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Design inspiration from top interior design firm, Studio SHK

Kitchen Upgrades

Looking to update your kitchen? Try implementing some functional and stylish ideas into your next kitchen remodel project. From space saving tips to full blown interior design trends, we’ve compiled these kitchen upgrade ideas tips to help you get the most out of your kitchen.

Upgrade 1: Lighting is everything! A well-lit kitchen feels more welcoming and inviting. Recessed overhead lights will brighten-up the entire space. Add decorative lighting to let your personal home style shine through. We love pendant lamps, which add interest and can make the kitchen feel more grand. They work beautifully above kitchen islands for a subtle yet striking statement.

Upgrade 2: Clever storage. Maximize a kitchen’s footprint for optimal use by adding efficient storage. Invest in a cabinet pull-out pantry equipped with appropriate shelving and mounting options, or cabinet pull-up doors for tight corners and narrow spaces. Shelving and racks keep kitchen items visible while creating a point of interest. Sometimes, it’s what you don’t see that adds the biggest bang, such as internal fittings that help keep drawers tidy. From The Container Store to Hafele, you can organize at the budget that is right for you.

Upgrade 3: Rethink your kitchen cabinetry! Give your cabinet doors and drawers a complete makeover. This can entail swapping outdated cabinets with oak or other wood options, adding a fresh coat of paint or new stain, or turning to a company like Semihandmade that will help create handmade cabinet solutions around Ikea cabinets. Updating your cabinetry will make your kitchen feel fresh and polished. And if revamping them is not an option, consider a new set of hardware. These little touches can make a big difference. There are many different sizes of handles, knobs, and pulls, so pay attention to proportion, and coordinate the finish with overall design for a cohesive look that makes the home current.

Upgrade 4: Celebrate Nature. Natural lighting is one of the best interior design trends. Sunlit spaces immediately make a kitchen feel like the hearth of the home. If you are up for a major overhaul, add a skylight or enlarge windows. Depending on the size and layout of your kitchen, sliding or folding glass doors can turn your kitchen into an indoor outdoor oasis. And if a kitchen renovation isn’t in your plans, outfit it with plants. Wall gardens are perfect for growing edibles and herbs. Succulents make a nice centerpiece on a kitchen island, and indoor trees can tie an open kitchen / great room together.

Upgrade 5: Make your countertops the centerpiece. Counters and kitchen islands are the place to express yourself! Outfitting your kitchen in marble or other natural stone is a bold way to bring in pattern. Marble slabs are available in a variety of veining — from heavy, multi-hued designs to subtle striations — making this material the perfect backdrop for any kitchen. Be it an ultra modern kitchen or a farmhouse style interpretation, you can’t go wrong when upgrading your kitchen counters or waterfall kitchen island with stone.

Images from Instagram: @moltenidada as featured on @archdigest, 'The Knowledge' East London home as featured on @plumguide, project by @networkofarchitecture featuring oak cabinets as spotted on @dezeen, @jgneukomm_architecture designed kitchen featuring @hafeleamerica, @aplusk ktichen in @archdigestfeaturing @bomma_cz lighting and @devolkitchen, @boffi_official designed by L. Massoni, @whisperingbold, Joan Didion's kitchen via @voguemagazine 1972, and @bulthaup