7 gorgeous kitchens with design ideas you should steal
Bring your favorite design elements into your new kitchen
Credit:
Maria Killam
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Americans, on average, spend only about 37 minutes a day on meal prep and cleanup. So, why does it feel like we’re always in the kitchen? Well, besides cooking, the kitchen is also the family’s center for homework, casual entertaining, and everyday life. You want it to be beautiful, comfortable, and a pleasure to work in.
Whether you’re planning a minor facelift or a major reno, there’s a lot to consider when you’re updating a kitchen. Before you commit to anything, make a plan, and decide what you want for the end result. If it’s not your forever home, go for a classic kitchen to maximize potential resale value. Either way, be careful not to be too trendy. You don't want your amazing kitchen to look dated in five years.
1. Layered lighting for every part of the kitchen
The designer has done an excellent job of layering the lighting in this kitchen. Three pendants illuminate the island, and recessed lights provide ambient light. Under-cabinet lighting makes it easy to see what you're prepping on the counter.
Kitchens need lighting that addresses everything you do in the space. Layer your lighting, with task lighting—usually pendants–over the island or table, and ambient lighting—often recessed—for general illumination.
It’s important to have under-cabinet lighting as well, to illuminate the counters. And the most desirable light of all is natural light streaming in through a window over the sink.
2. Classic (and sometimes, colorful) cabinetry
If you're going to do a two-toned "tuxedo" kitchen, put the darker color on the lower cabinets or island for balance. For a cohesive look, make sure to use the darker color elsewhere in the kitchen.
All kitchens need storage space, so cabinets are a must. White Shaker-style cabinetry is classic. Some of the today's most stylish kitchens have open shelving. Homeowners are also embracing the two-toned or tuxedo kitchen, with black or dark blue on the bases. If you’re using a different color on the lower cabinet, repeat that color elsewhere in the space, to give your kitchen a designer look.
3. Counters that are good-looking and low maintenance
A quartz countertop is a good choice for your kitchen. It's durable, and easy to maintain. This counter is reminiscent of marble.
Your kitchen needs a practical, attractive workspace. Gone are the days when busy granites dominated every kitchen. Now, quartz is king, according to the National Kitchen & Bath Association's 2018 Design Trends Study. It's good for the kitchen because it's durable and low maintenance.
Natural stone counters in marble and quartzite are available at the luxury end of the spectrum. If you're going for natural stone, good news! There are now lifetime sealers, so you don’t have to worry about sealing the counter every year.
4. Simple subway tile for the backsplash
Subway tile doesn't have to be white. In this kitchen, the green tones in the tile reflect the color of the leaves outside the kitchen window. Topiaries on either side of the sink extend the color.
White subway tile is timeless. You can choose a subway tile in a different color, or stick with white and use a dark gray grout to create an interesting contrast.
5. Warm wood on the floor
Wood flooring is the most popular for kitchens. Light brown is the most versatile color, but make sure the floor you pick coordinates with the hardwoods you have in other rooms.
Hardwood floors add warmth to black and white kitchens. Also popular, and easier to clean: tile that resembles wood plank.
6. Updated metals for hardware and fixtures
Black gooseneck faucets give any kitchen an updated look. If you're purchasing black stainless steel appliances, a matte black faucet will work beautifully.
Matte black faucets are a thing, especially with farmhouse sinks in contemporary kitchens. You shouldn’t have all black hardware, though, since it can look harsh. For your cabinet knobs and drawer pulls, go modern with gold, or stick with the safer choice, polished nickel. Your vent hood could look incredible in copper.
7. Neutral wall color
The most popular kitchen wall color is gray. You can choose any color you like, though make sure it complements the cabinets and the counters.
The most popular kitchen wall color is gray. Paint is easy to change if you tire of it, but start with a neutral. If even gray is too much color for you, you can paint the kitchen white, if you make sure the white you pick for the walls coordinates well with the white you pick for the cabinets.
Make it yours
Regardless of the design you ultimately choose for your kitchen, personalization is the most important trend. Be sure to focus on your own needs, so you can create a new kitchen that works for everything you do there.
