Popular Kitchen Remodel Trends for 2008

The kitchen is the most used space in your home, however it is probably not the most functional or stylish room in your house. Wallpaper, paint and carpet are easy to change when it comes to other parts of the house. Yet, when it comes to the kitchen; tile, counter tops, and appliances are not the easiest or cheapest to replace. However, even though it may cost thousands to renovate your kitchen, the return on your investment is 80 to 85% according to MSN real estate experts.

When it comes to kitchen remodeling, your best bet is to hire contractors unless you're a handy man or know someone who is. Before you hire someone though, you want to have an idea of what you want to do with your precious space. My suggestion is to have an inspiration piece; whether it be an expensive heirloom that you love or a picture ripped out of a home and garden magazine. Your inspiration piece describes your personality and gives you textures and colors to work with. Once you find your inspiration piece, design your kitchen around that piece.

Before you jump into an expensive or inexpensive remodel, have a plan. Kitchen renovations can be pricey so have a monetary figure of what you can afford and stick to it. You may also want to draw out floor plans. When you design a floor plan, keep in mind how you would like the space to flow and how you want to utilize your space.

Now that we have some of the basics down, lets talk about trends. I know that sometimes the word "trend" can be scary because trends can become outdated. However, the trends that have developed over the past few years are tasteful as well as timeless.

Granite counter tops in dark colors (black and grey) are very popular, not to mention, beautiful and durable.

Hard wood floors have a rising popularity in kitchens especially if the rest of the house is adorned with wood floors. It creates a sense of flow throughout the whole house and connects one room to the other.

Stainless steel appliances are almost a must-have in kitchens today. Stainless steel has an elegant feel and combines well with almost every color coordination you could imagine for your kitchen.

Roll-out shelves and Lazy Susans in cabinets allow for more storage and easy access.

Islands, big or small, depending on your space, create more storage as well as counter space.

Paint! Wallpaper has become out-dated with its busy patterns. Solid, bold paint colors are growing in popularity. Warm, rich tones are the trend right now. Yellows, golds and oranges, compliment kitchens and stainless steel appliances well. For tips on color coordination check out HG TV's "60/30/10 rule" here.

A back splash is a great way to add color and style to your kitchen. Glass tiles have become very popular over the past five years. You will also be excited, or overwhelmed, to know that there is an endless amount of color choices when it comes purchasing glass tiles. Glass tiles are also great because they reflect the light well, adding more drama to your space.

Lighting has an increased popularity in kitchens. The goal of most renovations is to open up a space and add natural light as well as inside light. Fluorescent lighting is out, but sconces, chandeliers, and recess lighting is in. Sconces add an intimate feel, chandeliers add an elegant, upscale feel, and recess lighting has more of a modern feel and can also double as task lighting.

New cabinets are sometimes a must in kitchen renovations, however, if you like your current cabinets and feel that they need just a small touch-up it can be a relatively simple job. For a less expensive remodel, sand, stain and add new knobs and handles in a stainless steel finish to your current cabinets. Or if you like your current knobs and handles you can use stainless steal spray paint to cover your old knobs and handles to match any stainless steel appliances you may be purchasing.

The trends I have listed will add warmth and style to your kitchen, giving it a timeless feel. Before we go, here are some tips from interior decorators:

Linda Woodrum suggests: Don't ignore the "triangle rule" when remodeling your kitchen; the stove, refrigerator, and sink should be in a triangle form for easy access.

Kenneth Brown suggests: Don't forget about functionality; make sure you have room to move around, room to open cabinet doors, refrigerator doors, and dish washer doors.

Joan Kohn suggests: Don't over do your remodel; only buy what you need. There is no need for extra cabinets that you won't fill or expensive appliances that do not fit with your current or future needs.

Source:
http://design.hgtv.com/kitchen/SpecialFeatures_detail.aspx?id=29

http://design.hgtv.com/kitchen/Article_detail.aspx?id=156

http://realestate.msn.com/improve/slideshow.aspx?cp-documentid=5788929