Kitchen Cabinets: The Essential Ingredient For Kitchen Style
May 7th
Take a moment to think about your kitchen’s design. Hold that picture in your mind. Now think about how you would like your kitchen to look after redecorating and remember that picture as well. What kinds of things came to mind? Probably quite a few, but for many people cabinets are the very first thing that comes to mind when considering a kitchen decorating project. Cabinets are a dominant feature of the kitchen. They are not to be taken lightly and really affect the way your kitchen is perceived. Replacing them can be expensive and a bit difficult, but the finished project will turn any kitchen into a brand new room. Here are a few simple things to think about for your next kitchen cabinet project.
Easy, Inexpensive Kitchen Makeovers
May 2nd
One of those well known factoids that is passed around says that we spend more time in our kitchens than in any room of the house. Whether or not this has been scientifically validated or not, remains to be seen. Whether or not the kitchen is the most frequented room or not, chances are that it does see a lot of action on a typical day.
Since the odds are that you will spend a lot of time in your kitchen over the years, it helps to have some quick and easy ideas to change the room and give it a little variety. Here are a few tips that can be done quickly, without spending a lot of money.
Add a New Sink and Faucet. While this can be expensive, it doesn’t have to be. There are so many new designs available that you can pick a new sink and build an entire kitchen theme around it. There are old style, rustic-looking sinks that can give your kitchen a retro appeal. There are also a lot of ultra-modern sinks that can make your kitchen into the kitchen of the future. Take a look around and do some bargain shopping; a new sink can go a long way in adding some life to your kitchen.
Sponge paint to add some style. If you have painted walls in your kitchen, grab a sea sponge from the local store and a small can of paint and add some accents to your walls that really change up the look. Find colours that are complementary, unless you really want to go for a livelier approach. Granted you won’t want to take this project lightly, it can be done in less than a day and doesn’t require a huge investment.
New rugs, curtains and towels. Spend a day shopping for a new colour scheme for rugs, curtains and towels. Changing up these small details can give your kitchen a whole new dynamic. Some people like to buy a set of each of these things for every season. When summer rolls around why not go for the orange and yellow to bring out the brightness of your kitchen? The colours and styles are up to you, but by switching every two or three months, you are guaranteed to keep things interesting.
These are just three quick tips for giving your kitchen a quick, painless face lift. Look around at the small details of your kitchen to see what small steps you can take to change things up and add some spice to the kitchen.
Kitchen Counter-tops – Quartz or Granite?
Apr 29th
There is probably no surface area in your house that works harder than the kitchen counter-top. Think about all you do on your kitchen counter-tops, from preparing meals to stacking dishes to put away, the kitchen counter-top is definitely a work-horse. In addition to being a hard working surface, the kitchen counter-top is also one of the most noticeable things in your home. You could have a beautiful kitchen, but if the counter-tops are drab or beat up, everyone will notice. Doing a kitchen redesign that looks really good hinges upon attractive counter-tops. Two of the most popular types of counter-top materials are granite and quartz. Here’s a brief rundown on each.
Granite
Granite kitchen counter-tops last a long time. Granite is a very hard material that is very durable. Granite counter-tops are absolutely beautiful and make a kitchen really shine. The vast majority of kitchens feature laminate counter-tops. When a granite counter-top replaces these laminate ones, the results are simply stunning. Be aware though that granite counter-tops while attractive, do require resealing every few years. It is important to be aware of this if you decide to use granite as part of a kitchen remodel. Failing to reseal can ruin these lovely counter-tops.
Quartz
Quartz kitchen counter-tops are really gaining in popularity. There’s little wonder why. Quartz surfaces never get moldy and they resist mildew, which makes these counter-tops perfect for preparing food for your family. Quartz counter-tops are made of an element that is found in granite. These lovely surfaces come in a variety of colour combinations and can really make a kitchen stand out. Quartz is a hard, easy to clean surface and more people are seeing just how great these counter-tops look.
You can choose from a variety of materials for your kitchen surfaces, but quartz and granite counter-tops are guaranteed to bring brilliance to your kitchen that you’ve never dreamed was possible. Both surfaces are very resistant to mold, very easy to clean, and are super-attractive. If you’re looking for a big kitchen project that will result in a completely different look, think about adding these new surface types to your kitchen.
The 3 P’s of an Inviting Kitchen
Apr 13th
If you think of your house as a wheel, the kitchen is the hub, or center. The life of home design begins, and finds its inspiration with the kitchen. For too many homes, the kitchen is all about business. These kitchens are made for cooking and cleaning, that’s all. Try adding some personality, playfulness, and pizazz to your kitchen’s design. Follow along on the three P’s for an inviting kitchen
Personality
Don’t make your kitchen all about productivity, there’s another P you should add to the mix – Personality! Your kitchen design should be a reflection of who you are. You don’t have to keep family photos relegated to the living room or family room, add some family photos to the kitchen as well. You can pick up some nice, light-coloured picture frames that are very inexpensive to frame your kitchen photos. Then, add some customization to the frames with floral designs or hand painted highlights. Let your personality shine through in your kitchen.
Playfulness
All work and no play makes your kitchen a dull place. Have some fun with your kitchen decoration. Bring in some cute knickknacks to display on your spice rack. Then put up a simple shelf for knickknacks, but put some spices or old kitchen utensils on it as well. Mix things up and have a little fun in your kitchen.
Pizazz
Too many kitchens are stuck being forever painted white. Throw on a new coat of paint, but add some actual colour. If the thought of doing all your walls is too much, think about doing just one wall or a section of wall over cabinets for a nice contrasting colour. Complement your new paint with some fresh-cut floral arrangements as a centerpiece and you will have a kitchen teeming with new life.
Add these three P’s to your kitchen’s design. Make the hub of your home a reflection of your style that is fun and exciting to spend time in. Don’t let your kitchen get stuck in the past; take some chances and liven things up. It may be a shock to your family’s senses to come down for breakfast to a fun, colourful, expressive room, but they will soon come to love it.
Kitchen Design Add Ons
Nov 23rd
A kitchen wouldn’t be unique unless you create different features in it. The sky is the limit. There is so much that you can do when decorating your kitchen. Think of add-ons that can simplify your life or benefit you. Kitchen’s used to be plain and simple; they only had a fridge, sink, and a stove because back then that’s all that was needed. However, nowadays the kitchen has expanded to include many other options. A selection of appliances that were never used before are now necessities to us, the most common ones being dishwashers, a fan to go with your stove and a pantry for storage etc. Here are some add-ons that will surely spice up your kitchen:
Kitchen Island – A kitchen island is very rewarding because it’s multipurpose. Not only does it contain storage, but you can use it to prepare your meals or as a bar area. Pull up some stools in the morning and use the island as a breakfast eating area.
Kitchen Canopy – Create a kitchen canopy that will divide the room from every other room around there. Use pillars to provide a different look to the kitchen. This idea works specifically for a high ceiling kitchen.
Lighting under the cabinets – There is no such thing as too much light. So go all out and include lights under your cabinets that will shine right on your spectacular countertop. This will give you more of an option if you wanted to turn on just the cabinet lights on as opposed to using your main ceiling lights.
Pantry – Having a pantry is the ultimate storage space. It is convenient and is normally hidden away which is great because it isn’t visible to your guests.
Glass Backsplashes – The newest trend in kitchen fashion is creating a glass backsplash that creates a more modern look for your kitchen. The glass should be placed from the countertop all the way to the top cabinet. To give it a more sophisticated look you can also add an LED light to the backsplash.
-Theresa Sebastiano
