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Contemporary Kitchen Trends for 2017
Kitchen Trends & Thoughts
Your kitchen says a lot about your style. There are many elements that work together to create your look. You must consider colors, finishes and materials used. Your countertop and backsplash are two kitchen focal points that greatly impact your kitchen décor. Don’t let your outdated countertops impact your kitchen. There are plenty of great kitchen trends in 2017 that can easily update your look for years to come.
The countertop is probably the space you use most in the kitchen. From a quick breakfast to preparing a dinner for all, your countertop must not only look great but be functional. The trends in countertop material for the new year create that perfect mix of easy to use and beautiful décor.
In 2017, trendy décor depends on the materials used. If you’re looking to update your kitchen with a long-lasting material, natural stone is a great choice. Choose classic marble countertops, which are great for those who love to bake. Be aware of the maintenance that comes with any natural stone countertop. The exact type of care varies by material, but the stone should be sealed and cleaned regularly.
Quartz is definitely a trend that’s catching up with the ever popular granite. Homeowners love engineered stone countertops because they’re durable, which also means that they’re resilient against scratches, stains and heat. An added bonus is that they require very little maintenance.
For the home chef, having a butcher block countertop is a dream amenity. Not only do they give a rustic, farmhouse look to the kitchen, but they are extremely functional. They allow the cook to cut, chop and dice directly on the countertop. As natural elements in the home is a hot trend in 2017, wood and butcher block countertops are a great choice for the kitchen. Price can vary depending on the material you choose. From dark walnut to sustainable bamboo, you can choose the right material to match your style and budget.
No matter which you are thinking about going with always check websites that allow you to view what colors are tending and what styles are happening right now. You don’t know to invest in a kitchen that you will end up disliking. Always think thoroughly when creating your new home space. And make sure you love it!
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Top 10 Kitchen Design Trends 2017
Top 10 Kitchen Design Trends 2017
1) Do you dare to bare it all?
Open shelving is one of the top trends that we keep seeing. If you’re brave enough to go for it open shelving is an easy way to make your kitchen appear larger than it is. It’s also a great option if you can’t do any real renovations, just take off a few cabinet doors and now you can showcase all of your amazing dishware (wine glasses) that is hiding behind your cabinets.
2) Fifty Shades of Gray…(Cabinets)
We all know that an all-white kitchen will always be in trend but gray is coming in HOT. Is it just me or does it seem that you can’t go wrong with gray anything? While It seems like gray can be straightforward there are many different hues to choose from. Whether its light or dark, warm or cool, it’s important to choose the right hue for you.
3) Dare to go dark
Whether it’s black on black, contrasting with marble, matte, or lacquered we say go for it! More people are opting for the black stainless steel finish in appliances as well. Besides the sophistication and timeless element, it brings to your kitchen design its smudge-proof and fingerprint-proof finish adds 10 points for us.
4) Mixing Metals
In case you haven’t caught on..we are no longer sticking to one metal in a space. Pairing coppers with golds and brasses with silvers is an easy way to create aesthetic layers and add depth to your space. My advice is choosing a dominant metal and then select one or two metal accents to complete the look.
P.S.: changing your hardware is the easiest way to give your cabinetry a quick and affordable facelift
5) No more “matchy-matchy”
Commitment issues? Don’t worry you don’t have to decide between the two colors you are obsessing over..you can do both! Mixing up colors in your kitchen cabinets is what everyone’s doing. Whether your upper cabinets are white and your lower cabinets are gray, or you change the color of your island to that navy blue you can’t stop going back to.
5) Organic Materials
We are all about incorporating natural elements this year! (Which can bring some seriously good vibes to your kitchen) It’s inviting, warm, textural and it looks great with pretty much any style or aesthetic.
6) Time to get organized
Is there a better feeling than walking into a clean, organized, no clutter – there is a spot for everything kitchen? I didn’t think so. Customizing your cabinetry to fit your needs is what everyone’s doing. Deep drawers, revolving corner trays, swing-out trays, spice / utensil / cutlery organizers, and small appliance garage and drawers. Get ready to feel relaxed, at peace, and calm.
7) Coffee is the real MVP
Let’s face it, we all can’t be bothered until we had our coffee. Incorporating a coffee station in your kitchen will make your hectic morning trying to leave for work 100x better and impressing your friends when they come over is a bonus too. You can hide your station behind doors or keep everything exposed creating a design element in your space.
8) Say yes to color
Is it just me or is green and blue showing up more and more. There are many ways to incorporate color in your kitchen. You can dive in and opt for color in the cabinetry, or even just painting a wall, colorful backsplash or bar stools. You can never go wrong with adding greenery- ferns, potted plants, and herbs in your space.
If you’re thinking about going for it these greens are on trend: emerald green, Kelly green, blue-ish greens such as mint green and deep teal.
If you’re leaning more towards blue: grayish blues that pair well with gray, pale yet energetic turquoise blues that pair well with cool whites or darker accents of teal, denim-inspired blues, and purplish blues
9) Shapes are here to stay
It’s not just about rectangles anymore, tiles in unusual patterns add a punch of personality to your space. From teeny tiny to oversized, sleek ceramic to rough terra cotta, hexagons are popping up all over. You can highlight your shape with a contrasting grout color, mix and match color tiles, or opt for the safe white. Either way you won’t be sorry!
Marble Countertops and Sealing
All About Marble Countertops & Sealing
I’ve always loved white marble countertops they are bright, elegant, add character. They can also be one of the cheapest stone solutions if you choose Carrara marble, making them a great choice if you’re on a budget. However, many people are afraid of them due to the perception that they are high maintenance. This reputation is only partially deserved, and I want to share with you all the knowledge I’ve gathered over the years so that you will feel much more confident of going this direction if it appeals to you.
It’s good to know what marble is in order to understand how it behaves. It’s a metamorphic stone, which is formed when sediment crystallizes under great heat or pressure to form hard rock. Marble is not the hardest of these stones, however, making it porous and therefore susceptible to staining. Marble is also formed out of calcium carbonate, giving it a chemical structure that reacts easily with acids and leads to etching on the surface. Due to all this, marble requires some maintenance to keep it pristine.
There are two main types of finish you can get, but I would recommend a “honed” finish as it is the easiest wearing.
- Honed Finish– Created by sanding the surface so that it has a soft, matte finish, honed marble won’t show scratches as much, shows the stone off as a little less bright and is more susceptible to staining as the pores are open. Sealing is, therefore the solution.
- Polished Finish– Polished to a shiny exterior, this finish won’t stain as easily but it can scratch and etch. Polished surfaces are shiny and bright, but they will be worn down in time. If you prefer the worn look, go right for honed and skip the polished.
Does Marble Countertops Need To Be Sealed?
Yes. Because unpolished or honed marble has open pores, it is important to seal it if you want to limit stains over time. This can be done professionally at the beginning and then as a DIY in an ongoing fashion. While many people have commented that they have never felt the need to do this, it’s not hard.
How to seal it:
- Spray the counter with a marble cleaner and buff dry with a soft cloth. This will remove any impurities from the surface of the marble that may interfere with the sealing process.
- Pour some marble sealer into an open-mouthed container large enough to dip your paintbrush into. Turn on a fan or open a window while you do this; marble sealers frequently have high amounts of VOCs and can smell overwhelming.3
- Dip the foam paintbrush into the sealer and paint it onto the counter with slightly overlapping strokes. Make sure to get all areas of the marble, including the edge, area around the sink and the backsplash. Let the sealer sit undisturbed for 10 minutes.
- Buff away the excess sealer with a clean, dry cloth. Use a circular motion and keep rubbing the marble until it is dry and not tacky to the touch. Excess sealer could mar the finish of the stone, so keep buffing until it is completely removed.