Designing Your Kitchen - Part 2: Materials

Now that you have selected a comfortable layout you can start focusing on customizing your space with the materials and features that will personalize your kitchen. Lets start from the floor up.

Flooring

• Tile - The most common type of flooring used in the kitchen is tile. Tile flooring is extremely strong and durable and will handle your everyday foot traffic. Maintenance is also relatively easy.
• Cork - Cork has a look all its own. The material is baked in various degrees to achieve different colors. It will definitely be a topic of conversation with your dinner guests.
• Concrete - One of the fastest growing trends in flooring today is concrete due to its durability and wide variety of finishes. One drawback to concrete is the weight. You may want to consider reinforcing the floor if you live in an older home.

Cabinetry

• Raised Panel - The possibilities for cabinets are endless. The classic raised panel style will look good in just about any kitchen.
• Glass - A glass panel door is really beautiful but should be used as an accent piece in a few locations of your kitchen. You probably don't want your cereal and canned goods on display for everyone to see.
• Hardware - There are endless possibilities for the hardware you decide to use on your cabinets. For a quick update in your kitchen consider switching out the hardware for a cheap change.

Countertop

• Concrete - If you're looking to go modern in your kitchen then concrete might be the answer. Concrete can be mixed in a variety of colors and it makes for a very durable surface.
• Marble - A marble countertop will impress your friends but may leave you with an empty wallet. Marble is a high end material with a high price tag. And it's not as durable as most other stones. However it does look amazing.
• Silestone - Silestone is a manufactured stone. It has a similar price tag to granite but comes in more colors and is more durable.

Sink

• Farmhouse - This style of sink depends on your personal taste. These sinks can be highly detailed or very minimal. There aren't really any pros and cons for a Farmhouse style sink, just be aware that they are generally pretty big.
• Self Rimming - These sink come in a variety of materials from stainless steel to cast iron to porcelin and more. Stainless steel is easy to keep clean and can match your fridge and dishwasher.
• Undermount - An undermount sink will give your counter space a clean finish and looks especially good with a stone or solid surfase.

Backsplash

• Tin - Some have said the easiest backplash to clean in the kitchen is tin. It also comes in a variety of patterns and colors and is easy to install.
• Subway Tile - A great way to recapture the vintage nostalgia is through this classic rectangular tile. What once was considered old is now a popular trend in todays kitchen.
• Glass Tile - This type of tile is a great way to personalize your space and add a punch of color. Glass tile comes in a variety of sizes, colors, even shapes.

Lighting

• Decorative - A great location to introduce decorative light fixtures is over a kitchen island. Find a fixture that matches the style and mood you want for your kitchen.
• Under Cabinet - A great way to highlight your countertop and backsplash while providing task lighting.
• Recessed - Recessed lighting will put just the right amount of light where you need it.