Adding Warmth to a Custom Kitchen

AS OUR NATIONAL ECONOMY IS ON THE MEND, property values are beginning to stabilize, and homeowners are starting to once again think about improvements that will improve their investment and lifestyle. That’s good news, and local businesses state that kitchen renovations account for the highest percentage of their recent business.

It’s no coincidence that kitchen remodels are leading the way as safe and functional investments. Estimates vary, but in general, it is estimated that homeowners recoup between 75- and 95-percent of their kitchen remodeling investment, provided the amount spent is proportionate with the value of the home.

On average, most kitchens are updated every 10 to 15 years, and the first group of high-end kitchens installed during the dot-com boom are ready for a makeover. Trends that people today are looking for include a sense of warmth and comfort, a place where they can spend time with their family and a return to home-cooked meals.

Patrick Cooke, a custom cabinetmaker and kitchen designer who owns Long Island Kitchen & Bath in Glen Cove, says that an average kitchen remodel costs between 8- and 15-percent of a home’s worth. Of that price tag, cabinetry can amount for as much as 50-percent of the bill. Most kitchen designers and installers, including Cooke, agree that gone are the days of $100,000 kitchen remodels that were built with form over function.

“Wood counters are a great way to bring a warm contrast into your kitchen,” says Cooke. Stainless steel appliances have become a hallmark of highend kitchens, but matching these doors to cabinetry also defines luxury kitchens. Custom range hoods and furniture like details round out ways to enhance your cabinetry.

Finally, don’t underestimate the importance of under cabinet lighting. “Proper lighting adds atmosphere and drama to bring a kitchen design together,” says Cooke.

Custom doors For something truly unique, and a perfect way to blend appliances into the cabinetry, choose to have custom doors built for your refrigerator, freezer, dishwasher and other small appliances. Most manufacturers sell these models panel ready, which means the doors shipped from the factory are designed with mounting points to accept cabinet panels. As a retrofit, panel ready doors can be ordered and installed for most high-end models, which saves the cost of buying new. This is a great option for kitchen renovations that want to soften the look of stainless steel in favor of the warmth of wood. Undercabinet lighting Often an overlooked element, low-voltage lighting that illuminates your counterspace not only adds functionality, but also a soft, warming effect. In contrast to the ambient lighting sourced from windows or overhead fixtures, and spotlights that accent important kitchen elements, undercabinet task lighting quite literally brightens workspaces. As an added bonus, this type of lighting adds crispness and definition to backsplashes, bringing their details into view. A word of caution: While LED lights are the hot trend right now, they emit a cool, bluish light. As such, LEDs might not add the warmth that standard halogen bulbs offer.

Although trends suggest that customers are looking for smaller, more inviting spaces, not everything from previous incarnations need be overlooked. Granite, for example, has become a highly desired kitchen staple because of its good looks and durability. One way to incorporate granite but soften countertops at the same time is to include wood countertops as an accent.

Furniture-like details A great way to make your kitchen feel more warm and cozy is to add custom cabinet details that reflect fine furniture. Elements like corbels – brackets used to reinforce an overhanging shelf or cabinet – are usually carved with intricate patterns. And instead of standard cabinet bases that are simply solid wood panels, custom “toe kicks” are similar to entertainment unit bases. Small turned columns at the end of an island or on each side of an industrial range force the eye to see these vertical items and break up the horizontal nature of cabinets. Last, think about designing a stand-alone cabinet as a baking center or pantry in a slightly different style or color scheme. Custom range hoods Reminiscent of the cooking fireplaces used in Europe, custom range hoods can add a unique element to a designer kitchen. By reducing the amount of cabinetry, they bring balance and focus to commercial grade stoves which are often a central kitchen element. Most large hoods will need an exterior vent, so be sure to plan your design accordingly. Alternatively, in contrast to simply installing an undercabinet vent incorporated into the cabinetry, consider a wood enclosure to hide the hood altogether. These wood enclosures help blend the surrounding cabinetry into the background and bring the eye towards brighter elements below, such as custom tile backsplashes.