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Cook Up a 21st-Century Kitchen With These Modern Upgrades

Nov 14, 2017
Simple Kitchen Design

The kitchen is one of the most important and functional rooms of the entire house. It's, by all rights, the heart of the home and a place where you probably spend a lot of time. Yet, with the kitchen and all of its fixtures constantly evolving and developing new trends, it is way too easy to see this space looking like it doesn't fit in with modern home design ideas.


A major kitchen remodel can easily add value to your home, and the costs spent on the project will be at least 63% recouped if you decide later to sell. Plus, making over your kitchen makes it more functional and pleasurable to spend your time inside. Check out some of the ways you can see your kitchen beam as a 21st-century star in your modern home.

Add Visual Interest to the Kitchen Ceiling

The ceiling may not look like much, but it is a huge visual feature in the kitchen space, so changing it up just slightly hugely impacts the overall design. If you are like most homeowners, the ceiling in your kitchen is a basic dry walled surface, but adding dimension is an easy thing to do with professional remodeling contractors. You could:

  • Create a grid-like coffered ceiling style with sectioned-off spaces
  • Have a vaulted ceiling installed
  • Install wooden beams for a vintage look


Ceiling changes are a slight part of the remodeling process for the kitchen. However, they create a new platform to build on with the rest of the room's design. For example, a coffered ceiling exudes a sort of French-retro charm, which can be followed through with other kitchen elements.


Maximize Kitchen Storage Space

One of the biggest complaints homeowners have about their kitchen is that there never seems to be quite enough storage space. From utensils and silverware to dishes and small food-prep appliances, your kitchen can get overrun with stuff that has no logical resting spot. Luckily, modern kitchen design is changing all of that. To maximize storage space in your kitchen you can:

  • Install low-profile storage drawers along toe kicks at the bottom of cabinetry
  • Make use of open space and free up existing storage by implementing things like a pot rack or utensil hanger
  • Opt for ceiling-high cabinetry to utilize all vertical space


The more storage space you have in your kitchen, the better your whole room will function because it is more organized overall. A little extra planning during your kitchen remodel can garner you a lot of extra space to work with.


Upgrade to Less obvious Kitchen Appliances

Your massive stainless steel refrigerator or that really obvious dishwasher you have in your kitchen may be necessary appliances, but they don't necessarily have to be obvious. These fixtures hog up a lot of the visual space in your kitchen. Therefore, their blatancy can detract from the look you are trying to achieve if you are going for a more seamless theme or appeal.


Because of the fact that appliances are necessary and have always been so obvious, many appliance manufacturers now provide pieces that integrate better with other kitchen elements. For example, you can get a fridge that has finished door panels to match your cabinets so the appliance blends right in with the rest of the space.


At the end of the day, your kitchen should be a place in your home that suits you well, both in design and function. Creating a modern kitchen is all about swapping out those antiquated design ideas for new fixtures and features. For help with planning your big kitchen remodel, contact JO Contractors for help.

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