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kitchen counter tops

kitchen-design-trends-2017

The kitchen is the heart of the home and whether you are a gourmet or not, you want your kitchen to look stunning! If a kitchen renovation is on your to-do list, take note of the hot kitchen design trends for 2017.

Grey in the Kitchen:

Although white is still a top choice for homeowners, grey is a close (very close 2nd).  We started seeing this trend about 3 years ago in the trade shows but now the grey kitchen cabinet is much more mainstream. If you are a bit hesitant, opt for a soft and warm grey tone for the kitchen cabinets. It’s still timeless and neutral but it’s a great alternative to white.

Farmhouse kitchen sink:

Also known as an apron sink.  This sink style has been around for a long time but it has really gained popularity with the whole revival of the ‘farmhouse look’ trend.  This style of sink comes in all sizes and configurations (single bowl, double bowl…) but it comes in other colours and materials.  Plus you don’t have to necessarily have the farmhouse look in your kitchen – you can have a clean contemporary style or an industrial style kitchen – it is a very transitional sink.

Tuxedo kitchen:

We are seeing a lot of tuxedo kitchens in 2017.  Not familiar with this term? A tuxedo kitchen is a kitchen with dark lower cabinets and kitchen island cabinets (in a black like a tuxedo but we are seeing lots of variations like navy, dark stained wood and charcoal grey) and white upper cabinets.  This adds some visual interest to a kitchen and in our opinion looks best in larger kitchens. 

Bold Kitchen Light Fixtures:

Statement lighting is everywhere and we mean in every room in the house and the kitchen is no exception.  We are seeing lots of larger and more interesting light fixtures in the kitchen – over the island, the eat-in area and in the kitchen itself.  There are so many styles of lighting – so there is something for everyone! Get creative with colour, size and shape – we love this classic lantern pendant in pink and gold – so unique!

Mixing kitchen counter tops:

We are seeing clients get more and more adventurous when it comes to making selections in the kitchen.  It can be tough to narrow down your selections – so don’t! Opt to have 2 different counter tops in your kitchen – 2 different stones, a stone one and concrete one, a stone and wood one….the combinations are endless.  This is a great way to really make your personality shine in your kitchen!

Navy in the kitchen:

Navy in the kitchen right now is where grey was about 3-4 years ago – just emerging – but we are seeing it more and more in magazines and TV shows, so it is only a matter of time until the navy kitchen is the new grey kitchen! We love it mixed with brass or gold hardware (which is also starting to catch on).  A navy kitchen looks incredible with just a simple shaker style door – because the colour is so deep and rich you really don’t need a lot of detail. 

Interesting Kitchen Backsplash:

For a while it was all about the glass tile mosaic back splash and then more recently the subway tile but now we are seeing all different shapes and colours – even patterned tiles! We are definitely seeing people take more ‘risks’ this year when it comes to tile.  Whether it is a herringbone layout, a hexagon shape or a pattern tile – back splashes are a lot more interesting this year! (We are seeing this trend in bathrooms, too)

What do you think of these kitchen design trends ?

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granite-counter-tops

Today our granite counter tops arrived!

As I mentioned in my previous blog posting, I am living in a renovation zone but things have picked up and starting to really come together.
 
This afternoon our granite counter tops (kitchen and bathroom) were installed and I cannot get over the difference! We had laminate counter tops in both rooms, the kitchen counter top was a solid grey which was probably not the best choice as it does not hide stains very well and every scratch is seen from a mile away; the bathroom counter top was a laminate but in aqua, white and peach speckled design. My husband and I were looking for a more modern look but we also love the natural look of granite and stone.

Looking for granite Counter tops….

 
We went to a few granite showrooms but everything we saw was quite typical, since our cabinetry was so plain we really wanted something special! We actually went to a granite supplier and had the opportunity to peruse their slabs and select ours directly from their supply. We found the perfect counter tops for our home and now that they are in the transformation is truly incredible.

Granite Counter tops made a huge difference….

What difference can a counter top really make? In our case we selected a slab of granite that was lighter in colour from the original laminate and now our open concept kitchen look enormous. Our stone back splash really stands out and the stainless steel accents add some sparkle. The whole kitchen comes together and is a true show stopper! The bathroom renovation was a complete overhaul (bye bye Barbie bathroom) but my husband was really worried about how the white wall tiles, grey floor tiles and blue glass accent tile would all come together – the biano antico’ granite counter top was the key element for bringing all the pieces together.
 

When it comes to selecting your kitchen counter tops there are no right or wrong

choice but here are some tips:

 

1 – Colour –

 
Typically you want to choose a counter top that on the opposite side of the colour wheel from your cabinets, for example a dark espresso stain looks best with a lighter counter top but if you are selecting from granite you have some flexibility because granite has some many colours and fishers that you can choose from a variety of cabinet colours. But light can absolutely work with light but I always like something to ground the room so it could be the floors, paint or backsplash.

2 – Stay away from a single colour laminate.

 
A solid coloured laminate counter top does not stand the test of time very well, stains and scratches are nearly impossible to hide with this type of counter top. If granite is too pricey, keep in mind that there are many laminate options that look (and can feel) like a granite counter top.

3 – Looking for something different?

 
Try exotic granite or other natural stone such as marble or soapstone or even more cutting edge – concrete. With the increased popularity of granite certain colours are seen more frequently but there is a lot to choose from, so look around at other options.
 

Here are the after photos of my bathroom and kitchen :-

I can’t get over how different the house looks with these new counter tops!
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