To finish the job, use a standard glass cleaner or a bit of diluted vinegar and a soft cloth for extra shine. Top-of-the-line vinyl floors have a thick urethane wear layer that offers the most shine and shine retention, as well as the greatest stain resistance. Hardwood kitchen floors can last a lifetime and harmonize with just about any kitchen decor. The effect may be “cold,” with a blue-green cast that’s at odds with the warm, hospitable ambience you’d like for a kitchen. Because they generate such intense heat, these bulbs pose a greater fire hazard than other lighting types and should not be used near kitchen curtains or where they may come into contact with plastic materials. A lighting plan for your kitchen requires the same elements as for any other room. There is, moreover, a fine satisfaction in that free play of the faculties which self-instruction implies; and Professor Rains says, “The students are allowed entire freedom while at work.” The superiority of this mode of study can no longer be questioned; and Professor Rains has done a very important service to education in thus facilitating the thorough and at the same time pleasurable pursuit of one of its most useful branches.

Incandescent bulbs, the most common residential lighting source, impart a warmer, more yellow light but, at the same time, heat up the room more. Traditional fixtures go beyond the ubiquitous stained-glass pendant lamp to include classical sconces, green glass-and-brass banker’s lamps, white hobnailed milkglass shades, and more. Fluorescent fixtures are energy efficient, throwing off much less heat than halogen or incandescent bulbs, but the resultant light is cool, too. Halogen bulbs are costly, however, and must be used with great care. The options are practically limitless. Contemporary and retro-style kitchens take naturally to fluorescent lights, including whimsical neon-colored options. Larger tiles, 12X12 inches and up, are at home in contemporary-style kitchens and have the advantage of minimizing grout lines. Traditional-style kitchens fit easily with warm incandescent light, and all styles are at home with halogen, which most closely mimics daylight. The other regional styles are Kansas City, Texas and Carolina. On the fun side, vinyl also offers the greatest range of styles at a price, from ’50s boomerang motifs to ancient Roman marble tiles. Let the silver soak another two to three minutes on the other side, or soak as long as five minutes for heavily tarnished items. Note it can take two days for canvas shoes to air-dry fully.

Although laminate can be installed by a savvy do-it-yourselfer, it is best handled by an experienced pro. If they’re an option, recessed lights may be your best bet if your goal is today’s light levels with yesterday’s charm. For contemporary-style kitchens, track lights with incandescent or halogen bulbs combine spotlights with floodlights and let you aim the light wherever you choose. Recessed spotlights or floodlights are the most unobtrusive choice and provide excellent ambient and task lighting, but they are costlier to install because they require cutting holes in the ceiling. Contemporary fixtures in chrome and colored glass are often simple and Space Age inspired, hanging like jewels in the functional space. Others feature enough fixtures but not enough wattage. To supplement bigger fixtures, hanging halogen lamps, which use tiny, low-voltage bulbs, make big lighting possible with very unobtrusive fixtures. Is it possible to assemble a car with glue? Sheet vinyl, best installed by a professional, eliminates tile lines or possible lift-up due to standing water.

Some traditional looks work best with smaller tiles; small tiles are also what you’ll need if you want to design patterned floors or borders. One of the newer synthetic flooring options, laminate flooring looks like wood, stone, or marble because the pattern is actually a photograph of the “real thing.” Laminate flooring is made of multiple layers of material including a super-hard plastic top layer over a layer with a photographic imprint of wood or stone. Better-quality vinyl flooring features “inlaid construction” with color and pattern uniform throughout rather than printed on top, for richer color and less noticeable nicks. Mid-range vinyl may also offer a urethane wear layer, but it won’t be as thick; lower-range vinyl has a vinyl wear layer that’s best for households without pets and kids. Vinyl tiles with self-stick backs can be easily and quickly installed by just about any homeowner. Tiles also let you design patterns or borders using several colors.