Yearly Archives: 2016

Kitchen Cabinet Trends in 2016

Are your kitchen cabinets ready for 2016 — and beyond?

2016 Kitchen Cabinet Trends

A kitchen can make or break the value of your home, since it’s a high-traffic area, and more people than ever want chef-worthy kitchens.

An outdated kitchen can outdate your entire home, because it’s one of the first rooms buyers (and guests!) look at. Cabinets take up a lot of real estate in a kitchen, and can set the entire aesthetic of the room for better or worse. For 2016, the biggest trend is a hanger-on from 2015 with white and/or natural light wood looks, especially with Shaker-style cabinets.

Quick Updates

If you have wooden cabinets, it’s understandable that you don’t want to replace them (unless, of course, your budget allows for new solid wood cabinets). A more cost-effective solution is a new coat of paint, or perhaps sanding them down and painting them a new color. If the cabinet doors have an outdated look, it’s much easier to replace them with custom doors rather than the entire cabinet system.

Don’t forget about the hardware, either! Sometimes swapping out the hardware is all you need to make an impact. Trends in hardware in 2016 include pull-cup handles in either glossy or brushed silver, or a brushed cast iron look. Brushed silver has become a classic, but do make sure that it’s a non-smudge material if you go this route. Also remember to match the hardware size to the size of your cabinets and kitchen.

Cabinetry for Today’s Kitchens

Older homes that are upgrading to a chef’s kitchen have unique needs: The cabinets of yesteryear don’t fit the appliances and fixtures you want today! For example, installing a farmhouse/apron sink is a gorgeous improvement, but since it’s not a drop-in sink, the cabinetry around the sink also will need an upgrade. The good news? Farmhouse sinks take up a lot of space, don’t require intricate countertop cuttings, and you’ll save a little money on the cabinetry.

More homeowners than ever before are going with cooktops and double wall-in ovens, as well as oversized microwaves with a trim kit. Older homes don’t usually accommodate this setup naturally, so if you’re upgrading your kitchen appliances, don’t forget about the necessary upgrades to your cabinetry too. Cabinets for wall-in ovens need to be especially crafted to allow for enough space and ventilation to avoid fire risks as well.

For all your kitchen cabinet needs in 2016 and beyond, call AWA Kitchen Cabinets.

Home Remodel Priorities: Do Kitchen Cabinets First

Home remodel priorities can be hard to pinpoint, especially if you have a serious fixer-upper on your hands! The most important rooms are the kitchen and bathroom, which numerous studies have shown make the biggest impact on a home’s value and resell price.

Remodeling Priorities

Focusing on the kitchen first makes sense, since that’s what people will see well before the bathroom. It’s a natural gathering spot, and if you plan to live in the home (not flip it), you definitely want a fully functioning, beautiful kitchen ASAP.

Two points in a kitchen make the biggest impact: the cabinetry and the floors. Cabinetry takes up the most space in any kitchen; it’s what people see first, and it sets the tone for the rest of the room (and maybe even the entire home).

Cabinets that are too dark make a room look small. Worn cabinets make the room look shabby, and poor kitchen design or layout makes it a nightmare for you to get anything accomplished (like finding the heart-shaped cookie cutter in time for Valentine’s Day).

Focusing on What Matters

Your cabinets will dictate the type of countertops you get (or vice versa). However, it’s much better to match the counters to your cabinets, rather than the other way around.

You don’t want to fall in love with a really out-there shade of quartz only to find that it’s impossible to find any cabinet style that goes with it! Instead, decide if you want your cabinets or your counters to be the focal point.

Oftentimes, homeowners find that cabinets are best left light and neutral to go with any style, while countertops can be a little jazzier.

If you don’t have wood cabinets, you should get some. Wood cabinets dramatically increase a home’s value, and they’re easy to upgrade. Fresh paint, a new color stain or swapping out the hardware can make a big difference on a small budget. If you’re really going to invest in your kitchen, prioritize wood cabinets first.

Making Room

Remember how bathrooms are also a big priority when it comes to remodeling? That goes for bathroom cabinets, too.

Homeowners want their bathrooms to be veritable in-home spas, and that means having generous-sized, high-quality vanities. A wooden vanity cabinet in the bathroom provides room for organization, peace and harmony in what can sometimes be a hectic and small room.

When remodeling a home, focus on long-lasting products like wood, quality paint and sturdy hardware. The little things, like a new coat of paint on the walls, are DIY-friendly, affordable and can be done once the bigger tasks are completed.

Call AWA Kitchen Cabinets to get started on the major remodels first, which will instantly and drastically improve your home’s aesthetics.