Save Money With a Look-Alike
Countertops continue to define the style of a kitchen — but they do not have to be a budget-buster. This granite look alike from Wilsonart is really laminate but unlike preceding laminate countertops features a realistic, bigger rock pattern and curved edge for a high-end granite look at a fraction of the price.
Gray is the New White
Wondering what colour to paint your cabinets? The leading manufacturers of the kitchen industry say that while white cupboards continue to be tops, gray is the shade they're betting on to break white's top area. This kitchen with richly stained wood showcasing still another kitchen trend — mixing cupboard colours by Wellborn couple soft gray cupboards is a fashionable look that is holding strong.
Contemporary Combo
Architectors and designers chose the finishes in this open kitchen to organize with the existing tile floor. The Poggenpohl cabinetry in Curit (a warm reddish brown), Titan Gray and Light Yellow makes a cozy combination. Plus, using level-front wood veneer cabinets such as these along with a traditional wood-board table gives a contemporary vibe to this midcentury home.
Add In Automation
The kitchen of the future is here today. From sensor-activated lights that illuminate the kitchen only when it's in use when dinner is done to meat thermometers that alarm your smartphone, kitchen technology is here to make your life easier. If you are new to automation, a superb opening product is a hands free faucet, like this one by Moen. Perfect for homes with little children who can't yet achieve any kitchen or the handle where busy cooks often have sticky hands.
Classic Black and White Palette
As styles evolve the appearance may change, but the appeal of a black and white kitchen never dies. It's all around high contrast — this layout from IKEA juxtaposes white lacquer cabinets (from IKEA's LIDINGÖ line) and Absolute Black granite countertops, but nonetheless, it also gains from the tension between state and modern. Warm rustic hardwood floorings are an effective counterpoint to slick cabinet materials.
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Choose Bold Fixtures
Bold color isn't the only way to create excitement. Kitchen designers used these outsize light fixtures with black cloth colors from Tech Lighting to add some wow: "They Are about 2 feet in diameter and are marginally bigger than you'd expect for the space," she says. "But they give a great sense of depth perception and create drama in a room with a typical low ceiling." The luxury cabinets are Poggenpohl's Marsh Oak Veneer with a rich near-black blot.
Marry the Kitchen to Your Home's Style
"Gone are the times when kitchens were just kitchens — now they are so pretty they could be any room of the house, says designer Jo Ann Alston of her French Normandy-style design. Jo Ann incorporated the appliances for mixed light fixtures with different styles and finishes and a seamless look to provide the look of having been acquired over time rather than bought all at once. The mixed grey and brownish tones in the Chinese slate and oak flooring complement the Jerusalem gold limestone countertop in the isle, offering a rich appearance that never strays far from a neutral color midpoint.
Mix Countertop Materials
In case you're in the market for a fashion-forward laminate, granite, quartz and countertop are your only options. Wood countertops are coming on strong. This kitchen by EnGrain and cool Calacatta marble for the best of both worlds combine the warmth of wood.
