One of the busiest rooms in the house, the kitchen is the hub of a home. This is the place where you cook, eat and feed your family as well as entertain your guests over a cup of coffee or a hearty meal. With all of the culinary concoctions, smells and flavors your kitchen offers you, it can begin to show signs of wear and tear over the years.
If your kitchen requires a renovation, this article will offer you some inspiration to modernize and update this room to create a more contemporary look.
Kitchen Island
The centerpiece of any kitchen, this statement feature can add to both the aesthetic as well as the practical elements of your room.
A kitchen island can be a stylish and highly-functional addition to your kitchen offering an extra surface to cook and prepare food on, an informal place to sit, eat or study around as well as offering an attractive focal point to your kitchen which can be elegantly lit from above and decorated to enhance the visual appeal of the room.
In terms of functionality, a kitchen island provides an ideal storage solution with the option of adding drawers, cabinets and pull-out shelves, improving the organization and overall look of your kitchen. Some attractive and durable countertop materials to choose from include marble, granite, quartz and soapstone.
Bar stools are another feature that can be seamlessly incorporated into your kitchen to add a casual yet contemporary feel to your kitchen. Whether you opt for spectator, swivel, bistro-style or industrial designs, bar stools can add another practical yet aesthetically pleasing element to the room.
Let There Be Light
There is arguably no better way to transform or enhance the look and ambience of a room than by your choice of lighting.
A modern kitchen requires a combination of lighting features that complement its multi-purpose function. The three types of lighting you should consider for your kitchen are task, ambient and accent:
· Task: This type of light source provides direct and shadow-free lighting to work surfaces to help you carry out activities such as cooking, chopping, washing up, reading recipes and finding ingredients. Task lighting fixtures such as strip lights and ceiling spotlights clearly illuminate specific areas by offering a concentrated source of light.
· Ambient: This type of lighting can act as a supplementary source to task lighting by providing general illumination throughout a room. This can be achieved through a combination of flush or semi-flush mount ceiling lights and recessed light fittings. Pendant lights are another type of ambient light fixture that can showcase your kitchen by acting as a central statement piece.
· Accent: Accent lighting such as wall sconces, toe kick and recessed lighting acts to emphasize certain areas in a room and can be used to dramatic effect to accentuate particular elements of your kitchen. Under-cabinet or under-counter lights are ideal for illuminating harder-to-see places that may be out of reach as well as adding a modern touch to your kitchen.
Accent lighting can be used to create a more intimate feel to a room by offering warmth and depth through a softer illumination. This makes it the ideal lighting choice for hosting dinner parties and entertaining guests.
Incorporating these lighting elements into your kitchen can help you to enhance this space and make the most of the different features it offers.
Flooring
The right flooring choice can transform the entire tone and aesthetic of your kitchen. Before selecting your material consider the multi-purpose function of this room and the amount of footfall it receives. As well as cooking and dining, the kitchen is also often the epicenter for entertaining as well as the entry point for muddy feet from the backyard.
With this in mind, it is best to choose a modern material that is also long-lasting, durable and slip-resistant. Also, take into account spillages and dirt from outdoors, by selecting flooring that is easy to clean and able to withstand contact with cleaning agents.
There are many great flooring options such as the ones offered by Amber. Below are some materials to help you transform your kitchen floor:
· Hardwoods: This classic material is a popular choice that can create a chic look to your kitchen. This material is not resistant to water so can warp if exposed to high humidity or moisture. However, an engineered wooden floor can be laid or a waterproofing sealer easily applied to protect the wood and preserve its finish.
· Stone: This hardy and durable material offers both functionality and style. A natural stone floor is also easy to clean and provides a cooler alternative for homes in hotter climates. Some common stone materials include sandstone, slate, marble, granite, travertine and flagstone.
· Cork: An eco-friendly option that has increasing appeal for its sustainability, cork offers versatility, comfort as well as beauty. This soft, springy material also has the practical benefit of shock absorbency helping to protect your glassware and dishes from smashing. In addition to being water resistant, cork is also resistant to mold and mildew.
Follow these tips to create a stylish and modern kitchen that is both elegant and highly functional.
