Your Kitchen
Kitchen Remodels That Age Gracefully By Janine Pumilia
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major kitchen remodel can make your home more enjoyable and increase its resale value, but it’s probably not something you want to undertake often. That’s why choosing cabinets with staying power makes good sense, says Dana Knueve, a designer at Trinity Kitchen, Bath & Lighting, in New Haven, Ind. “It’s fine to have a kitchen that’s themed, but you want to express that theme with accent items, not foundational pieces like cabinets,” says Knueve. “It’s much easier to change out a backsplash or even a countertop later when trends change.” White-painted cabinets in a simple style like Shaker are timeless, she says. “About half of our customers choose painted cabinets – mostly shades of white – and about half choose stained wood,” she says. “The most popular wood species now is maple, which has a fine grain Cabinetry is the most costly item in most kitchen remodels. Choosing a classic style that won’t feel that’s not busy. Stains are nice, medium- outdated in a few years is a wise decision. You can always update smaller items later to keep up with trends. brown tones, not extremely dark or light.” Quality of construction and selection, he says. A clean cabinet style never has to compete with a lively At higher price points, dovetailed joints, thicker sidewalls backsplash or countertop. and features like soft-close drawers are used. “Light, airy and simple are the key words right now, and “A lower price point may offer you fewer color options in the more windows, the better,” says Knueve. “But that doesn’t a particular door style, whereas a more expensive line will ofmean there’s no pizzazz. People find lots of ways to add their fer any color on the Sherwin Williams color wheel,” explains own splash of personality and color.” Walsh. “We have products that fit into a budget and those which It’s worth noting that doors are the most expensive part offer every option.” of cabinetry. Trinity sells quartz, granite, solid surface, laminate and “By changing the style of the door in a kitchen design, you butcher block countertops. can save hundreds if not thousands of dollars and still have “We sell more quartz and granite than anything else,” says the features you want, like Walsh. “Granite is a natural stone and each slab is one-of-a-kind. a built-in trash can or rollYou can see and select your slab. If there are certain features outs,” says Knueve. you’d like to see in your island, for example, we can position the Today, black hardware top to highlight those attributes. Periodically, you seal granite by is popular. Placing two largspraying polish over it and wiping it down with a cloth.” er pendant lights over an isQuartz is man-made from crushed stone, is non-porous and land, rather than three smallpractically maintenance-free. er ones, is also on trend. “All of the countertops we sell today look great and are Trinity carries cabinetry durable,” says Walsh. “It’s just a matter of what you like best.” in price points ranging from Trinity Kitchen, Bath & Lighting has been locally owned mid-level low to mid-levsince it opened in 1958. It offers one-stop design, product and el high, says Kevin Walsh, installation services. Learn more by calling (260) 493-2574 or owner. What’s the differBeauty and function are equally stop in at the showroom, 11034 Lincoln Highway East. ❚ ence? important to a good kitchen design. Tell them you saw it in ...
Smart Living Fort Wayne
October 2021 • II
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