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Show off style in the kitchen
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If a
new or remodeled kitchen is in your future, be prepared for myriad
choices to show off your personal style. Abandon any rules you think
"must" be followed in kitchen planning. The sky's the limit.
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Can't decide between the wood
look and white cabinets? These days it's OK to have both. Wall
cabinets in one finish and base cabinets in another provide visual
interest.
 Can't afford maintenance-free granite countertops
everywhere? Just put them in one work area and mix the look with
another material -- laminate, ceramic tile, solid-surface materials,
stainless steel, concrete or butcher block. Splurge in one area and
conserve in another. Consider a marble slab for pastry-making,
placing heat-resistant granite near the oven and a butcher block for
slicing and chopping.
But before you shop around, take a
quiz to determine your needs: How much time do you spend in the
kitchen? What do you do there -- eat, read, relax, work on projects,
talk on the phone or work on a computer? Does your family message
center or bill-paying area need to be in the kitchen? Who's there
with you -- children, friends or colleagues? Do you cook alone or
with others? What do you cook -- elaborate dishes or simple meals?
What large and small appliances are essential for you? Where do you
store them? Consider the room size, floor plan and window placement.
Think about storage and trash -- areas you deal with daily. What's
your style -- sleek, traditional, uncluttered or an eclectic mix of
items and looks?
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