Another look at Kitchen Designs
If your kitchens suffer from outdated kitchen designs, we invite you to contact your nearest, licensed and reputable kitchen design-build team and schedule a consultation. You'll be surprised how affordable a Kitchen makeover can be when you work with the right people.
Here are three signs you suffer from the most prominent outdated kitchen designs (and don't worry - you're not alone!):
1. The Countertops are Peeling
Believe it or not, we're not trying to sell you fancy-schmancy granite or quartz here (although you may want to check out some samples, to be sure). In fact, the modern laminate countertop options will knock your socks off.
What we do want to steer you away from are those peeling Formica countertops you and your guests have to contend with now. Sure, the grandkids find great entertainment in "thwapping" loose corner edges before you have a chance to re-glue them in place. In the meantime, however, the peeling seams and loose edges mean moisture, grease and general food gunk are able to infiltrate your countertops and muck things up - literally.
It's not pretty - and it's not hygienic - so it's time for a change.
2. Florescent Light Bars Have Flickered Your Guests Away
Hold on a minute while we prepare ourselves for all that florescent flickering. Florescent light bars were never very pretty, so we aren't sure where on earth they came from. Somehow, somewhere, well-intentioned designers decided that was good enough for the public school classroom was good enough for our homey kitchens. We beg to differ.
It's time to get rid of those visual nuisances (who or what looks good underneath them anyway?) and replace them with lighting fixtures that actually enhance your kitchen aesthetics - not to mention the ability to see the food you're chopping in the corner countertop pocket.
Lighting fixtures that enhance your kitchen design:
This includes a blend of recessed cans, pendants, swanky suspended light fixtures and/or undercabinet lighting options - and put them all on dimmers, won't you?
3. Appliances Boast Colors Like Avocado, Burnt Orange & Harvest Gold
Ironically, many of those earthy colors are trending right now, so on that - we applaud you. However, your energy consumption is deplorable. Those appliances were designed and manufactured long before anybody gave a hoot about energy efficiency or the plight of fossil fuel stores, air quality and the like.
Now, however, a new day has dawned. In this era, kitchen designers encourage clients to look for appliances with the Energy Star label. In return, you'll benefit from beautiful new appliances that function soundly while using significantly less energy than their decades-old counterparts.
Energy efficient appliances are just the beginning. You can learn more about designing a more energy-efficient kitchen by doing a little research.
Other signs your kitchen might be ready for an overhaul?
• Cabinet hinges are exposed.
• It's cumbersome to navigate.
• There isn't enough storage.
• Even you have to admit the cabinets or countertops are an eyesore.
We understand that finances are always an issue, and we also respect people who become so emotionally attached to their home that it's difficult to make changes. That being said, www.wilsoncutlery.com goes out of its way to give you the things that would help you to make great Kitchen decisions. Our blog is chock-full of tricks to make outdated kitchens look amazing on a very modest budget. In order to set the ball rolling, we have something exciting to share.
An Amazing Design for you: The Chocolate Pear
Chocolate Pear? If you think the title of our article is appetizing, just wait until you see how this rich color makes for a kitchen renovation you and your guests won't be able to stay out of. There is so much to enjoy in this comfortable space - visually, functionally and socially.
Let's start at the top, shall we?
This Chocolate Pear kitchen is a quintessential example of a transitional kitchen
design. For example, the cabinets have been refaced (a contemporary concept, to be sure!) with a maintenance-free laminate that looks like wood but is much easier to clean and maintain. With only a modicum of cleaning, these re-faced laminate cabinets will be equally as stunning 10- and 15-years down the road.
The Cabinet Design
Notice that while the cabinets have clean lines and unadorned edges for the most part, as well as contemporary door and drawer pulls (modern features), they do include a couple decorative accents- like the two half-column legs that adorn the kitchen island, echoed on the cabinet edges that frame the window above the kitchen sink (traditional features).
The furnishings you choose can also help to transition traditional and contemporary design motifs. Raised-panel doors are "traditional," but contemporary bar seating keeps the island anchored in modernity.
Using Chocolate Pair in the Color Scheme
Chocolate Pear is a popular color but it can be too dark if the rich hues are overused. In order to balance the kitchen color scheme, and to keep things lighter and brighter, the homeowners selected a simple, white backsplash tile that is set on the diagonal. To add a little depth and interest, there is a decorative row of ceramic tiles, which add a little shimmer for a glamorous effect. The white backsplash also creates a nice transition between the cabinets and the countertops.
So, What's the Countertop?
Can you guess what the countertops are? At first glance, you probably thought they were a granite or striking marble slab. In fact, they are Cambria quartz countertops, in a natural stone-esque pattern called Bellingham. These eco-friendly, non-porous counters are as low-maintenance as the laminate cabinets and should never suffer a single scratch, chip, crack or stain.
The end of the kitchen island is further proof of how you can add a little homey charm to a transitional or contemporary kitchen design. The well-placed bookshelves, flanked by the aforementioned, decorative half-column legs, provide space for your favorite cookbooks and decorative kitchenware.
You can spice your Kitchen with top of the range Cutlery to make everything bespoke. When it comes to Ceramic Kitchen Knives, www.wilsoncutlery.com is your best bet. It doesn't cost you a thing, and you'll get expert tips on how to enhance the look and function of your kitchen.