A house is made of walls and beams, A home is built with Love and Dreams.
Home may be where the heart is, but as the “heart of your home,” the kitchen offers more than just functional cooking space. It is a gathering place for family and friends. A 24-hour snack stop. A post for brainstorming, recipes, gossip, even a cup of sugar from time to time. Occasionally an expanded office space or school study room (homework or school projects). Wishes or worries, delights or dilemmas, all possibilities were discussed at one time or another in the kitchen. For all these reasons, kitchens have become the center of our homes.
You stay active and healthy for your own heart, so what about the heart of your home?
With the economy coming back (slow, slow comeback), kitchen makeovers don’t have to be done to extremes. Considering all the important roles your kitchen provides for your family, how should you care for it?
Just like starting something new for your own health, small changes have big effects.
Then let’s get started. A clean heart is a healthy heart. The same with your kitchen. Clean up the mess. Decide what is essential and what you use on a regular basis, everything else get rid of. This is a very difficult step for some. Emotions, memories, and ideas of what might be needed often get in the way. (Do you really need 5 pancake flippers? You only have 2 hands.) For the things you just can’t part with, pack them out of the kitchen until they find a reason to come back. Tidying up and keeping everything in its place takes time and energy at first, but it will become a form of therapy.
Next, nothing feels better than a breath of fresh air. Granted, during winter in cold areas, it’s not always a good idea to open windows (especially at -15 or -20). Indoor plants bring the outdoors in. A small container garden with aromatic herbs brings in the scents of the great outdoors. Hanging plants from the ceiling or on shelves by the windows will soften the look of your kitchen. Don’t forget, plants naturally clean the air for us.
Borders are another way to divide a room. Wallpaper borders are a quick and easy way to add color and pattern. Don’t be afraid to experiment a bit. Wallpaper borders are no longer just for the corners of the walls near the ceiling. Chair rail height, under cabinets or 2/3 of the wall, the only limit is you. If you have time, using stencils and paint, you can create a truly personal type of border. If you’re handy and have the tools, the crown and chair rail add elegance to any room.
Armed with a screwdriver, the cabinet hardware is an easy upgrade that looks expensive. With all the new styles of cabinet hardware available, changing the look of your kitchen will be almost effortless. Some of your friends may even think that the cabinets were replaced.
Let’s brighten things up. A fresh coat of paint can change the whole look. Choosing light colors will make the room feel more open and spacious. Rich, deep colors provide better contrast but also absorb light, giving a warmer yet darker feel. Neutrals bring balance to the room and to the senses.
Today’s lighting options have given new options for kitchens. The lighting under and above the cabinet, the can lights, even the light switches have changed. Whether at work or entertainment, one can set the mood with the flick of a switch. Why suffer with boring lamps when today’s lamps offer so much variety in style and lighting capabilities?
Many kitchen floors may have seen better days. Kids, animals, parties, spills and the list can go on. Area rugs can add color and pattern to what may have gotten a little worn. Carpet runners on frequently used routes can hide wear marks with class. A rug under the table is a subtle way to define a separate space. (Note: Area rugs used under a table should be large enough to enclose chairs when fully removed.)
If you get a little bogged down with ideas, flip through magazines, web pages, or advertisements. Choose items that appeal to you, even if not all ideas do. You may not like the cabinetry pictured, but you’ll love the backsplash. I hate the kitchen but I love the rug. If you like a paint color on a picture, take it to your local paint store and they can match it (I actually matched a color from a photo for a customer).
As with any remodeling project, personality is the key to great success. Let yours shine. You never know, one day it may be you who helps others with their ideas. Above all have fun!!!!!