Another holiday season has passed, and with it the marathon cooking and baking sessions. The hours spent using every kitchen appliance and inch of counter space had a potential benefit more lasting than a good meal: When we really use our kitchens, we discover what does and doesnt work in this very important room.

Remodeling a kitchen can be expensive and challenging, but you can make substantial cosmetic changes with just the help of a painter and electrician, says interior designer Betsy Burnham of Burnham Design in Los Angeles. And if youre ready for even bigger changes, its still possible to stay on budget and create a gorgeous kitchen with a minimum of stress.

Step one is deciding what really needs to be done. Can you work with the appliances and cabinets youve got, or is it time for a full-scale remodel?

Step two is the budget, coming up with a realistic estimate for each expense.

Then, the fun can begin. Three areas where a little improvement can go a long way:

Storage

A smoothly functioning kitchen has space for everything to be stored away, within reasonable reach. Can you achieve that with your current cabinets? If so, designer Brian Patrick Flynn of Flynnside Out Productions suggests keeping them and just replacing or refinishing the doors.

Cabinetry installation adds a lot to a budget, he says, so saving by simply reusing what youve got can be a massive help.

If your cabinet doors are stained wood, consider painting them. Then, change the hardware. Drawer pulls and cabinet door handles can make or break the look of the space, says Lee Kleinhelter of the Atlanta-based design firm Pieces. Take time choosing new ones.

Flynn agrees: I always use high-end hardware regardless of how high or low my budget is, he says. Adding an interesting metal and finish to your doors just really adds character and uniqueness. You can never go wrong with dull black pulls and knobs, and Im also a huge fan of antique brass. When it comes to silver tones, I try to stay classic and go with polished nickel.

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Improving the kitchen in small or big ways

Purple pipes at One La Jolla Center indicate the presence of recycled water servicing the new building's restrooms. Irvine Company

Purple pipes at One La Jolla Center indicate the presence of recycled water servicing the new building's restrooms. / Irvine Company

One La Jolla Center, Irvine Company's new office tower opening this summer in the UTC area, boasts a world-class architect, prime location and environmental bragging rights:

The 15-story building at 4665 Executive Drive will use a dual plumbing system that will enable it to use recycled water in the restrooms and air conditioning cooling towers.

"The cost of recycled water, compared to potable (drinking) water is about 80 percent less expensive," said Erron Williams, the company's senior director of engineering.

The city said it charges 80 cents per 100 cubic feet of recycled water and $4.47 per 100 cubic feet of potable water when used in a commercial building.

One La Jolla Center is due for completion in August. / Irvine Company

Located next to the two-building La Jolla Center complex built in 1986, the $100 million, 306,000-square-foot building is not only located in one of the county's top office submarkets but it also is the only major speculative office building under construction. It is due to open in August.

Unlike most of its competitors, Irvine, which has acquired several high-profile office buildings downtown as well as in the north city area, had enough financial clout to develop a building without preleasing most of the space. By doing so, it can attract tenants that might otherwise have to wait for years before moving into new space elsewhere.

Williams said Irvine owns five other dual-piped buildings, including three at Irvine Center in Orange County. One La Jolla Center is its first in San Diego.

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Recycled water coming to UTC tower

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Price and specification announced for the new NX 200t

EPSOM, UK -- January 20, 2015: The early success of Lexuss NX crossover range is set to gain extra, turbo-powered momentum with the introduction of the new NX 200t, the first model to benefit from Lexuss new 2.0-litre turbocharged engine.

Order books are open now for the NX 200t, which will be available exclusively in F Sport trim with all-wheel drive, emphasising its more performance-oriented character. It joins the full hybrid NX 300h, which has already amassed more than 1,000 sales since being introduced late last year.

The NX 200t costs 38,095 on the road; first customer deliveries will be from mid-March.

New 2.0-litre turbocharged engine

The NX 200t is the first Lexus model to use a new 2.0-litre turbocharged direct injection petrol engine. Developed in-house, the 1,998cc unit is matched to a newly developed six-speed automatic transmission with a Drive Mode Select system.

Maximum power of 235bhp/175kW is produced between 4,800 and 5,600rpm, with peak torque of 350Nm delivered at 1,650rpm. Official combined cycle figures for CO2 emissions and fuel consumption are 183g/km and 35.8mpg respectively.

The NX 200t uses a Dynamic Torque Control all-wheel drive system, which maximises traction and cornering stability, while securing the best possible fuel efficiency. According to driving conditions, up to 50 per cent of available torque can be directed to the rear wheels. Performance dampers are fitted as standard.

Full technical details will be announced later.

F Sport exterior

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Lexus NX 200t F Powers Ahead with New Turbo Engine

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New Bern aldermen agreed Tuesday on a policy to formalize the removal and replacement of trees on city property.

Matt Montanye, interim public works director, presented the policy and will bring it back to aldermen later for final approval.

Montanye said staff realize a clear policy for removal and replacement of trees was needed after two large trees on Spencer Avenue were marked for removal in April by the city public works when a property owner there asked for them to be removed. The city, mayor and aldermen received a lot of calls over that incident, he said.

In the past, there was never a formal policy for tree removals. The way the Spencer Avenue trees were handled is the way the city has always done it, Montanye said.

About two months ago, city staff, the Appearance Commission andParks and Recreation drafted a tree removal and replacement policy and procedures, Montanye said.

Mark Stephens, New Bern city manager, said the policy is basically how city workers are removing trees. But the new policy gives the Parks and Recreation Department more control of tree replacement once old, hazardous, diseased or obstructive trees have been removed, he said.

Other criteria for removing trees include: life expectancy of the tree; desirability of the species; amount of space needed for growth; quality and structural integrity; frequency of maintenance; feasibility and timeliness of planting a replacement tree; proximity and quality of trees near the one being considered for removal; past pruning and maintenance record; how much lateral damage is caused to infrastructure, streets, sidewalks and sewers; and location relative to streetlights, traffic control devices, intersection sight lines and space needed for growing.

Removing a tree will involve about 10 steps that start with filling out a form and turning it into the Parks and Recreation Department, Montanye said.

The tree will be evaluated and, if it needs to be removed, a 10-day notice will be placed on it. Appeals can be made within that 10 days to the director of Parks and Recreation, Montanye said.

If there is an appeal, a qualified person, not employed by the city, will do a separate evaluation of the tree and forward the information to the Appearance Commission for a final decision, according to the policy.

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City to formalize tree removal policy