 10 inches (25.4 cm) with just the touch of a button. This high-tech appliance not only works well sucking fumes down and out of a duct, but it’s also a kitchen showstopper. Guests will love it!

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Sooooo … Which to Choose?

It’s not an easy decision choosing between a vent and downdraft hood, but there are a few things you’ll want to take into consideration before purchasing:

  • Are you looking to have more storage space? If so, a downdraft hood allows you to have cabinets above your cooking area.
  • Do you detest cleaning? If so, downdraft vents are easier to clean than a large vent hood.
  • Do you cook with big pots? If so, a vent hood will be able to remove steam and smoke easier from your cooking space, as opposed to a downdraft hood that can’t reach the height of the large pots.
  • Do you have a range? If so, downdraft vents only work for cooktops unless you specifically buy a downdraft range.

Whatever you choose, you can’t go wrong with either a vent hood or a downdraft hood from KitchenAid. Visit our store today, and we’ll be happy to help you find the right kind of hood to put in your home!

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Amanda, Your Appliance Expert