My girlfriend owns a beautiful cabinet company in Lake Mary called "Uptown Cabinets" and is being featured in our Lake Mary Life Style magazine! My passion is writing and decor so she asked me to write her article. Here goes...xo
Kitchens in the 1940’s used to be hidden away to hide the mess and dirty dishes, now they are truly the center piece of our home. Kitchen layouts have evolved to accommodate the modern family, so design it cozy and inviting enough for your family to come together, but add just enough elegance to entertain your friends!
Cabinets to the top! When it comes to storage make sure to take advantage of every single inch of your wall space. Cabinets that go up to the ceiling not only create a very tidy look, but they are great for storing items you rarely use. Take advantage of your smaller areas to create skinny pullout pantries for corralling spices and snacks. Open shelving is not only trendy, but very practical for your pots and pans as well. Line the shelves with 2” stone, the same material as your counter tops to give them style and easy access to slide the pans in and out. When designing your island make sure it’s big enough to be useful and practical, but pretty enough to give the kitchen some heart, after all they are the centerpiece of your kitchen. Large Square Island’s can be designed to easily access your garbage, dishwasher, and even a recycling cabinet. Adding 8 inch cupboards around it will be great for storing glassware and cans. Keep in mind what you’re storing and measure it, shallow storage is key to staying organized and prevent clutter. Sleek hardware is also a great touch. Long brushed nickel pulls give a flat-panel cabinet a sleek modern look. You can even hang them horizontally just to mix things up. Darker shades of cabinets are really in, you may think it makes the kitchen look smaller, but by using your lighter color counter tops and a fun back splash it really accents and makes the room look brighter and gives drama to your kitchen. Copper, stainless, hardwood and glass represent some of the hottest tile trends currently popping up in hip kitchens and baths. Glass accent tile is really exciting right now! Use it for your kitchen back splash to add depth, sparkle, and luminescence. Engineered quartz counter tops are also hot right now, not only are they bacteria-resistant, but they are harder than granite, so you can cut right on it. It’s a great heavy surface, but the consistent color makes it feel light and clean. Lighting also is a great way to add depth to your kitchen. Hang some lighting over your island and remember odd numbers are always more pleasing. Although standard height is 42" from the counter, you can eyeball it and hang them higher so they won’t block any views.
Remember... design to socialize because in the Kitchen is where it’s at!
