Embrace a Functional Layout

The layout of a kitchen can make a huge difference in your space. Opting for a layout that minimizes wasted space and promotes efficient movement throughout the kitchen is best. A galley or L-shaped layout allows for streamlined workflow and abundant storage opportunities without taking up too much floor space.

Utilize Vertical Storage

When the footprint of your kitchen is smaller, look up! Consider installing shelves or cabinets to make use of the vertical space in your kitchen for storing items like cookware, spices, and small appliances. Open shelving is a great option that creates the illusion of space by visually expanding the room while traditional cabinets can sometimes make a space seem smaller and more enclosed.

Multi-Functional Furniture

Choose furniture pieces that can be used for multiple purposes to make the most of your kitchen space. A kitchen island with storage can also double as a prep area and dining table. Consider a fold-down table that is mounted to the wall that can be used for meal prep and then neatly tucked out of the way when not in use.

Choose Slim and Sleek Appliances

Every inch counts in a smaller kitchen so look for slim and compact appliances that are specifically designed for smaller spaces. There are narrow refrigerators, slimline dishwashers, apartment-sized ovens, and compact microwaves. These space-saving appliances not only fit seamlessly into your small space, but they also leave more room for storage and movement. Especially if you live alone, these smaller appliances might be a great choice for your small space.

Maximize Cabinet Space

Installing organizers and inserts that keep everything neat and accessible can make the most of your cabinet space. Pull-out shelves, turntables, and drawer dividers can make your storage highly efficient and functional. Keeping your kitchen organized and uncluttered can make you forget just how small your space is because it functions so efficiently.

Utilize Underutilized Spaces

Consider every surface as an option for storage. The area above your cabinets and the inside of cabinet doors can be used as extra storage space. Installing hooks or racks on the inside of your cabinet doors can create a space to store pot and pan lids and utensils. Invest in some decorative baskets to store items that you don’t use too frequently on the top of your cabinets as well.

Keep it Light and Bright

Choosing the right colors for a smaller space can make a huge difference. Opting for white or light-colored cabinetry, countertops, and backsplash will reflect light and make the room feel more spacious, airy, and open. Natural light coming through windows or skylights can also help make the room feel larger and more inviting.

Declutter, Declutter, Declutter

The most important part of maximizing any space is to keep it clutter-free. Regularly taking the time to declutter countertops, cabinets, and drawers and taking inventory of everything you have will allow you to make room for the essentials and prevent the space from getting too cramped and overcrowded.

Using these design tips and tricks can transform even the smallest kitchen into a functional and stylish space that meets your specific culinary needs. Using a little creativity and smart planning can ensure that it is still a joy to cook and entertain in your small, urban space. If storage solutions are what you need, your local Kitchen Solvers is happy to help! We can also help you think through how we might be able to rearrange your space to make it as functional as possible.

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Bold Colors

White and wood-tone cabinets are always in style which means that they can be extremely overdone. Instead of following the crowd, opt for a bold, unexpected color on your cabinets like a bright blue, deep green, or even a luxurious purple. Adding color to your cabinets not only will surprise your guests but also lets them in on your personality right away. Adding this large amount of color to your kitchen space is sure to make the room a focal point of the home.

Open Shelving

If you enjoy more of a modern, minimal, or industrial look, consider the idea of open shelving instead of cabinetry. This trend has been growing in popularity over the last decade and is a great way to showcase even more of your personality by putting your dishes, glasses, and cookbooks on display. Perhaps you have an antique China set from your grandma, or a collaborative cookbook of family recipes from generations past. Talk about conversation starters!

Mixed Materials

Why stick to just wood cabinets? Consider mixing and matching multiple materials of cabinetry for a highly contrasted look. Maybe you do wood perimeter cabinets and a cool, industrial metal kitchen island. Glass doors or shelving can also add depth and texture to the space and is sure to catch your visitor’s eyes and curiosity.

Unique Hardware

Don’t underestimate the power of your cabinet hardware to make a statement. Traditional knobs and pulls definitely have their space in some homes, but if you’re looking to quickly add personality and pizazz to your kitchen, the hardware is a great place to start. Use unique materials like leather, rope, clay, or even antler if you’re designing a cabin or are an outdoorsy family. There are endless possibilities of things you could use as cabinet hardware that will for sure tell a story of who you are and get a conversation rolling.

Custom Artwork

If you are really wanting a one-of-a-kind look for your kitchen, consider commissioning an artist to create custom pieces for your cabinets. A local artist could do hand-painted designs or even intricate mosaic tile work. With this route, you can fully personalize the cabinets to fit you and your family’s personality and story to a T. Who wouldn’t want to hear why you chose what you did—it would definitely start some intentional conversation at your next dinner party.

Whichever conversation-starting cabinetry you decide on, going against the grain is a great way to add personality and style to your kitchen. Whether it’s a bold color, a unique material, or custom artwork, the sky is the limit for your kitchen design. If you’re ready to start dreaming, give your local Kitchen Solvers a call to set up a free in-home consultation. We can’t wait to design a new space that is both functional and unforgettable.

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Beyond the function of the space though, it is important to create a beautiful, warm, inviting, and unique space. Ultimately, it should be a place you enjoy being and that you want to show off to your friends and guests. It’s important to think about how you’ll add character and personality to your new space. How will you make it your own and make it feel like your family? Here are just a few ways you can consider adding character to your kitchen:

Wood Elements

All-white kitchens are a staple in kitchen design right now and they don’t seem to be going anywhere. However, choosing all white everything can quickly look sterile and boring. Consider adding some wood elements into the space to add warmth and depth. Gone are the days of having to match all the wood stains and types in a space too. Feel free to mix multiple wood tones in the space. Maybe instead of white cabinetry on the island you opt for a white pine or even a dark walnut. This will become the focal point of the space and add warmth and color to make sure the space doesn’t become too monotone. If you are married to the all-white cabinetry idea, consider painting one of the walls a darker color or adding a fun wood accent wall with shiplap or wooden slats.

Fun Lighting

The main goal of your lighting in the kitchen should be to light your workspaces. This can be done best with can or task lighting above your most used spaces. However, adding additional lighting fixtures that add visual interest and decorative elements to your space can make a huge difference. Add a chandelier above your eat-in kitchen for extra flair. Or consider adding hanging pendants or lanterns above your island to create more of a wow factor. Also, adding underlit cabinets can instantly make the space feel warm, cozy, and charming.

Wallpaper

Wallpaper is making a comeback! We have been seeing more and more homes add wallpaper to accent walls or even to entire rooms. Wallpaper is an easy way to add trendy character and life into your cooking space. With so many different options, you can really go any direction you want with it. Choose from brick or stone-inspired wallpapers. Or go bolder with a colorful floral pattern. You can find designs that are big and bold, or even small and dainty. The options are practically limitless so you’re sure to find something that fits your style.

Open Shelving

Another easy way to add character and depth to your space is by adding open shelving in some areas. This breaks up the upper cabinetry and adds visual appeal. Floating shelves are a popular modern look and can be decorated with lots of color by adding fun cups, mugs, plates, bowls, or plants too! This is where you can get really creative and swap out some of those decorative pieces with the seasons. This allows your personality to shine through and your space will feel different with each little change you make.

We hope these ideas got your creative juices flowing and you have a better understanding of how to add character and personality to your space. If you’re just looking to add some flair via a simple DIY, these are some great options. Or if you’re ready to dive into a kitchen remodel we’d be happy to chat with you about your options and how we can help you along the way. Reach out to your local Kitchen Solvers today to get a free in-home consultation scheduled!

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Selecting the basic layout of your small space will be your first task. Here are a few popular layouts that you might already have in your space.

Galley Kitchen:

Originally inspired by the confines of a ship’s galley, a galley kitchen is an entire kitchen on one elevation or wall. Depending on the size of your space, you may have room for a double galley which would be units on two opposite walls with a small ‘hallway’ between them. You could also create a galley look with one wall of cabinet units and an island between that wall and the rest of an open-concept space. When designing galley kitchens, it is important to consider your kitchen work triangle. This is the path of efficiency between your sink, refrigerator, and cooktop. Consider if children or other traffic will be in and out of the kitchen as you are using it as well. If this is the case, putting your sink and cooktop on the same side of the galley will help minimize the chances of collisions that can mentally emphasize the size of your kitchen.

U-Shaped:

U-shaped kitchens are also a popular choice for small kitchens. U-shapes lend themselves to easily set up your work triangle to maximize efficiency in your space by simply putting 1 of the 3 points on each side of the U. To avoid making a u-shaped kitchen feel too closed-in, consider open shelving instead of upper cabinets on one side of the u. This will help to visually open the space up more. For storage purposes, make sure to use pull-out interior storage units in the corner cabinets like a LeMans or kidney-shaped lazy susan. This ensures that you are taking advantage of every square inch of storage space available to you.

L-Shaped:

L-shaped kitchens are very practical in small spaces but there are a few things to keep in mind with this layout. First of all, if there is a window on one wall of the space, choose to put your upper cabinets on the windowless wall. This allows you to have an entire uninterrupted wall of cabinets to maximize storage. On the wall that has the window, consider open shelving on either side of the window with the kitchen sink placed under the window. Of course, still consider your work triangle by placing your cooktop on the opposite side of the L from your sink. Additionally, with an L shaped kitchen, you will have your back to your family and friends as you cook so if that doesn’t sound ideal to you, an L-shaped kitchen might not be the best choice for you.

Design Tips for Small Spaces:

After you decide on which layout works best for your space, there are still some design and décor choices you can make to further optimize your kitchen. Maximizing the amount of natural light in the space will automatically make it feel larger and more open. If your budget allows it, consider adding windows or a sliding door on one end of a galley kitchen to allow light to flow into the entire space. Using open shelving or glass doors in your upper cabinets will create visual depth and keep the kitchen from feeling closed in or crowded. If your personal needs allow it, you might consider skipping the upper cabinets altogether. This will definitely make your kitchen feel larger, taller, and more open. If you have space for it, consider a movable island that can be used when needed but also tucked out of the way when smooth, uninterrupted movement throughout the space is needed. Additionally, an island with pedestal legs rather than cabinetry below it will open up the lower visual space rather than cutting off the line of sight from one end of the kitchen to the other.  This small detail can change the entire feel of the space as pictured below.

Whatever your goals are for your small kitchen, our designers and teams at your local Kitchen Solvers are ready to help you accomplish them. We have experience in almost every size, style, and type of kitchen and are eager to help you discover your kitchen’s full potential no matter what the size. Give us a call today for a free in-home consultation and we can start dreaming together.

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Project Location:  Onalaska, WI 

Remodel type: Cabinet Refacing 

Type of door style: Shaker 

Remodel style: Transitional 

Color: Spruce on Maple for Perimeter and Medium Brown Walnut Stain on Rustic Alder for Island 

Countertop: Quartz 

Countertop color: Viatera Muse 

Backsplash: 3” x 6” arctic white tile  

For more information about this project, please visit Kitchen Solvers of La Crosse’s Blog.  

Find a location near you.  

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Cabinet Refacing

If you’re happy with the design and layout of your kitchen but are unhappy with the current look your cabinets bring, refacing is the route for you. Kitchen cabinet refacing allows you to have the look you’ve always dreamed of without the additional expense and hassle of a large remodel. The process of a reface is quite simple. It just consists of replacing all the existing doors and drawer fronts with a door style, wood species and finish that you choose. We then apply a matching refacing material to all exposed end panels and face frames of your existing cabinets. Kitchen cabinet refacing installation takes just days to complete.

Go Darker

For years, kitchens have always been about being white, bright, and pristine. White cabinetry was anywhere and everywhere. And although it will always remain a classic, there’s a new trend which is becoming ever so popular in kitchens all around the globe. In recent years, we’re now seeing a strong transition into dark countertops and cabinetry. This new style works to create more depth and contrast within the room. Comparatively, it also holds up much better against the daily wear and tear than white cabinetry.

Open Shelving

Open shelving is great to implement in your kitchen. It’s cost effective and has a quick installation process. Not only does it make for easily accessible dishes and appliances, but it’s also a great opportunity to showcase your character and personality within your home. Some homeowners choose to use this surface space as a way to showcase their artwork i.e. paintings, vases, pots, or pictures.

Full Scheme Backsplash

Recently, there’s been more of a vertical appearance with backsplashes. It’s no longer just the space between the countertop and cabinetry. Entire slabs are going up to create more of a sleek look. Utilizing an entire wall for a backsplash presents a two-in-one opportunity. One, you get your much needed backsplash for your kitchen. And two, you now have a statement wall within the room. This statement wall works to truly bring your kitchen to life.

Kitchen Solvers

At Kitchen Solvers, we want to ensure that you, the homeowner, protect and preserve your beautiful kitchen. The most important factor in how to make a kitchen remodel easy is getting help from professionals. At Kitchen Solvers, our expert design team can help you create the ultimate kitchen that fits your budget and offers some of the best features and styles available. Once the plan is established, we’ll take care of the rest. Get in touch with our team today to get started designing the kitchen of your dreams.

And be sure to read our helpful articles: How to Make a Kitchen Remodel Easy and Confused about Cabinet? A Guide to a Cabinet Reface or Replace!

The post Small Remodeling Upgrades to Make a Big Splash in Your Kitchen appeared first on Kitchen Solvers.

This brings us to a big choice you’ll need to make: Should you go with traditional kitchen cabinets or a more modern, open-shelving design? Let’s examine the differences between open shelving vs. cabinets for your new kitchen design scheme so you can make the best choice for your project.

Open Shelving: Benefits and Drawbacks

Open shelving is a more modern approach to kitchen design that offers a clean, spacious look to your kitchen as well as instant access to whatever you store there. Perhaps the biggest benefit of shelves over cabinets is that your kitchen will look bigger and more open. If you have a lot of items that you reach for on a regular basis, open shelves will allow for easy access. Shelves can also be used as an additional decorative space.

On the downside, shelving storage has to be neatly maintained all the time. Otherwise, stacked items are going to make the space look cluttered. You’ll also need to dust your shelving periodically to keep up appearances. If that’s not an issue for you, then shelves are a great option.

Classic Cabinets: Upsides and Downsides

Cabinets, on the other hand, reflect a classic and traditional design. They are timeless and never go out of style. They provide tons of storage, and as long as you can get the doors shut, they don’t make your kitchen look crowded or busy. They’re minimalist and ultimately customizable — you can choose a wide range of facing and hardware for them.

This can also be part of the downside to cabinets, however. Depending on the materials and design you choose, cabinets can get more expensive than open shelves. They also take up more space than shelves and can make the space look a bit smaller. Cabinets’ ample storage and timeless appeal, however, offset these drawbacks somewhat.

Shelving vs. Cabinets: Try a Combination

Many people choose to go with a combination of shelves and cabinets, which for many is the ideal solution. You get the storage capacity and customizability of cabinets combined with the openness and decorative potential of open shelves.

Each serves their own purpose, and having both cabinets and shelves allows you the best of both worlds. You can place your regularly used items or decorative pieces on shelves where they’ll always be visible and easy to grab, while less-often-used items and a wealth of pots, pans and the like can be stored inside cabinets.

If you’re having a hard time choosing between shelves and cabinets, Kitchen Solvers is here to help. We are passionate about helping homeowners make the right choices for their kitchen design. Also be sure to check out our blog, Open Shelving vs. Traditional Cabinets: Which Is Right for Your Kitchen? and check out our guides on shelving vs. cabinets, then visit one of our showrooms to get started today!

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Both kitchen cabinets and open shelving have their pros and cons, which can make it a little tricky to decide which is right for you. Here is a comparison of the benefits of open shelving vs. the advantages of kitchen cabinets that should help you choose your kitchen storage solution.

Plusses and Minuses of Kitchen Cabinets

Because kitchen cabinets are the traditional choice for kitchen storage, we’ll start by examining the advantages of this option. First and foremost, cabinets provide ample storage and an uncluttered appearance because you can easily use cabinets to hide smaller kitchen appliances.

Another benefit of traditional cabinets is that they make it easier to create a cohesive, minimalist look in your kitchen, which is important for many homeowners. You’ll be able to choose the color, finish, and hardware of your cabinet to create the exact look that you want.

Of course, there are also some drawbacks to kitchen cabinets that you should consider. First, cabinets take up a good amount of wall space, and in smaller kitchens, this may leave your room feeling cramped. Second, depending on the material and style you want for your cabinets, they can end up being expensive.

Pros and Cons of Open Shelving

Now that you know more about the strengths and weaknesses of kitchen cabinets, we can look at some of the benefits of open shelving. The biggest benefit of open shelving is that it makes your kitchen feel a lot more open and inviting. So, in a smaller kitchen, installing open shelves makes it feel like the room is larger than it really is.

Open shelving is also beneficial if you have items in your kitchen that you use with regularity. With open shelves, you can easily grab your go-to ingredients or kitchen utensils. You can also use your open shelves to put any decorative items in your kitchen on display.

Open shelving also has a few minor disadvantages. Because all of your items will be on display, it can cause your kitchen to look a bit busy or cluttered. Open shelves also require more maintenance than cabinets because you’ll need to dust the shelves regularly to keep them looking spick-and-span.

Choose Your Storage Option

After learning about the benefits of open shelving and the advantages of kitchen cabinets, you should be able to choose the storage option that’s right for your home. Whether you decide on cabinets, open shelving, or a combination of the two, the team at Kitchen Solvers is ready and waiting to help you with your remodeling project.

Helping homeowners design their perfect kitchen is our passion. Whether you have a few small tweaks in mind or you want to fully remodel your kitchen, we can help make your project easy, effective, and fun. Get started on your project today by visiting a Kitchen Solvers location to consult with one of our design experts.

Be sure to check out Shelves in the Kitchen: Yes or No? and Why Custom Kitchen Cabinets Are a Great Choice for more information on the pros and cons of open shelving versus traditional cabinets.

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If you’re the type of person who can’t get enough of cooking shows, then you’ve probably always imagined what it’s like to be a celebrity chef. Fortunately, with the right kitchen designs, you can easily cook the world-class meals you see on TV to the delight of your friends and family. Here are a few easy and effective kitchen design ideas that will have you feeling like a celebrity chef every time you step into your kitchen.

Adding Open Shelving

Take a look at the kitchens on cooking shows, and you’ll notice that most of them have open shelving instead of traditional cabinets. If you’re thinking about remaking your kitchen so that you can cook like a celebrity chef, starting with open shelving is an excellent idea.

Replacing your upper kitchen cabinets with open shelves provides a number of enticing benefits. For one, it can give your kitchen an airy feel that’s perfect for hosting, and it makes the room appear much larger than it actually is. Installing open shelving is also one of the easiest methods for giving your kitchen the rustic look that’s so popular these days. Finally, open shelves make it a lot easier to organize and access your go-to cooking tools, greatly simplifying meal preparation.

Dedicated Cooking Stations

Separating your kitchen into several different stations is another way to live out your dreams of cooking like a celebrity chef. Building multiple cooking stations in your kitchen will improve functionality and give the room a look that you won’t find in many homes.

The stations that you choose really depends on how you cook, but there are a few popular choices you can consider. A prep station with a second sink will make it a lot easier to get your ingredients ready and to clean up after a meal. If you’re a frequent baker, then you might want to build a baking station that allows you to whip up a fresh pie or batch of cookies whenever you want.

Never Run out of Ingredients With a Pantry

One thing that’s common to almost all cooking shows is that the chefs always have the exact ingredients they need to create a delicious meal. If you want to be able to cook tasty dishes anytime — just like your favorite chef — then adding a pantry is one of the best kitchen design ideas.

If you have the space, adding a pantry to your kitchen is a fantastic plan for your remodel. With a pantry, you’ll have the extra room you need to keep your kitchen from getting cluttered, and you’ll also be able to stock up on your favorite ingredients, so you’ll never have to worry about running out while cooking for your friends and family.

Plan Your Perfect Remodel

As you can see, there are several top-notch kitchen design ideas that will make you feel like you’re a celebrity chef hosting your own cooking show. If you need help choosing the design ideas that are right for you, visit Kitchen Solvers for advice from the kitchen remodeling professionals. We’ll talk with you about some of the hottest kitchen design trends and then help you decide which will fit your home. Visit one of our locations today to plan your remodel.

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