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Archive for the ‘Design’ Category

Kitchen Remodeling Design Color Schemes

Tuesday, March 9th, 2010

The first step when it comes to kitchen remodeling is to choose a color scheme you like.  Once you do that, then you can begin to organize your kitchen design around it. We have selected three of the most common kitchen color schemes below and briefly described how to achieve these looks in your own home.

Dark & Elegant

Don’t get us wrong, dark kitchens are not easy to pull off. Nonetheless, when well executed they can reflect a mysterious, elegant beauty that brighter kitchen designs cannot imitate. Below is an image taken from House & Garden of Gwyneth Paltrow’s kitchen in her home in the Hamptons. The light countertops and white chandelier do a wonderful job of offsetting the dramatic black cabinetry. If you are considering a similar color scheme, Perla Bianca Trend Stonegranite veneer overlays would be an excellent choice for your countertops. Silver hardware, faucets, and appliances can also make dark cabinetry pop and bring a little bit of brightness to the room.

Gwyneth Paltrow's Dark Kitchen

Gwyneth Paltrow's Dark Kitchen

Colorful & Fun

If you want your kitchen design to a reflect  a more playful ambiance , a great technique is to add bright splashes of color throughout. You may choose to paint the walls or cabinets a vibrant color – blues, yellows and greens are popular options for kitchens. If you want color but are worried about overdoing it with paint, our Trend Mosaic backsplashes are a great way to add color without going overboard.

A Colorful Kitchen with a Granite Transformations Backsplash

White, Light & Bright

The best thing about a white kitchen is that the color will never look outdated. White kitchens are classic, clean, and versatile. However, they are more likely to come off as bland or uninspired than either of the color schemes mentioned above. There are a few things you can do to avoid this pitfall. Try to add some dramatic dark pieces to the kitchen, such as a dark wood table or chairs, black countertops, or pops of color in appliances and decor. Remember, if you ever get bored with your white design, all it takes is a coat of bright paint to shake things up again!

White Kitchen, as seen in House Beautiful

White Kitchen, as seen in House Beautiful

Recession-Approved Kitchen Remodeling

Wednesday, February 24th, 2010

These days, most of us are being a bit more careful about how we spend our money.  For some, this may mean packing a lunch for work instead of going out to eat. For others, it may mean  renting movies more often than going to the theatre. Living through a recession is all about learning how to get by on less. That said, you don’t have to give up on the things you would love to do. If you had plans to remodel your kitchen but are now reconsidering your budget, check out the following tips that will help you cut costs and still get stunning results.

1. Cabinets

Cabinets from Granite Transformations

Cabinets from Granite Transformations

Cabinets are the face of your kitchen. They set the tone for the entire kitchen and are the first thing your guests notice when they enter the room. So, what can you do if your cabinets are unsightly or outdated? (more…)

Turning Your Kitchen Green

Tuesday, February 23rd, 2010

Photo by aunto CC BY 2.0

Are you in the midst of a kitchen remodeling? Are you possibly rethinking your current kitchen design? There are likely many considerations you are keeping in mind – price, style, and quality to name a few. But there’s one more thing we want to remind you of before sending you out into the land of Kitchen Remodeling Design – Don’t forget to go green!

Below we have compiled a great list of tips to help you go green in your kitchen. Some of them will require a little bit of upfront investment, but you will surely see a return as the years go by.

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Granite Countertop Colors: Making A Beautiful Home

Thursday, January 7th, 2010
Some Granite Countertop Colors
Some Granite Countertop Colors

Choosing the right color is a crucial step in granite countertop installation. While having a granite countertop installed will inevitably add beauty to your home, the perfect color will help tie the room together. A good rule of thumb is to go with a color that contrasts well with the colors of the room in which the countertop is being installed.

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Glass Kitchen Counters: Stunning And Beautiful

Thursday, December 31st, 2009
Kitchen Glass Counter
Glass Kitchen Counter

Everyone loves a beautiful kitchen counter, but making the right choice for the perfect counter can be tough. Some of the difficulty lies in determining which color will best complement the décor of the room. For darker rooms, many people like to go with granite or trend stone to give the kitchen a beautiful luster which compliments the dark shades of cabinets, walls, and appliances.

What about lighter kitchens? Sure, a granite countertop or trend stone counter can be good option, but you might also consider a glass kitchen counter. Glass kitchen counters are strong, sleek and have a lovely polish. They will give your lighter kitchen a new radiance and are sure to “wow” your guests every time. Of course, glass counters are easy to install and maintain, so you are certain to enjoy them for years to come.

Click to learn more about the glass we use to make our glass kitchen counters . And don’t forget to  visit our website for a free consultation. We hope that everyone had a wonderful 2009 and we wish you all a happy new year.

Countertop Tips: Keeping Your Countertop Clean

Tuesday, December 22nd, 2009

Here at Granite Transformations, we often get questions about maintaining newly installed granite or trend stone countertops. We hear from a lot of people who want to know how best to care for their countertops. One of our clients recently posed a question which I would like to answer here so others who had the same question can benefit. The client asked how he should go about caring for and cleaning his granite countertop.

To maintain the beauty of your countertop, is fortunately quite simple. If you notice a stain or any spills on the countertop such as oil, sauce, or cooking fluid, make sure to clean the surface as soon as possible. All you need to do is dip a soft cloth or sponge in warm water and gently rub the surface of the countertop. Avoid using soaps, alcohols or detergents as these will only damage your countertop and destroy its beautiful luster.

Cleaning your countertop doesn’t have to be difficult! We hope the simple tips provided above will help you maintain your countertop for the years to come. If anyone has further questions, please pass them on and we will gladly answer them here.

FloorPlanner Helps You Plan Home Renovation Projects

Thursday, November 12th, 2009

If you’re planning on remodeling your home, but are concerned about making measurement or layout mistakes, check out Floor Planner, an online application that allows you to create and share interactive floor plans and eliminate mistakes in your next home renovation project.

The app, which is free in the Personal version, allows you to create and save a floor plan for your house and surrounding property – with accurate measurements, easy editing, hundreds of options for furniture and other fixtures (like countertops). It also gives you the option to add in your own images.

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9 Beautiful Kitchen Faucets

Wednesday, October 21st, 2009

We see a lot of kitchen counters, which means we see a lot of kitchen faucets. Here are some of our favorites. Some are on this list because they are innovative and functional, some because they just look cool.

Spot Illuminated Kitchen Faucet (by Ndwelt)

ndwelt-lighted-faucet-spot-1
With simple design and illuminated underside, this faucet features head that can be pulled out, and has touch-sensitive controls that turns water ON/OFF and controls temperature. The product has simple upside-down-L-shape, and looks like something from year 2050.

Ring Faucet (design by Sun Liang)

ring-faucet-by-sun-liang-large2

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Designer Pages: An online home design community

Monday, October 12th, 2009

designerpages

If you’re exploring home design options and looking for some inspiration, check out Designer Pages, an online community where suppliers can showcase their products, and designers can pick out items they like and put together design plans.

Our favorite is “Product Wars” feature on the homepage, which lets you vote on which one of two similar items is cooler looking.
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