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Kitchen

Withstanding the Test of Time

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Fads and trends come and go. Many homeowners in Indianapolis can remember when avocado-colored kitchens were all the rage or when pastel paint dominated design thinking. While it is tempting to look at what’s trending when renovating your kitchen or bath, our showroom advises selecting products, styles, and color schemes that can withstand the test of time.

White Cabinetry

There’s a good reason why more than 50% of kitchen renovations feature white cabinets. White cabinets offer a blank canvas for the remainder of the kitchen. They provide a classic, clean look and match any design motif from European modern to traditional and everything in between. White kitchens are timeless; their reflective qualities can make a smaller space appear larger, and, due to their popular appeal, they help increase the value of your home at sale time.

Contemporary Design

Clean lines are another feature that can withstand the test of time. A contemporary kitchen offers a clean, stylish, and uncluttered look and feel. Contemporary motifs pay homage to practicality because they focus on maximizing the use of available space and light, and that also can make a smaller space appear larger. When we design a contemporary kitchen, almost all appliances, even smaller ones such as coffee makers, are built into cabinetry. Countertops are left uncluttered, and many homeowners in Indianapolis appreciate the fact that contemporary kitchens are easy to clean.

Storage

A well-designed kitchen is an organized kitchen. Lack of customized storage solutions is one of the most common regrets of homeowners in Indianapolis after renovating their kitchen. We cannot emphasize enough the need to develop a storage plan for your new kitchen that addresses how often you cook, entertain, hold gatherings, and use the space. A great kitchen must not only look out of this world, but it also must incorporate the best functionality that meets your needs.

An almost endless array of options is available to store cookware, food, utensils, countertop appliances, recycling containers and so on. A professional kitchen designer can custom design trays to exacting specifications that account for your kitchen equipment’s actual dimensions. Specifying trays for drawers to hold cutlery and kitchen gadgets to match the drawer helps avoid movement and keeps what you want in its place.

Customized storage solutions are not confined to a kitchen to make a home look, feel and function superbly. Bathrooms, laundry rooms, mudrooms and entryways all can make a home much more enjoyable if they are outfitted with storage solutions that meet your family’s needs and lifestyle.

Colors

Homeowners in Indianapolis often ask us about colors. While splashes of purple, turquoise, yellow, or green can become a focal point in kitchens and baths, we tend to favor palettes that can withstand the test of time. In addition to white, these include blue, grey, and cream tones.

If you are interested in creating a dream kitchen that will continue to be dreamy years after the renovation is complete, give us a call or make an appointment to visit one of our showrooms.

Priorities, Priorities

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As more and more homeowners in Indianapolis continue to work from home, they realize that their home is not working for them as well as they would like or need. As your family spends more time at home, the kitchen has taken on a more prominent role as a multifunctional space.

We’ve received numerous calls from homeowners in Indianapolis interested in updating what currently exists. Certain elements of a dream kitchen should be at the top of everyone’s priority list regardless of space and budget. At the top of the list should be a combination of beauty, aesthetics and superb functionality. You should smile every time you cross the threshold, and every time you use your kitchen to prepare meals, eat, help with homework, chat with friends and neighbors or simply spend a few minutes for yourself.

The key priorities for any new kitchen should include:

  • Adequate storage
  • The right light
  • Appliances that cater to the families’ desires and lifestyle
  • Proper ventilation
  • Island or peninsula
  • Everything else, including the kitchen sink

Adequate Storage

A superbly designed kitchen is an organized kitchen. There is a direct connection between storage capabilities and functionality. That’s why when we design a new kitchen, we ask homeowners in Indianapolis to inventory everything that they currently store in their kitchen, curate duplicative items, and identify items they use rarely as opposed to those that are employed daily. Knowing the utensils, dishes, small appliances, glassware, cooking accessories and other items you use in your kitchen enables a kitchen designer to develop a customized storage solution for your unique needs and desires.

The Right Light

Lighting can make or break how your kitchen looks, feels and functions. Effective lighting illuminates a space in layers using different components and strategies to paint the final picture. Layers of light contribute not only to the functionality of the kitchen but also to its design and beauty. A savvy kitchen designer knows how to employ ambient, task and accent lights to enhance a new kitchen’s beauty and functionality.

Appliances

Appliance selection should match your lifestyle. For homeowners in Indianapolis who like to cook, the cooktop and oven are the two most used and hardest working appliances. Make those two appliances priorities.

Range Hoods

Range hoods serve two valuable roles. Functionally, they remove smoke, grease and odors from the kitchen. Aesthetically, they can provide a focal point that sets the tone for the entire space.

Islands

Islands or peninsulas are requested by 99% of homeowners in Indianapolis and for good reason. Islands provide extra countertop space and storage. Islands can double as dining tables, homework desks, or a place for an additional sink, cooktop, or dishwasher.

The Kitchen Sink

Sinks and sink areas are often an afterthought or minimize their importance. Too often the choice of the sink is left to the countertop fabricator that often agrees to provide a sink at “no charge.” Typically, the fabricator’s selection is the least expensive option available. Why would you want to put a $25 sink into a $50,000 kitchen? Plus, doing so misses multiple opportunities to enhance the functionality of your sink area. Today, manufacturers offer workstations that convert the sink into another space to prepare meals. These workstations include colanders, cutting boards, drying racks, bowls and other meal prep tools and utensils.

How can you identify the top priorities for your dream kitchen? Give us a call or make an appointment to visit our showroom either virtually or in-person at one of our beautiful showrooms.

Cleanliness Is Next to…

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The kitchen is the most important room in the home because it serves as a central hub for cooking, dining, entertaining, chatting, bill paying, internet-surfing, homework, etc. As the central hub and most used room in most homes in Indianapolis, it is also the room that needs cleaning most often.

We always ask our clients how they plan to use their new kitchen and how often they prepare meals and entertain. We want to know if anyone in the home truly enjoys cooking and if there are any “foodies” or bakers in the family. We want to gain an understanding of how the kitchen will function and how often it will need cleaning.

Many homeowners in Indianapolis are dazzled by smart appliances, quartz and stone countertops, custom cabinetry, statement-making backsplashes, signature lighting, hands-free faucets, and jewelry-like hardware. But, they rarely consider how difficult or easy it is to clean and maintain these dazzling products.  An experienced kitchen designer can direct you to the products that are both attractive and easy to clean.

Appliances

Homeowners who don’t want to spend a lot of time cleaning their new kitchens should consider appliance surfaces that do not require special cleaning solutions. When looking at ranges, focus on the knobs to determine if there are areas where grease and foodstuffs can get lodged. Consider the spacing. Can you easily use a microfiber between knobs? If not, that range may not be the best choice for your new kitchen. Many of our clients who are avid cooks are attracted to induction cooktops because they are easy to clean and use.

Finishes also need to be considered. Stainless steel appliances are most popular for good reason. They are durable, complement almost any type of cabinet style and color and have long-term staying power. The downside to stainless steel finishes are fingerprints, smudges and the potential for scratches. Some manufacturers offer a smudge-proof option, and black stainless tends to hide fingerprints.

We almost always recommend self-cleaning ovens that use high heat to burn off residue. Steam ovens are also self-cleaning.

Cabinets

Flat-front cabinets are easier to clean than door and drawer fronts adorned with grooves and ridges.

Backsplashes

Tile is one of the most popular materials used for backsplashes. If you are concerned with cleaning, we recommend using larger tiles that minimize the amount of exposed grout. One of the friendliest materials when it comes to cleaning for backsplashes is glass. You can choose almost any color; there’s no grout, and using a standard household glass cleaner is all you will need.

Countertops

Stone, quartz, stainless steel and engineered quartz are durable, nonporous, stainproof and easy to clean.

Trash and Recycling

Most of our clients welcome trash and recycling containers in pull out cabinets underneath the sink or close to the sink where most clean-up occurs.

Open Shelves

Open shelves are increasingly popular because they are budget-friendly, make kitchen space look larger and enable homeowners to showcase collectibles and organize materials. The downside to open shelves is that they are exposed to dust and grime.

What materials, finishes, appliances, and surfaces require the least maintenance? Give us a call or make an appointment to visit one of our showrooms, and we can offer guidance to create the kitchen of your dreams that is also easy to clean.

Designing a Farmhouse Kitchen

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There is a certain nostalgia when cooking in a farmhouse kitchen. It reminds us of growing up and helping our grandmothers in the kitchen. The look continues to remain popular most likely due to it’s simplicity and timelessness.

There are some key elements to remember when designing this increasingly popular themed space.

Select a soft painted cabinet finish. There is an array of painted cabinet finishes to choose from. The colors that work best for this type of space are creams and earth-toned blues and greens. Keep the cabinet door styles relatively simple. Look for clean lines and stay away from highly ornate carvings and decorations. Another cabinet feature that will give you the farmhouse look and feel is seeded glass doors.

Keep the hardware simple as well. Simple pulls and knobs can do the job. If you prefer, select glass knobs and pair them with the simple pulls. Glass knobs were popular in old farmhouse kitchens and they add a bit of whimsy. Library cup pulls (shown above) in any finish pair well with simple knobs or pulls.

Flooring and Backsplash. A nice wide rustic plank floor will help you achieve the farmhouse look and feel. Your floors don’t have to be old wooden planks from an old barn. Instead, get that rustic look with modern engineered hardwood or luxury vinyl plank. For your backsplash, a nice simple subway tile is your best bet. This doesn’t mean it is your only option, but it’s a very popular one!

Incorporate rustic pendant lighting. Look for lighting with metal finishes and a small amount of distressing on the finish. Other features to complete the look can include seeded glass or mason jars.

Decorate with vintage items. Whether your farmhouse kitchen is modern or traditional, adding items with the nostalgic feel will help bring the farmhouse look and feel together. Add flour, sugar and coffee in matching containers on the countertop. This not only makes these items more accessible when cooking, they can add that vintage look that the farmhouse kitchen requires. Ideally, you want the containers to match in style and graduate in sizes from largest to smallest.

Keep the space light and bright. Back in the day these kitchens had natural light from windows and were often painted white or cream. Add pops of color by hanging a cheerful valance over the kitchen sink window.

If you’re thinking about a farmhouse style kitchen and don’t know where to start, ask us for help! Our designers can help bring your vision to reality!

Looking Up: Don’t Ignore the Fifth Wall in Your Kitchen or Bath Renovation

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Ceilings are often an afterthought of the renovation process and don’t get the attention or recognition that they deserve. In a well-designed kitchen or bath in Indianapolis, nothing should be overlooked, including the ceiling. Ceiling height, shape, style, accessories, and color help determine how a space looks and how it feels.

The ceiling should be considered the fifth wall in your new kitchen or bath and should be used to enhance the space’s character. Paint, wallpaper, different textures, heights, finishes and materials can be employed to create a ceiling that serves as a focal point and enhances the overall design and functionality of the space.

The standard height of a kitchen or bath ceiling is eight to nine feet. In some remodels, increasing that height is not practical or even feasible, depending on what is above your bath or kitchen. Typically, we have more flexibility in the bath to incorporate a skylight over a tub, add window space, or create a dropped area of the room to define a portion of the space.

Here are some common ceiling options to enhance your bath or kitchen:

  • Cove ceilings have curved edges between the ceiling and the wall to create a dome-like design that can create a focal point at the top of the walls. One advantage of cove ceilings is that they help make a space appear taller than it is.
  • Vaulted ceilings create a sense of volume and spaciousness to a room and also serve to make a space appear larger than it is. Most homes with a sloped roof can support a vaulted ceiling. Vaulted ceilings can have curved or straight sides and symmetrical or asymmetrical lines.
  • Cathedral ceilings employ straight sides that slope upward at the same angle as the exterior roofline. The most famous cathedral ceiling is at Notre-Dame in Paris. You can’t build anything on top of a cathedral ceiling, but you can create one from unused attic space.
  • Ceiling trays are recessed ceilings at the highest point with an inverted center. Ceiling trays can add more depth to a room and make it appear more spacious.
  • Any new kitchen or bath ceiling can be enhanced by decorative moldings, especially Victorian homes.
  • Beamed ceilings are another tool in a designer’s arsenal to create unique looks. Beams add warmth and character to a room. You need a taller space for beams so the space doesn’t feel small and cramped.
  • Even basic ceilings can be enhanced with statement-making lighting, paint, or patterned wallpaper.

How can you take advantage of the fifth wall to make your new dream kitchen or bath become a reality? Give us a call or make an appointment to visit one of our showrooms for more information.

Can Your New Kitchen Accommodate an Island?

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Islands are among the most requested features in the dream kitchens we design for homeowners in Indianapolis. Islands serve multiple purposes: providing a palate for meal preparation, dining, working, a place to do homework, and a storage facility. When homeowners in Indianapolis request an island, we determine if there is sufficient space, and if not, we recommend alternatives that can provide similar functionality.

In smaller spaces, we can custom design an island to fit the space. Common features may include shallower depths, custom cabinetry and custom height. There is no standard specification that is required to custom design an island. Islands in a kitchen must provide enough space for families to maneuver effortlessly and safely throughout the space. The size, shape and location of the island depend first and foremost on the size of the room and who will use the kitchen and for what purposes. The space between the island and cabinetry is called the clearance zone. The National Kitchen & Bath Association suggests a clearance zone of 42 to 48 inches. If that is not possible, we have designed kitchens with clearance zones of 39 inches. The key is to ensure that base cabinets and appliance doors can open unencumbered. There should be a least three feet between an open door and the island to provide safe travel throughout the kitchen.

The clearance zone and size of the island are also affected by the number of users. If there are only two family members who live in the home, smaller islands and clearances are possible. The rule of thumb in sizing and configuring islands is to factor the homeowners’ functionality and aesthetic dreams into the space’s potential clearance. The bottom line is that islands need to be proportionate to the space.  

Island Alternatives

Some kitchens may not be able to accommodate an island. That does not mean you need to compromise the functionality that an island can offer. Reconfiguring a kitchen space to allow for an open floor plan or physically extending the kitchen space are viable options. Rolling islands are another alternative. We partner with wonderful manufacturers who can custom create a butcher block on wheels.

Peninsulas are another popular alternative to islands. The difference between an island and a peninsula is an island has four sides, and a peninsula is fixed to a wall and only offers three sides. Peninsulas offer an extra yard of space.

Can an island or peninsula work in your dream kitchen? We can help you find out if either can. Simply, give us a call or make an appointment to visit one of our showrooms, and help make your dream kitchen a reality.