YOUR DREAM KITCHEN IS ONLY A FEW DESIGN RULES AWAY
From cabinets to countertops to paint colours, ensure you get full value in this most expensive of all home renovations
Welcome to Week 7 of my mission to fix the 10 most common decorating mistakes. Last week I ended your nightmares by dealing with the bedroom’s focal point — the headboard. This week, we tackle the kitchen, usually the most expensive of all home renovations. Here are my answers to questions about kitchen design and style, and my top tips for giving your renovation a designer finish.
FIVE IMPORTANT STYLE QUESTIONS
Kitchen cabinets are like furniture — they’d just be boxes attached to the walls if not for their doors and drawer fronts, which really sets the room’s style. Here are the top five questions on how to choose this style-setting feature.
Q: Do I choose my cabinets or countertops first?
A: Always choose the cabinet style and then the finish. Follow that with appliances, countertops and the backsplash; in that order.
Q: Do I match the backsplash to the countertops or the flooring ?
A: The backsplash should be a similar colour and tone to the cabinets to tie the upper elements to the lower elements. For instance, if cabinets are white, then a white marble or tile works well; if cabinets are cherry wood, then a ruddy slate would be appropriate.
Q: Should the countertops match the cabinetry?
A: Countertops are influenced by the colour of appliances, and function to visually connect these elements and create continuity for the eye. So if your appliances are white, choose a countertop that’s white or uses white as a background colour. For stainless-steel appliances, go for a grey or beige background. Black appliances mean you need dark toned countertops.
Q: Are stainless-steel appliances a fading trend?
A: Stainless steel, white and black appliances are all go-to standards. Stainless steel became popular about 25 years ago and has proven to be a great option for kitchen appliances and helps give an industrial-chic look to a kitchen.
Q: Can I have wood floors in my kitchen?
A: It depends on your lifestyle. Wood floors are a wonderful option in quieter households — light cooking, no children or pets — especially when they are continuous from hallways or adjoining rooms. If you have a busy kitchen and like the look of wood, consider vinyl, laminate or ceramic wood look-alikes — you’ll find some very realistic looking options.
DESIGNER TIPS
Decide if you are a dull or shiny type person when it comes to countertops. Do you like the light reflection or glare in the mornings? If not, you may want to consider a matte-finished countertop (often referred to as leather, sanded or suede), which creates a softer look overall.
Looking for a paint colour for your kitchen walls? I always recommend looking to the opposite on the colour wheel, in order to show off the cabinet colours
rather than overshadow them. For instance, if room elements are in warm, golden wood tones, then a stony purple paint colour would work. If you have white cabinets, then perhaps a shade of grey. Orangey-toned cherry wood? Then blue.
Want to make your small kitchen look larger? Choose countertops, backsplash and paint similar in colour to your cabinets. The monochromatic colour scheme creates continuity in the space without visual distractions to interrupt flow.
Considering an island? You need a minimum 36 to 40 inches clearance on all sides. The island base and countertops should visually stand out from other cabinets and countertops, so it looks like a separate piece of furniture. Having all the cabinets the same can be too much of a good thing and can cheapen the overall look of your new kitchen; while a well-designed island elevates the room.
To make your open-concept kitchen feel less utilitarian and as important as adjoining living areas, hide your fridge and dishwasher behind appliance fronts that match the cabinetry.
Think inside the box — as in the cabinetry box. Plan — and spend a little extra — for drawer inserts, extra shelves and lazy-Susan style corners for better storage and organization.
COOKING UP SOME COSTS
A total kitchen renovation should cost about 10 per cent of your home’s value.
Keep your spending in good company: Custom wood cabinets deserve high-end appliances and stone counters.
Budget breakdown on materials: Cabinets, 50 per cent; appliances, 20 per cent; countertops and backsplash, 10 per cent; hardware and lighting, 10 per cent; incidental, 10 per cent. Plus labour. Next week we’ll set our sights on incorporating the often despised but must-have television into our decor scheme. Do you have a design dilemma? Email me at: klohnesdecor@sympatico.ca Karl Lohnes has worked as a home decor expert and product designer for 25 years. He often appears Thursday during the 8 a.m. hour on Global News Morning Montreal.