Category: Designing a Kitchen

Saying Goodbye to the Old Kitchen, and Hello to the New

Happy New Year!

We’ve said goodbye to 2017, and hello to 2018. And, for that reason, it’s the perfect time to show you before and after photos of our latest kitchen remodel. We said goodbye to the old, dark kitchen, and hello to a clean, bright, and cozy modern kitchen.

Remodel your kitchen in 2018

Self-care and wellness are at the top of everyone’s new year’s resolution lists. When it comes to the home, the kitchen should be the first place you start a remodel. The kitchen is the heart of the home. Once you have your dream kitchen, it will pump fresh energy to the rest of the house. In 2018 there are two kitchen trends that will dominate over them all, and that’s a clean, bright, and functional design, mixed with warm earthy elements.

Modernizing an old kitchen — The old kitchen was too dark. We needed to brighten it up and make it modern and vibrant.

Brighten up your kitchen

The first thing we wanted to do to this kitchen was open it up and make it brighter. In an attempt to be warm and rustic, the old kitchen had made the mistake of making everything way too dark. There was no light in the old kitchen. Dark wood cabinets, with black countertops, black appliances, and dark wood floors overwhelm the entire design. All the dark tones completely swallowed up any light. We wanted to keep the warmth, but add some bright and vibrant elements to bring life back into this kitchen.

Kitchen design trends — Replace old dark cabinets with clean bright cabinets to modernize your kitchen.

White cabinets

To bring in the light, we brought in custom cabinets in a clean white color and minimalist design. The flat-front cabinet style doors are simple and elegant. We also added the latest trend in modern kitchen design: the big bottom drawers. Instead of lower cabinets, we added the uber-functional, fashionable, and fabulous drawers. Drawers are easy to organize, and you’ll never have to struggle to reach the stuff at the back of the cabinet.

Grey countertops

We also changed the colors of the walls and ceiling to add more light, added a few modern grey tones to break up the white, but still, keep it fresh and modern. The old black countertops were also removed and replaced with matte grey countertops. And, for the centerpiece, the kitchen island, we added a beautiful white natural stone countertop.

Kitchen remodel inspiration — We kept it bright but broke up the white by adding modern grey countertops, and a beautiful white natural stone island countertop.

Warm design elements

By incorporating a few darker elements in the kitchen design we made this modern kitchen feel warm. The chocolate tones of the kitchen island and the hardwood floors make the kitchen feel cozy, not gloomy. Instead of black, which is much too dramatic, we toned it down with contrasting brown tones. It’s the perfect blend of the modern Scandinavian design and the rustic country style kitchen.

Modern kitchen design — We added warm elements, like a dark chocolate kitchen island and reclaimed hardwood floors.

Adding some texture and layers

Instead of having only recessed ceiling lights, like the old kitchen, we added a few hanging light fixtures over the island. The oversized lamps will add a bit of texture to the kitchen, filling out the space and making the whole look more interesting.

Modern kitchen remodel — Oversized hanging lamps add texture and layers, making the whole kitchen design much more appealing.

Kitchen showcase in Denver

The Kitchen Showcase has been helping Colorado homeowners, builders, and interior designers fall in love with their homes for over 30 years. Our Designers average over 21 years each in the Kitchen and bath industry! We are a family-owned business that specializes in the best-in-class brands, expert service and design.

Never Ignore the Kitchen Work Triangle When Remodeling Your Kitchen

The biggest mistake you can make when remodeling your kitchen is to ignore the kitchen work triangle. The functionality and the comfort of the heart of your home will depend on how you place and space the three most used areas: the stove, the sink, and the refrigerator.

The Kitchen Work Triangle

There are many ways to be innovative in kitchen design, but there’s one thing that’s remained constant through every design trend and innovation in kitchen appliances.
When it comes to kitchen design, the kitchen work triangle has never changed. No matter how many custom storage spaces you create, no matter how many cool entertainment nooks you include in your design, the most trafficked area in the kitchen will be from the sink to the stove to the refrigerator.
Once you’ve placed these three points of focus, then you can get creative with design. But, for a kitchen to be efficient, you have to create a smooth workflow and maintain the kitchen work triangle.

Placing the Sink

Remodeling the kitchen in Denver — The placement of the sink is an essential factor in functional kitchen design.

Most people will place the sink where the plumbing pipes are located. However, sometimes the people who did the original plumbing weren’t so concerned with the proper flow of the work triangle.
Don’t let the plumbing dictate where you should put your sink. Let the best kitchen design show you where to place it, and then hire a plumber to help you get the pipes over to the selected spot, and not the other way around.

Spacing between Appliances

Regardless of how big your kitchen is, you still want your stove, refrigerator, and sink to be nearby, without being smooshed together. You want unobstructed access to the most used items, but not so much space between them that you run a marathon every time you’re cooking dinner.
We would say that each point of the kitchen work triangle should be no more than 20ft and no less than 10ft.

Kitchen remodel Denver — When you remodel your kitchen, start by figuring out the kitchen work triangle and design from there.

Kitchen Designers in Denver

The first step to efficient kitchen design is to look at the space of your kitchen. From there, we’ll work out the best placement of the three points of the kitchen work triangle. Then, we’ll work with you to understand your kitchen needs to create efficient storage, as well as plenty of counter space.
Stop by our kitchen showroom in Denver and talk to a kitchen design expert.

The Right Shade of Gray for Your Kitchen

Choosing the right gray for your kitchen

Gray is the new black, whether in the kitchen, the bath, living room, or bedroom. But, with more than 50 shades of gray, which shade of gray is the right for you?
To find the perfect gray tone is to make your kitchen sophisticated and glamorous, while still being tasteful. The color gray is neutral with an attitude. Each tone brings out a different personality, so be sure to pick the right gray for your kitchen.

Different Shades of Gray

The beauty of gray is that it blends well with so many other colors. You can choose a pure gray, varying from light to dark, and then add a pop of a happy color to contrast. If you keep everything too uniformly gray, you may veer off towards a gloomy setting.
But, throw in a bright, bold color, and your gray will make a kitchen feel cheerful and vibrant. You can also blend it with different colors to bring in subtle hues of blue, green, or brown.

Add Light to Your Kitchen

White is a great light enhancer in a kitchen. Using lighter tones of gray in a kitchen can help break up the white, and add a little silvery sparkle. Lighter grays tend to be brighter and can add a touch of sophistication to a modern kitchen design.

Rustic Grays

Many materials come with natural gray tones. Natural stone countertops will heavily feature grays in all shades from a subtle silver to charcoal. While gray may be the color of the times, you can still keep your kitchen feeling rustic while incorporating modern trends at the same time.
Be sure not to overdo it, so if you have gray countertops or a stone kitchen island, you may not also want to paint all your walls gray.

Adding Color to Your Gray

Adding subtle hues of blues and greens is a great way to add a little color, make your gray personal and unique, while sticking to a simple and modern kitchen style.
However, if you do choose a gray that has hints of another color, keep that in mind when choosing the rest of your products. If your gray has a touch of blue, make sure that other colors have the same hues. For instance, if you have wooden cabinets, take care of understanding the shades in the wood to make sure it is consistent with your other color choices.

Choosing a gray for your kitchen — A blue-gray is a cool alternative to the gray trend that is going around.

Kitchen Showroom in Denver

To fully understand all of your style, color, and design choices when remodeling a kitchen, stop by the best kitchen showroom in Denver.
With nearly 40 room displays, you can see, touch and experience your design options first hand. Our designers will show you the best choices for your vision, so you can feel confident in every decision you make.

Avoid These Common Kitchen Remodeling Mistakes

Remodeling your kitchen is a big project that requires a lot of missing pieces. If you’re gutting your old kitchen and making room for a whole new efficient one, there are many moving parts that you have to think about. At the Kitchen Showcase, you’ll get your own personal kitchen design expert that will help you make all the right choices, as well as helping you avoid common kitchen remodeling mistakes.

Kitchen design experts Denver — Make sure everything is placed in proper relation to each other for flow and efficiency.
Credit to Infinity home collection

3 Kitchen Remodeling Mistakes

There are huge remodeling mistakes that homeowners often make, such as measuring wrong, ending up with dead space between cabinets, or countertops being too long and blocking off an entryway. Or spacing your appliances, sinks, trash, cabinets, and islands wrong making it impossible to move about comfortably.
You want your kitchen to have great flow, and how you place everything in relation to each other will make a world of difference.
However, there are also tiny kitchen remodel mistakes that you may not be able to spot at first glance and that over time, will make your kitchen a place of frustration, not comfort.

1) The Right Storage Spaces for Your Kitchen

Getting the right measurements and materials for your kitchen is great for the big picture. You want your kitchen to look and feel right, and make a great impression when you walk in. But, when you start working on your new kitchen, you’ll begin to think deeper about your design choices.
Taking advantage of little design tricks for the inside of your cabinets and drawers will help make your kitchen more efficient. Using dividers inside your drawers to separate utensils, or having pullout shelves in your cabinets will help you be more organized, bringing harmony to your kitchen.

2) Cluttering on Your Counters

Kitchen remodel mistakes — Design proper storage so that you don’t end up cluttering your countertops. Credit to Infinity home collection

If you don’t organize your kitchen right, get enough storage units, enough cabinets, drawers, or shelving you’ll end up placing too much stuff on your countertops. A nice big bowl of fruit or veggies can be a beautiful decorative element, so can a few rustic jars or containers with sugar, rice, pasta, flour, etc.
But, you want to design as much custom storage space for everything in your kitchen to free it up on your countertops. After all, you’re going to need it when working in the kitchen.
If every night, you need to clear off your counters before starting dinner, pretty soon you’re going to be ordering a lot of takeouts.

3) Not Consulting Kitchen Design Experts

We want you to love your kitchen. When you visit our showroom, you get to see and touch every product, making informed decisions about the style of your kitchen, and you’ll be paired up with a friendly and knowledgeable designer.
Not consulting with a kitchen design expert when remodeling your kitchen is one of the biggest remodeling mistakes that you can make, so don’t! Get help from professionals at The Kitchen Showcase in Centennial, Colorado.

Visiting a Kitchen Showroom Before Remodeling

Why you need to visit a kitchen showroom

See and touch all the top brands at our Kitchen Showroom in Centennial.

The Internet is a wonderful place when it comes to finding inspiration for your kitchen remodel, but it can also be hard to figure out exactly which type of cabinets, which backsplash, which hardware, and which countertops are going to be right for you when all you have is a picture. Plus, we all know that the photos that you see online don’t always match up with the real thing. So, before you start ordering materials online, do yourself a favor and head to The Kitchen Showcase (TKS) where you’ll be able to see all the latest products up close and in person.

Know what you’re getting

When you visit TKS, you are going to be able to see, touch, and try out all of your favorite brands, plus discover a few other options that you may have missed on the Internet. When you remodel a kitchen, you have to make smart choices. The kitchen is probably the most used room in the home, so you want to make sure that the design choices you make are going to be worthy of your kitchen. A kitchen has many functions for every family, so the items that you purchase have to meet everyone’s requirements. Remodeling a kitchen and turning your dreams into reality can sometimes be a bit of a puzzle, but that puzzle becomes much more manageable when you can see and touch the things that you are buying.

Getting to know your materials

The look of your overall kitchen is important, but a kitchen is a place where everything is going to get touches, pulled, pushed, and prodded. The materials that you choose need to be able to stand up to the wear and tear that a normal kitchen sees daily, as well as still be aesthetically pleasing. How you are going to use your kitchen is going to determine the materials that are best and most durable. However, you also want to like the way the materials feel. You may like the look of some knobs and pulls, but if you don’t like the way they feel, then they’re going to work against the harmony of your new kitchen.

Kitchen showcase in Centennial — Photos on the Internet can be deceiving, so make sure you see something in person before ordering.

Understanding the size

For interior design experts, contractors, and craftspeople, seeing the measurements of a fridge, cabinets, stove, or kitchen island may be all they need to make a decision. However, for the rest of us, it helps to see the physical item up close. The last thing you want is to buy something and think “hmmm, I thought it was going to be bigger than that.” Seeing something in person will help you make the right choices.

Visit our kitchen showroom in Centennial, Colorado

When you come to TKS, not only do we have one of the largest showrooms in the Denver area, filled with the best brands in the industry, but we also design and install custom cabinets, countertops, hardware, and accessories to help you make your kitchen dreams come true. When you visit our showroom, one of our professional designers will work with you to help you make the right choices for your remodeling project.

Visit kitchen showroom in Centennial Why you need to visit a kitchen showroom

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

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 Removing stains from granite countertops

Complete Custom Kitchen Remodel Project

We recently did a kitchen remodeling project with Warren Remodeling. Together, we created a dream kitchen for our customer, using the best brands and quality materials. Check out this warm and cozy rustic style kitchen project and get inspired to work with The Kitchen Showcase on your next custom kitchen remodel.

Custom kitchen cabinets

The biggest expense in a kitchen remodel are the custom kitchen cabinets. Since they take up the most space and make up a large portion of the overall visual, choosing the right brand, style, and color is important. Of course, style is just one design element. The other important design element is to make your kitchen functional. For a dream kitchen, customize your cabinets to meet every requirement for function as well as being a reflection of your personal style.

Briarwood cabinets for a rustic kitchen

The kitchen is the nexus of the home. It is the one room in the house that will see the most foot traffic, and serve many functions. Your kitchen should be fit for cooking, entertaining, lounging, and working. When we design a kitchen, we make sure to hit on all fronts, making your dream kitchen more than a kitchen, but a reflection of the entire home. This time, the customer wanted to keep her Colorado kitchen country, so we chose to use Briarwood Cabinets in Rustic Beech. The dark cabinets are warm and sleek – perfect for a rustic country style kitchen.

Black kitchen island and white brick backsplash

Custom kitchen cabinets — Briarwood Rustic Beech custom cabinets.

To modernize the rustic kitchen design, we went with a kitchen island glazed in black. A pop of color or a bold black island will make the kitchen feel more vibrant. If you make the design too uniform and consistent throughout, nothing will really stand out. You have to create a few wow factors. Another great contrast to make the kitchen more exciting is the white brick backsplash. The white color gives the kitchen light against the darker wood cabinets, and the brick keeps the design true to its rustic origins.

Complete kitchen remodel in Colorado

If you’re looking for inspiration for a kitchen remodel, stop by our kitchen showroom in Denver and check out all the latest and greatest kitchen products. We’ll also match you with a designer who can help you turn your dream kitchen into a reality. Like this recent kitchen remodeling project, we’ll work closely with your interior designer to make sure you get the best products for your budget and your style.

Complete kitchen remodel in Colorado Kitchen showroom in Denver

Remodeling a Contemporary Country Kitchen

Nothing is more classic than a white kitchen. 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. Our latest kitchen remodel project takes classic design elements and mixes them with a few modern touches.

Kitchen design by Darrel Stoesz Warren from The Kitchen Showcase in Denver.

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, as well as be functional in storing all of your kitchenwares. 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.

Remodeling 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.

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.

Best selection of kitchen products Complete kitchen remode The Kitchen Showcase in Denver

Subtle Design Tricks to Make Your Kitchen Pop

There’s nothing we love more than looking for hot new design trends. Designing a kitchen is never simple, as a kitchen needs to meet several criteria. The design criteria for the perfect kitchen is entirely up to the person we are designing for, as personal style plays a huge role. When you are looking to add a little touch of personality, take a look at these subtle design tricks to make your kitchen pop.

Subtle kitchen design trends — Choose a darker color to go with a lighter cabinet door to frame the cabinet.

Modern kitchen design tricks

It’s the little subtle design details that can make a kitchen go from so-so to simply stunning. Although these tricks may seem modern, when incorporated correctly, they can work with any style. A few modern features is a great way to elevate a classic kitchen design. Over the past few years, we’ve seen designers add a bright pop of contrasting color to custom cabinets and countertops to make the kitchen exciting and interesting. However, instead of adding contrast via accessories and decorations in your kitchen, you can customize your cabinets to incorporate a subtle contrasting color to make the cabinets pop.

Contrasting colors

When you customize your cabinetry, you ensure that they are both functional and befitting to your personal style. However, instead of making all cabinets one uniform color or texture, add a little contrast. Make the casing or the frame of the cabinets a solid contrasting color to that of the doors and drawers. A dark color that is contrasting to the rest of the cabinets will create a graphic effect like you’ve outlined your cabinets to highlight their beauty.

Contrasting textures

Kitchen cabinets design trends — Danver Classic Key West Cabinet Door Frame with contrasting colors.

Instead of choosing a color to outline your cabinets, find a material with a texture that is in contrast to your cabinet doors and drawers. You can also use your countertops to add contrast. For the best effect, we recommend using a darker color for the outline or the background and having the biggest area of the cabinets be lighter, as opposed to featuring a darker color with a light outline. The consequence of having the darker color as the dominant color could be an effect that is too aggressive.

Kitchen design help

When you remodel your kitchen with The Kitchen Showcase in Denver, you not only get access to the best products available, but you’ll get complimentary design help from professional designers. You can look through our designer profiles to request a designer. You can also stop by our kitchen showcase and talk to us about your project. Once we understand your vision, we can help pair you with the right designer.
Let’s get started on designing your dream kitchen!

designing your dream kitchen Modern kitchen design tricks

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 Benefits of laminate kitchen cabinets Laminate kitchen cabinets