Vern Yip – an interior designer and a star of “Bank for Your Buck” on HGTV – had a very interesting article in Washington Post about high-end worthy renovations. I thought I bring some of his ideas to life – as it’s impossible to do it in a newspaper. So here is what he is suggesting:
Kitchen updates:
1. Dacor’s Discovery iQ 48 – inch dual-fuel range, which features an integrated, wirelessly connected tablet and a proprietary control panel dubbed the Dacor iQ Controller. The cooking application allows the user to effortlessly download recopies, get cooking advice and watch tutorials all while standing at the range. And a programmed guide assists with cooking many dishes, cueing the range to automatically change over to warming mode when food is finished, and alerting you via text message. And on and on an on 🙂
2. Cambria countertop surfaces. Cambria surfaces are American-made, natural stone products created by combining pure quartz with small amounts of pigment and resin to produce an end-product that is both – strong and non-porous. For years golden standard has been granite which typically has 40-60% quartz content. Cambria’s 93% quartz connect surfaces that appear just like granite or virtually any other natural stone (about 100 styles available) while also being maintenance – free. Here is their website.
3. Floors that looks like wood and stone, but require minimal maintenance. Wood and stone are most popular finishes that consumers like, yet they require a ton of maintenance – even if rooms that don’t take a beating like a kitchen does. So flooring experts like Ceramic Technics point to the latest glazed, Italian doppelgängers that look like would and stone but require little or no maintenance. When the floor is laid down in planks, it can be virtually impossible to visually tell the difference. If you want a durable wood floor consider Ceramic Technic’s Sienna Crosscut Wood Tile. If stone flooring better suits your taste, look to Ceramic Technic’s Sienna Stone Plank tile. Here is their website.
4. Even if you are not looking for a major renovation you can update your cabinet and hardware. Crystal and geometrics are two of the biggest design trends today, and they can be both found in some stunning hardware offerings by Emtek. Emtek’s Modern Disc and and Modern Square Crystal Knobs offer elegance every time you open a kitchen door. If your cabinets and drawers need a little attention consider Emtek’s Alexander Pull and Brass Geometric Knob. Both are notable for feeling current and timeless simultaneously from high-grade materials that will endure.
As for finishes, all are available in oil-rubbed bronze, satin nickel, polished nickel and polished chrome. Finish trends come and go, so just make sure that your cabinet hardware, door hardware and light-fixture finishes emanate from the same color family to tie a thread around the design choices.
Don’t worry about mixing non-stainless-steel hardware with your stainless steel appliances, which serve as a neutral backdrop that frees you to make other finish choices without matching concerns.
Today’s kitchen really has cemented itself as the heart of an increasingly busy home, so it’s worthwhile to consider the occasional update, remodel or overhaul. Luckily with today’s innovative products, you can create a space that is highly functional and stylish.