It’s one of the most popular interior home improvement projects, and it can run the gamut from an inexpensive facelift to a big-budget overhaul. Kitchen remodeling continues to be at the top of many homeowners’ wish lists, and if you’re seriously considering tackling a kitchen re-do this spring, here are some of the current trends as well as some good advice we’ve gleaned from kitchen designers, architects, and interior designers.
- Sleek and simple is in; things such as elaborate trim and fancy gadget line-ups are fading away
- Contemporary looks are among the most popular (but that doesn’t rule out a traditional appearance if that’s your preference; you can combine traditional style with contemporary touches as well as conveniences)
- The open kitchen design is the most popular as well as highly functional
- Kitchens have become the new family room – it’s a place where whole households and their guests gather – to cook, eat, relax, and play
- Islands of all sorts are taking center stage – for food prep, serving snacks, playing games, and displaying collectibles
- For cabinet choices, either very dark, or glossy white. Lighter wood finishes such as honey oak have become less popular. Think mahogany, cherry, or even ebony
- Appliances are doing a disappearing act. With wood panels and faux veneer fronts, appliances that fit seamlessly in with the surrounding cabinetry are taking over from commercial stainless
- Opportunities to express your unique taste abound in such areas as one-of-a-kind tiled backsplashes and tiled counters, high-tech faucets, and clear glass panels installed over painted walls (an easy-to-clean bonus)
Kitchen remodels can be as simple – or as elaborate – as you want. Don’t let lack of space hamper you, either. There are clever solutions to the space problem, like finding storage spots in wasted space or providing a more expansive feeling by adding a vaulted ceiling.
If your family enjoys eating while you watch a movie, consider putting in a banquette with a flat-screen TV on an opposite wall. If you enjoy expressing your skills as a barista, a coffee-prep station complete with espresso machine might be right at home in your kitchen. The new rule for kitchen design? There are no rules! Your kitchen should be exactly what you want it to be.
Iron River Constructions offers kitchen remodeling packages, among other home improvement services.
