Between expensive appliances, beautiful cabinets, and costly countertops, we spend a lot of money on our kitchens. In fact, according to John Hogan of Bath & Kitchen Galleria, the median spend on a kitchen remodel in North Atlanta was $43,000. To protect against falling into the “trend trap”, the trick is to incorporate timeless design elements that won’t soon go out of style. By choosing kitchen features that can stand the test of time, you’ll save yourself money (and the work of remodeling) down the line. Bath & Kitchen Galleria in Roswell is the largest remodeler in North Atlanta and Mr. Hogan spends many hours offering clients advice on “timeless vs. trendy” design. Here are some important elements to consider.
Neutral Paint Colors
The classic white kitchen is sometimes critiqued for being a little boring—but there’s one solid reason to opt for this color in the kitchen: It will never go out of style. According to Remodeling Expo’s Kitchen Trend Report, a whopping 43 percent of renovating homeowners opted for white cabinets. Not sure which shade of white to go for? The designers at Remodeling Expo have their favorite warm variants to the classic white that everyone has in mind.
Shaker-Style Cabinets
Known for their simple design and recessed-panel doors, Shaker cabinets have been in-style for more than 100 years. Shaker cabinets are popular in farmhouse kitchens, but they will also work with a variety of home decor styles. If you haven’t shopped for cabinets lately, you’ll find over 20 different variations of the traditional Shaker Cabinet door style.
Drawer and Cabinet Organizers
Organization will never go out of style. What’s hot now is creatively hiding small appliances like toasters, coffee makers and blenders, in updated cabinets that rest upon the countertop. Features like built-in baking sheet dividers and pull-out cabinet drawers haven’t been around for that long, when hidden behind unfussy, timeless cabinet fronts, these functional features will never be outdated.
Built-in Appliances
A skilled cabinet maker can make most appliances appear to be built-in , when they’re actually standard counter depth models. The built-in look will always be high-end and timeless. Will the stainless-steel appliances ever go out of style? The designers at Bath & Kitchen Galleria all agree, “Don’t hold your breath waiting for this to happen!”
Choose Natural Materials
Adding in natural materials like wood and stone will ground the space and keep it classic. If you want a timeless look, resist the urge to create an ultra-modern kitchen full of shiny stainless steel and engineered materials. Instead, incorporate some natural surfaces like distressed wood on the side of the island, floating shelves or an accent wall with some wood grain and earth tones.
White Marble or Butcher Block Countertops
White marble will always be an elegant choice for kitchen countertops, but if the maintenance and potential for staining has you worrying about its longevity, consider butcher block. The go-to choice for farmhouse kitchens, butcher block will wear beautifully over the years and you can prepare food directly on it.
Subway Tile
Subway tile is not only versatile enough to work with many different decor styles, but you probably won’t get sick of it in five years (after all, the look’s been around for over 100 years). While it may be tempting to go with a trendy backsplash, like metallic tiles, sea glass, or bright geometric tiles, opt for something a more simple, if you want a backsplash with staying power.
A homeowner doesn’t need to do all these things but working in a few of them usually suffices. To learn more about timeless kitchen design, contact The Bath & Kitchen Galleria at 404 910-3969
