While you are encouraged to consider how your finished kitchen is going to look, you should also maintain in the forefront of your mind the fact that you need to place a very high priority on functionality and practicality too.

How much?

There is also a cost issue to consider. There is a popular perception that remodelling your kitchen has to cost a small fortune, however this is not necessarily the case. What is more important is that you exercise as much creativity and design imagination as you can muster.

A good tip is to look at as many kitchen installations as you can; this will provide you with practical ideas as you can take what you like from each installation and incorporate them into your own design scheme. Pay particular attention to the color themes and the use of accentuating items which can lend the finishing touches which really make the look you are after really work.

Rustic look

A French-style kitchen will impart rusticity: they are “old” yet highly functional (remember the French style is based on rural, working kitchen designs which tend to be robust and highly practical). They exude warmth with earthy tones and a heavy use of natural materials and tones. Old or distressed looking wood for the cabinetry and furniture form the foundation of the kitchen design with dark flooring, typically using wood, stone or slate. Natural lighting should be utilized wherever possible to highlight the overall ambience and feel.

This style of kitchen is eminently suitable for large kitchen rooms, though it is also a very simple style to emulate in a smaller kitchen too. It is also a style which invites family dining and entertaining, so if you are looking to encourage your family to eat together or like inviting guests around frequently, this is one of the top styles to choose.

Materials

If you are able to perform the work, fitting “faux” beams or exposing woodwork is ideal to create an authentic look. You are not looking for smooth or glossy finishes here, but rather you are looking for a lived in, well-used appearance. This does not belie the functionality of this style of kitchen: practicality is highly desired and they are typically very easy to clean and maintain. They are also highly functional when it comes to food preparation; plenty of work surfaces and storage space which uses the wood worked cabinetry and drawers to best effect.

For a really Gallic feel, use iron pans and skillets hanging from the wall or ceiling together with wrought iron wine racks. Complement these with terracotta or earthenware bowls, jugs and storage containers to add some finishing touches. The French style kitchen does not need to cost the earth, because you can source many items in thrift stores to provide that aged appearance you are looking for.

CabinetStore.com offers discount kitchen cabinets in many styles, including French and Shaker. In bulk orders, they also offer wholesale cabinets.

Modern living is a general theme but never ceases to impress if done with a little inspiration. Everything in this kitchen is digital and brand new though, so don’t attempt to go this route if you’d need to make use of payment plans in order to acquire the latest gadgets. Here you want shining silver finishes and digital timers set against polished black tile. Your kitchen will need to remain absolutely spotless at all times, naturally, and a polished pinewood floor is desirable over linoleum.

Though beautiful, the contemporary kitchen isn’t the only route to style this year. One can go with more personal themes and play with lighting to create effects so complex and enchanting that they’ll leave an even greater impact on guests. Black tiles set against slightly mauve, lacquered cupboard finishes and a white counter top can be dramatically enhanced by the right overhead lighting. Provided that you have good quality kitchen appliances and a compact, but elegant, island cooker hood – you can pull off something soft and unique.

If you’re looking more for the soft family feel then gentle earthy colours and wooden finishes wherever you can apply them is the way forward. Don’t try to have everything in one colour or even the same wood. You’ll most likely want your floor to be made from Hardwood which is both aesthetically pleasing and incredibly durable. In terms of flooring your primary options are Cherry, Oak, Maple or Rosewood.

For cupboards you’re looking more towards the Softwoods such as Cedar, which is not only durable but also give a kitchen a sweet scent. Pine is ever popular, especially if you want to have custom items made up to your specifications. Finally, Redwood is an excellent style choice for your earthy kitchen due to the beautiful colours it displays with almost any kind of finish. Regardless of whether your kitchen is going to be contemporary, urban or earthy you can forget about gas appliances and even kitchen appliances in general until you pick a direction.

Once you do though, get ready for the most wonderful shopping spree of your life!

Jason Acar is a professional writer who has written on a wide range of subjects from kitchen appliances like free standing stoves to travelling the world solo. He also has a passion for writing helpful articles for people working in their respective industries.

The sample principle was adapted by architects and incorporated into the most labor-intensive room in the house, the kitchen. The concept of a kitchen work triangle sets ideal spaces between the refrigerator, the food preparation area (including the sink) and the stove.

For instance, it’s not surprising that the refrigerator is the most used appliance in the home kitchen. Everyone goes there, often several times a day. Consequently most work triangles start with the right placement of the refrigerator in the kitchen. What’s more, placing the refrigerator next to the food cupboard congregates storage, which makes food preparation more efficient.

Once the refrigerator is properly placed, it’s time to build the other two sides of the kitchen triangle, the food preparation area and the cooking space.

The next logical step after getting food from storage is to wash it, peel it, or otherwise prepare it for cooking or eating. Placing the sink and adjacent worktops opposite the refrigerator makes it possible to collect food, make a 180-degree turn, and commence food preparation easily. Remember your geometry; the total area of a triangle is 180 degrees.

The final leg of the kitchen work triangle is the cooking space. Depending on where one lives, there may be public health and safety guidelines that dictate where stoves or built-in cookers may be installed. Typically they are kept away from both windows and doors to reduce the risk of fire hazards. In many cases, the refrigerator and cooking space might be positioned side by side, serving as two points of the triangle.

The kitchen triangle is only the start of a well-designed kitchen, however. Once the triangle is in place, the kitchen design should specify distinct work areas to prevent cross-contamination of foods. In general, there should be separate areas to work on meats and poultry and another area for vegetables, as in a restaurant.

Some kitchen designers recommend organizing the kitchen around these spaces: cold and dry food storage area, preparation and food washing area, mixing and cooking area, and serving area.

Storage space includes cold storage such as refrigerator and freezer, as well as other cupboard storage solutions or even a pantry closet for dry storage. The food preparation area should have a good worktop, a sink, measuring equipment, mixer, space for utensils, good task lighting and outlets for small electrical appliances. The cooking area needs appliances including a stove or a built-in cooktop, an oven, a microwave, storage space for pots and pans, a spice cupboard or rack, trivets or other safe places to set down hot pans, and a fire extinguisher. The latter is especially important because statistics show that 80 percent of household fires start in the kitchen.

Finally, the serving area should be closest to the kitchen table or dining room, so that everyone can enjoy a delicious meal while it’s hot!

Photo courtesy of Stacy M. Bass

Choosing the right kitchen is a blend of a number of considerations.

First, you will need a kitchen unit choice that fits the space available in the room.  If you have an open plan kitchen, then your choices are going to be different from someone who only has a small amount of space to work with.

Secondly, it is good to work in an element of fashion into your new kitchen choice that will appeal to future buyers, as well as your own taste.  This is a somewhat tricky thing to gauge – a kitchen unit that is all the vogue this year will not necessarily be so plush in five years time.

However, trends that have lasted a few years are a pretty safe bet.  The recent trend has been for marble or granite worktops, for their durability and classy design.

This decade has seen a burst of individuality in kitchen design choices, and has arguably seen some of the most exotic kitchens make their way into design magazines.  There is no reason you should shy away from this trend – you do want to put your own stamp on your kitchen’s design – but if you are serious about re-sale in the future then think about individualizing things which are easily changed.  This could be accessories in the kitchen, or wall paint.

Choosing bizarre kitchen units may turn away potential buyers who know they will have to rip them out if they buy your home, so should generally be avoided unless you know you are going to stay in your home for a long, long time.

When it comes to color, you are now spoilt for choice.  High street suppliers will only have a range of basic colors, but kitchen specialists have literally hundreds.

Once again the advice to think about future resale should come to mind before you plump for the luminous yellow, but our homes are also meant to be lived in, so choose a bold color that makes you happy to be in your kitchen.

Do you have any top tips?  Tell us about them here!

About the author:

Claire Jarrett recommends SPM Granite for granite worktops and quartz worktops

Today modern manufacturing techniques have come up with dozens of fabulous options in worktops suitable for the kitchen space. There are still classic materials such as granite, natural stone and ceramic, but there are also new kinds of laminates, glass, stainless steel and even concrete.

Laminate:

This type of countertop is made of a base of composite fiberboard or chipboard topped with a melamine layer. Laminates are the least expensive type of worktops, both in terms of cost-per-foot and installation. Many homeowners experienced in kitchen projects can install laminate, provided they remember to use a template tool to properly install sections for the corners. Laminates resist impacts and require little maintenance; wiping with a damp cloth is often sufficient. The major drawback to laminates is its susceptibility to heat.

Natural Stone:

After laminates, natural stone worktops are the next most popular material. This class includes softer rocks such as soapstone and limestone, followed by the progressively harder tops of slated, marble, granite and quartz. None of these countertops should be installed by a do-it-yourselfer.

Soapstone has been much underrated as a finish for countertops. It’s now possible to buy matching sinks in soapstone, which gives a very contemporary, unified look to a kitchen. Soapstone resists heat (but it’s not heat proof) and stains can be removed by rubbing. Soapstone’s cousin in softness, limestone, will need sealing because it’s the most porous of kitchen countertops. The tradeoff is limestone’s natural weathered look, favored by those who want to give their homes a natural feel.

Slate is one of those materials that people either love or hate. It’s tough and durable, resists heat, doesn’t absorb stains easily, and has its own unique look. Next to slate, marble is a harder countertop, but it will absorb stains or burns and requires sealing to resist these hazards.

The hardest and most durable countertop materials are granite and quartz. Granite maintains its current popularity by being durable and scratch-and-heat-resistant. However it will absorb stains so it needs to be sealed. Quartz countertops offer the most robust qualities. They resist stains, scratches and other hazards, but are not heat-resistant. As might be expected, quartz countertops are the most expensive.

Solid Wood:

Worktops made from wood are either a type of hardwood such as Maple “butcher block” or Cherry, Teak or Walnut. Any wood product needs regular oiling and periodic sealing to preserve its surface. Over time, wood countertops will gain “character” from dents and cut marks.

Tile:

Tile countertops are enjoying resurgence these days thanks to their variety of textures and colors. Countertops may be made of mosaic tiles, ceramic tiles, glass tiles or other materials. Discuss the durability of each kind of tile product with your supplier.

Stainless Steel:

Contemporary designers today have made stainless steel worktops a must for their metallic shine and professional look. Stainless steel countertops usually are laid on top of a wood base, such as cabinets to strengthen them and insulate against metallic echoes. Like sinks, stainless steel countertops could scratch and dent, but they resist heat and stains.

Old houses are just that — old. There is no way around it. They are built well, but they are still old. Therefore, there is always something in the structure that gets so old, it wears out and needs replacing. Unfortunately, those expenses are usually things like the toilet or the roof which must be done but don’t necessarily equate with home decorating.

To me, home remodeling or decorating should be something that makes the house look good and the owner feel good. Plumbing and roofing are, of course, necessary but not fun like reinventing the look and feel of your home. And, they always seem to need to be done immediately and with a big punch to the pocketbook.

During the 19 years that I spent trying to lovingly update my dear old house over and over again; one of the easiest ways that I have found to update a room without spending much money is investing in two very inexpensive items: a few cans of paint and area rugs.

Good paint is relative inexpensive and so are good area rugs. Why pair paint and rugs? The best reason is because they are the perfect combination!

Paint transforms the area and makes it look new and area rugs can tie the old and new design elements in the room together instead of opting for new wood flooring or tile flooring. A designer friend shared this trick with me and I have discovered that it works every time. Another wonderful thing a colorful area rug will do for your room is draw the eye away from parts of the room that might still be in need of some remodeling or redecorating. Years before I painted my unsightly kitchen cabinets, an interior designer told me to invest in a colorful rug that would draw the eye from the cabinets to the floor. Try it. It works.

My most recent remodeling adventure entailed totally transforming my kitchen by painting the old, ugly pine cabinets a beautiful Huntington beige color. The design challenge: How to tie in the 81 square feet of off-white and royal blue counter tops, the blue and burgundy window treatments and my new beige cabinets? And, keep the total project expense under about $200.

Enter a beautiful new area rug. I found a blue, burgundy and beige floral rug that exquisitely pulls together the blue tile and blue and burgundy window coverings with the new beige color of the cabinets.

Modern rugs make old rooms feel new, and my new rug did just that while also tying together my old colors (tile and window treatments) and my new colors (cabinets).

Not only do I now have a new kitchen but for less than $150, I have one with a timeless look that will last. Good paint! Great rug! Works every time.

Furniture Swap

If your kitchen has an eat-in seating area, you have the perfect spot for creating a coffee house inspired nook.  Swap out the large and cumbersome wooden table that does not quite fit in the room and bring in a smaller, metal table that fits better in the space.  Practically, the table will need to accommodate the number of people who usually dine there at one time, so be sure that the table that you choose has enough seating area for everyone.  While it may be tempting to purchase the matching chairs to accompany the table, think about the look of your favorite coffee shop.  In most cases, the chairs are much more comfortable than traditional seating.  Instead of the hard metal chairs that match the table, choose comfortable, padded chairs that match the room’s decor.  You will find that the comfortable seating makes all the difference when enjoying your cup of coffee at home.

The Importance of Painting

The next time that you are at your favorite local coffee shop, take a good look at the color of their walls.  Many shops use shades of browns and creams to match their products and give a sense of peace and calmness to the room.  You can carry those same colors into your kitchen’s new decor by painting the walls accordingly.  If there is a lot of light in your kitchen, darker shades of brown can be used more generously than if there is little natural light.  A soft, cream color is just as good to use on the walls, because it will help brighten up the space while coordinating with darker colors and black coffee wall art that you may choose to hang on the wall.

Accessories

No kitchen decor is complete without accessories.  Choose pieces that are decidedly coffee house in theme without looking gaudy or garish.  While it is okay to add a few pieces that focus on a coffee theme, you could opt instead to keep the coffee house feel more sophisticated.  For example, iron outdoor wall decor is a great wall accessory that will bring a bistro feel to the kitchen.  It is bold and earthy in design, which helps capture the natural feel of an authentic sidewalk bistro.

When the space is decorated and ready to go, do not forget to invest in a great coffee maker, colorful mugs, and some of your favorite coffee beans and biscotti to complete the experience.

Here’s some more information from Gschwendtner:

The Drawer Kitchen is a functional kitchen island that has a very sculptural, abstract and deconstructivist appearance, almost like an ‘exploded’ storage unit. The unit looks dynamic when not in use, but become even more dramatic when the drawers are being pulled out.

It’s a modern shower with the elegance of a tub – a hard-to-come-by combination that makes this really cool shower by Glass Idromassaggio something to be experienced. The designers of these showers have found the perfect balance between luxury, health and well-being. The Beyond is a shower that embraces a contemporary lifestyle with an equally contemporary look. Designed for corner installation, the Pietraluce shower tray strays from the traditional square shape with its modern, softly rounded edges and finished in matte black or white, with an enclosure of eight-millimeter clear tempered glass. A wall-mounted monolith block can be finished in a variety of different materials to suite your style and surroundings. To learn more about these cool showers, visit Glass Idromassaggio.

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