Quiet Down Your Kitchen

Modern-day appliances certainly make our time easier in the kitchen but they can also make a lot of noise. Here are some ideas that can help make your kitchen a quieter place.

• Lower your ceiling and leave a cavity in the middle that helps buffer the noise but still gives it a place to go.
• Dishwashers are notorious noisemakers. There's now a model on the market that's so quiet it has an infrared light shine on the floor to let you know it's working.
• The ventilation fans in range hoods that suck out smoke and smells can be located in an attic instead of above the stove.
• Since wood absorbs more sound, choose butcher block for your next kitchen counter instead of marble. Soapstone also absorbs sound so consider that instead of granite.
• There are even cabinet drawers that are slam-proof as the drawer gets closer to the cabinet it slows down and slides into place.