If you love to entertain in your home, you know how difficult it can be when you don't have the right kitchen. It's wonderful having an island or peninsula to set food and drinks on for your guests. Since the kitchen is just the natural gathering place when you have a party, Weisshouse is here to give you a little food for thought when considering a re-model of the most popular room in your house.
I came across an interesting article on
www.us.kohler.com that highlights some recent trends in kitchen design. A reoccurring theme across the board in traditional, transitional and modern kitchen design is a movement toward more natural, sustainable materials. This trend applies to all elements in the kitchen including flooring, cabinets, counter tops and back splashes. Many of today's consumers are electing to use sustainably harvested exotic hardwoods like walnut, mahogany, hemlock, cork and bamboo for flooring. All kitchens from Weisshouse are standard with a 6" aluminum toe kick. Cabinets are often a mix of hardwood veneer in wenge or walnut and lacquer in any array of earth tones (glossy or matte finish). We are seeing a move away from granite and toward quartz for counter tops. Quartz gives you the elegant look of natural stone without all of the maintenance. In addition, quartz manufacturers such as Caesar stone, Han stone, and Cambria are producing quartz tops that look solid from a distance. This is a rather attractive look for more modern kitchens. Equally popular choices for counter tops are solid surface options from Corian. Corian has a wide array of colors and patterns that range from solid to more natural stone looks. Alternatives to quartz and solid surface like Corian are also gaining popularity. Recycled glass, concrete and wood can also be very beautiful, natural choices.
Lighting task areas in your kitchen is crucial. Many people choose factory-installed under cabinet lighting in energy saving and long lasting LED models. Directional track lighting is also a great way to highlight work spaces and various architectural features in your kitchen. When clients who are interested in a kitchen from Weisshouse visit our showroom, we often advise them to select their appliances first. Once your appliances have been selected, a Weisshouse designer will visit your home or office and measure the space. Knowing the sizes and models of the desired appliances helps us determine the best layout for your new kitchen and enables us to properly determine how many cabinets and what cabinet sizes will best fit.
In larger kitchens, islands are a great place for an extra sink, microwave drawer or dishwasher. Islands also provide additional storage and seating for an impromptu gathering or a place to read the paper and sip coffee in the morning. If you don't have ample space for an island, Weisshouse can design a creative solution. Weisshouse kitchens can be designed with a pull-out "table" that can be used for dining or serving and is easily stowed away when not in use.
According to Kohler's article, "Designers say the apron-front sink is a popular choice for natural kitchens. The sink gives the kitchen a historical reference point, and is beautiful, durable and multi-functional. Stainless steel is a popular material for apron-front sinks...". Brian Gluckstein of Gluckstein Design Planning in Toronto states, "Plumbing fixtures have become the little jewels of the space. Soft faucet finishes, from antique brass to brushed nickel, are all the rage".
For more information on the various kitchen models that Weisshouse carries, please visit our website at
www.weisshouse.com or read our past blog series that consists of our top five most popular kitchen models: Easy, City, Extra, Sidney and Aspen. Please view the photos below of completed kitchens by Weisshouse for some inspiration for your own kitchen.
