Updating your kitchen can boost your homes resale value. It is a major undertaking, but you can tailor your kitchen to your individual needs. In today's market, kitchen renovations are among the most popular. In the past, kitchens were set off by themselves, but now that open floor plans have become so popular kitchens have become a place for socializing. No matter if you're doing a major floor to ceiling or a small facelift there are key elements to redesigning a kitchen. Here are some things to consider.
Cabinetry and Storage - Cabinets set the tone for your kitchen, they also provide storage. Have a designer assist with the configuration that best suits your needs and space. Start with preferences. Do you like simple clean lines or an ornate and carved look? How about the chic Americana or the grand European kitchen? The Professional kitchen look is a growing trend with stainless steel counters and backsplashes and open shelving.
Lighting - This is the fastest way to improve the look and function of your kitchen. A well lit kitchen includes 3 types of lighting: ambient, task and accent lighting. Ambient casts a general illumination around the room. Task illuminates chore areas such as the stove or counters. Accent creates an attractive focal point. Install pendant lights over an island or kitchen table area.
Countertops - Granite is today's prestige countertop material. It's strong, attractive and comes in a lot of colors from warm to yellow through to colorfully flecked or veined black. Because it's natural no two slabs are alike. Marble is also a popular stone. It is a little less hardy than granite. Silestone and Corian give the real stone with uniform color options. Keep in mind it's not cheap, engineered stone usually costs more than the real thing. Slate, soapstone, butcher block and stainless steel counters are trendier and are moderate in price. Laminate is versatile and is low cost.
Appliances - A new stove, refrigerator and dishwasher will quickly update your kitchen. Today's trend is toward the professional style, high end stainless steel appliances inspired by the popularity of television cooking shows. If you have the budget then try built in wall ovens, a countertop gas grill, side by side refrigerator and whisper quiet dishwasher. If not then a combination oven and stove, standard refrigerator and typical dishwasher will get your energy savings up. Today's appliances are much more energy efficient. Stainless steel finishes are hot, but white remains the most popular finish. It costs less and can be just as versatile as stainless. Black appliances are also popular.
Flooring - If you’re tired of vinyl, then consider eco friendly bamboo, hardwood, or laminate. Deep mahogany finishes are coming back. They look elegant with white cabinetry. For high traffic areas, floor tiles in oversize ceramic, slate and limestone are popular. Vinyl flooring is a lower priced alternative that comes in a wide range of style and colors. Sheet vinyl is preferred over peel and stick tiles as the later become raised over time. Traditional linoleum is making a comeback because it has retro charm and is environmentally friendly.
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