National surveys have found the kitchen is the most popular room in the home to renovate. That certainly has been the case for homeowners in Denver, Colorado. Given that the home’s role has changed significantly in the last nine months, homeowners in the Denver Metro area are using their homes and kitchens more than ever before and for multiple purposes. We understand the need and desire to upgrade to serve your new wants and dreams.
Many homeowners in Colorado gravitate to classic materials. They want their new dream kitchen to look and function as good as it does the day it is delivered far into the future. We help homeowners in (insert name of service territory) make timeless product and design choices that will provide tremendous functionality and aesthetic beauty for many years to come.
Start with Cabinets
First rule – don’t be pennywise and dollar foolish. Cabinets are one of the most significant investments you make in a new kitchen. To help ensure your new kitchen’s long-term performance, select styles that won’t have to change, be painted or upgraded for years. White cabinets remain the most popular choice, selected in about half of all kitchen renovations. If you are looking for something a little different, we often will recommend linen colors versus white. The style of the home and the look and feel you want to achieve also influence cabinet selection. More traditional motifs gravitate to framed cabinets stained in walnut or cherry.
More modern or contemporary designs opt for flat panel cabinets in white, gray and lighter shades of blue and green. When it comes to cabinet selection, you truly do get what you pay for, so invest wisely if you want performance and longevity from your investment.
Similar to cabinets, countertops also should be selected for the long term. Quartz has replaced granite as the most popular countertop material because of its strength and nearly maintenance-free qualities. Marble and granite are timeless materials; however, they need to be resealed regularly while quartz does not.
Lighting can make or break how your kitchen looks, feels and functions. Lighting is equally as important as cabinets and countertops. You can buy a functional $70 faucet in a home center, but most likely, that faucet will not add much to the kitchen’s beauty. A similar analogy holds true for lighting. Simply placing flush-mounted or recessed fixtures in the center of your kitchen ceiling can provide functional light, but that type of lighting may do little to beautify the space, create a mood or evoke favorable emotional responses. Effective lighting illuminates a space in layers using different components and strategies to paint the final picture. That involves layering fixtures, sconces, pendants, undercabinet and in-drawer lighting, and using lamps that complement other materials in the kitchen.
Backsplashes are another element where homeowners should select color schemes and materials that can withstand the test of time. White subway tile has been a standard-bearer for some time. We often suggest larger tiles or different orientations such as vertical or chevron patterns for customers who want a twist on that look. You can also use different grout colors to make a distinctive design statement with subway tile.
Fads and trends come and go.
Many homeowners in the Denver Metro area can remember when avocado-colored kitchens were all the rage or when pastel paint dominated design thinking. While it is tempting to look at what’s trending when renovating your kitchen or bath, our showroom advises selecting products, styles, and color schemes that can withstand the test of time.
White Cabinets & Clean Lines
There’s a good reason why more than 50% of kitchen renovations feature white cabinets. White cabinets offer a blank canvas for the remainder of the kitchen. They provide a classic, clean look and match any design motif from European modern to traditional and everything in between. White kitchens are timeless; their reflective qualities can make a smaller space appear larger, and, due to their popular appeal, they help increase the value of your home at sale time.
Contemporary Kitchens
Clean lines are another feature that can withstand the test of time. A contemporary kitchen offers a clean, stylish and uncluttered look and feel. Contemporary motifs pay homage to practicality because they focus on maximizing the use of available space and light, and that also can make a smaller space appear larger. When we design a contemporary kitchen, almost all appliances, even smaller ones such as coffee makers, are built into cabinetry. Countertops are left uncluttered, and many homeowners in Denver Colorado appreciate the fact that contemporary kitchens are easy to clean.
Organized Kitchens
A well-designed kitchen is an organized kitchen. The lack of customized storage solutions is one of the most common regrets of homeowners in Colorado after renovating their kitchen. We cannot emphasize enough the need to develop a storage plan for your new kitchen that addresses how often you cook, entertain, hold gatherings and use the space. A great kitchen must not only look out of this world, but it also must incorporate the best functionality that meets your needs.
An almost endless array of options is available to store cookware, food, utensils, countertop appliances, recycling containers, and so on. A professional kitchen designer can custom design trays to exact specifications that account for your kitchen equipment’s actual dimensions. Specifying trays for drawers to hold cutlery and kitchen gadgets to match the drawer helps avoid movement and keeps what you want in its place.
Customized storage solutions are not confined to a kitchen to make a home look, feel and function superbly. Bathrooms, laundry rooms, mudrooms, and entryways all can make a home much more enjoyable if they are outfitted with storage solutions that meet your family’s needs and lifestyle.
Homeowners in Denver often ask us about colors. While splashes of purple, turquoise, yellow, or green can become a focal point in kitchens and baths, we tend to favor palates that can withstand the test of time. In addition to white, these include blue, grey, and cream tones. You can always add pops of color with small appliances, decor and window coverings.
What elements of your dream kitchen need to withstand the test of time? Give us a call and we can help you select the products and designs that result in a timeless kitchen.
