5 Kitchen Design Details that Matter; Before & After

by admin September 16, 2021

You’ve heard the phrase, design is in the details? Well, this DIY kitchen refresh from one of my readers nailed the design details. If you’re planning a kitchen project, here are the 5 kitchen design details that matter.

If this is the year you decided you were finally going level up your colour and design skills… you should know there are just a few spots left in the weekend workshop and an additional 2 workshops left for 2021!

The very BEST way to learn my System and what makes a classic and timeless design aesthetic is to sign up for my Specify Colour with Confidence course.

Because learning all the concepts and the language IN ORDER with first things first in an immersive setting is the ONLY route to truly mastering colour.

And if you’ve always wanted to take my course, there is no time like now. The newly updated SCWC is now a live interactive online event making it more accessible to everyone! Sign up and change the way you see colour forever. I can’t wait to meet you!

That said, I’m always DELIGHTED when I hear from readers who have gleaned key ideas from my eBooks and blog and successfully used them to make the most of their renovations.

Reader Kitchen Design Project

Here’s a message I received from one of my readers. It’s a beautiful DIY kitchen project and I simply had to share it!

Hi Maria & team,

Finishing up our kitchen facelift and wanted to thank you for all the advice on your blog and in your [eBooks]! I’m just thrilled with how our kitchen came out. It’s my absolute favorite. Still need to choose wall colors (blue) and decorate, but it is SUCH an improvement! From blah to classic.

We DIY’ed the stacked uppers (with help from ShelfHelp, Cabinet Doors Now, and a local glass shop), trim on the sides of the island and fridge, and backsplash. Counters are untreated soapstone and honed Carrara marble. Cabinets are painted (w/ conversion varnish) BM Oxford white. Our trim is Chantilly Lace but it felt a little too stark for the whole kitchen. Love the tiniest bit of warmth in Oxford White.

Cheers!

5 Kitchen Design Details That Matter

If you keep it simple and really commit to the idea that for classic and timeless design, less really is more.

Then you can take some key colour and design advice from my blog content and videos as guidance to create something beautiful!

That’s what my dear reader did with her stunning kitchen refresh.

Black cup pull | Black knob

1 | Commit to keeping your kitchen design simple

In her kitchen before, she had a standard cherry builder-grade kitchen with pink beige granite (below).

So many DIYers choose their new kitchen details in isolation – without a plan. And, big box stores make it easy for the average homeowner to choose more too many fussy detail like a busy or trendy backsplash that doesn’t relate to their countertops (for example) when refreshing a kitchen.

2 | Don’t Just Paint Your Cabinets; Box in the Gap

Remember, it’s the details that make a kitchen design work.

And this is one of those details that really make an impact. By boxing in the gap between the uppers and the ceiling, she kept this kitchen from looking like a “dated kitchen with white painted cabinets.”

Adding upper cabinets all painted a crisp true white with lovely moldings and glass doors for display, is a completely upscale new look! Also, I love the blue and white ceramics on display.

Simple right?

Again, the boxed in uppers and moldings, and the inspired choice to add glass doors for display are amazing… but what really elevates this kitchen design is the beautiful custom hood. It is SUCH a huge upgrade from the standard stainless chimney she had before.

3 | Choose Kitchen Hardware Wisely

The other kitchen design detail I applaud her for is that she avoided the common mistake of installing those generic black 4 or 6 inch black pulls on EVERY cabinet and drawer. Now that the black trend is in full throttle we see this mistake all of the time.

Instead, she opted for a mix with elegant small knobs on the cabinets and bin pulls on the drawers, which looks so much more clean and refined as a whole.

Brass faucet | Black cup pull | Black knob

3 | Mix Metals to Provide Dimension and Interest

I also think this is a really great example of the simple principle of mixing metals. She’s pulled it off beautifully here. The black hardware is repeated in the soapstone countertop and the appliances, and she’s successfully layered in some gold in her pretty lanterns and faucet. In addition, she combined a black cup pull, a regular pull and a knob. Just lovely.

This kitchen design would have looked very flat and predictable if EVERY metal detail was black.

Let’s recap that tip because it is so key.

In order to mix metals successfully, make sure that each finish is repeated at least once.

5 | Add Colour

You know what I would add to make this kitchen even more perfect? COLOUR, of course.

This really is the next level of kitchen design and one of those details that can be challenging for the DIY kitchen designer without my colour training. Learn to choose colour like I do.

My reader mentioned she would like to maybe paint the walls blue next. I wholeheartedly agree that some blue paint WOULD be MAGIC in this kitchen!

But because there is little wall space in the kitchen itself, I recommend that she consider adding it to the ceilings. Notice that when the hard finishes are timeless and simple, it’s easy to add colour with your accessories and decor.

And when you tire of blue… it’s an inexpensive update.

I’ve photoshopped a version below with the ceiling painted a cool muted blue and also repeated in the island stools below.

Lantern Chandelier similar here | Ginger Jar similar here and here

The existing stools could be reupholstered, but often it’s best to sell them and buy something new.

And actually, a chair with a bit more interest would be lovely, like this pretty one below:

Dayna Stools from Ballard Designs

If you order new stools or fabric, wait for them to arrive before you nail down the specific ceiling colour so you can be sure to get a good match.

Need help choosing colour for decor and accessories when shopping online? I’ve got an online course for that. Trust me, when you start using mood boards for online shopping, it’s a complete #GAMECHANGER.

Before and After Kitchen Design

Let’s take one more look at the before and after of this reader kitchen refresh project. It really is stunning!

Here’s the before:

And the After:

When it comes to kitchen design details that matter, what else would you add? Tell me in the comments below.

In other news, I just celebrated 35,000 followers over on Instagram! If you’re not following me over there, you should. You’ll find more design advice on my stories every day!

PS. My mini-golden doodle Lucy is 5 months. She has discovered the front window and she looks almost like a person the way she’s leaning against the back of the sofa!

My new living room makeover reveal is coming soon, just waiting for one more piece of furniture! As you can see, we prefer the poodle clip to the scruffy look although she’s darn cute in both!

If you’re Still not Learning You’re Dead

WWMD: Help My White Painted Kitchen Cabinets Look Bad

Before & After; How to Brighten a Dark Room

The post 5 Kitchen Design Details that Matter; Before & After appeared first on Maria Killam | Classic and Timeless Colour.