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kitchens

home renovation, KITCHENS

5 Tricks For Helping Your Older Kitchen Fit Modern Times

5-tricks-for-helping-your-older-kitchen-fit-modern-times

The kitchen is often referred to as the heart of the home. If your space is lacking in design and function, know you are not alone. An older kitchen with outdated design is a common complaint among homeowners. Look no further to learn our top five tricks for helping your older kitchen fit in with modern times.

Thinking about doing some upgrades to sell your home in the spring market? Learn exactly how to sell your property to get top dollar and understand the importance of hiring a real estate professional to help guide your sale.

Cabinet Refresh

A commonplace that makes an older kitchen feel outdated is the cabinets. Giving your existing cabinets a refresh with a coat of paint can make your kitchen feel modern and clean. Those ultra-warm oak tones of the 90s are plaguing your space giving an outdated appeal. Instead, dive into endless color options for playful and modern design.

Consider selecting a rich tone for your lowers, and a bright and clean shade for the upper cabinets. Or go for a clean and crisp white or light gray all over for an airy look to your space.

You can either hire a professional to paint your cabinets or do it yourself to save some money. Know that if you decide to tackle the project on your own it’s best to do some research and understand that it is not a one-day job.

Metal Upgrade

Cabinet hardware and kitchen fixtures are like the jewellery to your space. These finishing touches may seem like they don’t matter, but they can make a big impact. If you’re stuck with an old outdated finish, or builder-grade cabinet pulls, give them a modern upgrade to bring your older kitchen into today’s times. 

Get creative by mixing metals (maybe consider combining edgy black with timeless brass) for added interest and a high-end design. When selecting your hardware, go for something that is beautiful, but also functional. 

Countertops Matter

A large piece of your kitchen real estate is your countertops. If yours are looking dull and outdated, consider investing in some new ones. If you can’t afford real stone countertops, think about looking into man-made stones or engineered stones. If your space is on the smaller side, you can also ask about purchasing a remanent of a slab for a lower cost. 

If these options are out of your budget, know that Formica countertops have come a long way in the last 30 years. They can give you the look you crave at a fraction of the cost.

Splash of Modern

Another way to upgrade your outdated kitchen is to install a backsplash. Selecting a fun, modern tile can make a big impact on your space. If this is too pricey for your liking, consider using a peel-and-stick version to give the look you’re after at a much more reasonable cost. 

Let There Be Light

Our final tip on updating your kitchen space is to upgrade your lighting. This can be as simple as swapping out your existing fixtures, or hiring a professional to add recessed can lighting for a bright, cheerful finish to your space. Consider adding under-cabinet lights for a moody feel in the evenings, and bright light on your countertops while cooking. Lighting can instantly make a space feel more modern.

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INTERIOR DECORATING TIPS, KITCHENS

How to Give Your Kitchen a Modern Look

how-to-give-your-kitchen-a-modern-look

The kitchen is said to be the most-used room in a home. Many of us gather there for chats, family meals, parties, and cooking, so it must be a room you like the look of and enjoy being in. If your kitchen is looking a bit tired and dated, here are some tips on how to give your kitchen a sleek, modern look. 

Paint it

Nothing cheers up and cleans up a room like a fresh lick of paint. You can paint the walls or, if you are really inspired, paint the kitchen units. The latest trend is to paint the wall cupboards a different color than the base units. Black or navy is very “now” and will give your kitchen an expensive, classy look, especially if you accessorize with gold or rose gold trinkets and utensils. If you don’t want to cast gloom on an already dark kitchen, opt for classic white paint. A white minimalist kitchen always looks clean, spacious, and modern.

Build It In

It is essential for a sleek-looking kitchen that all units are flush with the walls and with each other, and no furniture is sticking out beyond the clean lines. Opt for built-in appliances that are hidden behind doors or give them a built-in look by sealing off all spaces and gaps with gratings or panels. 

Change the Hardware

An inexpensive way to instantly update your kitchen is to replace old wooden cupboard handles with funky new ones. Hardware is available in many different colors and shapes, so look for something modern in polished chrome or even gold. If you can, create a super streamlined look by leaving your doors handleless and furnishing them with push-open fittings. A modern fridge-freezer with stainless steel trim will look like a futuristic machine as it sits snugly beside your units.

Upgrade Appliances

The design of kitchen appliances is continuously evolving. A modern kitchen needs modern devices, so rather than spending money on replacing units, invest in a quality built-in oven or free-standing modern range cooker. Stick to white or stainless steel goods as colored appliances can go out of fashion quickly. 

Accessories can make or break a look. Modern accessories will create a modern look. Clutter does not help create a sleek look, so clear all surfaces and keep worktop adornments to a minimum. Ensure you have plenty of storage in which to hide stuff away from sight. If you are lucky enough to have a walk-in larder or utility room, store small appliances and items you don’t use every day in there.

Accessorize your kitchen

Some geometric ceiling light fittings made from gold or copper wire will provide some color and interest to a monochrome kitchen. Framed abstract prints and wall art can personalize your space so that it isn’t too clinical looking.

Small kitchen appliances like kettles, toasters, and coffee machines are available in futuristic-looking designs, and they can look like works of art sitting on your kitchen worktops.

SHOP KITCHEN FAVORITES…

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HOME STAGING, KITCHENS

Green in the Kitchen

green-in-the-kitchen

We love to work with the colour green and decorating the kitchen shouldn’t be over looked.  Green in the kitchen is easy, fresh and fun! Now that spring is here – we are starting to see green everywhere…the green grass is starting to turn, the green buds on the trees and green from the plants and flowers are starting to sprout. We love that green works is so many colour combinations and with so many styles.

 

Here are some of our favourite ways to use green in the kitchen:

A tea kettle is a great way to add a splash of colour in a kitchen.  This is one of our go-to pieces when we are staging a home.

Tea towels are a great (and functional) piece in any kitchen.  We love ones with a little colour!

A set of colourful chargers add a punch to your table setting- we love these simple green ones – great for spring and summer!

Practical items for the kitchen can also be colourful and fun – these spatulas, cutting board and scrub brush add some colour to boring kitchen tasks.

                                                

 

 

Cute oven mitts in a fresh print with a splash of green add some brightness to the kitchen.  If you are working away in the kitchen you may as well look cute doing it!

Want to look like a pro in your home kitchen? Try a green chef’s coat – you won’t go unnoticed!

Spring is all about the leaves and leaves are green! This green leaf platter is a great serving piece for spring and summer events!

I love colourful mixing bowls and serving bowls!  Using my green one today to bake a lemon cake – the bright and fresh colours were amazing to look at! I also love mine because it is so easy to clean after use!

When it comes to baking and cooking we all know the importance of presentation – so why not prepare beautiful meals in beautiful stoneware? Like this French Oven or Baker

                     

You can’t go wrong with a little green in the kitchen,

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KITCHENS, OUR FAVOURITES

Our Top 10 Kitchen Islands

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The kitchen island is almost an essential part of a kitchen these days.  We see them in kitchens of all sizes and styles.  They are so practical plus we love they way they look – they offer us storage options, serving and prepping space and even a dining area.

Here are some of our favourite kitchen islands:

We love any over sized kitchen island – it is perfect for anyone who loves to cook and entertain.  This is also a beautiful piece  in this kitchen.  Look at the seating for 4 and those lantern pendants really make this island look and feel like a dining space.  The sink makes this island a great working area too. We love the storage and the serving space this island offers. This is a perfect addition to a dream kitchen!

Pot and pan drawers are a must in your kitchen island.  Look at all of this storage! This oversized island is almost a complete kitchen it’s self.  Storage for days, prep space, cooking space a sink and so much more.

Just because something serves a purpose doesn’t mean it can’t also look good! We love a pop of colour so why not add one to your kitchen? When your kitchen island is in a different stain or paint colour it really looks custom and it looks like a piece of furniture.  This island offers so much closed storage but it’s a great hang out with 2 stools at the end plus it’s just perfect for serving an prepping look at the over sized flat surface.

Looking to make a statement with your kitchen island? Think about going ‘live edge’. This live-edge walnut kitchen island counter top is a show stopper! It adds an organic element to this sleek and streamlined modern kitchen.  We love the wood grain and knots – so much character and uniqueness.

We love a butcher block kitchen island but how cute is this dog bowl feature? If you have dogs at home incorporate them into your decor and design.  These stainless steel bowls can be removed for easy cleaning but when in place they are out of the way with no risk of being knocked over and making a mess.

We love the rustic look of this farmhouse kitchen island.  The grey stain softens the look of the wood plus it works with the veining in the marble back splash.  The open shelving is very convenient when plating and we like the look of these clean, smooth white dishes (and white cabinets) with the rustic wood grain – we love the mix of textures.  This island has so much character!

We love this ‘beverage station’ in this kitchen island – it’s perfect if you love to entertain! A wine rack, ice maker and beer/soda fridge in the island is such a great idea! Easy access and it won’t take up space in your main fridge.  With it tucked away in the island it won’t take away from the beauty of your kitchen.

We don’t see this often – but we love it!  A round kitchen island : this is perfect for a smaller kitchen -the circular shape really softens up the look in a kitchen and appears to not take up as much space; a circular shape offers great flow (that’s why a circular table is often a great choice for a small space). This still has great storage a surface space.  We also love the soft tones in this kitchen – the cream, taupe and wood – timeless with a bit of a country feel.

This island has it all –  seating, storage, open shelving, surface space and a stove top.  this modern sleek look kitchen island offers so much for this kitchen design. We love the mix of black, wood and grey waterfall quartz counter top.  The pendant lighting is beautiful and we love how the hood fan is built in so it doesn’t visually block in the kitchen and obstruct the view.

Take some inspiration from this kitchen with a commercial restaurant design.  This T-shaped island is perfect for parties – so much space for prepping, serving and let your guests watch while you create! the mix of stainless steel and wood grain is a great balance of modern and organic, warm and cool.  So clean and streamlined in every way.

Which kitchen island is your favourite?

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