Your Kitchen

Kitchen Remodels That Age Gracefully

By Janine Pumilia

Amajor 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 that’s not busy. Stains are nice, mediumbrown tones, not extremely dark or light.”

A clean cabinet style never has to compete with a lively backsplash or countertop.

“Light, airy and simple are the key words right now, and the more windows, the better,” says Knueve. “But that doesn’t mean there’s no pizzazz. People find lots of ways to add their own splash of personality and color.”

It’s worth noting that doors are the most expensive part of cabinetry.

“By changing the style of the door in a kitchen design, you can save hundreds if not thousands of dollars and still have the features you want, like a built-in trash can or rollouts,” says Knueve. Today, black hardware is popular. Placing two larger pendant lights over an island, rather than three smaller ones, is also on trend. Trinity carries cabinetry in price points ranging from mid-level low to mid-level high, says Kevin Walsh, owner. What’s the difference?

Cabinetry is the most costly item in most kitchen remodels. Choosing a classic style that won’t feel outdated in a few years is a wise decision. You can always update smaller items later to keep up with trends. Quality of construction and selection, he says. At higher price points, dovetailed joints, thicker sidewalls and features like soft-close drawers are used. “A lower price point may offer you fewer color options in a particular door style, whereas a more expensive line will offer any color on the Sherwin Williams color wheel,” explains Walsh. “We have products that fit into a budget and those which offer every option.” Trinity sells quartz, granite, solid surface, laminate and butcher block countertops. “We sell more quartz and granite than anything else,” says Walsh. “Granite is a natural stone and each slab is one-of-a-kind. You can see and select your slab. If there are certain features you’d like to see in your island, for example, we can position the top to highlight those attributes. Periodically, you seal granite by spraying polish over it and wiping it down with a cloth.” Quartz is man-made from crushed stone, is non-porous and practically maintenance-free. “All of the countertops we sell today look great and are durable,” says Walsh. “It’s just a matter of what you like best.” Trinity Kitchen, Bath & Lighting has been locally owned since it opened in 1958. It offers one-stop design, product and Beauty and function are equally installation services. Learn more by calling (260) 493-2574 or important to a good kitchen design. stop in at the showroom, 11034 Lincoln Highway East. ❚