March 8, 2012 | Posted In Kitchen

Kitchen Solutions: Spring is in the Air

Spring is in the air which means now is the perfect time to open up the house and let the fresh air in. What better place to start than the kitchen?

With the weather turning warmer our thoughts turn to ways to brighten up our kitchen. It might take more than opening a blind, but renovations don’t need to be extensive or expensive. Below are a few ideas for creating new energy without expending a lot of yours!

Open up – literally! One of the easiest ways to open up the kitchen and give it a major does of style is to remove the upper cabinet doors. Use the shelves as a canvas by painting or covering with a complimentary color or pattern. You’ll be amazed at the transformation.

Springboard to Color. Spring brings a fantastic burst of color with days getting brighter and flowers blooming. Why not bring those bold colors inside too? By introducing a vibrant hue cabinets, walls and even floors can transform your space showing that a little paint can go a long way. New accessories can also provide an affordable way to update the space. Curtains, chair coverings and even hand-towels bring the colors of the season into the space.

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Reassess your accessories. Why not update your hardware? New metal or glass knobs can provide a fresh facelift for your cabinets. Handles and pulls should compliment your overall design and deliver a cohesive look. This is not the place to introduce multiple styles or textures. We like these Filmore crystal knobs from Baldwin.

baldwin-filmore-knob

Form and function. Of all the spaces in your kitchen none works harder or sees as much activity as the faucet. This makes it a great place to start when updating your kitchen. A new faucet not only gives you a great new look it can help make life easier. Choosing the faucet that fits your needs in the kitchen is important. Use this as an opportunity to add style and enhance your overall design. The Pfister Elevate EXT adjustable faucet was just named as the most innovative product of 2012 in Better Homes & Gardens Kitchen & Bath Ideas issue.

elevate-ext

Brighten up your life. Another affordable and impactful option is to introduce pendant lights in the kitchen. Lighting fixtures pull double duty by lighting your workspace and creating atmosphere to support your design. Styles range from vintage to ultra-modern and materials including glass, metals and more. Bright lights to subdued mood lighting, these fixtures are an easy way to add drama to your design.

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Spring provides a wonderful transformation outdoors, what is going to be your first project to bring that excitement to your kitchen?

Photo credit: Open cabinets