| The kitchen has evolved from the builder grade | | | | look at your fancy cabinets!" You want them to say, |
| cabinets and plastic laminate countertops to a modern | | | | "wow, look at your amazing kitchen!" You want them |
| showplace with commercial grade appliances and | | | | to notice everything. If you have kids and pets, |
| exotic stone countertops. The days of the extreme | | | | consider a stained wood cabinet rather than a painted |
| 'over-the-top' kitchen remodel may be gone, but that | | | | cabinet. Generally they will end up looking better for a |
| still doesn't change the fact that the kitchen is one of | | | | longer period of time, and they are easier to touch up |
| the hardest working rooms in the home. Choosing | | | | when they get nicked. If you are consider a faux or |
| durable yet attractive finishes is still important, but it | | | | decorative finish, keep in mind that when you are |
| shouldn't break the bank. Here are some tips on | | | | looking at a sample painted on one door, you'll generally |
| choosing materials for your kitchen, including how to | | | | want it to look less distressed than you think it should |
| get a high end look without spending a ton of money. | | | | look rather than over distressed. When you install all |
| Selecting Countertop Materials | | | | the kitchen doors, it can look very 'over done' if you go |
| There are many countertop materials to choose from, | | | | too heavy handed on faux or decorative finishes. |
| many people simply just don't know where to start. | | | | Selecting Flooring |
| There is also a huge price range even within one | | | | Often the first thing I consider when choosing flooring is |
| material (such as stone). For an affordable option | | | | matching an adjacent flooring material in another room |
| consider plastic laminate. There are some sophisticated | | | | or space. If there are wood floors in adjacent rooms, a |
| patterns and colors available now that when paired | | | | good solution can be to extend the wood into the |
| with a tile backsplash and designer paint colors can | | | | kitchen. This is especially true in a smaller space, |
| look very good together. There are also new edge | | | | where continuing the same flooring material will usually |
| details that eliminate seams that can get damaged. | | | | make a space look larger. If you do not want wood |
| For middle-of-the road budgets look into solid surface | | | | floors in the kitchen, then consider a tile that is a similar |
| materials such as Corian. These materials have | | | | color value to the adjacent wood floor, so the |
| evolved well beyond the basic white, and are now | | | | transition is not harsh and it does not separate the |
| available in patterns that look more like stone. A big | | | | space. A resilient material like cork can be an excellent |
| benefit of solid surface countertops is the ability to | | | | choice for the kitchen as it is slightly soft underfoot and |
| integrate a sink into the countertop. So wiping water | | | | is more forgiving if you drop a dish on it. Natural |
| into the sink and cleaning up is easier. | | | | materials like Marmoleum are also great and a good |
| Another newer countertop option is Quartz. Quartz | | | | 'green' choice. |
| countertops turn quartz into slabs that appear almost | | | | How to Select Backsplash Materials |
| stone like. One of the many benefits of these | | | | For some reason the backsplash is often the most |
| countertops is that they do not absorb liquids spilt on | | | | difficult material choice for people to make. But the |
| the surface. | | | | backsplash is one area that can have a amazing visual |
| Natural stone counters are also a popular choice and a | | | | impact and help tie the design together. If you're having |
| visit to your local stone yard will show you that there | | | | trouble choosing a material, look to the other surfaces |
| are literally hundreds of choices. To help you find a | | | | in the kitchen for inspiration. In a more modern kitchen, |
| suitable stone faster, ask for help looking for stone | | | | choosing a stainless steel backsplash that matches |
| only within a certain price range and/or color range. | | | | your stainless steel appliances can be a wise decision. |
| When you find a stone you like try to take a sample | | | | For a less expensive choice, look at plastic laminates |
| home and see how it holds up to spilled wine, ketchup, | | | | that look like stainless steel that can even be installed |
| mustard and oils. Beware of stones with a lot of fillers. | | | | by yourself (but resist the temptation to use these on |
| Fillers are a sign of lower quality stone and can get | | | | countertops as many are not rated for horizontal |
| damaged more easily and even fall out. | | | | surface use). Glass tile can be another good choice to |
| Other new choices are countertops made with | | | | tie together different color materials. There are so |
| concrete, glass and paper. Many of these are fine for | | | | many choices in glass tiles available today it can be |
| kitchen use, but some will not be durable enough over | | | | challenging to pick one. A safe place to start is by |
| time. If you are using a material that is not time tested | | | | choosing a glass tile that pulls colors from your |
| inspect an installation that has been in use for some | | | | countertop. Other material you may consider are |
| time.. | | | | sheets of glass, plastic laminate, stone tile, ceramic tile, |
| Selecting Cabinet Materials | | | | or even wood (painted or sealed, of course). |
| One tip when choosing cabinets is to look at the | | | | While choosing materials for the kitchen can be |
| interior door style in your house (the doors to each | | | | challenging, just take it one step at a time and you'll get |
| room, such as a bedroom). Many times choosing a | | | | there. Start with the countertop and cabinet finish. |
| coordinating cabinet door style to match the interior | | | | Once you have those chosen, select a flooring |
| doors within the house is an easy and safe way to | | | | material. Then choose your backsplash and paint |
| ensure that the new kitchen design looks good. Don't | | | | colors. This process will help you get everything |
| make the mistake of selecting an very fancy door | | | | chosen more quickly, so you can get through the |
| style unless your house warrants it. You don't want | | | | construction a little sooner, and then to enjoying your |
| your friends to come into your kitchen and say, "wow, | | | | new kitchen. |