Kitchen Design Trends
Kitchen Design for Women
In the US, most of the time it’s the women that do all of the cooking in a kitchen, so doesn’t it make sense for her to also design it and decorate it how she wants?! Of course it does! One thing people need to consider when it comes to designing kitchens is that it’s all about the plan beforehand. If you just go in there ripping up floors and painting whatever walls whatever colors, chances are it’s not going to result in the beautiful kitchen you really want and have always dreamed of. It’s also smart to get some ideas before making any final changes, so you can make sure that you are choosing something you will love for years to come. In order to check out some ideas, it’s a great idea to start reading blogs just like this one to give you some ideas along the way.
Functional Kitchens
Anyone that loves cooking will tell you that a kitchen is about more than just the right colors and the right style; it’s about functionality. You want room to move around freely without bumping into stuff. You want lots of storage so you have a literal place for everything. You also want lots of counter space so you don’t have to worry about placing hot spots on the counter and it bubbling up, you want to make cakes, pies, cookies and even pasta on the counters. You also would love to have double deep basins, with chrome faucets and the works - including one of those cool spouts near the back of the stove that streams out hot water, perfect for pasta. You probably also want a floor that can be used for hours on end without creating aches and pains in your feet, knees and back. If this sounds something like the kitchen you want, you have to think in a detailed manner about all the things you want the kitchen to be, not just how you want the kitchen to look! Cooks and Chef's don't go into a kitchen because it looks good; they go in there and enjoy cooking for the features, the products and the accessories. The paint on the walls and the decor is just an added plus along the way!
Sink or Swim!
Sinks are such an important part of a kitchen, especially if you love to cook. Personally, I have lived in many homes and apartments over the years from the time I was a kid and my mom started letting me cook in the kitchen. So I am very well aware of what I don't want and do want in a kitchen as far as sinks, in my adulthood. What I don’t want: I don't want those crappy thin stainless steel sinks - if they even are stainless steel, they are so thin, and they probably aren’t even real. I don't want a single basin sink or worse - a double basin with two too small tubs. I definitely don’t want a cheap sprayer that breaks every 1 year on the dot like clockwork! If this sounds like your wants and dislikes too, then it’s time to consider investing in a quality sink with quality parts. I really love the farmhouse basins. These are quite deep and large. And I have found a lot of brands where you get your money's worth. When it comes to home remodeling trends you want to stay on a budget, sure, but there are some things you just can’t skimp out on, and the kitchen is a big factor for most people.
Kitchen Flooring
Depending on your budget, you can find flooring that not only looks good, but it feels good on your feet, knees and back. Some considerations to think about are; Cork ($4 to $14 per square foot), Linoleum ($5 to $10 per square foot), Rubber ($6 to $12 per square foot), Vinyl ($2 to $10 per square foot). Cork is a newer product, but it’s just like those wooden corks you take out of wine bottles. This is a very special product because it’s very green-friendly. One thing to think about when it comes to cork flooring though is that it’s not good in places where water might be spilled. So this might not be the perfect option for the entire kitchen flooring, but instead special locations where you will be standing or cutting a lot - like by the counters. Linoleum has been used for over 50+ years, but these days there are a lot more options to choose from in terms of colors and styles. This isn’t your mother’s linoleum, that’s for sure. Rubber, almost like the same material they have been putting in playgrounds as of late is usually made from recycled rubber tires. Again, very green and very comfortable and it comes in all colors. Vinyl is very similar to linoleum. If nothing else - you don’t like these options are they are not in your price range, you can also find an "in the meantime" flooring such as memory foam mats. These come in all sorts of shapes and colors and they conform to your feet, which makes less pain in your feet, knees and back and they are very cheap! In fact, I found some in Walmart; they were rectangular in shape for $16 each.
Functional Kitchens
Anyone that loves cooking will tell you that a kitchen is about more than just the right colors and the right style; it’s about functionality. You want room to move around freely without bumping into stuff. You want lots of storage so you have a literal place for everything. You also want lots of counter space so you don’t have to worry about placing hot spots on the counter and it bubbling up, you want to make cakes, pies, cookies and even pasta on the counters. You also would love to have double deep basins, with chrome faucets and the works - including one of those cool spouts near the back of the stove that streams out hot water, perfect for pasta. You probably also want a floor that can be used for hours on end without creating aches and pains in your feet, knees and back. If this sounds something like the kitchen you want, you have to think in a detailed manner about all the things you want the kitchen to be, not just how you want the kitchen to look! Cooks and Chef's don't go into a kitchen because it looks good; they go in there and enjoy cooking for the features, the products and the accessories. The paint on the walls and the decor is just an added plus along the way!
Sink or Swim!
Sinks are such an important part of a kitchen, especially if you love to cook. Personally, I have lived in many homes and apartments over the years from the time I was a kid and my mom started letting me cook in the kitchen. So I am very well aware of what I don't want and do want in a kitchen as far as sinks, in my adulthood. What I don’t want: I don't want those crappy thin stainless steel sinks - if they even are stainless steel, they are so thin, and they probably aren’t even real. I don't want a single basin sink or worse - a double basin with two too small tubs. I definitely don’t want a cheap sprayer that breaks every 1 year on the dot like clockwork! If this sounds like your wants and dislikes too, then it’s time to consider investing in a quality sink with quality parts. I really love the farmhouse basins. These are quite deep and large. And I have found a lot of brands where you get your money's worth. When it comes to home remodeling trends you want to stay on a budget, sure, but there are some things you just can’t skimp out on, and the kitchen is a big factor for most people.
Kitchen Flooring
Depending on your budget, you can find flooring that not only looks good, but it feels good on your feet, knees and back. Some considerations to think about are; Cork ($4 to $14 per square foot), Linoleum ($5 to $10 per square foot), Rubber ($6 to $12 per square foot), Vinyl ($2 to $10 per square foot). Cork is a newer product, but it’s just like those wooden corks you take out of wine bottles. This is a very special product because it’s very green-friendly. One thing to think about when it comes to cork flooring though is that it’s not good in places where water might be spilled. So this might not be the perfect option for the entire kitchen flooring, but instead special locations where you will be standing or cutting a lot - like by the counters. Linoleum has been used for over 50+ years, but these days there are a lot more options to choose from in terms of colors and styles. This isn’t your mother’s linoleum, that’s for sure. Rubber, almost like the same material they have been putting in playgrounds as of late is usually made from recycled rubber tires. Again, very green and very comfortable and it comes in all colors. Vinyl is very similar to linoleum. If nothing else - you don’t like these options are they are not in your price range, you can also find an "in the meantime" flooring such as memory foam mats. These come in all sorts of shapes and colors and they conform to your feet, which makes less pain in your feet, knees and back and they are very cheap! In fact, I found some in Walmart; they were rectangular in shape for $16 each.