As summer is coming to an end, you begin to realize that your summer renovation and home improvement projects haven’t been finished or haven’t even been started. No need to worry, these quick and easy tips will make it seem as if you spent your whole summer remodeling.
When it comes to a quick kitchen spruce up, I’m not looking to start replacing or painting cabinetry. The easiest way to make your kitchen look brand new is to start with the details. Updating details like hardware, lighting, accessories and your paint job will surely give your kitchen a face lift, while saving a buck!
1. Let’s see what you have to work with. Take a look at the elements of the space that can’t change. Typically these would be your countertops, cabinetry and appliances. See if you can notice a theme or design style that is already there. Look for details in the shapes and colors of your space. Since we are not going to be changing these elements, we need to make everything work as cohesively as possible. Do you have knotted, rustic cabinets; reminiscent of an old world villa? Do you have sleek modern countertops with a bold color screaming contemporary bistro? The bones of your kitchen are there, it’s up to you to decide what to dress it up with.
2. A great place to start once you’ve figured out the identity of your space is with lighting. Updating a ceiling fan with warm tones, accenting an island with sleek pendant lighting or creating a dramatic look with a chandelier will bring not only light into your home, but life as well. Lighting is a key way to establish different spaces within one room. Highlight a dark corner with a tabletop light to bring your eye there. New and updated lighting will give the illusion of a bigger and brighter space.
3. As cliché as it may sound, hardware really is the jewelry of your kitchen. Now, this does not mean that your cabinets are going to bling. The Jackie O kitchen would have knobs and handles in a soft muted tone and design, accenting the rest of the space. Alternatively, the Lady GaGa will sparkle and bring your eye to details like swarovski knobs and gold handles. This spectrum is large with plenty of room in between. Click here “Measuring Existing Cabinet Handles” for one of our previous blogs on replacing pre-existing cabinet hardware. A new finish and a new design is just the thing to add when updating a space from old to new.
4. It is time to accessorize! Now, we all know this is the fun part. Grab your treasures, and put them out for display. Accessorizing in your kitchen is the perfect way to tie to your entire room together through detail. Add ceramic roosters to really bring out the French country in your space. Update curtains and curtain rods to tie in the finishes from the rest of your space. Take your standard boring white plastic switchplates and throw them out. Exchange them for new switchplates to accent your backsplash or match your hardware. Leave out decorative bowls and platters than attract warm memories and conversations. Add towel bars to accent stylish kitchen towels. This is where you can get as creative as you want, so have fun!
Remember, although the summer is coming to an end – it isn’t over yet. Have fun, decorate, and remember….. The beauty is in the details.
