I don’t know about you, but I’m just now getting my condo back in pre-Milton shape. It took five months and there are still a few jobs to finish up, not to mention the dust that has settled in the crevices of my furniture and windows.
Not everyone is as lucky as me. Many island people and throughout Manatee County need to do massive rebuilds and renovations. If you find yourself needing a kitchen rehab, take a look at some of the new ideas for kitchens I recently read about.
The big news is we’re going back to earthy neutrals and leaving the sterile white kitchens behind. Even the blue that we’ve seen in kitchen updates recently is making way for beiges, soft browns and even dark wood with appliances behind matching doors. The object is to create spaces that are cozy and more intimate than we have seen for years.
Beams are also popping up in Florida, adding texture and architectural interest to high ceilings. Dark beams are typical, but I think white in a kitchen to offset the new trendy darker cabinets gives interest while still maintaining a coastal look. Even cabinet pulls are evolving from the glitzy metal to soft wood tones.
Lighting is naturally the key to making a cozy space come alive. The designers I read about are loving single horizontal fixtures over kitchen islands taking the place of pendants and nixing recessed ceiling lighting.
This next one is certainly not new but is gaining popularity again and is perfect for the casual island lifestyle we’re all trying to get back to. Bistro racks or French shelving in place of cabinets check several boxes for coastal living. First of all, if the shelving is glass, they will appear to be floating, opening up the entire wall where they’re arranged. Paired with contrasting tile to the ceiling will make you wonder why you haven’t done this before. In addition, there is the ease of organizing dishes and glassware where everything is visible and there are no doors to open and close in the way.
While we’re talking about cabinets, guess what’s back, curtain-backed glass cabinet fronts. It works really well for the less organized of us where you really don’t want your chipped dishes displayed and adds a more formal design, making your cabinets feel like actual furniture. However, if you love your shaker-style cabinets, they are iconic, so don’t start ripping them out, but some day it might be time to move on.
Finally, nothing is more talked about in a kitchen than countertops. I remember when you never saw a hard surface countertop and everyone used laminate; hopefully, those days will never be back. However, the popular granite for decades is back in a more exciting reincarnation. The new granite has matte finishes, with a rougher and more rustic vibe perfect for some of the new rural kitchen choices. It has a slate-like appearance and is still virtually indestructible.
Marble is definitely out. Not only does it look too cool and industrial, it is high maintenance, staining easily – red wine and lemon juice are killers on marble. I had occasion to see one of these new granite products in a friend’s house in Naples on top of a massive kitchen island and it knocked my socks off.
Apparently, the decorative items you never thought you would ever see again are back. Beams, dark cabinets and granite are in fashion again, but then isn’t it always that way. Remember fins on cars and poodle skirts? Just wait.
