Tag: kitchen

3 steps to make your kitchen stand out in 2022

3 steps to make your kitchen stand out

When you’re looking to make improvements to help enhance your kitchen, it’s important to think about both aesthetic and practical changes. Adding curb appeal to the kitchen, and making it a more appealing and sociable room of the home is one of the best things you can do to make your home a more enjoyable place to spend time.

There are plenty of elements that you should consider when you are looking to improve the kitchen, and, if you get the process right, you could completely transform your home in the process. Making your kitchen stand out comes with plenty of benefits; enhancing space, colour and efficiency are some of the key points on which to focus. Hear are just a few of the things you could do to ensure that your kitchen stands out this year.

Go green

There’s a more conscious movement these days from home-owners to make their properties greener and more environmentally friendly. If you want to achieve an eco-friendly kitchen remodel, consider investing in sustainable materials as well as going for things like greener lighting options. It’s also important to get into the habit of conserving energy and reducing bills by keeping as many appliances switched off as possible when they’re not in use. In addition, setting up an efficient recycling and food waste system to help improve the kitchen is something we all should be doing. You could start with something as simple as a food waste caddy next to the sink or on a work surface.

Improve the aesthetics

Boosting your kitchen’s aesthetics is something that can make a massive difference to the home and the way it comes across. There are so many ideas that you can use to help you achieve this, and changing the counter-tops is a great place to start. For instance, a silestone worktop, which is made of 6% resin and 94% quartz minerals, is great looking, durable and will enhance your kitchen. You can also improve the aesthetic by opting for hardwood floors, updating cabinet hardware as well as changing the colour scheme throughout the kitchen.

Change the colour scheme

Speaking of the colour scheme, this can have a massive impact on your kitchen and the rest of the home. More modern designs typically use darker shades and look to avoid bright colours. However, using pops of colour, or bright, vibrant patterns can completely transform your property, as well as making the kitchen stand out and come across as more bright and airy. Changing the colour scheme in the kitchen can make a huge difference to the way in which the room comes across, and it can add plenty of aesthetic appeal in the process.

There are a lot of options you could consider when looking at the best ways of updating your kitchen and making it stand out from the rest. It could make a huge difference to the way you use the space and could increase the value of your home. These are some of the key things you have to keep in mind to make your kitchen stand out in 2022.

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Smart tips for an eco-friendly kitchen remodelling

Smart tips for an eco-friendly kitchen remodelling

Having an eco-friendly or green kitchen comes with benefits. Not only does it require minimal maintenance, but it also increases efficiency and reduces operational costs. You also enjoy improved air quality in your kitchen, as you avoid using toxic chemicals.

A 2021 research revealed that 70% of UK homebuyers want their home to be environmentally-friendly. Creating a green kitchen can increase your home’s value should you ever decide to sell it. Would you like to embark on an eco-friendly kitchen remodel? If your answer is yes, here’s how to achieve it.

Work with an eco-friendly contractor

The first step is to hire a contractor to handle your remodelling project. Although you could opt for conventional contractors, you’d have to brief them constantly regarding your environmental preferences – which could be time-consuming and tedious. It’s far more efficient to consult professionals with an eco-friendly background, as they’re already knowledgeable about the most sustainable materials and designs available. Moreover, they can provide the necessary tools, equipment and skilled sub-contractors to complete your project successfully.

When choosing your contractor, you want to look into their portfolio of past projects to determine whether they can deliver on your dream kitchen. Likewise, ensure that they are licensed, insured and have the needed certifications. If you want to confirm their credibility, read their available online reviews on third-party sites for a more objective, independent analysis.

Invest in sustainable materials

Irrespective of how eco-friendly your kitchen design is, you could entirely defeat the purpose if you use the wrong materials. Therefore, it’s essential to invest in sustainable materials for the best results. For instance, certain timbers are natural and renewable, making it perfect for your kitchen cabinetry. Moreover, they can be repaired and repainted, unlike vinyl and laminate. You could also make use formaldehyde-free plywood and bamboo to reap the same benefits.

For your kitchen counter-tops, you could invest in Sintered stone countertops and recycled glass as they are attractive, durable and can withstand hours of cooking and cutting. In addition, you want to avoid paints with high volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and utilise eco-friendly options with ingredients such as clay, balsam, milk proteins and citrus.

Leverage energy-efficient lighting

Lighting plays an important role in your kitchen’s functionality and aesthetic appeal. For instance, directional lighting should be the primary light source in your kitchen and will set the tone for your kitchen while helping you with your cooking and other tasks. Additionally, accent lighting highlights the most beautiful features in your kitchen, while your task lighting offers extra visibility. It’s prudent to make use of energy-efficient lighting options to help you use less energy and decrease your utility bills. You’ll find it helpful to replace your incandescent bulbs with LED and CFL options. You could increase natural lighting by using bright colours, reflective surfaces and polished floors. You could also install skylights for the optimum results.

Consider your water consumption

Another eco-aware activity to consider is water consumption. For instance, you could replace your traditional taps with low-flow options to help prevent water waste. You may also want to install an energy-efficient dishwasher as they require less water for washing and rinsing your plates. If you don’t have a large household, you could opt for a slimline dishwasher to further enhance sustainability.

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Get their look: Country farmhouse kitchen

 

 
 
 
 
 
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A post shared by Laid Back Farmhouse (@laid_back_farmhouse)

Nat Woods is the owner of the Laid Back Farmhouse located in Petersfield in Hampshire. Her country farmhouse kitchen is everything you’d expect from such a space.

Here you’ll see a ceramic Belfast sink, Aga range cooker, glass-fronted cupboard, oodles of antique stoneware pots, jugs and bowls and rustic wooden chopping boards. Everything in the kitchen is a calming cream colourway; the Smeg fridge-freezer (and the exact one that we have in our kitchen!), the cabinetry and that aforementioned Aga.

Get their look

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Wooden kitchen utensil set
Wooden kitchen utensil set
Coconut fibre dish washing tool
Coconut fibre dish washing tool
Single bowl ceramic Belfast sink
Single bowl ceramic Belfast sink
Antique stoneware confit pot
Antique stoneware confit pot
Smeg 50s style FAB30L freestanding 70/30 fridge freezer, left-hand hinge, cream
Smeg 50s style FAB30L freestanding 70/30 fridge freezer, left-hand hinge, cream
Antique stoneware cheese mould
Antique stoneware cheese mould
Wooden Dish Brush with Knob
Wooden Dish Brush with Knob
Wooden kitchen utensil set
Wooden kitchen utensil set
Coconut fibre dish washing tool
Coconut fibre dish washing tool
Single bowl ceramic Belfast sink
Single bowl ceramic Belfast sink
Antique stoneware confit pot
Antique stoneware confit pot
Smeg 50s style FAB30L freestanding 70/30 fridge freezer, left-hand hinge, cream
Smeg 50s style FAB30L freestanding 70/30 fridge freezer, left-hand hinge, cream
Antique stoneware cheese mould
Antique stoneware cheese mould
Wooden Dish Brush with Knob
Wooden Dish Brush with Knob

5 different ways to update your kitchen

5 different ways to update your kitchen

The kitchen is the centre and the heart of every home; this is the very reason kitchen improvements have such a massive impact on property value. But beyond that, because the kitchen is an area of your home where you’ll probably spend quite a lot of time, it’s worthwhile investing in improvements even if you aren’t planning on selling.

It’s no secret that a modern, functional kitchen can be life-enhancing. Below, we’ve listed five different ways to update your kitchen for appeal and functionality.

Invest in counter stools

If your kitchen has an island, it’s worth enhancing the function by adding some counter stools. These stools will turn your kitchen island into a practical breakfast bar. Woven counter stools also have a modern look, which will tie in perfectly with a contemporary interior.

Add a coffee bar

If you’re a self-confessed coffee lover, there’s no good reason why you shouldn’t add a coffee bar to your kitchen design. All you will need is a coffee maker of your choice, a selection of coffee beans and some mugs. There are tons of ways to design a compact coffee bar; however, for a modern interior, minimal is best. Opt for a coffee machine that can do it all, so you don’t have to clutter the space with an additional French press and other extras.

Invest in modern appliances

The appliances in your kitchen determine the overall functionality of the space. And a functional kitchen requires several different appliances. Saying that, modern appliances are energy efficient, and they have far more functions than older models by default. In addition, modern appliances can also have a sleek look. So, by updating the appliances in your kitchen, you’ll instantly elevate the look of the interior.

Replace the lighting

Lighting impacts a lot more than we realise. Insufficient lighting can make a small kitchen seem even smaller. Beyond that, poor lighting is also not good when working with knives and kitchen appliances.

Illuminating your kitchen with the right kind of lights will enhance the space. In addition, you can use lighting fixtures as a striking décor statement. For example, chrome pendant lighting can instantly add a modernist feel to the room.

Refresh the cabinets

While replacing the cabinets is enough to give your kitchen an instant makeover, if you don’t have the budget for this, you can refresh your cabinets. You could repaint them, replace the handles and knobs or varnish and stain them.

If you have funds left in your kitchen remodel budget, you could consider replacing the tiling and adding a modern splash-back. That said, it’s also essential to keep your kitchen organised.

Investing in kitchen remodel projects is an excellent way to dramatically boost property value. What’s more, if you’re giving your kitchen a makeover on a budget, it’s best to focus on one kitchen update project at a time and remodel your kitchen over a more extended period. This way, you could save for the next project and opt for the materials and finish that you really want, instead of having to settle for cheaper options to suit your spending limits.

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