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Kitchen Remodeling
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The perfect season to design an eye-catching & comfortable kitchen
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(ARA) - In the summer, most activity moves to the great outdoors.
Porches, patios and decks are the official "heart center" of most homes
during the warm weather months, especially at mealtimes. Instead of
congregating in the kitchen as they do in the colder season, families
tend to gather on the patio to enjoy dinner and recap the day's events.
This leaves the kitchen, with the exception of basic food preparation,
vacant and, quite possibly, looking even a bit forlorn and outdated now
that it's temporarily unused. So why not take advantage of this
seasonal vacancy and turn this space into something more modern and
family friendly before the cold winter months return?
Because it plays such a prominent role in any home, an outdated kitchen
can lessen the impact of the well-thought-out style you've worked hard
to infuse into the rooms that surround it. Sure, it might be a
functional cooking workspace, but it's also the one room where people
tend to gravitate. Why not make it a place where you can work sensibly
and have family and friends gather comfortably to share a meal or
lively game night?
Taking a tired kitchen from drab to fab is an easy goal to achieve on
any budget. All you need is a little paint, a few decorating elements
and some creativity.
First, think color. Chances are you haven't changed the palette in that
room in years, and with paint, it's the quickest, easiest and most
cost-effective change you can make. In high-traffic rooms where food is
stored, prepared and served, most design experts recommend using a
semi-gloss paint finish for easy clean-up and maintenance. Because of
its shiny finish, it also tends to brighten a room because it reflects
more light than other finishes.
What's more, you now can find a high-quality semi-gloss finish in
zero-VOC paints, such as Dutch Boy's odor-eliminating
Refresh paint with exclusive Arm & Hammer technology that
reduces
household odors - another great feature for busy kitchens.
"Because it delivers exceptional low-odor application, durability and
washability, Refresh semi-gloss sheen is a smart choice for any room of
the house," says Mary Ward, Dutch Boy Paints senior product manager.
"Add its odor-reducing
technology, and it's really the ideal coating solution for kitchens
where pungent food odors can linger in the air."
Get quotes from local service providers
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When deciding what colors to include in your updated space, think
appetizing. Color experts and Feng Shui practitioners caution against
using blue, saying it's an unnatural color for food and also an
appetite suppressant. Soothing greens are said to aid in digestion.
Golds boost vibrancy in poorly lit rooms. Earth tones provide a formal,
yet calming, feel to a room. Reds and oranges have long been associated
with stimulating appetite.
When repainting your kitchen, don't forget to think beyond walls and
trim. You can also update aging chairs, the table and even old cabinets
with fresh new paint colors. Add in some new fabric for chair cushions,
and you've easily transformed stale, old furniture without much
expense.
If you're looking to upgrade to new furniture, remember that a round
kitchen table instead of a traditional, long rectangular one also can
add new intimacy, making this favorite gathering space even more
inviting. To further update the room, ditch the 1970s lighting and go
for something more modern and fun, such as decorative, funky glass
pendant lights. Another new trend to try is on the opposite end of the
decorating spectrum - 1950s retro-inspired fixtures. Whatever you
choose, don't forget to also install some functional, yet attractive,
task lighting for the work areas.
Overall, think "mix and match" to add a little more casual feel to the
space. Steer away from the kind of fussy curtains your grandmother
might choose and update off-the rack window treatments with tassels,
cording, beads or contrasting fabrics for more visual appeal. Or, for
even more punch, consider covering windows in fashionable fabric Roman
shades. Instead of a dated oilcloth tablecloth, cover your tabletop
with funky, unexpected placemats to offer a more contemporary edge.
Don't have money to update that old linoleum floor? An inexpensive
patterned rug hides scuffs and wear and instantly brightens the space.
Break the rules and have fun in decorating. When you're ready to gather
together back inside after a summer season of dining on the deck, your
creativity will give you a space where you'll want to spend time during
the cold months.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
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