(BPT) – When your spring cleaning is accomplished and the room sparkles, do you still feel as if something is missing? All the cleaning in the world can’t hide worn countertops, outdated appliances or uninspired cabinetry. If spring cleaning your kitchen is starting to feel like you’re simply putting polish on a dirt floor, it’s time to plan a spring redesign that you’ll love now, and for years to come.
But where do you begin? It’s essential to incorporate the best in today’s design innovations with classic appeal that will endure, advises interior decorator Nate Berkus, and artistic advisor for LG Studio appliances.
“As a decorator and product designer, I want people to love products not just when they see them on the shelves for a week after they purchase them,” Berkus says. “I want them to love those products five or 10 years from now.”
Your kitchen redesign should follow that same rule of longevity, he says. “These are decisions that you’re going to live with every single day.”
The key to a kitchen redesign that is both livable and lovable long after the paint dries is to choose quality, well-designed foundational elements such as premium and aesthetically-pleasing kitchen appliances, countertops and flooring, and build on them.
“Pick what you love,” Berkus says. “Pick things that really represent who you are and what your design personality is all about. Stick with them and don’t waiver.”
First, look at your kitchen and decide what elements would create the most impact through replacement or refurbishment. Maybe your kitchen appliances are white enamel and a decade old, when you prefer stainless steel and models that integrate the newest technology. Once you’ve decided which elements are the most important to you, it’s time to decide your style.
“First, look for inspiration. Pinterest is a great way to start,” Berkus advises. “Start a board of what you love and what you want in your kitchen. You’ll see the trend of what matters most to you float to the surface. What you gravitate toward the most is where you begin.”
For example, if your board is full of new appliances, chances are your current ones need updating. Fortunately, an investment into premium appliances, like those in the LG Studio collection not only provides an aesthetic upgrade to your kitchen but also helps to create your own intensely personal signature kitchen. The collection perfectly marries design and function, with options like built-in and counter depth refrigerators, a slide-in range, and radiant, gas and induction cooktops. The collection also features single and double wall ovens with built-in gourmet recipe banks that provide inspiration for elegant entertaining.
Berkus also recommends homeowners “do their homework” and spend some time living with their options before committing to a design.
“When you’re buying appliances, you need to select ones that are both technologically advanced and well-crafted,” he says. “Envision yourself in the kitchen reaching in that fridge. Make sure it has what you want, and that it will help you live beautifully in a space that matters. Look for appliances that are current, yet timeless.”
For design elements such as tile, flooring or even paint, he advises placing samples in your kitchen and living with them for a while. “Lay them out on the floor or put the paint sample on the wall and walk by them each day for a week or month,” he says.
“Edit out what you grow tired of, and lean toward the classic. You can use plates and dishes and other elements to build out your story and personality, but let the permanent choices be your most curated ones.”
