Contemporary Cabinets: Modernize Your Kitchen in 10 steps
Why is it such a big deal to be "modern"? What value do modern kitchen cabinets or other contemporary updates add to your home, especially when you've always enjoyed your traditional décor? You may like a traditional kitchen, and there's nothing wrong with that - as long as "traditional" doesn't translate as "outdated".
It's one of the first rooms potential buyers look at - and where you likely spend much of your time, as a gathering place for your family, a place to bring your favorite recipes to life, or simply a place to eat them. Modernizing the look of your kitchen will undoubtedly increase resale value - or make you love it enough to want to stay in your home for years to come!
Modernize your kitchen in 10 steps:
1. Update the Cabinetry - Custom cabinets are the focal point of every kitchen and the first room potential buyers usually want to see. Regardless of the other changes you make, the cabinets are the framework of the kitchen and custom cabinetry can literally change the personality of the room.
Three modern cabinetry options have been highlighted recently in this blog: aluminum kitchen cabinets, bamboo kitchen cabinets, and zebra wood kitchen cabinets. Each will lend its own appeal to an updated, modern kitchen - aluminum for a contemporary European look, bamboo for an exotic look and feel, and zebra for an expensive, updated look.
2. Kick up the Color - The traditional pre-sale procedure is to blast everything in neutrals so a buyer will not be turned off by your personal taste and will feel the freedom to put his or her own personality into the home. Neutral paints are still popular, but there's something to be said for showing potential buyers the home's potential with a little pop - try an accent wall in a bold, eye-catching color. Avoid wallpaper in the kitchen - steamy meals will loosen the glue, yellow and curl it quickly, making it look older than it is.
If you want to try something different, turn your kitchen into a trendy café, using chalk board spray paint to create a chalkboard on an empty wall - enclose it with fancy moldings for a polished appearance, and write "today's menu" in fancy scroll.
3. Frame it - Put up wood trim and cornicing for an upgraded, contemporary look. Accentuate newly painted walls with ceiling trim and armchair railing. Replace old hardware, light switches and outlets - these updates give the impression that the kitchen and home have newer electrical wiring.
4. Dress up the Floors - Kitchens should have a clean feel, so replace any flooring that is buckling or cracking. Laminate floors give kitchens a more modern look than vinyl tile or ceramic squares, and are an easy, do it yourself option. If you have an old floor mat in front of the sink, replace with a new one in a bright accent color. Look for rugs made with natural materials to fit the theme of an edible kitchen.
5. Give it a Natural Feel - Install granite, slate, marble or natural stone countertops. Earthy and green looks are modern, and new countertops made of natural materials will give your kitchen functional depth and make any cook feel like a professional. If these aren't in your budget, consider resurfacing your existing countertops with a catalyzed epoxy to give it a new texture.
6. Replace the sink - Such a simple thing, but a feature any visitor will scrutinize. If you have a shallow, single basin sink, replace it with a two-basin, stainless steel sink that will immediately improve kitchen value, in terms of resale or functionality for your family cook.
7. Lighten Up - Remember to enhance the lighting scheme with contemporary fixtures and high wattage bulbs - even at night, the kitchen should have a light, airy feel.
8. Update faucets - Like updated light switches and outlets imply updated wiring, so to do updated sink fixtures give the impression of newer plumbing. Sometimes it's the little things that impact buyers the most. If it's in your budget, take it further and invest in new, energy efficient appliances.
9. Stage It - When you've made all your updates, throw on the finishing touches with modern accessories. Candles (always unscented for the kitchen so they don't conflict with the great smells coming from the oven), canisters and healthy plants or herbs, and even rugs, are easy ways to renew the energy of the room. Highlight your beautiful custom cabinets with bowls of fresh fruit and shiny small appliances, even if you don't use them on a daily basis (like a new blender or bread maker).
10. Not just a modern concept - Updated custom cabinetry, fresh paint and new, energy-efficient appliances are obvious places to start. They are certainly the first things potential buyers look for modern convenience and styling will notice. But if you want to make your kitchen more inviting to buyers or even your own family, give them a place to gather, whether it's an island or breakfast bar and cozy stools. Places to sit and linger while you are cooking make for the best kitchen living, no matter what century you are decorating for.
Crossroads Custom Cabinetry redefines the U.S. cabinet industry by making premium quality, custom cabinets widely available at greatly reduced prices. Crossroads' team of professionals are dedicated to empowering the home improvement consumer community with superior products at factory direct prices. Webinetry.com is a completely new channel ushering in a new era for the way today's American consumer can research, preview, budget, and finalize their cabinet purchasing decisions online.