Janet Butler
They say kitchens often sell a house; renovating a kitchen often persuades you to stay put. If you’re wondering whether to stay or move because your kitchen needs an update, these ideas might give you some answers you need. Traditional at heart? Try a white table and multicolored chairs — pale blue, vivid red — for “pop.” (Chair styles don’t all have to match; the mix is part of the charm.) Need more color? Paint cabinets blue, yellow, or another favorite hue — or paint your wall poppy-red, creamy salmon, sunny yellow, moss green, or sky blue. And colored tiles aren’t just for backsplashes anymore: edge your appliances with them, use them as a border on countertops, or go straight to the flooring section of your decorating store and put something wonderful beneath your feet.
Kitchen accessorizing has come a long way, too. Love an earthy, natural look? Go for pale oak or walnut cabinets, a center island with granite or marble tops, and chairs with polished, smooth seats for comfort. If you love modern style, the sleek reflective surfaces of stainless steel might be just perfect — paired with a breakfast bar and high stools. Have a wood grain exhaust hood — or paint it pastel to match the wallpaper. Finally, if you’re fond of old English country houses, fill your kitchen with mahogany cabinets, tables and chairs, and marble cabinet and countertops — and feel like you’ve never left your favorite Victorian “study.” Whether you love cherry wood or cherry-red gingham…your kitchen choices are wide open. Take a look here, and start dreaming.
