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Virtual Home Design Consultation Tips

Are you looking for tips on how to redesign your kitchen?  Consider this your virtual home design consultation.  The kitchen is one of the most important rooms in the house.  This is where families mingle, where cooking friends congregate and where a loving meal is thoroughly prepared and decorated.  Generally, what does one do with an empty kitchen?

The first answer is light.  You want plenty of light going in and out of the kitchen.  Add as many windows as you can afford.  Bringing in extra sunlight not only keeps your kitchen lively but also lets you observe the outside world: nature, birds chirping, and beautiful blue skies.  If privacy is an issue you can always put in mini-blinds.  This keeps the light in but peering eyes out.  When it gets dark outside, think about using pendant lighting, especially if you have island countertops and cabinets.

French windows are very popular in this age, as they literally flood the room with natural lighting and look extravagant.  Some decorators recommend white tile, white wall and white pieces all over the kitchen.  The idea here is that this can reflect the kitchen’s sunlight and make for a very elegant, almost heavenly ambiance.  Wood and bamboo also mix in with this theme nicely.

Besides the sink (which always demands a fairly large window looking out) think about putting a window at the end of the kitchen, on the last wall.  This can give the entire kitchen (even a small one) a gallery-style appearance.  Remember, when mixing light fixtures and windows, that they should complement one another.  Make sure artificial lighting is subtly colored and that the colors match the floor, the cabinets and the countertops.  Try to move for one theme, whether that is light or medium.  For the most part, kitchens do not feature heavy, antique colors.

When it comes to kitchen countertops, the same rule applies: the material and colors must help to emphasize the theme of the kitchen; not draw attention to one unique piece.  There is a wide selection of materials to use.  However, you must not let countertops, cabinets, casings, and moldings collide. 

You also have to consider what type of kitchen you want to create.  If you are renovating kitchen countertops and other features, do you want to go for small and cozy, convenient and comfy or large and entertaining?  How about the cabinet lay out?  Will an L-shape suit you or is a U-shape better for the floor plan? 

Some homeowners are very ambitious with their kitchens and are adding eat-in tables, islands and even a kitchen desk.  Hey, in this telecommuting age duty calls—even if you have a pot of pasta cooking on the stove.  If you need more assistance with replacement window installation or kitchen countertop replacement then you can find design consulting services from local retail stores.  The kitchen is truly the most important room in the house—it’s where your food is made, where deep thoughts are exchanged, and where the sun shines brightest.

Tags: Ambiance, Appearance, Artificial Lighting, Birds Chirping, Blue Skies, Cabinets, Colors, Consultation, Decorators, Design, Design Consultation, French Windows, Gallery Style, Home, Kitchen Countertops, Kitchens, Light Fixtures, Mini Blinds, Natural Lighting, Pendant Lighting, Sunlight, Tile, Tips, Virtual, World Nature