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Changing the look of your kitchen is easier than you might think. If your kitchen is in need of a refresh, you don’t have to wait until you can do a full  remodel. Breathe new life into your kitchen with these seven simple DIY tips.

1. Add a Fresh Coat of Paint

Painting your kitchen is one of the easiest ways to give it a fresh look. Furthermore, it can be accomplished in a single weekend! Choose light colors to brighten your space. Or go for a two-tone look, with a dark color on the bottom and light on top.

2. Choose a New Backsplash

Adding a new backsplash will instantly refresh your kitchen. Bright colors and patterns will add a focal point and pop of color to an otherwise monotone kitchen. In contrast, if your kitchen already has a lot going on, choosing a more muted backsplash will lend a calmer vibe to the room. HGTV has some great ideas here.

3. Organize Your Counters

Clearing counter space will help your kitchen feel larger and more relaxing. Accordingly, you’ll want to store anything you’re not using out of sight. If you must store items on the counter, choose functional storage containers that are also decorative. Colorful canisters, decorative bottles for oil and vinegar, fun or sophisticated fruit bowls, and stylish bread boxes are all great choices to clear counter space while adding personality to your kitchen.

4. Bring the Outside In

Including plants or other natural elements in your kitchen is a wonderful way to increase the ambiance, to say nothing of the indoor air quality! There are plenty of plants that thrive in the kitchen, even if you’re not a master gardener. Good Housekeeping has an excellent list of hardy plants here.

Adding cut flowers is another excellent option. Alternatively, in the fall and winter, you can opt for decorative touches like dried corn, pumpkins, berries, and pinecones.

5. Put a Rug Down

Rugs have the ability to instantly transform the look of any room, and that includes your kitchen. If your kitchen has a neutral color scheme, a brightly-colored rug could be just the pick-up you need to lend a cheerful note to the room. Additionally, keeping a selection of rugs around allows you to refresh your room as often as you want simply by switching them up!

Remember that you should always choose rugs that have a rubber backing for use in the kitchen. Since most kitchens have smooth floors, a rubber backing is essential to prevent accidental slips and falls.

6. Change Your Window Treatments

Hanging new window treatments is one of the simplest ways to breathe new life into your kitchen. Sheer curtains add a light, flowy touch to your kitchen, while heavier fabrics like burlap can be perfect to offset dark colors, like navy. Or opt for blinds to add a clean look. Keep in mind that patterned window treatments may make small windows look even smaller, so save those for large windows instead.

7. Reconsider Your Lighting

Having the right lighting can make or break your kitchen. Consider adding a new light fixture to make a dramatic difference in the look and feel of your kitchen. Alternatively, just experimenting with different bulbs can give your kitchen a fresh new look. Keep in mind that counters look best with bright lighting, so something as simple as strips of stick-on lighting underneath your cabinets can really brighten up your room.

Breathing new life into your kitchen doesn’t have to break the bank or require an extensive time commitment. Try the above tips to quickly and easily refresh your kitchen.

While simple DIY projects can go a long way toward breathing new life into your kitchen, sometimes you need a professional touch. If you’re ready to remodel your kitchen with customized cabinets and kitchen solutions, check out just a few of the ways you can get the customized style and storage you need here.

Need help? Contact us today, and we’ll be happy to walk you through our options and design process.

Image: Pexels

There is no doubt about it. Recycled glass countertops become the focal point in a kitchen or bath. The visual impact is powerful and textural; a combination that certainly gives you a big bang for your money.

Pieces of glass or porcelain, blended with cement or acrylic, give a mosaic-like finish that compliments almost every design style. The result is a stand-out, one of a kind adornment. These counters are the jewelry of the room. Like a beautiful statement necklace, so to speak, they never fail to become the center of attention in any space.

While acrylic and resin based units are relatively maintenance free, acidic liquids (wine, lemon, tomato) can scar and pit cement based counters. They require periodic sealing to protect their beauty.

Although not yet mainstream, technology and a growing concern for “green living” is bringing recycled glass countertops front and center.

Suitable for traditional, contemporary, or any style in between, the finished product is as unique and colorful as your imagination.

We have nothing but praises for the finished look of a surface that beautiful, vibrant, durable, and sustainable. Can you tell we really love this stuff? Unsure if this option is right for you? Check out Houzz for photos and design ideas.

Sorry, installing this type of counter this is most definitely not a do-it-yourself project. Once you source the product that will best serve your needs, contact us if you need help in locating a local fabricator to do the necessary measuring and installation.

IMHO (“in my humble opinion” for those non-techies) there is no right or wrong when it comes to pairing countertops with cabinets.

Ok, possibly the only exception would be a totally commercial kitchen look. All stainless steel does mandate all stainless steel.

Today, mixed matched surfaces, textures, and colors are all the rage. We call it eclectic, boho, shabby chic, arts and crafts, art deco, neoclassical, etc, etc…

Of course, here are considerations when picking the right top to compliment your cabinets.

Budget is the most important aspect  in any remodel.

Countertops are a significant investment, but they pack a powerful visual punch in the overall look of the room. As with any major purchase, you will never go wrong by getting the best you can afford.

Marble and granite are high-end, in both looks and cost. Ranging from $125-$250 per square foot, the look is timeless and luxurious, but color choices are somewhat limited. Engineered stone is beautiful, easier to maintain than natural stone, and available in an array of colors. Concrete, wood, solid surface, glass and stainless steel are all moderately priced, good-looking and aesthetically pleasing. Each one comes with kudos and caveats, so do your homework and choose wisely.

There is one piece of advice that we can give you sight unseen. Before you decide to change countertops, be very certain you plan to keep your existing cabinets. Seriously, we mean, do you really plan on keeping them for as long as you live in your home? Once you install a slab of granite or marble, you will be hard pressed to find a contractor to uninstall them. Doing so will likely void the manufacture’s  warranty and leave the counter vulnerable to major damage.

At the end of the discussion, it comes down to personal preference. Is there a particular color or design theme throughout your home? If so, let your instincts be your guide. If you need another pair of eyes, or an alternative opinion, contact us. You know how much we love to talk design.

countertop mashup-edgewood cabinetry

Countertop mashups are very popular today, and it’s easy to see why – they add an exciting and interesting new dimension to your kitchen.

If you’re not familiar with the concept of countertop mashups, the idea is to use more than one material and/or color in the countertops of your kitchen. Not only does this create visual interest, it also adds textural contrasts along with color variety. The flexibility of countertop mashup design lets you make your kitchen as individual as you are, and with EdgeWood’s 3D design software with real color imaging, there’s no guesswork – you can see how it will look before you make your final decision.

Countertop mashups can even save you money – some homeowners invest more in the eye-catching wood on the island and choose a less expensive material for the perimeter. The highly skilled and experienced staff at EdgeWood will work within your budget to achieve your goals. Let’s take a look at a few ways to integrate countertop mashups into your kitchen:

  • If you have a monochromatic white kitchen palette with white marble countertops around the perimeter, use a dark, rich walnut countertop on the center island for dramatic color contrast and warmth.
  • Different countertops don’t have to be in separate areas – your granite island countertop can be warmed by a butcher block extension to designate a dining area or prep spot. Wood also brings nature’s touch into the kitchen, a natural pairing with food preparation. The height of the dining countertop can be lower than the adjoining island to further delineate it and make it more accessible to seated diners.
  • An island countertop of stone or poured concrete can be softened when it’s juxtaposed by narrow wood planks of varying hues inlaid around the island cooktop.
  • Create stark tonal contrasts with a light maple island countertop set against a backdrop of dark stone countertops used around the perimeter of the kitchen.

If you want to add an island with a different countertop to create a mashup in an existing kitchen, EdgeWood will design, build, and install the island to complement the rest of the kitchen. Whether you’re interested in a total remodel or a partial project, our cabinets are designed and built specifically to suit your home and your needs.

If you’d like to discuss the possibilities of using countertop mashups or replacing cabinetry in your kitchen, bathroom or mud room, contact us.

edgewood cabinetry-natural stone countertops

You’ve weighed all of the different options and decided you definitely want granite countertops in your new kitchen. Now you just need to decide which is the right granite for your new countertops.

The surface appearance of granite slabs can vary dramatically. Speckled, mottled, streaked, or striped – there are endless variations to this product of nature. There are even varieties that look like the pebbles in the bottom of a streambed! Consider the cabinetry and flooring in your kitchen when choosing a granite. You’ll want the granite to complement the rest of your kitchen rather than clash with it.

The first step is to choose the dominant color you want in your kitchen; then choose a granite that highlights that color. The highlight can be either a whisper or a shout – it’s up to you. If you want a classic white kitchen with black highlights, you might choose a white granite with black speckles or marble-like veins. Alternatively, you might choose a solid black granite.

A granite with complex color patterns looks best in a sunlit kitchen where the natural sunlight highlights the patterns and brings out the colors. If your flooring has a red undertone, a granite with brick-red veining can really bring out the red in the floor. A granite with shades of green and brown can lend an earthy feel to a kitchen. If you choose the granite that looks like a streambed full of pebbles, you’ll probably want to make less busy choices for the rest of your kitchen; perhaps sleek, contemporary hardware and simple flooring without a lot of detail.

Natural stone varies in strength and granite is no exception. It can also vary in its porosity and number of pits, pores, and imperfections.

  • Commercial-grade granite is usually thinner (3/8″ versus 3/4 to 1- 1/4″) and often needs a plywood backing for support. It’s only available in the most common colors.
  • Middle-grade granite is sometimes the hardest and most durable granite, although it might have surface pitting. It’s considered mid-grade because it only comes in the more common colors and patterns rather than those that are more unusual or rare.
  • High-grade is good quality granite that includes the rarest colors, patterns, and veining.
  • Designer-grade granite is the rarest and most expensive kind. These slabs are handpicked by designers and pattern-matched between cuts.

Bear in mind that there are no standardized grades of granite and one company’s commercial-grade could be the same as another company’s high-grade. Always clarify a particular company’s grading standards before buying!

Talk to an experienced kitchen design expert to make sure you’re getting the right granite for your kitchen. Because of the price and durability of granite, it’s a good idea to spend a little more to get the color, look, and quality you really want. After all, you might be living with it for decades to come! When you’re ready for your new kitchen, contact us. We have the experience and expertise to give you the kitchen of your dreams.

granite-marble-quartz-edgewood cabinetry

You may know that you want stone countertops in your new kitchen but have you decided which stone is the right fit for your kitchen and your lifestyle?

We have some comparisons that may help you find the perfect stone for you.

Marble vs. Granite vs. Quartz:

1. Hardness

The Mohs Scale is used to measure the hardness of stone. Diamonds are rated at the top of the scale (10) because they can scratch all other stones but other stones can’t scratch them. Quartz is rated at a fairly hard 7 on the scale, granite (mainly because of its high quartz content) is rated at 6-7, and marble is rated at a soft 3. A piece of sand rubbed across a marble countertop will probably scratch it, as might a heavy glass.

2. Porousness

Because marble contains a good deal of calcite (similar to teeth), it’s highly porous and can be easily stained.
Granite comes in different degrees of porosity; the more porous varieties should usually be sealed yearly to prevent them from absorbing spilled liquids which might stain and could also promote the growth of bacteria.
Because quartz is made up of about 93% natural quartz aggregate bound together with colored polymer resins, it’s non-porous and impervious to stains.

3. Durability

Marble is soft enough to be easily scratched by a knife. It’s also susceptible to etching by acidic liquids such as wine or fruit juice. The veins and inclusions in marble are its weakest spots so, generally, the fewer there are, the stronger the marble.

Granite won’t usually be scratched by a knife but it might crack or chip if it’s hit hard enough. Both granite and quartz can withstand an occasional hot pot. Repeatedly setting hot pots on the same area might cause eventual damage to both surfaces, however.

Quartz is also tough enough to be cut on and is resistant to chips and cracks. However, if it does chip, it’s usually harder to repair than granite. It may also fade from exposure to UV rays so that may be a consideration where different areas of the same countertop receive varying amounts of direct sunlight.

Whatever stone you choose, it’s important to choose an edge that is resistant to chipping. Sharp edges are more likely to chip while rounded edges like bullnose and roundover are less likely to. They’re also usually less expensive.

Everyone has their own concept of beauty: are you looking for the timeless elegance of marble, the shimmery movement of granite, or the quiet uniform beauty of quartz? Whichever look you prefer, taking into consideration how that particular stone fits into your lifestyle and how willing you are to maintain it will ensure that you’ll love your new countertops for years to come.
Contact us when you’re ready for your new kitchen and we’ll help you choose cabinetry that will perfectly complement your new stone countertops.

glass countertop edgewood cabinetry

Time for a new counter top, but you want something different?

Eurocucina is the world’s largest kitchen trade show and gives the public a look at where kitchen designs are headed in the future. Among the granite alternative’s this year at Eurocucina 2014, is glass counter tops. Glass counter tops are heat, stain, and scratch-resistant, and according to the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) cost about the same per square foot as granite. Glass is extremely durable, versatile, and the most hygienic material for counter tops. Your glass counter top can be translucent or colored, smooth or textured, but to make a statement that sets the mood and makes your kitchen standout, go for an illuminated glass counter top.

Illuminated glass counter tops use LED lights to backlight the counter top. LED lights use 90% less energy than incandescent lights, give you up to 60,000 hours of service, and do not generate heat. An illuminated counter top also reduces the need for over head lighting and saves you energy in the kitchen. LED lights can be controlled with a remote control, and give you an almost endless possibility of color choices (depending on the sophistication of the controller you use). This new innovation in counter tops can change the atmosphere of your kitchen. Halloween party – select orange for your counter top backlighting, Valentine’s Day – go red, Christmas – go green. No other counter top on the market offers the versatility of illuminated counter tops. The LED lights spread consistent light throughout the counter top, and can be used in outdoor kitchens as well. Whether you are having an outdoor pool party or an indoor dinner party, an illuminated counter top can help to set just the right mood for your guests while saving energy.

To find out more about illuminated counter tops, or any of our other kitchen innovations, please contact us. We look forward to working with you and fulfilling your kitchen needs.