Traditional Design Style

Identifying your design style is an important first step in any kitchen remodel or new construction. Are you drawn to sleek modern design, or a relaxed and rustic country aesthetic? Are your tastes more eclectic than traditional? Or maybe you prefer some combination of these looks.

Another consideration is the style of the other rooms in your home, and whether you want your kitchen design to stand apart from or blend seamlessly with adjacent rooms.  Some design experts say your style should be consistent throughout your home, while others believe the kitchen is a great place to make a statement.

Eclectic Design Style

Need some help figuring out which design style fits you best? Merillat has some great tools to help point you in the right direction. Explore the Your Design Style section of our website to find the look that appeals to you most, and then view the Merillat products that will help bring that vision to life. To help you along the way, here are some high level descriptions of four popular design categories:

• Eclectic: We like to describe this style as a “free spirit” attitude. Perhaps a bit quirky and unconventional – you think its okay to color outside the lines and scream chartreuse when others insist on boring beige! This style is a celebration of colors, styles and textures combined with casual comfort. Think Dali meets Rachel Ray…
  

  Country Design Style

• Traditional: For those who are a bit more formal, the Traditional design style can range from a more relaxed, less formal interpretation to high-end, embellished sophistication, but is always elegant and timeless. If resale of your home is a consideration, adding some traditional touches is a wise choice.
• Country: If you prefer a more “rustic” aesthetic, this style exudes warmth and comfort. The Country design style is all about softening the edges of life for an inviting and “lived in” feel. For some, this looks includes traditional silhouettes adorned with turned legs and feet, patterned or floral fabrics, and often a bright coat of paint and heirloom detailing. For others, a mountain retreat is the look you’re going for, with open-grained, knotty or rough-hewn woods, and old-world accents of stone, iron and copper. Can’t you already hear the fire crackling?
  

  Modern Design Style

• Modern:  A contemporary kitchen is flexible and functional with clean, uncluttered lines. Modern doesn’t have to mean “cold”; with a simple punch of color, your modern kitchen can become warm and inviting. “Techy” kitchen gadgets and appliances are often a part of this design theme. Contemporary kitchens are very popular in lofts, modern, and city living homes.

So which design style fits you and your home best? Are you traditional to the core? Perhaps you’re a modernist with a touch of eclectic whimsy. Our maybe a casual country aesthetic is what speaks to you. We’d love to hear which style appeals to you most!

Now that you know what look you’re drawn to, you can begin planning your remodel by browsing and saving your favorite Merillat products, accessories and room images from our Inspiration Gallery to your personal IdeaFolio account. You can even start to define your kitchen floor plan within IdeaFolio so you can share your ideas with your designer when you’re ready to bring your dream kitchen to life!

With so many flooring choices available, it can be overwhelming to come up with the best fit for your kitchen and your needs. To help you along the way, we have created this handy two-part post describing the advantages (and disadvantages) of various types of flooring on the market today. So take a look and see which floor might work best for you!

Wood Flooring
Popular wood flooring choices include maple, oak, pine, and bamboo. Wood floors are installed before cabinets and often laid out in narrow strips, planks or patterned parquet squares.

Advantages

• Available in a variety of colors, looks and finishes
• Simple to keep clean with broom or vacuum (if the floor is polyurethane-coated)
• Quite durable

Disadvantages

• Fading: must be careful where rugs and mats are laid out.
• Warping and buckling when moisture is contained between boards
• Often expensive
• Needs to be refinished to eliminate major marks and scratches
• Can be slippery

Tile Flooring
Many different styles of tile flooring are available including ceramic, porcelain, mosaic and quarry tile.  These tiles are laid and assembled using grout.

Advantages

• Comes various colors, designs and sizes
• Durability
• Stain resistant (if glazed)
• Suitable for radiant heat

Disadvantages

• Can be hard on the feet
• Slippery and more dangerous to fall on
• Can be pricey
• Individual tiles can crack over time
• Unglazed tile needs to be treated periodically with sealants

Vinyl Flooring
Vinyl is a good budget-conscious alternative. It is scratch resistant and softer than tile or hardwood, easier on the feet and gives dropped dishes a better chance for survival!

Advantages

• Variety of colors and designs
• Less expensive than alternatives
• Soft on feet and dishes
• Requires very little maintenance
• Scratch, scuff and stain resistant

Disadvantages

• Easily dented by furniture, heels and other objects
• Peeling can occur
• Cheaper look and feel than more expensive alternatives

Stone Flooring
The stones that are often used for kitchen floors include slate, marble and granite. They offer an elegant and durable look, but often come with a hefty price tag.

Advantages

• Very durable
• Can be used over a radiant heat system
• Elegant and high quality look and style

Disadvantages

• More expensive
• Slippery and can be dangerous to fall on
• Stones can chip
• Stains and dirt often show on light colored grout between the stones
• Must apply sealants periodically to prevent stains
• Stone can be cold and uncomfortable on the feet

Check out Part 2 of this series for information on additional flooring types!

Today, homeowners have many options to determine the appropriate kitchen remodel or renovation budget. You might know you want new cabinetry, but are not sure how to budget in the cabinetry with new flooring. Should you spend more on lighting or appliances? What about plumbing and electric? These answers all vary depending on the final goals and functionality you want your new kitchen to serve.

Talk to an Expert

Whether you are doing a complete makeover (floors, cabinets, electric, plumbing, accents and appliances) or starting slowly with a few elements (cabinets and flooring), the best method for determining your budget is to talk to an expert – a certified kitchen design professional who can help you establish your priorities  within the budget you have in mind. This will help you avoid spending an inappropriate amount in one area or on one item, and not having enough to complete the job.

For example, most kitchen design experts would advise that you spend more on cabinetry than you do on flooring. Chosen well, your cabinets can last for decades. Spending money on quality cabinetry construction with thicker, stronger backs and shelves, wood boxes and dovetailed drawers will benefit you in the long run.

Budget Guidelines

Overall, experts advise that your kitchen remodeling budget shouldn’t exceed 15% of your home’s value. Of this budget, at least one half of the cost should be designated for cabinetry. Another 15% can be expected for appliances, flooring and other goods like lighting, plumbing, fixtures, etc. The remaining 35% includes the costs of labor, design, contracting services, permit fees, etc.

Self-Service Tools

Should you prefer to budget your project without the help of an expert, there are a number of kitchen budget tools and calculators available for your use. We particularly like Fine Homebuilding’s new calculator. Here you can estimate your dream kitchen upgrade by selecting from different countertop and cabinetry choices, and mix and match by price and material. Another good source for kitchen remodeling information and tips is The National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA).

Planning is Key

To sum it up, planning ahead is crucial to a successful kitchen remodel. You should know exactly what you want and how much you want to spend before the project begins. Being very specific in your planning is the best way to avoid blowing your budget and enjoy the kitchen of your dreams.

Now comes the hardest part of all. Waiting while it happens!

Tearing out the old kitchen and installing a new one can disrupt your home for weeks or even months, depending on the extent of the work, and the people and products involved.

Kimberly and Josh Osburn had a slight advantage in their project. As the winners of Today’s Dream Kitchen Sweepstakes, their kitchen remodel would be featured on Today’s Homeowner with Danny Lipford.  Suffice it to say, knowing lots of cameras and producers would be around has a way of helping to keep everyone on schedule!

But even the smoothest projects can be seem frustratingly slow when it feels like your home has been turned inside out. So it’s important to work with strong partners (like KSI, the Merillat dealer overseeing the Osburn kitchen project) and to go into the process with realistic expectations. Here are some tips to help make the waiting game smoother and more enjoyable.

Ask about lead times upfront.
A new kitchen isn’t a single purchase. It’s an entire process, involving numerous manufacturers, retailers, inspectors and tradespeople. Some products have longer lead times than others—like cabinets. Ask about lead times when you order. Some cabinet manufacturers may require 4-6 weeks for delivery. However, Merillat’s Kitchen-At-A-Time process allows each kitchen featuring Merillat Classic or Essentials cabinetry to be built to order in just 5-6 days.

Be prepared to be flexible.
Plan ahead for how you’ll handle daily kitchen activities from your morning coffee to making meals. Decide which daily essentials you’ll want close at hand, and pack the rest away. (But label the boxes clearly, just in case!) Since eating out can really eat into your budget, find a temporary location for your refrigerator and microwave that lets you manage some meals at home. Stock up on paper goods if you won’t have easy access to a sink.

Expect the unexpected.
Especially in older homes, the tear out process can reveal unanticipated issues that result in delays or other adjustments. If challenges arise, take comfort in the fact that your crew is making sure the job is done right.

Pay it forward.
Before your old cabinets or appliances are destroyed or discarded, ask around. Many charities are able to put them to good use! Other components and materials may be able to be reused or recycled. The Osburns donated their old cabinets to a local chapter of Habitat for Humanity and recycled the glass block removed from the bar. You could make a difference that goes well beyond your own four walls!

Enjoy the ride!
Remember, construction is temporary. So approach it with a sense of adventure. Take pictures. Start a journal or a blog. Documenting the process can help you appreciate progress along the way, and provide a keepsake to look back on—as you enjoy your fabulous new kitchen!

Merillat Masterpiece Hadley in Cherry Cinnamon

Over the years, the kitchen has become the hub of life in many homes. Sure it’s for cooking and eating, but its function can serve much more – a conversational area, a work place for adults and kids – the possibilities are endless.  The right design should reflect these needs. Considering how you want to plan the design or redesign of your kitchen, you’ll want to ask yourself a few basic questions:

• How much space is available?
• Does my family eat in the kitchen, or do I entertain in the kitchen? If so, countertop seating at an island, or built-in seating might be handy.
• How important is having a recycling station in the kitchen to me?
• Do I need a workspace for paying bills, household paperwork or homework?
• Is there space for a wastebasket near a food prep and cutting area?
• A designated breakfast area, with coffee maker, toaster and microwave, can free up other valuable kitchen space.

Determining how much space you actually have is a fundamental aspect of any kitchen design, as you decide what features will be included and how they can best be arranged to fit your needs. One primary reason for remodeling your kitchen is expansion. Kitchen cabinetry, counter space, and general storage space are always at a premium, particularly in smaller kitchens.  Expanding the kitchen allows more room to work, gather, socialize and eat.

Options for enlarging your kitchen are to expand the house outward around the kitchen or to take space from elsewhere in the house. Consider your options carefully, as knocking down structural walls can get expensive, although this is often less expensive than expanding outward.

Open floor plans have become very popular as the kitchen’s entertainment and gathering needs have increased. Merging food preparation and social areas is essential for many families today.

If the kitchen is large enough, it can also accommodate a kitchen island or peninsula – a valuable tool not only for food preparation, but for additional storage as well. You also might consider adding a pantry or pullout pantry near the refrigerator for easy access.

Be sure to include more cabinetry space than you think you need, because kitchen cabinets are always filling up and clutter is inevitable! You can reduce this clutter by making sure you have ample storage. For example, installing taller cabinets that reach to the ceiling creates an illusion of having a larger more spacious kitchen, with extra storage as a bonus. You can also create a drop zone near the kitchen entryway to help organize clutter before it reaches your countertops!  According to the National Kitchen and Bath Association’s (NKBA) Kitchen and Bath Planning Guidelines, when replacing a countertop or changing the shape of your kitchen, a total of 158″ of countertop frontage, 24″ deep with at least 15″ of clearance above, is needed to accommodate all uses, including landing area, preparation/work area and storage.

If space planning is thought out well beforehand, creating an attractive, efficient kitchen that enables you to perform various functions is simple. It’s important to enlist the help of a kitchen design professional, as they can best advise you on how to maximize your space to meet your needs.

Check out our inspiration gallery and our planning resources as you start your kitchen remodel planning; the NKBA’s website has wonderful resources too.