The kitchen is the heart of the home and provides a design spring board for the rest of your space – sets the tone and really is a finish showcase – or can be. But enter the builder’s kitchen and it is less a spring board, more a requirement to check off a list. They tend to be safe and vanilla, practical and functional; like a sports bra. Nothing sexy here. Most definitely. But like many, I can rock a sports bra with some clever planning and the right distractions.
A Little Paint
For the brave, those with wide open weekends or the budget, well made cabinets are worth refreshing with a coat of paint. But this isn’t a quick and dirty – cabinets will need to be removed from their hinges, lightly sanded, primed and then painted. I am exhausted just writing the steps. Ideally, you would have them professionally sprayed off-site. Let it be someone else’s mess. Sorry. I am not a DIY-er when it comes to cabinetry. It is just too easy for garage jobs to chip and quickly become a hot mess, not to mention the inevitable brush strokes and the nightmare of rehanging the cabinet doors. Ohey vey.
Hardware
The fastest and least expensive refresh for a kitchen is to change up its hardware. It is typical and expected in a builder’s kitchen for the hardware to be an afterthought. Consider pulls instead of knobs and think long and hard about finish – chrome is fun and modern; oil rubbed bronze can be traditional or rustic; nickel is transitional; and brass is just wrong but antique brass is seeing a resurgence – it is warm and can support a variety of design directions. As for the where-to – I do love me some Restoration Hardware and always tap Summerhill at Ginger’s.
Back it Up
If the builder has opted for a sloppy travertine with generous joint lines or a cheap and cheerful porcelain, consider a backsplash facelift. And depending on how much square footage you need, it doesn’t have to be a budget buster. Mosaics can be fantastic and super easy to install. Saltillo in Toronto is THE go-to for mosaics. Consider stainless steel or if your countertop is clean, without a lot of movement as you might see in a granite, carry it through in slab to your backsplash.
Statement Lighting
Distraction. Bold, architectural lighting draws the eye up and away from the ho hum. Consider over island multiples and/or a single pendant over the kitchen table. I say ‘or’ because you have to watch your weight here. If I am using something heavy over the island like something in a solid metal, I want to consider something airy and open over the table like a candelabra. Or if you are using something really heavy over the table, consider skipping the island light altogether or using something with an open glass shade.
Strong Lines and Colour
Whatever you are adding – case goods like a table, hutch or seating like stools or dining chairs – should be impactful. Don’t try to match your existing cabinetry. Use strong lines and contrast, blending stained pieces with painted cabinetry.
Consider your colour scheme – this is another opportunity to distract. And for drapery, you can count on vertical stripes or large repeat geometrics with simple schemes. They will deliver yet another opportunity to shock and awe. Bam!