SPECIAL SECTION: HOME DESIGN TRENDS: INSPIRED UPGRADES
will help define separate areas in your kitchen. An accent wall is ideal because you can choose a shade that pops and will work as a focal point. From cool and relaxing to warm and inviting, a balance of wall paint and cabinet hues can introduce the illusion of more space when a color scheme is coordinated to make the best impact.
Adding living-space accessories such as a bench or breakfast nook can create a new area. The division is subtle enough to enhance the kitchen and cue the eye in a different direction. A space-making furniture piece such as a nook bench can sometimes include built-in storage under the lid of the seat, allowing you to hide kitchen clutter.
Hiding objects to make space is sometimes more obvious than not. To shed light on your redesign, consider your windows for example. Evaluate whether they make design sense in their current place. Additionally, if your windows aren’ t providing ample natural light and if they’ re not generating enough air flow when opened, removing them to make space for more cabinetry might be the best option to find space when you need it the most.
Planning for a spacious kitchen means concentrating on your main functional areas including cooking, baking, prep areas, refrigeration and dishwashing. Before your redesign of the physical space, plan for savings, too. Look for the Energy Star label when you’ re shopping for appliances such as refrigerators. The EnergyGuide label on new models will explain the amount of electricity a refrigerator uses in one year. The difference in used energy is such that a new refrigerator uses up to 15 percent less energy than non-Energy Star models. Other appliances that help save space in your yearly budget include natural gas ovens or ranges with an automatic, electric ignition system. These styles save gas by not having the continual burn of the pilot light. For efficiency regarding your dishwasher, many models have an internal heating system that enables you to conserve water heating. The EnergyGuide label will estimate how much power is needed for the year for you to heat the water in your dishwasher. Exploring the amount of money and energy you can save will reduce the cost of your redesign in the long run and make more space in your budget for a kitchen where you’ ll want to eat, stay and love.
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