Kitchen Remodeling Decisions for Timeless Style & Value

Thinking about giving your kitchen a facelift? It’s a big step, but totally worth it for the updated look and potential boost in your home’s value. Let’s get straight to the point and talk about what really makes a difference. Whether it’s tearing down a wall to open things up or picking the right countertops, there are some remodel choices that are always a good idea and turn a kitchen from just okay to awesome.

Renovated kitchen.Photo byGina Matsoukas/Running to the Kitchen

White Kitchens

White cabinetry is timeless, beautiful and versatile. It can work into any design style such as traditional, modern, contemporary or farmhouse. White cabinets allow for great resale value too and give you a blank slate for choosing fun accents like the sink, light fixtures and hardware.

Upgraded Appliances

This can mean anything from incorporating a 36″ to 60″ professional range or simply buying the better quality standard sized appliance. There’s no point spending your hard-earned money on a kitchen renovation if the appliances don’t do a good job cooking.

Shaker Style Cabinets.

When in doubt, go with a Shaker style cabinet. It’s clean, timeless and always looks good. The simple lines incorporate easily into almost any design plan, and with less trim work, they’re easier to keep clean.

Open shelving in kitchen.Photo byGina Matsoukas/Running to the Kitchen

Knocking Down a Wall

Open layouts are here to stay. Gone are the days of closed off kitchens with doors to a formal dining room. Taking down a wall, even if it’s load bearing, is usually a worthwhile decision to bring in more light and make the kitchen the center of your home with enough space for family and friends to gather. This kitchen renovation ilustrates how dramatic of a transformation this decision can be.

Natural Stone Countertops

Everyone says quartz is in, but the reality (from personal experiences) is that quartz is not heat resistant, is quick to absorb stains and scratches and chips more easily than granite or quartzite. You’ll also pay a similar price, if not more, for a high quality quartz – which is man made compared to natural stone. This is one kitchen design element where we stand firm against the mainstream narrative. Stick to granite or quartzite and you won’t regret it.

Open Shelving

Breaking up the monotomy of a wall of cabinets with open shelving is a nice visual touch. Just make sure to balance form with function. If you’re someone who hides a mess behind a cabinet door, go with a minimal amount of shelving otherwise you’ll likely regret the decision to display everything out in the open.

Professional style oven range.Photo byGina Matsoukas/Running to the Kitchen

Hardwood Flooring

Hardwood floors are just so much cozier than tile and feel better on your feet when you’re standing in the kitchen for hours. Continuing hardwood from other areas of the house also allows for a more unified feeling rather than breaking up the kitchen with tile. You won’t find anything more durable than wood to stand up to the high traffic space of a kitchen either.

Subway Tile Backsplash

There are so many ways to make subway tile work for you in your kitchen renovation whether it’s choosing a different color other than the standard white, laying the tile in a more unique pattern like herringbone or stacked or, selecting a more unique edge like beveled or irregular. Backsplash can make or break a kitchen design but subway tile is elegant, timeless and classic.

Large Stainless Steel Sinks

Stainless steel sinks are easy to keep clean and outperform any other choices like enamel and solid surface options. They’re also like white cabinets and can work themselves into any design style whether farmhouse or modern. Choosing one large sink basin is also much more conducive to cleaning big pots and pans than divided sinks.

This article first appeared on Running to the Kitchen.