The kitchen is the heart of many homes. Amazing meals are cooked in there, or for some burning boiling water. The smell of coffee wafts from them each morning and hot chocolates in winter. So it stands to reason that most people want a kitchen that is both beautiful and functional.
Before any work takes place, you have the time to plan exactly what you want and why. Updweller can help you with improving what you have and has a range of ideas, so it’s worth checking out their website.
When you are planning, you should remember the type of cook you are and what you need from your kitchen. If you never cook big meals, but you often have friends for coffee and snacks – then you can sacrifice oven space for a larger fridge or built-in coffee machine. Small kitchen but a big family?
The smart storage and a dishwasher might be your best bet.
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Here are a few remodelling and design trends that are popular at the moment.
i) Dark
Most people opt for an optic white kitchen. It looks clean and large with ease. However, there is a lot to be said for going to bold colours and textures. Dark wood, black marble countertops, and rich stone flooring.
It sounds expensive, but can be done on a budget – or over time if you need to work in sections. If you do opt for darker tones, then consider your lighting carefully. Spotlights under countertops and well-considered overhead lighting will keep it looking sleek.
ii) Brights
Moroccan tiles are a big deal. They are easy to mix and match, so they can be sourced from multiple places. So you can pick up some reclaimed ones, then come more budget-friendly reproductions.
This can work for smaller improvements like backsplashes and feature walls. If you don’t want to just stop at the tiles, then you should think about a brightly coloured stove. Once you start researching, you’ll find a range of brights, pastels and traditional primary colours too.
iii) Minimal
For a super clean and minimal look, you can consider having all of your white-goods hidden away behind kitchen cupboards. Most of the time, your dishwasher, refrigerator and freezer will be discreetly tucked away.
Then, with the right amount of storage, you won’t have to have anything on your countertops if you don’t want to. Whites and pine toned woods work well to give a light and airy feeling.
iv) Countertops
If you aren’t big on a budget, then you can skip pulling all of the cupboards out in favour of replacing the countertops. Quartz finishes are trendy and stand the test of time. They are very easy to clean and maintain and come in a range of colours and styles.
The only problem you’ll have is if you place hot pans down without heat protection as this will damage the countertop – and the whole thing will need to be replaced.
v) Industrial
There will always be a firm place for stainless steel, black brushed metals and gold finishings. They look fantastic, give the cleanliness of a professional kitchen. Unlike some of the other trends, this one will always give a cold feel.
If you are someone who either loves to cook or cook for a lot of people, then this style is much more suited to you. Exposed brickwork, concrete backsplashes and countertops, and even flooring. It is budget-friendly too.
vi) Small touches
This isn’t so much a trend as just lovely ways to tie your kitchen together. Mixing and matching your tableware and cups, on purpose is a great way to give your kitchen a unique feel. We are all guilty of having piles of cups we have been given as gifts, and mismatched plates due to breakages over the years.
But think about if you were to start over. What would your table look like when set?
Matching knives. Every kitchen needs a range of knives, from bread knives to filleting knives. You can get great sets, that don’t break the bank and if they are out on the knife block, they will look fantastic.
Serving boards. Tapas is one of the most delightful ways to serve food to big groups, or just for a nice lunch for yourself or family. Wooden boards don’t take much work to keep in good condition and add a beautiful natural rustic feel to any kitchen.
Plus it goes with any style too. A range of sizes and shapes is a good idea. Remember to pick up some food-grade wood oil, or create your own with beeswax and mineral oil.
Thank you for your suggestion of quartz countertops and the kinds of benefits you can enjoy from installing one in your kitchen. The fact that they’re easy to clean is very relevant to a family like mine that cooks at home a lot and has a hard time cleaning up every now and then. With that in mind, once I find a kitchen remodeling contractor in the area, I’ll make sure I ask for some quartz countertops as part of our project.