If you want to cut down on the time it takes to keep your kitchen spick and span, you should take a closer look at your finishes. From flooring to hardware, the materials you select can tack on extra time to your cleanup routine. Wondering which options cut down on dusting, scrubbing and wiping? Here’s a list of easy-to-maintain finishes.
Flooring
1. Ceramic and porcelain tile. Kitchens are both wet zones and high-traffic areas, so proper flooring material is key. Ceramic and porcelain tile have moisture resistance that is superior to natural stone or wood (especially porcelain, which absorbs less than 0.5% of moisture when wet). They’re also highly resistant to scratching and staining. Unlike natural stone, you don’t have to seal ceramic and porcelain tile. They also don’t require special cleaners and can handle almost any type of sanitizing agent.
2. Vinyl. Whether it’s planks or traditional sheets, vinyl is well-equipped to handle your kitchen’s worst. Unlike laminate and hardwood, vinyl can handle moisture with relative ease. Its PVC veneer and backing protect against spills and leaks. It’s tough to scratch and stain, and like tile, vinyl cleanup is quick and easy. Water and a mop will remedy the majority of messes. No grout lines is a huge perk, too.
Cabinets
1. Flat-panel doors. Even if you’re not a fan of modern design, it’s worth considering flat-panel doors if your top priority is easy upkeep. The less door detail, the less dust and dirt. Flat panel doors are also easier to wipe down because their surface doesn’t have recesses or raised grooves.
2. Shaker doors. If flat-panel cabinet doors are just too modern or you aren’t sure if they match your kitchen’s style, Shaker door fronts are a good compromise. They add a touch of detail but are still relatively easy to clean.
Medium-Tone Stains
Dark paints and stains show dust particles and fingerprints. White cabinets don’t, but they show just about everything else. While medium-tone stains aren’t immune to wear and tear, they’ll show significantly less mess. They’re also easier to touch up than paints. Choose a wood species that features grains and grooves to help hide stains and scratches. Oak, quarter-sawn oak, hickory and beech are smart options.
Quartz Countertops
This engineered product is one tough cookie. It isn’t foolproof, but it’s about as resistant to scratches and stains as countertops get. You only need a soft cloth and warm water for post-meal cleanup. If you have dried-on stains, quartz will hold up well to common cleaning products like Windex, Clorox and Lysol. The things to avoid? Corrosive chemicals and setting hot pans directly on its surface.
Stainless Steel Appliances
This staple material isn’t without fault. Stainless steel sinks, for instance, can develop a chalky residue around the drain due to hard water. They can also scratch. But overall, they’re highly durable and fairly easy to clean. Black and white appliances can face the same maintenance concerns as light and dark cabinetry.
Satin Paint for Walls and Cabinets
What’s the best low-maintenance paint type for walls and cabinets? It’s a tricky question. In a vacuum, the answer is high-gloss and semigloss paints. But when it comes to painting walls and cabinets, glossy paints can look too shiny and reflect too much light. Therefore, satin paints might be your best bet for easy upkeep and design integrity. They’re not as loud as high-gloss paints, are less porous than flat paints and are still very durable over time. Just be sure to hire a talented painter — satin paints can show brush and roller marks more easily than other types of paint.
Semigloss Paint for Trims and Baseboards
Semigloss paint handles moisture, stains and bumps and bruises exceptionally well, so it’s an obvious choice for kitchens. Wall trims and baseboards are common applications for semigloss paint. You don’t have to worry about sacrificing aesthetics for maintenance.
Backsplashes
1. Ceramic and porcelain. Like their flooring counterparts, ceramic and porcelain tile backsplashes are virtually maintenance-free. Most options feature a protective glaze that resists stains and doesn’t require any sealing (there are exceptions, of course). These two nonporous materials excel at water resistance, too.
2. Glass. Though glass backsplashes are more likely to show grease and food splatters than ceramic and natural stone, they’re super easy to wipe down thanks to a smooth surface finish. You can also ditch grout lines altogether with solid-glass sheets.
written by Sam Ferris
Unlike synthetic countertops, granite is created by nature. Each granite slab has unique fissures, swirls, and flecks of shiny iron bits. There may be 10 slabs at a showroom—all from the same quarry—with wildly varying characteristics. If you have a granite countertop in your kitchen, you know you have a piece that is truly one-of-a-kind.
Quality kitchen elements like granite counters make your space look more high-end and updated. Granite counters attract potential buyers, as they know they’re getting something they won’t have to update when they move in. The more turnkey a home is, the higher its value will be.
Different countertops have different prices, care requirements, and durability. Granite has a very high hardness rating. This means it can stand up to scratches and accidents better than other options (especially marble). For active families and busy kitchens, this is an exceptionally valuable feature.
When considering natural stone versus synthetic stone countertops, natural stones like granite are the more sustainable option. This is because they require minimal processing before they make it to your kitchen. Synthetic materials call for a lengthier and more complex production process, which may include toxic chemicals and releasing harmful emissions into the atmosphere.
Though granite countertops are highly resilient, accidents happen. Luckily, even if your granite counters get cracked or chipped, they are usually repairable. A countertop repair pro near you can often use filler materials to get your granite looking good-as-new again. If a heavy pot slips from your hands, or if a glass jar falls from your cabinet, it’s nice to have that extra peace of mind.
When choosing the right countertop, you can’t go by looks alone. You’ll also need to consider how well it’ll hold up against spaghetti sauce, red wine, or other spills. It’s also important that countertops don’t absorb all the icky germs and bacteria from raw meat during meal prep. Provided they get sealed properly at least once a year, your granite counters will wipe clean of all these messes.
Since granite gets formed naturally via pressure and heat, granite counters have built-in heat resistance. While it’s still a good idea to use potholders, you won’t have to worry about the scorching you’d get with other countertop varieties. Get in touch with a top-rated countertop installer near you to learn more.
If you’re shopping for natural stone countertops, you’ve probably considered granite and quartz varieties. While both of these stones are extremely durable, the biggest difference between quartz and granite is that granite stays true to its color the longest. Quartz can become discolored over time if left in direct sunlight. If you have a skylight in your kitchen, or just a lot of natural sun coming in, this is definitely something to think about.
In addition to choosing the best material, mounting type, number of bowls and bowl depth for your kitchen sink, you also have a range of sink size options. An extra-wide kitchen sink will obviously give you more space for food prep and cleanup, and you might prefer it over the confines of a smaller sink, but bigger sinks typically cost more and can take up valuable real estate in a small kitchen.
Feeling overwhelmed? Don’t worry. We’ve pulled together kitchens that feature various sink sizes, along with tips to help you figure out the perfect sink size for your cooking and cleaning needs.
1. Size Your Sink to Your Kitchen
It may seem obvious, but if your kitchen is on the smaller side, consider installing a smaller-width sink. An oversize, triple-bowl model would have overwhelmed this charming but compact loft kitchen. The more modest-size, yet still deep, the single-bowl apron-front sink is large enough to accommodate most kitchen tasks, but it isn’t a space hog. Countertop and base cabinet storage areas are likely to be at a premium in a smaller kitchen, so a smaller-width sink will improve overall function too.
2. Size Your Sink to the Window Above It
Homeowners often install a kitchen sink beneath a window, preferably a window with a nice view. But some homeowners overlook how these two elements work together. That’s not to say your sink and window need to match widths exactly, but it can look odd to have a super-wide sink set below a skinny window and vice versa.
3. Size Your Sink to Be a Focal Point
If you choose to go with an extra-wide sink, you’re going to have a difficult time disguising it. My advice is to take the opposite approach and make your wide sink a focal point. Repurpose an interesting salvaged sink or consider an unusual material, like copper.
4. Size Your Sink to Your Budget
This might also be obvious, but it’s all too easy to fall in love with a huge, gorgeous, apron-front sink only to find that it’s priced well above what your budget will allow.
Installing all top-of-the-line materials, fixtures and appliances in a kitchen doesn’t make sense for everyone, so it’s helpful to strategize on where you’re going to spend money and where you can save.
Personally, I’d rather splurge on my countertops or kitchen floor than the sink. After all, you can get a perfectly good 20-inch-wide stainless steel undermount sink for less than $200.
5. Size Your Sink Based on Your Needs
If you’re an avid cook who prefers hand-washing dishes to running the dishwasher, a large divided-bowl sink with an integrated drainboard is a great option. The wider sink allows multiple people to work at the sink without getting in each other’s way, and that built-in drainboard makes the business of draining and air drying dishes less of a wet mess.
A sink this size will require an extra-wide sink cabinet and will take up quite a bit of space, so it’s best for a generous-size kitchen.
If you need a hand with prepping meals or cleaning up, consider installing two single-bowl sinks instead of one extra-large sink. A configuration like this allows two cooks to work together, and because these sinks are set apart, traffic jams are less likely.
If you have the space and budget for it, a three-sink setup is nice for a multicook household that does a lot of entertaining. The separate sinks allow several people to work in the kitchen simultaneously. None of the sinks needs to be exceptionally large. One main sink can handle bigger tasks and the others can be sized much smaller. Of course, this configuration has the potential to be costly due to the duplicate plumbing fixtures and installation fees.
6. Consider Fun-Size Sinks
I love these linear sinks. While it’d be difficult to wash dishes in one, they work just fine for fetching a glass of water or dumping out abandoned drinks when the party’s over. You can also fill one with ice and stash cold drinks in it, a nice alternative to keeping an unsightly cooler in the kitchen or having guests rummage through your refrigerator for a cold one. And it doesn’t take up much space on the countertop.
More Than 60% of Renovated Kitchens Feature Islands (2020)
According to Houzz’s survey, kitchen islands continue to be very popular for eating (58%), entertaining (49%) and socializing (45%). If your house has the space to add an island, there are so many features that can add storage, style, better line-of-sight, and new appliances. Since a kitchen is one of the most complicated spaces to design in a house, you need to decide what your island’s main function will be. Most islands have one side for cooking and the other side is devoted to eating, but what will your emphasis be? Prep work, cooking, cleaning, eating or entertaining? Or will you use it for everything, including homework and house projects? A well-planned island layout can allow a smooth workflow and provide a comfortable space for preparing and cooking food. There are many possibilities for making an island work, even where space is limited. An island work area allows you to face guests or family members while you prep or feel connected to people in adjacent rooms if you have an open floor plan.
Hiring a kitchen designer is a must to ensure it flows well and all the cabinets fit together in the required space. The busy nature of the kitchen space requires every part to be cohesively designed. Your designer will also ensure that the kitchen has the right amount of clearance between the island and the opposing cabinets and appliances, so that all doors, drawers, ovens and dishwashers can be opened safely and without obstruction. Careful planning is the key to achieving an efficient island that will enhance the use of your space. Most kitchen designers can also offer options with a reduced depth, a customized height or extra-large cabinets tailored to suit a specific design and the space it is intended for.
When decorating a kitchen or dining area, one of the most impactful decisions you would make would be your choice of a kitchen island or bar counter. A kitchen island greatly expands the available surface area that you get to work with, while a bar counter provides you with an additional preparation surface along with a serving surface for your guests.
Let’s dive deeper into some of the key differences between having a kitchen island or a bar counter:
Kitchen Island
Kitchen islands are typically placed in the middle of kitchens, surrounded by cooking stations to provide the cook with a convenient space to place raw ingredients, ready dishes, or mixing bowls. Because they tend to have a larger surface area, they are ideal for big kitchens or intensive baking operations that call for many ingredients. Many kitchen islands also come with storage solutions, providing additional space for you to store your cookware.
Bar Counter
Bar counters are typically located on the edge of the kitchen, adjacent to a living area or dining area, depending on the home layout. With a lower and higher surface, the lower surface is typically facing inward to the kitchen for the host to mix drinks or place the finishing touches on dishes before serving their guests on the other side of the bar counter. When combined with appropriate bar stools, they also provide additional space for cosy conversation in a relaxed yet classy atmosphere.
For kitchens that have a brighter outlook or light wood accents such as sandalwood or elm, going with light colors on the countertop is a great way to keep with the color theme while maintaining the airy and open feeling that the light shades afford.
For an elegant and dramatic look and feel, a glossy black countertop does just what you need. The deep shade of black is a great complement for darker décor, and when paired well, can yield a very satisfying and even cosy atmosphere.
There’s no denying the appeal of the classic marble look, which is effortlessly elegant and ever so easy to love. The traditional look of marble especially goes great when paired in contrast with black surfaces, creating a space that is definitely worthy of envy.
When you want something that’s not all black or white, going with a glossy grey is also a good way to add depth to color without darkening a space too much. What’s more, grey tends to work great with navy and brown, if you should desire to include those colors as part of your décor.
The pristine surface of white marble has been a favorite among many going back hundreds of years, and it’s easy to see why! Not only does it look and feel clean, but it also helps brighten up any space and gives everything in its vicinity a wonderful glow.
Of course, the understated look of a dark–honed surface also has its unique allure – as honed surfaces tend to absorb rather than reflect light, strong lighting is a good complement for these dark surfaces, which helps the colorful elements stand out all the more.
In the debate over how to make this feature more functional, consider more than one side
Don’t let a good visual get in the way of functionality. Before you renovate or give your island an update, consider these options for how to choose the best dining arrangement to save your household — and your knees — a lot of bumps down the road.
This arrangement works fine when just one or a few guests will be perched, chatting with the chef, or for a small household where most meals involve just one or two people. If the island isn’t expected to be used for larger groups than that, it makes sense not to dedicate any more space to seating.
If you don’t have room or a need for seats on more than one side, go the simple one-side route — just keep in mind that some factors will affect how comfortably guests can sit.
If your island has sides or legs that the seats sit between, as shown here, they might cut into the legroom.
Two-Side Seating: Adjacent Sides
Adding seats to even just one adjacent side can go a long way to making your island a much more inviting spot to dine. By extending the island overhang to two sides instead of just one, you allow guests to sit facing each other.
You can keep seats on both sides at all times, or save space by keeping seats on just one side most of the time and pulling a seat over to the available shorter side when needed.
This can be a great compromise where the floor plan doesn’t leave a lot of room for seating. By extending the overhang a few inches on the short side, you allow it to be used as a dining spot in a pinch, without losing too much storage or circulation space.
If you use a rounded corner like this one, you can effectively get three directions of seats from just two sides of the island, for a dining experience that’s even closer to sitting at a regular table.
Two-Side Seating: Opposite Sides
If your kitchen is long and skinny, it may make more sense to have a long, thin island, with seating on two opposite sides. This means guests can face each other, although if the island is quite narrow, you may not have much room to fit place settings as well as serving dishes.
Three-Side Seating
Generally, fitting seats on three sides of the island requires a large kitchen. However, there are multiple configurations that can work for different layouts.
In this example, the island is fairly square, with a rectangular dining zone taking up half of its deep depth. This gives enough room for just one seat on two of the sides, but that is enough to allow two to four guests to converse easily.
Another option is to extend a dining area out from the island to create a T shape as seen here. This essentially butts a full table up against the island, for plenty of seating for six or even more.
Compared with having a stand-alone table away from the island, this takes up less floor area because you don’t have circulation space between the island and table. Of course, the trade-off is the table has only three useable sides.
In an average-size kitchen, the decision often comes down to whether you want a more casual or more formal experience. For casual dining, this is a great solution that keeps the chef in on the action.
Four-Side Seating
Lastly, there is the option of skipping the proper island all together and using a dining table as an island instead. This gives up the storage space of an island cabinet but still provides an extra surface for prep work while cooking and obviously a dining space once the meal is ready.
If you use a bar height table, it can easily double as a workspace. However, it will be extra important to use seats that tuck up against or under the table so the surface is easy to reach.
Seating With Arms
If you have a narrow island, seats with arms will provide a more comfortable dining experience. At the same time, arms generally take up more space and often won’t tuck under as easily. If you hope to use stools with arms, plan for each guest to have 28 to 32 inches of width instead.
Carefully consider whether you have the space for roomy stools with arms. If you do, consider it an investment in many comfortable meals at your wonderful dining island.
Inflation is complicated. But the impact it has on your dollar is pretty straightforward. As the price of consumer goods and services go up, consumer spending power dwindles. In simple terms, your dollar doesn’t go as far as it once did.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the rate of inflation hit 8.6% in the past year. That’s the highest rate of inflation since 1981!2
If you’re just kicking off your search for a new home or you’ve been at it for a while, consider how the current condition of the market will impact your homebuying budget.
Getting pre-approved is often the first step in the homebuying process, giving you a sense of your financing options without going through the entire underwriting process.
Keep in mind that it’s almost 30% more expensive to buy a home than it was just a year ago.3 Unless your income has also trended upward in that time, your homebuying budget should account for the decreased power of your dollar. Adjust for inflation to avoid overextending yourself on a long-term financial commitment.
Once you have your budget set, use summer to make your move. This is a time when many buyers take their eyes off the prize in favor of vacations and travel plans.
On top of distracted competition, a 29% increase in inventory boosts the odds for determined buyers even higher.4
Keep your eyes peeled for listings that might be re-entering the market. Deals can fall through for a variety of reasons, and that home you really loved last month might be available again for less than the original asking price.
written by Alyssa Longobucco
There’s a good reason why many people refer to kitchens as the heart of the home. Sure, they get a lot of foot traffic daily—from family dinners and intimate date nights to post-school study sessions—but more than that, they act as a microcosm for our daily lives, routine, and outlook. The forms our kitchens take—and the way they morph year over a year—says a lot more about us than just what color we’re loving lately. They reflect back on our priorities, our struggles, and our goals, both for our homes and our lives.
For that reason, the expert-driven trends below for 2022 are really more than just trends. Granted, there are a few mixed in just for the pretty factor they provide but the majority of these new kitchen upgrades are a prime example of our collective shifting priorities amid life in a pandemic. From the return of color—and a reinvigoration of a positive perspective—to the prioritizing of natural materials and do-it-all finishes, they encapsulate a time and a place that we all hope is filled with more love, laughter, and yes, good food—just like a kitchen (and life) should be.
1. Custom Organization
Gone are the days where homeowners had to choose to forgo cabinets and display their wares on beautiful (but slightly impractical) open shelving or cave to a kitchen designed for storage but not style. These days, designers are focusing on crafting spaces that are both creative and utilitarian, giving home chefs the best of both worlds—a space that functions and looks good while doing it. In fact, Houzz’s 2022 U.S Kitchen Trends Study showed that the popularity of built-in specialty organizers is only increasing, with more than half of homeowners upgrading their space with storage solutions.
“Having a decluttered and organized kitchen not only helps with function but also brings a sense of calm and order to a home,” says Carrie Delaney of Carrie Delaney Interiors. “People spend so much time in their kitchen, so thoughtful storage and organizational solutions are key. From spices and bakeware to simple things like the paper towel roll, getting creative with storage helps a kitchen both look and function better.”
“Kitchens are evolving as our needs are,” adds Chad Dorsey of Chad Dorsey Design. “More than ever, clients are asking for hardworking kitchens that are high-performance without sacrificing on design. They want their kitchens to feel comfortable, with ample space to take them through the needs of their day. From having an intimate nook to work or sip a morning espresso to spacious, custom-made ranges and other appliances that gather families and friends to cook together.”
2. Statement-Making Slabs
Into 2022, designers and homeowners are taking every opportunity to imbue a space with personality, a perspective that will extend beyond cabinet colors and hardware finishes into bold, attention-grabbing countertop materials. Houzz’s study recently reported that over one-third of homeowners completing a home kitchen renovation or design chose to splurge on their countertops, with quartz and granite among the most popular materials.
“We’ll be seeing more bold stone selections in the year to come,” says designer Killy Scheer of Scheer & Co. “Think less plain white stone composite products and more splashy veined marbles and quartzites. To get the full effect (and value) out of these selections, we’ll be seeing them applied to backsplashes, too, so they can be seen vertically, not just horizontally.”
Instead of chasing the high-gloss look of a brand-spankin’ new kitchen, more homeowners and designers are reaching for fixtures and finishes that bring with them a well-worn lived-in appeal. From muddy paint hues and unlacquered brass finished with a natural patina to handmade tiles that boast elegant movement, the goal is the same: a kitchen that could have been there 100 years ago—even if it was just built last month.
“We see kitchens trending towards an understated naturalism in 2022,” says Phoebe Schuh, founder and creative director at PS & Daughters. “We anticipate a move away from lustrous looks like polished stone towards things like ash green, soapstone, and patinated metals.”
“Subway style tile is still here to stay, but we’ll see a change-up in texture throughout 2022,” says designer Andi Morse of Morse Design. “White brick, stone, and ceramic tiles all have a natural look and feel to them that adds another layer to the kitchen.”
“Everyone is looking for organic warmth and we love bringing it in with the metals used in hardware and plumbing fixtures,” adds designer Jessica Nicastro. “We love the look of a matte bronze in the kitchen that gives patina and depth but also warmth.
When you’re planning a new kitchen, the layout is, of course, key to making the space work efficiently. But there are other things to think about. Take a look at this checklist to ensure that you tick off seven essential elements of a well-designed space.
1. Sufficient Storage
If you want your kitchen to be functional, one of the most important features to consider is storage space.
Think carefully about what you need to store, and choose cabinets that work with the size and layout of your kitchen. Research space-saving designs, such as pullouts and tall wall cabinets.
It’s a good idea to take an inventory to figure out exactly what you need to store. Be realistic, and if there are any unused items that are cluttering up the space, now’s the time to recycle them. Once you know what items you’re storing and where you’re going to use them, you can consider the best options for your space.
2. Strong and Stylish Counters
If you like to cook, your kitchen work surfaces will see some action, so besides good looks, they need strength and durability. To help you decide which type of countertop to go for, consider exactly how you use your kitchen.
Think about how much wear and tear particular areas in your space will get, as this will determine how durable your counters need to be.
3. Efficient Appliances
The appliances you choose also will depend on how you use your kitchen and the size and layout of the room. For example, if you entertain often, a large oven and a dishwasher may be a priority.
When you’re searching for appliances, consider how energy-efficient they are. One thing you can do is look for products with an Energy Star label, a U.S. government-backed symbol of energy efficiency.
4. Layered Lighting
As soon as you’ve planned your kitchen’s layout, think about where you’ll locate the lighting. Complement functional spotlights with strategically placed task lights to create a lighting design that adds depth and practicality to your space.
6. Durable Flooring
In a heavy traffic area like a kitchen, the floor needs to earn its keep. There are many surfaces you can go for, including natural stone, concrete, ceramic and porcelain. You also can choose beautiful wood, but be sure to get advice on how to seal it and protect it from water damage.
Think about how your floor will look with the rest of your design and whether you’ll want to change it in the future. Classic stone tiles will work with most styles and colors. However, a patterned floor also can look stunning and, if you really love the design, it could be worth being brave with your flooring choice.
written by Amanda Pollard