6 Metallic Accents To Incorporate Into Your Kitchen

Metallic finishes are one of the top home design trends for 2016, and there are tons of interesting and eye-catching ways to add this stylish element to your kitchen. Here are a few of our favorite ways:

Metallic Backsplashes

A metallic backsplash is definitely a top pick, as well as the easiest way to incorporate this trend into your kitchen. Depending on the layout of your kitchen and how much of a wow-factor you’re trying to achieve, you could tile anything from the small space above your oven to the entire area between your kitchen cabinets and countertops. You will be able to find a wide selection of metallic tiles to achieve the look you want, and can go with either a subtle metallic infused color to complement your current color scheme or a true silver, copper or gold.

Metallic Tile Flooring

There is something incredibly alluring about metallic tile, and it can look amazing when used as flooring within a modern, contemporary, or even traditional kitchen. If you’ve had your mind set on new flooring for a while, consider this unique avenue and choose a tile in a rich color and metallic finish to update your kitchen floors.

Metallic Countertops

If you’re all about stainless steel everything and love industrial kitchen design, go crazy and install a stainless steel countertop. This popular metal is strong, heat and stain resistant, nonporous and hygienic. Plus the sleek look will blend in seamlessly with stainless steel appliances and create an ultra contemporary feel. The monotone color scheme will also leave room for some exciting accessorizing, paint choices, or flooring options. Other metal countertop materials include copper, pewter, and bronze.

Metallic Knobs and Pulls

Replacing the hardware on your kitchen cabinets is a simple upgrade, and a great opportunity to incorporate metallic accents into your kitchen. Cabinet pulls and knobs come in finishes like polished brass, brushed antique brass, satin nickel, oil rubbed bronze, pewter, gun metal, matte black, brushed chrome, and more, so there is a style and color to suit every kitchen.

Metallic Pendant Lights and Seating

Metallic pendant lights can illuminate your kitchen, and come in a large selection of styles and finishes to complement your look. Add industrial metal chairs to a wooden table, or stylish barstools with wooden seats and a metal base to your breakfast bar.

Metallic Hoods and Sinks

A metallic sink is an excellent choice to complete your kitchen. Strong and easy to clean, stainless steel sinks are one of the most popular options today, but copper sinks are a unique alternative that can warm up your kitchen. Although it serves a purpose, adding a stainless steel hood to your kitchen can also give your space an amazing, finished look.

Welcome to Willow Lane Cabinetry — the #1 place to buy affordable, semi-custom cabinets online! Let us help you create the kitchen of your dreams with our 100% free kitchen design service. We offer all wood, semi-custom kitchen cabinets, fully assembled and delivered for free, with standard features like soft closing doors and drawers, and 6-way adjustable steel hinges. We give you more and save you money! Visit our website to see our beautiful products today!

How to Mix Different Cabinet Styles in Your Kitchen

If the thought of incorporating more than one style of cabinets in your kitchen sounds crazy, you may want to think again! This top trend is making its way into homes all over the world, and when you learn a little more about it, you’ll understand why it’s so incredibly popular — and you’ll know how to do it right!

3 Rules To Follow

Mixing and matching cabinets refers to the design concept of using more than one style or finish to make up your cabinet set. There are many ways to go about this, but the goal should always be consistency, simplicity and balance.

Consistency: Choose styles that complement each other, but also meld with the theme of your kitchen. Whenever you’re incorporating a somewhat out-of-the-box design element, it’s important that it doesn’t interfere with the overall vision. Being consistent with every decision in your remodel will ensure you get the results you want. The Free Kitchen Design Service at Willow Lane Cabinetry can help you along the way.

Simplicity: Try not to mix more than three styles (two if you have a smaller kitchen). Overboard means overdone and turns an interesting feature into a questionable choice. Keep it simple and limit your focal points to a few great pieces or additions.

Balance: We’ll get more into this later, but deciding exactly where each cabinet style will go in your design is very important. It will eliminate the possibility of cabinets competing for attention and creating chaos in your kitchen. Take advantage of the Free Kitchen Design Service at Willow Lane Cabinetry to get a solid visual of what your final layout will look like.

When It Works

Using multiple cabinet styles works for almost every kitchen theme, from vintage to contemporary. The key is to mix with purpose so that your cabinetry still looks cohesive, even with the inclusion of different styles or finishes. Best practice is to keep styles separate rather than side-by-side. This would just look disorderly (and about as crazy as you imagined when we first introduced the idea). Instead, plan your layout in sections. For example, if you were going with three cabinet styles you would put one along one wall, one along the other, and the third would be your kitchen island. This way you achieve the dimension and diversity, without the disorder.

How To Choose

Mixing and matching cabinet styles is not an official art but it should be. You need great taste and patience — or at least good guidance! The easiest and most efficient way to mix and match is to pick one style (for example, traditional raised panel cabinetry) and two colors (for example, white and dark cherry). If you want to get more advanced you can mix styles within the same theme (for example, stick to traditional style cabinets but in two different door designs) and then add in your color choices. As a rule of thumb, try not to match two cabinets that are clearly different styles, such as traditional, raised panel with modern, flat panel cabinets.

Written by Korrie. Korrie Martinez is a self proclaimed DIY pro with an eye for design and a craft for finding simple solutions to homeowner’s common concerns. Her articles offer tips and trends to help The RTA Store’s customers achieve the home of their dreams on a balanced budget. Follow Korrie on Instagram and Twitter @kokonez or visit her website www.korriemartinez.com.

The Secret To Incorporating Colorful Appliances Into Your Kitchen

While appliances typically come in traditional colors such as black, white, or stainless steel, many modern appliances can be found in a variety of bright, colorful hues. If you want to add a pop of color to your kitchen, but you’re not sure where to start, here are a few things to consider before you begin:

Add Contrast To A White Kitchen

Have a kitchen that is mostly white? Try adding a few bright colors such as navy blue, lime green, or orange. Small appliances such as toasters and stand mixers in matching shades will give some needed contrast in an all white kitchen. Using just a few bright colors will make your white kitchen pop without being overwhelming.

Compliment Your Color Scheme

If you already have a touch of color in your kitchen, choose a single bright color that compliments your overall scheme. For example, bright red appliances such as a red kettle, coffee pot or blender can look great against cooler colored backgrounds. Consider spreading the color full circle by painting a single wall red or finding patterned Roman shades in red for your windows.

Makeover Larger Appliances

Black, white, and bisque appliances have held their own over the years, but stainless steel is by far the most popular choice for contemporary homeowners. Today’s stainless comes in a variety of color options that go beyond traditional silver. Opt for Slate Gray, Sunset Bronze, or Black Stainless finishes if you want to add rich color to your kitchen. If new appliances are not in your current budget, but you love the look of stainless steel, you can update your kitchen with stainless steel paint. Perfect for large appliance that are bland and out of date but still in great working condition, DIY paint-on stainless finishes can help you achieve the look you desire at a fraction of the cost.

Go Retro

Want to add a punch of color and style at the same time? Consider newly manufactured appliances with a retro look as a way to brighten things up! Older appliances can be difficult to find, difficult to restore, and sometimes even dangerous to use, but thankfully there are several companies that reproduce vintage appliances in hues of green, red, baby blue, and orange.

Traditional Appliances in Bold Colors

Maybe retro is not your thing, but you still love the unique look of colorful appliances. Many modern appliance manufacturers offer color options in rich shades of blue, red, green and even plum. If you are having a difficult time finding colorful appliances online, consider speaking with representatives from your local appliance store to see if the models you are interested in come in other colors than those represented on the floor.

Don’t be afraid to experiment with color to liven up your kitchen, through the use of colorful appliances both large and small! Other ways to incorporate color into your kitchen include wall paint, tile backsplashes, countertops, and colorful kitchen cabinets in hues like Red, Tidewater, Sage, Dove Gray, Steel Gray, and Khaki.

Written by Bridgette. Bridgette Wagner is a freelance writer and English M.A. student with an interest in writing on DIY, travel, and family fun. She loves reading, spending time with her two kiddos and living near the beach in Wilmington, N.C.