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Kitchen Trends 2021 and Beyond! - Maestro Surfaces

Staff — Thu, 23 Aug 2018 05:00:00 GMT

One way to look at the glossy white/matte black scheme is as a rehearsal. Beginning architecture students often work with black and white shapes and lines, learning how contrasting tones affect the impact of objects within a specific space. Later, when their space has the desired effect, they are likely to add color. Working with intense contrasts keeps you focused on the shape of your space—what scales, patterns, and textures create the comfort you seek—a revolutionary strategy for revolutionary times. Taking specific color choices out of the equation lets you look more closely at the impact of solid shapes, visual textures, and patterns. Once you have planned how your space works best, it’s time to add other colors. Or not. One of the white kitchen’s strongest attractions was its delineation of structure and simplification of space. As a kitchen’s functions may be changing, understanding and effectively using kitchen space becomes paramount. The color of the refrigerator becomes less important than its size and location.

Counter-Intuition

What do kitchen counters look like during this period of spatial awareness? Much as they always have, providing a visual coherence based on both shape and color, running in a continuous line to connect necessary workspaces, or forming islands with specific functions like serving or snacking. Counters and the vertical wall panels behind them may form the largest shapes and lines in the kitchen space. Decisions to change their placement, size, or even color are among the most important choices you can make to reshape your kitchen. Choose durable materials, like traditional granite, quartzite, or forward-looking engineered quartz and explore the wealth of design and color options an experienced provider can offer you. Time spent on stone counter choices will be spare you many hours of fiddling with the multitude of smaller changes you need to keep making to compensate for poor-quality counters.

The New Energy

For those ready to take more complex steps, color choices abound. Pantone Color Institute palettes for 2019 interior-design colors include rich, intense choices. Following the lead of electric-energy Ultra Violet, Pantone’s Color of the Year for 2019, hues for interior design display depth and intensity. Even the pastels seem to begin with a complex tonal base, then bloom with ample additions of milky white. The “Fetish Foods” palette emphasizes fruit and vegetable reds and purples, flamingo orange, grassy green, and cappuccino brown. The “Classico” palette, captioned as “fundamental, basic, everlasting,” includes a green-toned mallard blue, apricot brandy, burgundy, caviar black, and swan white. Bandbox-bright, hardware-bedecked European-flavored ranges can already be found in all these colors and more. Columnar refrigerators appear in plain or patterned colors as well as black. Increasing numbers of household accessories will appear in all eight Pantone palettes as the year progresses. Tables and chairs, both upholstered and plain, create an easy pop of color if appliances are still new. During this exploratory period, patterns tend toward geometric forms or abstract, rather than sharply representational shapes. For those wanting a stronger visual connection to the surrounding world, textures, and forms from nature abound. Wallpapers and textiles offer designs based on clouds, water, trees, and flowers, both in the black-gray-white spectrum and in colors associated with the subtleties shades of nature as well as the new intense hues.

What do counters look like during a period of changing energy? Counters can serve as the springboard for new adventures in color. Black and white remain extremely popular, classic choices. The natural hues of quartzite and granite and the larger rainbow of engineered quartz can form the foundation for new introductions of color. Their subtle tones support, rather than limit, additional color choices in-wall and window treatments, equipment, and accessories.

The Quiet Kitchen

To make sense of such a seemingly drastic change, it helps to remember that interior design looks toward and plans for the future as well as the present. Families may notice the life is full of changes; designers ask why and attempt to make them more manageable. Within this context, experiments with black and white make a lot more sense. So does taking a hard look at ways to reorganize and reshape kitchen space. Over the last three decades, the traditional heart-of-the-home has been undergoing major social surgery. The proliferation of fast and prepared foods makes it hard to determine how much of a typical daily diet comes from home-cooking, but all indicators suggest the kitchen’s function in the storage and preparation of food is in steady decline. Healthy eating can affect kitchen performance as much as fast food; highly individualized diets and preferences impact both cooking and food-related hospitality. Time constraints limit interest in cooking, and specialized appliances may do the necessary chores most quickly.

Within this context, the kitchen may remain the heart of the home. It is still a place to gather and interact. It can still play an important role in hospitality. But it may function in an increasing number of households as a room where there happens to be food more often than as a room where food happens. One of the most drastic trends in reconstructing kitchen space comes from this new understanding of how a kitchen functions. There is no name for this change yet—perhaps it can be called “quiet kitchen.” Designers are increasingly removing wall-hung cabinets, making places for art, media, and even additional windows. The “noise” of food preparation and associated utensils and tools is replaced with the quiet of a welcoming place to gather, where edibles are only one part of an experience of relaxation and refreshment. The equipment needed for food prep may be removed to a butler’s pantry, storage closet, or wall of closed cabinets, leaving a room that more resembles a family room than a place to cook. Increasing use of natural fabrics, natural and engineered wood, and images of nature can all be expected to support this shift of the kitchen to a more multi-use room.

Counter-Balance

What do counters look like in a quiet kitchen? Somewhat the same, since there will still need to be a food-related workspace. There is, however, greater latitude for variety in counter height, shape, size, and placement than ever before. And, whether you continue to think in black and white or in color, the impact of new counters on kitchen space is a critical factor. Well-crafted counters bring shapes, colors, and light into your kitchen. If crafted of stone—granite, quartzite, or engineered quartz—they provide a substantial definition of kitchen spaces along with attractive shapes, subtle colors and patterns, and the refreshing feel of natural materials. New finishes burnished to resemble leather and other subtly-lustrous natural materials serve well as the matte-black element in a new kitchen design or as the visual anchor for a traditional one. Available in hues drawn from the earth itself, stone can take a black-and-white role or serve as color-elements. Natural mineral contents in the form of veining, flecks or streaks, let you introduce color and nonrepresentational patterns into your overall décor, providing visual stimulation that does not demand attention at all costs.

For more traditional kitchens that focus on daily food preparation and abundant food-based hospitality, stone counters remain ideal. Stain- and chip-resistant, they tolerate heavy use and require only simple, quick maintenance. They also constitute an ideal vehicle for introducing color into a still-loved all-white or gray-dominated color scheme. Both granite and quartzite can be found in a wide variety of naturally streaked or speckled tones, and engineered quartz can magnify those choices with terrazzo and other composed color blends. For both traditional and evolving kitchens, stone counters of all kinds add just the right amount of light, color, visual texture, and natural beauty to enhance the existing décor and changes to come.

2021 Bathroom Renovation Trends - Maestro Surfaces

Staff — Tue, 27 Mar 2018 05:00:00 GMT

Overheard—perhaps once too often: “We’re so excited. It’s got lots of space, and the floors are beautiful. Big rooms, plenty of light, a dream kitchen and . . . . Well, we’ll do something about the bathroom when we get time.” While remodeling this essential room seems daunting, a wealth of materials and decorating trends let you combine the efficiency you need to start the day at top pace with luxurious and easy-to-care-for surfaces that transform it into an oasis of relaxation. The leading trends that will govern bathroom design right now and in the foreseeable future help you accomplish both goals, creating a beautiful room that will serve you well for many years.

KEEP IT SIMPLE

Whatever the style or materials, the clearest design constant is simplicity. Lines are clean, and shapes are classic. Geometric designs predominate, along with broad sweeps of subtle color and pattern. Mirrors, window-shapes, vessel-sinks, free-standing bathtubs, stools, benches, shelving and vanity sinks all display this geometric fixation. Stripped-down forms and tonal limits yield a color-block décor. A “floating” vanity, one of this year’s most-prized fixtures, illustrates the décor-technique clearly: The sink is a sparse rectangular block hung on the wall. Hardware is scarcely visible, and all plumbing is hidden from view. The rimless mirror above is round or rectangular, with no adornment. Tub and vessel-sink shapes are equally spare. Light fixtures are strictly tailored. Fabrics appear mainly as towels, not as decorative elements. Nothing trails, drapes or flutters.

Privacy is balanced with visibility and lots of light. Skylights and high or view-sheltered windows assure that much of this light is natural. Where possible, space is carved into simple zones, allowing more than one occupant and activity at a time. There appears to be a mild resurgence in free-standing tubs, although some are playfully located in bedrooms. In many bathrooms, however, tubs have given way completely to luxurious showers, glass-walled, metal-framed, with seating and separate lighting. Wet-room showers remain popular, although clearly some designers have developed reservations about managing the high humidity, room-temperature changes and ventilation challenges that accompany them.

What has departed is the notion that a multi-use bathroom functions best when areas are separated by partitions, platforms, alcoves or other types of architectural screening. Designers appear to agree generally that, whether the room is small or large, it serves users best when space is open and airy. One suspects that the increased amount of time many families spend in gyms, pools and other athletic facilities with common bathing and dressing areas may have had an impact on bathroom design, emphasizing usable space and efficient function over what may have become mere remnants of old-fashioned prudery. New bathrooms put high value on getting clean, quickly and thoroughly. Pet-parents will be happy to hear that designers now have access to specialized bathing equipment for dogs and permanent litter-box installations for cats. The spa movement has also offered lessons in the pleasures of healthy body care and physical indulgence. Newly popular renovations include heated floors and heated towel rods. Shower benches bridge the gap between soaking in the tub and stand-up efficiency.

MAKE IT BEAUTIFUL

This slight shift in views of privacy does not mean that homeowners renovating a bathroom need to resign themselves to Locker Room Redux! The spa effect, in particular, plays out in home décor with an amplified appreciation for the simple but sustaining beauty of natural materials. In a bathroom, the spa effect can produce many kinds of intriguing interplay between wood, stone, glass, metal, light, air and water. Materials often appear with simple finishes and little artistic detailing. Woods, for example, tend to appear in light or medium shades, with a glossy sheen rather than a highly reflective hard surface finish. Bamboo, fast-growing, easily-replenished and highly adaptable to humid conditions, appears in an increasing range of uses, including flooring, wall-paneling and trim. Glass panels may be lightly etched, stippled or textured to create privacy; most often, it is colorless or only slightly tinted. Metal appears sparingly, reserved decoratively for tailored, simply-styled drawer-pulls or door-handles. Here, buffed or low-gloss finishes may have given way to small touches of high-gloss Stone may be high-gloss, low-gloss or leather-finished. Solid-color slab counters are a first choice. Both natural and artificial lighting focus on serving personal needs and on showing off the inherent beauty of decorative materials.

COLOR IT NATURALLY

What is noticeably absent from new bathrooms is the old reliance on ceramic tile for nearly all surfaces. Where ceramic tile appears, it is more likely to be in large, square or rectangular paving-style floor tiles reminiscent of terra-cotta or stone than the smaller, high-gloss every-surface tiles. Vertically, ceramic tiles may provide a feature-wall of both color and pattern or texture. The old days, when ceramic tile carpeted floors, ceilings, walls, shower stalls, bathtub surrounds and vanities, are definitely gone, taking with them most of the rainbow colors that distinguished ceramic tile as much as its ability to fit almost anywhere. No longer does morning begin with a potentially frazzling shot of Mango Madness or Lavender Chiffon.

Today’s bathroom is most likely to be characterized by a monotone color scheme, and the most frequent color-scheme is likely to feature shades of gray. Hues range from near-white to near-black. Some designers favor pushing the spectrum on both ends, and contrasts are sharp. A black-white backsplash or feature-wall pattern can range from formal geometric to Mediterranean to the kind of free-form pattern created by natural mineral veining in stone. Just as often, color-schemes contain several less stringent levels of gray, from very pale to medium. Designers following this track will rely more on the natural reflective qualities of the stone than on high-gloss, polished finishes. With wood-tones for warmth, glass and metal for shine and a single choice of color, perhaps conveyed by textile selections, the room will appear both refreshing and tranquilizing.

A NATURAL FIT

Within these design parameters, stone counters are a perfect choice. An experienced designer or contractor can help you choose the best stone for the look and service you want. Although certain types of building stone have been used in bathroom construction and renovation for centuries, today’s choices extend considerably beyond your great-aunt’s marble-or-nothing point of view.

Two major criteria govern your choices: hardness and density. And, surprisingly, when these are your standards, your great-aunt’s marble bath doesn’t meet the mark. On scientific scales of hardness, marble scores as a relatively soft stone (a 4 on the Mohs Scale, with soapstone and talc scoring a 1 and diamond a 10). Marble is less hard than quartzite (low 7), granite (mid-7) and engineered quartz (high 7-8). It is hardness that determines durability. Harder stones are less prone to the cracking, scratches, scuffs and nicks of day-to-day surface-wear. Both hardness and density determine resistance to staining and corrosion, the other major wear-and-tear issues for kitchen and bath counters. Cosmetics present a number of staining issues, and using harsh cleaners can etch surfaces. Regular sealing can help keep counter surfaces looking new, and denser stones make cleanup of spills and stains more successful. A low-gloss finish or textured finish can help minimize wear-issues. The highly popular “leather” finish is just one of several new surfacing techniques that keep stone counters looking fresh even under heavy usage.

Stone is not just for counters. And stone need not always be used in solid-color form. The natural veining, swirls, speckles and other patterns formed by mineral deposits make both natural and engineered stones a spectacular way to resolve the tensions between plain and patterned, monotone and color, smooth and textured. Choose a strongly-veined stone for vertical wall panels, a tub surround or facing on this year’s most wanted feature, one or more “floating” vanity sinks. Contorted lines of black and copper-brown across a pale gray stone evoke images of tree-branches, flowing streams and mysterious maps. Choose a more subtly variegated stone to introduce even a wider variety of colors. Smudges of blues, greens and browns apparently just under a white surface add visual texture to an otherwise-austere décor scheme. Patterns in stone panels can suggest flowers, clouds or splashes of water and other natural objects in dream-like states, enhancing the spa-like sanctuary quality of your room.

WRITING IT IN STONE

How long are the design decisions you make in 2018 likely to stay up-to-date? In general, designers who follow the trends take a long view of the changes homeowners are making in bathrooms. Some of this view is practical: renovating a kitchen or bathroom is major work, involving plumbing and electrical decisions as well as construction and décor. Some of it is pacing: many of the new natural features available for bathroom décor have evolved slowly from warm-climate areas, where the relationships between indoors and outdoors are more varied and less structured than in colder climates. Bringing the pleasures of an outdoor rain-style shower indoors, for example, involves more than shower-head technology. Many designers expect the relaxing changes in bathroom design to remain popular as long as the natural materials on which they are based.

Bathroom Renovation 411 - Maestro Surfaces

Staff — Thu, 21 Dec 2017 06:00:00 GMT

Few remodeling decisions have the intensely positive impact on a homeowner that can be achieved by renovating a bathroom. We conceal the functions of this very personal place with a slew of nicknames– “the necessary,” “the sandbox “and “the loo.” We’re seldom there for glamorous reasons, and privacy is precious. Renovating a bathroom can be logistically inconvenient; people say you don’t get your investment back when you sell; and it’s hardly the best focus for animated party discussion. There are excellent and seemingly endless reasons to postpone renovating a bathroom.

REASONS TO RENOVATE

Reality-checks, however, suggest that updating a bathroom can be one of the most satisfying decisions a homeowner can make. New materials provide beautiful surfaces tailored specifically to your needs and wishes. The most durable, like natural and engineered stone, can reduce maintenance time and your exposure to harsh chemical cleaners. The relatively small size of a bathroom may expand the choices of luxurious materials, since smaller quantities are needed than in a family room or bedroom. New trends, including elements of universal design (providing easier use by those who are elderly or disabled) can have a substantial impact on how long you actually choose to remain in the home.
In the hands of an experienced provider, today’s luxury materials take advantage of both traditional and new technologies to help you fit renovation into your hectic schedule. Natural and engineered stone countertops and vertical panels may last nearly forever but take only reasonable time to install. Knowledgeable providers work with your other professionals, to tailor counter design and materials specifically to your room and activities. Placement and installation are incorporated organically into the overall design plan. This means that you are spared tight spaces, shortfalls, sharp corners and other impediments to easy movement and activity. Expert measurement and cutting, along with creation of an easily-modified template, mean that problem-solving precedes, rather than follows, installation.
Choosing to work with a knowledgeable stone provider lets you make informed choices that you will enjoy for a long time. Surrounding yourself with the very best, most durable decorative materials makes daily beauty and personal-care a relaxing pleasure. Instead of scrambling for a refuge from a deluge of demands, you can relax and recharge in a visually and physically soothing oasis before plunging back into your hectic routine. Renovating and updating the common rooms and bedrooms of your house make everyone more comfortable. Renovating and updating your bathroom rewards you for your hard work while letting others share in the benefits of your planning.

GETTING CREATIVE

Incorporating stone counters and surfaces into a bathroom renovation plan can add color and texture to any décor. Most important, stone counters enhance, recharge or even reconfigure room space, making it work more efficiently for family needs.
Stone counters come in a huge range of natural and nature-based colors, from creamy white to glossy black, with shades of almost every color you can imagine in between. Stones reflect the natural striations and shadings of beach, mountain and desert rocks. Engineered stone can offer even more natural colors that evoke the darkness of sea water and the forest floor, the paleness of clouds and the warmth of sunlight and firelight. Look to stone, rather than plastic laminate or porcelain tile, to make texture a prominent element in design.
Color selection follows general design principles: light colors tend to make spaces look larger and less defined, while darker shades offer stronger definition and may limit feelings of spaciousness. There are, however, no absolutes. A warm, glossy peach-blush curved counter draws the whole room toward its centering glow, while the uninterrupted sweep of a narrow slate-blue counter across two adjoining walls suggests a much larger room than its actual dimensions offer. Using stone surfaces vertically as partitions in coordination with counters can completely reshape space and redefine patterns of use in beneficial ways. Punctuating the sweep of a stone counter with two vessel sinks halves the pace of morning “chores.” A second shelf close to a mirror provides a display area for decorative elements in a vanity corner. A single vertical stone panel with backlighting, of translucent onyx or gemstone quartz, provides a extraordinary decorative focus that lets you keep other surfaces spare and muted.
Especially in climates marked by high humidity or extreme dryness, the very air in a room is hard on décor. Laminates, ceramic tiles, water-resistant woods and other trendy bathroom materials may be highly unsuitable to long-term upgrading. Unlike other surfaces, stone counters will not flake, chalk, blister, discolor, streak, mold or warp. Maintenance requires only a soft cloth and mild cleaner. An easy annual renewal of sealant keeps stone counter surfaces looking beautiful in spite of heavy use.

CHOOSING THE RIGHT PROVIDER

What should you expect of a knowledgeable stone provider? The answers may feel obvious but are not.
Breadth: In consumer terms, breadth describes the number of choices available to meet the need you are trying to address. While all stone may seem heavy, rigid, dense and durable, not all varieties of stone make good counters, especially for the splashes and steam of a busy bathroom. Victorians favored marble bathrooms because marble surfaces repelled more water than wooden ones. Modern providers, though, will offer a broad range of granites, quartzite and engineered stones that will survive harder wear and stronger chemistry, retaining their beauty for many years. A knowledgeable provider offers you with a number of different materials to solve a problem.
Depth: Ideally, within the breadth of a knowledgeable provider’s stock are lots more choices. Henry Ford’s old saw about choosing a car in any color so long as it was black rings hollow when you’re selecting an essentially permanent design element. The shape, color and surface texture of stone bathroom counters will dominate every changing color scheme and help to integrate new décor trends with existing favorites. For the best choice of this durable design element, depth of choice is essential. A gray with just a bit more rose in it echoes the sunset from west-facing windows. A granular beige brings the feel of the lake shore into the room. Brilliantly polished white surfaces reflect all the light from both windows and fixtures, making the room seem larger and immaculately clean. A knowledgeable provider carries a wide range of choices within any category of materials.
Breadth, depth and experience. Of the three, experience may be the most important criterion. That doesn’t just mean choosing the provider who’s been in business the longest. The old ways and old styles are not always the best. A knowledgeable provider works to stay educated in his or her field. That can mean maintaining a design background with further study, making it possible to work expertly with your designer or contractor or give you the best advice for the job you are doing yourself. A knowledgeable provider stays up to date on the newest technologies and has done or designed many different kinds of jobs within the field. Experience on paper and experience on site inform every new job. A knowledgeable provider has language skills, translating technical knowledge into practical advice and planning. A knowledgeable provider has listening skills, knowing what you mean when you talk about the sunset and also how you need to balance design decisions against pending college tuition.

GETTING YOUR MONEY’S WORTH

Choosing the right materials provider also means recouping some of the value of your choices when the time comes to sell your property. Realtors warn that money spent on many design and décor decisions is hard to redeem when ownership changes. Especially in rooms where decisions may be particularly personal, they warn, what you most enjoyed may constitute the greatest aesthetic obstacle to a prospective new owner.
Remodeling Magazine’s annual Cost vs. Value Survey offers much-needed perspective. On their list of the 29 or so renovation decisions they track each year, bathroom redesign lands mid-list. Surprisingly, redesign (15th on the list) surpasses bathroom addition (19th). Even more interesting, on the 2017 list, universal redesign of a bathroom (making changes which allow easier access and use by those with disabilities), has risen to 12th and is expected to score higher on return of investment in the future, according to Realtor.com. Even at position #15, renovating and updating your bathroom can result in a 64.8 percent return on your investment at time of sale, while a universal-design renovation can return as much as 68.4 percent.
Two lessons are clear. While the decisions you make about materials and design for your bathroom may be the most personal choices you exercise, good materials and good design are a good investment. Given the impact those choices can have on your daily life and well-being, perhaps you need to schedule bathroom remodeling early in your overall renovation plans so that, no matter what return you finally see on your costs, you reap the rewards of good choices for as long as possible. Choose the finest materials, the most future-focused design goals and the most knowledgeable provider you can, and enjoy the results.

Cabinets with Countertop kitchen design | Granite Countertops | Houston

Staff — Wed, 04 Oct 2017 05:00:00 GMT

When remodeling your kitchen, it’s sometimes hard to decide what type of design you want, what will look best together, or even what materials to use. To get started, you’ll first want to coordinate your cabinets with your countertops. The style that you choose should reflect the look and feel of your home as well as your preferred aesthetic.

Bright, Bright Look

For a rustic or country look, you should select natural wood for your cabinets. Unstained or lightly stained wood creates an airy look and feels in a kitchen. If you want a unique look, mix natural wood with an unusual color applied only to your pantry or island cabinetry, such as soft green or rust color. For the countertops, try using dark soapstone. This dense, natural stone is not as hard as granite or marble, but the countertops won’t stain. Soapstone is also heat resistant, and using a deeper color will provide contrast.

For contemporary or modern décor, simple white cabinetry works well. A Shaker design for your cabinet doors will enhance most current kitchen styles. Shiny white cabinets look great in a modern style. Match a quartz countertop with your white cabinetry for a luxurious look. Light gray, either plain or with a little sparkle embedded, will keep your space looking clean and elegant. A quartz countertop comes from an engineered stone, but it’s mixed with natural quartz and requires no extra upkeep.

A Richer, Sophisticated Look

For a more traditional look, dark walnut cabinets will give your kitchen an affluent appearance. Match these cabinets with natural granite countertops for a great result. You can select almost any color as long as it contains a darker color woven into the design. Golden hues tend to look the best and will keep your kitchen from looking too murky. Granite with hints of green also makes a lovely choice and offers a nice contrast.

For a classy look, you can’t beat the beauty of mahogany cabinets. The reddish-brown tone is a fashionable choice for almost any home. For your countertops, choose marble for a lavish addition to your kitchen. White or cream-toned marble will look gorgeous and distinctive. Try a white with cream veining for your regular countertops, then a cream color with darker veins for your island top.

Completing Your Kitchen Design

After deciding on your cabinets and countertops, select flooring with complementary color tones. Don’t match the colors too closely with your cabinets or countertops, or your kitchen will lose definition, and the colors will all run together. The colors should provide balance without overwhelming your eyes.

Finally, you’ll want to add a backsplash to your kitchen. A backsplash can match exactly or provide additional contrast. Subway tiles work well for a contemporary look. Small glass tiles in one or two complementary colors look great in a modern kitchen. Try a mosaic design for a traditional or rustic look.

Many design choices exist for kitchens. However, if you take a little extra time to think about colors and materials before you begin to remodel, your kitchen can become a beautiful and stylish room that your whole family will love.

Hot Trends in Kitchen Cabinetry - Maestro Surfaces

Staff — Wed, 16 Aug 2017 05:00:00 GMT

Updating your kitchen cabinetry is a great way to create a functional and unique space that fits your style. Current trends include diverse options that can complement any home. Here’s a look at what’s hot in kitchen cabinet trends.

White and Off White Kitchen Cabinets

Clean, sleek, and classic, white is a favorite color for kitchens; pair it with off-white for a creamy, more natural appearance. White kitchen cabinets work well in any size and help reflect light, making your whole kitchen brighter. They are particularly nice in small kitchens, where they help open up the space by making it feel bigger and brighter. Choosing white granite countertops is a popular way to complement white and off-white cabinetry. Chalk Paint Kitchen Cabinets Chalk paint is becoming increasingly popular, and it’s no surprise that people are choosing it to give their kitchen cabinets an aged, distressed look. The nice thing about this trend is that painting your kitchen cabinetry with chalk paint is a relatively easy way to transform the feel of your kitchen, giving it a rustic or farmhouse style. Glass Cabinet Doors

Adding glass doors lets you take advantage of the popular open shelving trend without worrying about your dishes falling off the shelves or getting dirty. Clear glass panels open up your cabinetry while keeping your dishes protected. As an alternative, you might choose frosted glass for a sleek, modern look that opens up your kitchen without displaying all your dishes.

Two-Tone Kitchen Cabinets

Black and white, dark grey and light grey, and black and grey are among the many combinations of black, grey, and white that are popular in kitchens. Two-tone cabinets are a great way to incorporate this trend in your home. Whether you choose to create a focal point by having the island a different color or create contrast between upper and lower cabinets, this method adds diversity and interest to a kitchen. In addition to contrasting colors, contrasting finishes are also popular. Mixing modern dark-brown cabinets with stainless steel cabinets or breaking up a wall of natural wood cabinets with a few painted cabinets are a couple ways to develop an interesting and unique feel.

Mixed Finishes

Mixed hardware finishes are also becoming common as homeowners choose appliances and accessories with different finishes. This creates an eclectic, unique space. Countertops are also following this trend as people choose from a wider variety of countertop materials, including quartz, natural stone, marble, and butcher block. Having an island with a different countertop material or a butcher-block work space, while the rest of the countertops are made of natural stone, can create a complementary look with your countertops.

Current trends in kitchen cabinetry provide an exciting array of options for creating a unique look in your kitchen. Whether your style is transitional, contemporary, mid-century modern, farmhouse, or others, carefully chosen kitchen cabinets add to the overall feel of your kitchen and complement your particular style.

Do's & Don'ts of White Marble Countertops | Maestro Surfaces

Staff — Tue, 25 Apr 2017 05:00:00 GMT

Everyone wants white; white granite, white quartz, and most of all white marble. Sitting on top of the trend pile as it has been for several years, white marble is the most sought-after look by homeowners and designers. From Bianco Carrara to the most expensive Calacatta’s, it seems that there’s a white marble for any client’s budget. And while white marble is a beautiful and classic choice for the modern home, there are some important things you need to know before selecting it for your space.

Do consider how you live

Making a large investment in your home can be stressful. Even more so if after you finish the project, you come to regret colors, finishes, or other aspects. Before you jump on the marble bandwagon, you first need to honestly evaluate if white marble is going to work with your lifestyle. For most, the kitchen is the hub of all household activity, a place of cooking, homework, and one or two glasses of pinot noir. Consider how you really use your surfaces and how you expect them to look after years of use.

White marbles are primarily made of calcium carbonate, a soft mineral that gives marble its bright whiteness. This mineral is also very porous and susceptible to staining and etching. Sealants and polishing can help prevent stains from occurring, but nothing is foolproof. A white marble kitchen requires regular maintenance and care to keep it looking optimal. But here’s the question, do you want your countertops to look brand new every day? Or does the patina of love and use appeal to you more? Certainly, not many people want to have red wine stains all over their counters, but normal wear and tear give a kitchen a lived-in vibe and white marbles are the most classic of stone that lends an air of elegance, despite the presence of pop-tarts.

If none of this worries you now, you might look ahead to your future in the space. Will you be having kids? Will you start spending more time in the kitchen? Are you going to be opening a cupcake shop in your home? Always be cognizant of your potential future uses in the home.

Don’t rule it out because you are scared!

I’ve seen many a homeowner shy away from the marble they love because they are afraid of the upkeep. It’s important to know that while yes, marble requires special care; it is a great addition to your home and is the gold standard in luxury surfaces. If a routine maintenance program sounds like a drag or you’re still nervous about staining, there are specialized, after-installation coatings that can be applied to your surface that make it impervious to practically any assault. Make your decision knowing all the facts.

Do check out the MANY different types of marble

Did you know that you can buy the marble from the same quarries as the Lincoln Memorial or Michelangelo’s David? With an abundance of marble from around the world, you can find the one that truly speaks to you. You don’t have to go with the same old, tired stone that everyone else is using. Try a South African gray marble. A Portuguese white. Obviously, different marbles vary in appearance but there is also variation in the performance. Did you know that Vermont Danby marbles are more resistant to staining than Italian Carrara? Not all marble is created equal.

Don’t be afraid to ask lots of questions

Your stone supplier and fabricators know a thing or two about marble; feel free to ask them anything.

Do learn about taking care of marble beforehand

Before installing marble, read up on its care and maintenance. Have the products on hand in case you need them. Make sure that everyone in the household knows the basics about marble. This can prevent those “oops” moments before they happen.

Don’t worry!

Adding marble to your home is going to enhance its appearance and value. Don’t spend your time fretting over care and maintenance. Once you train your household to treat your marble with a little care, it will become a part of your routine. Just sit back and enjoy the natural beauty!