Category: Designing a Kitchen

Designing a Kitchen With Purpose and Appeal

3 of the Most Popular Kitchen Styles Today

Everyone dreams of designing their own home. You get a chance to make every room fully functional and an accurate representation of you and your family. Since the kitchen is the heart of the home, the design should be thoughtful so that your choices can get pumped through the entire house, creating a cohesive, warm, and inspiring feeling.

Designing your dream kitchen

Avoid kitchen design mistakes — Customize the kitchen to fit the space and every nuanced angle.

When you set out to create your dream kitchen, you need to think about your objectives. You want to allow yourself to be creative, but you also have to think about functionality and efficiency. The kitchen needs to be usable, as well as visually appealing.

Kitchen objectives

When you use your kitchen, there has to be a natural flow taking you from each task to the next. The right tools need to be near the area where they are most likely to be used. Start with the kitchen triangle, and then think about how you would naturally move about your kitchen for the most functional layout. Make sure you give yourself enough space and think about what other functions your kitchen needs to provide.

The kitchen is more than a place to eat; it’s a place to hang out. Be smart about how you utilize the space so that you incorporate the needs of every family member. Include every member of the family in the design process so that everyone’s needs are represented.

Choosing the right gray for your kitchen — Your design should appeal to your aesthetic and not be too trendy.

Collect inspiration

Find inspiration from magazines, kitchen showrooms, and your friends, neighbors, and family. You may see things that you didn’t realize you were missing. Visiting a showroom gives you the advantage of seeing kitchen design up close and personal. You can walk around in the kitchen to see how well it suits your kitchen objectives.

Avoid Being Too Trendy

Trends change with the seasons; you want your kitchen design to stand the test of time. Look for trends that increase function and efficiency, but try to avoid too many stylistic trends. If a kitchen is too stylistically trendy, you may get sick of it as soon as that trend is replaced with another. Blend your own personal aesthetic with a few trends to get the right balance. Make sure you always design for you and your family, not to live up to fleeing interior design trends.

Visit our kitchen showroom in Denver, Colorado, for more kitchen design inspiration.

The Stone Cold Truth About Soapstone Countertops

The gray trend isn’t slowing down. It’s a beautiful neutral color, and it appears in a lot of materials naturally. In the kitchen, using natural stone countertops will give the grays an organic feel. Soapstone is a natural stone that is usually dark gray and is a beautiful alternative to granite countertops.

Soapstone countertops

We’re always talking about granite and quartz, but soapstone has been around for ages. Many historic homes will use soapstone countertops. The dark gray natural stone color of soapstone has allowed this material to transition to the modern kitchen, but still keeping the rustic qualities of a classic home.

Remodeling your kitchen in Denver — Silky smooth, dark gray soapstone countertops

Characteristics of soapstone

Soapstone has a smooth and silky surface, which makes it a great natural stone countertop material. As the soapstone ages, a beautiful patina will appear, giving it a bit more texture and character. It will give your modern kitchen a nod to antique and historic homes, while still maintaining it’s contemporary flair.

Color

The color of soapstone is a dark gray, and as it ages and settles, the color will become a bit darker. That is important to consider when you are designing your kitchen. If you are trying to match other gray tones to your soapstone countertops, be aware that the original color, when first installed, will turn a shade (or half a shade) darker over time.

Visit a kitchen showroom to compare countertop materials.

Heat and scratches

Since it is natural stone, it is quite resistant to heat and to stains. However, the smooth surface can become scratched over time if you work directly on the soapstone countertop. The good news is that any scratch can be sanded, a bit like sanding and refinishing hardwood floors. Of course, just like hardwood floors, a few scratches and some wear and tear can add to the appeal of the countertop.

Visit our kitchen showroom in Denver to check out all our countertops.

What Is The Most Profitable Home Remodel Attracting Buyers?

Being a homeowner means that you’re always looking to upgrade rooms, remodel, and making it homier and more functional. A home is a constant work in progress. Unless you have an unlimited supply of time and money, you want to choose projects wisely. Some home improvements and renovations will increase the value of your home, and giving you a high return on your investment when it comes time to sell.

Most profitable remodel project

Any upgrades to the kitchen will give significant ROI.

The most profitable renovation project is the kitchen. Just a few minor upgrades and you can expect to get more than 50% back in resale value. If you are looking to sell immediately, there are a few small changes you can make to give the home more in-house appeal to buyers. Not only will the new upgrades be attractive to buyers, but knowing that they won’t have to embark on remodeling projects right after they buy, will also add some appeal.

Full kitchen remodel

There are two ways you can tackle the kitchen. The first is a complete kitchen overhaul where you gut the kitchen and put in all new custom cabinets, efficient and functional storage spaces, countertops, and appliances. For a complete kitchen remodel, you can expect to get up to 60% ROI. One thing to consider is whether your style is going to be the same as potential buyers. You may want to consider choosing a style that is relatively neutral and appealing to a larger crowd than something highly personalized.

New drawer and cabinet fronts will appeal to potential buyers.

Kitchen face-lift

The second way to upgrade your kitchen is to give it a quick face-lift. That means that you change out the appliances to be newer and more efficient, but instead of gutting the kitchen and replacing the cabinets, you replace the cabinet doors. Small upgrades, like a new faucet and hardware for your cabinets and drawers, can also give your kitchen a newer look that will appeal to buyers. With just a few small changes to the surface of the kitchen, the ROI can be as high as 80%.

Before you make any changes, visit our showroom to see all your options for materials and colors. Talk to our designers about what will give you the best return on your investment.

The Many Benefits of Beautiful Laminate Kitchen Cabinets

Not every renovation budget will allow a person to choose natural wood cabinets. Fortunately, getting laminate kitchen cabinets can still give you the beautiful effect that you desire. Laminate cabinetry may have gotten a bad rap, but there is no shame in choosing laminate cabinets to complete your dream kitchen.

Benefits of laminate kitchen cabinets

Besides being cost-effective, laminate kitchen cabinets have a number of benefits. Most importantly, laminate kitchen cabinets come in a myriad of styles and colors. They are customizable, so you can have your laminate kitchen cabinets built specifically for your kitchen and your needs.

Laminate cabinets are durable

The biggest advantage of laminate kitchen cabinets is their durability. Every kitchen should have great ventilation to create a consistent and healthy indoor air quality. However, the moisture content in the kitchen will vary from dinner to dinner. Laminate kitchen cabinets are resistant to changes in moisture. Laminate cabinets won’t warp or crack from the steam of a kettle or pressure cooker. You can safely let that stew “stew” on the stove all day without worrying about the condition of your cabinets.

Laminate cabinets are easy to maintain

Benefits of laminate kitchen cabinets — Aristokraft Cabinet
Door style: Durham
Color: Toasted Antique

Laminate kitchen cabinets are easily maintained. Splashes, grease, and dirt can quickly be wiped off of your cabinets, leaving them good as new. The color won’t fade with time, so refacing your cabinets won’t be necessary. Unless, of course, you’re just switching up your style. However, you won’t have to reface due to wear and tear.

Laminate cabinets fit every style

Persona style is important when choosing cabinets. Of course, you want them to be affordable and practical. However, if you don’t like the look, then it’s not worth your money. Laminate kitchen cabinets come in every style and color. You can even get laminate kitchen cabinets that imitate natural wood.

Laminate kitchen cabinetry in Denver

At TKS, we are picky about the brands that we recommend to our customers. If you are looking for laminate kitchen cabinets, check out Aristokraft Cabinetry. Aristokraft Cabinetry has the style, selection, and value you need to bring your vision to life.

Stop by our Denver kitchen showroom and talk to a designer about the right cabinets for your style, budget, and timeframe.

Aristokraft Cabinetry Laminate kitchen cabinets

The Stone Cold Truth About Granite Countertops

Countertops come in many materials and colors. Your style and your lifestyle should both be taken into consideration when you choose a countertop. One of the more popular countertop materials is stone. Stone surfaces have many pros and a few cons. Let’s take a closer look at some of the pros and cons of granite countertops.

Stone countertops

Overall, stone countertops are solid, durable, easy to maintain, and resistant to all the elements that come with a kitchen, like heat and moisture. Stone countertops will mostly allow you to work directly on the countertops, eliminating cutting boards and hot pads. There are a few differences that could impact your enjoyment, and whether they are befitting to your kitchen, as well as your budget.

Granite

When money is no object, granite is the countertop material of choice. Granite countertops will add beauty and natural elegance to your kitchen, as well as real estate value to your home. Having granite countertops is like having hardwood floors; potential buyers will love them, so that’s something to consider if you are remodeling before selling. However, granite countertops have a long lifespan. So, even if you aren’t remodeling to sell right now, the granite countertops will keep on giving value to your home for years to come.

Considerations for granite countertops

Gray and white kitcheb — Photo: St. Cecilia granite countertop.

One thing to consider with granite countertops is that the surface is imperfect. If you’re looking for a smooth surface, granite may be too rough for your taste. The higher quality the granite is, the fewer imperfections there will be and the smoother the surface. However, the subtle imperfections of granite can also add a wonderfully rugged and natural texture to your kitchen.

One of the pluses of granite is the ability to work directly on the countertops. But you do need to be aware that your knives will dull more quickly from cutting on granite.

Check out granite countertops and other stone countertops at our kitchen showroom in Denver.

Remodeling a Contemporary Country Kitchen

A light, white kitchen is an eternal classic. By adding a few soft, neutral colors to break up the clean white cabinets, you soften the palette and make the kitchen warmer. White colors make a kitchen feel clean, thereby inviting guests to want to cook and eat, whereas warmer tones prevent the kitchen from feeling too clinical and cold. One of our kitchen remodel projects takes classic design elements and mixes them with a few modern touches.

Complete kitchen remodel

When we take on a remodeling project, we work with each client from the concept to the final installation of all products. The first step is to assess the space, and then we talk to the client to get an idea of their dream kitchen. Then the fun begins, choosing the perfect style of the cabinets, the countertops, the sink, the hardware, the lighting, and of course, all the fun aesthetic elements that will make this kitchen feel like home. For this recent kitchen remodel project, we chose to use a creative tile backsplash to add a little country charm to a contemporary kitchen.

Custom cabinets

The cabinets are going to be the biggest portion of designing a kitchen. They are the most visible, will take up the most space, and serve the biggest functional purpose. You want the cabinets to match your style and perfectly fit with the right dimensions, as well as be functional in storing all of your kitchenware. Custom designing your cabinets will give you the best results, utilizing all the space and creating the perfect storage unit or display cases to fit your kitchen.

Customize your kitchen cabinets to meet every function and style requirement. Raised panel cabinet doors

For this charming kitchen remodel, we used a raised panel cabinet door style. Instead of completely white cabinets, the cabinets feature a fine dark trim to give the cabinets a more rustic design aesthetic. Adding to the rustic theme, the cabinets are complemented with antique bronze hardware and knobs, which is both rustic and modern.

Quartz countertops

We’re big fans of quartz countertops. They’re durable, stain- and heat-resistant, and offer many more style and color choices than granite or marble. The only difference is that quartz is engineered, whereas granite and marble are made from solid stone. However, quartz can still give your kitchen an organic feel, adding to the theme of a contemporary country kitchen.

Tile backsplashes

We always focus on the cabinets and countertops when we’re designing a kitchen. However, when it comes to tying the whole kitchen design together, you have to think about the big picture, from floor to ceiling. Instead of white walls behind the cabinets and above the counters, we went with a more artistic and chic design choice and added a tiled backsplash. A tiled backsplash adds another textural element, making the design more exciting. By incorporating the colors and the tones from the quartz and the cabinets, we make the kitchen design feel cohesive and complete.

Remodeling your kitchen — Add a pop of color to your rustic kitchen.

Recessed ceiling lights and a pop of color

Mixing and matching design styles can make for a more personalized kitchen design, so don’t be afraid to add modern touches to a rustic kitchen. For this remodel, we used recessed ceiling lights, instead of hanging fixtures. We painted one wall a vibrant deep blue to add a pop of color to an otherwise white and neutral kitchen.

The Kitchen Showcase in Denver

When you work with The Kitchen Showcase on our complete kitchen remodel project, you get the best selection of kitchen products for any budget and any style. We will also pair you with a designer who can help you bring your vision to life.

Every home deserves a great kitchen, and TKS is the best place to make all of your kitchen dreams come true.

Three Simple Steps to Keeping Granite Countertops Sparkly and New

When you get a brand new kitchen, it’s almost too beautiful to use. You don’t want to mess anything up. However, at some point, you’re going to have to start using your kitchen, and that includes getting the countertops dirty. Although there’s something cozy about a kitchen that has been through its share of dinner parties and bake sales, you can still take measures to keep your kitchen, especially the granite countertops, looking shiny and new.

Cleaning granite countertops — Wipe up spills and dry your granite countertops after use to keep them looking new.

Granite countertops are the number one choice

From the ancient pyramids to your new kitchen countertops, granite has stood the test of time. From the unique beauty of the natural stone to their durability, granite countertops continue to lead the pack. One of the biggest draws is that granite countertops are virtually maintenance-free – virtually.

Maintaining granite countertops

Granite countertops are made up of many different crystals that give it that distinct look that varies from stone to stone. The blend of crystals that make up your countertops is what gives each slab unique characteristics. Because of the blend of crystals, the first thing you need to make sure is that your granite countertops are properly sealed. Whereas most countertops come pre-sealed when they are installed, you will have to reapply sealant from time to time. If you notice that moisture is being absorbed into your countertops rather than beading up and remaining on the surface, it may be time to reapply another coat of sealant.

Removing stains from granite countertops

Baking soda is one of the most useful items that we all have in our kitchen. Plus, it’s a natural, non-toxic product that you can use to rid your countertops of unwanted stains and watermarks. Make a paste of baking soda and water and spread it over the stains. Leave the paste to absorb the stain. Sometimes, this method can take a few days. If you’re impatient, you can add a bit of hydrogen peroxide to speed things up.

Regular maintenance of granite countertops

Of course, daily maintenance is your best weapon against premature wear and tear. After each use, be sure to wipe down your granite countertops using water and a mild soap. Try to avoid acidic liquids, as these could damage the sealant. When you’re done, dry your counters completely and you’ll be rewarded with years and years of gorgeous granite countertops that keep looking as good as new.

Kitchen showroom in Centennial

Contemporary or traditional? Modern or vintage? Large or small? If you’re looking to remodel your kitchen or simply replace your countertops, make an appointment at our Denver kitchen showroom. We’ve got the largest selection of top brands for every style and budget. Plus, we’ll match you up with a designer to help you turn your dream kitchen into a reality.

Maintaining granite countertops

Bringing the Kitchen Outdoors

A beautifully designed outdoor kitchen in a Colorado backyard.

‘Tis the season for BBQs and backyard parties. However, homeowners aren’t just looking to get a great grill and some patio furniture; they’re looking to take the BBQ area to the next level by designing a fully functioning outdoor kitchen.

Design solutions for an outdoor kitchen

Design an outdoor kitchen in Denver — Take your grill area to the next level by designing a fully functional outdoor kitchen.

The demand for functional space has made the outdoor kitchen a growing trend. When you are BBQing and entertaining in your garden, it’s really annoying to have to keep running back and forth from your kitchen to get supplies or finish your cooking. You end up missing out on the whole party. Homeowners are getting fed up and have started to look for ways to turn the BBQ area into a fully functional outdoor kitchen.

Planning the layout

When you design an indoor kitchen, the walls will naturally help you determine the layout of the kitchen, as well as create boundaries to help define the space. In an outdoor kitchen, you need to define the space with your layout. The shape and structure of your counters are going to define the space of your outdoor kitchen. An L shape or a U, depending on how much counter space you are going for, are the most classic shapes of an outdoor kitchen.

Placement of appliances

How you design your outdoor kitchen will have a lot to do with where there is sun and where there is shade. When you are placing appliances, like the refrigerator, you want to make sure that it is not going to be sitting in the glaring sunlight. If you don’t have a place for shade, you’ll want to incorporate ways of creating shade into your outdoor kitchen design.

Grill placement

The grill is often the focal point in an outdoor kitchen. Think about the perfect place for the grill and then design your outdoor kitchen from there. Make sure you don’t place the grill so that you end up standing with our back to your guests the whole time.

The right materials for an outdoor kitchen — Find durable materials for your outdoor kitchen.

Durable materials

The biggest consideration you have to make when you design an outside kitchen is the materials you’re going to use. For the casework and the countertops, stone, quartz, and granite are great options. Not only are they beautiful, but these materials are tough and can stand up to the elements and the weather conditions.

Water and electric

There are also practical considerations when you design an outdoor kitchen. You’re going to want to charge your phone and plug in a blender, so make sure you add electrical outlets. You need water, so be sure to plan the layout of the kitchen accordingly to sources of electricity and water. Needless to say, installations are to be handled carefully and best done by a qualified professional.

Everything you need for your outdoor kitchen

The Kitchen Showcase (TKS) only carries proven brands that lead their price category for quality and value. We can help you design an outdoor kitchen that matches your style and your budget. With TKS, you get higher quality and better-looking products at incredibly competitive rates. Your neighbors will be peeking over the garden fence at your new outdoor kitchen and wonder how you did it.

Drawers Are Replacing the Base Cabinets in Modern Kitchens

Custom cabinets are one of the biggest aspects of remodeling your kitchen. You want to create a storage space that fits your sense of style, but also your lifestyle. Something may look good on the outside, but if it isn’t practical or useful, then the outer beauty quickly begins to fade. Even with a kitchen remodel, it’s what’s on the inside that counts. Many homeowners are looking at their kitchen cabinets and thinking, “there’s gotta be a smarter way to store all my stuff!” There is! You can switch out your base cabinets with roll-out drawers.

Modernize your kitchen — Large kitchen drawers instead of base cabinets are a great modern touch.

Customize your kitchen drawers for a seamless fit

You can customize cabinets and put in great lighting so that it’s easier to see what’s in the back, but being able to pull out a drawer all the way is going to make it much easier to reach the things that you’ve stored in the back. You can make some drawers deeper and longer, depending on your needs. Just like the classic cabinet, you can also customize kitchen drawers.

Drawers make your kitchen more efficient

Drawers can still have a surface that is cozy and rustic, even if having drawers in your kitchen is ultra modern. The brilliance of drawers isn’t in their outer appearance; it’s in their super-efficient design, and how they make organization so much easier. When you have drawers, you’ll never have to bruise your knees or knock your forehead when digging for a bowl at the back of a bottom cabinet. When you have a large drawer that you can pull out, exposing everything that you have in there, it’s going to make your kitchen so much easier to be in.

Modern kitchen design trends — Drawers are efficient and easy to organize.

Drawers keep the design clean

Clutter is never a good thing in a kitchen, which has lead to a much cleaner and more simplistic design style in modern kitchens. When you are choosing a front for your drawer, think about a simple clean slab in a light neutral color. If you need a pop of drama, you can go for bold hardware and pulls. When you choose drawers, it’s much easier to keep the design clean.

Visit our kitchen showroom for inspiration

We invite you to stop by our new beautiful kitchen and bathroom design showroom, located in Centennial, Colorado. Get inspiration from some of the best brands in the industry, and work with a professional design expert to design your dream kitchen.

Transform Your Kitchen with Smart Storage Spaces

How much kitchen counter space do you need?

The functionality of a kitchen is the biggest trend that we have to think about as designers. People love to gather in the kitchen, so homeowners are looking to turn it into a space for entertaining as well as cooking. Hence, the rise of the big open plan kitchen. If you’re a foodie who loves to cook and entertain, then this trend makes total sense. To make the kitchen efficient as well as functional, you need to customize your cabinetry to be smart about storage.

Customize smart storage space in your kitchen — Having big drawers instead of bottom cabinets is huge in modern European kitchen design.

Smart storage spaces

Of course, you want your cabinets to look good in your kitchen, but they need to help you organize all your stuff so that you can move about comfortably and find everything easily. Organization is the biggest consideration when you are customizing your cabinets.

Big drawers

When we talk about custom cabinetry, we’re not just talking about the size and the color. You want to think of custom kitchen cabinets as custom storage units for your kitchen. We’re so used to the traditional layout of drawers lining the bottom of our countertops, and then having cabinets under the drawers. This layout is a classic look for a traditional kitchen.
A modern twist to the classic kitchen is to build rows of big, deep drawers all the way from your counters to the floor. Having drawers instead of traditional cabinets is a smart way of keeping all of your kitchen items organized. For some reason, we’ve grown content with only using drawers for utensils, but you can customize your kitchen drawers to accommodate just about anything.
Another added bonus of having drawers instead of cabinets is that you won’t have to crouch down and use a flashlight to see what you put in the back of the cabinet. With drawers, you can just pull them all the way out for easy access to all of your kitchenware.

Open shelves

Designing smart storage in the kitchen — Open shelves can give your kitchen a little dimension for a great visual, as well as make it more efficient.

Since we’re mixing up the traditional cabinetry design, why not switch out a few of your hanging cabinets with some open shelves? Having open shelves will create dimension in your kitchen for a visually interesting effect, but when you’re juggling dinner and guests, it’s way more efficient to be able to see everything instead of having to play a game of memory and open all the cabinets looking for a dish or appliance.
Of course, there’s also a downside to seeing everything out in the open. If you have mismatched items, the visual effect can appear cluttered, so think about the types of things that you’ll be storing on open shelves. Keep the odd-shaped items in cabinets and put the matching items out in the open.

Visit our kitchen design showroom in Centennial

Whether you’re renovating a tired kitchen or creating the home of your dreams, there is no better feeling than knowing you made great decisions, selected the best products for your budget, and avoided costly delays. Come to our kitchen design showroom in Centennial to find design solutions, ideas and inspiration for every style and every budget.

Custom storage units for your kitchen Customize your kitchen drawers Kitchen design showroom in Centennial