Latest Trends in Kitchen Design

by Romy LeClaire Loran

If you crave affordable luxury, update your kitchen with one of these kitchen remodeling ideas.

Infuse Your Kitchen Makeover with Color and Texture
Soothing colors and texture from nature are in for 2009. Soft browns, tans, and cool blues and greens imbue tranquility. So can clearing clutter. If you add some paint to the walls and display a lone fruit bowl or plant, you may achieve a new, calming look. For countertops, granite or less-expensive laminate with the look of granite have become popular, as has the use of wood and stone.

Go Green with Your Kitchen Ideas
Demand continues to rise for eco-friendly products. A glass-recycled countertop could become your focal point. Some manufacturers create countertops from recycled paper and sustainable wood pulp. Bamboo or linoleum flooring, VOC paints, and appliances with an energy-star rating can also raise your kitchen's value, and pay off over time. As you brainstorm your remodeling ideas, know that storages areas for recycling are becoming part of the new, eco-friendly standard.

Go Modern with Your Kitchen
The sleek modern style of the fifties and sixties is back, replaced with cooler colors and natural elements. For lighting, choose simple designs, like track lighting. Today's customers prefer less fussy kitchen cabinets with darker wood or colors. If you can't afford new kitchen cabinets, update your look with slightly larger, less ornate knobs. Replacing a kitchen faucet with chrome or stainless steel can add a modern feel without breaking the bank. And, don't forget your seating. Updated stools or covers can add thoughtful, inexpensive flair.

Don't Be Afraid to Mix and Match your Kitchen Ideas
Whether your kitchen makeover includes just a splash of color and a new faucet or a complete redo, kitchens have become a hub of activity for many families. Families and friends visit, mingle, surf the Web, do homework, and watch television in what used to be a place of labor. As you mix your labor with love, mix and match what works for you.

Sources:
Ballinger, Barbara. "What's Cooking in the Kitchen." Realtor Magazine. June 1, 2007.
Jackson, Sarah. "Cool's the Coolest Colors for 2009 Decorating." HeraldNet. Nov 13, 2008.
Miloti, Stephan. "Room to Improve." The New York Times. March 6 2008.
Vermeulen, Denise. "Counter Distinction. Product Trend." Kitchen and Bath Design News. Cygnus Business Media. November 2008.

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