Tag: kitchen remodeling

How Lighting Can Affect the Personality of Your Kitchen

Lighting is important for kitchen remodeling.

Improve your kitchen remodeling with the use of the right lighting.

Good lighting is a necessity when it comes to cooking. It helps you see your recipes and the food you are working with, as well as what you are eating. When it comes to kitchen remodeling, especially kitchen remodels on a budget, focusing on the lighting can help improve the look and feel of your kitchen. The extra lighting is also useful in small kitchen remodels, giving you the results you want.

An Inviting Atmosphere

Because your kitchen often becomes a gathering place to enjoy family meals or entertain, it is important to create an inviting atmosphere with your kitchen remodeling. Increasing the size of the windows in a kitchen or adding plenty of lighting, particularly above a table or island, can be useful in making your kitchen a place in which people want to gather. Natural light is the preferred option, but if you can’t increase natural light, your remodeling contractor can help you make the right lighting decisions.

Create a Focal Point

The eye is naturally drawn to lighter areas in a room. This means you should consider what you want people to see when they first enter your kitchen. With small kitchen remodels, you won’t have a lot of choices for your focal point. However, it should still be a priority. For instance, under cabinet lighting can attract attention to your kitchen counter decor or small appliances. Some people choose accent lighting in the ceiling to showcase a favorite piece of art. The options are endless. Talk to your kitchen remodeler to find out what he suggests for your focal point and how to draw attention to it.

Types of Lighting

The type of lighting you choose can play a significant role in the personality of your kitchen. Kitchen remodels on a budget may not have as many options, but lighting doesn’t have to be expensive. Natural light is often preferred in the kitchen, but even with the best windows, you will need lighting for evenings spent in this room of the home. Recessed cans can be a great option under cabinets or above counters. A chandelier can provide a touch of elegance when hung above your table. You can even add more casual pendant lighting over your kitchen island.

The lighting you choose for your kitchen can play a significant role in the personality of this room in the home. Because your kitchen is used often, you need plenty of light to function. However, it can also create a unique sense of style for your kitchen. Before you get started on your kitchen remodeling, work with your contractor to determine which lighting options will give you the exact look and functionality you want.

If you are ready to start your kitchen remodeling project, contact us. At Colony Home Improvement in MA, we can update your kitchen personality, including the right lighting options.

What’s Hot for Kitchen Remodeling in 2014

Kitchen remodeling can increase the value of your home.

The latest trends in kitchen remodeling require space, light and cool colors.

Are you thinking about remodeling your old kitchen to spruce it up? Maybe you bought your house years ago, and it needs some updating? Whatever the reason, you may need a few ideas to help kick-start your kitchen remodeling plans. During your kitchen remodeling research you will find amazing, creative ideas. Just remember, remodeling should fit you and your family’s style and make you feel comfortable with your decisions.

Here are just a few of the current trends to get you started:

Space, Space, Space

An ever-popular trend with kitchen remodeling is an open concept design. Since the kitchen is the room where most of the activities take place, having a larger open living space that leads out of the kitchen gives families the advantage of pursuing other interests and still being together. An open concept kitchen is also ideal for entertaining.

Loving Light

Most people want a lot of natural light. Research shows the use of natural light can greatly affect your mood and even your health. Natural light encourages your body to produce more Vitamin D and release those feel-good hormones.

Creating more outlets for natural light in your kitchen remodeling plans is a great way to utilize this scientific fact. How can you create more natural light in your kitchen? Large windows are the most common solution to this problem. However, you can also install skylights if you want even more natural light to flow through. Enhancing the natural light from outside can be done with counter lighting, under cabinet lighting and spotlights.

Cool Colors

When looking at current trends for color in kitchen remodeling, you’ll find this year’s color palette is all about creating a more relaxing space. It’s a softer take on past contemporary looks. You’ll want to create a kitchen area that’s more inviting and comfortable by using grays, blues and other softer colors. Use bold colors wisely and only as accents.

Floors as a Focal Point

The hottest trend for this year is patterned flooring, which means anything goes! Numerous patterned tile options are available. Parquet flooring is another example. If you don’t want to be tied down to a patterned floor in your kitchen remodeling, you can always find area rugs with interesting geometric patterns. If you decide to follow this trend when creating your kitchen remodeling plans, there are hundreds of flooring ideas for inspiration.

Figuring out what you expect from your new kitchen is a personal choice. These are just a few tips and trends that are hot this year. If you want to take your kitchen remodeling plans to the next level, contact us. With more than 40 years of experience in kitchen remodeling in MA, you can put your trust in Colony Home Improvement to get your job done right and make your home renovation dreams a reality.