Remodeling a kitchen can be a significant endeavor that costs anywhere from $10,000 to over $500,000. When undertaking such an ambitious undertaking, design choices and luxury touches must align with your overall goals for the space.
This Irvine kitchen renovation involved the removal of two partial walls to create an open layout, facilitating easier staff interaction and better communication between team members.
1. Open Layout
Kitchens serve multiple functions; not only are they used to prepare meals, but they are often where family and friends congregate to socialize, and children use them to do homework. To ensure everyone can utilize this multifunctional space effectively, designing an open layout that facilitates free flow between different areas is vital.
Galley kitchens, featuring cabinets and appliances located along two adjacent walls, are popular among studio apartments due to their easy navigation but can limit how many cooks can share the space simultaneously.
U-shaped kitchens provide an effective alternative to galley designs. While similar, this style features one side opened up for more effortless movement between sink, fridge, and stove – plus offering extra prep space and storage capacity with its countertop or island workspaces.
2. Natural Light
Lighting up your kitchen naturally is one of the best ways to brighten it, whether that means installing windows, skylights, or light tunnels – or if space doesn’t permit, even narrow windows tucked between upper cabinets or shelves may work well – as it allows sunlight into your room during the day and can help set off circadian rhythms more harmoniously.
The kitchen is an essential space that serves as the hub of any home, blending living and dining areas into one cohesive whole. By adopting California’s Modern design principles, this space can be bold and delicate at once; modern finishes contrast beautifully with natural materials to highlight these classic elements, such as a dark green island paired with a white dining table for an elegant yet cozy aesthetic.
3. Stainless Steel Appliances
The kitchen is one of the most multifaceted spaces in any house. It serves as an area to prepare food, socialize with family members, and entertain guests. When planning home design projects, kitchen design must consider this space.
Stainless steel appliances add a sleek aesthetic to a contemporary kitchen, are durable and easy to keep clean, plus come in multiple finishes for even greater customization.
Though alternatives to stainless steel have emerged, none have captured the public’s imagination, like its timeless material. That doesn’t mean it can’t be combined with other elements for more traditional or transitional looks; for example, this Huntington Beach kitchen incorporates stainless steel appliances with a patterned floor runner and wood accents for an eye-catching blend that perfectly marries trendy with handmade.
4. Quartz Countertops
Quartz counters are constructed using natural stone combined with chemical resins and pigments to produce almost endless color and design options, from intricate patterns that resemble marble or granite to sparkles and veining. Their non-porous surface resists bacteria while remaining stain, heat scorch, and mold proof – making quartz a fantastic kitchen material.
These counters boast a luxurious luster that’s hard to match, significantly improving the flat laminate surfaces often used in kitchens. Their luxurious feel gives this kitchen an elegant aesthetic that would make any homeowner proud to host friends or family in their space! This kitchen combines classic with contemporary styles for an enduring manner.
5. Custom Cabinetry
Custom cabinetry can have a dramatic impact on the aesthetics of a room. There are plenty of ways a kitchen remodeler can add intrigue and fresh touches like these:
Mixing door and drawer styles is one way to give old cabinets new life. In this California kitchen from Greenworks, denim gray custom cabinets with gold highlights add a distinctive charm that gives this kitchen its contemporary vibe.
Display cabinets can provide a practical storage solution for tableware and decorative objects. Emil Dervish designed this kitchen to showcase this idea with elegance:
When selecting a designer to work with, always ask for references from past clients, as this will indicate how well they interact with others and whether or not their designs meet your approval. Also, be sure to read reviews on KitchensRated before making your decision.
6. Tile Backsplash
Backsplashes offer the chance to express your individuality through colors or patterns that draw the eye and practical solutions in kitchens with frequent splashes and spills. Landed Interiors & Homes created this Nantucket-inspired kitchen design by employing classic red brick veneer as part of its historic atmosphere and complementing white oak counters with white oak panels for an eye-catching appearance.
Subway tile is a timeless staple in the kitchen, while patterned versions add visual interest and create an eye-catching space. Laura Brophy Interiors created this French-inspired kitchen utilizing glossy Zellige clay tiles, setting an elegant ambiance and allowing natural light into this sleek space.
For an understated backsplash, choose matte finishes such as concrete or travertine for its unobtrusive neutral colors and easy pairing with various materials and hues, like this Laguna Niguel kitchen from Old Brand New with its earthy brown backsplash.
7. Bar Stools
Kitchens are one of the most significant areas in any home. This space is the hub of daily activity – cooking, eating, entertaining, and connecting with family and friends. So, choosing furniture that reflects your style and meets your needs for this vital space is paramount.
Installing new bar stools is a quick and straightforward way to refresh the look of your entire kitchen design. A range of styles is available so you’re sure to find something suitable.
Stools featuring nailhead accents will add a touch of sophistication and pair nicely with other metal hardware, such as the vent hood and pendant lights in this kitchen.
8. Pull-Out Shelves
The kitchen is one of the most essential rooms in any home, serving as the gathering spot for friends and family to gather to eat, drink, and connect. Therefore, designing an efficient space that is reflective of your lifestyle while meeting all of your needs is of vital importance.
Pull-out shelves (also referred to as slide-out shelving, roll-out shelves, and sliding pantry shelves) are an easy and convenient way to increase storage in your kitchen. Fitting snugly inside cabinet shelves, these space savers divide them up into multiple layers for easy organization of pantry contents – helping you quickly locate items in those hard-to-reach corners!
In this Laguna Niguel kitchen redesign project by FORM, an open and connected workspace was fashioned. When privacy is needed, an electric screen can be deployed to partition off parts of the kitchen for increased protection.
9. Pendant Lighting
Pendant lights are suspended from the ceiling using a cord or chain and come in numerous styles. Some pendants offer general illumination while others direct bright beams at specific work areas like kitchen islands or dining tables; dimmable bulbs allow homeowners to customize the light according to their needs or moods.
Morris notes that her clients want an ageless aesthetic in their decor, so she suggests opting for a neutral color scheme that won’t date in five years or less. Furthermore, she recommends forgoing trendy elements like Moroccan-style tile backsplashes, opting for one neutral hue that works well with various countertop and cabinet colors so your kitchen will remain accessible to update as time goes on.
10. IKEA Software
If you haven’t used IKEA’s Home Planner before, it is a free program that works right in your browser. Organized into room types – Dining or Kitchen will show tables, chairs, cabinets, and lighting options that match.
Moving furniture around in three-dimensional space to create the ideal layout is made easy with 3D software that generates shopping lists for every item needed – a fantastic feature that helps visualize space while saving time with no required trips to the store! However, sometimes this software may become buggy or cause crashes, leaving you frustrated and needing help quickly.