3 New Ways to Find Great Contractors
By Christina El Moussa
It’s no secret that I love designing kitchens. The kitchen is the place where everyone gathers in the house to cook, wash dishes, do homework, eat, and just hang out with a cup of coffee in the morning or a glass of wine after a long day.
While I have a few favorite design elements that I’d put in every kitchen in the world if I could, the key to designing kitchens for flip houses is to be on trend but timeless, with enough personality to make a statement but not so much that people think they’re walking into someone else’s kitchen. You want to create kitchen designs that let people imagine themselves cooking their favorite meals, relaxing with their family, eating breakfast before everyone goes to work or school, and everything else they’ll be doing in the kitchen if they buy the house.
That’s what makes kitchen design trends so interesting and fun. Basically, instead of just looking through design sites and magazines and saying, “Okay, this trend is really popular right now; I’ll do that with our next flip,” I have to really think about whether or not these trends will last and how much our buyers are going to love them.
For example, I was just reading the other day that the ‘80s are back with kitchen décor, and I had to laugh. I love some of the high-gloss finishes and metallic surfaces you see in some classic ‘80s décor, but some of those designs would never work in a contemporary kitchen. And even the ones that would work would really only fit certain buyers’ tastes, making your kitchen rehab a disaster with most (if not all) of your buyers. That’s why it’s super important to pick and choose, not just to go with whatever’s on trend right now.
Metal Range Hoods
Among the most popular kitchen design trends for this year, I’m loving all the metal range hoods. You can go with stainless steel, copper, bronze, or brass, so you can get an industrial look or one that’s a little more rustic or classical. In other words, this is a design trend that’s here to stay because it always looks classy and upscale.
Contrasting Textures
I’ve talked about designing with texture in other rooms of the house. It’s a great way to add dimension and give a space more of a stylish look and feel without going crazy with a bunch of different colors. And now my favorite trend for the rest of the house is coming to the kitchen. Don’t just mix and match textures, though. Instead, reposition and repurpose them. You might use the same material for your floor, countertops, and backsplash, but do a slightly different finish on each and you’ll have a cohesive look that also has a lot of depth.
Well-Lit Workspaces
Finally, I’ve been a big fan of under-cabinet lights and other lighting solutions for kitchen workspaces for years. I hate how traditional lighting in the kitchen can leave the counters dim and overshadowed, especially under the cabinets. Shed some light on the situation with some tasteful, recessed under-cabinet lighting, and you’ll have a beautiful kitchen that makes food preparation that much easier and more enjoyable.
These are just a few of the hottest kitchen design trends for 2016, but they’re definitely my favorites. They’re functional and aesthetic, and they do a lot to update any kitchen. Play with one or all of them on your next fix and flip property and see what they can do for your kitchen.
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