PHOTO CREDIT: PhotoSynthesis Photography, 2019

Bright kitchens are a classic with an overall very clean and classy look that will never go out of style. Brighter kitchens focus on drawing light into the area, making your kitchen feel both well-lit and comfortable. Some homeowners choose to remodel their kitchen to achieve this effect, while others choose kitchen cabinet refacing to transform their space. Read on for simple design ideas on how to make your kitchen bright and airy.

When it comes to clutter, consider these statistics. The average U.S. household has 300,000 things, from paper clips to ironing boards. Enter the average kitchen, and the cornucopia of items range from small containers to bulky countertop appliances. Imagine a better place to store spices, sprinkles, prepping gadgets, bags, baking sheets, dry goods, cans and jars, pots and pans, trays, silverware, dishware, linens, utensils, cutting boards, cups, cleaning supplies — and that's just for starters!

Be our guest! Today, the well-designed kitchen focuses on entertaining. A new kitchen remodel functions to ensure proper storage, work areas, and signature details to get your party started. Whether you are a novice chef or a master of take-out, the ultimate kitchen welcomes great conversation, memorable meals, and a lifetime of memories.

Photo Credit: Andy Ryan Photographer, 2019

A good lighting plan can transform your kitchen into a culinary masterpiece. After all, the kitchen is the heart and hub of the home. The right illumination not only contributes style, but can assist you with a myriad of kitchen tasks from food preparation to dining, entertainment, family time, office, schoolwork and more!

Cambria quartz shown in Skara Brae™

Quartz is naturally harder than granite or marble, making it one of the most durable countertop materials on the market and available to homeowners today. Cambria® countertop surfaces are made from 93% quartz stone, plus quartz is naturally stain resistant and maintenance-free — never requiring any polishing or sealing. The unique design of Cambria ensures that only the highest quality raw quartz materials are used for each countertop, which is also why it is such a highly coveted and sought after countertop brand.

What are the most appealing kitchen cabinets, countertops and other kitchen features for home resale? And, how do you remodel your kitchen to incorporate your future plans to sell your property? For starters, keep it simple. Leading real estate professionals recommend keeping your kitchen design neutral and as timeless as possible. Additionally, if your kitchen does not currently flaunt luxury materials, it may not be ideal to add overtly pricey upgrades such as slabs of granite or marble.

Whether you're completing a full kitchen remodel or simply looking for a few finishing touches, finding kitchen cabinet hardware with just the right look is like proudly donning your favorite jewelry or fashion accessory. And, if silver-toned hardware options have garnered your attention, you are not alone. Chrome, nickel, and stainless steel kitchen hardware are all highly popular. Each provides a unique variation of neutral silver tones, and work well in both contemporary kitchen designs, and adorn traditional spaces as well.

Popular white kitchen cabinets gleam with pizzazz, do you agree? If you are considering white to reface your existing kitchen cabinets, or for new cabinetry altogether, you are not alone in your color choice. From HGTV to Pinterest, editorial style guides feature white cabinetry that appeals to many individual preferences and tastes.

From traditional to contemporary, rustic farmhouse, shaker, or sleek and streamlined transitional looks, a kitchen anchored with versatile white cabinetry brings a crisp, fresh appeal to a range of design styles. Additionally, white enlarges the appearance of a space and helps reflect available light — all a plus in prep areas. Plus, aging eyes will appreciate the extra boost of brightness, especially in a kitchen workspace.

When planning your budget for a kitchen remodel, the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) recommends allocating 10-25% of your home’s value. The NKBA also cites kitchen cabinetry as the largest expense, accounting for up to of 30% of your overall kitchen remodeling budget.

So, there are two things to consider with these costs in-mind:

• Can the cost of kitchen cabinets be reduced?

And, since the investment is so substantial for cabinet doors,

• How can I maintain the like-new appearance of my cabinets and extend their lifetime?

As you’re thinking about kitchen improvements, or contemplating a whole remodel of the most frequently used room in your house, a quick check list will likely include kitchen cabinets, flooring, appliances and countertops. However, before you get too far down the path in planning, pause to also consider how to make your kitchen distinctly yours. There are ways to incorporate your unique lifestyle and design tastes into your kitchen and they are well worth the time and expense because personalized elements are almost always what make your new kitchen your favorite room to walk into.

Although kitchens have long-been thought of as the heart of the home, they have become even more critical and central to daily life as we’ve been staying-in more due to the globally impacting, hard-to-kill COVID-19 virus. Shortly back in 2014, the United States Department of Agriculture cited that Americans over 18 years of age spend 37 minutes in food preparation and cleanup. Given time to compile meaningful data from 2020, the increase of kitchen activities is sure to be notable. The bright side of current circumstances is that we are, in-fact,spending more time at home with family and loved ones, dedicating more of our time to a task that, for most of us, gets pushed to the end of busy days as a necessity – cooking!

If the recent focus on home makes you to think about improving your kitchen and how to make this central gathering spot more conducive to your lifestyle, we also recommend considering how to create a space that resists bacteria and stays clean longer.

Do you ever think about how much time we spend in the kitchen? It's no surprise when the kitchen is where we prepare meals, store food, cookware and more. But, the kitchen also takes center stage as a gathering place and a general hub of daily activities. So, if you're thinking about remodeling and looking for ways to get more organized in the process, we gathered some practical kitchen storage solution ideas to help inspire a more functional and efficient kitchen of your dreams.

When we spend so much of our time at home in the kitchen, doesn't it make sense to invest in appliances and technology that can help make your daily activities a little easier? Think smart refrigerators, touchless kitchen faucets, under cabinet lighting and more. Innovations like these not only lend a proverbial helping-hand, but they can also aid in keeping your kitchen more sanitary and safer for everyone.

Home is your sanctuary, and your kitchen is the heart of it. More than just where you cook, it is a gathering place for family and friends. Why wouldn't you want that important room to be one of the cleanest spaces in your home too? With the right materials, your kitchen can not only be easier to clean, but a breeze to maintain as well.

One of the first features you may notice in a kitchen is the countertop. However, when it comes time to select a kitchen countertop of your own, it may require considerations beyond just the appearance. There are a lot of factors to consider. But the answer to the big question — "What's the best kitchen countertop material?" — really comes down to whichever one makes the most sense for your household, kitchen-use and design-style preferences. Granite countertop shown in Steel Grey

The idea of taking on a complete kitchen renovation all at once may feel daunting to some people. It's easy to understand why: kitchen remodeling is a significant investment into the value of your home and the quality of your life. For some homeowners, doing the whole job all at once may not be a practical or financially feasible option at the moment. This is why taking a phased approach to remodeling can be an attractive solution.

When you begin your kitchen remodeling project, one decision you will likely face is which backsplash material will work best for your budget as well as your lifestyle. Many homeowners prefer the maintenance-free beauty of Corian^® Solid Surfaces, because it is a highly durable and affordable material that can complement most granite, quartz and even laminate countertops.