How to Develop Your Custom kitchen Design
Sleep late, watch some television, maybe nap at poolside, and then stay up all night playing video games with friends. That is most kids’ idea of a perfect summer vacation. However, in light of articles about children’s obesity and lack of fitness, parents are searching for ways to get their offspring off the sofa and exercising. Check out these sport and fitness camp choices in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, and get your kids moving based on their abilities and interests.
Basketball:
Dallas Mavericks Hoop Camp for ages 8 to 18 is held in various locations around the DFW area.
(214-747-6287). One-week sessions costs $225 and includes game vouchers, jerseys, and other pro basketball paraphernalia. The camp basketball and includes guest speakers.
Pepsi Nancy Lieberman Basketball Camp is held at two locations – Collin County Community College or the University of Texas at Dallas – and teaches fundamentals of basketball along with game tactics. (www.nancylieberman.com or 972-307-0101)
Arlington Parks and Recreation Sports Academy ages 6 to 15 about various sports including basketball. The one- week sessions costs $75 to $125 and offers a variety of activity. (www.aceacom.com or 817-462-3700
Fencing:
Fencing Day Camp offers a very special sport for ages 8 to 17. The price of $150 to $350 includes equipment. It students how to fence or how to improve their skills and prepare for competitions. (www.fenceintexas.org or 972-444-8498) En garde!
Football:
It would not be Texas if football camps did not exist. Load up your child with a sport drink and watch him sweat off the pounds at the following camps:
Garland Owls Youth Football Camp. Grades 3rd thru 8th. (www.garlandowls.com or 972-494-8589)
Phil Bennett Mustang Football Camps Grades 2nd thru 12th (www.smumustangs.com or 214-768-3667
Premier Football Camp Ages 7-14 (www.allstarcamps.com or 972-481-9400)
Horse:
Whether it is English or Western equestrian that interests your youngster, check into these stables for riding, horse care, and safety:
Benbrook Stables Horse Camp offers one- day sessions for ages 6 to 16 at a cost of $50. (www.benbrookstables.com or 817-249-1001)
Capricorn Equestrian Center Summer Horseback Riding Camp has one week sessions for ages 7 to 14 at $200. (www.capricornhorse.com or 972-530-1124)
English Riding Camp specializes in English riding in one-week sessions for age 6 and up. (972-734-2087)
Merriwood Ranch Riding Camp has one-week sessions for girls only, ages 7 to 14 at a cost of $375. (972-495-4646)
Wagon Wheel Ranch has one-week sessions for ages 6 and up at a cost of $250. (www.awagonwheelranch.com or 817-481-8284)
Ice Skating:
Not to denigrate football, but frankly in Texas in the summer, the smart thing to do to beat the heat is to learn how to ice skate. Whether it is figure skating or hockey, enjoy the cool ice rink at the following camps.
Americas Ice Garden has daily or weekly sessions for all age groups. (www.americasicegarden.com or 214-720-8080)
Ice Skating Classes at the StarCenter will keep your child cool. (www.drpepperstarcenter.com or 214-467-5283
Rock Climbing:
Rock Climbing Camp for ages 6 to 14 rock climbing as well as offering team building activities. (www.summitrockgym.com or 817-421-3888)
Soccer:
Work on indoor and outdoor soccer skills at the following soccer camps. Dribbling, heading, and controlling the ball are just a few of the exercises worked on for this international sport.
Dallas Sidekicks Summer Soccer Camps has one-week sessions for ages 5 to 12. (www.dallassidekicks.com or 972-306-9200)
FC Dallas School of Excellence Soccer Training for ages 7 to 12 in one-week sessions. (www.fcdallas.net or 214-777-0215)
Rockwall Parks Skyhawks Soccer runs one week in July for ages 7 to 14. (www.rockwall.com or 972-771-7740)
Smudger’s Soccer Camps are held all over Dallas and its suburbs for ages 6 to 12. (www.smudgersoccercamps.com or 972-233-3146)
Swimming:
Kids want to be at the pool anyway. Put their energy to good use learning swim strokes, water safety, and competitive swimming.
All Star Tennis, Swim, and Sports Camp have well-rounded one-week sessions for multiple sports. (www.brookhavenclub.com or 972-241-5961)
Lancaster Recreation Center Aquatics covers 6 months or older in swim instruction. (www.lancaster-tx.com or 972-227-1112)
Mars Swim Camp for ages 6 to 12. (www.marswim.org or 817-925-0505)
NRH20 Swim Lessons and Lifeguard Training takes its water sports seriously. (www.nrh2o.com or 817-427-6500)
Tennis:
Everyone can whack a tennis ball over the net. However, tennis is a game of finesse and your child can learn the skills – volley, drop shot, lob, and the art of the serve – at these camps.
Bill Bos All Star Junior Tennis Camps is for ages 5 to 15. (972-248-6833)
Fretz Tennis Center Tennis Camp for ages 4 to 18 has one-week sessions. (www.fretztennis.com or 214-670-6622)
Oakridge Country Club Tennis and All-Sports Camp for ages 6 to 15. (www.oakridgecctexas.com or 972-530-8020)
Volleyball:
Be prepared for the family reunion volleyball tournament. Your child will learn how to play the game and perhaps achieve that spike to score a winning point.
Martin High School Volleyball Camp for grades 3rd through 9th. (www.martinvolleyball.com or 817-480-3932)
University of Texas at Arlington Volleyball Camp is held for ages 10 to 18. (www.utamavs.collegesports.com or 817-272-2216)
Volleyball at Sportsplex at Valley View for grades 4th through 12th (www.sportsplexv.com or 972-385-5416 ext. 30)
The Dallas/Fort Worth area offers a lot of sports activity and instruction. Get your child off the and out from behind a remote control to learn new sports skills and make new friends. Whether once a week or daily, exercise is good for your kid and can teach your youngster a healthy lifestyle. Make sure your child stays hydrated and has some fun at a sport summer camp.
No other room of the house works harder, is used more frequently, or is more versatile than the kitchen. It serves multi-purposes and is the heart of the home. Just one reason why a kitchen remodeling project is among the most popular type of home renovation. Another reason why homeowners are willing to invest substantial amounts of money in a kitchen makeover is because it increases the real estate market value of their property. This is especially true when remodeling is to update and modernize the kitchen. Even if updates are purely aesthetic, features such as a natural stone custom kitchen counter top or custom kitchen cabinet design using quality oak, maple, or an exotic wood will prove a good marketing investment.
A More Professional Kitchen Design
Perhaps your kitchen renovation idea is a do it yourself project. Or, you may plan on hiring a home interior designer or kitchen and bath contractor for the job. Regardless, why not consider the following tips and ideas for a more efficient, innovative kitchen design? One with multi-purpose features to save space and make your kitchen even more efficient and versatile.
Kitchen Cabinet Remodeling:
Whatever your budget, always opt for the best quality cabinetry possible; whether factory or custom made. This includes drawer runners made from metal instead of plastic, drawers with closer dampeners (preventing drawers from forcefully slamming shut), quality wood cabinet doors instead of laminated materials or engineered wood, etc. Select a style that compliments your new kitchen design – which should compliment and fit in with the rest of the house décor. When it comes to custom built cabinetry, have the kitchen cabinet contractor incorporate as many space saving and ease-of-use features as possible. Including wall cabinets with doors that lift up instead of opening sideways, swing out base cabinet doors that open to reveal additional shelving on the inside of the doors, corner lazy Susan components, drawers with sectioned components that lift out, cupboards with vertical stacking slots for plates, saucers, and bowls, and butcher block-type cutting boards located by the sink area that pull out from under the counter.
The Work Triangle
If designing your own kitchen, incorporate into the plan the basic work triangle – a design that sets the sink, cooking area, and refrigerator at the tips of an imaginary triangle. Saving steps and time when preparing foods; preventing “traffic jams” when more than one person uses the kitchen at the same time. Many times the kitchen also serves as space for accomplishing other tasks; such as homework, family discussions, entertaining, or paperwork. A work triangle at one end of the room with a corner breakfast nook or kitchen table at the opposite end will work best. Any outside entryway should open at the opposite end of the kitchen. Not in a location where persons entering would have to pass through the work triangle area to access other areas of the kitchen. The same is true for entry ways that lead from other rooms in the house into the kitchen.
Meal Preparation and Clean-up
When more than one person handles meal preparation and after meal cleanup at the same time, the following might be considered. More than just one sink; a second located outside the work triangle, to avoid traffic jams. Consider a kitchen island design, for instance. One that includes a small food rinsing sink, butcher block top for cutting foods, and storage cabinets below. Kitchen remodeling tip: an undersized round design works best for a small kitchen makeover. If you opt to omit a sink in the small kitchen island design, consider having the island built on locking casters so it can easily be repositioned, according to need. A separate cook top and oven, with an additional two-burner cook top located outside the work triangle might prove helpful. Consider a stationary kitchen island that includes a rinsing sink and a small cook top.
Cut Down on Kitchen Remodeling Cost
There are ways to cut down on overall kitchen remodeling project cost. One way without compromising on best-possible features such as kitchen counter tops, flooring, and new appliances is to handle some of the work yourself. Read the following article for DIY kitchen remodeling tips and ideas; Kitchen Renovation Design. Also note links at the bottom of the page to other related articles. Another way to cut back on costs without compromising on quality is to hire a professional kitchen design expert or kitchen and bath contractor for other aspects of your project. This will insure the best kitchen design and workmanship possible. Instead of new cabinetry, however, opt for do it yourself kitchen cabinet refinishing; updating the appearance of existing wood cabinets; whether refacing to bring back the natural beauty and luster of the wood, painting, or sanding and re-finishing using a different color stain. Crown molding added to the tops of soffits or the cabinets themselves can drastically change their appearance; giving them stunning design appeal. Especially when the molding is painted a complimentary contrasting color or a shade slightly darker than the cabinetry.
© 2007 HandyAmerican.com