FINISHING

TOUCHES FOR

YOUR NEW

KITCHEN

ARE YOU REMODELLING YOUR EXISTING KITCHEN OR GETTING READY TO DESIGN A KITCHEN FOR YOUR NEW HOME? JUST AS IMPORTANT AS THE LAYOUT AND CABINETRY, THE COUNTERTOPS AND PAINT COLOURS, THE FINISHING TOUCHES THAT YOU ADD TO YOUR NEW KITCHEN HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO TAKE YOUR SPACE TO A WHOLE NEW LEVEL.

HERE'S A LOOK AT SOME OF THE MANY WAYS YOU CAN MAKE YOUR KITCHEN, THE CENTRAL HUB OF YOUR HOME, A SPACE THAT'S UNIQUELY YOUR OWN.

LARGE APPLIANCES: RENOVATING A KITCHEN OFTEN ENTAILS REPLACING SOME OR ALL OF YOUR APPLIANCES. WHILE THE TYPES OF APPLIANCES YOU CHOOSE SHOULD MEET YOUR FAMILY'S FUNCTIONAL NEEDS FOR MEAL PREPARATION AND FOOD STORAGE, YOU SHOULD ALSO THINK ABOUT HOW THEY WILL CONTRIBUTE TO THE LOOK AND FEEL OF THE ROOM.

BLACK APPLIANCES WON'T COMPLIMENT WARM-TONED WOODEN CUPBOARDS THE WAY THAT STAINLESS STEEL WILL, FOR INSTANCE, AND A GRAND KITCHEN COMPLETE WITH PREMIUM CUPBOARDS AND COUNTERTOPS WOULD LOOK OUT OF PLACE WITH ANYTHING LESS THAN A QUALITY GAS STOVE AND A REFRIGERATOR WITH FRENCH DOORS.

SMALL APPLIANCES: JUST LIKE LARGE APPLIANCES, THE SMALL APPLIANCES YOU ADD TO YOUR KITCHEN CAN COMPLIMENT THE OVERALL LOOK YOU'RE TRYING TO ACHIEVE OR LEAVE THE SPACE FEELING CONFUSED OR MISMATCHED. DON'T FORGET, SMALL APPLIANCES ALSO SERVE SOME PRETTY IMPORTANT FUNCTIONS! AN OVER THE RANGE MICROWAVE IN THE RIGHT STYLE, FOR INSTANCE, MAKES MEAL PREPARATION QUICK AND EASY.

FURNITURE & ACCESSORIES: OF COURSE, A NEW KITCHEN WOULDN'T BE COMPLETE WITHOUT NEW FURNITURE AND ACCESSORIES! BEFORE YOU PURCHASE ANYTHING, THINK ABOUT THE SIZE AND LAYOUT OF YOUR KITCHEN AND WHAT IT CAN ACCOMMODATE. IS IT AN EAT-IN KITCHEN WITH A SPACE FOR A DINING TABLE, OR DOES IT HAVE A BREAKFAST NOOK WHERE BAR STOOLS WOULD PROVIDE A HANDY SPOT FOR A QUICK MEAL?

BESIDES PREPARING MEALS AND EATING, WHAT ELSE DO YOU DO IN YOUR KITCHEN? SOME PEOPLE, FOR INSTANCE, HAVE A SMALL DESK AREA WHERE THEY MAY SURF THE WEB FROM A LAPTOP AND KEEP TRACK OF HOUSEHOLD PAPERWORK. IF THIS IS THE CASE, YOU MAY WANT TO LOOK FOR A SMALL DESK OR EVEN A BOOKSHELF THAT WILL FIT THE SPACE AND COMPLIMENT THE DÉCOR.

ACCESSORIES ARE OTHER GREAT WAYS TO ADD AFFORDABLE STYLE TO THE KITCHEN. A SMALL RUG PLACED UNDER THE TABLE IN THE BREAKFAST NOOK CAN REALLY WARM UP THE ROOM, WHILE ACCENT LAMPS OR A CURIO CUPBOARD FILLED WITH UNIQUE DISHES OR YOUR TEAPOT COLLECTION ARE OTHER GREAT WAYS TO MAKE THE SPACE YOUR OWN.

IF YOU'RE NOT SURE WHICH TYPE OF FURNITURE OR ACCESSORIES WILL WORK WELL IN YOUR KITCHEN, GET SOME IDEAS FROM MAGAZINES OR FURNITURE STORES. NEWMARKET HOMEOWNERS AND OTHERS THROUGHOUT ONTARIO CAN ALSO ASK FOR ADVICE AND DESIGN INSPIRATION FROM THE EXPERTS AT THEIR LOCAL LEON'S STORES.