A pinch of this and a dash of that. What goes in your food is a matter of personal taste—and so is the kitchen you prepare it in! After all, it is the room where you spend the most of your time. When it becomes dreary and drab, we are here to inspire your new space. So, whether you are looking for a refresh or a complete overhaul, our local experts, Ellen Sherwood Design, have some fantastic tips to take your kitchen to the next level.
Your kitchen must have style, and we had to have the inside scoop on the latest trends.
“Kitchen surfaces are lighter and brighter today than they were a few years ago,” says Michelle Sherwood, owner of Ellen Sherwood. “We work with clients who create giant kitchen islands that are real show pieces of the space. Pull up a stool and have a glass of wine at this type of an island.”
"Quartz countertops with a marble look are still very popular," says Chris Carlisle, Sherwood's lead designer. "Most people choose white with gray veining or white with caramel veining in their quartz designs. Large-format porcelain panels are very popular for all areas. Porcelain panels come in 6-millimeter or 10-millimeter thicknesses and in sizes up to 120 inches long by 60 inches wide. The panels are large enough to cover entire shower walls, floors and countertops with few grout lines, which makes it extremely easy to clean."
Chris also mentions a shift in shelving trends.
“Upper-cabinet open shelving is now the way to style a kitchen. Drawers are taking the place of doors on lower cabinets. Plates and dishes are easier to reach when placed in drawers. This creates room for decorative pieces on the open shelves.”
Before you wrap up the remodel, don’t forget the details. Chris recommends going big on the lighting.
“Lighting is the jewelry in the room that ties everything together.”
One of her favorite places to see an elegant piece of lighting is a chandelier above a free-standing bathtub. In a kitchen, the pendant lights above the island are the focal point. She also had to let us in on the latest and greatest kitchen sink.
“Silgranite sinks are the way to go in a kitchen. They are made of granite composite and do not scratch, stain or scuff. In an active kitchen, it is the ideal sink.”
She recommends choosing a sink color that matches your countertop color to create the illusion of a never-ending surface.
Here are three newly remodeled kitchens with styles we had to share.
Kitchen Style No. 1: Transitional
- Two-toned cabinets: white upper cabinets with light green lower cabinets
- Brushed gold hardware and sink fixtures
- Large quartz island
- Bold glass tile backsplash
- Custom range hood
- Commercial appliances
Kitchen Style No. 2: Traditional
- Shaker-style cabinets with beaded inlay
- Farmhouse sink
- Brushed nickel hardware
- Lower cabinet drawer storage
- Pass-through to maximize space in a galley-style kitchen
Kitchen Style No. 3: Transitional White
- White quartz countertops
- All-white shaker cabinets
- Large kitchen island
- Farmhouse sink
- Custom appliances
- Dark hardwood floors
Get the Look
- Countertop: Torquay by Cambria
- Tile: Perspective Sterline Mosaic by SpearTek
- Cabinets: Kabinart
- Custom Paint Color: Sherwin Williams Quietude
- Hardware: Bronte by Atlas
- Countertop: Torquay by Cambria
