National surveys have found the kitchen is the most popular room in the home to renovate. That certainly has been the case for homeowners in the Upper Valley. Given that the home’s role has changed significantly in the last nine months, homeowners in the Upper Valley are using their homes and kitchens more than ever before and for multiple purposes. We understand the need and desire to upgrade to serve your new wants and dreams.
Many homeowners in the Upper Valley gravitate to classic materials. They want their new dream kitchen to look and function as good as it does the day it is delivered far into the future. We help homeowners in the Upper Valley make timeless product and design choices that will provide tremendous functionality and aesthetic beauty for many years to come.
Start with cabinets. First rule – don’t be pennywise and dollar foolish. Cabinets are one of the most significant investments you make in a new kitchen. To help ensure your new kitchen’s long-term performance, select styles that won’t have to change, be painted or upgraded for years. White cabinets remain the most popular choice, selected in about half of all kitchen renovations. If you are looking for something a little different, we often will recommend linen colors versus white. The style of the home and the look and feel you want to achieve also influence cabinet selection. More traditional motifs gravitate to framed cabinets stained in walnut or cherry.
More modern or contemporary designs opt for flat panel cabinets in white, gray and lighter shades of blue and green. When it comes to cabinet selection, you truly do get what you pay for, so invest wisely if you want performance and longevity from your investment.
Similar to cabinets, countertops also should be selected for the long term. Quartz has replaced granite as the most popular countertop material because of its strength and nearly maintenance-free qualities. Marble and granite are timeless materials; however, they need to be resealed regularly while quartz does not.
Lighting can make or break how your kitchen looks, feels and functions. Lighting is equally as important as cabinets and countertops. You can buy a functional $70 faucet in a home center, but most likely, that faucet will not add much to the kitchen’s beauty. A similar analogy holds true for lighting. Simply placing flush-mounted or recessed fixtures in the center of your kitchen ceiling can provide functional light, but that type of lighting may do little to beautify the space, create a mood or evoke favorable emotional responses. Effective lighting illuminates a space in layers using different components and strategies to paint the final picture. That involves layering fixtures, sconces, pendants, undercabinet and in-drawer lighting, and using lamps that complement other materials in the kitchen.
Backsplashes are another element where homeowners should select color schemes and materials that can withstand the test of time. White subway tile has been a standard-bearer for some time. We often suggest larger tiles or different orientations such as vertical or chevron patterns for customers who want a twist on that look. You can also use different grout colors to make a distinctive design statement with subway tile.
What elements of your dream kitchen need to withstand the test of time? Give us a call at 603-448-9700 or make an appointment to visit our showroom virtually or in-person at 105 Hanover Street, Lebanon, NH, and we can help you select the products and designs that result in a timeless kitchen.
