Category: Designing a Kitchen

How to Design and Layout A Classic Farmhouse Kitchen

We’ve got some great ideas for designing a farmhouse kitchen. A farmhouse kitchen can be full of antique and reclaimed materials, but you can easily add modern touches. In fact, the more you blend modern and rustic elements, the more personal your farmhouse kitchen becomes.

The farmhouse style

A farmhouse kitchen is often open, bright, warm, and functional. There are various textures and materials to make it feel both homey and sophisticated. You want to balance light colors with natural elements, brass and metal fixtures, mixed with softer elements. The farmhouse style kitchen is an open plan that has zones implemented to make it functional, but also surprising elements to make it interesting.

Modern farmhouse kitchen — A modern farmhouse style kitchen with deep brown hardwood floors next to white cabinets and metal light fixtures.

Natural tones with white cabinets

We often associate a farmhouse kitchen with warm wood tones all around. However, the classic white cabinets next to deep brown hardwood floors and a few natural wood tones will blend the modern, clean design with a bit of country. Adding some elegant countertops in natural stone makes your farmhouse feel both warm and luxurious.

Cheerful Colors

If you have a lot of wood elements in your kitchen and everything is becoming very earth-toned, make the kitchen a bit more cheerful by having brightly colored cabinets. But, be careful. Don’t add too many bright colors, and place them strategically so that they add a bit of cheerfulness, without overpowering the warmth and comfort of a farm style kitchen. A bit of cheerful yellow or bright red to add a pop of color can add some vibrancy to your design.

Copper and black fixtures

Earthy elements are a staple when designing a farm style kitchen. Look at knobs and pulls for your cabinets and drawers that are made of matte black iron or copper tones. A farmhouse kitchen needs to be tough and durable, but still elegant in design. Using metals will add a strong industrial vibe to offset some of the softer, natural elements. It’s a nice contrast that will add some visual excitement.

Lighting

Look at layering your light fixtures, adding some rustic hanging lamps in copper with recessed lighting. And, remember to include spotlighting to light up certain areas that need more lights. You need extra light in areas where you are prepping and cooking. You also need to think about lighting in your cabinets to make it easier to find your things. Layered lighting, as well as different types of bulbs, can create the right mood in your farmhouse kitchen.

Personal touches and wood accents

The final accomplishment in a farmhouse kitchen is personal elements. Signs, pictures, and frames that have been handmade should be hung in the kitchen to add a “lived in” and personal touch. But, keep it simple. Choose just a few rustic elements, and try to stick to materials that go well with the rest of the kitchen. Look for things in wood or metal to go with the rest of your design choices.

Design dream kitchen — Create functional spaces in our farmhouse kitchen.

Functional Spaces

Finally, the layout of your farmhouse kitchen should be open and functional. Make sure there are functional spaces where you do your prepping, cooking, entertaining, homework, etc. You want to make the kitchen a place where family and friends gather, where memories are made, but also where you can cook comfortably.
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 best-in-class brands and expert service and design.

Designing farmhouse kitchen

Which Installation Comes First: The Floors or the Cabinets

A complete kitchen remodel can be a bit of a puzzle when it comes to the order of installation. Designing and picking out products is the fun part, but the installation takes careful planning. There are a few obvious things that you have to do first, but there are also upsides and downsides to each option. Which comes first in a kitchen remodel, the floors or the cabinets?

Custom kitchen cabinets — Install floors before installing kitchen cabinets.
Credit to Infinity home collection

What to install first

When we decide what to install first in a complete kitchen remodel we look at more than contractor availability, we also look at how to save time, money, and allow room for change in the future. A custom kitchen is designed for function and efficiency, and we design our remodeling installation using the same principles. When you clean, the smart thing to do is to go from top to bottom. But when it comes to installing a new kitchen, we recommend working from bottom to top. In other words, install floors before kitchen cabinets.

Floors before cabinets

Installing floors is easier if you’re working with a clean space. That means that there are few obstructions in your way. Installing the floor before the cabinets is more time efficient and easier because you won’t have to cut around the bottom cabinets. The more you have to design and cut your flooring to fit around cabinets, the longer it will take and the more it will cost.

Leave room for change

Custom cabinets — Installing the cabinets after the floors will allow you to change them in the future.

If you put in the cabinets first, you have to install your floors around the bottom cabinets. That means, if you ever want to change your cabinets in the future you’ll also have to fix your floors. You are stuck always choosing cabinets that fit the cutouts on your floors. Installing floors first will allow you to change your cabinets in the future.

Kitchen design and installation in Colorado

At The Kitchen Showcase, our designers will help you from design to installation. We want the entire kitchen remodeling process to go smoothly. We’ll make sure that everything is installed in the best, most efficient order. Stop by our kitchen showroom in Denver.

The Kitchen Showcase Helps Interior Designers Design Dream Homes

Interior designers have the awesome job of helping people design their dream home. And The Kitchen Showcase (TKS) has the awesome job of helping interior designers make dreams come true for their clients. Every client wants options, whether you’re a homeowner or interior designer. Our showroom is the perfect place to find inspiration and check out all of your options first hand.

Kitchen Showroom in Denver

At TKS we understand what interior designers go through to please their clients. Although a picture says a thousand words, nothing beats taking your clients to a kitchen showroom to show them exactly how their home will look once it is finished. Visiting a showroom with your clients will help them make the right decisions about every product. Plus, you will be able to show them exactly what their options are for their price range.

Best-in-class brands in every price range

With over 40 showrooms and in-house interior designers with over 21 years in the kitchen and bath industry, we can help the client design their dream home. TKS specializes in best-in-class brands. No matter the budget your client has set, TKS can help you find products that will make your clients fall in love with their home.

Show clients their new home

One of the hardest parts of being an interior designer is to help your clients visualize their new home. By taking them to our showroom, your clients will get to experience all the best products and see exactly how they will look and function in their home. Because the best interior design is about blending style and function. Once you’ve visited TKS, your clients will be able to make the right choices with confidence.

The Kitchen Showcase in Denver

We offer greater quality and value than any kitchen and bath company in Colorado. When you work with TKS, you get much, much more for your investment. Your clients will love it, and they’ll love their new home that you designed using The Kitchen Showcase in Denver.

helping interior designers make dreams come true for their clients Kitchen showroom in Denver The Kitchen Showcase in Denver

Customization and Personalization are Top Kitchen Design Trends for 2018

The biggest kitchen trend for 2018 is a bright, modern kitchen, with a warm country ambiance. We’re mixing and matching styles to create the perfect kitchen. 2018 is all about customization and personalization, so if you need to take a little from many styles, then go for it! You do you! As long as the kitchen is clean, bright, and efficient, you can have fun with the personal touches.

Customizing Your Kitchen in 2018

Stop worrying about what everyone else is doing and listen to your own instincts. When you customize a kitchen, it’s important that you’re honest with yourself. Everyone has different expectations and needs from their kitchen. Some like to cook big family meals while others use the oven as extra storage space. Whatever way you intend to use your kitchen, make sure you design for your specific needs, not what you think you should need.

Personally efficient

There are two ways to make a kitchen efficient. One, you need custom storage space for your kitchen appliances, utensils, and kitchenware. The kitchen should flow, and everything should be placed to make the flow of the kitchen feel natural and easy. Two, make it personally efficient. If you want to watch your kids do their homework while prepping dinner, then you may want to add charging stations and extra counter space to sit and work or do homework. If you don’t want to take a break from binge-watching Netflix as you get ready for a dinner party, then customize some space for your laptop that is not taking up precious counter space. These are the types of things that will make your kitchen both efficient and personal.

Bright and warm

Modern and country kitchen design — Add warmth with reclaimed hardwood to contrast the bright white cabinets.
Credit to Infinity home collection

You want light and sunshine to brighten up your kitchen. Hues of whites and greys will enhance the light. But you can bring in a bit of warmth by adding dark reclaimed hardwood floors, or other natural dark wood accents to the kitchen.

Playing with texture

Matte cabinets and countertops, mixed with the shine of gold and brass fixtures will add texture to your kitchen. You can also play with shapes and sizes, like having a few oversized lamps, to make your kitchen more visually interesting. Varying between a few open shelves, cabinets, and drawers will also make your kitchen more dynamic, personal, and efficient.

Kitchen Showroom in Denver

For inspiration for your custom kitchen design, stop by our kitchen showroom in Denver. With nearly 40 room displays, you can see, touch and experience your design choices first hand. Our designers will show you the best options for your vision, so you can feel confident in every decision you make.

Customizing your kitchen in 2018 Kitchen showroom in Denver

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.

kitchen remodel Kitchen showcase in Denver kitchen trends remodel your kitchen in 2018

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