Kitchen Refresh Ideas & Inspiration
Spring is right around the corner! Feel like your kitchen space needs a refresh after a winter spent inside? You’re in luck! In this month’s feature, we’re covering ways to bring new life to your kitchen space, through steps big and small! Whatever you are looking for, you’re sure to find inspiration for a new spring project that will bring a welcome breath of fresh air to your kitchen!
What is Considered a ‘Kitchen Refresh’
A kitchen refresh is making a design change of a space that is non-structural and utilizes existing cabinetry. No major construction is involved; a refresh typically involves cosmetic changes.
Ways to Bring New Life to Your Kitchen Space
Luckily, there are a number of ways to refresh your kitchen space! Read on as we explain various options along with considerations to take note of before tackling each.
Paint:
Paint is a fantastic way to modify your kitchen and freshen up a space. Whether this is changing the wall color, cabinet color, or both, paint can make all the difference! A large consideration when painting your cabinetry is to research the painting process for your particular wood species of cabinets. Wood species with a more closed grain are the best for a clean and smooth paint finish (ex. cherry, maple). Other wood species with an open grain, like oak, will leave you with a laborious paint process to hide the grain, or you’ll have to settle for seeing it under your new paint finish.
Countertops:
A new countertop selection can be a great way to update your kitchen. This is especially true when pairing the new countertops with a change in cabinetry paint color. Take note. Beyond appearance, it is important to consider maintenance, longevity, and sustainability when choosing the right countertop material for your home and family.
Adding Design Details:
Whether it’s adding floating shelves to a blank wall space to provide additional storage or adding light-carpentry changes to a kitchen island to provide added visual interest (ex. beadboard, paneling, furniture wrap), the addition of design details can provide just the refresh you were looking for.
Cabinet Hardware:
Consider switching out your cabinet hardware. Be sure to remove an existing piece of hardware to use while shopping for replacements so you can match the new cabinetry to your existing drill holes. If you are painting your kitchen cabinets and wish to switch out the hardware, this would be the time to fill in the existing hardware holes so that you can select a new size of hardware better suited to your liking.
Backsplash:
Want to add a bit of liveliness to your kitchen? Consider replacing or adding a backsplash! Tile selections can be vast. Keep in mind the other elements you plan to replace in the kitchen (ex. countertops, new cabinet paint color) to help narrow your selection pool. We recommend removing any detached 4″ splash before installing tile.
Lighting:
Lighting always takes center stage in the function and atmosphere of any space! In addition to switching out existing light fixtures to bring a new aesthetic to your kitchen, also consider how you can enhance task lighting.
Che Bella ‘Kitchen Refresh’ Projects
Looking for some additional inspiration? Then read on to learn about two Che Bella projects in which we helped our clients refresh their kitchens through the various methods mentioned above.
‘The Classical’ kitchen refresh was intended to update this client’s kitchen without major disruption to several elements that the clients wanted to keep. The existing cabinets, countertops, and backsplash were in good condition and would remain in the new plan. We recommended painting the perimeter cabinets white with a glaze and the island a beautiful bronze color with a glaze to highlight the added texture. We also added beadboard and furniture wrap to the island to set it apart. The new colors and design detail additions worked beautifully with the existing granite countertops and backsplash. In some cases, it makes sense to paint the existing cabinetry, which was surely the case for this project.
‘The Refined’ kitchen refresh project was intended to add a contrasting element within the kitchen to tie into new cabinetry and fireplace detail in the adjoining spaces. In addition, we added a new backsplash, countertop replacement, new appliances, wall paint, and paneling details on all flat sides of the working island.
Beautiful Changes Don’t Have to Come in Big Packages – Let Che Bella Interiors Help You Navigate Your Minneapolis or St. Paul Kitchen Refresh
Kitchens are one of the most used spaces within a home. Whether you are thinking about a full-on kitchen remodel or just a refresh for your Twin Cities or greater Minnesota home, there really is no ‘set’ path. Each home and each homeowner is unique, and your solution should be unique as well. At Che Bella Interiors, we know the right questions to ask and the right steps to take. Team up with our experienced designers, and we’ll guide you through the entire kitchen refresh or renovations process, taking into account any restrictions or requests you bring to the table, all without sacrificing aesthetics! Contact us today and let YOUR story become the next happy ending we help create!
