Kitchen Renovation Triggers and Trends
Remodeling Trends in Denver are following suit with the rest of the country with an emphasis on versatility, individuality, and personal style.
As more and more homeowners in Denver Colorado continue to work from home, they realize that their home is not working for them as well as they would like or need. As your family spends more time at home, the kitchen has taken on a more prominent role as a multifunctional space.
We’ve received numerous calls from homeowners in Colorado are interested in updating what currently exists. Certain elements of a dream kitchen should be at the top of everyone’s priority list regardless of space and budget. At the top of the list should be a combination of beauty, aesthetics and superb functionality. You should smile every time you cross the threshold, and every time you use your kitchen to prepare meals, eat, help with homework, chat with friends and neighbors or simply spend a few minutes for yourself.
The key priorities for any new kitchen should include:
- Adequate storage
- The right light
- Appliances that cater to the families’ desires and lifestyle
- Proper ventilation
- Island or peninsula
- Everything else, including the kitchen sink
A superbly designed kitchen is an organized kitchen. There is a direct connection between storage capabilities and functionality. That’s why when we design a new kitchen, we ask homeowners in Denver Colorado to inventory everything that they currently store in their kitchen, curate duplicative items and identify items they use rarely as opposed to those that are employed daily. Knowing the utensils, dishes, small appliances, glassware, cooking accessories and other items you use in your kitchen enables a kitchen designer to develop a customized storage solution for your unique needs and desires.
Lighting can make or break how your kitchen looks, feels and functions. Effective lighting illuminates a space in layers using different components and strategies to paint the final picture. Layers of light contribute not only to the functionality of the kitchen but also to its design and beauty. A savvy kitchen designer knows how to employ ambient, task and accent lights to enhance a new kitchen’s beauty and functionality.
Appliance selection should match your lifestyle. For homeowners in the Denver Metro area who like to cook, the cooktop and oven are the two most used and hardest working appliances. Make those two appliances priorities. Stainless steel appliances were preferred by almost 75% of homeowners. White appliances were a distant second according to the Houzz survey.
Range hoods serve two valuable roles. Functionally, they remove smoke, grease and odors from the kitchen. Aesthetically, they can provide a focal point that sets the tone for the entire space.
Islands or peninsulas are requested by 99% of homeowners in Denver and for good reason. Islands provide extra countertop space and storage. Islands can double as dining tables, homework desks or a place for an additional sink, cooktop or dishwasher.
Sinks and sink areas are often an afterthought or minimize their importance. Too often the choice of the sink is left to the countertop fabricator that often agrees to provide a sink at “no charge.” Typically, the fabricator’s selection is the least expensive option available. Why would you want to put a $25 sink into a $50,000 kitchen? Plus, doing so misses multiple opportunities to enhance the functionality of your sink area. Today, manufacturers offer workstations that convert the sink into another space to prepare meals. These workstations include colanders, cutting boards, drying racks, bowls and other meal prep tools and utensils.
The most popular countertop materials are granite and quartz, followed by butcher block or wood slab while the most popular flooring materials are hardwood and ceramic or porcelain tile. Now, windows and doors are being replaced in more than a quarter of renovated kitchens.
White cabinets are selected most often, followed by light, medium and then dark wood cabinets. Blue cabinets have become very popular in 2020 as well. Many of our clients are opting for built-in organizers that help to maximize the space. The most popular built-in, according to Houzz, it a pullout trash or recycling cabinet followed by cookie sheet organizers and Lazy Susans.
SECOND KITCHENS
Blend Multiple Generations Under One Roof
Having a second kitchen area for aging parents or grown children is something to think about for your next remodel particularly considering pandemic shutdowns that could be in our future. Check with your real estate agent for ideas on what kind of a return on your investment this can bring.
Having home designs that are multi-generational and accessible is a current trend.
It is expected that by 2022, design features including zero-step entries and showers, widened door and hallways, multi-level cabinets and non-slip flooring will be commonplace in the average home. These features will be very important for people who choose to “age in place”, preferring to remain at home rather than move to a nursing facility, as well as for families that blend multiple generations under one roof.
BUILT IN APPLIANCES
This award-winning kitchen above shows a built-in stainless steel cappuccino maker and microwave integrated into this semi-custom kitchen design from Crystal Cabinets.
SELECTING STYLING YOU’LL LOVE TODAY… AND TOMORROW
Today’s styling trends favor “less is more” aesthetics, emphasizing clean lines and simpler moldings with carefully selected accents offering personalization. Common ways to accomplish this style include:
Flat-panel, Shaker-style door, such as Homecrest’s Sedona or Dover.
Popular granite countertops partnered with butcher block, stainless steel and other surfaces in a variety of thicknesses, each selected for a specific task
Backsplashes comprised of glossy ceramic, porcelain or glass tile in either subtle or bold color combinations – sometimes even a combination of both.
Natural flooring materials such as ceramic, stone, hardwood and cork, along with reclaimed and distressed wood finishes in wider, hand scraped planks. Colors range from gray and charcoal to bone and espresso.
Almost 90% of those renovating their kitchen relied on professional assistance for their kitchen renovation. If you need more functionality from your home, please give us a call at (303) 300-4400 Denver or (303) 688-8279 Castle Rock or visit one of our two kitchen and bath showrooms. We have the recipe to not only help you realize your dreams for the most important room in your home but also to assist in helping you live a healthier and happier lifestyle.
