It is a key goal to feel comfortable and at ease at home, to have rooms designed to work with you, play with you and relax with you. Take the kitchen for example. It’s possible to work around some basic flaws when you’re busy prepping meals. But is the overall ambiance something to think about? If you are finding your kitchen totally uninspiring right now, why not treat yourself to an upgrade. No, I’m not talking about a complete kitchen renovation. You can turn up the style with one or two changes. I think of it as therapy provided by ‘one new thing’.
The kitchen sink sees action like no other. So perhaps this could be your choice. Look for a shape and design that offers you the space you need to multi-prep like a pro. Kohler’s Prolific workstation sink features three graduated ledges in the basin so that you can place a cutting board, racks, a colander and washbin together. To complete the lux look and appeal, their Purist faucet has a triple function pull-down spray head and comes in 4 finishes including matte black and polished nickel. Switching up the kitchen sink might just mean a new countertop to adjust to the size. That’s two new things. I’ve just gone over budget. Moving on.
The right lights promise instant gratification. Task lights help you work more efficiently, but what about a new ceiling light or some contemporary or industrial style pendants hung over the island or kitchen table? A fresh style will capture your attention and give you a boost the minute you flick the switch.
Put your best foot forward with a new floor. Wide wood planks offer rustic appeal, a black floor is a stunning style point, and patterned floor tiles create instant visual interest. Tiles also come in shapes including hexagonal, which give you design flexibility. The colour and shading in multi-tone tiles warms up an all-white contemporary kitchen. Engineered floors are super popular now due to the wide choice in laminate finishes. The boards are less prone to expand due to heat than hardwood and softer to stand on than ceramic tile. However, laminates cannot be sanded down when it’s time to refinish, so for the long term, hardwood is the more sustainable choice.
Here’s a small new thing. Think about how you could arrange your kitchen tools and accessories. Add a row of pegs along the backsplash to hang your favourite cutting boards, measuring spoons, sieves, mixing spoons and mugs. These items are decorative as well as functional and it’s helpful for them to be easy to reach, but not sitting on the counter. Extra counter and storage space are always in demand. If you have any extra space invest in a kitchen trolley. Tucked away in a corner, you can wheel it up to the sink, over to the dining table, or beside the stove. Set up the cart as a bar and hors d’oeuvres display for serving guests away from the kitchen.
