Painted cabinets

While we will never recommend painting your cabinets, sometimes we can’t pick the cabinets we have. Painted cabinets are a bit tricky when it comes to cleaning, because the finish is very fragile. Avoid using harsh cleaners, as they can strip the paint. Soap and water, or diluted vinegar, are great options for cleaning. Just make sure to not scrub too hard, and to dry off the surface completely once finished. 

 

Laminate 

Laminate cabinets are my favorite, in terms of clean up! Since they’re not a traditional wood, there is no porous material to be worried about. Any all purpose cleaner will do the trick (Mrs. Meyers is my favorite), or even just water and a microfiber cloth to avoid damaging the finish is all it really takes to keep them shiny and beautiful! 

Stained wood

Stained wood cabinets are definitely a lot of work to keep them in good shape, but the finish and beauty is completely worth it. These cabinets need to be washed and oiled about twice a year. A good mixture for a cleaning solution is  six-eighths distilled white vinegar, one-eighth rubbing alcohol, and one-eighth water with a few drops of dish soap. With this mixture, and a cloth, just start wiping down! Once done, wipe down with a clean, damp cloth. It is as simple as that for the cleaning process. Finish with any furniture oil, and you’re on your way to keeping your cabinets gorgeous for many years to come. 

 

Styles

Depending on the style of your kitchen, there are many different options.  Deciding the purpose of your new glass doors is the first step. If you are looking to display your best dishes Clear glass is ideal. Clear glass makes for the best sight lines, and will always be my first choice, however, not everyone wants to stay organized year round. Frosted or detailed glass may be better for your lifestyle. There is also stained glass, seeded, beaded, and even mirrors are used as an alternative! For now we are just going to go over a few of the basics.

 

Clear Glass

In white and gray kitchens, clear glass is an opportunity to add a splash of color. That said, it shouldn’t be your first choice if you aren’t good at staying organized, or don’t have enough storage to display some ‘show’ dishware.

 

Frosted Glass

Frosted glass is common in modern and contemporary homes. It also allows a sneak peek of the contents in your cabinets without a clear view. In other words, you can get away with having a dish or three out of place.

 

Reeded Glass

This design is created by taking a roller to the glass surface. It has a textured, wiggly, appearance. As with frosted glass, the view into your cabinetry is obscured. This style works in both contemporary and traditional homes.

 

Stained Glass

While this doesn’t work in all home types, incorporating stained or detailed glass creates a wonderful vintage/retro vibe. You can even do frosted stained glass to add even more dimension and hide your messes!

 

Glass only on your upper cabinets

If you have two rows of uppers, install glass across the top row to insert a visual break into the expanse of cabinetry. Adding glass here adds dimension to your kitchen and makes your ceilings feel larger.

Peel and stick tile

While I could go into cabinet refacing, adding new curtains, those are no-brainers. Something people rarely think about is peel and stick tile! I have now recently even seen flooring and backsplash tiles at JoAnns! Depending on the brand, it is easily removable with no damage (That means it is even good for renters!). What a way to really update and change a kitchen with ease. 

Do I enjoy listening to TV?

Open concept generally leads to the family/living room. With that being the case, whether it is your children, partner, or guests, is the TV a good background noise for you? More often than not, it’ll be going while you’re in the kitchen. Definitely something to consider. 

Do you want to have everything visible all the time?

There is something to be said about privacy. You may want to hide a messy kitchen from guests or ignore the messy living room. Maybe cooking is your “me time”. There are plenty of reasons why it may be worth keeping the kitchen a bit more secluded. 

Good layout

The layout is the number-one feature home buyers are looking at in a kitchen. While cabinets and appliances can be changed, changing the whole layout of a kitchen after buying a home may not be in the cards for new home buyers. Having a poor layout will alienate a lot of potential buyers who will pass up on your home because they are looking for a more functional kitchen. 

 

Quality cabinetry 

Whether you are upgrading for yourself, or to sell, quality cabinetry is extremely important. Decide on a style and quality that will age well and withstand trends and changing tastes. This means to not pick anything too trendy. Trendy styles can look dated quickly, and don’t appeal to the masses. 

 

Keep flow in design

If you have shaker cabinets in your bathrooms and laundry room, it is best to use the same style cabinets in your kitchen. Having a mis-matched home is unappealing to buyers. 

Choose light colors

Unfortunately dark kitchens are out. People are looking for “light and bright”, which makes sense! Lighter spaces appear larger and keep a space more illuminated. While dark kitchens can be gorgeous, the lighter the better in terms of resale. 

Multiple colors

One of the most iconic ways to show off that eclectic style is multiple colors! In a kitchen, that could be two toned cabinets, where maybe the island is a crazy bold color! Pair with a high pattern back splash or even use a fun wallpaper!

 

Multiple types of hardware

Another common part of an eclectic style is different types of cabinet hardware on each door. This is a really fun way to get unique pieces and show off your style! Some people pick themes, or a color pallet, but the options are endless!

 

Contrast

When I say contrast, I don’t just mean in the form of color. I also mean in styles! (for example, this is why the current trend “modern farmhouse” works so well). Other common tastes are “elegant and masculine”, “Pieces from around the world”, and “modern and traditional”. 

We aren’t all lucky enough to have a massive kitchen. There are plenty of ways to maximize the space of an inadequately sized kitchen. Here are a few tips that’ll make you realize how much space you actually have! 

Build up

If you are completely redoing your kitchen, consider extending your cabinetry upward! Extending your cabinets close to, or all the way, to the ceiling will double your storage.  The less accessible cabinet spaces are a great space for your less used formal dishware or bulk goods. 

 

Keep the space bright

The biggest mistake a homeowner can do is choose dark tones for a small space. Keep smaller kitchens with light or white woods. This will make the space feel more open and happier. 

Adding hooks, racks, or tiny shelves in the inside of your cabinet doors can almost double your storage capacity by utilizing all the vertical space. This is great for spices, mugs and towels. Take ideas from Tiny Homes. The amazing thing about tiny houses is that they incorporate every square inch of the space for storage. While your kitchen may be a bit bigger than a tiny home, it never hurts to snag a few ideas! 

Glass and mirrored cabinets

Whether open cabinets, glass, or mirrored cabinets are your cup of tea, they are all great additions to making your kitchen feel more open. The idea behind this is that it extends sight-lines. Being able to see a foot further through the back of your cabinet takes away the bulkiness of the cabinets. Mirrors will reflect light and give the illusion of much more space. 

Patterned tile

 

Patterned tile is super popular right now, but it is a style we expect to stick around for a while. Incorporating tile and floating shelves is a great way to make a kitchen more visually appealing. If you have a hard time committing, peel and stick tiles are getting to be higher quality! They look almost as good as the real thing now. Patterned tile also works great for back splashes and the back side of kitchen islands! 

Art

Art is another way to spice up a space! It is easy to forget that wall art can also work great in kitchens! Something bold and daring, featuring a bright color is the perfect way to bring interest to a space. 

Wallpaper

Wallpaper is making a comeback, but not like it used to! Not only are there super neat new wallpaper products that make it a heck of a lot easier to apply, they are also easier to remove when you decide to change your mind in a few years!

Adding an accent wall, or using the wallpaper as a back splash alternative are both great options to make a more visually interesting space!

Statement lighting

Light fixtures are a great way to make a space more interesting. Incorporating lighting that is bold, and a little off the beaten path, is the perfect way to make a space feel risky, without being too risky! 

Pack away holiday decorations in a more organized manner

 

It is always sad saying goodbye to the holidays. We are now back to normal, every day, life. Don’t let it get you down though! Storing them in a smart way will make getting your decorations up and going again in 11 months much more exciting. 

Getting storage bins should be your first step, if you do not currently store your items this way. Wrap delicate ornaments in tissue paper, and dispose of any broken items that have been sitting in your containers/boxes the last 2 or 3 years. It is also easy to hold onto decorations even if they haven’t made it out for many years. It is hard, but be honest with yourself and ask if you’ll ACTUALLY use these items within the next few years. If the answer is no, it’s time to start a donate pile. And last tip: for string lights. wrap them around a scrap piece of cardboard to help from tangling. I did this for the first time last year and decorating was much easier this year.

Clean out the pantry

Now that the holidays are over, purging your kitchen should be on the to-do list! Pull out everything from your pantry and give your shelves a good wipe down. When was the last time you dusted off your shelves? Before putting everything back, discard of any expired or stale items. No reason to leave them in there anymore, right?

Take everything out of your fridge and repeat the same process. Clean up any old spills, remove any old left overs or expired items, and put everything back, hopefully more organized than before.

Use this new, clean, space to help keep you inspired for your health and fitness resolutions. 

Check your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors

 

Nothing is more important than keeping you and your loved ones safe. Use the ‘test’ button on all of your detectors. It is also smart to replace batteries once a year. Simple little task that can save your life. 

Declutter closets

 

Before Thanksgiving, I threw everything that didn’t have a “home” in my closet under the stairs. I finally had some free time and started reorganizing. I bought a couple extra storage bins from Home Depot and got to work. While my Tetris stacking skills are pretty good, I realized had been storing things I really didn’t need to since we moved. 

It felt good being able to use the closet the way I originally intended it to be (Tools I use inside of the house, extra canned goods, and to store my husband’s whisky collection. 

Plan renovation projects for 2020

 

New Year, New Home? Nothing like a new year to really help you set future goals for your home. With a whole calendar ahead of you, you can organize vacations, time off and other celebrations around your renovation plans without skipping a beat! 

New Cabinets

 

The first option in a home remodel, is to replace the cabinets entirely. While new cabinets are nice, and it allows you to change the layout of your kitchen, it comes at a cost. Prepare to spend the majority of your budget on cabinets alone. In the end, your kitchen will be extremely beautiful and will be more functional.

Paint current cabinets

 

Painting current cabinets is definitely an option, but not one we’d recommend. There are more cons than pros to painting. However, the biggest pro, is cheap. If you plan on spending any time in your home after doing the remodel, don’t go this route. However, if you’re just trying to freshen up the space to sell your home, it is an option. Paint chips easily, fades, nicks, and gets damaged easily. I would only paint your cabinets when looking to sell, if you have a feeling people will want to gut your kitchen within a few years of buying the home (Probably due to a weird layout). 

Stain current cabinets

 

Staining and painting will be basically the same process in a lot of ways. Take off all the doors, apply lacquer or stain, do the same to all the boxes, then once everything is dry, reinstall everything. If you love the current layout of your kitchen, and you like your cabinet doors, this is a great option! Cheap and high quality finish that will last a long time!  

Reface cabinets

Cabinet refacing is an awesome option. Within a weekend or so, you have a completely redone kitchen that looks brand new. Unlike a full kitchen cabinet remodel, the cabinet box is not destroyed when refacing your cabinets. Refacing involves replacing all cabinet doors and drawer fronts and cover existing cabinet boxes with new wood. Additions to your cabinets can easily be made and seamlessly blended in as well.