3 Popular Kitchen Remodeling Trends in 2012

As with every aspect of home décor, trends in kitchens offer new and exciting ideas to those considering a kitchen remodel.

In this Complete Remodeling Guide we will go over the 3 most popular kitchen remodeling trends in 2012. Their impact should continue to be felt well beyond this year.

Dark Cabinets

In some respects, what is old is new again, but today’s dark cabinets offer both a taste of the traditional and other styles that are decidedly new. Certainly timeless woods like cherry and mahogany are hotter at the moment than they’ve been in a while. But so are newer, more exotic woods from around the world. Darker stains on maple or oak are also quite the thing, delivering a rich tone over common wood grains to produce a new look altogether.

The feel produced by dark kitchen cabinets ranges from Old World tradition to elegant glamour to cutting edge contemporary. The cabinetry you choose, along with the counter-tops  flooring, faucets and more will give you achieve just the theme you want.

One of the keys to making dark cabinets work in the kitchen is planning all phases of your lighting. Natural lighting along with general, task and accent electrical lighting need to be planned to give the room the warmth and glow you want while avoiding the feeling of being in a cave. The darker your walls, counter-top and flooring is, the more lighting will have to counterbalance dark kitchen cabinets. Choose lighting in your kitchen that is bright, not harsh, and make sure you can control the lighting level with at least a few rheostats.

LED Lighting

Speaking of lighting, LED kitchen lighting has really developed in the last few years and now makes good sense for any kitchen. It is 80% to 90% more efficient than incandescent lighting and represents the definite wave of the future. It is part of a larger trend toward green living in every area of life.

Designers and manufacturers are now producing a much wider array of LED lighting options that are very attractive and functional. As you peruse what is available, you’ll find LED lighting in the types you want. These include under-cabinet lighting, can lights for recessed installation, wall lighting, overhead light fixtures, pendant lights, track lighting, and elegant chandeliers. With each month, it seems, new LED kitchen lighting options are available. Be sure to look into this cost-saving, popular kitchen remodeling trend and contact us here for a free estimate of installation costs.

Quartz and Granite Countertops

Granite and quartz counters are one of the hottest kitchen trends for 2012 and their popularity likely won’t fade for many years, if ever. If you’re just learning about quartz and granite kitchen counters, here is a brief overview.

Granite counters: Granite is natural stone, crystalline in structure with small pits and fissures which are not cracks, do not weaken the stone, and won’t affect durability. Granite has a rugged look, even while being very elegant. There is natural movement in the color tone throughout the stone and should be expected. Seems between slabs will always be visible in your granite counters. Even when sealed properly, granite counter-tops can discolor with some oils, though quick clean-ups of spills usually prevents it. Finally, granite counters are very tough, chip-resistant and nearly indestructible.

Quartz counters: This is an engineered stone made to be non-porous. It’s a mixture of about 93% quarts and 7% resin binders and pigment used for coloration. It is nearly as strong as granite but more forgiving and flexible. No sealing is required and the surface is extremely easy to clean and keep germ-free, an important reality in the kitchen. The color is generally consistent throughout the quartz counter-tops  controlled by manufacturing process. Seams are visible, as with granite, though they can sometimes be hid better, especially in darker quartz counters. These are very tough counter-tops but can be harmed by long-term UV light exposure and harsh chemicals.

To decide which is right for your kitchen, look at plenty of samples of granite and quartz counters or model kitchens in which they are employed. For a more natural feel, granite counter-tops are hard to beat. For color consistency and cleanliness, quartz counters are the winner.

We’ve chosen the top 3 kitchen trends for 2012 in part based on the likelihood that they will stay in fashion for some time. LED lighting is definitely the next wave because it is green and cost-effective. That lighting also enhances the appeal of dark cabinets because with proper lighting the color doesn’t overwhelm the room and its rich hues are enjoyable, not daunting. Granite has been around for millennia – it’s timeless, and quartz has a timeless look and a durability that will make it an asset in kitchens for years to come. Take a look at these 3 most popular kitchen trends in 2012. They’re trendy for sure, but they’ve also got a lot of staying power.

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