8 hot ideas for decorating your kitchen

The kitchen is the core room in a person's home and therefore it's a great place to undertake a remodeling project. We will fill you in on the latest trends in kitchen design so your kitchen can sizzle like the food you cook in it! The first design trend addresses one of the most common complaints people have about their kitchens – storage space. Creative storage solutions such as overhead pot racks are becoming more popular. People are also increasingly using drawer and cabinet organizers in their kitchens to keep everything in its place.

People are installing flooring in kitchens that years ago not many people would have even considered. This brings us to our third trend which is to look beyond the standard kitchen tiles and explore new kitchen flooring options. Due to improved sealants, wood floors can now be installed in kitchens and withstand the rigors of frequent and heavy daily use. As an alternative, people are also installing laminate flooring in their kitchens. Bamboo and cork are also great, eco-friendly flooring choices that will make your kitchen look hot.

Another great kitchen design trend has to do with your countertops. When you think of concrete, you probably think of sidewalks but concrete actually can be used to make beautiful countertops. Concrete is almost infinitely customizable and can mimic the appearance of other materials and this flexibility is part of its draw. Concrete is as sturdy as marble or granite.

The fifth trend is a novel and exciting advancement in kitchen ranges and ovens. While gas burners are often preferred for stovetop cooking, electricity is the best energy source for heating ovens. Rather than having to pick between the two fuel options, there are now ovens available that allow you to have the best of both worlds. Of course, if you don't have access to both gas and electricity in your kitchen, this probably isn't a practical choice for you. An alternative that is also trendy is a range with induction burners. Induction burners are lighter on their energy use and heat up more quickly than either electric or gas ranges.

One of the hottest kitchen trends, and the sixth that we will mention, is to hide your appliances. More and more people are customizing their kitchens so that appliances such as microwaves and refrigerators are concealed behind doors that match your kitchen cabinets. This is a great solution for you if you have put a lot of time and thought into your kitchen décor and don't want it spoiled by a large and potentially ugly appliance.

Finally, don't be afraid to introduce color into your kitchen. As more people try to make a statement by purchasing unique items, appliances are available in numerous bold colors and people are buying them in droves. And don't forget your cabinets – these are also available in bright colors and will be sure to make your kitchen look hot. While cabinets are becoming more decorative it's important to remember to keep them casual. By following these fabulous design trends, your kitchen will be the trendiest one on the block.

No, Not the Flying Variety

We think we know about reindeer (also known as caribou,) but what is myth and what is fact? Do reindeer really fly?

Well, the answer to the second question is no. Some believe that this rumor was started because of their penchant for running quickly through the thick grass of the tundra when threatened. If the watcher was far enough away when the ‘took off’ it could look like they were flying away caused by an optical illusion caused by the flat expanse of the tundra.

Here are some facts:

Reindeer have extremely dense hair, not fur, that extends to their lips. This protects them from the snow when they graze.

All reindeer grow antlers. This includes the calves and females. They all shed them annually.

Although they are classified as herbivores because of their dental structure, they will eat small rodents, birds and eggs if they are available. They do this due to a need to add nutrients to their diet.

Reindeer are the domesticated variety of the caribou. They generally have shorter legs and are heavier. They are bred as a food source by people from the Arctic circle.

The caribou changes it’s hooves with the seasons. The hooves become soft and spongy in the warmer months to help maintain traction in a soft environment and then the spongy footpads shrink in the winter and allow the outer hoof rim to grow over it to give them additional traction in the colder months.

Caribou are excellent swimmers because of the need for them to cross large bodies of water in their Arctic home (especially during the summer.)

One other interesting fact is that their large nasal passages warm chilled air before it enter their lungs and then condenses the warm air returning and allows any moisture to remain in the nostril.

So, no they cannot fly, but they are another interesting example of mother nature’s creatures.