The starting point for a room

A kitchen is the heart of the home. Never before have homeowners been so interested in upgrading their kitchens, adding six burner stoves and islands that are 15 feet long.  

KITCHEN FAQs

Q What are the latest trends in kitchen design?

Kitchen cabinets show increasing creativity with new woods and finishes. Painted finishes are gaining acceptance. Long cabinet runs are broken up by varying the height of cabinets as well as using recessed areas and bump-outs to give a more graceful look. Legs, columns, moldings, and glass front doors are other features people seem to love.

For kitchen countertops, granite continues to dominate the kitchen wish list. Engineered Stone countertops offers more color choices than natural stone and has fewer maintenance issues, while concrete counters also have fans. Find more choices in our Top Picks for countertops.

Kitchen islands are getting bigger, wider, and longer. Some large kitchens feature two islands -- perhaps one for food prep and another for buffets and breakfast service. As with cabinets, islands often have the look of freestanding furniture rather than matching cabinetry.

Under-countertop appliances are popular -- look for refrigerator drawers, dual dishwashers, warming ovens, and the like.

Q. The kitchen in our house has oak cabinets without handles. Can I add decorative hardware?

It's a fairly simple project to add or change Cabinet Hardware on cabinets. You'll find handy drilling templates made of plastic at a home center. These will help insure that every knob is placed perfectly. For oak cabinets you might choose shiny or brushed brass knobs, glass, or perphaps rusted black iron.

Roll out cabinet drawers placed inside standard cabinets are useful for getting every inch of storage space from your cabinets. You'll also find specialized mini-sinks and pot-filler spigots on islands, near stoves, and in the butler's pantry. More of our favorites are listed here, in "Terrific Kitchen Accessory Items" as well as the link page for kitchen accessories.

Q. What are some good flooring choices for a kitchen?

Most hard floors are suitable for kitchens. See the flooring types index for links and information. Tile, laminates, and vinyl may be the most popular choices, however hardwood flooring is another possibility if you love the look and are careful about drying wet spills immediately.

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