Is your kitchen in need of a serious upgrade? Home design specialists recommend you replace or upgrade your every five or ten years. But of course – as any parent will tell you – when you have kids, your kitchen can take a lot of abuse and might need some work done to your units, tiling, or even plumbing well within that period.
Now, as everyone knows, kitchen remodels can be incredibly expensive – and certainly not something most households can afford to be doing every other year. So the big question is, how do you get the most value out of your new kitchen? And, more to the point, how can you create a timeless look for your kitchen that is guaranteed to never go out of fashion, as well as being durable enough to last for a decade or more? Let’s take a closer look.
The benefits of a timeless kitchen
There are plenty of reasons why you should consider a timeless kitchen. First of all, it makes sense to invest a bit more money than you would normally on your remodel, to ensure it lasts a long time, or that you won’t end up getting bored of a style that is likely to go out of fashion within a few years. And while some people will call a timeless kitchen a little on the safe side, the reality for most people is that it is too expensive to keep on replacing their kitchens – so ultimately, playing the long game makes sense. ..
And actually, if you plan on selling your home at some point, the timeless kitchen will do you plenty of favors, too. The kitchen is one of the biggest selling points of your home, and somewhere a prospective buyer will look at straight away. If you have a timeless kitchen, your home will be a lot more appealing to more people than it would be if you had something more stylized. And that means more people are trying to buy your home, and, perhaps, helping you sell up for close to your asking price. So, if you are seriously thinking of upgrading your kitchen, but are also planning on selling up in a few years, timeless design is going to do you more good than harm.
What makes a timeless kitchen?
OK, so now let’s start to take a look at the makeup and ingredients of a timeless kitchen. Ultimately, it’s about using simple colors, patterns, and materials to create a classic look. Think simple, earthy wood tones all the way through to stark contrasting black and whites – and everything in between. Here are a few ideas to give you some inspiration.
The all-white kitchen
Like them or loathe them, the white kitchen is here to stay. You can easily put the all-white kitchen into the timeless category because it looks clean, crisp, and airy – the perfect ingredients for a kitchen. However, it does take a significant amount of work to get right – and don’t forget, we are not talking about the clinical alabaster kitchens of times gone by. So, what makes the perfect all-white kitchen? Ideally, you should be looking to install bright white cabinets and drawers, while using natural materials such as raw timber or stone as a contrast – both on the floors and walls. Be wary of installing brilliant white porcelain tiles, however, as you tend to get that slightly jarring clinical effect.
The ‘working’ kitchen
Another classic option is the working kitchen look, which is reminiscent of the kind of kitchen you see in restaurants or the industrial sector. Here, you should be looking for metal finishes – such as your counters, splashback areas and shelving – set against natural materials with all their imperfections. The stark, undecorated brick wall is the perfect example – although; be wary, as it can be difficult to clean if you get it stained. Finish off your industrial kitchen with a natural stone tile – Spanish terracotta, for instance, which is stained and varnished to create a wonderfully rich color.
Contrasting shades
Contrasting dark and light colors also works well when creating a timeless kitchen – black and white being the perfect example. These contrasts create a very cozy, warm feel to what can be a very sterile room – as long as you are careful with your flooring. Again, if you are using neutral colors, it’s important to not overdo it with the floor, or you will end up creating something that looks more like a beauty salon or swimming pool changing room than a welcoming kitchen. So, by all means, plump for all black kitchen units and all white countertops, but stick to natural colors for the flooring.
Modern and relaxed
Your next option is incredibly popular right now. It’s a kind of hybrid of the stark, ultra modern kitchen mixed with the soft, warm lighting and timber flooring of a country home. Consider using granite countertops and light colored units, but offset the modernity by exposing floorboards or installing laminate flooring. If you have enough space, try installing a floating center island, with extendable lights hanging above, to add a little extra warmth and coziness. The island can be used as a preparation area, or even a breakfast bar – so don’t forget to invest in some stools!
The country classic
There’s something incredibly comforting about a rustic, country kitchen, and the style is undoubtedly a classic. There isn’t too much difference between this style of kitchen and the relaxed modern style, other than one particular thing – your cupboards. A rustic design needs a little more subtle details in your doors, drawers, and cupboards. Also, consider using natural, earthy tones in your kitchen counters, which provides a contrast to the whites and blacks of your storage areas and the oven and fridge/freezer.
The wood effect
Wood isn’t seen much in modern kitchen design magazines, which is unusual as it is still an incredibly popular look. Let’s face it – timber of all varieties are kitchen staples, and there is plenty of choice out there. So, what’s the best way to use wood? Well, you can get stained, smoked or sawn oak – which is also the perfect wood for a countertop. You can add lacquered finishes, or go more traditional with matt. And, you have the choice of running oak boards on your walls or floors, as well as using natural colored woods for your cupboard doors. However, bear in mind that it is very easy to go overboard with the wooden kitchen finish. Make sure you are mixing it up with some semblance of metalwork. And try installing some LED lighting, too, to make your kitchen pop.
Materials & Hardware – a General Guide
OK, so now we know some of the different classic kitchen styles, let’s look at some ideas for the materials you might want to use. As you can see from some of the examples laid out above, stone countertops – like marble or granite – are always popular, and have been for hundreds – or maybe thousands – of years. It’s the same for wood, although as we discussed above, you just need to be a little careful that you don’t overdo it.
When it comes to your cupboards, you have a choice of minimalistic modernity and something more traditional with intricate designs. But you can easily mix things up a little by changing the latching catches and hinges. The great thing about classic design is that you can use old fixtures on old fittings, and vice versa. So, for example, by using intricate latches on super modern cupboard doors and drawers, you will retain that classic feel while at the same time come up with something entirely unique.
Another thing to think about is the actual design of the kitchen room itself. If your current kitchen is just a simple box room with little or no features, why not create some? For example, you could knock through a wall and install a glass alternative instead, to give you a view of your garden. Alternatively, you could build in ceiling detail like beams – or even create large, sculptural arches to give it that timeless quality. Yes, it will add to your budget significantly, but if you want that classic kitchen look, it is possible to achieve it.
How much will this cost?
As discussed all through this post, kitchen remodels can be expensive – but there are ways to cut costs. For example, if you look hard enough, you might find used kitchen units in all kinds of places, from thrift stores through to your local refuse center. Building companies sometimes sell used units, too so it might be worth getting in touch with some local companies and seeing what you can get away with.
However, whatever you decide for your classic kitchen remodel, there is something very important to remember. Never forget that the value of your home is intrinsically tied to your zip code, not how much you spend on your house. Just because you spend $25,000 on a new remodel, it doesn’t necessarily mean you can expect a further $25,000 on top of your current valuation. Good luck with the new, classic kitchen – why not let everyone know how it goes?
