Kitchen Trends 2014

Summertime is a natural season to start thinking about making changes to your home. When it comes to the kitchen, trending designs and materials are as explosively stylish as we’ve ever seen!

We could try and describe some of these hot trends - but it’s usually more fun to show you. So, here are some pictures (thanks to the wonderful world of Pinterest) that neatly sum up what designers are saying about kitchens in 2014.

1. Black Kitchen

Even though light colors and natural wood and stone are hot right now, designers are praising the dramatic and elegant look of black for the kitchen - especially when paired with the equally trendy brass and copper fixtures and hardware.'

2. Blue Kitchen

It seems like a bit of a commitment, but a blue-hued color scheme for the kitchen is making waves in the design world. Here's a rather dramatic example, but we're digging it - especially the glass-paneled cabinets and bar-seating. This design soaks in summer and could just make colder winter months a little more bearable. 

3. Exposed

More and more designers are praising the beauty of open-shelving...and if it turns out like this, we're all in. This particular example also takes advantage of another trendy material - stone. Added bonus - those of us who tend to be a little, well, cluttered, will have some motivation to keep the shelves organized. 

4. Light colors 

The breezy, cottage look is always charming, but this year, it's also trending. Here's an example with a homemade, cozy flair. Sometimes, some paint and a trip to the antique store can work wonders in a remodel!

5. Marble Kitchen

Marble is always a popular material. Nevertheless, it's being highlighted again and again in design blogs. Here, we see a few popular kitchen design tips rolled into one: marble countertops matched with a marble backsplash. It's a subtle move that works well in tying the space together. 

6. Kitchen Sconces

Under-cabinet lights are going the way of the dinosaurs. Replacing them? Sconces, like the ones shown above. Just another example of how much kitchens are opening up this season!

7. Mixed Materials

This one's a sort-of grand slam in trendy kitchen design. Here, we see three extremely popular materials - reclaimed wood, granite and natural stone - used in perfect harmony.

8. Wall Designs

Finally, this year, designers are encouraging redecorators to get creative with kitchen wall space - especially backslashes. Here's a lovely example with a brick pattern. 

Are you considering a kitchen remodel? Are you considering any of these styles in particular? Leave us a comment and let us know what you're thinking about doing!

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Bathroom Storage Solutions

When you think about remodeling your home, do you consider upgrading the bathroom? If you do, you’re in good company; according to the Huffington Post, bathroom remodels account for over three quarters of all bidded home construction jobs in the US today. 

And it makes sense. Houses age, families grow and bathrooms can quickly become cluttered and disorganized when storage space is exhausted.

A neatly designed and storage-friendly bathroom doesn’t just make your daily life easier - it adds to the value of your home. 

Whether you’re in the market for a complete bathroom facelift, or just looking for a few clever ways to boost your organizational efficiency, here are some Pinterest users’ nicely designed bathroom spaces!

A decidedly upscale remodeling idea, there are no shortage of nicely blended drawers of all shapes and sizes. If you can’t fit all of your things in this bathroom...it might be time to get rid of some stuff!

Above-the-door storage is a perennially popular and simple strategy - but with this one, you might want to have a step-ladder handy!

We don’t typically bump into the lazy-susan corner storage design in bathrooms, but this style definitely makes use of space quite efficiently, while remaining quite stylish!

What’s one way to stay on top of organization? Make your storage areas completely visible! This clean and simple curio cabinet style caught our eye. No word if it comes with the cat.

Here’s a clean and simple tubside shelving idea which uses typically vacant wall space. We’re also digging the white, cottage-style design. 

Closets aren’t always used to their full potential. This one uses simple strategies like rollers and door-side shelving to boost the efficiency of a rather small space. 

We like this example mainly because everything is so nicely laid out, but easily rolls back until the lovely, simple fixtures. Who says you can’t have it all?

A nice, DIY way to upgrade your medicine cabinet to hold more than just what you can fit on the shelves. When it comes to arranging the bathroom, every little bit counts!

Another lovely way to configure a small, powder-room-style lavatory. A combination of cabinets and open shelves is a great, timeless way to accommodate everything in the bathroom. 

  

And, lastly, for those who keep more than just soaps and towels in the bathroom, here’s a great, blended-space example of building up for extra storage. We’re feeling like the ladder is going to be an essential detail if you undertake this project.

See anything on our list that catches your eye? Leave us a comment and let us know how you’d like to reconfigure your bathroom!

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