Kitchen Planning Tips

When remodeling or laying out a design for a new built kitchen, try to place the sink by a window. Doing this will enable you to take advantage of the natural light and give you a nice view of the outdoors. Consider a high arc faucet, espicially when filling those large pots for cooking.
Lighting is also a concern in the kitchen. Under cabinet lights are helpful when you are working in a specific area. I would recommend these to be on a separate switch.This will also eliminate shadowing if the ceiling light is your only source. Installing a switched lighting fixture above the sink is also helpful.

Installing Smoke Detectors Without Tearing Apart Walls

Would you like smoke/carbon detectors in your house ,but you don't want the big expense! Now it is possible. There are several type of smoke detectors out there. One type is a master/slave smoke detector. The first smoke/carbon detector is hard wired to your electrical panel. Then all the rest can be placed in any room by setting the pins at the same frequency as the master detector. You just screw the base to the wall/ceiling and insert the new detector. These are all battery controlled , except for the master. I would recommend the master be battery back up.
This is usually only acceptable for existing houses where no construction is being done. In new construction you would still have to comply to the nec code of all hard wired system.