Renovations to your kitchen can do more than add value to your home. A kitchen remodel can add comfort, convenience, efficiency and beauty to its overall design. With careful planning and thoughtful design, you and your kitchen designer can make choices that fit your style and budget.
Any effort towards remodeling your home can be a considerable challenge, but a worthwhile investment, especially when you are talking kitchen. Besides the overall design, consideration must be given to the type of cabinetry, counter-tops, hardware, appliances and flooring.
Your kitchen is the heart of your home. The place where family and friends gather, where holiday meals are shared and where children can establish a bond with their parents by cooking together. As kitchens have evolved over the years, so have the trends in kitchen design.
When planning your kitchen remodel, consider some of these current trends:
Larger kitchen islands can provide multi-functional use and help eliminate kitchen clutter by utilizing functional cabinetry underneath for extra storage. The island can also be used to house a wine rack or open shelving for cookbooks and decorative serving dishes. A large island allows for plenty of seating and lots of counter space for food prep, as well as a bar sink, built in microwave or a dishwasher. Furthermore, you can adorn an island with beautiful overhead lighting to add an accent to your kitchen design.
The farmhouse look is a big trend in kitchens. A farmhouse sink is typically the anchor of this style and can be accented with bright or warm colored cabinetry, mix and match cabinetry, or cabinetry that offers an antique look. Kick up the farmhouse look by adding antique style appliances, beadboard, shiplap or reclaimed wood accents. Add antique styled fixtures with Edison bulbs to finish off the look.
White cabinetry is still very popular but more and more homeowners are adding a splash of color to accent the design of their kitchens. Selecting one color for the upper cabinets and a contrasting color for the base cabinets, or one color for the island and a contrasting color for the perimeter cabinets can personalize and transform the space. Shades of blue, grey and green are very popular.
Countertops made from quartz and granite have been trending for the last 20 years because of their durability and unique look. The same granite stone can look completely different because of its unique veining. In recent years, manufacturers have started finishing granite with honed or leather looks with a matte finish to increase the stone’s uniqueness. Just as mixing kitchen cabinetry colors is on trend, so is mixing counter-top surfaces and materials. Butcher block, marble and concrete can be used on kitchen islands to create your kitchen’s unique style.
Subway tile continues to be on trend for use on back splashes as the cost is typically less than more stylish tiles. Many manufacturers have become creative with subway tile offering smaller and larger sizes, colors, textures and finishes. If you are looking to provide a unique look to your kitchen when using subway tile, consider adding a decorative design above the cook top or in between tiles to make your back-splash your own.
Hardwood or wood-look floors look great with any style of kitchen. Larger planks, stressed wood or even tiles that offer the wood look can be a great option for your kitchen design. Wood-look tiles are durable because they stand up to high traffic, are low maintenance and are water resistant.
Black and white kitchens have always been popular and continue to be one of the best trends in kitchen design. The look is timeless. Black and white are two colors that make a bold visual statement and are classics that never go out of style. By utilizing a black and white scheme, you have the ability to change the appearance of your kitchen by just changing the color of your accent pieces. These monochromatic colors can be accented with inexpensive decorative pieces to provide a seasonal pop of color as well.
A kitchen is never finished until the cabinet handles and draw pulls are installed. Gold and brushed gold pulls are very popular and add a unique touch to your kitchen. With so many varieties and styles, and installation options, it is easy to use these elements to accent your kitchen design and provide your unique touch.
As with all home improvement projects, consult with a professional. Choose a kitchen renovation firm that can assist you with every aspect of your project, as the coordination of materials and the installation is an important part of the process.
Avi Hanukah, President of Inhaus Kitchen & Bath Design Center
(718) 475-6497 | www.inhauskb.com
